Alien Rapunzel

by Zara Zenia

  "No."

  "But, Mother—"

  "I've said no, Laura. That is the end of it! If I didn't know any better I would think that you were already meeting people outside of the Tower! I cannot allow it. You're too important for me to let you go galivanting around with common riffraff! I cannot believe you would even bring this up to me knowing what kind of mood it puts me in! It is rude and thoughtless of you, Laura and I thought I raised you better than that!" She stood up in a huff, her business suit skirt sliding back down into place and hugging her legs as she stormed toward my door. "If I discover you've been talking with anyone outside of the Tower, there will be hell to pay!"

  "How would I talk to anyone outside of the Tower if I’m never allowed to leave!" I shouted back at her, my heart racing at the thought of Rawklix and the emails. Had Thornbush figured out that he wasn't a Castle tech delivering me work? Had he been spying on me? Were we about to be found out?

  "I don't know, but I will find out!" Mother screamed at me as she slammed the door and then armed the lock.

  I went over to test it, but quickly discovered she'd changed the code without telling me. "I hate you!" I yelled through the door and then ran over to my bed and flopped down on it in frustration. The worst part was, I couldn't even email Rawklix about what happened because I was terrified that she was going to figure out I was talking to him.

  Nora

  Something was going on with that brat and I was determined to find out what! "Thornbush! I want a full diagnostic of the system for any anomalies. Colonel Weiss!"

  "I am here, Madam." Colonel Weiss came out of the kitchen area. "How can I be of service?"

  "Has Laura left the premises at any time?"

  "No, Madam. She rarely even comes down to this level. She spends the majority of her free time in her suite, watching tv, playing solitaire or online chess. Or she works on the programming that is delivered from the Castle for her to work on for you."

  I nodded. "Perhaps it is the tv access that has her acting like an entitled little shit. Thornbush! I want to know what viewing she has done on the tv!"

  The computer on the wall lit up with information and I moved toward it. Thornbush didn't have the capability to speak as Colonel Weiss did, but he had other uses. I read over the data, not seeing any anomalies in her online activities and then glanced at the things she'd been watching. Videos on YouWatch that told of the Trilyn bastards that had invaded our planet as well as many news station videos of Humans First's activities.

  "Thornbush, I want all video related to Trilyn and to Humans First restricted!" I demanded. I couldn't have the girl getting any ideas into her head about them.

  "Will there be anything else, Madam?" Colonel Weiss asked like a proper AI.

  "Fix her dinner and take it up to her. Keep her locked in."

  "Yes, Madam." He returned to the kitchen and went about his duties.

  That was the best thing about Ais, they didn't question you, unlike Humans. I got nothing but questions from them!

  Chapter 13

  Rawklix

  "Your brother and his wife have arrived, my Prince," Fellnix said, coming into my bedroom.

  I glanced at the clock. It was barely six a.m. "What are they doing here so early? And which brother and wife?"

  "Prince Lortnam and Princess Kelly, my Prince."

  "Very well, tell them I'll be out momentarily."

  "Of course, my Prince." He turned and left the room, closing the door behind him.

  I got out of bed and went into the bathroom, taking a really quick shower. It was more of just a rinse off than a shower. I brushed my hair and my teeth, got dressed and then went out to greet them. Fellnix was serving them coffee in large mugs when I entered the room.

  "What brings the two of you here so early in the morning?" I asked with a yawn.

  It was Kelly who answered. "Mei and I have done some digging. This Laura Morse doesn't exist before four years ago when she was adopted by Nora."

  I nodded. "Yes, well, she has no memories of before four years ago, though Nora has told her she's lived with her for much longer than that. I suspect that Nora wiped her memories."

  "Exactly, but where did she come from? Mei found her adoption records, and the whole thing is very odd. She was never in the foster system, and there is no record of Nora giving birth to her, so she's not her biological daughter either. Let me show you." Kelly pulled out her own tablet from her purse and tapped on it and then handed it to me. "Look, what it says!"

