by Marie Dry
She turned into the passage leading to the children’s ward and stopped. It looked like all the nurses in the hospital were gathered in the wide passage. “What’s going on?” she asked the nurse toward the back.
“The resistance got some more dirt on those aliens.” For a moment, she looked like she was going to spit her disgust. Then she obviously remembered who she was talking to and, mumbling something, disappeared into the crowd.
Madison tried to see over the crowd, but she was too short. She was just about to muscle a way to the front, when a few women and a man shifted and, for a moment, she had a clear view of the 3D image hovering in the passage. A curvy blonde woman kicked and screamed as four grotesque aliens forced her aboard an odd looking space ship. They groped her ample breasts and leered at her, all the while dragging her into a truly odd looking space ship. The whole scene reminded her of that day when she looked at the resistance films with Viglar, seeing it through his eyes.
To Madison, who saw Viglar every day, and who’d seen the other aliens a few times, these looked like caricatures. Something created with 3D animation to convince humans to act against the aliens. The creatures were so unlike Viglar and the other Zyrgin’s she’d met, she almost laughed. If that space ship could fly, she’d eat her aunt Hettie’s old shoes. In big red letters at the bottom of the image it said,
BRING SARAH HOME!
Madison left them watching it again, dread gnawing at her insides. Could it be coincidence? Maybe the resistance had other sources of information. Could Rachel have told the resistance? Strange that Madison never realized before that those clips were pure propaganda against the aliens. Was she a traitor to her own people for feeling that the aliens were doing so much good? They reintroduced plant and animal species that died out, built hospitals, and restored power.
She was testing Jessie, a five-year-old’s, reflexes and trying to make him laugh to alleviate his fear, when he suddenly stared at the door with that fixed look all the children got when they saw Viglar. She couldn’t figure out if it was fear or awe or some crazy fascination for the utter danger he presented.
Viglar walked up to them and observed in silence until she finished. With the little boy so focused on Viglar, he forgot his own pain and fear and she finished examining him in record time. Normally, she had to coax him to move his aching limbs. She smiled and helped him back under the covers. “Rest now. I have to go with this doctor. I’ll see you again tomorrow.”
The little boy nodded, his eyes never leaving Viglar who stared down at her and seemed to be waiting for something.
“You give him a sweet,” he instructed. It sounded more like, off with his head.
Madison smiled and reached for one of the sugarless sweats in her pocket that he had synthesised for her. “Here you go. Luckily for you, Dr. Viglar remembered or I’d have gone away without giving you your sweet.”
“Thank you Dr. Viglar,” the boy said in a small squeaky voice.
He was obviously scared of Viglar, who stared down at him with those soulless black eyes, no expression on his face. Except how could a man who reminded her about sweets for the children not have a soul? A small hand snaked out from the blankets and one small forefinger touched his hand. Jessie’s eyes opened so wide they took up half his face. “Timmy, I touched him and he’s not slimy,” he shouted at the top of his lungs.
Madison winced. She had a lot more sympathy for her mother’s complains about how loud they were as kids since she started at the hospital.
“I touched him, you owe me,” he shouted again, still at the top of his voice.
“Quiet, little human,” Viglar said.
The little boy kept quiet, but he didn’t seem afraid of Viglar. It never ceased to amaze her that children didn’t fear him. Grown men trembled before him.
“Come with me, human,” Viglar said and took her arm in a firm grasp. Her heart missed a beat. Of course he’d seen the resistance film. He never missed anything. He only called her human in that tone of voice when he was displeased with her. Behind them she heard her little patient giggle.
They walked in silence to his office, Madison refusing to run to keep up with him so she ended up being dragged past her colleagues and patients, feeling like a criminal. She saw the enjoyment on some faces and her temper started to simmer.
“If you don’t stop dragging me and humiliating me in front of everyone, I’ll not be responsible for my deeds.”
He immediately slowed his steps. “I would never humiliate you in front of humans.” The way he said humans, he might have meant garbage.
In his office, he carefully seated her and then stood over her with his legs apart and his arms crossed over his chest. It never ceased to amaze her, that he’d treat her so gently, when he was this furious. And she had no doubt he was furious enough to want to murder someone.
“You told Rachel about Sarah.”
“I was drunk, and I’m sure she didn’t tell anyone.” She’d told Rachel when she was hung over, but now was not the time to go into detail. She didn’t tell him of her suspicion that someone laced the beer. He was paranoid about Rachel and would blame her and Madison already feared for her friend’s life. She’d hoped he didn’t know about the latest resistance film but she should’ve known better. The blasted alien was all knowing.
“Your faith in your friend is not justified. She will betray you and your soft human heart will hurt.” He seemed convinced that she was soft hearted and prone to having it broken.
She could’ve told him her heart had been broken when she was a child. Nothing would ever mend it, but it broke into such little pieces it couldn’t be shattered further.
Madison got up and went to stand in front of him. She refused to sit in the chair like a penitent school girl while he stood over her. His eyes flickered, but he waited for her to answer. “I’ve known her since college. Everyone else is ignoring me because I’m living with you, but she is still my friend.”
