Haven 1: Ascend

by Sandra R Neeley

  Moments later she was back, using her chain where it was wrapped around Kitty’s neck like a leash. She had a plastic covered dish in one hand and the chain in the other. “I need to take Kitty back to Quin’s.”

  “I’ll walk with you. Then we can go look at your letters.”

  While they walked, Vivian asked about her uncles. “They were young then, what became of them?”

  “Alex fell in love and remarried. Andrus never did. He never stayed in one place long enough. He was obsessed with finding you. He demanded meeting with anyone he could think of or heard about that had anything to do with the invasion and eventually the Consortium. He traveled all over the world making contact with any and all who claimed they’d been abducted or been contacted by alien life. He said he’d bring you home, one way or another.”

  She’d gotten quiet, “He wasted his life looking for me.”

  “Oh, no, Vivian. Never think that. He did good things. He started a foundation in your name. He brought attention to the fact that though the Consortium claimed they were protecting us, they really weren’t doing much of anything. He became an advocate for missing people and the families that looked for them. There are agencies on Earth now that do nothing but search for those who were taken.”

  “He did all that?”

  “He did. And it was all done in your name, in recognition of his refusal, of their refusal to give up. Alex and his wife helped him. They ran the foundation while he traveled and made contacts. They helped a lot of people along the way. None of it was ever a waste.”

  Vivian nodded, “I miss them so much. For me, it was just a few months ago.”

  They paused outside the door, “Missy, open the door please.” The door slid open, and Vivian entered with her grip still tight on Kitty’s collar. “Come on in, give me a sec. I have to get him set up.”

  Bart watched while Vivian put a large bowl filled with fresh water in the bathroom and placed the plate of food with it. She fluffed a purple blanket and put it in the corner. She rubbed Kitty’s large head between her hands and kissed the top of his head, “I’ll be back in a little while. You stay here and nap after your lunch. I won’t be long.”

  “You ready?” Vivian asked, turning to Bart as the door slid shut behind her, and she pressed the keypad mounted beside it to keep it closed.

  “Let’s go,” Bart answered.

  They stepped into the hall and found two teams of security waiting for them. Both Vivian’s and Bart's.

  Vivian rolled her eyes, “Guys, please. I know you want me all safe and everything, but do you think you could give me a break here? I just want to visit with my family.”

  Bart’s team seemed taken aback, “Family?!”

  “Yes, family,” Bart said, “Vivian is my aunt.” It was impossible not to notice the tension and nervousness coming off Bart’s security team. “Why are you two here?”

  “We are your security. We’re supposed to be here.”

  “I don’t need security. Already told you that.”

  “Yes, Sir, but we received new orders from Chairman Malm this morning. We are to shadow you at all times,” Perkins replied.

  “You stay far away from me. I don’t need any damn security,” Bart scowled, as he took Vivian’s arm to escort her past them.

  Vivian giggled at him, “You get used to it. I’ve even made friends with mine,” she said thumbing at Vor and Kail over her shoulder as they followed at a distance. “But act like you don’t see them — they’re supposed to be watching me undetected from a safe distance,” she mock whispered, which earned her several chuckles from behind.

  Vor and Kail followed Vivian and Bart at a safe distance. They did make sure to keep Bart’s security behind them, much to their irritation.

  “Move aside!” Perkins finally snapped in frustration.

  Vor stopped walking and turned to face the two eerily translucent-skinned males. They were humanoid, except for their skin. It was pretty much translucent, blue veins and arteries easily visible and crisscrossing their bodies like a road map beneath their skin. Their hair was translucent as well. It looked like they had rice noodles sprouting from their heads. Their lips and eyelids a pale white in appearance as well.

  “This is our ship. Our assignment is to protect our Sirena. That is exactly what we’ll do.” Vor said threateningly.

  “Our assignment is to protect Ambassador Bartholomew. If your human is with our Ambassador, she is protected as well. You may go.”

