Author's Note:
Revised Chapter Three has arrived.
Reviews, comments and suggestions are welcome.
CHAPTER THREE
Eventually, Maya's sobs began to subside, and her breathing gradually began to return to normal. She looked up at Tony with red, swollen eyes as she slowly pulled away from his embrace.
"Thank you," she managed to whisper, her voice raw with emotion and still marked by the shaky, uneven breaths that linger after a long, intensely hard cry.
Tony gave her a reassuring smile. "Anytime. Whenever you need to talk, or just need a friend, I'm here."
She nodded, wiping away the last few tears. The kindness first shown to her by everyone on the Eagle, then the gentle care received from both Dr. Russell and Dr. Mathias, and now the genuine concern in Tony's dark eyes kindled a faint glimmer of hope for her. Perhaps this new place and these unfamiliar faces could offer her a chance to rebuild her life from the smoldering remnants of her loss.
Tony gently released her, his touch lingering on her arm for a moment longer in silent reassurance.
"How about that coffee? I bet it's cooler now," he told her with a warm smile, hoping to provide a small distraction from her grief.
Maya managed a small smile in return, appreciating his patience and gentle demeanor. "Sounds nice," she agreed, her voice sounding a bit steadier than before.
She brought the mug close to her lips and inhaled the rich aroma, a small gesture that seemed almost ritualistic. Curiously and cautiously, she dipped her finger into the drink, bringing it to her lips to taste. The warmth and slight bitterness of the coffee were unfamiliar yet oddly comforting to her.
Tony found himself smiling at how endearing her gesture was.
There was something both innocent and brave about her cautious approach to something as mundane as a cup of Alphan coffee. She had been dealt unimaginable loss and was still finding courage to navigate the unknown, starting with a simple cup of imitation coffee.
"You know," Tony began, trying to keep the conversation light, "coffee is one of the few comforts we have out here. It's not quite the same as Earth coffee, but we make do." He watched as she took another tentative sip, her expression softening as the warmth of the beverage began to spread through her.
Maya nodded thoughtfully. "It's different, but… good," she said with delighted surprise. "Thank you, Tony."
"Anytime," he replied sincerely. "I mean that." And to his surprise, he truly did.
"All of us here on Alpha, we're on this unknown journey together," he told her. "We do try to look out for each other."
Maya moved her face to look directly at him. Her blue eyes were still shimmering with traces of tears but also a hint of gratitude and trust.
"I think I've already seen that," she said softly. There were a lot of things that she was beginning to see. So far, these Alphan people seemed genuinely kind. Maya was also beginning to see that the Commander really hadn't meant to destroy her whole world or even to take her father away from her forever.
Stop him from doing further harm to others, yes.
But causing the destruction of Psychon, no.
She remembered John Koenig's words. "I want to stop him, not harm him."
All of it had been just a terrible consequence because the Commander had simply wanted to save all of his people from the horrors of Psyche.
Maya remembered that her father had said at least one truth before her nightmare had begun.
These Alphans were honorable people.
Maya brought her gaze up and away from her cup of coffee and looked at Tony.
"You have all been so kind, rescuing me, taking me in. Tony is there anything that I can do to help Alpha," she asked as she sniffled, obviously trying very hard to not give in to another round of tears. "I'd like to help make amends," she said softly.
Tony was beginning to feel an admiration for her. Despite everything she had been through, she wanted to step in and contribute. John had said that Psychon science was more advanced than theirs and that had already been demonstrated for them, albeit in a harsh and deadly display.
He reached over and took her smaller hand into his, feeling an odd, subtle spark as he gently squeezed. "I'm pretty sure that we can find something for you to do."
They sat in a companionable silence for a few moments, sipping their coffee. Even without words, Tony could feel the bond between them strengthening. There was something unknown about her that stirred a faint, long ago and once familiar feeling within him although he couldn't quite place it. Or maybe he didn't want to place it.
Finally, he broke the silence.
"I'm so sorry, I can't even imagine what you're feeling right now."
Tony realized that he was holding her hand again as he continued to speak even though he didn't remember taking her hand.
