by P. R. Garcia
Jeanip knelt at Anna’s side and inspected her wounds. She had taken a bullet in the right shoulder, shattering her shoulder bone. The bullet had also nicked her neck, just missing her carotid artery, evidently the real target of the shooter. Luckily for Anna, she had either moved at the last second or the shooter was a poor marksman. She should be dead. Jeanip reached over and picked up some of the cloth napkins that had been on the tea tray Misso had been carrying. He stuffed the napkins into Anna’s shoulder to try to stop the bleeding. Anna screamed in pain, and then slipped into unconsciousness.
“Tinderoon, how is Birea?” Jeanip asked.
Tinderoon looked up from Birea and shook his head no at Jeanip. He pulled the cover from Europa’s bed and laid it over Birea’s body to hide her passing from the humans. As he watched, the form underneath the blanket changed as Birea’s brain stopped sending signals to her body to maintain her transformation into a human. Once she returned to her true form, the air pressure was too low for her membranes to maintain their shape and consistency. Her fluids flowed out onto the floor beneath the blanket as the membranes disintegrated into nothing.
“She was a good soldier. There is nothing we can do for her now except take down the ones who took her life and try to save these other two. Tinderoon, I could use your help over here” Jeanip said. He then turned his attention to Misso.
“She got hit in the abdomen, but it looks like the bullet went straight through. I don’t think any major organs were hit, but she’s still in bad shape,” Sunam said, as he looked up at his commander.
“Hold on, Misso. We’ll get you fixed right up.” Jeanip said, smiling at her as he squeezed her hand.
Ebar came back into the room with a large suitcase. He opened it after placing it on the floor, revealing a huge assortment of medical supplies. Mintoo entered right behind him.
“Mintoo, is Europa safe?” Jeanip demanded to know.
“Yes, Sir,” Mintoo responded. “Terrance is with her and Suzie”.
“Good. Go into my room and re-activate the front gates and fences. I don’t want Terrians strolling up the driveway.”
“No need to re-activate them, Mintoo,” Earon stated, as he walked into the room. “I sealed the estate as soon as I heard Mr. Dark Feather’s message.”
“Message?” asked Jeanip. “What message?”
“Terrance has a message for you,” Earon replied. “Mr. Dark Feather’s niece gave it to him this morning when he went with Sunam to pick up Europa’s friends.”
“That will have to wait,” commented Jeanip, as he gathered items from the medical case. “Mintoo, go downstairs and call Evonic and tell him we need him out here NOW. Tell him make it in five minutes, that Misso has been shot. Then call the sheriff and tell him we’ve had a shooting and have casualties. Tell him to have an ambulance waiting for us at the gate. Tell him under NO circumstances is ANYONE to enter Minnos. Tell him the fences are electrified again. Ebar, take over for Tinderoon. Tinderoon, go downstairs into my room and bring up two stretchers. Sunam, give Misso a shot of AC13, 5 ml. Then hook up an IV with the home water,” Jeanip continued, giving orders as he had during the years at war with the Terrians.
With bandage pads, surgical tape and a syringe filled with a purple liquid in hand, Jeanip returned to Anna. He injected her with the serum, hoping it would help stabilize her enough to give her a chance to make it to the hospital. He then began to prepare her for transport as Tinderoon returned with the two stretchers. He placed one next to Misso and one next to Anna.
“Tinderoon, bring the station wagon around to the side door. Be sure the middle and back seats are down. Ebar and I will bring Anna right down. Then I need for you to drive her to the front gate to meet the ambulance,” Jeanip stated. Stepping in to the hallway, he said, “Suzie, I need you to accompany Anna. Please go downstairs now and wait at the side door for us.” Suzie just sat there, curled up in Europa’s arm. She was still too frightened to move. “Suzie, I need you up on your feet and heading downstairs, NOW,” Jeanip yelled, but he could see it had no effect. Suzie was not one of his soldiers and screaming at her would do no good. She was a young human too traumatized to move. Jeanip turned to Terrance and, in a surprisingly soft and tender voice, said, “Terrance, it is very important for Suzie to go downstairs. Every second she delays brings Anna closer to death. Can you please try to get her downstairs? Perhaps Europa can help you.”
