Transcend

by Sandra R Neeley

  “Quin, I know. I saw it. You showed me, remember?”

  “Diskastes was one of them. He deserved to die. But he deserved to suffer much more than he did,” Quin growled.

  “Unless you allow me to show that vid to certain of the Consortium who will be hearing Kol’s case, I can’t even bring it up. It will be hearsay without the vid to prove it.”

  “I can’t release that vid. I will not subject my Ehlealah to that horror again,” Quin answered.

  “I know,” Bart agreed.

  They were quiet about it for a few moments as both thought about their options. Then Quin’s head came up suddenly. “Are there any missing females from the sectors under Base 28’s protection?” he asked.

  Bart looked dumbfounded for a second. “I haven’t even looked. There are females missing from time to time. No matter how many restrictions we apply, slavers manage to get through to each planet, but humans are particularly desired. I’m sure there are some missing from this sector,” Bart answered.

  “More than on average in the other sectors?” Quin asked.

  “I’m looking into it at once. Maybe we can tie Diskastes to their disappearances. If he was with Vivian at some point, it shows a connection to Malm. It’s worth an investigation,” Bart said excitedly.

  “And Kol in the meantime?” Quin asked.

  “He needs to turn himself in,” Bart answered.

  “So he can sit in prison while you investigate other possibilities?” Quin demanded.

  Bart was silent while he simply sat and watched Quin looking back at him. “I’m not happy about this, Quin. I fucking hate this. I like Kol. He’s like family.”

  “Then don’t do it,” Quin answered.

  “I have no choice. With nothing to further justify his violent attack, I have to take him into custody.”

  “I will not put Vivi through that! I cannot release that vid!” Quin insisted.

  “I know. And I couldn’t either if in your place. Keep the vid hidden away. We’ll argue his actions based on what is seen in the video footage of the battle itself. Keep Vivi’s vid hidden,” Bart said.

  Quin nodded.

  “I’ll give him two weeks. He has two weeks to clean up the loose ends at the base, say his goodbyes to Ada Jane, and call me for an escort here. He has to turn himself in. It will look better for him, than me having to take him into custody.”

  “This is fucking ridiculous!” Zha Quin growled.

  “I agree, Quin. I’m sorry. My hands are tied. He will have to stand trial,” Bart answered.

  “Two weeks before he contacts you. Then however long it takes you to send an escort,” Quin replied.

  “You’re bargaining for just an extra three or four days, Quin,” Bart said, spelling out the obvious.

  “If they were your last days of freedom, wouldn’t you want three or four more?” Quin asked.

  “Fine. Granted,” Bart answered.

  “You will keep me apprised of every single minute element that is to be considered,” Quin demanded.

  “I will,” Bart answered. “I’m sorry, Quin,” Bart said again before ending the vidcom.

  Quin sat back on the couch in his and Vivi’s living room and scrubbed his hands over his face. He sensed a slight motion behind and to his right. He glanced over his shoulder and found Vivian standing there in the doorway of their bedroom, her hair still mussed from her nap. “Did you sleep well, my Vivi?” he asked.

  Vivian ignored his question. She didn't smile. She stared right into his eyes. “What vid are you keeping hidden?”

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Kol walked calmly down the hallway leading from the new central offices of Earth Base 28. He and all those who’d stayed loyal to their duties at Earth Base 28 had spent the last week repairing the base and remodeling Diskastes’s quarters into a large centralized area with several different desks and a private conference room for private meetings when needed, and a file room for all personnel and accounting files. All records were stored electronically of course, but after the attack on the Base’s computer system, Kol felt the need to keep hard copy records as well.

  Ba Re’ and Elisha had spent a number of hours completely removing the software and virus it had been infected with from the base and installing new software and linking to the other bases. The Cruestaci had made a gift of an advanced software program to the Consortium for use in linking all the bases and making communications and traceability much easier.

