[4]
As the moon continued its journey through space, John found himself growing deeply concerned and a little embarrassed by Marcia's eccentric and emotional displays. She had been acting peculiar ever since Simmonds' death at the hands of Balor. The Commissioner was convinced that he and the ruthless alien spoke the same language and he was committed to reasoning with him. Unfortunately, Simmonds reasoned himself into a broken neck, vividly displayed in-front of both Marcia and Dr. Russell in Medical Center.
Helena would never forget Marcia's screaming, how she collapsed to the floor holding her dear dead friend's hands, and how Balor laughed as he exited the medical unit. Helena sedated Marcia but she was awake and in Command Center by the time John had his confrontation with that same evil alien.
And now another challenge presented itself.
"Commander, I do realize you would rather be with your wife but this is not the combination I desire."
"I'm not asking for your blessing!"
When they first arrived and she saw the natural beauty around them Marcia was giddy. She rambled on enthusiastically about how they were going to build houses, have children and create a whole new perfect civilization. She then, rather strangely, mentioned having a garden party and the people she would place on their guest list.
It was one of those bizarre, nearly outrageous, situations only the people on the wandering moon could experience.
His name was Magus and he claimed to not just be a deity but God, the Almighty. The alien presented the Alphans with a habitable planet then insisted the Commander, Marcia, Alan Carter and Dr. Russell sign on as the initial landing party. Eventually, he got around to telling them they would be the only Alphan inhabitants on this virgin world. They would be his new Adams and Eves. Then, he paired Alan with Marcia and John with Helena. His reasoning was convoluted but Koenig had received a near wink and nod from the alien, as if he knew something Koenig was reluctant to admit.
"I'm engaged!" Carter exclaimed, angrily.
"Yes, to Regina. I know." Magus said, "A lovely girl but rather erratic and not what I am looking for."
Helena gave a glance to a fuming Alan and an openly trembling Marcia. If Regina was considered erratic by Magus how did Marcia manage to pass his astringent investigation? She was frightened and missing her medication. The woman looked like a child who had no-where to go. She could not even touch John, something Marcia desperately seemed to want to do, to gain strength. Magus had paired them off, wrapping each in an invisible cocoon of positive and negative energy. If they touched the wrong partner they received a terrible shock.
On New Earth or "Eden", as Magus liked to call it, Alan had come up beside Helena, careful not to touch her, and asked if she was all right. "I'd let you cry on my shoulder," he said, "If we wouldn't end up electrocuting each other." She was strong but it wasn't easy for her being here with John and Marcia together.
Helena smiled at him. In many ways Alan had taken the place of Victor Bergman in her heart. He was aware of her and John's love affair, the fact that they were still affectionate but had decided to not pursue their feelings, as painful as that was. Helena would have told no one but Alan, her former lover and soon to be responsible married man, and he was please. Her confidentiality was secure. "I'm fine, Alan. We'll get through this."
That evening, Magus having disappeared, the four talked through their options, how they might escape the planet and, if necessary, destroy Magus. But soon, as the moon arose over the planet, casting a hypnotic light, a new feeling grew and the landing party could not focus on their conversation.
Nervous, unable to stop staring at Helena, Koenig said: "I'll gather more firewood."
Helena followed, leaving Alan and Marcia by their warm campfire. Soon Marcia was eyeing a receptive Alan like a panther ready to pounce on its prey and John and Helena, attempting to talk about their grim situation, simply could not keep their hands off of one another any longer.
"This is crazy!" Helena cried passionately, backing him up next to a thick tree trunk. She then launched herself at him, "We're being manipulated!"
Her lips closed hungrily on his and John Koenig's arms encircled her, crushing Helena to him, needing her badly.
Certainly, this had to be Magus influence, pairing them off, creating an artificial romantic atmosphere – but their actions were hardly under duress. They hadn't touched each other in weeks, both growing cautious when it came to their feelings for one another and, of course, Marcia. Helena had convinced John that his wife needed help only he could give and he was inclined to believe his CMO. Ignoring one another, except when it came to their work together, trying to take the high-road, had been difficult – agonizing as a matter of fact - but it was the right thing to do – even though both John and Helena were miserable.
