CHAPTER 7

/

They were in a hurry and wasted no time while hastening to their craft.

When the men entered into the Eagle, each took a turn to look at Dr. Russell as she sat in the passenger section. She was in row B, closest to the wall, and appeared delicate, somewhat nervous, but healthy. She even managed a small if slightly melancholy smile for Alan and Victor who quickly made their way to the pilot's section after acknowledging her.

This gave their Commander an excuse to sit with Helena; to talk about their future together; if indeed they, or anyone else on Alpha, had a future. Whatever situation his people were in, Koenig still wanted the twenty minutes it took from the Altherian craft to Alpha to sit in her company. Clarification was paramount not just on a personal level but possibly for future generations to come.

He slid into the seat beside Helena, grateful for her wellbeing, and listened as Carter quickly went through a verbal check-list, smoothly departing from the Altherian vessel.

"How do you feel?" Koenig asked Helena.

"Better." She said simply as the Eagle lifted away and turned about to return to Moonbase Alpha.

/

Victor Bergman gave Main Mission a full report and, barring a few private details related to their Commander and CMO, told them they would be home soon.

"We are preparing for any eventuality, Professor." Morrow said, "Is there anything further to add?"

"Just make certain you raise our shields the minute we are on the pad. By that time the Aloy craft should be well within range."

"And God help us." Carter murmured, watching as the moon came into full view.

/

The silence in the passenger section was not exactly uncomfortable but it would have been obvious to anyone watching the couple that both were engaged in heavy thought.

Helena was the first to speak, "I know it sounds ridiculous but I'm going to miss them." She murmured, arms crossed in front of her, hands resting on her lap.

"The Altherians?" Koenig asked, looking pensively at the back of the seat in front of him.

"No, the voices. The visions." Helena looked down at her hands, "They've tormented me for weeks, like awful horrendously spoiled children, but I eventually became used to them. Now that they're gone I feel a little …"

"Odd?"

"Abandoned." She looked up at him and was comforted to see supportive understanding and not confusion and skepticism. Helena continued, "In a way they were my people just like you have your own people on Moonbase Alpha." She nearly chuckled, "Bad tempered companions but still friends. And now they're gone. I suppose you could call it grief sickness." She sighed in exasperation at where her fanciful thoughts were taking her.

Koenig paused before he spoke, "If Commander Anliz's theory that the Aloy will have no interest in Alpha proves wrong none of us will have time to experience loneliness and rejection." He offered, gently. "Alpha and everyone in it will be but a memory."

"You don't really think that will happen, do you John?" Her eyes searched his.

"I hope not, Helena."

"And if what he says is true?" she asked, "What if the Altherians can lead the Aloy away from us?"

Koenig smiled at the strangeness of the fifty-fifty proposition. "Then we can move on. Situation normal." His eyes met hers once again, "And maybe you and I can have a long over-do talk in private. Something tells me our particular brand of lonesomeness will be a thing of the past."

Helena's eyes closed and she pulled physically and emotionally away from him a little.

"Helena?"

She cleared her throat gently, attempting to hide the misery threatening to bubble to the surface. "When I spoke with Arra she told me what would happen between us, John. But she also added that when this was all over, when we returned to Alpha, and the Altherians and Aloy left us alone … we would forget what we know."

Koenig appeared confused for a moment, "Forget?"

"She said human beings could not know about their futures because the knowing would change it." Helena lightly licked her lips, inhaled for control, and looked up to meet John's eyes once again. "I suppose we will find our way to one another one day but …"

He did not allow her to complete the notion. Koenig leaned down and kissed her, long and gently. If it was true, if the things he was feeling for her now were going away, to be locked in stasis for an unpredictable time in the distant future, he did not want to waste time talking. Koenig wanted to show her how he desired her; spiritually, physically and passionately - for all time.

John relaxed slightly when he felt Helena's hands rest on his shoulders. Then the fingers moved up to curl gently around his neck as her lips softly parted beneath his own. When he pulled back, breathless with longing, his words were earnest, "I don't see how I could possibly forget this moment. Ever."

A little wistful, Helena's eyes sparkled her reply. A hand lifted to touch his cheek as she closed the space between them once again.

/

"Kano, activate the shields." Morrow ordered as they watched the Eagle settle on Pad Three.

It shimmered above them, a cloak of protectiveness that was hardly a match for any superior alien craft that might want to observe what Alpha had to hide.

Sandra's fingers tapped nervously on her key-pad. She brought up a solid image of the seconds alien craft in all its frightening grandeur. "Oh God." She whispered and hadn't realized she spoke aloud until she spotted Tanya looking at her with an expression of equal apprehension.

"David, any updated readings on armament?" Morrow asked.

"Inconclusive." Kano reported, "But if you want an educated estimation … We are in deep trouble."

A few of the Alphans working near the wall computer turned in their direction and Morrow nearly told their computer expert to keep his opinions to himself. However, before the words could be spoken, the Commander and his team entered through the double doors nearly at a run.

