by Celeste Raye
Ohber sighed, "It is on autopilot and headed for Milisaria. Pray no enemies attack and that this ship has enough power to get us there. If space trash or an asteroid get in our path, I will try to steer us around it."
Valeri feared the answer to her next question. "How long does it take to get there?"
Ohber barely managed to say, "Seven Earth days," before he passed out.
Each time Ohber regained consciousness, Valeri was there to give him a drink, wipe his face, and coax him to swallow some medication. On the seventh day, she demanded, "You have to stay awake for a while. You said it would take seven days to get to Milisaria, and that's today. I can't land this thing."
Ohber tried to sit up. He could not. He replied, "I cannot do it either. There is an emergency beacon. We must use it. Slide open the center console. Turn the red knob and push it in. You will soon be speaking to someone on Milisaria. I am sorry, I cannot stay with you." He slipped back into the darkness.
Valeri jumped when a deep voice came from the console. "Who is this? What is the problem?"
Valeri answered, "I am an Earth female named Valeri. I am in a small ship bound for Milisaria. One of your knights is also aboard. He is too sick to navigate. I do not know how to fly the ship. It is now on autopilot. We need help."
The voice replied, "We have the beacon on screen. You are still too far away for us to control the ship for you. It is getting low on energy. Turn off unnecessary lighting and equipment. When you are closer, we will take over. What knight is aboard?"
"His name is Ohber." Valeri heard a gasp.
"King Shene told us Ohber died. How is it that you have him?" The voice sounded angry and disbelieving.
"I swear he is alive, although he needs medical attention. I rescued him from his captors. They have harmed him." Valeri had done her best to explain. If she told the voice everything, it could start a battle with Earth.
Two hours later, the spaceship gave a jerk. Valeri almost fell out of her seat. Ohber groaned. The voice returned. "We have taken control. Get ready to land."
As the ship lowered toward the planet, Valeri watched from the window. She caught her first glimpse of the four huge moons. They were breathtaking. The seas were bright green and their waves slapped the shores. It felt like the sea was welcoming them home. She wished Ohber was awake to see it.
The spaceship landed safely. Valeri opened the door and found a stunning human female on the other side. Her long brown hair was shiny and its waves blew in the cool air. Her sweet voice rang out, "Welcome to Milisaria. I am Queen Destiney. May I enter and see to our lost warrior?" Valeri was surprised that the queen would meet such a small ship. She moved out of the way and let her approach Ohber. Queen Destiney rushed back to the door and called out, "Warriors, he needs your help. Carry him to Alexis's medical rooms. One of you, find her and our doctor. Hurry!"
As four strong warriors lifted Ohber onto their shoulders, the queen took Valeri by the hand. "Come with me. He will be cared for. You are in need of food, a shower, and rest. Then you can tell Alexis and me what has happened."
Valeri protested, "I brought him all this way. I won't leave him now." She saw understanding in the queen's amber eyes.
Queen Destiney replied, "Fine. While he is examined, you can shower and change. I will take you to him as soon as Alexis allows." She took Valeri through the capitol building and showed her how to use the public shower. She provided Valeri with a bodysuit much like her own. The queen's was green like the sea. Valeri's was golden. She blushed to see every curve on display. It was more revealing than anything she had ever worn. Dad would really have a fit.
Brushing her embarrassment aside, she begged, "Please take me to Ohber. He will think I have abandoned him again." The queen quirked an eyebrow at that statement but led the way to Alexis's lab.
Alexis and the doctor were working frantically over a very still Ohber. His eyes were open but rolled back in his head. Alexis saw Valeri enter and asked, "What was done to him? We need all you can tell us. It will aid in his treatment."
Valeri said, "I'm sorry to say, I only know some of the things that were done to him. He was in captivity for over three years. I have only known him for a few months. To begin, he was in an explosion. It broke most of his bones and tore his aorta. The aorta was replaced. He has been electrocuted by a Voltuni. It wasn't her fault. She was forced by their captor. He was injected with several of Earth's illnesses and forced to lift heavy weights despite his weakened body. I have no idea what illness he is currently fighting."
