by Celeste Raye
"Miss Cavanaugh, would you please take a vial of blood from the subject? I wish to see what antibodies are at work." As Valeri picked up a syringe, the scientist pushed Akeila down on the gurney. He never spoke a word to the Arkani as he ran the x-ray machine over its body. Satisfied with what he saw, the scientist went to a walk-in refrigerator and shuffled through the vials inside. He mumbled, "What disease shall we give you today? Yes, I definitely think it's time for the big one." He grabbed a vial and returned. "You may do the honors of giving the injection. It will be my little gesture of welcoming you to the real project." He handed the vial to Valeri and said, "A third of the contents should do it."
Valeri obediently filled a syringe with the liquid. She caught the shadow of fear that crossed Akeila's eyes when she brought it to his gurney. She put a gentle hand on his brow and mouthed, "I'm sorry." He nodded his understanding and Valeri injected the fluid.
She turned to the scientist and asked, "What was in the vial? Akeila seemed afraid."
The man stated, "You really shouldn't refer to them by name. It will only make it harder when we lose them. This specimen has overcome many diseases and given us endless data on how to combat them. He overcame the cold virus in minutes, the flu in hours, and such things as measles within days. Other illnesses have taken weeks, but he always defeats them. We are learning quite a lot from him. You just gave him the biggest challenge yet: cancer."
Valeri hid the shock well. She knew the scientist would laugh in her face and gladly kick her out if she showed any emotion. He didn't want her here, and this was a test. She would pass it for Akeila's sake. She needed to be here to see him through the pain and sickness. Thank goodness, the nurses were so kind. They would take care of him and see to his comfort. She prayed that these experiments were worth it. It was all about saving lives, wasn't it?
As they wheeled the gurney away, Akeila stroked her arm. In his intelligent eyes, she saw forgiveness. He knew that none of this was her fault. His bravery was astonishing. She fought back the tears and turned away. The scene across the room drew her gaze. The Milisarian and the Voltuni were attached to brain wave monitors. As she watched, the Voltuni woman was instructed to touch the warrior. He jolted as her electric current entered his body. Sweat poured from him, yet he did not yell out. More voltage was sent into the woman, causing her brain waves to dance with the pain. She transferred the extra voltage to the Milisarian, and his body bounced off the table. He still didn't scream. The voltage was raised once again, but the Voltuni woman released the warrior and lashed out at the scientist. She fell to the floor in convulsions. After donning thick rubber gloves, the nurse gave her an injection. It must have been a sedative. Her body stilled and was carried away. The silent nurse went with her.
The Milisarian was detached from all the wires and left alone. He was very still. Valeri assumed he was unconscious. They were the only ones left in the room, so she decided to take a closer look. As she drew closer, she realized his gurney was much larger than normal. It would have to be considering his size. Its steel frame was far sturdier than the others, obviously made especially for his weight. Her eyes drifted over his magnificent body. When she reached his face, she found his eyes were open and shooting daggers at her. Although she felt the need to run away, Valeri held her ground. He spoke, "I admire your courage. We are alone. I could kill you with one hand, yet here you stand. Perhaps you think that I will not touch you out of self-preservation. It is true that they would kill me for harming you, but do not let it make you feel safe. I have no desire to live this way. Killing me would be a kindness."
Valeri swallowed down her fear and asked, "Is there anything I can get for you? Would you like some water?"
"Do not try to deceive me with kind offers. I heard your name. You are the daughter of our prison master. He is evil and cruel. His tainted blood runs through your veins. You do not care about any of us. Leave me be." He turned his head away.
Valeri was quietly defiant. She stated, "My name doesn't define who I am. I hate the pain I see in all of your eyes, but I am told this research will save millions of lives. I truly don't enjoy what I saw today. It is just a necessary evil."
"Necessary to who? Not me and surely not to the Arkani you gave cancer. They probably have discovered a cure for it on their planet already. Why torture such a gentle, intelligent old man with diseases? He would gladly help you find a cure if his people don't have one."
"You know Akeila?" Valeri asked.