“I will get her downstairs even if I have to carry her over my shoulder,” Terrance said, getting to his feet. He pulled Suzie away from Europa and leaned her against the wall. Then he got Europa to her feet. Next he pulled until Suzie stood up and he leaned her back into Europa’s arms. “Europa, it’s important for Suzie to go downstairs. She’s too traumatized to go on her own. Can you help me?”
“Yes, I can do that,” Europa said, her mind coming back to the reality about her. She realized Suzie’s delay in going downstairs was endangering Anna’s life. “Suzie, I know you are frightened. I am too. But it’s very important for us to go downstairs now so Anna can be taken to the hospital. I am going to hold on to you real tight so you will know you are safe and together we are going to walk over to the stairway. Terrance is going with us too.” Terrance stood on the opposite side of Suzie and stretched his arm around the two young women. "Okay, Suzie? I know you can do this. You can do this for Anna.”
Europa heard a very faint, “Okay” from Suzie, as she hid her face in Europa’s arm.
“When I say ‘walk’ we are going to start walking together. Remember, Terrance is on one side of you and I’m on the other. If you need to, you can lean on one of us. Okay, get ready. Now walk.” To Europa’s relief, Suzie took a step toward the stairway, then another. Soon they stood at the top. “Suzie, you are doing great. We are at the top of the stairs. We are now going to walk down them and then straight to the back door. When I say ‘step’ I want you to move down one step. We will take them one at a time. Here we go. Now, step.” Suzie stepped down onto the top step, then down to the next and so forth as Europa repeated the word ‘step’ for each stair rung until they reached the bottom. Still huddled together, they continued walking Suzie to the back door where they waited for Jeanip.
With Ebar’s assistance, Jeanip lifted the badly injured Anna carefully onto the stretcher. They waited until Suzie was at the bottom of the stairs before they picked her up and carried her down to the side door. Once there, Tinderoon stepped in and took Jeanip’s position on the stretcher. He knew that, like Europa and Earon, Jeanip needed to remain inside where it was safe, secure from any assassin’s bullet so he could coordinate Europa’s protection and get away, if needed. All Jeanip’s men realized Jeanip’s survival was a top priority, even though Jeanip himself did not realize it, for without his command decisions none of them stood a chance, especially Europa and Earon.
“What about Birea and Misso? Aren’t they going to the hospital too?” Europa asked, as they carried Anna past her. She didn’t understand why they were being left behind.
“Evonic will be here shortly to treat Misso’s wounds. There’s nothing we can do for Birea,” Jeanip said.
Europa was shocked to hear Evonic’s voice say, “Already here,” as he walked through Jeanip’s bedroom door. She noticed his hair was dripping wet and he had no shoes or shirt on, only a wet pair of paints. It almost appeared he had swum there from town, but she knew that was impossible. Only a dolphin could swim that fast.
“Misso’s upstairs with Sunam and Earon,” Jeanip said, tilting his head toward the staircase. “She’s in pretty bad shape.”
Without a word, Evonic took off running across the room and up the stairs into Europa’s bedroom. He saw Sunam holding Misso in his arms, gently rocking her back and forth as he very quietly sang her favorite Waters’ song. Evonic knelt down beside them and began to examine Misso, trying to determine the extent of the bullet’s damage. He retrieved from inside Jean
ip’s medical bag several medications and injected them in Misso’s IV to help ease her pain and to help her purple blood clot inside the human body.
“Sunam, I need you to lay her on the stretcher so I can dress her wounds,” Evonic said, reaching out and touching Sunam’s shoulder. Sunam turned and looked at him, not realizing at first what Evonic was asking. “Sunam, lay her down on the stretcher,” Evonic said again.
“Here, let me help you,” Earon stated, seeing Sunam’s bewilderment. “We are going to gently lay Misso down on the stretcher so Evonic can help her. Then we are going to take her downstairs.” Sunam looked into Earon’s eyes and this time he understood. With Earon’s help, he lowered Misso gently onto the stretcher where Evonic began to address the bullet wounds. After washing them out with a special mixture of their home-world’s lilac water and peroxide, he bandaged them with a medical cloth they had invented during the war to help with infections and bleeding. “Misso, this is the best I can do up here. I need to take you downstairs. Earon is going to help me. Okay?” Evonic saw Misso look up at him and tried to give him a smile. Together, he and Earon carefully lifted the stretcher and carried it downstairs to the kitchen, Sunam following close behind.
