Haven 1: Ascend

by Sandra R Neeley

  “What?” Bart asked, confused.

  “He keeps calling me Ehlealah. They all do; either that or Sirena. I’m not either one. What are they going to do when they find out I’m not her?”

  Bart smiled, she had no clue what Ehlealah meant. “Do you know what Ehlealah means?”

  “No! But obviously I’m not her! Missy just keeps telling me that I’m Vivian Ehlealah. I had to ask it to stop. It felt like I was lying when I answered it.”

  “There is no translatable word for Ehlealah. Ehlealah is not a name, it is a description, a person,” Bart explained.

  Vivian’s eyebrows pulled down over her eyes, “Is it a bad thing?” she was thinking maybe they were referring to the way they found her. Maybe they were calling her a prostitute.

  Bart smiled indulgently, “No. It’s not. Ehlealah is…” he hesitated, trying to find the right word. “It’s holder of my heart or soul. Or both. It’s a position that one holds, not a name. You have no worries about them finding out that you are not another woman. They know exactly who you are.”

  Vivian’s mouth dropped open. “And Quin thinks that I’m his…”

  “He doesn’t think. He knows. You are his Ehlealah.”

  Vivian was speechless, her mouth bobbing, her mind searching desperately for words. “Well, well, then what about the other name? My name is not Sirena!”

  “Sirena is…” Bart started, but he was stopped when Quin walked back into the living room.

  He was dressed head to toe in his battle regalia and had a very irritated look on his face. “Let us go, before I lose all control of my Psi at Malm demanding an audience with me.”

  “At least he is only on the vidcom. They do have a lot of interference out this far, don’t they?” Bart said.

  Quin knew he was both suggesting that they cut the vidcom short when speaking to Malm and letting him know that he was aware that there was no interference as Quin usually claimed when shutting down communications with the Consortium. He would have been amused had he not been irritated that Bart was telling Vivi things that should come from him. He should be the one to explain to Vivi what she meant to him. “Come, then. We are not aware of how long we will be able to maintain contact with the Consortium,” he said to Bart. Then he turned to Vivian, “Ehlealah, I shall return soon. Please, keep your shraler here.”

  Vivian nodded.

  Just as they approached the door and stepped through it, Vivian called, “Quin!”

  He stepped back into sight, “Yes, Ehlealah.”

  “Thank you. For letting me keep Kitty.”

  “You are welcome, my Vivi. Just don’t allow him to wander the ship. Keep him here for now.”

  “I will,” Vivian answered. “And, I’m… I’m sorry.”

  “For?” Quin asked.

  “Deceiving you,” she said softly, “I was afraid.”

  “You need never fear me. I’ll be back soon,” Quin said gently to her, then he was gone, the door sliding shut behind him and Bart as they made their way to the Command Deck.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  As soon as they’d entered the lift, Quin turned on Bart, trying to back him into a corner, “I heard you speaking to my Ehlealah. You will not take my Vivi. You will die before you take my Vivi. And you will not tell her what she is to me. I will tell her. I will claim her as is the custom of my people. She will not be advised of it by someone who is not relevant to either of our lives.”

  “I am more relevant than you know! And I didn’t promise to take her home,” Bart responded, to his credit not moving back one single step. He stood his ground in the face of the pissed-off future Warrior King.

  “Explain yourself! And the only reason you breathe is that you didn’t promise to take her from me!” Quin snarled.

  “I didn’t want to lie to her. I won’t lie to you either. My whole purpose for accepting this assignment was to find Vivian.”

  His admission reminded Quin that he’d known Vivian’s name before he’d even been given access to her. “Why do you search for her? How do you know my Vivi?”

  The lift came to a stop, the doors sliding open. Bart eyed the doors, “I saw her image in the planning room the Consortium used before agreeing to call in your assistance. But this is not a conversation to be delivered in 35 seconds on our way to the Command Deck. I will tell you, but not at this moment. We need more time so that you can hear the entire story.”

