SPACE: 1999 YEAR 2
JOURNEY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
SECTION FIVE: IN THE LIGHT OF DAY
It was only a little after 0730 when his commlock chimed softly, announcing that there was a visitor outside his door. Verdeschi groaned at the thought of encountering another human being this early in the morning, especially since he hadn't even had his first cup of coffee yet. Thankfully, he had been awake just long enough to take a quick shower and partially dress in pants and socks.
He lifted his commlock, held a finger up to his lips, signaling silence to the caller.
Alan Carter's face appeared on the tiny screen, nodding in silent sympathy.
Tony crept quietly across the room, careful not to make any noise that might disturb Maya while slipping his jacket on in an effort to appear at least somewhat dressed. He opened his door and was greeted by both Alan and Sandra waiting for him in the hallway, their concern already evident in their eyes.
Tony positioned himself in his doorway, leaning against the entrance and preventing the door's automatic closure and perhaps, needing the support to remain standing.
"We already spoke with Helena and John. Heard it was a rough night," Alan said understandingly, intentionally keeping his voice low as he took in the sight of Alpha's Chief of Security standing there, partially dressed and hair still damp.
Tony, still drowsy, at least managed a tired nod. "Yeah," he replied, his voice reflecting his fatigue as he yawned.
Alan's face brightened with a comforting smile. "Well, we come bearing gifts," he said cheerfully, holding out a tray with breakfast food and clean mugs that Tony hadn't even noticed until now.
"And hot coffee," Sandra added, as she indicated an entire carafe of hot coffee that she was holding.
The gesture of his friends brought a small spark of life back into Tony's tired eyes.
He smiled; his appreciation genuine. "Thank you," he said, his voice filled with gratitude.
Sandra smiled warmly. "We knew that you would need a little help this morning," understanding evident in her soft tone.
"She still sleeping?" Alan whispered after glancing around to ensure that nobody else was in the corridor.
"According to Helena's estimate, maybe till close to lunchtime. The sedative really helped."
"That is why we stopped by on our way to the meeting," Sandra explained gently. "Is there anything that we can do?"
Tony let out a weary groan. "That's right, the meeting" he muttered, rubbing his temples. The thought of tolerating the upcoming meeting in his current state of exhaustion was daunting.
"Do not worry, Tony," Sandra reassured him with a comforting smile. "Commander Koenig knows where you are needed most, right now. He is not expecting you to attend." As always, Sandra's voice was soothing, filled with a gentle confidence that eased Tony's tension.
"John has a good selection of guys from security and Petrov's on the list," Alan said, hoping to offer something that would help ease some of Verdeschi's anxiety.
Both Benes and Carter knew that Tony would feel that it was his duty to attend as well, but there were other personnel who were capable in his absence this morning. Koenig had chosen wisely, picking staff who would be both capable of listening to what information would be provided and then disseminating that information to the rest of their staff members.
Long before lunchtime, everyone on Alpha would know that they now had an alien living among them and why.
"Tony, your duty is to be with Maya right now," Sandra pointed out.
Tony sighed, shaking his head as he imagined a meeting discussing the gruesome details of Mentor and his twisted dream, the loss of more good personnel and the sudden arrival of daughter of said demented lunatic alien. He hadn't even been on Psychon and the vague dreams that had come and gone throughout the night for him had been rough, especially the still hazy parts alluding to Directive Four.
Tony suddenly looked at Alan. "Pilot…just how much did you tell Sandra?"
Alan shrugged. "Yeah, well…needed a friend to talk to last night. Couldn't sleep."
He smiled at the pretty petite brunette standing beside him. "Besides Tony, she was going to hear everything this morning anyhow."
Tony nodded. "True. By lunchtime, all of Alpha will know we've gained a resident alien."
"So, what's your impression of our newest member," Alan quizzed Tony.
Tony glanced back into his room. There was no doubt that their newest member was sound asleep. He turned back to look at Alan and Sandra.
"Well, she's definitely not her father," he admitted. His mind still harbored a small, cautious skepticism, a lingering concern that she might pose a future threat to Alpha. Yet, there was a growing part of him that craved more time to unravel the enigma that was Maya. He needed to understand her, to further see past his initial apprehensions.