_________
Suzie waited at the back door, along with Europa and Terrance. Seeing she was still in a state of shock, Mintoo walked over to her and placed his arm around her shoulder. “Miss Suzie, we need to go out to the car now so we can take Annie to get medical help. I need for you to walk with me. Okay?” Suzie did not say a word, but nodded her head affirmatively. Mintoo gently led her to the car, helping her onto the front seat. Tinderoon and Ebar followed, carrying Anna’s stretcher to the back of the vehicle and carefully sliding the stretcher inside. Jeanip noticed Anna was still unconscious and he hoped she would remain so until she arrived at the ambulance.
Europa and Terrance watched her friends’ departure from the safety of the kitchen. Terrance turned to Europa and asked, “Are you sure you’re not hurt at all?”
“No, I am fine. Just really scared. Did you see all that blood? And Terrance, did I imagine it or was Misso’s and Birea’s blood purple?” Europa asked.
“You saw it too,” Terrance answered softly, so no one else could hear. “Maybe it had something to do with the tea Misso was carrying. Maybe it reacted with her blood to make it look purple.”
“Maybe. But Birea wasn’t anywhere near the tea. And why didn’t Jeanip have Misso taken to the hospital too? Evonic seems to be the only medical person who can treat this family. And how did he get here so fast? He lives on the other side of town. It should have taken him at top speed forty minutes to get here. Plus, Jeanip said the fences were electrified again. How could he get in?”
The sound of Tinderoon starting the car’s engine brought their attention back to the scene outside. They watched as Mintoo closed the back hatch while Ebar crawled in next to Anna through the side middle door. Slowly the car pulled away from the cottage, in route to the front gate, two of Europa’s best friends inside, one now fighting for her life. Mintoo walked over to the horses, each remained where their riders had dismounted them. He gathered up their reins and walked them to the barn where he would unsaddle them and give each a good rub down. After all the galloping they had been forced to do, he thought each also deserved a few extra carrots for a job well done.
Jeanip closed the back door, then turned his attention to Misso. “How’s she doing, Evonic?” Jeanip asked, looking at the very pale, sleeping Misso. Sunam was at her side as Jeanip expected, holding her hand in his. He didn’t think Sunam even knew he was standing there.
“I’m not going to lie to you, Jeanip, she’s hurt pretty bad. If she can make it through the next thirty-six hours she has a good chance of making it. That was quick thinking on your part giving her that shot of AC13. It probably saved her life.”
“An old trick I learned during the Terrian war. It saved many an Oonocks’ lives. I never thought I would have to use it again – not here, not at Minnos.”
“How’s Europa’s friend?”
“I think she’ll pull through, but she took a bad hit to the upper shoulder and throat. She’ll probably lose the shoulder and arm. I don’t know if she’ll ever be able to talk again.”
“Poor kid,” Evonic said. “What happened, Jeanip?”
“If Misso can do without you for a few minutes, we’ll debrief over by the fireplace,” Jeanip announced, motioning for Europa to come to the table. “Europa, would you stay with Misso for a minute while I talk to the men. Sunam, Terrance and Earon, if you three would join Evonic and me by the fireplace.”
Everyone except Sunam walked over to the fireplace. Jeanip waited a moment then walked over to Sunam. “Soldier, you have been ordered to the fireplace for a debriefing. Comply,” Jeanip ordered in an unusually soft voice, Europa thought. Normally, Jeanip would be screaming at one of his men if they had not obeyed an order.
Sunam’s preoccupation with Misso was broken. Realizing his commander was standing at his side, he immediately stood at attention. “Yes, Sir. What do you need, Sir?”
Jeanip looked at Sunam and placed his hand on Sunam’s shoulder. “Sunam, Europa is going to stay with Misso. I need for you to join us at the fireplace for a few minutes. Then you can return to Misso.” Without a word, Sunam bent down and kissed Misso’s forehead, then walked over to where the others waited.
“Are you sure you two are okay? There was a lot of glass up there?” Jeanip asked, as he returned to the fireplace, scanning Terrance and Earon for signs of blood or cuts. “Terrance, you’re positive Europa is not hurt?”