  Jane Doe, approximate age fourteen found on the beach unconscious by Ms. Nora Morse. No local family has come forward to claim her. Currently residing with Ms. Morse of Miami Beach, Florida. Adoption pending approval.

  And then three days later it was stamped with an 'approved' seal.

  "What if Nora kidnapped her from somewhere, wiped her memories and then supplied the false narrative? Of course no one would come forward here in Miami to claim her if she isn't from Miami! And why the rush on adoption? Something doesn't add up here!"

  I nodded. "You're right. Can you and Mei dig deeper? Maybe use a picture of her to see if you can find her on any missing children networks around the world?"

  "Of course, do you have one?" Kelly asked slyly.

  I grinned. I had several on my phone from the times I'd spent with her. "I have a few, let me send them to your phone." I sent her my top three favorites.

  "You know you are risking your life every time you go see her, don't you?"

  I nodded. "I've been thinking about that. I'm going to prep my palace ship to return to Trilyn. Just in case I have to steal her away." I'd been considering it for a while now, I just needed to get Laura onboard with the plan. "I wish we could take down Nora, but as you all have said, she covers herself well. Even here, in the state of Florida's eyes, Laura is her adopted daughter. She has the law on her side."

  "Unless we can prove she kidnapped her," Kelly said vehemently, "and we will prove it, if it happened. Mei is good. If the information is out there, she'll find it."

  "Thank you. Both of you, all three of you," I said looking at them.

  "My Prince, breakfast is ready in the dining room," Fellnix said from the doorway.

  "Are you both staying?" I asked, looking at them.

  "I have set the table for three, sir."

  Lortnam smiled. "We'd be glad to stay, little brother." He helped Kelly up from the couch.

  He was extra gentle with her, carefully wrapping his arm around her waist as she stood, and it struck me as a little odd. I had to wonder if maybe they had other news to share. "Brother, I don't mean to be indelicate, but… are you and Kelly… are congratulations in order?"

  Lortnam's smile grew and Kelly turned pink. "We were going to keep it quiet for a little while, but… yes. We found out yesterday." He guided Kelly to the dining room and helped her to sit. "How did you know?"

  "Probably because you're treating me like a china doll, Lortnam," Kelly said laughing, a twinkle in her eye. "Not that I'm complaining. At least not yet."

  "Congratulations to you both," I commented, taking my own seat. "So am I the first to know then?"

  "Yes—" Lortnam said.

  At the same time, Kelly said, "Well, no—"

  "What? I thought we weren't going to tell anyone," Lortnam said with a frown.

  "I told Mei. Well, actually she guessed, but still, she knows." Her cheeks were pinker than before.

  "I suppose, considering she's your family, that's okay. We are not telling the rest of the family though. Not yet."

  Kelly nodded and then looked at me, her hand on her still flat stomach. "We want to be sure it goes well before we start talking about it to the rest of the family. So many babies are lost in the first trimester." Her lips looked pinched as she stopped talking.

  "I don't think any of our brothers' wives have had difficult pregnancies so far, I would be surprised if you did. Still I understand the need to wait and I will keep the news to myself until you are ready to shar
e."

  Kelly smiled. "Thank you, Rawklix."

  "We know from the others that gestation is shorter than with Humans, so it is only for a couple of weeks. We will do a family call when we are ready to announce and tell everyone together."

  We ate breakfast as we talked about random things, but my mind kept flashing back to Laura and what she might be doing. Once they were gone with promises to be in touch soon, I returned to the living area and sank down onto the couch with my tablet. I pulled up my email and looked for a message from her, smiling when I found she had indeed emailed me.

  Rawklix,

  I asked Mother about the bodyguard idea. She shot it down, as usual. She was quite angry this time though and I think she suspects that I am talking to someone outside of the Tower. She can't prove it though, thankfully. She ordered Thornbush to limit my activities on the tv, which was rather weird. Mostly on anything to do with the Trilyn, Humans First, or the news. It was so strange.

