Lance fixed a wonderful dinner for himself and Lauren. She said very little, but he found it amusing she seemed to savor every bite she took.
"I don't remember being that good a cook," he said through a smile.
Lauren laughed. "It's just that I haven't had real food in a long time. We make do on alpha, but it doesn't taste as good as this does.."
"Well, I'll take that as a compliment." he stated. Just staring at Lauren across the table, made him realize just how much he missed her after she left. Her flowing, auburn hair, dark brown eyes, it stirred something inside and all he wanted to do was take her back to his bed and make passionate love to her.
Yet, something held him back. They had to talk first and he had to understand what was going on, why she was here, and for how long. For a brief moment, he wondered if he was the one dreaming, happy that Lauren was back with him and they could continue on with their lives.
Lost in thought, he wasn't aware Lauren was holding his hand until she squeezed it gently in her own. "Are you okay, you looked a little distant just now."
Lance leaned back in his chair. "Sorry babe, I was looking at you just now and realized how much I love you."
Lauren stood and walked up behind him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. "I love you too." she whispered in his ear.
"Would you like to go for a walk?" he asked. "The water is warm right now."
"I would like that," she replied releasing her grip on him.
She started to clear away the dishes, but Lance stopped her. "That can wait babe, right now I just want to be with you and try to understand what is going on ."
"Okay." she said taking his hand, following him outside and down onto the beach.
"How did you get here Lauren?" he asked, more bluntly than he intended to. "Just...just start at the beginning and tell me everything."
Lauren tugged on Lance's hand, pulling him down to set beside her in the sand. She drew her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them as she did. She stared out across the ocean as she spoke.
"I wish I could fully explain to you how I got here, but I don't know that I can because I don't understand it myself.
"What did you mean earlier when you said it hadn't happened yet?"
Looking up at him she said, "Breakaway..."
Even more confused, Lance shook his head. "What..."
"Lance, just hear me out." she pleaded. "Right now, on the moon, nuclear waste is being stored in several areas.
Somehow, this waste begins to rise in temperature or something, I don't know that anyone was really sure what caused it, but it leads to a massive nuclear explosion that will tear the moon away from Earth's orbit. That takes place on September 13 of this year. Including myself, there are over 300 people on Moon base Alpha, and everyone of us are trapped. There was no way of knowing what happened down here on Earth, no clear way to know if we could even return. John Koenig, Commander of the base decided that with so many unknowns, any attempt to return to Earth would not take place."
Her voice choked with emotion and she stopped for a moment.
Lance hugged her close to him. "John Koenig, you mentioned him earlier."
"Yes," Lauren nodded, then continued.
The moon traveled across vast universes, we never knew exactly where we were, or what was going to happen to us. It took time for everyone to adjust to what happened, but John Koenig made sure we all had a routine to stick to, simulated day and night, work shifts, etc. It helped, but we never stopped thinking about our family and loved ones on Earth.
As to how I got here, that's hard to explain. The moon was traveling through an area of space that was bathed in beautifully colored lights. The danced and flashed about, but no one knew what caused it. On one occasion, there were some energy sparks and they struck one of the exterior laser cannons for our defense and it had to be repaired.
I was on board Eagle One with John Koenig returning from a trip we had made to take care of the repairs. It took a few hours as we also had to make sure the other lasers were in tact before we returned to Alpha.
Watching the lights once we were back in the air, I just had this memory of you when we were together on July 4, right where we are know, watching the fireworks, and suddenly, the lights got extremely bright, flashing wildly that we had to shield our eyes. They started to make some sort of design, a tunnel of some sort and the Eagle was sucked into it. After that, I don't remember anything except waking up realizing I was on a beach..."
She shrugged. "Why I ended up back here with you Lance, is something I can't fully explain."
He was silent for a long moment, realizing she was looking up into the evening sky. Lance still saw only one moon. "Are they closer?" he asked.
"Just a little." she answered, shivering from the cool evening air.
Lance got to his feet and held his hand down to her. "Come on babe, let's go back inside." Lauren stood up beside him, grasping his hand.
Gazing into her eyes, he told her, "I won't question why or how you're here with me right now, because it doesn't matter. What does, is that you came back to me. Whether we have hours left together, or days, I want to spend that time letting you know how much I love you Lauren."
She smiled as he wiped away the tears on her cheeks. "I love you too."
Lance kissed her, then led her up the stairs. They would spend the night making up for the time together that had been taken away from them.
John wasn't sure how much time had passed since he asked Helena to let him talk to Victor. He must have fallen asleep as when he opened his eyes, he seemed to feel a little better. He heard the creak of the door to his room and turned his head in that direction.
"Victor, " he said with a warm smile.