  Quin didn’t move, his chest was pressed against Bart's, and he stared down into Bart’s face, “Very well. But you will give me every minute detail. The moment we are finished with Malm, you will tell me everything.”

  “I give you my word,” Bart confirmed, “But you will tell me of how you found Vivian, in return.”

  Chapter 19

  Zha Quin stood, feet planted, arms crossed against his massive chest, Psi partially emerged and dressed in full battle gear. He’d intentionally dressed in such a way in answer to the demand issued by Chairman Malm for a holovid conference. He was standing almost at the podium, his impressive persona filling the holovid view, insuring that he was all they’d see on the other side of that vidcom projection — up close and personal.

  He knew the moment the vidcoms had linked up because Malm startled and took a step back, cursing under his breath. Quin said nothing, simply stood, staring Malm in the eye.

  “Commander Tel Mo’ Kok, I called this meeting for confirmation of Ambassador Bartholomew’s arrival and for an update on the welfare of the human female you currently have aboard.”

  “And?” Zha Quin snarled in his own language.

  Malm sputtered, “And what? I must know that both are safe! There is no and.”

  Zha Quin didn’t change his facial expression at all, he simply said, “Both are safe.”

  “That is not good enough. I must speak with them, both of them!”

  “No.” Quin took a special pleasure in pushing Malm’s buttons.

  “You do not have that right! I have every right to speak with both,” Malm screamed, face again turning red.

  Zha Quin didn’t look away from the stare down he was having with Malm, but he said to Ambassador Bartholomew, “Bart, do you wish to speak with Malm?”

  Bart stepped up beside Zha Quin, placed his hand on Quin’s shoulder and leaned over so that he could be seen in the holovid beside Quin, “Not really,” he muttered to Quin. Then he plastered a smile on his face and said loudly, clearly, “Chairman Malm! How are you this day?”

  “You know well how I am! You were to check in the moment you arrived so that I could monitor your progress with the women in need.”

  “No, that is incorrect. I was to update the entire board when I have news to report. I have nothing you do not already know to report,” Bart said coolly.

  “You are well aware that I have a special interest in this case. It is a matter of common courtesy to keep me apprised of this situation at all times.”

  Bart listened, nodding his head as though genuinely understanding, “Yes, yes I am aware of your obsession with Sirena Vivian. What I’m not aware of is why you are obsessed with a member of the Cruestaci nobility.”

  Malm went from red-faced to dark maroon with spittle flying and his entire upper body trembling he was so angry, “How dare you question my motives,” he spat at Bart.

  “Because any who do not are fools,” Bart answered. Then for the sake of the recording that was no doubt being made as per Consortium regulations of all holovid conferences, he said, “I have been given access to all traumatized females. I will treat them all as is needed. When they are deemed recovered enough, and ready to make a choice of where they wish to go next, they will be accommodated. As this is an approved action between both the Consortium and the Cruestaci, it will be an ongoing project. I will no doubt be here for some time. I will update the Consortium as updates become available.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice to a deeper level, “I will not be rushed or intimidated into mishandling this assignment. It will unfold and move fo
rward at its natural pace.” He straightened and turned smiling at Quin, “I have finished my report.”

  Quin, still staring a hole through Malm, barked, “End comm!” And the holovid screen on both ends of the conference went black.

  Quin smiled, turned to Bart standing beside him and patted him harshly on the back, “You are a good male, Bart,” he said, chuckling.

  “Why, thank you, Quin. You are as well,” Bart answered.

  “Let us go share a meal and have our talk. We both have many questions,” Zha Quin said.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Chairman Malm screamed his rage and ran at the holovid platform. He snatched the imager from its perch above the platform and smashed it to the ground. “Get me Perkins! Now!!! I am finished waiting on these fools to return what is rightly mine.”

  A green, tentacled male, eerily similar to the green, tentacled male aboard Command Warship 1, answered in a whiny voice, “Immediately, Lord Malm.”

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Quin and Bart took the lift down one level, then exited and turned right toward the commissary. “Did you notice that Malm was not in the Consortium Board Room?” Bart asked.