A number of interesting occurrences happened during the time on Eden, including a run-in with alien mutants, attacks by ape-like creatures, and an ingenious plan that rendered Magus powerless, allowing the Alphans a daring escape. The spell was broken in two significant ways. Not only did the planet start to break apart, causing terror and chaos, but an eye-opening personal development occurred. The pair-bonding had disappeared but when the Alphans boarded their Eagle, to quickly fly them home to the moonbase, John affectionately touched Marcia's hair, giving her a pat, then he and Helena came together for a warm kiss. It was quick but heartfelt. Then John was away from her as he and Carter hurried to the pilot section to take them home to Alpha.
Marcia, now bitterly aware, seethed silently all the way back to Moonbase Alpha. The incident also had her thinking back to another happening – when Luke Ferro and Caroline Powell decided they wanted to bring a dead world back to life. They had kidnapped Dr. Russell and held a gun on her. Marcia had been standing in the background, next to Kate in Main Mission, as the drama unfolded. The mad Italian demanded much and it did not seem to matter that Alpha might die when his mandates were met. Even Victor Bergman had told John that the supplies they were necessitating were vital to Alpha, even if they did cost Helena her life. Marcia agreed. What was one dead doctor compared to the rest of them?
Sandra had looked over at Marcia at that moment and they made eye contact. A dreadful realization, as if someone had opened a Pandora's Box, came to Mrs. Koenig. Oh, but no. It was not possible. John would not do that to her … Helena Russell was merely a friend, an associate and an important member of their moonbase community, she debated. Yet, John had hardly bargained with Ferro and Caroline, bending to their will, frightening his people. Nonetheless, when it was revealed the Commander had placed a tracer on their supplies his behavior was understood and forgiven by all. Still, it had left Marcia shaken and curious. She watched Helena and John's reunion closely, neither aware she was there, as he placed his hands on her shoulders and they spoke quietly … There was no kiss or hug but they had eyes only for one another.
Marcia's jealousy and depression intensified. She started doubling up on her medication again.
Was there any wonder why she and Gerald Simmonds had a love affair? He was a man who appreciated a fine, cultured woman when he saw her … He was charming and had always treated Marcia well; with respect. Then he did something stupid. The bastard died and left her alone.
Men always left her alone.
John had abandoned her long ago, even though the two shared the same bed!
[]
The Koenigs separated shortly after the incident on New Earth. They argued for several days straight, he defensive and she accusing. John did try valiantly to understand her position. Marcia claimed she was staying off the pills and attempting to be a part of Alpha, learning new things like she never had in the past but, in the end, there was nothing to salvage in their personal relationship. He left their quarters, a packed bag in his hand, and moved into one of the smaller rooms just off the storage unit near Weapons Section.
It was a lonely time for John Koenig. Although Alan told him he should tell Helena what had happened Koenig was not so heartless as to run to her the moment he was "free". There was, despite their past, a mourning period and John figured Helena would find out soon enough.
Marcia, on the other hand, regardless of her fury and telling John to leave, had not quite given up. She refused to believe all was lost. Marcia talked candidly with Sandra at the café two days later. It was a mere "cooling off" period, she assured. "John will come crawling back to me eventually and I'll be waiting."
Sandra, who always tried to see the best in the people around her, could not help thinking it was not love that determined Marcia's resolve to stay attached to the Commander but the realization that she would no longer have the notability of being the Commander's legally wedded spouse. Even on the moon, away from Earth, weddings were performed and divorces filed.
Once again, Sandra felt a little sorry for Marcia.
[]
As Koenig anticipated, Helena had heard about he and Marcia's separation. While it seemed a cause for celebration where she and the Commander were concerned, Helena continued to stay away from him. Whether it was out of decorum, sympathy or a deep need to analyze what was going on around her, Helena could not approach him. Perhaps she was just overwhelmed with guilt. Would John have been more inclined to save his marriage had she not been a likely replacement? She still deeply cared for him but Helena did not want to be cast as "the other woman", even if it was true.
Besides, something surprising had happened in-between the two weeks they had met Magus to their current situation, approaching an odd blue asteroid with strange properties. Helena was being wooed by Emil Trez, Alpha's Chief Engineer. They had become friends while working on the "baby project" together. Trez had presented many creative ideas on the most feasible and economical ways to build "birthing centers" and a stunning nursery. Helena welcomed his keen input … Then, after the project was shelved they commiserated together. All that work down the drain! Trez was quiet but manly, often expressing himself like one of those television cowboys on old cigarette ads, but he was honest and had a gruff sweetness that made Helena smile.
