PART FOUR.

()

His frustration shown in the white knuckles of his hands as they gripped the controls of the Eagle. The thin line of his mouth, as he pressed his lips tightly together, further signified the tense mood of the moment. "Maya!" Koenig growled.

"The tracking device has been deployed, Commander." The Psychon called from the passenger module, "It's attached itself to the hull of the Simtag spacecraft. We will have tracing capabilities in five minutes. That is, of course, if the vessel remains motionless for that amount of time."

Carter looked at Koenig from the co-pilot's seat. He nodded affirmation and admired, not for the first time, how the Commander thought ahead. When John had asked him to load the tracer Alan acknowledged but thought he was over-reacting. Koenig was suspicious by nature, not always a virtuous trait, but in this case it was a good call. He should have known better. When it came to Helena and the well being of Moonbase Alpha, John Koenig was not taking any chances.

"Alan, keep trying to reach the Simtags."

"Yeah," Carter said, doubtful but steadfast in the endeavor.

()

She awoke in a fog. From where she lay she lifted her left arm and flexed her fingers. Helena turned her hand over and looked at the palm. There was an ever so minor bulge, the size of a tiny pebble, lifted close to her thumb. Gently, Helena pressed the area and felt a slight tingle through her fingers.

Groggy but anxious, Dr. Russell looked about. She had been lain on a single divan with soft bedding and the space she was resting in appeared to be a large office or common room. It reminded Helena of Alpha's old Main Mission. As she sat up she saw a large inactive viewing screen, an elaborate console and a wall of computers. She stood shakily to her feet and looked up at the vaulted ceiling, the alien architecture, and across from her was an elongated window where, looking out, she could see the moon.

Helena's breath caught in her throat. "John." she whispered, hopeful.

A door slid open. Inside walked Rauley and Milo. With them was a pretty woman wearing a revealing amber colored gown.

"My beauty awakens!" Rauley proclaimed as he lifted his hands in a grand gesture.

"What is the meaning of this?" Helena demanded, her voice slightly gruff from her ordeal. "I'm on your Simtag spaceship?" she asked to clarify.

He placed his hands on her shoulders, "My darling, I have delivered you to paradise!"

"You've abducted me, you mean." Helena pulled away and rubbed her hand again. She looked at Milo, "What did you do to me?"

Rauley answered, "A minor deception, my love. When I approached you in Command Center, before we returned here, I took your hand in mine and implanted a dilp, a small mechanism which not only allowed us to track your whereabouts on Alpha but made it possible to bring you aboard our vessel. Then, when Milo took your hand in Medical Center his dilp, along with yours, told my controller it was time for you to come home."

"Home?'

"Yes, this is spacecraft is home - at least until we get to Simtag."

Milo said, "You are not accustomed to our method of transportation, Dr. Russell. It is your delicate nervous system and metabolism. Are you well now?" he asked, openly concerned.

"As well as can be expected after every cell in my body exploded just to be resembled again." Helena looked at Rauley, "I suppose it's idiotic to ask if my people are aboard yet?"

His indulging smile and a glance at a very shamefaced Milo said it all.

"You never intended to allow Alphans to come to your planet to live. It was all a lie."

"You, my darling, are the only Earth woman who will ever live on Simtag."

"I want to go back to the moon." she insisted, "I want to be with my people."

"No." Rauley reached past Helena and pressed a button on the control panel. The large screen came to life. On it was Koenig's Eagle and the moon beyond it. "It is time for you to say goodbye to that unworthy life, Helena."

"Why are you doing this?"

"I want you to be my bride." Rauley said, simply. "Out of all on Alpha I found you the most worthy. You will be a queen amongst my people, have my children, and live a life of privilege and pleasure."

Milo observed, "The Commander is persistent." He watched the Eagle and made a note that Koenig was still attempting to make contact with their communications operative.

"Yes," Rauley said, faintly perturbed. "They demand your return, Helena. Koenig thinks he can rescue you. Perhaps he even thinks he and his people still have a chance to live on our world." His smile was sarcastic, "He really is a fool."

"You are the fool." Helena said, fuming. "Did you think he would give up without a fight? Commander Koenig is not …"

"Oh sweetness," Rauley mocked her naiveté, "I was counting on it! Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to blow that Eagle out of space, killing your lover and forever ridding you and myself of his existence."