On a personal level, the idea of getting to know her better was one that he was beginning to find both exhilarating and intimidating. Why, he was not certain, but the prospect of learning much more about Maya hung in front of him like a dangling enticement. One that he might not be able to walk away from.
Verdeschi decided on that note to end the conversation between friends.
"Well, I won't keep you any longer. Coffee's waiting," Tony said with an appreciative smile. "But keep your eyes and ears open, yeah? Let me know if anything crops up that needs sorting."
"You bet," Carter acknowledged with a knowing nod, understanding Tony's concerns all too well.
Sandra placed a reassuring hand on Tony's arm, her touch maternal. "Try to get some rest," she advised softly.
"Yeah," Tony nodded as he took the much-needed coffee and breakfast items from his friends, thanked them again and then went back inside his quarters.
After the door had closed, Alan and Sandra exchanged concerned looks. Exhaustion had clearly been written on Verdeschi's face, his eyes hinting at a mind burdened with more than a few pressing worries.
Commander Koenig had chosen the Recital Room for the meeting, lending an air of somber formality to what appeared to be a last-minute, hastily scheduled meeting to some. Quiet murmurs filled the corridor as people approached the door, everyone seemingly tense and thoughtful. Although the agenda remained unknown, the recent ordeal with planet Psychon weighed heavily on most minds.
Alan and Sandra were soon joining familiar faces – Fraser, Kate, Petrov and members from various other sections of Alpha.
As Alan walked through the door, a shiver ran down his spine. He recalled a night, quite some time ago, when they had been enjoying a night of music, Jim Sullivan's music. A night that had quickly turned into the beginning of some ghastly events. Carter quickly shifted his gaze upward and steered his mind to focus on the present, rather than the past.
A table had been set up front, and Koenig, Russell and Mathias were now standing in front of it. Their expressions were neutral as they seemed to be engaged in conversation. Off to the side, a small table offered coffee and some breakfast choices for those in attendance.
Koenig caught Alan's attention, indicating for him and Fraser to come join him so Sandra took a seat in the front row beside Kate. Both Carter and Fraser paused briefly to grab a mug of coffee, sharing a silent look that acknowledged the tension hanging in the room.
Once the room appeared settled, John began to speak.
"Good morning, everyone. I'm sure you're wondering why you've been called here, so I'll get straight to it." His eyes dropped to the clipboard in hand for a moment before he set it aside and faced the group.
"As you know, Moonbase Alpha suffered damage and casualties in the attack by Psychon." He paused briefly, letting the weight of his words settle. "When we began our mineral survey, we honestly believed the planet was uninhabited. It wasn't.
He exhaled, steadying himself before he continued.
"A Psychon, Mentor, believed that he could use a biological computer, Psyche, as part of his twisted plan to restore his planet. That would have meant using us, draining our minds to further power that computer. Had he succeeded, we would have lost any cognitive functioning ability, as well as becoming enslaved to a living nightmare of mining for minerals beneath the surface. And none of us, none of us, would be here this morning."
Petrov, seated in the second row, raised his hand hesitantly. Koenig acknowledged the man, knowing that answering questions could be just as valuable, if not more so, than just recanting the events to the assembled group.
"Commander, with the robot Eagle attempt a failure, how did we manage to overcome Mentor? They were cutting right through our defenses."
"We had to get help from another source," John said. "And that was through Mentor's daughter, Maya."
Murmurs began to fill the room and John knew that this was going to be the perfect segue to not only bring Maya into the picture but to also present her not as the daughter of a madman but as a young woman unwilling to allow further atrocities.
"Despite Mentor's horrendous plans, he had kept his daughter shielded from his evil intentions. It took some work, some pleading and convincing, to get her to not only listen to us but to go seek out the truth. When she did, she helped us escape. We were able to destroy Mentor's evil computer. We didn't know that by doing so, the whole planet would be destroyed as well."
Koenig could tell from the expressions on some of the faces that they were beginning to suspect what might be coming next. He knew he might as well inform them that their suspicions were valid.
