by Celeste Raye
"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 nothing 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."
"We are not even friendly with them all," the queen added. "Their planets could start a war with Earth. This is a delicate matter. It must be handled with great care, and fast. Alexis, what time is it on Earth?"
"It's just past dawn. I can send a message to NASA now. It will reach them in about three hours. This will be a long conversation. Sent through space, it may take days." That was a warning to be patient. Alexis knew it would be hard for Valeri to wait.
"It will give Nabvan and my husband time to plan the rescue. They will take a warship. It is fast and will save several days in their journey. King Siefer returns from the villages in the morning. We can begin planning at that time. Send the message, Alexis. I will put the children to bed." She turned to Valeri. "You need sleep also. I am aware of your attachment to Ohber. Don't fret. I have arranged for a bed to be placed by his side for your use. Sleep well. You've accomplished a lot today. We've got it from here."
Queen Destiney herded the sleepy and complaining children to her chambers. Nexxa could stay for the night. Alexis had work to do. Sending messages to Earth was difficult at times. It was seldom done, and specifying a location like NASA would be even harder. It saddened her to know that humans could be so cruel to other species. She loved Milisaria and its inhabitants. Her son was a part of both planets. Earth women had married Arkani men as well. They too had children. Their planets were joined with Earth via treaties and marriages. How could they justify experiments and cruelty toward other species? She was proud of Valeri and Ohber for caring about those they left behind. It was an omen for the future. Relationships, even friendships, could evolve with other species. They just had to see the others as equals and care about their lives. It was a learning process. Scyon and Nexxa weren't the only ones in need of teaching.
Alexis hurried to the communications room. The faster she sent out the message, the sooner the aliens could be freed. The atrocities they had endured were loathsome to her. She was just a scientist, yet she followed the same oath as a doctor: first do no harm. It went against her sensibilities to torture even the lowest of creatures, much less intelligent species.
She wished Nabvan and the king were there. She needed her husband's strong arms to hold her for just a moment. It would make the situation more bearable. They would be back tomorrow. She would have to wait. They would be furious and want to attack Earth. She and Queen Destiney would have to find a way to calm them. They were true warriors, and the answer to most of their problems was war. That couldn't happen. Worlds were at stake.
Alexis wrote the message first. It read: Need your help. Experiments being performed on captive aliens. Earth's government involved. Not president. Deeper and clandestine. Must shut it down. Cruel experiments, deaths. Will you help? Alexis of Milisaria.
Sending it was much harder. It had to be routed through satellites in a way that would go unnoticed by the government. She had to send it directly to her friends at NASA. If it was intercepted, there would be bigger problems to contend with. She worked most of the night, routing and rerouting the message. It went through. She would get an hour or two of sleep while she waited for an answer. Alexis curled up on the floor. When an answer came in, she would hear it. She trusted the queen to take care of Nexxa.
The loud beeping of the communicator woke Alexis from a torturous dream. She was dreaming about those left on Earth and what punishments they might have to endure. The beeping was a relief. Her friends at NASA had answered. Their message read: Always ready to take on government. Aliens are kind of our thing. Need details. Where? Who? When? You sending help? Earthlings of NASA.
Alexis immediately began the next message. She gave them as much detail as she could. They would have to find some information on their own. She realized she needed to get Valeri's brother involved. He could tell them much more. She would wake up Valeri and send the information in the next message. For now, she needed to check on her daughter, take a shower, and see to Ohber. Nabvan would be home soon. She had to prepare for his arrival as well.
All was still quiet as she made her way to her quarters. Nabvan and she had moved to a much larger suite of rooms. Nexxa's arrival had meant the need for more space. She had her own room, which gave her parents more privacy. It was lonely without her family to fill it. She hurried through the shower, grabbed a snack, and went in search of company. Nabvan met her on the way to the king's quarters. Telling the queen that NASA would help had to wait. Nabvan swept her up and carried her back to their bed. He wanted to be welcomed home in style. It was fine with Alexis. She always misse
d her mate. It might even make him stay calmer for the news she had to impart.
Queen Destiney was faced with a similar situation. She too gave in to her husband's desires. Thankfully, the rambunctious children were still asleep. This was one lesson they were too young to learn. Valeri would have to be told how demanding Milisarian warriors were in the bedroom. Maybe it would be more fun if she discovered it for herself.