Alexis's face was grim as she continued to work. Valeri could tell she was angry and didn't blame her. Stating the details made her realize how evil their treatment of the aliens had been. She was just as guilty as her dad. It was a sobering thought.
Queen Destiney forced her to sit. She sat a plate filled with fruit and cheese on the table at her side. "You must eat a little. You need to stay strong so you can take care of Ohber. As you said, he is counting on you. I have been in your position. My husband came close to death. It's so hard to watch and not be able to do anything. But remember, you have done quite a lot. You rescued him, stole a spaceship, and kept him alive."
Valeri began to cry. "I am also guilty of causing him pain. I stood by as he was used in experiments. He lifted the weights because I asked him to. I'm sure my father gave him this illness to punish me."
The queen patted her back and replied, "You've atoned for all that by bringing him home. I betrayed Siefer by having an affair with his deceitful brother. I made atonement by killing Rowl. King Siefer forgave me. We still love each other dearly. You love Ohber, don't you?"
Valeri nodded. She prayed the queen was right and Ohber would forgive her for all the bad things she had allowed to happen to him. He had to survive. She wanted to make amends and tell him she loved him. He deserved to see Milisaria once more.
Alexis and the doctor stepped away. They had done all they could for Ohber. He was gray and silent, except for each gasping breath. Alexis motioned for Valeri to come closer. She said, "Sit with him. Talk quietly. Reach out to his soul and call him back. He needs a reason to fight for his life. Give him one."
Valeri pulled her chair to the bed. She lifted Ohber's limp hand and placed a kiss on it. She began to speak, "We made it. We escaped from the lab. You're safe now. No more pain. Come back to me. We need to talk. I saw your four moons. They are just as glorious as you described. The green seas welcomed you home. Your Milisaria is beautiful. Open your eyes and look around. Ohber, you're finally home. The queen greeted our ship. She is anxious to meet you. You were missed by the warriors. They carried you in on their shoulders. I'm told that it's a sign of respect used for soldiers who are badly injured in battle. Keep fighting. You promised to stay alive. Please, Ohber, I need you. Don't leave me all alone on a strange planet. Everyone is kind, but I need you."
She stopped talking for a minute and looked around the room. They were alone. Alexis, Queen Destiney, and the doctor had given her privacy to speak from her heart. She laid her head on his chest and spoke to his soul. "Ohber, wake up. I don't want to be here without you. I told you once before; you are everything to me. I am irrevocably in love with you. It feels so odd to say that to an alien. Stranger still, I am the alien on this planet. I know I'm rambling, but saying I love you out loud is scary. Come back." She kissed his chest, directly over his heart, and whispered, "Fight for us."
The hand she held gave hers a gentle squeeze. She raised her head and found Ohber's eyes were open. He was very ill, but his eyes were focused. He smiled. Valeri sobbed in relief. He had fought his way back. In a dry, hoarse voice he said, "I will fight for us. It may take me a long time, but I will fight."
"You are home and safe. We did it. No more experiments to torture you. I promise. Forgive me for my part in them. I now realize how wrong it was to use all of you that way. How can I make up for it?' Valeri asked.
Ohber's smile grew bigger. He replied, "You brought me home. The only other thin
g I need is you. In all my dreams of home, you were there. We walked in the sea, gazed at the moon, and fought side by side. You need no forgiveness. It was you that saved me. You battled for my freedom. You fought valiantly against your own father. Your voice pulled me back from death. I need you. I love you."
Valeri wiped her tears. She clung tightly to his hand. "I love you too."
A gurgling laugh came from Ohber, "I thought I was dreaming when you said it before. How good to know I was not. I need nothing more. I am home, and I am loved. What more could I ask for?"
Valeri grinned, "How about this?" She leaned over and kissed his lips. To her surprise, Ohber deepened the kiss. Their souls met in their lips and rejoiced with the love they found.
