Part 32
After studying the map that he had stolen from the queen's residence, Jesse yanked his cloak back over his head. Praying that he was deciphering the alien symbols correctly, he turned down a small obscure road that was paved with rock that looked like marble. He ignored most of the odd looking vegetation that grew up over the road; instead he kept a watchful eye out for any aliens he might encounter.
"They aren't the aliens here, Jesse, you are." He mumbled to himself. Being concerned only with finding Isabel, he hadn't thought of the dangers that might await him on this part of his journey. What would these people do if they encountered an alien? Would they be like Earthlings and want to imprison him and study him or would they just kill him without question? He looked down the seemingly deserted road and then pulled his cloak closer to him, hoping no one would look too closely at his features.
It had seemed like hours since he left the relative safety of the residence but still he plodded on. "What the hell were you thinking?" He asked himself out loud. But he knew the answer. He had thought of the last six plus years. How he had spent them letting aliens dictate what he could do and where he could go. When yet another tried to decide his fate it had been the last straw. Isabel was his wife, the woman he loved, and no one, not Max, not some random alien, not even Isabel herself was going to stop him from doing everything in his power to see that she was safe. Maybe his thinking had not been rational but he didn't give a damn. Isabel was being held by someone they all, humans and aliens alike, feared. Why would they just leave her with him? How was that rational?
Noticing two Antarians walking towards him, Jesse hurriedly stepped into the brush and ducked down, hoping to obscure his position. Immediately he felt a sharp pang in his side and looked down. The bush he had chosen for a hiding place had very mean looking leaves, like a dagger. They were very sharp, sharp enough to break his skin. "Shit." He said a little too loud. Carefully, he peeked over the bush and breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the Antarians too far away to hear him. A shiver of fear ran up his spine but he ignored it staying as still as possible hoping that he wouldn't be discovered.
A few minutes later, Jesse held his breath and willed them to pass. He watched and listened but, although they seemed to be holding a conversation, neither spoke. 'It must be some kind of telepathy.' He thought, starting to relax a bit as they passed.
He waited a few more moments and then cautiously stuck his head out just in time to see a hand of one of the two Antarians complete a sharp blow to his head. Dizzily he fell backwards and all went black.
Max and Michael nodded their thanks to the servant who just handed them both a cup of tea. Michael took a sip then stretched his back and rubbed his eyes. With the help of the Orralat, Maria had been able to doze the past few hours. Michael was adamant about sitting by her side through it all.
It was only after Maria had fallen asleep again that the doctor, Sebona, and Max insisted he needed a break. He'd decided that a walk down the hall to stretch his legs might do him some good. Now back at Maria's door and feeling refreshed a bit, Michael knew it had been a good idea.
Max stood trying to focus on Michael, but his mind kept wandering as he glanced up and down the corridor searching for any sign of Liz. At first, he had just been relieved to be away from the commotion of birthing babies but now, he realized he had also hoped to catch a glimpse of the woman he loved.
Silently, Max berated himself for his thoughts, knowing his concentration should be on Maria and Michael. He knew if he were going to stay true to his goal, he should avoid Liz at all costs. But now that she was here on Antar, he had doubts that he would be able to keep the promise he had made to himself — to save her from anymore pain. Checking once more on the still empty hallway, Max forced his full attention back to Michael. "Are you doing ok?"
Michael nodded. "Just tired." He took a long drink. "Do babies always take so long?"
Max shrugged.
"Look Max, thanks for staying. I feel better . . . " His sentence was cut short by a loud cry from the other side of the door.
Maria had woke from a restless nap with fear surging through her. "The baby!" She yelled. "What's wrong with the baby!" Scanning the room as best she could she continued her hysterics. "Michael? Where is Michael!"
In a panic, Michael shoved the drink at Max and ran into the room with Max on his heels. "I'm right here. What's the matter?" He said as he came to her side and took her hand in his.