  “He’s already stated that he doesn’t wish to be protected. We’ll stay.”

  Bart, tired of the confrontation in a completely unnecessary situation, snapped, “Perkins! Leave us. You are not needed. Go get something to eat, go find some recreation. Do whatever you wish, but back off. You are not on duty here.”

  Perkins opened his mouth to protest, but Bart barked out, “That’s an order!” Then he stepped onto the lift with Vivian and pressed the button to take them to the floor his quarters were on.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  “Commander, I must speak with you.”

  Zha Quin turned at the unexpected request to see who stood at his side. It was his Communications Master. “Speak,” Quin encouraged.

  The male’s tentacles fluttered about nervously. “If you please, I need to speak with you in private.”

  “I’m busy. Can you not just say what you wish to say here?”

  “No, I cannot. Please, it is of the utmost importance. And it concerns your Sirena.”

  That did it — Quin was on his feet. “Come along, we will go to the conference room.”

  Vennie followed Quin off the Command Deck. Quin paused to allow the male to precede him out of the door and down the hall to the conference room. Once there, the doors slid closed and Quin took up a stance just inside the door, his arms crossed, waiting for the male to speak.

  Vennie hemmed and hawed, not sure how to start.

  “Get to it! We all have things to be done. What have you to tell me that concerns my Vivi?”

  “May I sit, Commander?”

  “Please,” Zha Quin answered a bit growly. He was about out of patience, but knew the male was not able to support his own weight for long periods of time. He had many tentacles, but not all were strong enough to move about on.

  He took a seat and looked up at his Commander, “Let me start by saying that I much enjoy my commission here, but that’s not why I’m coming forward.”

  Quin had not changed his stance at all. He stood, watching the male, not offering anything.

  “I come forward because your Sirena is kind and good. No one has ever gone out of their way to see to my welfare. But she did. She did only because she is kind, not because she had anything to gain.”

  Quin was surprised, but pleased to hear that even this male had been won over by Vivi’s heart. She would be a wonderful Sovereigna when the time came. “Go on,” Quin encouraged.

  “My brother is in service to another commander. He contacted me via encrypted communication. They wish me to assist them in their endeavors. I considered just not responding. And in fact, that was my plan. Until I encountered your Sirena today.”

  Zha Quin was angry and on alert; this must have been the encrypted communication they’d intercepted earlier. But he wanted to know what this male thought it had to do with Vivi. He decided to lead him a little longer, allow him to reveal his hand. “And why must you tell me of this communication because my Sirena was kind to you? I do not understand.”

  Vennie looked right at Zha Quin, his entire countenance tense and on edge, “Because if I don’t kidnap her and send her to their ship, the others will. You allow her much too much freedom. She wanders without her guard, not all are as they seem and she is an easy target. If I don’t steal her and return her to them, others will. They are already aboard.”

  Quin snapped, he roared while at the same time he reached out and wrapped his hands around the green male while bellowing, “Computer, find my Ehlealah now! Where is she? Exac
tly where on this ship is she? Send me Jhan Re’ Non Tol immediately!”

  “I am searching, Commander. One moment, please.”

  Vennie was trying his best to continue breathing, his tentacles trying desperately to insert themselves between Quin’s hands and where they clenched his windpipe.

  “Vivian is in quarters with Ambassador Bart, Commander. Jhan Re’ Non Tol has been diverted to the conference room.”

  “Is her guard with her?”

  “Yes, Commander. Lieutenant Vor and Warrior Kail are both standing guard outside Ambassador Bart’s residence.”

  Vennie was about ready to give up. He tried one last time to pry his Commander’s hands away from him, and Quin, realizing the male was very short on breath, let go. They may need more information from him. Just as Vennie hit the floor, the door whooshed open, and Jhan rushed through followed closely by Kol. “What is the problem, Sire?” Both were dressed in uniform and apparently had been training.