"Her decision to help us came with an enormous personal cost. She watched her father die in front of her while knowing her planet was about to be destroyed. In the end, while we lost Picard and Torens, we managed to escape and get ourselves and her back to Alpha safely."
Petrov spoke again. "You mean…you brought her back to Alpha?"
John nodded.
"Yes. Like all of us on Alpha, she showed tremendous courage in choosing to stand alongside total strangers to do what was right. Now I ask that all of you give her a chance. We all owe her our survival. Psychon science is so far ahead of ours; I know there is a place for her here."
Petrov frowned for a moment, mumbling just loud enough that most people could still hear him or at least get his intent.
"Sure do hope she isn't like her father."
But Petrov was also not being shy this morning. "Where is she now Commander?"
Taking inspiration from Petrov's display of boldness, other voices from around the room began to ask questions.
What did she look like? What was she like? How could she help them?
John raised his hands slightly, in a conductor-like movement, asking not for music but to request silence.
"We needed time to prepare quarters for her and she needs privacy right now, time to grieve her loss, to process everything that happened. We need to respect that." John paused.
"As for what she looks like," he shrugged as he looked over at Carter and Bill. This was one question he had not prepared for.
As expected, Alan quickly interjected, his all too familiar grin softening his handsome features.
"You could say she's a cute alien," he informed the group with a chuckle. "I rather doubt you'll run away screaming in horror, right Bill?"
Fraser shrugged. "Yeah, she is sort of," he paused for a moment. Being a recently married man, he wanted to choose his wording carefully and respectfully.
"Cute," he agreed. "Yeah, cute."
"How old is she," a male voice carried to the front of the room.
Alan shook his head quickly.
"Oh, never ask a lady her age," he warned with mock shock.
Quite a few of the Alphans laughed at the Australian.
"I think she's around our age," he guessed as he looked over at Bill, who nodded his agreement.
John glanced at Helena, relieved by the younger men's ability to bring a touch of levity to the situation. The willingness and ease of the two pilots to smile and laugh about Maya, in a good-natured way, could only help ease her integration into the Alphan community.
Koenig chose to close the meeting by responding to several more questions before asking everyone to help disseminate the information within their respective sections. He also began asking for completed reports specifying damage sustained and repair progress before the end of the day shift.
While the majority of the men rose and began heading out of the room, Koenig noticed that the women had remained seated, their eyes all turning toward Sandra and Kate. Benes gave a nod and, as if on cue, the women began moving towards the front to speak with Doctor Russell.
As Mathias, Fraser and Carter joined him, they could hear bits of the ladies' conversation with Helena. They were all asking what they could do to help Maya.
As the men began to head to the door, Bob spoke. "I think that went well; all things considered."
The men nodded in understanding.
Alan though, lowered his voice. "I think there may be a few we want to keep an eye on," a flicker of worry in his eyes.
"To be expected," John agreed before giving Carter a light, friendly thump on the shoulder. "Come on, we've got work to do."
Tony sipped his coffee quietly as he studied the reports detailing the damage Alpha had suffered under Mentor's cruelty. And while the reports were a matter of importance, he found that he was having trouble concentrating.
Lifting his eyes up, he allowed his gaze to drift towards his bed. He wasn't sure how long Maya might keep sleeping, but he did know that the more peaceful rest she got, the better it would be for her, physically and emotionally.
A quiet guilt crept in as he caught himself lingering. He hadn't meant to, but now that he had, he was seeing her. He wasn't just looking. The contrast from last night was striking. Gone were her elegant dress, the elaborate hairstyle, and what had once been carefully applied makeup. Things that had, at first, made her seem like some untouchable, otherworldly princess.
This morning, what remained was far simpler. Far more real.
Even in exhaustion and vulnerability, Maya didn't look like the type of girl who would drain a man's bank account. She didn't look like a girl who just took. She looked like a girl who would also give.
Regretfully, he'd been foolish in his younger days, dating a few women just like that. Pretty enough, but in the end, shallow. Takers, not givers. None had possessed qualities worth sustaining a relationship, lasting only a few weeks at best. Good for one thing and not much else. Oh, how he regretted some of those choices. No, if he was being honest, he regretted them all.