The knight scoffed, "Know him? Not really. We have been in some of the same torturous experiments. He likes to talk. It helps him deal with the sicknesses. He has a gentle soul, and I try to help him when I can."
"That would make you kind as well," replied Valeri. "You called him an old man. How old is he?"
The Milisarian actually laughed when he said, "I am not sure. He says he is older than he should be, yet not as old as he could be. My guess would be about one hundred fifty of your Earth years. He says I am just a child."
Valeri wanted to know more. How old was the Milisarian? How long could an Arkani live? Before she could ask, the scientists came back. They were not happy to see her with the Milisarian but were appeased when he pretended to be unconscious. He was keeping her out of trouble with his actions. Why?
Chapter 4:
Ohber remained limp. He allowed the men to struggle with his weight as they transferred him from the gurney to his bed. He didn't move or even twitch until they were gone. He hoped their backs ached tonight. It was a small, even petty revenge that brought a grin to his face. Something to smile about was rare these days. Extra dessert, tricks on the scientists, and the beautiful face of the new scientist made the list.
Ohber's thoughts turned to the new scientist. Valeri Cavanaugh was the daughter of his chief tormentor. Could she not see how cruel these so-called experiments were? Was she as cruel as her father or did she not know the extent of the experiments? She had been kind to the Arkani, even called him by his name. Yet, she had still given him the injection that was full of the terrible disease. He knew what cancer was. It had taken many human lives. He hoped the old Arkani would not suffer. What had Valeri whispered to him? He saw forgiveness and hope in Akeila's eyes. Was she willing to help him?
Ohber did not dare hope for a change in his circumstances. He had been caged in this room for over three years. The hallways and testing facilities were his only break from these four walls. The hallway brought out his fear and dread. It was the lead into his torture chamber. Over the years, they had damaged his heart, lungs, muscles, and now his brain. He had endured more pain than he could have imagined. Other species had died, and their bodies were burned to destroy the evidence. He gained that knowledge by listening intently to the scientists when they thought him knocked out by their drugs. Pretending the drugs had worked left him to feel the intense pain, but he needed to know as much as possible. He planned to escape. It was that or die. He had heard the nurse's whispers. No alien had lived past four years. Most were gone by three. He was living on borrowed time.
During the first six months of captivity, Ohber had expected to be rescued by his fellow knights. It had not happened. He knew that King Shene was corrupt and did not care for anyone except himself, yet he had never expected the mighty knights to abandon him in this world. They were a brotherhood who cared deeply for each other. Nabvan, his trainer, should have searched for him. He would never allow one of his knights to disappear without question. Why had Nabvan not found him?
Pain shot through Ohber's body. The electrical current from the Voltuni had caused his muscles to seize. Now they were coming back to life. He tried to block it from his mind by remembering his last day of freedom. It had been his first trip to Earth. He had just received the honor of being named a Milisarian Knight and been assigned to the king's spaceship. Earth was a lovely planet but crowded. He had wandered through the markets, stopping to try the strange foods. He especially liked the yellow fruit they called a banana. After his third one and several joke
s from his friends about his seeming addiction to them, he caught sight of a display that drew him away from his companions. Ohber had always had an interest in ancient weapons. This display held swords. They shared a resemblance to the Milisarian weapons, though smaller and lighter. One held a green jewel in its hilt. Ohber was examining it more closely when an explosion occurred nearby. It must have knocked him senseless because he woke up here. He had believed the nurses were going to make him well and then return him to the spaceship. Instead, the experiments began. No one would explain why or how he had gotten here. He fought them for weeks. It only brought more pain and damage to his body and mind. He began to cooperate in order to survive. Surely, the knights would find him and destroy this facility. He was wrong.
He had given up on being rescued. He had to depend on himself. Each day that passed, he grew weaker. He had managed to hide it until now. The nurses were noticing the changes. If he became too weak, the scientists would no longer want him. They would kill him. Ohber did not want to die. He wanted to go home, but death was preferable to this torturous existence.