  Quin was standing over a now pale green, coughing and wheezing male. He reached out, snatched him up off the floor and stuffed him in a chair. “Tell them!”

  Vennie tried. He really did, but he just couldn’t breathe well yet.

  Quin turned to his friends, “He says that he received orders to kidnap Vivi. And if he doesn't, another on board will.”

  Jhan, the more level-headed and least emotional of them all, looked to the Venasian struggling to regain his breath. “Who wants her kidnapped?”

  They waited a few moments more until he could speak again. Then he rasped out, “My brother asked for my cooperation. He said I’d be rewarded handsomely. But she is too kind. I won’t hurt her. The others won’t care; they will hurt her.”

  “Why does your brother want her?” Kol shouted.

  “He doesn’t, his Commander does.”

  “And who is his Commander?” Jhan pressed.

  “Lord Malm.”

  Zha Quin’s roar was deafening.

  Chapter 25

  Quin stomped around the conference room, chest heaving, snarling, growling.

  Jhan stepped in front of him, laying hands on his shoulders. “She is well, Zha Quin. We will not allow anyone to take her. Calm — we need more information.”

  Kol went straight for Vennie, “Lord Malm?! Don’t you mean Chairman Malm?” Kol asked.

  “No. He holds the position of Chairman of the Consortium, but has been steadily building his own following. He is planning a coup. He calls himself Lord. All who follow him call him Lord. He is unstable. He is insane — a megalomaniac.”

  “Then why would anyone follow him?” Kol pressed.

  “Money. Rewards. Benefits,” Vennie rasped. “Why struggle to do things the right way for only a little success when you can cross the line and live like a Sovereign for the rest of your life?”

  “Who has he sent for my Vivi?” Quin demanded, shouting.

  “I’m not sure. But I know they are already here.”

  “How do you know this?” Jhan asked.

  “Because my brother said there were two of their men aboard if I felt I needed help.”

  “Find them. Now! Put all our most trusted on alert. Advise them of a possible attempt to kidnap their Sirena. Increase security. Advise Vor and his team immediately — but verbally, not over the mainframe, we don’t know if it’s being monitored. We don’t want them to know we’ve become aware of them.”

  “Yes, Sire,” Kol said, as he ran from the room, “I’m on it!”

  Quin and Jhan started planning, making lists of who they needed to contact while calling for the lieutenants of each tactical team aboard Command Warship 1 to meet them in the same conference room they now stood in.

  “What can I do, Commander?” Vennie asked, voice still a little raspy.

  Quin looked at the male curiously. He’d not considered involving the male, but suddenly he clearly saw a plan. “You will contact your brother. Tell him you’ve taken her, now you need help getting her off ship. Have him send his personnel to you.”

  “Right away, Commander.”

  “Your brother will die,” Zha Quin snarled.

  “I am aware, Commander,” Vennie said.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Vivian sat on the bed, the contents of the wooden keepsake box spread across it. She held a crumpled letter to her breast, “Thank you, Bart. Thank you, so much. It’s like I got the chance to say goodbye after all.”

  “You’re welcome, Vivian. I’m happy to be able to provide that for you.”

  Vivian looked again at the photographs spread around her. The silver St. Christopher's medal — now hers — that Andrus always wore. The letters… both telling her how heartbroken they were about not being able to save her, promising to never stop looking for her. Alex’s letter had included photos of himself and his family, and some hand drawn pictures from Samuel. Telling her how much they missed her and thought of her every single day. Andrus’ letter told her of sitting outside almost every night, looking up at the stars and hoping that wherever she was, she was happy, smiling, looking down at them. He told her that he chose to believe this journey was what it took to take her to her soul mate. That somewhere out there she was happy, and to make it happen. He was depending on her to make it so — to take whatever happiness life gave her and to, as he put it, “Own that shit.” And his St. Christopher’s medal had been tucked into the envelope as well, along with a photo of him, looking intently into the camera, his jaw set, his hair grey. She cried again, sobbing into Bart’s shoulder, surrounded by the messages and keepsakes from her old life.