  The new base was functioning, and the males stationed on it, both human and alien, were happy to be there and be a part of it. Already the civilians living in that sector had begun to contact the base for support with things as simple as food and medical care. Things that should have been supplied to them all along.

  Kol had given instructions for information to be gathered from all in their sector regarding any missing citizens. If Diskastes had made people disappear, they needed to know about it. And if there was a chance that any of them had been sold into slavery, it was possible they may still be alive somewhere.

  As Kol approached the door that would let him out into the docking area of the base, Buchanan called his name.

  “Headed home for the night, Blue Dude?” Buchanan called.

  Kol offered a smile he didn’t feel as he turned to face his friend. “I am.”

  “Give Ada Jane my best, huh?” Buchanan asked. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Kol nodded. “You have become a treasured friend, Buchanan. You and Zhuxi both,” he said.

  “You have, too, Kol. I’m proud to call you friend.”

  “Keep this base as we’ve restructured it, my friend. The people in this sector will prosper,” Kol said.

  “Oh, yeah. We all will. Just going to take a little time to shake off the reputation that Diskastes gave us. But it’ll happen.”

  Kol nodded his head in agreement.

  After a few awkward moments of silence Buchanan spoke again. “Well I won’t keep you,” he said, taking a step away. “I’m sure Ada Jane is waiting dinner on you.”

  “I’m sure she is,” Kol answered. “Goodbye, Buchanan.” Kol opened the door and walked through it for what could very likely be the last time. He stood still and looked around the docking area, returning the nods and waves of the males working there, before making his way to his cruiser and heading home to Ada Jane.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Ada Jane smiled as she served both her plate and Kol’s. He’d requested his favorite for dinner tonight — her fried pork chops with mashed potatoes and peas. She caught her reflection in the kitchen window and smiled even bigger at her ever present smile. She always smiled now. She’d never in her life been happier, and it was all thanks to Kol. She loved him as desperately as he loved her, and she loved nothing better than being his mate, his wife. She waited for him to come home each evening, and he always did. Neither he nor she could sleep without the other they’d become so attached.

  Her ears picked up the sound of his cruiser as it descended and was docked in place on the other side of the church, and she gave a little squeal of excitement as she placed the forks and knives beside the plates of food and glasses she’d already set on the table. She leaned over and glanced at herself in the reflection of the kitchen window again, then walked outside onto the porch to wait for him.

  Kol walked past the church, waving to Pastor Douglas as he went by. Then he slowed in his tracks as he saw his female waiting for him up ahead on their own front porch. He smiled at her, his heart warming. “My Ada Jane,” he said.

  “I missed you,” she called out, jogging down the steps and over to him where he met her half-way, kissing her lips and hugging her to him.

  “I was just here this morning,” he said, teasing her.

  “I know. But I think of a thousand little things I want to tell you all day long, and I have to wait for you to come home to tell you,” Ada Jane said.

  “Is that all?” he said, draping his arm over her shoulder as they started
toward their home.

  “Well, I do kind of like your kisses, too. I mean, I do miss those,” she said, teasing him.

  “I will have to load you up on them this night, so that you can have plenty to last tomorrow,” Kol said.

  “Deal! I’ll take them all,” Ada answered as she proceeded to the table, and he closed the front door behind them before following her to the dining room table.

  “My favorite,” he said, taking his seat.

  “You asked for it,” Ada said, sitting in her own chair. “Ask and you shall receive,” she said, placing her napkin in her lap.

  When dinner was over, Ada Jane cleared the table and quickly washed the dishes before following Kol out into the yard where he’d moved one of their porch chairs so that he could look up into the night sky. As she approached him, he held out his arm indicating she should sit on his lap and watch the stars with him.

  “So, when are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” Ada asked as she rested the back of her head on his shoulder and looked off at the stars with him.

  Kol hugged her to him for a moment before kissing her temple.

  Ada Jane tried to turn and look at him but he stopped her. “It’s easier if you do not look at me,” he said softly.