Helena stared at Rauley, unsmiling, her arms folding in front of her, apparently unmoved. However, inside she was shaking like a leaf. "You would not dare." she challenged. "Those people are harmless and killing them would only show you as a fiend."

"Or resolute." he countered, "I think a demonstration is necessary." Rauley searched the moon. He found Argaeus, a mountain not far from Alpha. He called to his ship's weapons room, "Reference area two-eight-nine-six-seven." he said to his controller.

"Yes, sir." an unseen alien replied.

Helena watched as the top of the mountain became red hot, turning into lava, then it exploded, sending light and shards of debris into the crater where Moonbase Alpha resided. She gasped and held onto the console for fear she would fall. Helena could feel a fragile grip on the possible splinter then break apart in front of her eyes.

"Shall I demonstrate further?" Rauley asked, "Perhaps on a more significant target." He pressed a button and the Eagle came into full view. "I can call the coordinates into my controller and blast that Eagle from existence."

"NO!" Helena cried and grasped his arm. "Rauley, please …"

"Ah, now you are convinced." He smiled at her and Rauley lifted a hand to gently touch Helena's cheek, "What will you do to save him and the rest of your friends?"

Helena could not believe her dilemma. "You would kill them all just to have me?" she asked, stunned and incredulous

"You are a gem of infinite value, my love. I would slay for you without hesitation."

Helena glanced at Milo who was staring down at the floor.

"You are a monster." Helena told Rauley.

"I am in love."

"What you're feeling for me is not love ... It's sick." she accused.

He ignored the indictment. "What will you do, Helena, to save them?" he repeated.

Overcome, looking at Alpha and the Eagle once again on the screen, weighing her options and realizing she only had one, Helena said: "Anything you ask, Rauley."

He lifted a hand and softly stroked her hair, "Good girl."

()

"John," Verdeschi called to the Eagle, "There has been an explosion. A laser of some kind from the craft was aimed at Argaeus. There has been no damage to Alpha but it could be a warm up to something worse."

Maya stood in the open cockpit doorway, "Perhaps it was a warning."

Alan asked, "Do you think they know about the tracer we put on their ship?"

"Arm the laser cannon." Koenig advised Verdeschi.

"John, Helena is on that craft." Tony reminded.

"I know." Koenig looked directly at Verdeschi on the screen, a rather unforgiving accusation on his face. "Arm the laser cannon."

"Commander Koenig." Rauley suddenly appeared on the Eagle's monitor, over-riding Verdeschi. "I hope you will forgive us for our little deception but we found it necessary."

"Where is Dr. Russell?" Koenig demanded without hesitation.

"Here and safe. I am delighted to say she will not be returning to you."

Koenig snarled, "Like hell she won't."

"Commander," Rauley smiled indulgingly, like an adult being patient with a young, spoiled child wanting a toy. "I am disappointed that you are not more agreeable with our trade."

"Trade?" Carter asked, astounded by his arrogance.

"Yes, I have given you and your people precious gifts that will aid Moonbase Alpha for a long time to come. In exchange you have given me Helena Russell, my soul mate, and the woman I intend to wed."

"She is not a commodity!" Koenig exclaimed, "If you must, take back what you have given us and return Dr. Russell."

"Our transaction was none negotiable, Commander. Besides, my beloved has come to accept the inevitable. She has consented to be mine. Haven't you, dear?"

Rauley took Helena by the arm and pulled her in front of the monitor.

"Helena!" Koenig breathed easier, seeing her alive although her appearance, her obvious trepidation, made him pause. "Are you all right?" he asked.

"Yes," she said, gulping ever so slightly. "John, you have to go back to Alpha. He's capable of destroying you and the moon. I can't be responsible for your deaths."

"Helena." He said her name in an outward breath. The threats and pressure Rauley had directed at her must have been overwhelming, "I'll never give up."

"You must. Please, John. Do as he says or we will both live to regret it." she implored.

Their eyes searched one others on the monitor, "I can't just let you go." His voice was strained and he spoke as if it was only the two of them listening, "Helena, we can't just pretend everything we shared, what we've meant to one another, never happened. I won't go on …"

"You have to, John." Helena interupted, unable to conceal the hopeless misery in her voice. "Forget me." she pleaded.