Alexis returned. She was smiling. "Well, I see the patient is awake. He must be mending if he can kiss like that." She checked his pulse and listened to his heart and lungs. "You're not out of the woods just yet, but everything sounds better than it did earlier. The doctor will be back soon. His opinion is better than mine. Keep fighting, and you will live. Valeri, let's push his bed to the window. I think he has earned a look at the moons."
Together, they pushed and pulled until the bed was by the window. Tears ran unheeded down Ohber's cheeks as he stared at the four moons. They meant he really was home. He could rest now. Ohber closed his eyes and slept peacefully.
A little girl ran into the room. Alexis put a finger to her lips. The little one tiptoed to her and held up her arms in silence. The child was beautiful. Blonde hair fell to her waist. Her skin was translucent. It reminded Valeri of opals. Her sea blue eyes sparkled with mischief. Alexis kissed her face and said, "Meet my daughter, Nexxa. Sweetheart, this is Valeri. She came all the way from Earth to bring back one of our warriors. Say, hello."
Nexxa jumped down, extended a tiny hand, and said, "Hello, lady. Welcome to our home. Where is my daddy's warrior? He will want him back. He teaches them to use swords. It is not fair. Boys have all the fun."
Valeri burst into laughter. This little girl was so precious. She was beaming with energy and funny as well. Valeri answered, "The warrior is sleeping. He has been very sick. Your mommy has to fix him and then he can go back to your daddy. Is that okay with you?"
Nexxa's face lit up with a smile, "You bet. My mommy can fix anything. She fixes my booboos, and Scyon's too. He is my best friend. Can he meet you too?"
Valeri was more than willing to oblige. If Scyon was as adorable as Nexxa, it would make a perfect ending to the day.
Chapter 11
Alexis checked on Ohber one more time. She told Valeri, "His fever is breaking. He is sleeping peacefully and will do so for several hours. Join us for a real meal. Queen Destiney and I are anxious to hear your story."
Valeri kissed Ohber's forehead and promised, "I will be back soon. They need to know the truth as soon as possible. I love you." She reluctantly followed Alexis and Nexxa. She didn't like leaving Ohber alone, but it was necessary.
They found the queen trying to convince a small boy to sit down and eat. He seemed to prefer stabbing the furniture with a little wooden sword. Valeri decided that this must be Scyon. Her suspicions were confirmed when Nexxa ran to him and said, "Scyon, this lady wants to meet you. She brought daddy a warrior, but he's sick."
Scyon was a handsome little boy. He appeared to be very human, except for the muscles in his arms: all four of them. Those were obviously from his Milisarian genes. He looked up at Valeri with Queen Destiney's amber eyes. "Hi, want to play swords? Nexxa says girls should be allowed to fight too. Mommy did. She fought a very bad man that wanted to hurt my daddy. Daddy's the king. I'm a prince, but don't call me that. It sounds girly to me."
Valeri was astounded. These children were very intelligent for their ages and already knew much of Milisaria's history. They also talked a lot. She found them enchanting and funny. Valeri answered Scyon, "You can teach me to use a sword later. Let's eat first. The food will make us strong so we can fight." Scyon liked the logic in her statement and sat down to eat.
"Thank you for that," Queen Destiney said. "I couldn't get him to be still. He was born to be a Milisarian Knight. He would much rather fight than eat. Sit down and relax. You have had quite an adventure. We want all the details."
Valeri wasn't sure where to start. If she told the story wrong, it could start a war between Earth and many planets. But, all of Earth wasn't to blame. Mankind shouldn't be punished for the cruelty of a few greedy people. She needed to temper the truth with reasoning. She began, hoping to find the perfect words, "My father is a scientist. I am too. He began an experimental program years ago. He thought that alien DNA held answers to human illnesses. He asked for volunteers. No one came forward, and he lost funding. A clandestine group of Earth's government handed over some unintelligent alien life forms along with the money for experiments. Dad jumped at the chance, but things changed. They started sending intelligent life, like Ohber."
Queen Destiney cut in, "Who in the government is involved? Does the president condone this?"
Valeri was quick to reply. "No, he doesn't. You can't condone something you don't know exists. I don't know who is behind the experiments. It's not the regular part of our government. Its origins are deeply hidden."
