Tales of Reign

by M E Wise

  I gathered my gear with a clear sense of purpose. I don’t give one shit about protocols right now! I want to speak to this person while he can. Two guards followed as escorts but that was a manageable problem. The guards open his cell and restrain him unnecessarily. I begin setting up the syringes and bandages. Patient Allotrios stared at me worn and tired. I disrobe the patient quickly causing them to lose interest in holding the naked man at bay. If one thing was prevalent among the guards, it was sustaining their machismo.

  Even the more cautious guard says something inaudible and leaves the cell. They begin harassing Lance Leader Pri while they have him in a safe position that gives them such opportunity to do so. I carefully take the patients arm. He gets goose bumps as we touch. I grinned at how innocent the reaction is but I catch him gawking at me like I was the first woman he had ever seen. “This won’t hurt. Hopefully you don’t heal before I pull this needle out again. It’s awful to have to rip it back out.” He continued to stare at me. His eyes were empty but so full and held a deeply thoughtful gaze to match this.

  “Are you in any pain?” I asked as he continued to stare and didn’t answer. His eyes had a surreal effect on me likened to a vampire movie. “Sir?”

  “Reign.” His lips formed dryly. He was dehydrated but his lips still had a varied attractiveness that I lingered on.

  “Sir Reign then!” I kidded with him to relieve the tension. He did have a knightly demeanor. “Do you have any pain?”

  “None.” He said convincingly. “Should I?” His question brought a smile to my face.

  I laughed oddly. Reign was a disarming man for sure. “You’re an odd man Sir Reign! I would feel a great deal of pain after all of the procedures…”

  “That’s enough doctor!” The pretentious over glorified doorman of a guard barked. “Do you have what you need?” His ignorance was astounding. I could dose Patient Allotrios with apple juice and they wouldn’t know. “I do.” I answered him staring deep into Reign’s eyes. I wanted to see him free of this place. I secretly longed for him to be some sort of superhero and rescue the both of us. He looked so gentle. I felt the surreal exchange again. A sense beyond my normal senses. It tingled and lingered.

  The guards urged me to leave and I grabbed my gear. I looked again to this amazing being, his otherworldly presence filled the room as he rested in a seated position. Molnar may think he is developing a resistance to the tranquilizer but the risk is almost necessary. Reign, whoever that may be, didn’t deserve to slip into lucidity unaware of what was happening to him. And besides, I think this meeting just changed my life.

  

  Communications were on lock down. Mom would have to wait for any updates on my life of adventure in deep space. She’s adapted to this though. My anxiety welled up and sprang from the secrecy. I wasn’t one to hide things. Not being able to voice my opinion or flex my own thoughts felt worse than the constant observation and controlled atmosphere. Soaking in a shower was a luxury I didn’t waste. Even on the OGFS Stonewall most people were left to chemical showers of powdery anti-bacterial foam. I had Officers privileges, giving me my own quarters and a shower, one benefit to being in the insane asylum of the black ops world.

  Reign filled nearly every thought I had. My scientific mind dwelled on the sheer volume of knowledge we will gain from his existence. My medical mind spun from what his body meant. He was humanoid; very human, but somehow parts of him held what seemed plant-like adaptations in his bones. My oddly romantic ideals challenged both. He was handsome and as silly as it sounds I felt like I had experienced him when I was in contact. Imagine, a man that could feel his way into your person and that exposed weakness was an actual strength. Suppose he was some romantic too and not this invader everyone wanted to paint him as, suppose that is so; what then?

  It’s easy to feel this way when you have been alone in space for so long. Troopers bored me. I had a rendezvous or two over the years. They left me empty and I ended them as quickly as they began. Mom raised me to be a lady, Dad inspired me to reach for the skies not because I was shaking off women’s shackles but because I could. What would Dad think about this Allotrios known as Reign? His question would be-what does Dae think of this Reign? I think he changes everything. I think; I feel he will change me.

  Reign’s DNA may be the key necessary to solving the Halfer Syndromes many secrets. There has to be a better way to get close to him. I have this incredible need to be close to him. Dae stay classy! I can’t believe I am sitting here dreaming of an alien like a school girl would about the boys she’s deeply infatuated with. But what is wrong with being infatuated with the most incredibly unique being one could come across. Alien, but somehow more human than Molnar has ever been. This entire situation is entirely too infuriating!

  “Dr. O’Shea report to the Exploratory Lab!” Molnar’s voice ruined any sanctuary I had.