Koenig leaned forward and spoke in a whisper, "You ask the impossible. I love you." he said.

"Oh, John." She wept, tears falling freely down her cheeks now, and a finger touched his face on the screen before Helena was pulled forcibly away by Rauley.

"Poignant." he said, "But she is mine now, Koenig. The sooner you both understand this the better." He put his arms around her, nearly mocking Koenig's earlier display in the Recreation Center. "But do not fear, Commander. As a wedding gift I promised my Helena I will allow you and your people to live on. You should feel joy. Your lives will no longer be at risk, enriched instead with the gifts I gave you, and our lady here will be made noble, much admired by the Simtag people and loved by me." Then he added, almost wolfishly, "And she will be loved often, Commander Koenig." And, "No offence."

Koenig felt a white hot fury bubble inside of him and he, with great effort, kept quiet for fear of saying something to the alien that would make him lash out. Not only was Rauley unpredictable, easily ordering their Eagle and Moonbase Alpha destroyed, but John feared for Helena. The Simtag leader, he was coming to learn, was capable of anything. There was no doubt in Koenig's mind that a woman as free-thinking as Helena would be abused and eventually seriously damaged by Rauley. When he realized he would never completely have Helena to himself, Koenig feared, he would kill her.

Koenig had to get her back.

Helena looked away from the monitor, embarrassed and grief stricken in the alien's embrace. However, before he signed off, Helena broke free and once again reached forward and put her hand on the screen, as if touching the man she truly loved for the last time.

"Helena!" Koenig exclaimed - but she was gone.

"John?" Verdeschi appeared on the screen.

"Retract the laser cannon." The Commander ordered.

Moonbase Alpha and Eagle two-five watched as the alien spacecraft sped away.

()

The travel tube ride from Launch Pad One to Moonbase Alpha was silent.

Koenig sat, booted feet firmly on the ground, his hands clasped, fingers entwined, face impassive, and he was deeply in thought. No one knew quite what was on his mind, grief most probably, but felt they might be a recipient of the Commander's legendary temper if they interrupted him before he was ready to speak.

Even Maya and Alan, two of his closest friends, looked at one another, unsure if they should offer advice, sympathy, or merely sit and keep their mouths shut.

When the tube finally docked and the door slid open, Verdeschi was waiting for them. He stood, shook Alan's hand, and waited for instruction. Tony tried to meet John's eyes but the Commander deliberately ignored him.

The two unneeded botanist left them to write their reports.

"Maya," Koenig said, "how long will it take to prepare the new fuel to be used in one of our Eagles?"

Surprised by the question, she said, "Commander, we know its components but we haven't even tested it yet."

"I will be the test. How long?"

"Three hours?" she hazard a guess.

"Make it two."

Maya aknowleged and made her way to the Technical Section.

"Alan, prepare Eagle Three for the fuel. Make it laser equipped and re enforced for a long journey."

Carter nodded and waiited to see if there was more from his Comander.

"John," Verdeschi took his arm, "I know you're desperate but don't lose your head …"

"Don't lose my head?" Koenig's voice was low and controlled but filled with venom. He shook free from Verdeschi's hold. "That's your advice? You were supposed to protect Helena. You knew what was going on so what happened?"

Verdeschi could see the vehemence, only marginally contained, behind Koenig's eyes. Although Tony was a brave man he knew his friend and Commander's moods. Never had his temper, or an allegation of culpability, been directed at him before and the Chief of Security wasn't sure how to respond other then to tell him the truth. "John, I had highly trained sentries following Helena, with stun guns, watching her and never letting she and Milo out of their sight. They were just caught off guard …"

"And where were you?"

The tension was so thick it could be cut with a knife.

"Command Center where, as acting base Commander, I was needed."

Koenig closed the distance between them, his voice nearly muted and trembling with rage. "If it had been Maya you would have made damn well sure nothing happened to her." There was near threat in his tone, "You would have stayed by her side instead of delegating to a couple men who had no real idea what was going on and what to expect. You would have thrown yourself into the situation and she would never have left Alpha on your watch."

"John …"

"Don't you tell me anything different!" His shout was like a trap that snapped repeatedly, not allowing another word to follow from the reproached. Just before he walked away, Koenig accusing gazed locked with Verdeschi's. He said, "You failed me, Verdeschi, and I will never forgive you." Koenig then looked away, done with him, and walked down the hall.