Chapter 12
Ohber alternated between watching Valeri sleep and staring out the window of his home world. He had never expected to see either one again. When Reginald had injected the new virus, he had also told Ohber that Valeri was gone and would not be returning. He had resigned himself to dying alone on a foreign planet. Miracles did happen. He was home, Valeri was with him, and his body was healing. Through the big window, he could see Milisarians in the marshes, knights practicing, and children playing. Milisaria looked the same, but felt different somehow. It took some time for him to figure out why. Then he realized, everyone was happy. There was no fear or sadness on their faces. Knights stopped practicing to help villagers load wagons. Children dressed in finery played beside those dressed in hand-me-downs. Even the lowliest of villagers carried communication devices. King Siefer had made Milisaria a new world. It was so much better.
He turned as the door opened. He recognized his savior, Alexis. She appeared shocked that he was standing. He grinned and bowed. "I am a fast healer. My body evolved to the demands placed on it in the experiments. Thank you for your hard work. You are a great healer."
Alexis shook her head, "I just aided the doctor. I'm only a scientist. You look much better, but I know you are not completely well. You must not pretend or overdo it. Sit down and let me check your pulse and temperature."
"I am well enough. I must speak to the king and his commander. There are others, still on Earth, that need help." Ohber sat quietly and allowed Alexis to check him over.
"The commander is my husband. He and the king just returned from the villages. They are anxious to meet with you and Valeri. Nabvan is pleased to discover that you are alive. I plan to keep you that way. Your fever is gone, but your pulse is still too fast. You are thin and gray. I will allow you to meet with them if you eat and promise not to get upset."
Ohber replied, "I will try; however, I must tell all of you about the experiments. It will upset me. The others have become my friends."
Alexis soothed him by saying, "Valeri explained everything to the queen and me. We relayed the information to King Siefer and Nabvan. Needless to say, they were furious and wanted to attack. It took some doing, but we calmed them down, and they are now more rational. Your friends are our first priority. I have sent messages to Earth. My friends there will help shut down the program. Wake up Valeri, and I will bring you some food. Eat, take a shower, and then you can meet with the men." She left to get food.
Ohber woke Valeri with a kiss. She smiled and stretched, enveloping him in her arms. After a moment, it dawned on her that he was standing and she was the one in bed. She jumped up and demanded, "What are you up to? Get back in bed."
"I'm fine, or at least I will be soon. Alexis cleared me to eat and shower. If I behave, she will let me join you in a meeting with the king and Nabvan. Thank you for explaining it all to them. It was something I had been dreading. I am not good with words," Ohber declared.
Valeri wandered to the window and asked, "How did they take it? Were the men angry? Am I going to be punished?"
Ohber wrapped her in his arms and answered, "Of course they were angry, but not at you. Alexis said they did not take it well at first. She and the queen settled them down. She swears they are now rational and ready to talk. She also told me they were eager to see me. Then she ordered me to eat and shower. Since she is not back with the food, I will shower. Want to join me?"
"You are incorrigible! You almost died yesterday. You're barely standing." Valeri started laughing. "Save the romantic stuff for when you're stronger. I'll make it worth waiting for. I promise." She was giddy with happiness. He was healing, and plans were being made to help the others.
The shower and eating took a toll on Ohber. He had to rest before the meeting. It was annoying and a waste of time, in his estimation. Alexis and Valeri insisted after they heard his labored breathing. They argued that his mind would be clearer if it was rested. To his shame, he fell asleep as his head hit the pillow. Once again, the women were correct. He was refreshed and stronger after his nap.
The group met in King Siefer's quarters. The table was large enough to accommodate all of them. The children played games on the floor. Ohber stared at them. He found them to be quite beautiful. Humans and Milisarians made wonderful babies. He glanced at Valeri, wondering if she had considered the prospect. She was busy discussing Alexis's lab with the scientist herself.
Nabvan addressed Ohber, "It is good to have you home. We had thought you died long ago. If we had known you were alive, a search party would have been sent. I am sorry you had to suffer."