  Ada hesitated but she settled back against him, her stomach now doing flips at the unease his comment immediately sent through her. “Okay,” she said.

  “I never thought I’d call any place home but Cruestace, or Command Warship 1. But this is now my home. It is this cottage, this world, you, that I will dream of when I am not here,” he said.

  “Where are you going?” she asked, her entire body stiffening.

  “I do not wish to leave, but I’ve been ordered to,” Kol answered.

  Ada Jane tried to sit up and turn to face him, but he held her gently, yet firmly in place. “Then I’m coming with you,” she stated simply.

  Kol shook his head, though he knew she couldn’t see him since she still faced away from him. “You cannot, my love. Where I’m going you have no business being, and my heart would shatter if you were there with me.”

  Ada Jane slapped his hands away from her shoulders and spun on his lap to face him. “You can’t leave me,” she said, with tears in her eyes, though she fought them bravely.

  “I do not wish to. And if I am able, I will return. But I cannot lie to you and tell you that I will,” Kol answered.

  “I don’t understand. You said forever,” she said, her lip beginning to quiver.

  Kol cupped her face in his hands. “And I meant forever. I am forever yours. Always.”

  “And I’m yours, so I’m coming.”

  Kol shook his head. “I am making a mess of this.” He sighed and pressed his lips to hers before starting again. “I have to turn myself into the Consortium tomorrow morning. Charges have been brought against me for war crimes.”

  “That’s ridiculous!” Ada Jane cried out, jumping to her feet.

  “The way in which I killed Diskastes is being questioned. It is said that I was overly violent and it was uncalled for. I must answer for my actions.”

  “No! All you did was protect me! And look what you’ve done with the Base in such a short time. Everything is so much better now,” she said, her voice breaking as she still fought her tears.

  “Yet, the sitting members of the worlds represented by the Unified Consortium Defense were watching. Charges have been brought against me. I must answer them. I must be responsible for my actions. If I was not willing to take responsibility for my actions, I would not be an honorable male worthy of your love.”

  “I don’t care. You are worthy and you’re not going anywhere!” Ada insisted.

  “There is good news,” Kol said sadly.

  “There is? What?” she said, walking closer to him.

  “Bart has written the warrant and charges himself. He did it so that he could leave out the possibility of a death penalty, or life in prison.”

  “Death penalty? Life in… What the hell is wrong with these people? Don’t they realize what kind of male he was? Don’t they realize that he was going to kill all of us given the opportunity?” Ada screamed.

  “All they care is what they saw, my Ada Jane. They saw my Psi tear him apart when he leveled his weapon at you. They saw Kron have to turn me away from another male. They feel I acted uncontrollably.”

  “They’re flipping idiots!” she shrieked.

  “I will come back, Ehlealah, if I’m able,” he said, his heart breaking as tears began streaming down her face.

  “No. You can’t leave,” she said, on a sob.

  “I have no choice. I have to go. It is the honorable thing to do,” he said, holding her to him as she threw herself back into his lap.

  “I don’t care about honor. I just care about you, and us. And we deserve this,” she said, waving her arms around them at their home and the night sky. “We deserve each other. It’s not fair,” she said sobbing.

  Kol didn’t try to dissuade her. She was right.

  He let her cry for a while, memorizing the feel of her in his arms so he could carry it with him. Then he remembered he had more to tell her. “I have other news, Ada Jane. I have been working with Bart. He believes he can reclaim your land.”

  “I only want you,” she whispered as her tears still soaked through his shirt. He sat there holding her until her sobs stopped, then he lifted her in his arms, got to his feet and moved them to their bedroom. “Where are we going,” she whispered.

  “I’m going to make love to you and I’m going to imprint every moment, every sight, every feel, every taste into my memory so that I can take you with me when I go.”

  “You are taking me with you,” she answered.