  “Yes, I did. Where do you think he is? And more importantly, what do you think he is up to?” Quin asked.

  “I don’t know, but we must keep our guard up at all times. He is without a doubt not to be trusted.”

  “I agree,” Quin said. Then, “Give me one minute,” as he pressed the private comm in his ear, “Computer, where is my Ehlealah exactly located on this ship?”

  Bart snickered at the exact presentation of Quin’s question to the computer. Since Vivian had taught it to be evasive one had to phrase their queries precisely.

  The computer answered immediately, “Your Ehlealah is located in your quarters. She has not left your quarters, so an update as per your orders was not required.”

  Quin sighed, he didn’t ask for the additional information. Vivi had definitely had an effect on the computer. “Is her shraler with her in our quarters?” he pressed.

  “Yes, Commander. Both are secured in your quarters.”

  “Has she eaten?” Quin asked the computer.

  “Yes, Commander. Both Vivian Ehlealah and her shraler have eaten.”

  Bart, unable to hear the private reply in Quin’s ear, asked, “Well?”

  “She and her shraler are both safe in our quarters, and they’ve eaten,” Quin replied.

  “Kitty,” Bart said.

  “What?”

  “The shraler, she calls it Kitty,” Bart explained.

  Quin rolled his eyes and shook his head, “She should call the damn thing Vicious.”

  “It seems to like her, though. It even seemed protective of her,” Bart commented.

  “It is true, yes. The creature does seem to be attached to and very protective of her. If the beast can be trusted, it could be to our benefit.”

  When they entered the commissary, a table of males called out, “Zha Quin! Join us.” As they approached the table, Quin shook hands and warmly embraced each male. “Bart, these are my closest friends, my family, as well as trusted members of my crew. This is Ba Re’, Kol and Jhan. My friends, this is Ambassador Bartholomew, Bart. He is a good male.”

  Pleasantries were exchanged, and they made room for both Quin and Bart to join them. Quin signaled toward Cook, and he soon delivered two plates overflowing with food to the table and placed them in front of Quin and Bart.

  “Have you all known each other for a long time?” Bart asked, seeing the good-natured teasing that passed easily around the table.

  “Yes,” Ba Re’ answered. “We grew up together. Jhan is my brother, Kol is our cousin. We and Zha Quin have been friends since boyhood.”

  “It must be a wonderful thing to have such close bonds, others that you can depend on without question,” Bart commented, as he placed a bite of food in his mouth, not realizing that all four males stopped to watch him at his comment.

  “Do you not have close friends? Family?” Kol asked.

  “I have acquaintances. Very few family left, most distant relations. My father had some half-siblings, so I’ve got cousins, though my father and I lost touch with them years ago. They didn’t share the same focus we have, so he was never really close to them. But I do, in fact, have two immediate family members that I’m aware of. And that’s just recently. For many years, I thought only myself and my father remained in our family line,” Bart answered.

  “That is sad. I have many family members, though some days I wish I did not. I do know that at any time, I need only make it known that I’d like assistance, and they will line up to help. As will we for each other,” Quin said, indicating the other males around the table.

  Mumbled agreements sounded around them.

  Then another male entered the commissary; he rivaled Quin in stature, but was burnt-orange in color.

  “Vor, come, join us,” Quin called out. Vor approached the table, taking the seat Quin indicated for him. “Vor, this is Ambassador Bartholomew — he will be with us for a while working with the women we brought on board.”

  Vor inclined his head in greeting.

  “I thought that you should meet one another. You may see him from time-to-time as he speaks with Vivi,” Quin explained. Then to Bart he said, “Vor is the captain of Vivi’s personal guard. You may be seeing him whenever she is unable to sneak away from them.”

  Bart barked out a laugh, “Has she done this?”

  Vor answered, with a grumble, “Yes, she has. She is very wily.”

  “Well, it is good to meet you,” Bart greeted, before Jhan turned them back to the subject at hand.

  Jhan asked, “How did you come to find out that you have a second surviving family member?”