It was like a punch in the gut. Koenig wasn't just Tony Verdeschi's Commander but he had also been his best friend.

Carter was standing aside from the men, listening and hearing everything said. He watched the Commander storm off and Tony's wounded pride. Empathizing, he patted the Italian gently on his right shoulder, "Don't let it get to you, mate. The man is upset and not thinking clearly. Later he'll realize how wrong he was."

"But is he wrong?" Verdeschi asked. "If he's lost Helena because of my stupidity … How could I blame him for detesting me? I blew it, Alan."

Carter didn't see it that way. "You did everything you were supposed to do, Tony. Everything that was reasonable. You can't be everywhere."

"But she's still gone, isn't she? And our Commander is getting ready to fly into space, following an alien craft, hoping to bring back the woman he loves or die trying." Verdeschi closed his eyes and shook his head back and forth. It was insane. And he truly did have to wonder - Would he have taken extra precautions had it been Maya in Helena's situation? Yeah, he thought, I probably would. And it gave him no pleasure, this time, to think that his beautiful Psychon was not the object of an alien's perverted affection. She was still here on Alpha with him while his friend, if he could still call him that, was alone and grasping at straws.

Koenig was right. He had failed both John and Helena and Tony would regret it always.

()

The woman in the amber gown was called Tia and Helena learned she was her own personal servant.

After they sped away from Alpha, as Helena watched the moon grow smaller and smaller from her view outside the large window, Rauley ordered her taken to quarters. He told Tia he wanted Helena indulged and wearing royal green, to match her "emerald eyes", and Helena now sat in a chair as Tia and another woman, Olsa, fussed over her.

They had bathed her, washed her hair and dried her. They then wove tiny jewels through her hair. The women presented Helena with a magnificent gown which slid over her head and down her body like silk. It was a luminescent green that revealed her slender shoulders. There were slits up either side of the gown, to her knees, and it was very flattering. She was also given matching shoes that fit like gloves.

If Helena hadn't been so unhappy she might have enjoyed the pampering. As it was, with the women applying lotion and scented powders to her limbs and touching up her make-up, all she wanted to do was lay down and sleep her existence away. Helena likened it to what she felt shortly after she had learned Lee had disappeared around Jupiter. She was depressed, in another world, and did not want to come back.

But eventually she did come back and she worked hard, accomplishing much, enough to eventually become the CMO of Moonbase Alpha. Helena never thought she would love again. She had almost counted on it. But when she met John Koenig her resolve fractured. She fought it, content to be a widow and professional for the rest of her life, but the attraction on both sides proved to be just too strong.

Even now, in Helena's misery, the thought of their first night together - its tenderness and beauty - created a warm sensation and deep yearning. Their connection had only intensified and became more profound over time. John ...

And now, she was going to marry a man she not only did not love but seriously detested.

The gods must be laughing like idiots, Helena thought, wretchedly.

"Enough." Helena waved the women away and stood, looking at herself in the long mirror before her. She sighed. Yes, she thought, everything Rauley could ever want. The idea disgusted her. She asked, "Where is Dr. Milo? I want to talk with him."

"He is in a conference with his Excellency." Tia said.

"Do you have a medical unit on this craft?"

"Yes, my lady."

"Take me there."

()

When the travel tube docked outside of Eagle Three its lone passenger exited, tossed his survival pack onto a passenger seat, and made his way into the cockpit.

Waiting for him, sitting in the co-pilot's seat, was Alan Cater.

"Not this time, Alan. You need to leave." Koenig said from the door between sections.

"Not on your life. You need back up."

"Alan, this is personal." Koenig's tone was laconic.

"I know."

"There is every chance I will not make it back alive. I can't ask you or anyone else to face that danger."

"I understand and I've said goodbye to everyone and everything that matters, John. I'm going."

"Alan …"

"Don't be selfish, Commander. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a good doctor out here in deep space?"

Koenig said nothing. Time was wasting. But he did appreciate the pilot's loyalty and, despite his desolation, Alan's humor. He took his place in the pilot's seat.

"Let's go get her back, John." Carter said.

()

END OF PART FOUR.