  Kol didn’t argue with her. He didn’t want her to leave her cottage. He didn’t want her to see him in custody or at the trial. He wanted her memories of him to be loving and happy, not shadowed with the situation he was about to endure. Kol laid her on the bed, then started to remove her clothes. “I want the lights on. I want to see every beautiful curve of your body,” he said.

  Ada Jane nodded. “And yours too.”

  Kol nodded. “Anything you want, my Ehlealah.

  Chapter 29

  The early morning hours came quickly as Kol quietly slipped out of their bed and pulled his clothes on. He didn’t want to shower and wash away Ada Jane’s scent, he wanted to carry that with him today at least. Fully dressed he stood over her, looking down at her sweet face. His whole heart and soul belonged to this woman and he could not even say that he wasn’t a lucky male. He’d been gifted with his Ehlealah, and she’d loved him, too. Quietly he left the bedroom and paused at the small table by the front door where they kept a bowl for keys, and Ada Jane always kept fresh flowers in a small vase there. He reached into his pocket and took out a letter Missy had printed for him from his dictated words. He’d signed it, but his mastery of the written English language left a lot to be desired, so he’d enlisted Missy’s help.

  Then he’d left his weapons beside the note and walked out of their home, closing the door softly behind himself. He started his walk toward his cruiser, knowing that if Bart’s escorts weren’t there yet, they would be soon. Before he got to the front of the church, he heard the screen door of his and Ada Jane’s cottage slam shut as she ran out of it screaming his name. Kol turned toward her as she ran to him. “Ada Jane, go back inside, love.”

  “You can’t do this! You can’t!” she screamed, throwing herself into his arms.

  Kol’s eyes began to get misty as he held her tight. Then he heard movement behind himself and knew they weren’t alone. He turned so he could see the four man escort standing and waiting for him. Kol made eye contact with them and nodded. Then he returned his attention to his sobbing mate. “Ehlealah, look at me. Hush, now. Stop crying and look at me.”

  Ada resisted, but she did manage to get her sobs slightly quieted and looked up at him.

  “I am not leaving you. I will never leave you.
My heart and soul live here,” he said, placing his hand on her chest, “inside you. You will have me with you every day of our lives. And if the gods be willing, I will return in body as well.”

  “Take me with you,” she begged.

  “No!” he said firmly, leaving no room for discussion. “I will not have you see me as a less than honorable male. I will tend to these things. I will do whatever is necessary, and one day, hopefully, I will return to you. You will be here among the things that mean so much to you. In the place you call home. In our home,” he said, gesturing to the cottage. “Kron has agreed to look in on you. I’m sure the others will as well. You will be strong for me. I need you to be strong for me so that I can do what I have to do.”

  Ada Jane couldn’t even focus on Kol she was crying so hard. But she loved him, and she respected him, and if this was what he asked of her, she’d do it.

  “Please, Ada Jane. Can you stay here and take care of our home?”

  Ada nodded. “But I’m not going to be happy about it when you get back,” she rushed out between her tears, trying to make him believe that she’d be okay.

  Kol smiled at her. “I’d expect nothing less. I love you, my Ada Jane, my Ehlealah.”

  “I love you, Kol,” she said, hugging him to her again.

  “I have to go, my love. They are waiting.”

  Ada let go of him and took a step back.

  Kol placed a kiss on her lips, each of her eyelids, the tip of her nose and her forehead before running his thumb along her trembling bottom lip. “I will see you again,” he promised.

  Ada nodded, then stood back and watched him walk toward the four males that waited quietly for him to join them. They didn’t arrest him or cuff him, they simply fell into step with him as they all walked out of sight past the front of the church.

  Ada stayed where she was. She couldn’t feel her body, everything was numb. Her mind was racing and her heart was shattering. Her soul though, her soul kept whispering to her that she was strong, she could do what he asked and be strong for him, for them. She stood there, fighting the sobs that wanted to escape her until she saw the transport Kol and his escorts had boarded rise into the predawn sky and in the blink of an eye disappear from view.