  I quickly toweled off and got dressed. My white Red Cross jumpsuit was a stark reminder of my choice to keep separate from all the militaristic themed methodology I am engrossed in. “You have a choice Dae!” I said looking in the mirror.

  The exploratory lab was only a polite description for Molnar’s torture porn theatre. I hated the entire concept of it. I had grown weary of the role he had me play. I was the good cop in his entirely bad cop affair. He told me once that I inspired in him ethics he thought he managed away. Sick bastard! I knotted my wet hair as I approached the guards in front of the doors. They escorted me in. I wasn’t prepared for what I saw.

  Molnar had Reign hung like a crucified interloper into the old Roman legion. He had all manner of monitors tied redundantly into his body. I gulped hard and fought the urge to rescue him. How would I even accomplish that? This is absolutely inhuman behavior. Molnar looked up from his work and glanced at me like he was ready now to continue. “I know it seems so crude. What I’m doing.” He traced lines on Reign’s arms. “But the human race demands someone discover this threat for what it is!” He wore how triumphant he felt like a bad cologne. Men like him weakened the species in my opinion.

  I regretted not fully sedating Reign now. He had to be suffering greatly. An Ensign was at the controls of some device I had not seen before. The two guards outside had followed me inside. I stayed close to the entrance in case I couldn’t stomach the proceedings. Such a selfish and helpless reaction. But I’m not helpless I have done what I could. I only hope that it is enough.

  “Wake him.” Molnar demanded. The Ensign gradually slid a lever forward. They must have control of the IV fluids. Molnar waited impatiently. He slapped Reign across the face and looked about the room like he was disappointed. I stepped forward and he turned his attention to me. “Oh come now. Don’t be so naïve Doctor! This isn’t someone you should pity. He’s not human, hell he may be more vegetable than animal!” He and the Troopers laughed.

  I didn’t say anything but the look on my face said much more than I could work from my lips anyway. “Look closely at this clever disguise!” He paraded around the room tinkering with different settings. I noticed Reign moving slightly. A strange tickle ran up my neck and I shuddered. I wasn’t the only one.

  “And our honored guest has awakened!” Molnar was practically gleeful.

  Molnar carefully assesses the situation. He signals to the Ensign as Reign is trying to gain his bearings. The Ensign cranks a dial and Reign trembles and drools as electricity surges through his body. I can’t watch and I look away. The shock ends and the machine charges for another jolt. Molnar is merciful though and stays the command.

  “You have stumbled into a fine mess. Fortunate for us though.” He taunted Reign and adjusted pins fixed to hold his eyelid open. Reign winces with the effect. “I will ask questions. I may even allude to a question and you will be given opportunity to answer-if we believe you have an answer. Should you attempt to elude us I will be given license to preserve as much of you as possible; what that is-is to my discretion.”

  This wasn’t a threat! My god, Reign was
simply meat for them to play with. As soon as he expires, which under these conditions won’t be long, they are going to shred him for every ounce of living information they can get. I’m watching murder! I’m watching them kill someone who may have done nothing at all. The tingling sensation earlier has also increased, it’s different than the soft, almost pleasant exchange from before. This is methodical, searching. Somehow I knew this. Like so much more about him.

  “Ah. Scanning are we!” Molnar was enticed. He knew more than I did about Reign. “We already have a great deal of knowledge about you, creature. Your body has given us so much to think on and so much to admire and pity; for days now.” Molnar was using the light now as a weapon in Reign’s irritated vision. He was moving in and out of the intense surgical lights centered on Reign like a mean spirited eclipse.

  The Secretary of Forces appeared on screen and the Orbital Guard enlisted in the room reacted accordingly. “Thank you for joining us Mr. Secretary.” Says Molnar. “As you can see we have our detainee present and to our reluctant surprise awake and fit.”

  “As you were!” Secretary Dominuus allows the guards back to their duties.

  “Such deeds and responsibilities truly warrant the most esteemed of audiences!” Molnar was in self-indulged ecstasy. “And you now have my undue attention Mr. Creature.” Reign moved slightly in his constraints. I felt like I was watching a long winded execution. But there was nothing I could do. There are things I could do but none of them would leave a witness to tell this story that cared.

  “I must admit; your physiology is fantastic. It is like two entirely separate adaptations have gleaned one solitary being. One alien and one familiar. One a potential invader and the other some sick suit of meat worn like a wolf’s clothing! Your bones; more like bamboo than ours. Difficult to break but doable. Your healing is off the charts but killable. Your brain has only minor differences save one gland we assume allows for that mental trick you played earlier. Your blood; it is different. Your appearance; slightly less disgusting than the average Halfer. We know quite a bit.” Boasted Molnar. “I however do not know who or what made you; but you are not natural.”