“Who dares ignore you?”
She should’ve kept her big mouth shut. “It’s nothing, just me being moody. The point is, I got drunk and might have told any number of people.” She rubbed her head. “I don’t think I did.” She was lucky she and Rachel got home safely.
“You do not drink. Why were you drunk that night?” He stood a little taller and she thought he might be itching to go for his sword. Not stupid at all, this alien of hers.
She searched for something to tell him that would not result in someone’s head saying goodbye to their shoulders. “Someone thought it would be fun to put extra alcohol into the beer bowl, I only had two glasses but it made me feel odd.” She shrugged. “I don’t know what happened, but I’m fairly sure I didn’t say anything.” If she just stayed away from the subject of Rachel, she could maybe get away with the lie. “It was the night I called you, remember. We left the moment we realized we were too tired and the wine was making us drunk.”
He seemed to relax. “You will insist that you were drunk and not aware of your actions when asked.”
“But I was, and who will ask?”
Viglar drew her against him, his hands going to the hair he claimed to find ugly. “The Zyrgin are merciful toward women.”
“That’s the guy who rules all the planets you go and conquer like savages,” she said. If their emperor, or whatever the guy called himself, was willing to become involved in this, she was in deep trouble.
“We are not savages and, if the planets did not want to be conquered, they should have better defences.”
“Have you ever tried to conquer a planet and failed?”
What would it take for him to realize how horrific it was to conquer planet after planet. To simply take a whole civilization, as if it was their right.
“No.”
A shiver went down her spine, and she didn’t know if it was because of his hand stroking the back of her neck, or his absolute answer.
“So why is this Zyrgin going to ask me about that clip?”
“The resistance is using his breeder for their own gains. He will not rest until he has killed them all.”
Madison held onto Viglar. This did not sound good. The way the other women talked about this Zyrgin, she could be in big trouble if he realize she’d opened her big mouth. And what would they do to Rachel, who wasn’t even guilty?
Now Madison knew where the shivers racking her body came from. Sheer dread. She didn’t want Sandra and maybe Rachel to be killed. It had to be Sandra who’d spiked her wine. She didn’t like the woman, but she couldn’t tell Viglar her suspicions. Who knew what he’d do to Sandra. “You can’t blame them, Viglar. This planet belongs to humans. We have the right to fight for it.”
“We respect warriors and their right to fight for their planet. We will win, of course.”
Madison laid her head on his chest. She shouldn’t find his arrogance endearing. “What will he do to me if he thinks it’s my fault they are using Sarah for their propaganda?”
“He rarely punish breeders and allows their warriors take their punishment.”
“Would he kill me?”
“Yes, but I would fight him.” There was grim determination in that statement, but what scared the pants off her was the fact that she didn’t hear his usual arrogance. He didn’t believe he’d win against the Zyrgin guy. For a person as self-assured and experienced in battle to fear the Zyrgin, he had to be pretty awful.
“Viglar, I don’t want you hurt on my account.” She swallowed. Somehow, in her imagination, she’d always thought she’d be brave and self-sacrificing in a situation like this. Instead, she wanted to beg him to run away with her. “If he decides to kill me, don’t fight him.” She had to force the words past her lips. She didn’t want to die, didn’t want to be this self-sacrificing. She wanted to live to help Rachel find a man who’d love her like she deserved, to win back her friends, and, most of all, she wanted to be with Viglar.
“I will fight him. Zacar will hide you from the Zyrgin.”
Madison wasn’t about to hide while Viglar risked his life. She’d have to think of a way to keep him safe. Maybe Zacar could help her. “Something else is bothering you. You think the resistance will do something?”
“We have found that the undesirable humans always use these situations for gain. You do not have to worry about this. I will keep you safe from humans and from The Zyrgin.”
His hands on her back stilled and he grated something. On the office wall the image of a man appeared. He was ordinary looking and the words The Resistance Needs You hovered at the bottom of the screen.
“...the invaders who came to Earth and became a plague on our beautiful planet have committed the ultimate sin. They abducted an innocent woman to take to their home planet. There she will be used by many aliens before they dissect her to find a way to kill us all and have this planet to themselves,” he said.
The man might be ordinary looking, but he was charismatic and his voice had a hypnotic quality that would sway crowds.
“We don’t need to experiment to kill all humans,” Viglar told her. He’d growled the whole time the resistance film showed.
“Please don’t even think things like that, let alone say it,” she said.
“Many humans are going to die because of that broadcast,” he insisted.
Madison grabbed his shirt and went on her tiptoes to look up at him. She put all the pleading she could manage in her expression. “Please don’t let your soldiers hurt innocent people for what a few humans are doing. They’re only trying to win back our planet by any means they can.”
“Our warriors are not the problem. This resistance is twisting facts to suit themselves. Many humans will believe this and use it as an excuse to plunder and hurt their fellow humans.”
Madison would’ve liked to disagree with him, but she feared it was the truth. The Zyrgns might get results, but their methods weren’t popular. Add to that, that it was impossible to get to a Zyrgin, and they had trouble brewing. Almost before the words were out of his mouth a news caster appeared and reported that riots had broken out all over the country.