  She left this morning and won't be back for a week. She's gone to Europe to meet with a new buyer for her VR technology. I'm glad she's gone. We haven't been getting along very well at all. She's had me locked in my suite of rooms for the last four days without the code to get out. I finally had to beg her to give it to me, just in case there was a fire or some other emergency while she was gone. I didn't think she would relent, but finally after promising I wouldn't bring up leaving the Tower again, she did. I really wish I understood her paranoia better. I suppose if I could remember the kidnapping I would be a little more paranoid too, but I just don't.

  Anyway, Colonel Weiss and I have arranged for you to come visit tomorrow, if that works for you. I miss you so much! Talk to you soon, I hope!

  All my heart,

  ~L.

  I debated telling her in an email what Kelly and Mei had discovered, but I figured she should see it in person, well, as in person as you could when it was all on the tablet anyway. Instead I just sent her an affirmative and told her I missed her too. And I did. I missed her more than I missed the Solarin Islands.

  After sending the email, I headed for the bridge to speak to my head of security. "Darlib, I need to prepare the ship for return to Trilyn. We need to be able to make a quick exit from Earth possibly within the next week. Is that doable?"

  "Of course, my Prince. Is there a reason we may have to leave so quickly?"

  "I believe I have found my mate, and if I am right, we may have to rescue her from the clutches of Nora Morse and make a quick interplanetary getaway."

  "Nora Morse, sir? The one who has caused so much trouble for your brothers?"

  "The same."

  "I see, sir. Well, we shall be ready if and when the time comes."

  "Excellent, thank you, Darlib, I knew I could count on you."

  "Always, my Prince." Darlib bowed and then went to inform the crew of what was needed to be done.

  I decided, since my time was probably limited now here on Earth, to go enjoy an afternoon on the beach. I ran into some of the friends I'd made since arriving here, Brett and his wife Jenny, as well as the two blondes I'd had fun with that first night, Gabby and Tara, and their new boyfriends, Jim and Sam. They introduced me to a friend of theirs, Bree, and we played volleyball and then had a cookout. I was careful to keep things just this side of friendly, I didn't want Bree getting the idea that she would be sharing my bed this evening. The only woman that would ever be sharing my bed now or in the future, was my Laura.

  I woke up to a feeling of excitement. Today I was headed to see Laura again. Finally after nearly eight days away from her, I was going to see her beautiful face again. I dressed carefully, and then ate the breakfast Fellnix prepared before going out to the transport vehicle. After I had gotten back from the beach last night, I had arranged to pick up a large collection of CDs full of her favorite bands to present her with today. I knew that going to Trilyn, she would miss things she enjoyed, so I planned to have as many of those thing available for her as I could.

  I guided the transport into the parking lot and with the box under my arm, I headed toward the gate on foot. Once again, Colonel Weiss met me there. "Am I late?"

  "No, sir, you are perfectly on time," he said, pinning a badge to my collar. "The guard will be arriving back in ten minutes. Plenty of time for me to get you into the Tower. As usual, as far as Thornbush is aware, you are a Castle employee, delivering tech for Laura to work on. You should be safe for an hour."

  "One of these days, I'm going to get her out of that Tower and take her out to see the world," I muttered.

  "I hope you do, sir. She deserves to live a real life, not one stuck in this building all the time. Humans are not meant to be locked up in such a way. At least not the noncriminal ones."

  I stared hard at Colonel Weiss. "That was an opinion, Colonel Weiss. If you want to continue keeping people in the dark about you being sentient, you need to curb those comments."

  His eyes brightened and he said, "Of course, sir. I am sure you are correct."

  "Did you just confirm that you are?" I asked staring at him harder.

  "I do not understand the question as you have stated it, sir," he commented.

  "Uh huh. Sure you don't."

  His eyes brightened and then he said, "Here you are, sir, Miss Laura is up the stairs, top floor. Shall I show you the way?"

