by Josi Russell
Chapter 34
Ethan lay on the cold floor, watching the battle scene play out around him. His body was heavy, and he felt Sybillan’s consciousness slowly returning in his mind. As he recovered, the Aloran whirled and began firing instructions to the other Alorans. Ethan heard them in his mind, felt the intensity with which Sybillan was transmitting them. There was still sorrow and regret interlaced in Sybillan’s cries, but there was also a new urgency as he saw his fellow Alorans in the grips of the Others. He called to them, in his wordless way, a warning about the new modification. Ethan saw the Alorans gain a new awareness and come out of their trancelike state. They began to send energy pulses toward their opponents before the Others could trap them.
But many were still immobilized by the Others. Ruthlessly, Sybillan tore a claw from the dead guard and rushed forward, severing claws and freeing his comrades with fury. He called instructions to the other Alorans, and they fell upon the Others while defending against new attacks. Ethan realized that their victory was eminent, and the pain in his body returned. He turned his eyes away from the carnage and laid his cheek against the cool floor. Blackness overtook him.
* * *
Ethan’s consciousness returned slowly. He heard voices in his mind as he opened his eyes. He felt the familiarity of the Caretaker’s hold around him and was overcome with relief that he was back on the ship. As he opened his eyes, he saw several Alorans around the room, investigating the ship. Their calming presence permeated the atmosphere. As he opened his eyes, they turned to him, smiling kindly. He recognized Lassaya as she came toward him.
He stood up. “Where is Kaia?” he asked immediately.
“She is safe. She’s making needed alterations to your ship. We will inform her that you are awake—”
Just then, Kaia burst into the room. “Ethan!” She threw herself into his arms. “Ethan! We did it! We really did it! We get to leave!”
Ethan hugged her. “How are the passengers?”
“They’re fine, just fine. They’re all still in stasis and the computer reports all readings as normal.”
Ethan’s brow furrowed. “The computer! I forgot it was misprogrammed. What are we going to—”
Kaia interrupted. “I’m returning the whole ship to specs right now. I’ve already disconnected the tertiary nav system and put new flight plans back in. I’ve had a lot of help from the Alorans, entering beginning coordinates and charting the way to Minea.”
For the first time in days, Ethan felt his face break into a smile. “Really?”
The Alorans’ calming presence still pervaded the room. Ethan felt safe and hopeful. Then he remembered the carnage in the statehouse. He turned to Lassaya.
“How is Sybillan? How are the rest?”
Lassaya’s face was serene but sorrowful. “We lost many. Sybillan is here.” She motioned across the room, and the pale blue Aloran that Ethan had come to love moved gracefully toward them.
“Those of our kind who survived are weakened, but healing nicely under the ministrations of our skilled healers,” Lassaya continued. “Life energy is difficult to regain, but not impossible. Perhaps some will heal in time to see you off on your journey.”
“Have the Others been defeated? Completely, I mean?”
Lassaya nodded. “Few are left. The toll on their population was great. Most refused to surrender and insisted instead on fighting to the death. Those who are left are of a different mindset. They were the least vehement of the Others. We are currently holding individual trials for each of them. It is our hope that after much discussion and education, peace on the planet can still be achieved.”
Ethan was doubtful. “And if not?”
Now Sybillan showed some sorrow. “Their time as a subspecies is short anyway. Because they devoted their lives to battle and domination, neglecting the natural life cycle, there are no young with their altered genetics. When those of this generation reach the end of their shortened life spans, the Others will be but a dark memory. If no compromise can be reached, we must simply contain those individuals who are left until the end of their lives. It is our hope that this will not have to be.”
“Where is Tesuu? Is he alive?”
“Alive, yes.” Sybillan’s voice was gentle. “But wounded. He rests here on your ship.” The Aloran’s fluid gesture indicated the far wall of the hold, and Ethan saw one of the panels ajar.
Ethan rose carefully and crossed the room, reaching down to remove the panel. Inside he saw Tesuu curled into a ball, his armadillo-like scales shutting out the world. He stirred and slowly uncurled. Then he caught Ethan’s eye and painfully crawled out of the panel.
Ethan felt tears sting his eyes as he knelt in front of the little creature and extended his hand. Tesuu climbed into it and gazed up at him.
“I don’t—” Ethan’s voice failed, and he tried again, gazing into Tesuu’s bright eyes. “Thank you. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been there.”
“I take great joy in the fact that we defeated them in the end.”
“We did.”
Ethan felt how anxious the little Zumiin was as the question formed in his mind. “You’ll take me with you, won’t you, Ethan Bryant?”
The thought of Tesuu’s company on the ship delighted Ethan, and he saw Tesuu’s joyous reaction the moment the feeling crossed their bridged minds. “Of course.”
“We will go to your new planet and then you will get me home?” Tesuu’s hope was overwhelming. “To my children?”
Ethan knew that hope, knew what it was to long for the ones you loved to be in your arms again. He nodded.