  Bart looked up from his plate, and took the time to look each male in the eye, settling on Quin before answering casually. “Well, I saw her image displayed in a planning room Malm and his team used when considering calling in your assistance to intercept the slave ship. I thought, no, it couldn’t be her — so much time has passed, it’s just a very similar likeness. But, then, I knew for sure when I saw my great Aunt Vivian running down the corridor of your ship cradling a shraler. All doubt left me. It is absolutely Vivian.”

  All chewing stopped. Kol’s sharpened spoon clattered to his plate. Ba Re’ choked on the food he was trying to swallow. Vor stood, a low rumble in his chest.

  Quin turned shrewed eyes on Bart, “That is impossible. My Vivi is younger than you are, she could not be a great relative of yours. That is what great means, correct? A predecessor, a relative, still living, but elder by generations?”

  “It is. And it certainly appears that she is younger, but no, she is not.”

  Quin, with a definite growl in his voice, said, “Explain yourself, Now!”

  Bart sat back, wiping his mouth with his napkin, “I will. Hear me out before you pass judgment or jump to conclusions.”

  Quin gave one nod of agreement.

  “My name is Victor Bartholomew. Your Sirena’s name is Vivian Bartholomew Stevenson. She was taken from Earth more than eighty years ago. My grandfather and my great uncle witnessed her abduction and never, ever got over the fact that they were unable to save her. They never stopped searching for her. My father was a young child at the time. He remembers the pain of having her ripped from their lives. As he grew up, he was taught to always carry on the family mission of trying to find Vivian. Even if she was no longer alive, we hoped to bring her back and lay her to rest beside her uncles. I was raised with the same drive ingrained in me. Prosper, live your life, but always search for Vivian. Try to gear your life to place yourself in a position of gaining more information, placing yourself in a better position to be able to find out who took her and where they took her. Bring her home to rest alongside her family. Which brings me to the Consortium. Worked my way up, earned every promotion, every damn moment of recognition I achieved. All with the intent of not only bettering my own life, but of
one day being able to bring Vivian home. I never, not in a million years, expected to find her running down a corridor on a Cruestaci warship cradling a shraler against her chest.”

  “You will not take her from me,” Quin rasped out.

  “It is not my plan to take her from you. But it is my plan to at some point explain everything to her. To allow her to choose her own path. She deserves at least that much after so much has been taken from her. Wouldn’t you agree?” Bart asked.

  Quin did not reply, but Kol did, “Absolutely.”

  “How was she taken?” Ba Re’ asked, and was backed up by Vor saying, “Yes, this!”

  “It was a time of reparation on Earth. We’d been invaded by extraterrestrials, battled for our survival for years, then saved by a different group of extraterrestrials made up of many different species.”

  “The United Defense Consortium,” Jhan commented.

  “Yes, the Consortium,” Bart agreed. “Our family had left the cities for the mountains when the first signs of extraterrestrial activity began. We’d always had a summer cabin in the mountains, so making it a full time home was not a difficult thing. Vivian’s parents refused to leave the city, believing that the government would save them. Only a few months after they refused to evacuate to the mountains, Vivian’s mother showed up at the family’s cabin. She’d been injured — gravely so. And she had a very young Vivian with her. Her husband had died fighting them while she escaped with Vivian in tow. She died a few days later, leaving Vivian in the care of her uncles, her mom’s older brothers.”

  “How old was Vivian?” Kol asked.

  “No more than six or seven. They lived off the grid, were careful to remain undetected. Then the Consortium came to our rescue. They battled away all the invading forces and placed a protective order around Earth and all her inhabitants. Life would never be as it once was, but it was much better than before the Consortium freed us. We could do simple things. Like go into town for a few supplies that we’d once taken for granted: sugar, butter, things like that. We could be seen outside in the daylight, swim in the streams and lakes. It was not necessary to stay completely hidden away any longer. We even enjoyed campfires and cookouts with bonfires lighting up the sky. That was how they took Vivian. They saw the flames.”