With fear in her eyes, Maria looked up at him. "I can't feel the baby Michael! Something's wrong!"
Trying to be reassuring, but at the same time staring at Sebona questioning, Michael answered. "Nothing's wrong sweetheart. The baby is fine."
Sebona made her way to Maria's other side and rubbed her arm soothingly. "Your child is fine my lady. At this moment he is doing his duty, struggling to come into the world."
Unconvinced, Maria shook her head. "There's no pain! I should feel pain!" She looked back towards Michael. "You should hear my mom talk about giving birth. She always use to tell me how terrible it was; how I should stay away from men until I was damn sure I wanted to experience the pain!"
Michael laughed remembering how Amy use to get when she thought Maria was following in her footsteps.
Maria was not amused. "Don't you dare laugh at me, Michael Guerin!"
Immediately the laughter left Michael's face. "I wasn't. I was . . ."
"Yes you were! My God, our baby's in trouble — something is wrong and you're laughing!"
Unaccustomed to anyone speaking to a royal that way, Sebona was stunned into silence for a few moments. When she recovered she tried to explain. "The Orralat," she motioned towards the man who stood at the head of Maria's bed, "is pulling the pain from you into him. That is why you do not feel any unpleasantness."
"No you're wrong!" Maria yelled as she shook her head violently, "There is something wrong with my baby!"
Sebona nodded to the man and he drew his hand from Maria's face, instantly allowing the pain to surge through her.
Maria's face twisted and her eyes watered. "OH GOD!" She said as she dug her fingernails into Michael's hand. "It hurts, it hurts! PLEASE make it stop!"
Motioning to the man to continue, Sebona rubbed Maria's shoulder gently. "See, everything is just as it should be."
With the Orralat back in position, the pain was once again subsiding. Maria took a long, deep breath and tried to turn her head towards the man behind her. "Thank you."
"It is my pleasure, my lady." The man whispered.
Sebona smiled down at her. "This way, without pain, is much better."
Maria nodded her agreement as she looked over at Sebona. "You Antarians are a lot different then Earthlings. On Earth a man could never deal with so much pain?"
Laughing, Sebona whispered into Maria's ear. "He has the soul of a woman."
Jesse was brought back to consciousness by a sturdy slap to his face. Bringing his hand to his sore head, Jesse forced himself to sit up. "What the hell?"
"Get up." Alex said forcefully. "We can't stay here."
Seeing the alien again, Jesse's resentment started to build once more. "What are you doing here?"
Alex ignored his question, reaching down to help him up, but Jesse pushed his hand away. "I can do it," he said as he started to stand but, still dizzy from the beating he received, he fell back down. Alex rolled his eyes and reached again. This time, Jesse angrily took his hand.
Alex turned to walk into a wooded area on the side of the road, expecting Jesse to follow. But instead Jesse stayed firmly planted next to the road. Exasperated, Alex turned back towards the human. "That road is not safe."
Jesse shrugged off the warning and looked the alien in the eyes. "Well, I am going to find my wife or die trying."
"If you stay on that road I can promise you that you will die trying." When Jesse didn't move, Alex took a deep breath. "Fine. I will take you with me as I try to rescue the princess, but you will follow my orders and I am not responsible if anything happens to you."
Feeling as if he had won a major battle, Jesse nodded his agreement.
Both Michael and Maria were finally calm. Michael was sitting at her side, holding her hand and whispering lovingly in her ear. Max stood in the corner of the room feeling useless. He knew he was there for Michael but he also realized that he was not needed. Sebona and her helpers had everything under control
Watching the couple made Max's heart ache. He saw in them what he craved, but would never have. If he could only cherish Liz the way Michael cherished Maria, the way Liz deserved to be cherished. But he knew it was not to be. He had a feeling that Liz, if given the choice, would choose him. She would choose to sacrifice everything, her friends, her family, her home, and even her dignity for him. But he would not give her that choice, he would not ask for any more sacrifices from her. He loved her too much for that.