Ohber's nurse came to check on him. She was a kind, older female. Her eyes were sympathetic as she administered a pain medication. He had once tried to question her and had even asked her for help. She had panicked. She lived in fear of the scientists and could not stand up to them. Her hands had shaken as tears ran down her wrinkled face. He never asked again. Her job was to make Ohber as comfortable as she could. She snuck him extra food and painkillers when she was able. She bandaged his wounds and sat at his side during the worst of his pain. He held no resentment toward her, just the scientists. That brought his thoughts full circle, back to Valeri. She was young and seemed to be untainted by the cruelty of the older scientists. She still had the compassion and respect that the others had long since lost. Could she be convinced that this program was not what it seemed? If she was, would she help or turn her back on the aliens? Ohber felt a tiny spark of hope in his heart.
Valeri's steps were a little slower and lacked the enthusiasm of the previous day. She dreaded what they might ask her to do to the aliens today. How much worse could it get? She had already given the kind and gentle Arkani cancer. Would they allow her to check on him or would she be banned from his room? What about the Milisarian? What damage had been done by the electrical charges? Why had he covered for her? She needed to talk to him.
Ohber knew that today would be for blood testing and body scans. The scientists would want to see the results of the previous day's experiments. They would not be causing pain. That was good because he was already in a great deal of agony. He was sure that his muscles were burned and that his blood had boiled. As for his brain, it was running in slow motion. His thoughts were scattered, which frightened him more than the damage to his body. If his mind gave out, it would not matter what they did to the rest of him. When they came to take him to the lab, they had to lift him on to the gurney. There was no pretending this time. He truly could not move himself. Breathing was difficult enough. He laid still and listened to the beat of his heart.
Ohber was aware that the Arkani was moaning in pain. He heard Valeri trying to soothe the old alien. She whispered to him and even hummed a lullaby. It finally became quiet. They must have given Akeila a sedative. Ohber hoped that was the case. Akeila had suffered enough. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Valeri arguing with the scientists. She was pleading for Akeila to be returned to his planet as soon as he healed, if he healed. The scientist refused. Ohber knew it was impossible for them to return an alien to their own planet. The truth about these secret experiments would cause the other planets to unite and possibly destroy Earth. The aliens would all die here, unless they escaped. Ohber did not want Earth destroyed. It was a beautiful planet with many wonderful people. Only the few involved in this program were guilty and in need of punishment. It was too soon to explain all of this to Valeri. She was not ready for that kind of information. She still believed these experiments were for the greater good.
Ohber watched Valeri approach his gurney. She was smiling, but it did not reach her eyes. They were red-rimmed. She had obviously shed a few tears for the Arkani. Her heart was too soft for this work. She had an empty syringe in her hand. He closed his eyes as her soft voice lulled him. "I just need to take some blood. I promise to be gentle. You must be hurting badly because you haven't moved or made a sound today. After the tests are done, I will have the nurse wash you down with some cool water and put some medication on the blisters."
Ohber's eyes popped open. "What blisters?"
Valeri replied, "Your body is covered in blisters. The electrical charge caused them. Can't you feel them?"
"No, I only feel the pain that is inside. I guess it is worse than these blisters." Ohber carefully turned his head toward Valeri and continued, "I cannot lift my arms or legs, so I did not see the blisters. Will they heal?"
"Yes. A few might leave scars, but I will do my best to keep that from happening. I am to give you two injections. One is for pain, and the other is to help heal your muscle and skin tissues. Oddly enough, that medication comes from the Reptilarians." Valeri injected both and waited for them to take effect.
Ohber asked, "Will you talk to me until the pain medication works? It is very hard for me to hurt and not be able to move. I know your name; maybe you would like to know mine. I am Ohber, a Milisarian Knight. Do you know what that is?"
Valeri wet a cloth and wiped his face as she answered, "Yes, I know what it is. I have met several who came to trade with Earth. You are all strong warriors. How did you end up here?"
"I am not sure," he replied. "I was on Earth for the first time, and I remember looking at a display of swords. There was an explosion, and then I woke up here. I expected to be treated for injuries and released. It did not happen. I believed King Shene would rescue me, or maybe my commander Nabvan. No one came. I was abandoned."