Somewhat out of breath, they had rushed from the docked travel tube to Main Mission.

"Communication?" Koenig asked, sharply.

"Nothing from either craft, Commander." Sandra reported. She then looked up and over at Dr. Russell as she and the others gazed at their Big Screen. The woman seemed well enough, the surgery evidently a success, but Sandra was uneasy. Considering the last time Helena was in Main Mission, the fact she held a stun gun on everyone, the data analyst felt fairly vindicated over her nervousness at having Helena so close during a dire emergency.

Bright lights suddenly emitted from the enemy alien craft. A beam penetrated Alpha's shields and alighted Main Mission, bathing it and the Alphans in an odd golden glow. A hum of what seemed like electricity was measurable.

"Victor, any idea what this is?" Koenig asked, lifting his hands to display the golden color each was suffused in.

"A slight tingling sensation." Bergman observed, rubbing his thumbs and fingers together. "They may be probing us to see if we are a menace."

Behind the seated Morrow, Helena moved closer to Koenig. "You don't suppose they have the capability of reading our minds, do you?" she wondered.

Alan, at his console, said: "Currently I don't feel any strange sensations in my head, Doc. It's my body that feels off."

Kano nodded his agreement.

"Alphans." A voice, nearly mechanical, called. "Why are you of interest to the Altherians?"

Nothing but the spaceship appeared on their screen.

"Why don't you ask them?" Koenig replied, assuming the aliens must be able to hear and comprehend them if they were asking questions.

"They delay in their answer." It said, "We courteously request an explanation from you, Commander."

"Courteous until we give them an answer they don't want to hear." Carter said, lowly.

Sandra heard him and nodded.

Koenig thought about it for a moment and glanced at Professor Bergman who acquiesced. "We are a weak people." He said, "Months of traveling through deep space has dangerously depleted our resources. The Altherians, of whom we know from another encounter, agreed to help us. They understand our deficiency."

"Yes." The alien voice sounded nearly scornful in its reply, "You are insubstantial."

The glow suddenly intensified for a period of forty-five seconds. There was no pain but the prickly feeling was strange and unnerving. There was enough time during this interval for Paul Morrow to look over at Sandra, who returned his fond gaze. Kano tapped vigorously on his keyboard and Alan Carter shifted his vision nervously about them, waiting for a payoff. Meanwhile Victor, despite the danger, marveled at the spectacle of it all.

It was also an interlude where Helena stepped in close to John Koenig and slipped her hand into his. They did not know what was going to happen but, as the couple gazed at one another, a depth of profound understanding was present. Neither could help the smiles which escaped their lips, the thoughts of love, children and a future that might not be as far off as some assumed. It would come. It had to.

Then the light was gone.

There was silence. Not even the sound of Computer, always active, could be heard.

The Altherian spaceship sped away, disappearing as if it had never existed.

The Aloy vessel quickly followed.

And Alpha was left alone, deserted by the aliens as if they were no more than an inconvenient stop off, an after-thought of insignificant proportions.

"Commander?" Morrow was looking at Koenig, verbalizing a question which was displayed on the faces of everyone in Main Mission.

He looked to Kano who had pulled then ripped a paper reading from his computer.

"They're gone." he said, "Computer says the threat no longer exists."

"When do we enter into the next viable galaxy?"

"Not for another week, Commander."

Koenig nodded and, looking down, suddenly realized he was holding Helena's hand. She saw it at the same time and, self-consciously pulled away.

"All right then." He exhaled, "Let's put it behind us and get back to work." His tone was deceptively relaxed and it went a long way in making his staff comfortable. After all, what more could they do?

"I better return to Medical Center." Helena said, "I've been absent for such a long time and I'm sure Bob could use the break."

"Helena, are you sure you should?" Victor was beside her and John, "You've just had major surgery, you know."

Helena shrugged, "Oh, I am certain Dr. Mathias will want to run a few test, just to make sure all is working as it should, but I've never felt better."

Victor chuckled, patting her gently on the arm, then he quietly trotted up the steps and exited Main Mission. He too had neglected his department on Alpha. No time like the present to close a fragmentary experiment.

Dr. Russell nearly turned to do the same when she was stopped.

"Helena." Koenig lifted a hand and gently held her arm.

She looked at him, they made eye contact, but he seemed baffled. "John?" she asked.

"I … don't remember." He released her and brought up his hands in a gesture of awkwardness. "Guess I need to get some sleep."

"As do we all." She replied, relieved and with a smile. "Have a good night, John."

He watched her exit, feeling an unaccountable loss, but was also please Helena was thriving. Koenig then looked to his busy people in Main Mission.

Good people. Wise. Complex. Expressive. Human.

He would have it no other way.

All was well on Moonbase Alpha.

/

THE END

March-April 2013

That's it! Thank you so much for the lovely comments and I want to especially thank Becky99 for all her help. This story was my idea, my outline was used and also various slices of dialogue BUT she practically wrote this fiction and especially the final chapter all on her own! I could not have done it without her!

God bless and good reading!

SL