“I’m sorry, my friends, that cannot be,” Sybillan said from behind them. Ethan felt a shadow of regret in the Aloran’s mind. “Your species, Tesuu, does not live as long as the humans. For you to travel to Minea in their ship would take many of your lifetimes, and they do not have the means there to return you to Entewn One.”
Ethan felt an old frustration rising in him. He felt again the fury at the immensity and indifference of space.
Tesuu’s furry brows drew together. “On our planet,” he said thoughtfully, “we lived many cycles. Here, though, our lives were . . . not so long.”
Lassaya and Sibillan exchanged a glance.
“We owe you a great debt,” Lassaya said. “There is a way for you to return.”
Ethan stood, raising Tesuu to Lassaya’s height.
“We have but one small ship remaining of our fleet. We will take you home.”
Tesuu turned to Ethan. “Could you take my friends to their homes as well?”
Ethan’s heart soared. Perhaps the sacrifice he’d been steeling himself for would not be required after all. He felt discouragement from Kaia, though, and looked in her direction as the Lassaya spoke, her voice apologetic.
“I’m sorry, but there are many complications that make this vessel the best choice for the humans.” A wave of empathy travelled from her. “Though I understand it means a great sacrifice for the Caretaker.”
“What complications?” Tesuu prodded.
Ethan admired that he would not give up so easily.
Kaia spoke up. “Our passengers, Tesuu, would all have to be awakened. Their stasis capsules cannot be transported on the Aloran’s ship. Our technology and theirs is just too far apart to make it work. Even if we awakened them all, very few could travel at a time, and the forces of FTL travel would pose dangerous risks so soon after their time in stasis. The Alorans and I have done some experiments, and even I am too recently awakened to travel in the ship. Even with my new abilities, a fraction of the forces caused me excruciating pain and damage. I would not risk that with our passengers.”
Ethan shook his head to clear his disappointment. A part of him had been clinging to the hope that there would be a quick and easy way to Minea ever since they’d formed the attack plan with the Alorans.
Tesuu spoke again. “Then you, my friend? You could be free of the ship and spend your life on your new pla
net.”
Ethan shook his head. “My heart is here, Tesuu. My life is here.”
Tesuu bowed his head as Lassaya moved forward to take him from Ethan. “I hope we’ll meet again, Ethan Bryant—under more favorable circumstances.”
“Me too, Tesuu.” Ethan watched as they left the hold and murmured after them, “Thank you.”
Kaia was watching Ethan closely. “How are you feeling? They said you were amazing. And that you were injured.”
Ethan turned toward her and ran his hands down his torso. “Well, I know that my ribs were broken, but they seem to have healed. Looks like you’re not the only one who can regenerate.” He smiled at her. “In fact, I’m tired, but I’m not even sore. How long did I sleep?”
“You’ve been on the ship for four days. For a while, I wasn’t sure you’d wake up.” She looked down, and he put a reassuring arm around her shoulders and squeezed. Her mind was open to him, and he sensed the fear and pain of the last few days hovering as a shadow behind newfound relief and happiness.
Ethan felt her affection, too. He felt her tenderness toward him. He knew that his own feelings were as transparent to her. It seemed so natural now, after all they’d been through, that they would have this bond. Still, another emotion called to him. He withdrew his arm gently from her shoulder.
“I—I want to check out the ship.” He averted his eyes from hers and started for the door.
He felt her understanding and also a twinge of pain. “I’ll be back in the nav rooms. We’re within a day of being able to leave,” she said, following him.
When they reached the hallway, they walked in opposite directions, their minds still intertwined.
Chapter 35
The passenger hold was quiet except for the whirring of machinery. As he approached Aria’s chamber, Ethan nearly broke into a run.
There she was, sleeping before him. Without thinking, he threw his arms wide around the chamber and rested his forehead against the glass. He felt like weeping, or shouting, but instead he just held the chamber and let relief wash over him. Her smile, her voice, her expressions danced in his mind. Their dreams of building a life in their little blue cottage on Minea seemed so distant now. He knew now that he’d be an old man by the time he touched her pink skin again, but after all that had happened, it was enough. He knew now that he could live the rest of his life on the ship, as long as he was secure in the knowledge that she and the baby would someday walk as free people under the Minean sun.
He saw her stir in her sleep, just slightly, and he imagined that she knew he was there. “It’s all right, Sweetheart,” he said softly, putting his hand against the glass near her face. “We’ll be on our way soon, and you’ll be safe.”
His eyes caught movement in her abdomen, and he looked down to see the baby stirring as well. A slow bulge moved across her belly as the little one rolled inside. He thought of it there and envisioned them both wrapped in his protection. He had to get them to Minea, no matter the personal cost.
“I’ll come and see you both every day,” he promised. His lingering fingers drew reluctantly away from the glass, and he headed for the nav rooms.
* * *
The navigation rooms were sealed when he got there, and the interior airlock had been engaged. As he waited for it to open, he felt anxious. Why would the airlock be engaged? Had there been some damage to the outer shell? Even if there had, they were still on the planet’s surface and there should be no problem with decompression.