‘Yes, Sir, she’s fine, as am I. What happened?” Terrance asked. “Were those men after Europa?”
“Jeanip, why did the security grid fail? Those bullets should have never gotten past the screen,” Earon inquired.
“I’ll answer all your questions the best I can in a minute. But what I am more concerned about at the moment is where they were hiding that allowed them to get a shot off,” Jeanip stated, worried the Terrians had found a weakness in his defenses. “And how did they know which room was Europa’s?”
“They were in a boat,” Europa said, reaching down and taking Misso’s hand in hers. Even though the men were talking low, she had been able to overhear Jeanip’s conversation.
“What did you say?” Jeanip asked Europa, taking a few steps closer to her.
“They were on the ocean in a boat. When I was lying on the floor and I looked to see how Anna was, I saw them through the balcony bars. It looked like a nineteen feet Craftsman.”
“A boat? I didn’t see any boat,” Jeanip replied. “The security sensors didn’t pick up a boat close to shore.”
“Could the grid have malfunctioned? Or could they have found a way to beat it?” asked Sunam.
“I am sure it didn’t malfunction. As for them finally developing a way to hide from the grid, anything is plausible,” Jeanip replied.
“It wasn’t close to shore, Jeanip,” Europa continued. “It was quite a ways out there, definitely past our sensors.”
“That’s great. If they were in a boat that means they could be anywhere by now. And can return again when they want,” Earon said, anger now replacing his concern. “They just won’t leave us alone, will they?”
“No, their boat exploded,” Europa said, looking straight at Jeanip, her voice almost monotone. “I was watching it, trying to memorize every detail about the boat for you when something came up from underneath it and threw it into the air. The men were thrown into the water and the boat exploded. I think they were still alive until a huge whale breached and crushed them.”
“A whale? Are you sure, Europa?” Jeanip asked, a smirk beginning to show on his face.
“Yes, I am sure of it. It came almost entirely out of the water. I have never seen one so big. The last thing I saw was its fluke as it dove beneath the wa
ves,” Europa answered.
“But a boat on the ocean should have posed no threat. We anticipated that area of attack and made sure a bullet fired from a boat could not penetrate the security screen, no matter how powerful the weapon. The screen should have held,” Sunam stated.
“It should not have been possible, but we saw that it was. There are only two reasons that could explain how their bullets penetrated our shield. One, their technology has advanced over the decades to produce a bullet which can go through our shields or two, someone broke the connection.” Jeanip looked directly at Europa. “Europa, did anyone try to go out on to the balcony?” he asked.
Europa looked at Jeanip, tears beginning to form in her eyes and roll down her face. “Yes, Anna did,” she answered. “She opened the doors and stepped outside suggesting we have tea on the balcony. She moved so fast I did not have time to stop her. Misso tried to warn her and that is how she was hit. Anna did not mean to break the connection. She had no knowledge the balcony was off limits. I should have remembered to tell her and Suzie about the security screen. They were my guests, they were my responsibility. It is my fault. I should have told them.” Europa crumbled to the floor and began to sob, finally releasing the emotions she had been holding inside since the shooting began. “It was me they meant to kill. Anna had my sweater on and with her hair down she easily could have been mistaken for me. It is just like what happened with Mother. The assassin attacked someone else because he thought it was me.” She could say no more. Terrance rushed over to her, knelt down beside her and lifted her into his arms, holding her securely as she wept.
“No, Europa, it was not your fault Anna broke the connection. It was my fault,” Jeanip said, his voice echoing the tone of guilt he felt. “As Commander in charge of security, it is my responsibility to tell visitors what they can and cannot do. I was not here to greet your friends when they arrived. The error was mine.”