Still, all the two had shared were coffee breaks, strolls down the halls, and an occasional game of checkers or ping pong in the Recreation Center. Helena knew Emil wanted to step it up, had even brought her flowers one evening when she was working late, but she could not take the step he wanted.
Simply, her heart belonged to another man.
[]
"I have no more time for you!"
"Then you will make time, John Koenig!"
Infuriated, his hands closed around her throat. He had enough! The woman had been an aggravation since the moment he arrived on Alpha. He had taken the form of their Commander, had read his thoughts and knew his people. The Alphans were free thinkers but also loyal to their leader.
"JOHN!" she gasped, trying to tear his icy fingers from around her slender throat. "Wha …?"
He had come from Kalthon and although the alien was a perfect mirror image of John Koenig, he had not been prepared for the confusion that assailed his senses since arriving on the moonbase. This woman was relentless, following him wherever he went, distracting him from his mission with a personal agenda the alien did not appreciate. She was annoying and petulant.
Kalthon needed power to be reborn and he was determined to get it, draining Alpha's reserves in the process. But how could he think with this female's continuous babbling?
Strangely, the alien knew this was the woman who was Koenig's mate yet he felt barely a connection with her. Now, the other – Dr. Russell – weighed heavily on Koenig's mind. He had very deep and complicated feelings for her. And, out of the two women, the alien felt far more fear from Dr. Russell's abilities than the spouse. Helena was admired and Life Support was her vocation. She could stop him in his tracks before the mission was completed. He both hated and respected her. The alien wished he could kill Helena but, in an odd way, realized she was as much a part of his disguise as he was.
Dr. Russell was a respectful threat whereas Marcia was simply a pest.
He had serious work to do and ignoring Koenig's wife was not working. He did not know how the Commander put up with her. The alien would not. The nice part about destroying Marcia was that she had made herself unimportant. She could be missing for days without anyone noticing, assuming she had shut herself away from the world. What the alien had forgotten was that each Alphan had a sensor woven into their uniforms and when something was wrong, when the body temperature had changed or the nervous system became over-taxed, Medical Center would pick up on it right away and send out a warning.
Dr. Bob Mathias saw a critical drop in Marcia's vital signs which, considering her history, he attributed to an over-dose. He quickly tried to call her on the woman's comlock. When that did not work he attempted the compost inside and outside of her quarters. Disturbed, he made a call to security. "Verdeschi, I'll need you in the Commander's quarters. Something seems to be wrong with his wife."
"Marcia?" Tony Verdeschi asked, concerned. "Have you called the Commander?"
Bob wanted to call Koenig but he kept his comlock off, telling one and all he did not want to be disturbed for any reason. "I'll make a call to Dr. Russell and see if she can contact him." The energy transfer was all important and he could not be disrupted in this task but Bob was sure Helena would be able to speak with Koenig and he certainly would want to know that something potentially harmful had happened to his spouse.
Helena, who was having problems of her own with the Commander, took Mathias call and swiftly made her way to the Weapons Section, where the transfer procedure was taking place. John had treated Helena and others abominably, not explaining himself, and he pretending he did not notice her anguish. Helena had to assume that whatever it was they once shared was now over. She could attribute his attitude not only to a hidden secret, something he had come into contact with on the asteroid, but also an intense dislike for his former love since she did not seem to care that he was now free for her.
Perhaps she had bruised his ego but this was ridiculous!
"We need to talk." Furious, Helena had never thought of John Koenig as a spiteful man but what else could she assume? "Please don't shut me out!" she urged.
"I'm not!" he barked, but was unable to tell her more than all would be revealed very soon.
"John, something has happened to Marcia. Bob has her in Medical Center and Tony Verdeschi thinks she was attacked. Don't you see that your actions here are frightening your people and causing them to act out violently? And this may only be the beginning. I don't have to tell you that terror, the idea that this power transfer destroying Moonbase Alpha, is having an incredibly negative influence on morale!"
He said nothing.
With a deep sigh of regret Helena said, "I want you to have a mental evaluation, John. And if you tell me no I'll have to remind you that I can order you to take that exam. The over-all command of Alpha might be yours but, as the CMO, if I think you are unstable I can over-rule your command."
The alien turned and looked at Helena, glowering.
He really wanted her dead.
[]
To be continued …