  “I want to talk to Samuel, too. Do you think he’d want to talk to me?”

  “I do. I’ve been working with Ba Re’. We are trying to arrange a vidcom between the two of you. Hopefully, we can get it set up soon,” Bart said.

  “Is it a complicated thing?” she asked.

  “Well, the Cruestaci aren’t approved to communicate directly with Earth. The Consortium is, so I usually have no problem contacting him. But, Quin is not going to allow you to leave the Cruestaci territory for any reason, so we have to wade through some red tape to get permission for the communication. It’ll happen, though. I’ll see to it.”

  Vivian hugged him again, crying, but now smiling through the tears. “Can you put this on me?” Vivian asked, holding up the medal.

  “I can,” Bart answered, taking the necklace from her. She turned her back, and he clasped it behind her neck. She looked down at where it lay nestled safely between her breasts, near her heart, and smiled, feeling like she was protected not only by St. Christopher — the patron saint of travelers — but by Andrus as well.

  “Finally where it belongs,” Bart said.

  Vivian nodded, “Yes, it is.” She rubbed her eyes, “These tears! I feel like my face is all swollen and puffy.”

  “It is!” Bart laughed with her.

  Vivian opened the wooden box her most precious treasures came in and slipped all but the necklace she now wore, back inside. She stood, “I’m going to go home, wash my face, and make sure Kitty isn’t tearing apart the bathroom before Quin gets there. Thank you, again, Bart.”

  Bart stood, pulling her in for a hug, “Will you stop thanking me?! We’re family. We take care of each other, always! And you have no idea how much pleasure I got from being able to be the one to bring you back into our family.”

  Vivian’s eyes started welling up again.

  “Stop!” Bart said, smiling at her while holding her at arms length, “No more tears.”

  Vivian nodded, “You’re right. I’m going. I’ll see you later for dinner?”

  “You will,” he agreed, kissing her forehead, and watching her walk through the door on her way back to the quarters she shared with Quin.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Bart sat down on his bed. Looking around the room he’d been assigned temporarily, he felt relieved. A strange sense of satisfaction at having completed the mission his family had embarked on the night Vivian was taken decades a
go. He’d found her. She was alive. And while she’d endured hell — worse than hell. She now had her whole life ahead of her. And if Quin had his way, she’d be Sovereigna of his planet, his entire people would revere and honor her. He smiled, then frowned. He’d been so singularly focused for so long, he felt like he needed another focus. Now what do I do? he wondered.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Vivian stepped through the door of Bart's quarters and into the corridor. She didn’t see Vor and Kail, but thought nothing of it. They usually tried to stay out of sight whenever they could. She turned and went toward the lift, looking down at where her new necklace lay against her skin, using one hand to pull it from her shirt to look down at it. She stood outside the lift, waiting for the doors to whoosh open. She wasn’t paying attention. Her eyes had filled with tears, and she was smiling as she wrapped her hand around the medal dangling from the silver chain around her neck. The doors opened, and she stepped onto the lift without looking up. She never saw the handle of the battleaxe as it came down, colliding with her temple. She never saw Perkins reach up to stop his partner from bringing it down on her again. She didn’t hear him say, “Don’t hit her again. Lord Malm wants her alive. He’s anxious to play with her again, and if we do our jobs well, he’s promised us all some play time as well.”

  “She’s just a female. There are a thousand more like her, makes no sense to go to all this trouble for just another female,” his partner grumbled, irritated at not being able to satisfy his sudden blood lust.

  “Not like this one. She fights like a tiger at the end of a chain,” Perkins said, licking his lips, “No sweeter taste than that of a female who fought and still has to submit. Beat her into submission, then take what you want.” He looked down at the female crumpled on the ground, “At least not much sweeter than this one.”