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Tinderoon stopped the vehicle just before the electrified fence. As he exited the station wagon, he could hear the ambulance and police sirens as they sped toward the estate. Knowing time was short, he hurriedly walked around to the passenger’s side of the car and opened the door for Suzie to get out. He helped her exit the car while instructing her to wait there and follow them when they came back with Anna. Hoping Suzie was coherent enough to follow his instructions, he ran to the rear to help Ebar with the stretcher. Keeping their weapons over their shoulders, the two males lifted Anna out of the vehicle. They carefully carried her toward the gate, stopping just long enough for Suzie to step next to the stretcher and followed alongside. Several steps before the gate Tinderoon said the password that opened the gate while leaving the surrounding fences still electrified. A few feet past the gate, Ebar and Tinderoon gently laid the stretcher on the ground. Ebar helped Suzie sit down beside Anna and told her to wait beside her until the ambulance arrived, assuring her it would be there in seconds. While Ebar was helping Suzie, Tinderoon ran back to the car and remained there on guard, weapon in hand, ready to shoot anything or anyone who tried to walk through the gate other than Ebar. Seeing the emergency vehicles’ flashers, Ebar ran back inside the estate, closing and locking the gate just as the sheriff‘s car pulled up.
“Just a minute, Ebar,” the sheriff yelled, jumping out of his car. “Don’t you dare turn that gate back on. This is a crime scene. I have an investigation to do.”
“Sorry, Sheriff, Jeanip’s orders are no one comes in. He needs you to take the injured girl to the hospital and return the other to her home,” Tinderoon replied.
The two watched as the Sheriff drew his gun and aimed it at them. “Listen you two; I have people missing, Medaron’s accident a few weeks ago and now an attempted murder. What in the hell is going on in there? I need answers. I demand you let me on that damn property so I can do a proper investigation. I cannot allow you to reactivate that gate.”
“So you’re going to stop me by shooting me?” Ebar asked, almost chuckling.
“If I have to,” the Sheriff replied. “This is your only warning. If you try to reactivate the gate, I will shoot you.”
“I am sorry to hear that, Sheriff, for you will be dead before you can complete the shot. Tinderoon never misses,” Ebar said, tilting his head toward the station wagon where Tinderoon stood with his weapon aimed at the Sheriff. “And, if you are lucky enough to kill me, Tinderoon will simply activate the gate after you and I are both dead. So you see, Sheriff, either way you are not setting a foot on this land. At least not today.”
Seeing the futility of his endeavor and furious at failing once again to enter Minnos, the sheriff lowered his gun. He hated the fact Jeanip was still calling all the shots, especially since Jeanip wasn’t even present. Once he saw the Sheriff lower his gun, Ebar repeated the code, reactivating the gate. Not wanting to turn his back to a potential enemy, he walked backwards to the car.
“Tinderoon, you tell Jeanip this isn’t over. I’ll get a court order and be back,” the Sheriff shouted, his face flushed red.
“Then let me remind you of what you already know. You have no authority here – this is tribal land. If you want a court order you have to go through their courts, and I can assure you, they will not grant you access. Plus, as a foreign monarch seeking sanctuary, we have diplomatic immunity.”
“Yeah, well, we’ll see what the State Department has to say about that,” the Sheriff screamed.
“Have a good day, Sheriff,” Tinderoon said with a smile as he lowered his weapon and slid back into the driver’s seat. Once the car was started Ebar slid into the passenger’s seat, still keeping his weapon aimed at the Sheriff. Tinderoon backed the car half way down the driveway before turning it around and returning to Minnos. “That man has no idea the only way he will ever step foot on Minnos is if we are all dead.”
“Sometimes you have to feel sorry for him,” Ebar stated, shaking his head as he laughed.
____________
“Jeanip, I have a message for you from Mr. Dark Feather,” Terrance said, still kneeling on the floor with Europa in his arms. “I was supposed to give it to you as soon as I arrived, but you weren’t here. Then the shooting happened.”
“So I have been told,” Jeanip said, walking over to Terrance and lifted Europa into his arms. “Follow me.” He carried Europa over to one of the couches. “Please have a seat, Terrance.” Once Terrance was seated, he placed his queen back into his arms. “This should be more comfortable for the two of you than the floor.” Even in this aftermath, Jeanip’s first concern was for Europa’s safety and comfort. Terrance cradled her in his arms again, thankful Jeanip realized Europa needed the security of his embrace. Once they were settled Jeanip asked, “What is the message?”
“Mr. Dark Feather said to tell you a large herd of deer have been seen coming down from the mountains and they will pass close to Minnos. He said there are also bear and cougar sign. They should be ready for hunting in two days. If you wish to join them on the hunt you must come to the hunting lodge by noon tomorrow.” A grave look overshadowed Jeanip’s face at hearing the message.