Michael pulled Maria's hand to his lips and kissed it softly. Unable to watch what he could not have, Max turned his head and stared at a painting on the wall.
Sebona put her hand on Maria's contracting stomach then looked at her helper. "It is almost time."
The helper, Esa, found her way to the end of the bed and nodded towards Sebona.
Sebona looked at Maria. "The Orralat will ease off just enough for you to feel the desire to push. When that happens, push with all you possess, and in a few moments your child will be in your arms."
Ready to meet her child but still a little scared Maria looked into Michael's eyes for strength, then nodded her understanding to Sebona.
Sebona signaled to the man who had helped Maria with her pain and almost immediately Maria felt the need to push. The man still had his hand on her face so the discomfort was minimal but she still squeezed Michael's hand as he urged her on. After bearing down just a few times, Maria felt the pressure ease and then heard her baby cry.
"Praise be, you have a healthy son." Sebona sang as she took the child from Esa and placed it in Maria's arms.
"Praise be." The two other Antarian's mimicked.
Michael had tears of joy and relief in his eyes as he leaned over and kissed Maria's forehead. "He's beautiful. I love you."
Consumed with love, Maria looked up at him and then back down into the eyes of the beautiful baby boy she had almost lost and joined in the chorus. "Praise be."
Max smiled at the happy couple now entranced by their new baby and knew this was his opportunity to make his exit. He walked over to Michael and patted him on the back. He made a comment to Maria about how beautiful her baby was and quickly walked towards the door.
"Where is Liz?" Maria asked just as he got to the door.
Max stopped to answer. "She's across the hall. Would you like me to send her over here?"
Sebona spoke up. "Not just yet, sire. We must get our new mother and her child cleaned and prepared before they receive any visitors."
Maria started to disagree, but then decided that Sebona was right.
Max smiled over at Maria reassuringly. "I will send her over in a little while."
"Thank you." Maria answered as Max walked out of the room.
Hours later, Jesse walked along with the Antarian, wondering how long the two of them could continue on this quest together and not speak to each other. He would have tried to make small talk with anyone else but something told him that this alien didn't want to talk to him and he thought it better not to push his luck.
He looked up at the bright sky and cursed the suns that hung overhead. How could anyone tell what time of day it was when it was always light?
Alex seemed to read Jesse's mind. "It is near dusk." He pointed to one of the suns. "See how the greatest star is lower and the sky is almost lavender, it will be below the horizon soon and the smaller star will begin to lower itself in the sky. At that point the sky will only have muted light in it much like Earth's white nights."
Jesse nodded his head. He had never been far enough north to experience a white night but he had seen film of it. It always seemed as if there was an eerie calm to it and that was what he was beginning to feel now.
"We will have to stop soon."
"There will still be light." Jesse argued. "We can continue."
Alex shook his head. "You need to rest and since I had to leave so quickly," he looked up at Jesse making sure he understood that it was his fault, "I must have time to finish my plans."
Realizing that the alien was right, Jesse continued to walk passively behind him, eventually losing himself in his thoughts. Knowing that this alien had saved him from his earlier attackers and also realizing that he had the power to make sure Jesse wouldn't have followed, his resentment began to fade. Finally Jesse overcame his uneasiness about talking to the man and asked, "What is your name?"
Alex considered the question for a moment before he answered. "Rand. My name is Rand."
Jesse walked a few more feet, and then stopped. When Alex turned, Jesse looked firmly into the man's eyes. "Thank you Rand."
Max lifted his hand to knock as he had done umpteen times before, but then he dropped it. Running his fingers through his hair, he laughed sardonically, thinking of all the people he had frightened, all the battles he had fought — one hateful look from Liz shouldn't bother him.
"Get a grip Max, you're just tired." He mumbled dismissing his reluctance. He forced himself to lift his hand once again, this time making contact with the door.