From their brief conversation last night, he highly doubted that Maya was shallow. Despite her exotic Psychon features, she hardly resembled the initial spoiled princess image at the moment. If anything, she seemed more like the girl next door. Albeit an exceptionally pretty, alien girl next door.
His gaze drifted across her sleeping form, so different from the very unsettled but slightly regal elegance that she had presented last night. This Maya was quiet. Resting. Unguarded.
Her long auburn hair, cascading across the pillow, looked impossibly inviting, the kind of hair a man could imagine threading his fingers through. For a fleeting moment, he wondered how she might look dressed in something simple, casual. Comfortable.
He caught himself, startled by the intensity of his thoughts. A quick shake of his head and a sharp exhale helped push that unexpected turn down and far away. Where it belonged and needed to remain.
Why was his mind inexplicably beginning to drift towards ideas that he'd sworn to never entertain again, especially those involving members of the female persuasion? When he'd returned to Moonbase Alpha less than a month before they'd been hurled from Earth, he'd been relieved to find himself too busy to dwell on past, present, or future relationships.
He had wanted it that way.
He liked it that way.
He had found solace in the absence of romantic entanglements. But now, despite his firm resolve, he was finding himself preoccupied with thoughts he had vowed to avoid forever or at least, for as long as they were stranded on the wandering moon.
But somehow, in less than twenty-four hours, this young Psychon woman was causing cracks in his well-built defenses. Thoughts, feelings. They were blindsiding him, catching him well and truly off guard. That realization left Tony Verdeschi feeling bewildered. Perhaps even a little vulnerable.
Tony Verdeschi did not do vulnerable.
Given the circumstances, it was far too early to know exactly what Maya's true personality was. But, after spending time with her last night, he doubted she was a spoiled royalty type. She had already indicated that she would like to help Alpha, although he had seen the doubt in her mind that she was ready just yet.
Of course she wasn't ready. She needed at least a little time to begin dealing with everything that had happened.
He shrugged a little. He suspected that she might possess a good sense of humor, based on her teasing him a little last night. And she did have a lovely smile. Overall, he found her rather enchanting.
Tony shook his head, muttering a silent "Damn." He was supposed to be determining if she were a threat potential as far as Moonbase Alpha was concerned, not thinking about pretty packaging. He knew all too well the dangers of pretty packaging.
Verdeschi took another slow sip of his coffee, debating whether he was simply exhausted or genuinely in need of a mental health check. Given the past few months, losing his grip wouldn't be all that surprising.
First, the abrupt transfer to Command Center after Alpha lost some of its finest in the aftermath of a brutal space warp. Trauma that still cast its shadow throughout the corridors of Moonbase Alpha. Then, just as they were adjusting, came the rushed relocation of Alpha's critical systems, another space warp, and, as if the twisted gods of the universe weren't done tormenting them, they landed right in the path of Psychon.
And Mentor, the perfect storm of perverse desperation and brilliant madness. Obsession with reviving his dying planet had left countless lives in ruin. A grim reminder of what unchecked genius, warped by despair, could unleash.
For Alpha's still relatively new Chief of Security, that had meant stepping in as acting commander while barely finding his footing. All before being given the order to carry out Directive Four. An order no man ever wanted to receive, let alone execute.
If all that wasn't enough to drive a man to madness, he couldn't imagine what the hell would be.
Tony's thoughts about his own mental state were interrupted as Maya stirred on the bed, her movements drawing his attention and pulling him swiftly back to reality.
He watched as her chest rose and fell while she breathed, as her eyelids fluttered, and a hand moved across her face. While all could be signs that she was awakening, he realized that he was, once again, watching her with no shame. He forced himself to set his coffee mug back down and push the clipboard away, to the side of the couch.
Slowly her eyes opened, blinking against the soft light of the room. At first, her gaze looked unfocused. Then, gradually, recognition began to dawn on her and she sat up quickly. Her blue eyes indicated that her mind was trying to confirm what was real and what wasn't.