  "No thank you, Colonel Weiss. You may return to your duties."

  "I will return for you in one hour, sir." He turned and went back outside.

  I climbed the stairs to Laura's room and knocked.

  "Who is it?"

  "Adam Planter. I have the tech for you to help me program."

  "Come in," she said, opening the door with a wide smile.

  I stepped over the threshold and entered her room. She closed the door behind me, and I relaxed as she jumped into my arms. I held her close for a moment, savoring the feel of her in my arms before letting her back down to her feet. Smiling I held out the box to her. "This is for you."

  "Another gift? Seriously, Rawklix, you are spoiling me," she said with a grin, taking it from me. She moved over to the table and sat down with it in her lap.

  I pulled a chair over next to her and watched as she opened the box. She opened the lid and pulled out the tissue paper, setting it on the table. Her nimble fingers pulled out one of the CDs and she squealed.

  "Queen! I love them!" she exclaimed as she dove back in to pull out more.

  There were about sixty of them in all, from all different eras, but were all the bands she'd spoken about as we'd gotten to know one another, as well as some compilation discs that had several of her favorite songs from these bands on them.

  "Rawklix, this is amazing." She smiled, but then it dimmed, and she sighed. "I wish I could keep them."

  I took her hand and brought it to my lips, kissing her fingers. "They are yours and will join your other gifts in the curio until you can have them for real."

  She squeezed my fingers and smiled. "I wish I could now." Her smile turned to a frown and her eyes grew haunted. "Mother still won't let me go out. And I had to promise not to ask anymore for her to give me the code to my room."

  I shook my head. I wanted to take her away with me right now, but I knew I couldn't, it would draw too much attention to do it right now, but I would do it one day very soon. "I have something to show you. My sister-in-law Kelly and her friend found something I think you should see." I pulled out my tablet and clicked on the file.

  Laura's eyes skimmed over the tablet, reading everything. "How… where did you find this?"

  "Actually, Mei found it. She and Kelly were looking for information on you and your adoptive mother." I wanted to tell her that Nora Morse was an evil conniving killer, but I couldn't. Not yet.

  "But if this is true… then I didn't live with her before … the dreams I've been having could be… but then how would I have gotten to the beach? And why would Mother have adopted me?" She was looking at the tablet, muttering softly as she re
ad it.

  "You've been having dreams?"

  She nodded. "Yes, they are odd. They feel like memories, but I didn't think that was possible because Mother said we've always lived here in Miami. But if this is true… then it's possible that the dreams are real… does that make sense?"

  "Tell me about them?" I asked gently, knowing I couldn't push her to remember her past, but if she was having flashes of memories, it could help Mei and Kelly find her past.

  "Well, they usually involve a farm. I remember cows and chickens… a small cold room with a wooden floor. Waking up early to tend the animals before school with my brother. At least in my dream, he was my brother." She closed her eyes and looked as if she were trying to recall the dreams or memories, but it was difficult. "In one I went with friends to our neighbor's apple orchard to pick apples to make an apple pie. I think we were maybe nine in that one. My hair was dark, not blonde like it is now. And there was a woman I called Mama in my dreams. Her name was Sally. She looked nothing like Mother."

  "It sounds nice. Maybe they are your memories returning," I said softly. "But if that is the case, then…" I let my words trail off, I wanted her to make her own judgements about it.

  Her eyes were wide as she whispered, "Then Mother lied to me. There was no kidnapping me from her, she may have kidnapped me … but then how did she find me unconscious on the beach?" She frowned.

  I stood and pulled her into my arms, holding her close. She looked so lost and deep in thought. I moved us over to her bed and sat down with her, wanting her to be more comfortable. I had to admit, I wanted to hold her longer and comfort her as she sorted through her thoughts. I didn't want to press her to make any judgements, she needed to come to these realizations on her own. If I attempted to push her, she could lose the memories again. That was the last thing I wanted.