by NB VanYoos
* * * *
The sound of movement in the room woke Tyler. The pain had subsided to bearable levels, and Tyler felt ready to face the strange new world. He lifted his head to view someone by the bureau at the end of the bed. Their back was to him, so he couldn’t make out what they were doing. He slowly raised himself into a seated position, trying not to disturb the person.
He looked over the person from head to toe, deciding it was a female, though he couldn’t point to any one characteristic to back that assumption. The small height and wider hips were his only clue. The woman wore a white, one piece suit similar to the uniforms on the ship, but in her case, gold trim along the sleeve and waist gave it a more distinguished appearance. Her head was covered with dark brown hair, shoulder length and neatly styled. Tyler wondered if this was someone the Admiral had known. If so, he wondered if he would recognize her.
The person closed the drawers, turning towards Tyler. She did not notice him at first, but as the realization dawned, her placid features were replaced with a look of shock, tears, and concern. She spoke rapidly through tears, but nothing made sense to Tyler. Was he back in his dream world? She wiped her eyes but couldn’t stop the stream flowing down her cheeks. Tyler realized the Admiral must have known the woman. A daughter? Wife? He couldn’t be sure.
The woman calmed down and muttered something quietly before leaving through the door. She lingered slightly with a brief smile before disappearing. Nothing she’d said made sense to Tyler. Though the language was melodic and beautiful, Tyler hadn’t picked up a single word. His anxiety increased.
What if they couldn’t understand him? How would they treat him? He imagined not very well. Injured in battle and unable to speak or understand anyone else, they would certainly think he was brain damaged. Tyler didn’t like the thought of that—life in rehabilitation, or worse, an institution for the mentally impaired. This was the experience he’d been looking for?
The door burst open, and two official men in white smocks carrying strange devices walked towards Tyler. At first they said nothing, one of them analyzing the electronic device on the table next to the bed. They spoke to each other before turning their attention to Tyler. Tyler wasn’t sure, but he thought they were asking him questions. They didn’t make sense to him either, so he sat quietly staring back.
After several attempts to communicate, they conferred with each other before taking out additional devices to examine Tyler. Tyler watched patiently as they looked at every inch of him, some devices chilling to the touch while others operated without contact.
Satisfied, the two men conferred before speaking to Tyler once more and leaving. Tyler was frustrated. He needed to understand them, to communicate, but he didn’t know how. I can communicate with them. The alien voice offered gently. It was tempting, but Tyler didn’t want to give up control, at least not yet.
He thought about the Admiral’s memories, still held in check, but pushing for an audience. Maybe they could provide him the missing language. He wanted to use them, but once again, held back because of fear. Perhaps he should try saying something first? He wasn’t sure if he would even be able to speak, in any language, let alone an alien one. He decided it was worth a try—maybe he would get lucky and it would come out in the admiral’s language. He opened his mouth and spoke.
“I ammb Tyleers.” It sounded bad, even to him, but at least he had made a sound. He wondered why it didn’t come out right. Maybe the Admiral’s body was having difficulty with English. He tried again.
“Weer ammb I?” It sounded the same, so he quickly rattled off more.
“Tee bruun thok chump ober tee feenst.”
“Maarwy had a leetol lamm, eet feese waast wheet at thow.”
He fell silent. He wasn’t sure he could understand what he had said. At least he could talk, if only he had a language to talk with.
The door opened, breaking Tyler from his reverie. It was one of the doctors, at least that’s what Tyler was calling them, and the woman who’d been there earlier. They spoke to him, but again he couldn’t respond. The Doctor asked more questions, but this time pointed to the woman next to him. Tyler realized that he was probably asking if he recognized the woman.
Tyler didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t communicate, but he knew he better try. He had to make them at least suspect that he was close to regaining some control. He nodded his head in agreement and spoke one word, “Yeees.”
The Doctor and woman looked puzzled, and stared at each other to confirm the other didn’t understand it either. The Doctor pointed to himself and asked another question. Tyler responded by shaking his head as he said no. It came out Nuh, but was close enough. They didn’t understand English, good or bad.
Shaking his head from side to side, the Doctor looked even more puzzled. He said something to the woman before once again leaving the room. The woman looked concerned and pulled up a chair from the corner. She sat down and refused to look directly at Tyler, choosing instead to stare about the room randomly. Tyler studied her face carefully. She had very delicate features, small ears, mostly hidden by her hair, small hands, and the small nose flaps of this species. In a way, she was attractive, and he wondered if she might not be his wife. It made logical sense, but no recognition sprang forth.
He yearned to dip into the Admiral’s memories, to find some reference of her, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. She sat at the end of the bed, looking concerned and rubbing her hands nervously. Finally, she got up the courage to look Tyler in the eyes as she spoke to him quietly. He thought it was a question, but when he didn’t respond, she looked down and spoke in a steady stream.
Sadness filled her features as more tears fell from her eyes. Tyler was helpless. He wanted to assist her, wanted to make her feel better, but he didn’t know what to do. She continued talking through tears, grabbing cloth from her suit to dry her eyes. At times, she stared at him but usually looked away, the pain of his lack of recognition too much to bear.
Tyler felt saddened, too, unable to ease her obvious pain. Whoever she was, she had intense feelings for the Admiral. If only he could talk to her, but nothing he said made sense. Out of nowhere, a single word floated into his consciousness, Eyleeria. Not knowing why, he opened his mouth and spoke it gently. Immediately, the woman stopped talking, a look of disbelief filling her face. Tyler said it again, and this time she smiled, fresh tears pouring from her eyes. Without warning, she jumped out of the chair and wrapped her arms around Tyler, her head crying into his shoulder.
He didn’t know what he’d said, but apparently it had worked. Perhaps it was her name. In any event, it was something she recognized. Tyler gently put his arms around her, patting her back in a reassuring manner, ignoring the pain ripping through his side. She held him tighter, the tears wetting his bedclothes.
Finally, as his pain became unbearable, he pushed her away. Reluctantly, she released him and sat down on the bed at his side. She began speaking, this time animated and certain. Tyler didn’t understand any of it. She didn’t seem to care as glowing relief filled her features. She dried her eyes, gesturing with her hands to emphasize her speech.
It was lost on Tyler, but he was glad he had brightened her. Eyleeria. The word rolled through his mind, and he admired it for its poetic sound. He decided against saying it once more, and simply lay back in his bed to ease the pain inflaming his side.
She noticed his discomfiture, and sat up from the bed. She helped tuck him in before kissing him gently on the cheek and walking toward the door. He did feel tired, and looked forward to a short nap. She paused at the door, turning back to him with genuine joy. Her face had changed. Instead of the usual white skin, her face glowed a warm rose color. It made Tyler feel an instant attraction toward her, although he didn’t know why. He assumed this was a good sign.
She said something softly before leaving the room, closing the door behind her. The silence weighed heavily on his eyes, and he let them fall shut. Sleep approached, and he embra
ced its arrival. This time, he dreamed of the Admiral and Eyleeria.