"Ah, I see you're awake. Helena said you wanted to talk with me, but when I came by earlier you were asleep. I thought it best not to disturb you."
John nodded in agreement as Victor pulled up a chair and set down beside him. "Victor, I hope you'll understand all I'm about to tell you. I don't know who else to talk to."
"I'm listening John, you know I'll keep an open mind."
John struggled to set up a bit. "Victor, I am John Koenig, but not the one who belongs in this time, I'm from the future, This whole scenario, my injuries, the crash, it never happens. If I'm here on Earth right now as you and Helena tell me I am, that means Breakaway hasn't happened yet."
Victor scratched his head, processing what John had just told him. There was question in his eyes, but he didn't seemed shocked. "Breakaway, John?" he questioned.
"Yes," John stated with authority. "On September 13th of this year, the moon is going to be blasted away from Earth's orbit due to a massive nuclear explosion from the waste that is being stored up there right now. I don't know what the date is now, but there is a possibility that we can stop it from happening."
Leaning back in his chair, Victor looked as if he were in deep thought. "I noticed something different about you John, right from the beginning, but could never quite put my finger on it. A John Koenig from the future is the last thing I would have considered."
John looked serious. "I'm not lying Victor, I can tell you certain events that are probably taking place as we speak. You and Helena both are supposed to be on alpha right now. The Meta Probe is in danger and Simmonds sends me up there to get things back on line."
Victor nodded. "John, you know me, I'm pretty much a believer in most things, I guess that comes with being a scientist, but talking about a future..."
"Damn Victor, I'm not lying." John said with irritation in his voice. "I'm telling you the truth. I want you to check on something for me and if it checks out, will you believe me then?"
'I didn't say I don't believe you John."
" I was on board Eagle One with a weapons technician named Lauren Collins. The area of space we were in at that time was filled with brightly colored lights. On our approach back to alpha after repairing some minor damage to of the exterior laser cannons, the lights became very active. They opened up into some kind of tunnel and the Eagle was sucked into it. I don't know what the fate of alpha is but, if I'm alive, I'm hoping she is too. While I don't know her exact whereabouts, I have a feeling I know where you might can find her. She has a boyfriend by the name of Dr. Lance Heston. He has a house down on the beach. She's supposed to be on Alpha right now, but I know she isn't there."
Victor got to this feet. "Alright John. "You are correct on one fact. The Meta Probe is in danger, Simmonds make that fact known today. I don't know how you knew about that or the fact that you are next in line for Command of Moon base Alpha. I have to assume what you are telling me is the truth. I will check on Lauren for you and let you know what I find out."
John sucked in a painful breath. "Thank you Victor, it's important."
"I know it is John." he told his friend, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
John sighed as he glanced towards the window in his room. "Victor, is the moon visible tonight?" he asked.
Victor looked back over his shoulder as he opened the door. "Yes John, you should have a nice view from your bed. Why do you ask?"
John forced himself up in his bed, despite the difficulty. "I...I don't know," he said as he got to his feet. "Something tells me I need to see the moon."
Victor rushed over to John's side, placing his arm around his shoulders to keep him steady. "John, you shouldn't be out of bed. If Helena should happen to walk in..."
"I don't give a damn Victor if she walks in or not. Right now I have to see the moon." John groaned as he took the few steps over to the window and Victor opened the blind for him. He gazed into the sky and found the moon peering out from a thin layer of clouds. The look in his eyes confirmed his suspicions.
"What is it John?" Victor asked.
He gazed out the window for a few seconds more, then faced Victor. "There are two moons and I know they will eventually come one. When that happens, I'll cease to exist in this time. I need to find Lauren before that happens. It could be a matter of hours, maybe days. Please help me do that."
"I will John." Victor stated and they both turned as they heard a sound from behind them.
They both turned around and in the doorway stood Helena Russell, the look on her face and in her eyes clearly showed she was furious.
"I did warn you," Victor said with a smile and soft chuckle.
"Yeah, you did." John confirmed. "Just please find out what you can about Lauren, I'll take care of Helena. I've got to know her quite well in the future."
Victor patted John on his shoulder, then turned to leave the room, avoiding eye contact with Helena. Not that she would blame him for John being out of bed, but he didn't want to take that chance. He left the room and the two of them alone.
"Commander Koenig, do you have a death wish?" she asked him once they were alone.
John looked over his shoulder at her, then stared back out the window. "No." was his simple reply.
Helena walked towards him, her face still showing her anger. "You may as well have. I don't think you understand the extent of your injuries."
John turned to face her and she helped him get back in bed. He tried not to show it, but he was thankful to be off his feet, as he still felt weak.
"I've never been much of one to follow doctor's orders." he told her with a weak smile.
"It's not a laughing matter Commander." she stated with authority.
"John.." he corrected.