As the airlock slid open, Ethan was taken off guard as he floated upward. The artificial gravity was turned off inside, and as he headed, arms flailing, for the ceiling, he saw why. Kaia was clinging to the ceiling, working inside a panel there. Sweat clung to her forehead as she worked to loosen a set of wires.
“How’s it going?” He swam awkwardly toward her through the air.
“Fine. Much better since I got this panel off.” She glanced over at him and a smile broke over her features. “For a guy who’s spent five years in space, you’re not very good in zero g.”
“Hey, for the first three of those years, I had no idea how to turn off the gravity. After I figured it out, it made me so sick I didn’t have much desire to do it often. This—” He gestured at what she was doing. “—Seems to be the only reasonable use for it.”
“This from the bravest man on Beta Alora?”
Ethan’s face colored. “I don’t know about that.”
“I heard what you did. Did you really calibrate the laser and chop off Traxoram’s claws?”
Ethan shuddered involuntarily. “Yes.” He spent a moment remembering and then amended, “I only cut off one claw with the laser. It was a good thing you taught me how to work it.”
Kaia nodded. “I heard how you got the other claw off.” She shook her head. “How did you know it would work?”
“I didn’t. I just knew that the Others in the courtyard had used their bare claws to cut through the armor. I figured of all the options I had, it was the most likely to work.” He paused, grasping a handle on the ceiling to steady himself near her, and watched her work for a moment. “Still,” he said quietly, “it wasn’t how I thought it would be.”
She stopped and peered at him. “What do you mean?”
He shifted uncomfortably. “When I stabbed him, at the end, his—I guess the Alorans would call it his Life Energy, rushed out, and I was . . .” He hesitated, not wanting to reveal too much. “I felt this horrible sense of loss.”
Her eyes showed him that she didn’t understand.
Hastily he added, “You know, it’s probably because the Alorans were there, and they were sorry about it from the beginning. I mean, they didn’t want to kill Traxoram at all . . .” He trailed off, realizing that some things would take more sorting out in his own mind before he could share them, even with Kaia. But that may take too long. She’d have to return to stasis soon, and he may not have enough clarity by then to share what he’d gone through—
“I’m not going back into stasis.”
He glanced up, staring into her eyes. “Of course you are.”
“Of course I’m not,” she retorted, pushing away from the panel and throwing her head back defiantly.
“Kaia, we can’t both stay awake. There’s still one stasis chamber.”
“Your stasis chamber.”
“A stasis chamber.”
“Ethan, I’m not going to live my life on Minea. There’s nothing for me there.” Her voice was hollow.
“You don’t know that.”
“David’s gone—”
His voice was firm. “Yes, David’s gone, but as rough as it sounds, you have no idea what other happiness you might find there.”
Her jaw was set stubbornly. “Ethan, you have a real reason to make it to Minea. I’m not destroying that for some vague hope of my own happiness.” She turned back to the panel and began to work again.
He glimpsed a fleeting thought, and he tried to chase it into her mind, but she quickly shielded it from him. He felt her drawing away, not just physically but mentally. It felt like she was closing a door between them, and he sensed that the distance she was putting between them would continue to grow.
He began to speak, but she kept her back to him, and he knew they would get nowhere arguing about it now. He pushed off for the floor, aiming back toward the airlock. He’d talk some sense into her when they were back on their way.
“Don’t count on it,” she said aloud, shooting him a grim smile.
Chapter 36
The shining Alorans filled the ship on the day of its departure. Ethan and Kaia greeted them on the observation deck and bid them farewell. Their goodbyes were more poignant than either of them had anticipated. Something about the openness of their minds, the entanglement of their emotions with those of the Alorans, made them vulnerable to the finality of their parting.
They felt joy and relief, too, both their own and that of the Alorans. Both had had their freedom and their lives restored, an
d they celebrated those things even as they grieved that they wouldn’t see each other again.
The ship made its way back into space without incident. Though it had been built in space and not made to land on or take off from a planet, the Alorans lifted it through their atmosphere and on its way as smoothly as a feather on a gust of wind.
Both Kaia and Ethan waited tensely to see if the navigation systems would function properly with their new coordinates, but they needn’t have worried. The ship was once again bound for Minea.
The first day was tense as they watched the star charts. Kaia avoided him as much as she could, keeping to one side of the nav room and shielding all but her most trivial thoughts from him. Even when he tried reaching out to her or teasing her, she remained cold and aloof.
That evening, they found themselves back in the Caretaker’s hold, eating their favorite Earth meals and letting relief over their escape finally permeate their thoughts.
“I don’t think any food has ever tasted so good,” Ethan said, taking a long drink of soda.
“Agreed.” Kaia talked around a mouthful of cheeseburger.
“So if I read the instruments correctly, it seems that we won’t be too late getting there, right?”
“Amazingly, no. Thanks to that little boost from the Alorans, we’re only a few days behind schedule, as impossible as that seems.”
Ethan was relieved. Aria wouldn’t suffer any ill effects of the catastrophic events of the last few days. She’d never know they’d happened, in fact, until the press on Minea got hold of the story. He still wondered briefly if they should relate their ordeal.