"You need to know that you aren't alone, and we'll help you. I'll help you," he said, his voice steady and reassuring. His thumb brushed gently over her knuckles, a subtle gesture of comfort and solidarity. He ended with a friendly smile that spoke volumes to Maya's heart. His smile said there was support, understanding and even friendships awaiting her in this unfamiliar new world that she had been thrust into.
Maya looked down at her cup, her fingers tracing the rim. When she spoke, her words were soft but filled with raw honesty.
"Thank you, Tony." She shrugged her slim shoulders. "I'm afraid. I feel lost. But, getting to know people like you helps. More than you can know."
He gave her hand another reassuring squeeze.
As they sat, finishing their coffee, he noticed that Maya was blinking and rubbing her eyes more frequently. He suspected exhaustion was starting to kick in. And he wouldn't be surprised if her eyes weren't irritated not only from relentless tears but also from the volcanic ash and smoke that had filled the air during the escape from Psychon's final moments.
With concern etched on his face, Tony leaned forward just a little. When he spoke, his voice was gentle and full of empathy. "Maya, I have an idea. A hot shower might relax you a little and it might help soothe your eyes as well."
She looked at him with surprise and gratitude flickering in those blue eyes of hers. "I can't impose," she began.
Tony quickly interrupted her. "You're not imposing at all. It's the least I can do. You're my guest," he pointed out to her.
Maya hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "That does sound lovely," she said as she blinked her eyes again, obviously trying to clear away the irritation. Then she suddenly looked woefully down at her dress. A frown crossed her face.
"I don't have any other clothes," she managed to say.
Tony nodded thoughtfully, a determined look crossing his face as he didn't want to see her start crying again. "Hmmm…...give me a moment, I think I can help."
He got up from the couch and walked over to his storage cubicle along the wall. As he approached the cubicle, he glanced back at Maya, giving her a reassuring smile. Then, he began methodically pulling down the top few storage containers, setting them each on the floor with a deliberate and careful manner. Finally, he reached the bottom container, which was a little larger than the others.
Kneeling down, Tony opened the container and began sifting through its contents. His hands moved purposefully, pushing aside items until he found exactly what he was looking for.
"Ah ha," he soon exclaimed with delight.
He returned to the couch, once again sitting down beside her with eyes that twinkled with a mix of pride and relief.
"Now, obviously I don't keep a supply of girlie clothing around," he began with just a hint of amusement in his dark eyes. "But I do have some things that I think will work, for now, although they might be a little big for you."
First, he handed her a black T-shirt. Maya took the shirt from him and looked at it curiously. She held it up, examining it with inquisitive eyes. The material was soft to the touch. There was a strange design and wording on the front of it that left her very perplexed.
Tony could clearly see the confusion on her face as she began reading the wording aloud.
"Rolling... Stones…." she said slowly, pausing as she tried to make sense of it. She turned to look questioningly at Verdeschi.
"Tony, should I ask, what does the tongue represent?"
Tony laughed, the sound lightening the mood, bringing a brief respite from the exhaustion and sorrow that were present. "They were a rock band back on Earth. I went to one of their concerts and bought the shirt with their logo on it."
"A rock band?" Maya slowly echoed his words, clearly confused at this human term.
"Music," Tony explained. "Rock is a type or style of music, and a band means a group of musicians."
Maya still looked slightly confused, the concept of Earth's cultural nuances clearly foreign to her.
"Don't worry, Maya, I promise to introduce you to Earth music," he said reassuringly. He hesitated for a moment, then asked gently, "Did Psychon have music?"
A distant look filled her eyes as she nodded. Tony could see the sadness and longing for her lost home. Somehow, despite the weight of her emotions, she appeared to be holding herself together, drawing upon some unseen inner strength. He couldn't help but wonder just how much more of that inner strength she had left in reserve.
Maya shook her head slowly in disbelief of this strange Earth custom. Then she looked over at Tony. "But we did not have shirts with tongues on them."
Not only did Tony find the sound of her Psychon accent quite lovely and exotic, but he also could have sworn there was the tiniest hint of amusement in her comment. Perhaps it was a glimpse of her unique personality peeking through her sorrow. Given time, Maya might surprise him with a more playful or humor-filled persona.
