by David Lund
Even though they had probably only been on the surface for twenty minutes.
A figure appeared in the doorway, and Michael, squinting, tried to make out who it was. It didn’t look like Kaywal, or even any other Friiist for that matter. Then a yell split through the air, and the voice was so unbelievably familiar that Michael thought he must be hallucinating.
“MICHAEL!” James, he thought, but it couldn’t be. He took a step towards the ship, but a hand grabbed his wrist.
“Captain, it can’t be.” Lindsey’s voice sounded scared.
“MICHAEL!” That voice again. Michael pushed himself forwards as he saw the figure jump out the ship, and now he recognized him. It was James.
“JAMES!” his turn to yell. The two men met in mid run, and collided with each other so hard they both had the wind knocked out of them as they hugged.
“How - ?”
“Later! Come on, quickly!” They ran back towards the small group and ushered them towards the ship. James, Marshall and Michael went inside the caves and carried the Henfor back towards the vessel. James was right, there would be time to talk after, but for now, they needed to get inside the ship.
It took less than a minute to usher everyone inside, and Michael let out a gasp as they entered the atmosphere of the ship. Even though it was still very cold, it felt like heaven to him, although he knew it wasn’t enough for the Henfor. He looked around the ship and saw a female Friiist sitting by the command station. Next to her, stood an old human man Michael did not know. He found James’
eyes.
“The Henfor, they need to be warmer or they’ll die!” It was the Friiist woman who answered.
“Bring them in here,” she said heading towards a room off the main bridge. Michael hesitated but a nod from James made up his mind. He and Marshall carried Videem and Gareen through to the next
room. Sweat broke out on their foreheads almost straight away. It must have been at least sixty degrees. They put the Henfor down on the floor and headed out. The female Friiist was scanning them with something, but in this heat, she looked as if she was about to faint.
She ran out of the room quickly. Adrian talked to her in hushed whispers and then took the device from her and returned to the room. Michael turned to James, as the Friiist girl took at seat at the command station.
“James, what’s going on? How come you’re here? I -” he didn’t finish, he didn’t know what to say.
James actually laughed at Michael’s expression.
“You better sit down.”
With some help from Simon, James spent the next hour telling the others his story and listening intently to theirs. Michael and the others were astounded to learn about the real history of the probe.
“So what do we do next?”
“The wormhole is waiting for us. Janewall will lead us back to it, and the Henfor ship. We need to get back, to warn Earth.”
“But can’t we make peace with the Friiist?” Lindsey asked. “Surely they will listen to reason.”
“I’m afraid my people won’t listen,” Janewall answered. She had said very little since the humans’
had started talking.
Michael looked out at the view screen. They were in space now, the planet shining brightly below them. He was glad to be leaving the frozen desert. Janewall had scanned them all and declared them relatively free of radiation, the caves had helped protect them, but she did give them all a shot, just in case.
Adrian had spent most of his time in the room with the Henfor, coming out every ten minutes or so to cool down. The Henfor seemed to be breathing normally. It turns out the scanner Janewall had given him read the Henfor anatomy. However, the doctor was worried about Videem, who was still unconscious and had trouble recuperating. He was, Michael reminded himself, exposed to the cold for much longer than Gareen. Michael asked if he could speak with the Henfor captain, and Adrian told him to keep it brief. So he made his way inside the hot room where both Henfor lay.
The room wasn’t large, its plain blue walls glowed from the heat emanating from the thermostat; like a haze in the desert. Sweat broke out on his forehead immediately, and he started panting. He felt like he was entering a sauna. In one corner was a bed, on which Videem lay; his dark face still too pale, his eyes closed. He didn’t seem to be breathing, but Michael knew that he was, as Adrian had told him as much.
“Captain,” a voice croaked. Michael turned his attention to the foot of the bed, where Gareen lay.
He looked slightly browner than his lieutenant, but still unwell. He seemed not to have any energy, and just keeping hie eyes open and locked on Michael’s face seem to be costing him enormous
effort. Michael approached and knelt by his side.
“How are you feeling?”
“I have been better. I am worried about… Videem.” Gareen coughed a little and went on. “Will he live?” Michael rested a hand on his friend’s shoulder.
“Doctor Hensen is doing everything he can to help him. We are heading to Kareen’s ship.” He explained briefly the details of everything that had happened, and what they were doing next.
“I am afraid this Friiist is right. Their government will not understand. But, we will help you Captain. You are a good man.” Michael smiled at him.
“Thank you. Now, rest, I will come back later.” He got up, shot a quick look back at Videem, and left the room.
*
They reached Kareen’s ship without any trouble a couple of hours later. Michael marvelled at the sleek human ship which James had come on. It was a beauty. This reminded him of his own ship, locked somewhere in a Henfor compound. Will he ever see it again? The thought made him sad.
But he was glad to see they hadn’t had any trouble, either. On Janewall’s sensors, the gravity well was present, but they were at a safe distance. They proceeded to dock with the human ship and all clambered on board.
