Once Upon a Saturn Moon

by Edward Antrobus

  Donoon looked like he might refuse. He exhaled. "Okay. Here, take my hand." He helped hoisted her up and she leaned on him as they gathered their respirators and headed for the air lock.

  As they passed outside, Donoon spoke to the human leaders in English. One made a motion to wait and left. He came back with something cone shaped. Donoon took it and they continued to the battlefield.

  He raised his hand up and the humans and Saarkaaks stopped shooting. He handed her the device. "The humans call it a bullhorn. Hold the handle and speak into the small end. It will make it easier for our people to hear you."

  She took it and did as he suggested. "My fellow Barakaaks." She jumped at the noise it made as it amplified her voice and gave it a metallic sound. She put the cone back to her mouth. "My fellow Barakaaks. Vaamick is dead. We must stop fighting with our brothers and sisters."

  The Barakaaks had stopped firing when they heard the strange sound. There was quiet for a moment, and Lomis stood. The rank Vaamick had elevated her placed her position towards the middle. She shouted to be heard in the distance. "Salaris, is that really you?"

  "Yes it is." She remembered the horn and repeated, "Yes, it is."

  "But I watched Fiimit and Roogar carry your body to the surface." Lomis's voice came out in a choked sob.

  Salaris was about to speak when she heard something. Somebody was repeating a word, a name. "Bara."

  Others joined in, and the chant went through the group. They lowered their weapons to the ground and bowed towards her.

  She turned to Donoon. "What should I do? Bara didn't resurrect me. I never died."

  "Just go with it."

  "But that would be a lie," she protested. The crowd continued to chant as more and more prostrated themselves. Even some of the Saarkaaks were starting.

  "My uncle is dead. Our people need a leader. They will accept you."

  "I can't run the entire moon."

  He shook his head. "You won't have to. Just deal with the religion. The Saarkaaks probably won't accept a Barakaak ruler off the bat."

  "Okay." She raised the bullhorn for a final time. "Bara brought me back because she doesn't want any more fighting. She didn't want this war in the first place. Vaamick twisted her teaching. It started with when Vaamick had a child with the queen. When the child died, Vaamick attacked the King's Guard."

  The chanting stopped. Salaris didn't think any of them knew that. The only reason she knew it was Vaamick had drunk too much of the wine offering one night.

  The crowd mulled over this development. It seemed to fit with what they knew of their leader. The chanting continued and the Barakaaks began to approach.

  The Marines raised their weapons, but Donoon held up his hand. "Let them."

  Lomis made her way to the front and hugged Salaris. She hugged her friends tightly back. Others began to surround them and raised her up on their shoulders.

  Salaris was still clutching the bullhorn when Marsil waved from the edge of the crowd and mimed for the device. She handed it to one of her followers and pointed towards Marsil. It was passed from person to person until it reached its destination.

  Marsil moved away from the crowd with her prize. She got closer to the Saarkaak army, which was now trying to figure out if they still needed to be there.

  "For all of our lives, Vaamick has led good, ordinary people to their death. But his aggression is over. Bara has peace. Go, be with your brothers and sisters who have been separated from us for too long."

  The Saarkaaks cheered and marched down the hill. Perched up as she was, Salaris could see pockets of resistance, but overall, they seemed to accept the idea that they were no longer enemies.

  Her arm ached and she asked to be let down. She went looked for a medic to see if she could get another dose of painkiller, hopefully something that wouldn't knock her out this time.

  Marsil caught up with her and handed her a packet. "Here, I figure you might need this. I got shot like that once."

  "Thank you." She tore open the packet and swallowed the capsule. The orphanage hadn't bothered with pleasantries like giving them something to swallow their medicines with.

  As they walked, she realized that Marsil was leading her somewhere. "Where are we going?"

  "Just somewhere private." Marsil looked over her shoulder and decided that this was good enough. "Was what you said about Vaamick true?"

  "About him having affair with the queen? Yeah. That's why he and Jeef hated each other so much. But when the mother and baby died, he kind of lost it."