  Molnar paused dramatically as a screen loaded on the monitor. “We do have a clue though.” The Luna colony emblem appeared on the screen. This tired bit again. “You see there; some 25 years ago. We had a birth on the moon. A very celebrated set of parents were going to have the first child born off Earth on the moon.” Molnar trailed in front of the monitor basking in his captive audience. “I believe you may know of this Mr. Secretary! A poor witness to the horrible truth we keep in our restless nights since.”

  I stopped listening and moved slowly toward a series of wall panels. If I could pull the plugs on some equipment maybe something could happen. Or I could get myself killed. Shaking paralysis wasn’t allowing for much movement. Look at the guards, look at Molnar ranting and then to Reign. This repeated more times than I made any effort move, because I simply couldn’t. My heart breaks for him.

  “And there it is-was-wasn’t!” Screamed Molnar. His scream froze me solid.

  Molnar trailed on about Halfers and how miserable it made everyone feel. Never once talking about how the condition was livable if not for the undesired sudden death accompanied by it. My legs shook but I started trying to move toward a panel on the wall. But the larger guard was blocking my way. I turned my attentions back to the speech as the Guard took notice of my movement.

  “What are your belief’s creature?” Molnar leaned in to Reign stiffly. “I asked you-what are your belief’s monster?” He was angrily questioning Reign.

  Molnar struck Reign again and drew back a pained hand. “You have none! None!” Molnar seized with hatred. “Our people; human beings have a wild range of belief. Dreams, goals and religions that drive and protect and guide them. They could not know the truth of these things. This six seconds!” His voice broke like he was deeply moved. Suddenly he signaled for another shock! I felt tears roll down my cheeks.

  Reign struggled against the powerful current. As he writhed Molnar watched closely. This torturous moment went on painfully long. I closed my eyes as more tears came forth heavily. Then it stopped. “Why?” Molnar asked calmly. “If you have some humanity; you are a traitor by blood. If you are more enemy than human, you are a weapon of genocide. If you have no answers.” The Vice Admiral appeared puzzled and stopped.

  “I am Reign.” The man struggled and forced words from his mouth.

  Molnar looked delighted with this admission. Maybe he didn’t perceive the name as a given name but as some misplaced vocalization of defiance. He grinned wickedly and leaned in to Reign. The room filled with laughter. The insult was as much expected. Men like Molnar held their superiority higher than anyone else’s. He had a broken labrat in front of him and it shook a fist. I looked to Reign as sympathetic as a pieta. He was a dead man waiting. I pursed my lips to scream for pity! For mercy!

  “I need PEACE!” Reign cried out and the two guards dropped lifeless. I felt the surge in my mind and I grabbed my ears in fear. I panted frantically as I looked around the room. The monitor had gone blank and the Ensign was also unconscious. Molnar stood unmoved, one last act of arrogant pride. He turned slightly and crashed hard to the floor. If the others weren’t dead, surely he was.

  “Help me.” The poor broken man begged. I rushed to his side unafraid.

  “Can you walk?” I worked fast on his restraints. We could be monitored right now! We needed to go. I steadied him as he carried himself with great pain. “Where should we go?” I had no other question. What’s done is done! The how can wait. Reign and I were now fugitives.

  He mumbled. “Where are we?”

  “We are just outside the special detention ward. Where they held you.” I rushed us as quick as I could. He was dense for an average sized man.

  “The other Halfer, Itou. Is he still...” Reign was exhausted. Yet he still thought of helping other’s.

  “He is still there. To him then?” I asked but I knew the answer. We are going to help a cellmate escape the most secure place in the galaxy. “Yes. We will free him too.” He looked into my eyes, pained and as wholly real as anything from a movie I had ever seen. He was incredible. I broke the glass on an emergency supply case and retrieved the basic medkit. I fixed his horribly broken arm as best as I could. We then gathered ourselves quickly and proceeded to the containment cells.

  Dae what have you done? The thought passed quickly. I knew what I was doing. I knew that I was without question following this event to its end. Our end. Reign held something in his person that I marveled at and all of my greatest pursuits were childsplay compared to what I was going to learn now. His humanity was stronger than any I had known before. I knew it to be true as infinitely misinformed as it could be.

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