Then her eyes settled on Tony, a mixture of worry and relief etched on his handsome face.
"Oh," she whispered quickly as she brought her hands up to her lips in surprise. Handsome? What would have allowed her to have such a thought about a man that she'd only met what seemed like hours ago?
"Good morning," Tony said softly, trying to keep his voice calm and steady in an attempt not to startle her too much. "How are you feeling?"
She took a moment before responding, as if gathering her thoughts while she secretly hoped that the people of Earth didn't read minds.
"I'm…okay," she whispered slowly, her voice very soft.
For a moment she paused, as if trying to gauge exactly how she did really feel. "I'm just…very tired."
Tony nodded as he rose from the couch. That wouldn't be surprising, given the effects of the sedative mixed with the exhaustion that surely came from the physical and emotional strain she had just endured.
"That's understandable," he told her, hoping he sounded reassuring to her. "Do you feel like eating anything or perhaps some coffee?"
Maya shook her head. "Oh, no thank you. I just feel so tired."
Tony walked over to the bed and sat down beside her, making sure to keep a respectable distance from her. "If you need to sleep more that's perfectly fine."
She gave him a faint, shy smile as she considered it. "Perhaps for a little while longer."
Tony noticed her voice and movements seemed somewhat duller and slower than they had last night, leaving him uncertain whether he should be concerned.
Maya sank back against the pillow, her eyes already slipping shut.
"I need to check in at Command Center," he told her. "I won't be gone long. Will you be okay for a bit?"
Barely opening her eyes, she gave him another weak smile and a small nod.
Tony adjusted the blanket over her, his voice softer now. "Try to rest. I'll be back before you know it."
He lingered just for a moment, watching, making sure she was comfortable. Making sure she really was okay.
Then, satisfied that, for now, she would be fine, he grabbed his commlock and headed for the door. He secured the lock, ensuring access was limited to a select few in case of emergency. Then, slipping the device back onto his belt, he strode down the corridor.
But instead of heading toward Command Center…
He turned toward Medical Center.
Upon entering Medical Center, Tony found Helena seated at her desk, two plastic storage containers on the floor beside her. Her eyes were focused on papers on her clipboard, but she looked up and greeted him with a smile when he walked over to her.
"Welcome," she greeted him, clearly surprised to see him this early in the day and away from Maya.
"Hey," he replied. "Do you have a few moments?"
"Of course," she said, setting her clipboard aside to give him her full attention.
"I'm worried about Maya," he stated, pulling up a chair.
"How is she?"
"Dunno," Tony said with a shrug, his voice tinged with frustration. "She woke up for a few minutes, didn't want anything to eat and fell right back to sleep. She didn't even seem remotely energetic."
Helena studied his face carefully; worry was written all over the man.
Obviously concerned, he asked, "Could it be the sedative you gave her?"
"Oh, Tony," Helena said, her voice softening as she gave him a reassuring nod. "I suspect it's a combination of things. And yes, the sedative may be part of it. Remember, I really don't know anything about her physiology yet. For all I know, a simple aspirin could make her sleep for twelve hours, or more."
"Mmm," he murmured.
"What else is on your mind?" Helena asked. "I can almost see those wheels turning."
"A lot of things," he replied. "Speaking of which, how did the meeting go earlier?"
"Better than we expected. I didn't notice anyone showing outward signs of hostility towards the news of Maya's arrival, although Alan or John may have. In fact, quite a few of the ladies came to me afterwards and asked if she needed anything."
She pointed to the containers on the floor, which Tony now realized held women's clothing, a hairbrush still in the package on the top and various other items.
"That's generosity," Tony smiled. "I'm glad. Poor thing, all I had were guy clothes for her last night," he said apologetically.
"I'm sorry Tony. But she seemed appreciative and amused," Helena reminded him, chuckling slightly over the Rolling Stones shirt.
"She does wear that shirt better than I could," Tony said with a grin.
"Ah," she said warmly, her voice carrying a quiet satisfaction. "There it is, the Verdeschi smile."
Tony rolled his eyes at her, shaking his head just a little.