  Marsil looked down. Salaris looked at her. "What is it?"

  The older woman bit her lip. Her voice was barely a whisper. "Lorinth's baby didn't die."

  "What was that? I couldn't hear you. It sounded like you said that the baby didn't die."

  "She didn't." Marsil still wouldn't look up.

  "Are you sure? How do you know this, Marsil?"

  "I am that baby. I never understood why Jeef abandoned me. Now I know why. I was never his in the first place."

  "When you said Jeef was your father, I figured that he had remarried, or taken a lover after the queen died," Salaris said.

  "He had plenty of lovers, as far as I could tell. But that was later. My birthday. I was born the day the war broke out." Marsil looked like she might cry. "This means that Vaamick is my father. I killed my own father."

  Salaris took her friend's hands. "You did what you had to. You ended the war. He was like family to Donoon and I. But I don't regret that he's dead. You shouldn't either."

  She didn't answer so Salaris continued. "You know what this means, right? You are now the queen."

  Marsil pulled away. "What? I can't be queen. I couldn't possibly run the moon."

  "I said exactly the same thing," she laughed. "But who better to reunite our people but a child of a Barakaak and a Saarkaak?"

  "But, I'm no good around a lot of people," Marsil complained. "All through today, I just wanted to escape somewhere I could be alone."

  "You were in charge of the Saarkaak army. How did you do it then?"

  "Mostly I surrounded myself with a few close advisors who did most of the interacting with the troops."

  "Well, do the same thing. You will have to make some public appearances, but mostly you can rule Bara like you led your army."

  Marsil looked up. "Yeah, I guess I could do that."

  Salaris held out her hand. "Come on. You have an announcement to make."

  They returned to the battlefield. The adrenaline seemed to be wearing off and soldiers from both sides were packing their equipment.

  Salaris found the bullhorn where Marsil had left it. "As the first step of reconciliation, I invite everyone to rest at the temple before returning to their homes." Several heads picked up at the news. The promise of a warm bed below ground would be a welcome change for those who had marched for days to get here. "But first, General Marsil has an announcement she would like to make."

  She handed the horn over. Marsil held it at arm's length and stared at it like it was going to bite. Salaris gave her a little shove towards the crowd. "Go on."

  She took a step back to reinforce her point. Donoon approached her. "What's going on?"

  "You'll see." She smiled.

  The crowd watched Marsil. Even the humans still outside stopped what they were doing to see what new development was coming.

  "Uh, Salaris revealed that Vaamick had an affair with Queen Lorinth before the war. He thought the baby died, but she did not. King Jeef hid the baby away and kept her identity secret. I have video evidence of this."

  She paused. Her limbs shook. Marsil looked back but Salaris gave her a motion to continue. "I know this because I am that baby."

  All murmuring and motion stopped. Salaris stepped forward and stood by her side. Taking the bullhorn, Salaris knelt at her feet. "All hail, Marsil of the ancient line. All hail, Queen Marsil of Bara."

  The others prostrated themselves. It started with the Saarkaak soldiers, already loyal
to their general. Donoon knelt by Salaris. The other Barakaaks took their cue from their new leader and knelt as well. Even Cynthia gave her a formal bow.

  Graaf made his way up to Marsil. "I'm so proud of you. I know you must have been tempted to sit on that and let somebody else rule."

  Marsil gave him a weak smile. "I was. But then I thought of something that made me feel better."

  He raised an eyebrow. "Oh, what is that?"

  "You'll be my king." She kissed him. A cheer went through the crowd and a few of the humans whistled. Marsil blushed.

  Cynthia approached and shook Marsil's and Salaris's hands. The gesture had been explained to them when they had made plans before the battle. "Congratulations to the both of you on your promotions. This world will be in good hands."

  "Thank you," Salaris said as Marsil looked down and forced a smile.

  "If you have time, I would like to meet with the two of you this evening. We have much to discuss," Cynthia said.

  Salaris looked around. The Barakaaks and Saarkaaks were already heading towards the tunnels leading to the temple. "I guess we have time now."