Ohber asked, "Did King Shene know I was alive? Did he trade me or just abandon me? I have wondered for years. For the first few months, I expected to be rescued. After that, I tried to find a way to escape. I finally resigned myself to dying there, then Valeri came, and I began to hope again."
King Siefer answered, "We do not know whether the king traded you or if he truly thought you dead. We only had his words to go by. He told us you died and that there was not a body to bring home. We later discovered that he lied quite often."
"Valeri spent a lot of time catching me up on the changes to Milisaria. You are a good king. I watched out the window this morning. Our people are united. They are happy. Thank you for that,” Ohber replied.
Nabvan spoke up, " We will be leaving for Earth soon. Our plan is to retrieve all the Milisarians. We will not fight unless it is a necessity. I doubt any guards at the building will challenge our swords."
"You have to save the other species. If you leave them, they will die or be killed. I cannot bear that on my conscious. They became my friends, and Valeri's too." Ohber could not sit still. He stood and paced the room. His anxiety had him gasping for breath.
Alexis and Valeri went to his aid. Alexis demanded, "Sit down and calm yourself or I will make you leave. Let Nabvan finish telling you the plan." Ohber obeyed. He had promised to remain calm. It was difficult under the circumstances.
Nabvan continued, "Alexis has reached out for help from her friends on Earth. They will have the building raided as soon as we remove our knights. The program will be shut down. The aliens will be taken to care facilities, treated, and eventually returned to their planets. If they have no desire to return home, the humans will welcome them. They will be free. We cannot take them from Earth ourselves. We have no treaty with their planets and would be attacked if we tried to get near them."
Ohber argued, "We have no animosity with the Arkani. You have been there. They helped you and Alexis helped them. There is an old Arkani male that needs to go home. He has suffered too much for too long. Do not make him wait. Take him home."
Valeri added, "He's right. Akeila needs to go home. I'm sure the Earth doctors would treat him well, but I don't think he can wait. He's very old and has been given numerous diseases. I doubt he will live much longer. He deserves to see his home one more time. He gave them all the knowledge he held, medications and formulas. It wasn't enough for them. I'm with Ohber. Bring him too."
"If it is possible and he is willing, we will rescue him. The knights must come first. They are our priority. You have my promise: we will not let him die. If we cannot bring him, we will see that he is cared for." King Siefer turned to the queen. "Can you have the knights ready our fastest warship? We must leave today. Alexis, will you gather medications and bandages? We may need to treat the knights on the way back. Valeri, will you show Alexis what else the wounded may require? If we do not have it, we will take it from the program. I believe she also needs to send another message to Earth. NASA needs informa
tion from your brother. They must be told how to reach him."
The women took the children and left. Ohber faced the king and said, "I require a new uniform. I only have the torn Earth clothes. I will need a sword as well. I do not know what happened to mine."
King Siefer replied, "You will be given appropriate clothing. The sword can wait until you are well. A home in the village is being prepared for you. You will receive all the benefits of a retired Milisarian Knight."
Ohber's face turned red with anger. "I am going with you! I will not be set aside like an old man."
Nabvan stepped forward. "You are not well. It will be several days before you can leave the capital. Even then, you cannot fight. Alexis explained your injuries. They will never completely heal. You have served the knights well. You are to be honored."
Ohber continued to argue, "I can continue treatment on the way to Earth. I may never fight again, but you admitted there would be no need to fight. The guards would be frightened by our swords. I must come. The aliens will trust me and cooperate. I am one of them. You are strangers."
"I do not want you to have to see that place again. You were locked away and tormented there. You have just returned home. We wished to spare you from returning to your prison," King Siefer explained.
"It would be harder for me to stay here. Allow me this one request. If a fight is necessary, I will stand back and leave you to it. Let me go with you."
The king replied, "It will be an honor to serve with a knight as brave as you. Your request is granted."
Nabvan suggested, "Come with me. I will see that you are fitted with a uniform and given a sword. Changes of clothing and armor will also be provided."
Ohber was measured and fitted with a uniform and clothing. He was handed a new sword. Though he had difficulty lifting it in his weakened state, it felt so good in his hand. He had missed holding a sword. It had been like living without an arm. Dressed as a true Milisarian Knight, Ohber once again felt whole. His pride returned. It was more healing than Alexis's medications.