Helena then leaned over and placed her palms down on her desk, studying Tony now with more professional interest.
"You've spent the most time with her so far Tony. What's your impression?"
Verdeschi exhaled. He knew better than to admit to Doctor Russell that he found Maya rather enticing or that his thoughts had wandered into territory that he had no desire or business of visiting.
He tilted his head back and forth as he chose how to describe what he'd seen so far.
"Well, I think she's got a sense of humor hiding in there. She may be a little shy; it's hard to tell since she's in a strange environment. She's got manners and she is extremely polite."
Helena nodded as she took a sip of her coffee. "And are you satisfied that she isn't a threat to Alpha?" she queried.
"Ah, the million-dollar question," Tony acknowledged, tilting his head slightly with a knowing smile, as if he had been anticipating it.
"I don't have a million dollars to give you, Tony," Russell reminded him with a regretful smile.
"Then I'll settle for a nice beach vacation," Tony replied, his tone indicating he would, indeed, be quite satisfied with some sun-soaked paradise.
He would gladly trade the moon for a nice tropical resort…the feel of warm sand under his feet…the sound of gentle waves lapping at the shore. He might actually enjoy the sight of a few hula girls, in the distance, swaying gracefully to Hawaiian music. The thought of lounging under a palm tree with an ice-cold, refreshing and fruity Mai Tai in his hand brought a wistful smile to his face.
"Wouldn't we all?" Helena said with a hint of longing.
For just a moment, she was transported back to her last beach vacation with Lee. The memories of waves crashing against the shore, ukelele music, seabirds calling, and honeymoon nights came to her mind. Tender nights filled with whispered promises, now just a bittersweet reminder of a happiness that had existed, once upon a time.
Tony leaned back in his chair, pretending to study the ceiling after seeing the pained expression that crossed Helena's eyes. He waited respectfully for a few moments before he finally spoke again.
"You know," he said with a shrug. "I think she may be a really sweet girl who, once she found out the awful truth, just couldn't stand by, do nothing, and allow the insanity to continue." As he recalled some of the conversation last night, he looked back at Helena. "She does seem to have a strong sense of respect towards others, of right and wrong."
He leaned in towards her, resting one elbow on her desk.
"No," Tony finally admitted. "I don't think she's a threat to Alpha. Just between you and me, I'd question if Mentor really was her biological father," he finished rather wryly before continuing. "She doesn't seem to have a trace of his malevolence. Last night, it seemed like she was having trouble reconciling the fact that her own father was capable of such things, as if he now had dual personalities from her new perspective."
"Maybe he did," Helena offered. "John said that Mentor pleaded with what seemed like every fiber of his being to take Maya with him, to save her. I'll give the man credit for loving his daughter."
"I'll give him credit for being a sick son of a bitch," Tony murmured quietly.
"Tony," Helena only half-heartedly scolded him. The younger man was only voicing aloud what most were thinking.
"I have an idea," Helena brightly suggested. "Kate's bringing a few more things for Maya in a little bit. When she does, I'll let you know and if Maya's awake and up for some conversation, I'll swing by."
"I think it will do her good to talk to someone else besides me. She's probably sick of my face."
"Oh, I don't think so Tony," Helena laughed as she spoke. "I think she now sees you as someone she can trust, and that's going to mean an awful lot as she moves through the grieving process and gets to know all of us better."
Tony rose from the chair. "Well, I've taken up enough of your time. I shouldn't leave her alone for too long. Thanks, Helena."
"You're welcome."
Helena watched as Verdeschi left Medical. His promotion to Chief of Security was still relatively recent, and she hadn't interacted with him as much as she had with Alan, Sandra, or others in Command Center. It had also been quite some time since he'd been a patient in Medical Center, recovering from the horrible injuries he'd sustained when the Moon had been hurled out of Earth's orbit.
Since then, he'd changed and though their relationship hadn't quite yet reached the same level of closeness she shared with other senior staff, her practiced eye could still detect the subtle hit of someone wresting with an inner turmoil, holding back a little more than they dared speak aloud. But she did know Tony well enough to know that there was little chance in hell that Verdeschi would speak about it with anyone.