  Cynthia led them inside to her office. On the way through, she grabbed Lana and asked her to translate for them. As they settled in, Major Johns and another human that Salaris didn't recognize escorted a bound Donoon to an area they had turned into their brig.

  "What are they doing to him," Salaris asked.

  "I'm sorry," Cynthia responded. "He still has to answer for his attack and the murder of four people. He will be taken to Earth and tried there as soon as logistics are worked out."

  Salaris gripped the table and saw her friend do the same. She took a slow breath and exhaled. She placed a hand on Marsil's wrist. "We can't fight another war."

  Marsil looked at her. She shook her head. "I know you've come to the same conclusion that I have. Bara needs Earth resources if we are to survive. But I'm going with him. I can't stay here without him. Not again."

  Lana translated as best she could and Alvin's ears perked up. "How are you going to get there?" He turned to Lana and Cynthia. "For that matter, how are we going to get home?"

  "Donoon is a pilot. He can fly your ship," Salaris said.

  Lana stood. "I won't get on a ship with Tom's killer."

  Marsil started to rise, but Salaris kept a hand on her arm, keeping her down. "Donoon will fly your ship and then face your justice. Salaris will go with him. In return, I will recognize your embassy and sign any treaty that trades your resources for our technology."

  Lana shook her head. Cynthia looked at her. "Please sit down." She was quiet for a moment. She pressed a button for the intercom. "Captain Olers, Jerry, please join us in my office." She released the button and looked across the table. "Okay, that is acceptable."

  "No it isn't," Sandra spoke for the first time since Salaris had met her. "There isn't enough room on the ship for four people. Even without Salaris, Lana would have to share a room with the person who killed her husband."

  "I'm staying. She can have my spot," Lana said quietly.

  Alvin took her hand. "Lana, no."

  "I've got nothing to go back to. And I couldn't spend half a year in such close quarters with my husband's killer." She gritted her teeth. "He wouldn't make it back to Earth."

  Jerry entered the room. "Interesting idea. Don't know that NASA will go for it. But can he really fly one of our ships? They are pretty advanced."

  Salaris laughed. Everyone looked at her. "Sorry. Donoon flew to Earth to help advance your flight technology. Without him, you would still be sitting on Earth."

  "Well, I guess that's a yes, then." Jerry scratched his head. "I don't like it, but you're the boss."

  "Captain," Cynthia said. "Please compile a report to NASA of this plan and inform them of my approval."

  Jerry nodded and left.

  Marsil and Salaris look at each other. "I guess we should be going as well." They shook hands with Cynthia and walked to the air lock.

  They paused to pull on their respirators and warm clothing. Salaris looked at hers and laughed. "First time I ever used one of these, Vaamick took us to the surface to watch the humans land. Now I haven't been underground in days." The smile faded. "I guess I better get used to it. Donoon says that the humans don't live in caves."

  Marsil hugged her. "You don't have to go."

  She looked down and shook her head. "But I do. You were willing to leave everything behind to be with Graaf. I'll do the same to be with my love."

  Marsil

  Marsil paced in the chamber. "Calm down," Salaris told her. "You are making me nervous."

  Lana laughed. Her Baran was getting better and she could hold her own in a conversation, even if she did sound like a small child, missing the occasional word or verb tense. The human had nothing appropriate to wear for the ceremony, so Salaris had loaned her one of her smaller gowns. She was almost tall enough to fit into it. It had taken her a while to accept that the orange dress the priestess had given her was fashionable.

  Marsil forced a small smile. She straightened the sapphire pendant that Cynthia had insisted she wear. The humans had suggested an Earth custom for the wedding. It didn't go against any of her people's mores, so she had accepted. Her black gown was new but her mother's peridotite tiara was definitely old. Salaris loaned her a prayer sash that hung over the dress. The sapphire was blue.

  "I can't help it. I keep expecting to wake up. When the humans arrived, I was a Lun. I'd gone as far as I was ever going to with my life."

  "And now you are getting married and crowned." Salaris grinned.