Tony chuckled. "Well, now you've got a piece of Earth's music history to wear tonight."
He was pleased to see just the tiniest of smiles appear on her face.
"And I've got a pair of sweatpants for you too." He indicated the black sweatpants that were still in his lap. " Come on, let me show you the bathroom."
Tony rose to his feet and courteously extended his hand to her.
Slowly, Maya rose, mindful of her left ankle as per Dr. Russell's instructions.
"Do you need some help?" Tony asked, his voice showing genuine concern for her.
"I think I'll be okay," Maya replied, but as she was standing, her face said she wasn't really sure.
Tony threw caution to the wind and put his arm around her waist, guiding her slowly to his small bathroom. He could feel the warmth of her body against his side, and suddenly he was acutely aware of the intimacy of the gesture.
Once in the bathroom, he spent a few minutes going over everything for the shower, explaining how to adjust the water temperature and use the various controls. Then he set the clothes on the small sink counter, pointing out a few essentials he thought she might need. Opening up the cabinet on the wall, he pulled out a thin box.
"And here's a brand new, unopened toothbrush," he said, placing the thin box on top of the clothes.
Tony hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry I don't have anything more...girlie for you."
Maya smiled softly. "Tony, please do not be sorry. I rather doubt you expected this when you woke up this morning," she said with a shrug of her slender shoulders.
Tony looked at her, a smile beginning to tug at his lips as he shook his head. "No, can't say that I did."
For just a brief moment, they shared a smile and a moment of levity.
"Ah, if you need," he began awkwardly, "you know… any help…just shout," he said, feeling a sudden mix of shyness and embarrassment at the thought of a woman undressing and using his bathroom. Out of nowhere his face suddenly felt hot, and he hoped it wasn't too obvious. "I'll be right outside."
He excused himself quickly, backing out of the tiny room and leaving her alone for the first time on Alpha. As he stood in his quarters, he took a deep breath, trying to shake off the awkwardness. This was the first time a woman was using his quarters in such a personal way, and he was actually surprised that he felt slightly flustered considering that the female form was not a stranger to him.
And yet, amidst the awkwardness and uniqueness of the situation, there was some unidentifiable feeling beginning to gnaw at him. Tony couldn't quite name it or understand it. Was it curiosity? Some sort of attraction? He exhaled and chalked it up to his own exhaustion and nerves.
He desperately needed more coffee to keep going until there was an update on Maya's quarters.
After pouring a small bit of the hot liquid into his mug, he sat back down on the couch, the warmth of the coffee seeping into his hands. As he pondered the recent events, a powerful wave of nostalgia surged through him, gripping his heart with a bittersweet ache, as memories of his family back on Earth surfaced. He missed them more than he usually allowed himself to admit, especially his older brother. Growing up, Tony had always looked up to him and often tried to emulate or even outdo him, in a friendly, sibling-rivalry kind of way.
Despite their brotherly rivalry, his brother had secretly been one of his role models growing up. Guido was always achieving what seemed like impossible feats with what seemed like great ease, whether it was academics or athletics. Tony had often found himself striving to follow in his footsteps, eager to make his parents and older brother proud. Despite the vastness of space and time, the bond the brothers had shared remained a constant in Tony's life.
A small thought crossed his mind, and he found himself whispering softly, and a little sadly, to the quiet room around him.
"Hey big brother, I've really got one over you this time. Bet you never had an alien woman in your shower."
He chuckled softly, though his smile was tinged with melancholy.
The absurdity of the situation struck him—the idea that he, Tony Verdeschi, was now living on Moonbase Alpha, piloting Eagles, and holding the second highest key position. These were achievements even beyond Guido's wildest aspirations, at least the ones Tony had known about.
And now, he was not only hosting an alien woman in his quarters; she was using his shower.
It was the kind of story his brother would never have believed. Tony could almost hear Guido's voice accusing him of too much of a night on the town and getting totally sloshed. And yet, it was Tony's reality; thanks to the moon being forever removed from planet Earth.