Gareen was feeling better by this time, and could actually walk, but Videem was still unconscious, although Michael thought he had regained some colour. He, Michael felt great, they finally had a way of getting home. The war with the Friiist would surely come, but he would worry about that when the time came. For now, his thoughts turned to his wife and daughter. How would they react when he came back alive and well? He couldn’t wait to see them, to see Earth, to set foot and the planet he was born on.
They made their way to the bridge and James pointed to the captain’s chair.
“You deserve it,” he said. Michael sat down, and once again marvelled at how well constructed this ship was, even down to the captain’s chair; which was very comfortable. John was still locked in his quarters. Michael knew he would have to talk to the man, but that was something else that could wait until later. He needed to do something else first.
With help from Kareen, they set up a secure channel to Barneen. The jolly faced president of Henfor beamed as he saw Michael’s face.
“I’m glad you are okay,” he boomed in his deep voice. Michael quickly explained the situation. The president seemed to think for a moment. His voice became quiet. “It is a sad fact that you will not get any sympathy from the Friiist. But I assure you, Michael, that we Henfor will do everything we
can to help you fight the Friiist. Like I said to you the day we met, any differences must be set aside so we can be friends. The Friiist do not understand this, but we stand as your allies. I must stress though, that the Friiist will be a very difficult enemy to face. They are cunning, and very powerful.
We have fought for years, but the threat remains. I hope our joint forces will be enough, but we should not underestimate them.”
“I understand, Barneen. I can’t thank you enough for everything you have done for us. We have some stuff to work out on our planet. But I hope we shall see each other soon. In fact, you should come to our world. We should be able to perfect this wormhole technology.”
“I would dearly love to visit your world. Anyway, you will have to have your ship back
. She is quite a vessel now. The best human vessel you have. I’m sending you coordinates for safe entry into our space. Please come soon. Good luck Michael.”
“You too Barneen.” The screen went blank.
*
Janewall sat at her chair when Simon entered. He looked at her and thought she looked beautiful.
She had been his one true friend since all of this had started, and he knew he would miss her dearly.
She turned and looked at him as he approached, her face blank.
“We are about to leave,” he said awkwardly. “I’ve come to say goodbye.” She stood and walked closer to him. He didn’t know what to say, he knew he would probably never see her again. He’s never had to say goodbye to anyone before.
“Are you scared?” she asked. Simon felt his eyes burn, but tried to hide the tears. He did not want to cry in front of her.
“Scared of what?”
“Going home.” He already knew what she meant, but didn’t want to admit it to himself. He had left Earth over fifty years ago. Everything would be different, and he was worried he wouldn’t be able to fit back into a human lifestyle. Janewall was perceptive. He didn’t answer her question.
“I’m going to miss you,” he said. Without waiting for an answer, he went over to her and pulled her into a hug. She didn’t protest, but did not hug him back either. He let go and laughed at her puzzled expression.
“It’s how we say goodbye on Earth.”
“A strange custom,” she said, and hugged him back.
*
After making sure Videem and Gareen were safely in the care of their own physicians, and
saying goodbye to both of them, they set a course to the wormhole. They were finally going home, full of hope and regrets. Caitlin’s death weighed heavily on Michael’s mind as they crouched together in the mess hall (where there was the less chance of anything exploding as they made the jump through the wormhole). He didn’t know how he would be able to tell her family what had happened, but he knew that it was his duty. He would not let anyone else do it. She had died a hero’s death, and he would let the world know it.
He hated the fact that he would be the barer of bad news upon their return. The celebrations of their coming home would be tainted with the news of a war with an alien species; one that was capable of firing devastating laser beams that could destroy an entire continent. But they had to know, it couldn’t be kept a secret. Earth had to be able to fight back. He comforted himself thinking of the Henfor, who would be a valuable ally when the time came. But how long would that be? How long would it take the Friiist to create the means of transporting a ship to Earth? How long would they have to prepare?
They made the jump. The ship shook as hard as the Interstellar had all those months ago, but apart from several systems being blown to bits, nobody was hurt this time, although, they all passed out again. When they came to, Michael, James and the others ran to the bridge. Thankfully the view screen was still working, and there it was, in front of them: Earth.
It’s beauty took Michael’s breath away, the vast blue oceans, the shape of the continents, it was all there, right before them. He thought, somewhat smugly, that his home planet was more beautiful than either the Henfor or Friiist worlds. He tore his gaze away from the screen, and noticed that all his crew mates were staring at the world, with a shine in their eyes. He felt the excitement. They were going home!
“Lindsey,” he said, his voice shaking. His pilot had taken the helm. “Take us home.” She turned to look at him, a big smile on her face.
“You know, Captain. I said a while back that I could do without the beach. I’ve changed my mind. I can’t wait to see it again.”
Michael laughed, and it felt like a weight lifting from his shoulders. He knew the fight was coming, and he would be there, with his crew, to fight it when it did. For now, they were going home, and that was all that mattered.
The End