On the screen, the image of the resistance leader stood in front of a blank wall. “We urge all humans to rise up and wipe this scourge from our planet. Destroy every sign of their occupation.”
Viglar grunted something which meant he was talking to other Zyrgins. Zacar appeared on the screen, and they grunted at each other. Madison stayed still and tried to do an impression of an invisible person.
Viglar stopped talking and turned back to her. “Rioters are on their way here.”
“Why here?”
Many of the patients couldn’t be moved. They would have to try and defend the hospital. Despair clutched her by the throat. How did you stop a crowd of thousands.? Horror settled in her stomach, slowly crawled up her throat, trying to expel her lunch.
“Everyone knows there is new equipment and food here. This hospital is also a symbol of our rule.”
Madison closed her eyes. Just once, she’d like her fellow humans to surprise Viglar with a noble act. This might be a symbol of Zyrgin occupation, but it catered to sick humans. They didn’t have one alien patient.
“More warriors are on their way to help defend the hospital,” he said.
Madison squared her shoulders and hoped he couldn’t hear the frantic beat of her heart. If thousands of rioters stormed the hospital, did they stand a chance? “What can I do?”
“Stay here. You will be safe. I have to make sure they do not enter the hospital until the other warriors arrive.” He pressed his forehead briefly against hers and left. She clung to him and then forced herself to let him go. “Return to me safe, Viglar, promise me.”
He made an aggressive, almost hissing sound. “I am a Zyrgin warrior. Do you doubt my skill?”
“No, I--”
“Do you think I do not have omgraz ra?”
“No, I--”
“I am a warrior. You believe because I can heal I am not equally good a warrior? I will not accept such insult.”
Madison sighed. “I do not doubt your skill. I believe you can kill thousands of humans with your eyes closed. This is a human thing. When a human woman sends of her man to war, she asks him to tell her he’ll return safe. You see, it helps them with their frail human emotions in times of war.” She knew she was laying it on a bit thick, but she hadn’t meant to damage his pride. He was so touchy about being a doctor.
He pressed his ridged forehead against hers. “I will be safe, my breeder.” He left with that blurring speed.
Madison paced up and down. She wanted to be outside with Viglar, making sure no one entered the hospital and harmed her patients. They’d all worked so hard to make the hospital work again, and she couldn’t bear the thought of rioters destroying everything they’d achieved. If only she could go outside and see what was happening. She and Rachel had thrown popcorn at the TC many times when heroines went out when they were told of danger. No way was she going to do something stupid, like go where the rioters could get to her.
Taking her TC out of her pocket, she called Rachel. “The rioters are on their way here, where are you?” She should’ve called her the moment they saw the TC cast.
“I’m still at the flat. I won’t come in to work until it’s over. They’ve barricaded our door so no one can get in.” She sounded strange, almost angry.
“Are you all right, Rachel?” She wished Rachel was here. At least at the hospital, they had Viglar and more Zygins on their way.
“Yes, I’m fine. You stay safe behind your alien.” She rang off.
Madison stared at the device in her hand. Something was happening with Rachel. And now that Madison thought about it, it had been a while since Rachel had asked about Joshua or tried to manipulate him into coming to visit--even before Madison had told her he was engaged. Maybe this wasn’t about Joshua, after all.
Madison paced up and down and then went to the door. She wouldn’t be stupid, but she didn’t need to stay here. She co
uldn’t bear to sit around in their apartment and do nothing. She would go to the children’s ward. If anyone got past Viglar, she could at least protect the children. She could use some of her daddy’s guns right now. She hated the idea of Viglar alone outside and facing a crowd of thousands of rioters with only his sword. Please let him have some big guns to defend himself with. Viglar was strong and fast, but she didn’t think he could stop a whole rioting crowd. Maybe she’d stash a few of her daddy’s guns in their apartment, if they lived through this.
Madison ran to the children’s ward. Everyone she passed looked scared and a few people cried quietly. At the main entrance, on her way to the children’s ward, she stopped and stared at the five men who stood with their backs to her. She had to blink her eyes to get rid of the tears of sheer emotion. She’d wished the humans would do one thing to make her proud and surprise Viglar, and her wish had been granted.
Several of the male doctors stood in a row in front of the entrance doors. Viglar faced them, and she had to smile because she knew him well enough to know he was frustrated.
“Humans, you will go to where it is safe.”
Viktor shook his head. “No way, we built this hospital with our sweat and hard work. No rioter is going to destroy it. We’ve got your back.”
Viglar paced up and down in front of them. “I do not need your help. I can defend the hospital until more warriors arrive.”
“Don’t care, we’re helping.”
Viglar stared at the men, taking his time, trying to stare them down one after the other and failing. At last he nodded. “You are humans with honor.”
Madison knew that was the highest compliment he could give.
“Make sure no one enters, I will be back.” He became a blur, and she felt him more than saw him run past her. He appeared a few moments later with weapons he handed out to the men. “Stay behind me and kill anyone who gets past me.”