“Thank you, Terrance,” Jeanip said, giving no explanation of what the message meant. “If you will excuse me, I have some adjustments to do on the security grid. Earon, stay with Europa and Terrance. Evonic, I leave you in charge of Misso. Sunam, if you would join me in the security grid room.” Saying no more, Jeanip turned and walked into his room, Sunam close behind him.
____________
Tinderoon pulled the station wagon up by the side door. After checking to be sure the area was secure, he and Ebar exited the car and entered the kitchen, bolting the side door behind them.
“Tinderoon, how was Anna?” Europa asked.
“She was stable, Your Majesty. The ambulance arrived several minutes after we did.”
“What did the Sheriff have to say?” Earon asked, an awkward smile on his f
ace.
“Besides screaming this was a crime scene and he had every right to enter our property, not much,” Ebar replied, snickering at the remembrance of the Sheriff in a rage. “Excuse us now, Your Highnesses. We need to brief Jeanip and Sunam on the transfer of your friends. We take our leave of you.” Both bowed their heads and raised their right hand to their forehead, turned and entered Jeanip’s room.
Europa lightly kicked Terrance’s leg. Ebar said “Your Highnesses” not “Your Highness”, meaning he considered Earon royalty. Europa looked at Earon wondering once more if he was the brother her mother spoke of in her diary. Medaron had said he would transform into her guardian when she was born. And Triton had been her guardian for twelve years. Before that, Sattinii had been her guard dog. Was it possible Sattinii, Triton and Earon were all the same being? Wanting to expose the truth, Europa pretended to look around the kitchen and asked, “Where is Triton? I hope he did not get hurt too.”
“I’m sure he’s okay. He’s probably down here somewhere,” Evonic said. Europa looked at Evonic and Earon, wondering why everyone was still keeping up the charade of Triton being a canine. After all that had happened, why didn’t they just tell her Earon and Triton were the same person, being? She was just about to be bold enough to say that when she heard Earon speak up.
“He is fine,” Earon said. “I was afraid he might go back upstairs to Europa’s room and get hurt on all that broken glass up there. To ensure his safety I locked him inside Jeanip’s room. I will go get him for you.”
“I can go get him,” Europa said, again trying to force them to admit their deception. “I need to walk a bit.”
“Do not bother yourself, Your Highness. I was going to go help Jeanip and Sunam in the security room any way. I will let Triton out,” Earon said, quickly stopping Europa from her search for Triton. “Just have a seat, Missy. Or, better yet, perhaps you could make some coffee for all of us since Misso is unable to.” Walking toward the door, he added, “One Triton on his way,”
Europa just sat on the couch, secure in Terrance’s arms. She had heard Earon’s suggestion about the coffee but she had no idea how to make it. Misso had always taken care of that. And during the few times Misso wasn’t around, Birea or Jeanip did. How did Earon think she was going to make coffee?
Earon whistled for Triton as he opened Jeanip’s door, keeping up the pretense of the canine being inside. “There you are,” he said. “Come on and get up.” Earon turned to face Europa, who was still sitting on the couch. “Looks like I woke him from his nap. He will be there in a minute. Oh, by the way, you probably surmised you will not be sleeping in your room for a while. Have one of the men go upstairs to your room and get anything you will need for a couple of days. And, Europa, under no circumstances are you to go upstairs. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I understand.” Europa answered.
“Promise me you will not go or attempt to go upstairs.”
“I will make sure she doesn’t attempt it, Earon,” Terrance stated, giving Europa a serious look.
“Europa, your word,” Earon repeated again. He was not going anywhere until Europa gave her word.
“I promise, Earon”
“You promise what?”
“I promise I will not go or attempt to go upstairs,” Europa said, staring back at Earon. Besides, she was too afraid to go upstairs and witness the destruction and blood in her room.
Satisfied Europa would remain downstairs where she was safe, Earon entered Jeanip’s room. Slipping behind the door he quickly undressed and transformed into Triton. He trotted over to Europa and laid at her feet, assured his secret identity and his sister were both safe. He was also delighted Europa had not gotten up to try to make coffee. Earon knew if she had, it would have been a disaster. But the suggestion had kept her mind distracted long enough for him to transform into Triton without detection.
CONFIRMATION