  "Yeah, well, I'm a lot happier about one of those than the other," she admitted.

  There was a knock at the door. "Ladies, it's time," Alvin said.

  "Come in, Alvin. We're all decent," Lana said.

  He opened the door and waved them on. "Graaf is heading up to the altar now."

  Lana smiled and wished her luck. Salaris stayed back for a moment and hugged her. "You are going to be fine."

  Then it was just Alvin and Marsil. "Are you sure you want me to walk you down the aisle?"

  She nodded. "Both the man I thought was my father and the man who actually was are dead. I have no living family besides Donoon and he is chained to his seat. "

  "Well, I'm honored that you chose me. It should go a long way to repairing relations between our people. And thank you for allowing us to tape it. I heard that tabloids are raving about it. The first ever alien wedding."

  Marsil smiled for the first time. "Tabloids. Fake news, right? This is hardly the first wedding. My mother got married in this very same building an orbit and a half ago."

  "Fake news is about right." The first chords of the wedding march echoed through the hallway. "Well, that's our cue."

  Alvin led her down to the great room. Every living being, human, Barakaak, or Saarkaak, was squeezed into the space. Two holorepeaters that Graaf had repaired and a human video camera recorded the entire scene.

  Her anxiety crept back and she fought the urge to run. Alvin squeezed her hand.

  "I know what you're dealing with," he whispered. "Sandra is the same way."

  She took a deep breath and forced herself to relax. Knowing that there were others like her. That she wasn't fundamentally broken in some way, did help.

  The music started again and she took a step forward, the first step towards her new life.

  She kept her head down and counted the rows of attendees as she passed. At eight, she turned her head slightly. Lana smiled. At fourteen, Cynthia gave her nod. At fifteen, Salaris sat next to Donoon and wiped away a tear.

  And at the altar stood Graaf. He smiled wider than she had ever seen him. Alvin let go of her arm and she stopped to stand in front of her husband to be. He took her hands into his, and they stared into each other's eyes.

  Lomis coughed. They broke their gaze. Marsil's first act as ruler of their people had been the decree that Lun would no longer be restricted to military. "We've had enough
soldiers," she'd declared. "Let us now have peacemakers." Lomis had jumped at the chance to become a priestess. Marsil had barely seen her new friend in the past week as Salaris raced to teach Lomis years' worth of catechism in a short time.

  "We have today a first. Bara stands at the precipice of a new day. War has ravaged us for too long, but a child of Saar and Bara unites us as we work together with new allies from another world. For the first time in a long time, we can look tomorrow with optimism instead of dread."

  Lomis began to hum. A higher note followed by a lower one. Repeating every few seconds. The crowd joined in, even the humans. The sound grew in volume until Lomis gave the signal and the room fell into silence.

  Fiimit brought forward the bowl of icy soil. Throughout time, other couples had practiced to stay silent through this challenge. Marsil and Graaf smiled at each other. They'd been on the surface more than most did in a lifetime. They took their entwined hands and plunged them into dirt. Then, they raised them to the crowd. Together, they marched to the exit. Passing the threshold, they turned back to the ground. They were no longer in the room, so the silence could be broken without bringing bad luck. Lomis had wanted to add another human element to the ceremony.

  Lomis raised her arms towards the ceiling. "I know pronounce you husband and wife!"

  The musicians began to play. Graaf kissed and led her away.

  Marsil woke the next morning in Graaf's arms. She smiled as he stirred. "I could get used to this," he admitted.

  "Me, too. I could stay here all day."

  Graaf smiled and then frowned. "We can't. They are leaving today."

  She groaned. "Why did they pick the day after our wedding?"

  "I understand that they pushed their departure back so they could stay for it." He tousled her hair.

  "Well, they aren't leaving yet. We can stay in bed a little longer."

  "You don't want to go out to the surface looking like you just got out of bed do you?" He pulled the bedding off, exposing their bodies to the chilly air.

  She shrieked and grabbed for the blanket, but he kicked them further away. "How dare you deny the queen her sleep!" She slapped him playfully.