Alexis asked, "Where are they getting the aliens?"
"It's not completely clear where they come from. My best guess is that they capture ones that are separated from a group. The small craft we came in only holds four. It would be easy to take it and claim no knowledge of its disappearance. In Ohber's case, an explosion caused terrible injuries. He was taken during his recovery." Valeri was worried about telling them the rest. She gathered her courage and continued, "He isn't the only Milisarian they have. I have seen one on life support. Two more are locked away in the basement of the building. They have not been used in the experiments yet. I'm sure their turn is coming soon. I have seen Voltunis, Reptilarians, and Arkani. There are more that I don't recognize. They need help."
"What is the purpose of the experiments? What are they doing to these aliens?" Alexis was frowning. As a scientist, she knew the experiments were not humane.
Valeri tried her hardest to make the experiments sound less cruel and more worthwhile. She replied, "The scientists know that other species either never become ill or they can overcome any sickness they encounter. They tested blood samples to find out how that was possible. They hoped to use alien blood to make cures for human diseases. They are already on the verge of curing Alzheimer's disease. I got to be a part of some of those tests. It's a miracle."
"You're not telling us everything. Ohber didn't get in that condition from blood tests. During his treatment, you mentioned giving him injections containing illnesses. Please explain," Alexis pleaded.
Reluctantly, Valeri went on, "The more the government paid, the worse the experiments became. My dad and the other scientists got greedy. They began giving human illnesses to the aliens. If they fought it off, the antibodies in their blood got us closer to a cure. If they didn't, no one cared. Eventually, the money became their goal, not cures. The more information they fed the government, the more money they collected. The aliens were expendable. They did meaningless testing, cruel experiments, and punished the aliens for fighting back. They gave an old Arkani cancer. They forced the Voltuni to electrocute Ohber. She fought against it and saved his life. I was sent away for a while. My dad said I was getting too nosy. Their nurses were gone as well. The aliens suffered during our absence. The Voltuni was denied electrical current. The Arkani had no pain medication. The Reptilarian came close to dying without water, and he had an infected wound. Ohber's wounds went untreated. He scratched them until he was covered in blood. My father had him locked to his bed for insolence. Ohber had tried to get out and help the others."
Valeri's tears brought hugs from Nexxa and Scyon. She had forgotten they were there. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be so graphic with the children here."
Queen Destiney declared, "Don't apologize. We hide nothi
ng from them. They are the future of Milisaria. It's important that they learn early how to deal with such things. Our reactions to these situations teach them more than a classroom can."
Valeri protested, "They are just babies. The history I read says they are three."
Alexis laughed, "It's true, but on Milisaria, the children grow up quickly. Scyon will begin training as a knight when he is just fifteen. He already carries rocks and bricks to help build dwellings. It is meant to build muscle so he may use our heavy swords. Nexxa goes to the lab with me. She can mix a vaccine if given the ingredients. Continue with your story."
"I had to do something to change things," Valeri added. "My brother is a computer whiz. He found out that the government was getting suspicious. Dad was sending them worthless information. I confronted my father and begged him to stop. I asked him to let the aliens go. He said it wasn't possible. He kicked me out and banned me from the building. My brother, Victor, discovered that after the aliens were no longer useful, they were put down, killed. I had to get Ohber out. Victor and his friends used computers to override the building’s locks and cameras. I got Ohber, stole the ship, and brought him home. So many were left behind. They will be punished for what I did. If the government finds out that one alien escaped to tell on them, they will have the others killed. It has been an entire week since we left. Anything could have happened. You have to save them."
The queen considered the information. She looked to Alexis for help. "We have to rescue our warriors. I don't want an interplanetary war. It would destroy innocent lives and possibly entire planets. King Siefer wouldn't want so many to die either. He and Nabvan will find a way to get the knights out, but the whole program must be shut down. Do you have any suggestions?"
"I have friends on Earth that might be willing to help," Alexis stated. "They work for NASA. It will be dangerous for them to interfere. However, they will see the necessity just as we do. I don't know what to do about the other aliens. We are not in control of their planets."