Valeri cautiously said, "Many things have changed on Milisaria since you have been here. That may be why no one came."
Ohber's body jerked. He begged, "Tell me what has happened. Are my people well? It has been so long, and I have had no news."
Valeri took a long breath and began, "King Shene is dead. He has been for over three years. He captured a spaceship of Earth females that was bound for Arkani. They were beaten and starved when they refused to mate with the knights, including a female scientist that refused the king himself."
Ohber stated, "He had enough concubines. He did not need another."
Valeri shook her head. "Alexis was not meant to be like the concubines. King Shene believed the children from such unions would bring forth a higher level of intelligence. A few of the women did fall in love with their warriors. Unfortunately, Alexis fell in love with your commander, Nabvan, and he with her. Nabvan did not like the way the women were treated. He tried to stop it. The king was returning the uncooperative women to Earth when he discovered Alexis and Nabvan together. He had Nabvan tortured and was going to execute him. The women revolted. During the fight, Nabvan killed King Shene."
Ohber asked, "Was Nabvan executed for killing the king?"
"No, the council felt King Shene had deserved to die for many reasons. Nabvan married Alexis, and they have a daughter, Nexxa." Valeri checked his pulse. It was steadier. Either the medication was working, or the news of his planet helped.
"How has Milisaria survived without a king? It must be in chaos." Ohber reached out a hand to Valeri. He was shocked by being able to move. Maybe he would heal once more.
Valeri took his offered hand. She was pleased by his progress. She continued, "You have a king and a queen. There was an election. Your king's name is Siefer. He married one of the Earth women. They also have a son, your prince, Scyon. Both Nabvan's and King Siefer's children are three years of age."
Ohber replied, "I knew Siefer. He was a Milisarian Knight. He would be a fair and honest king. I am glad all is well. They have deserved these years of peace."
"Not all t
he years were peaceful," Valeri admitted. "King Siefer's first year on the throne was rough. While he was in the colonies, his brother planned the king's demise and started a rebellion. Rowl gathered a group of villagers that believed his lies and attacked the king's ship when it returned. Thankfully, Nabvan had learned of the treacherous plan and warned the king. The knights were prepared and fought valiantly. King Siefer was gravely injured, but he survived. Queen Destiney killed Rowl. All of the traitors were executed. The king has spent the last several years reorganizing the villages and colonies. All share in the Milisarian bounty."
Ohber sighed, "It is indeed a different world from the one I left behind. I wish I could be a part of it. Do you think they have forgotten me? There has been much on their minds. Did they even notice I was missing? I miss the green seas, the rolling hills, and the four shining moons of my world. I would like to see them one more time. Maybe, I shall see them in my dreams. I believe your medication is working. I must sleep now." Ohber closed his eyes. He imagined the moons shining down on him as he lay on a rolling green hill beside the sea. He thought he could hear the waves as they slapped against the shore. He fell into a deep slumber. His dreams were of the new Milisaria and the friends he wished to see once again.
Ohber awoke in the middle of the night. Thanks to Valeri's news of Milisaria, he felt a renewed hope. King Shene would not have bothered returning for a damaged knight, but King Siefer might. Determined to heal and find a way to escape, Ohber forced his body to obey him. He slowly got to his feet and, pushing the pain to the back of his mind, began to walk around his room. He tried raising his arms and swinging them as if holding a sword. The movement sent him to his knees. Not good, but it was at least a start.
Chapter 5:
Ohber was given a reprieve. He was allowed to remain in his room for the next two days. The nurse told him that Reginald wanted him to heal enough for another experiment. Ohber took the time to exercise and rebuild his strength. He knew his body would never completely heal, but he had to try. He also took time to reflect on the information he had gotten from Valeri. It was clear to him now that Nabvan had not known of his capture. King Shene had most likely told the knights that he was dead. A part of him thought it was a possibility the king had traded him to the scientists for some technology. An injured warrior meant less than nothing to him. With Siefer as king, things would be different. If he could get word to Milisaria, they might send a rescue party, or at least negotiate a trade.