Helena didn't smile. "Alright...John." she replied. "You are still recovering from a bad concussion that left you unconscious for several hours. You also have three broken ribs and a chest injury caused from sharp metal fragments of the crash. You lost a lot of blood and it will take you several days to get your strength back..."
"Helena..." John interrupted.
"I'm not finished," she told him. "The only way you are going to fully recover is to stay in bed and get some rest. If you refuse to do that, then I may not a choice but to keep you sedated."
John's face hardened, his eyes flashed with anger. It was evident in his voice when he spoke. "I don't think that will be necessary."
"Neither do I as long as you do as I ask and stay in bed. The more you try to do, the longer recovery you'll have."
John looked away from her and back towards the open window. Clouds were moving across the nighttime sky, but he could still make out the shadow of the two moons. They had inched a little closer and he hoped Victor would have time to check out his information on Lauren.
Helena walked to the window. "What is it Com...John" she asked.
"I was looking at the moon," he told her.
She followed his gaze. "I know you'll be back there before too long."
John turned his head back to meet her eyes. "I wish I could make you understand what's going on Helena. I'm John Koenig, but from a different time. When I look out that window and see the moon, I see two instead of one. Two moons that are becoming closer. When they touch, I will no longer exist in this scenario. I'll return to Moon base Alpha along with my technician, Lauren Martin..." or least he hoped he would.
Helena looked back out the window at the one moon she saw, then back at John. She was beginning to wonder if the concussion he suffered from the crash was more severe than originally thought.
"A different time?" she questioned.
"Yes, a time in the future, one that hasn't happened yet."
"John, I don't understand what..."
"I don't understand it either Helena. I was in Eagle One returning to alpha after a short mission. There were some colored lights in the area of space we were in. They formed some sort of tunnel and Eagle One was drawn inside. Next thing I know, I wake up in this damn hospital and I'm still try to comprehend what the hell is going on. You don't understand that I need to get out of this bed. There are things that I need to take care of."
Helena was truly worried about he patient. "John, if I could let you out of here, I would, but you are just too weak. Maybe in another week you'll be able.."
"I don't have a week Helena, maybe hours or even a few days at the most." he stated with sincerity in his voice. The way he was looking at her just now made her slightly uncomfortable.
She reached to open the top to the pajamas he was wearing. John grabbed her arm. "I'm alright Helena and I am telling you the truth,"
"I believe you John," she told him, although she wasn't sure she did.
"I need to change your bandages, Since you've decided to get out of bed twice, you're chest injury has bled some. I need to take care of that."
John released his grip on her arm, his fingers lingering around hers before she walked over to the supply cabinet. Helena wasn't sure why she squeezed his hand back, but it did seem to comfort him.
She set the supply tray at his bedside. "This won't be pleasant John, I can give you something for the pain."
He shook his head. "No, the pain reminds me that all of this is real and I'm still here." he told her and closed his eyes.
Helena stared down at him for a moment, considering his words. What did he mean by that she wondered.
She set to cleaning his wound, checking the stitches and applied fresh bandages. The wound still had healing to do but was showing no sign of infection. She mashed gently on his ribs, watching his face as she did so. He may not have groaned, but the pain still registered on his face. Next she ran her stethoscope across his chest.
"So, am I going to be okay?" he asked
She nodded as she still listened to his breathing. John placed his hand over hers as it rested against his chest. Their eyes met for a brief moment and she straightened.
"You'll be fine." she brushed her hair back into place while she returned the supplies to the cabinet. With her back to John, she filled a syringe, then walked back to his bedside. His eyes were closed and if they hadn't been, he would have seen the instrument in her hand and stopped her. Instead he felt a sharp sting on his arm and his eyes flew open.
"Helena...what the hell?"
"It's just something to help you sleep. I can't risk you getting out of bed again."
Once again, he griped her arm. "Damnit, you didn't have to do that."
Helena tried to pry his hand from around her arm, but John wasn't letting go. "Trust me Helena, you always have."
"What are you..." she started to say but John didn't let her finish.
Even though the sedative was taking effect, John pulled Helena down close to him and kissed her, more demanding than he should have. While it confused Helena, for whatever reason she felt herself respond to his kiss. She pulled away as he released her arm.
"Why did you do that?" she questioned in a shaky whisper.
"Get used to it babe," he told her, his voice fading, a smile on his lips. "We do more than that...in...the future."
Helena felt herself trembling and set down in the chair at his bedside. The steady rise and fall of his chest signaled that he was sleeping. Something inside caused her to take his hand in hers. She stayed with him for a long while. John Koenig was a complex man she reasoned. She was concerned about him as a patient, but now she was worried about her personal feelings towards him. That kiss meant something, she just wasn't sure what or more importantly...why.