The Anuan Legacy

by Traci Ison Schafer

  “Yes, I just needed time to think. Come in. Sit down.” I stepped aside to let him pass. While he walked by, I looked around my room again. No matter what the outcome of our conversation, I would stay with the Anuans and that room would be gone. Its Earth version, anyway. I did hope Gaige would be part of my new life, though. The way I wanted him to be.

  “You’re far away.” Gaige had stopped and turned back, waiting on me to join him.

  “Oh. Yes. I guess I was. But still with you.”

  “That’s good to hear.” His weak smile struggled to meet its normal glowing standards. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

  I stepped up to him and took hold of his hands. “Yes. But first, I need you to know that I’m not upset with you, or anybody. I understand that you were trying to do what you thought was best for me.”

  “We were. We always will.”

  “Now, the thing you can do.”

  “Anything.”

  “Tell me why you thought this would make a difference for us. Was I just a mission to you?”

  “No!” He shook his head, his dark brows drawn together like I’d hurt him to the core. “Of course, not. You mean everything to me, Victoria.”

  “Then why, Gaige?”

  He led me to the chair, and then knelt down in front of me, placing his hands on my legs. His touch caused my soul to stir and reach out for him. He started to speak, but stared into my eyes instead. We were back in another one of those moments that locked us together in our own world. He began to rub his thumbs along the insides of my thighs. I sucked in a quick gulp of air and held it.

  Gaige pulled his hands away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize . . .” He balled his hands into fists and held them at his sides. “Victoria.” His voice had turned serious, deep and frustrated. “You’ve felt a longing for a life you didn’t even know existed. Now you can have it. If that’s what you want.”

  “It is.”

  He smiled, the features of his face falling into a peaceful relaxation. “I’m glad you’ve resolved that. Now, as far as I’m concerned, you have to search within yourself to be sure the connection we’ve shared is really for me, and not for the planet and the people you felt within me—the connection to a heritage you’d been longing for. You need to be sure you didn’t attach to me because I was the first Anuan contact you’d had since your mother died.”

  I eased one of Gaige’s hands open, and placed it over my heart. “There used to be a hole here. Now it’s gone. This place and these people have filled it and I’m staying. But they haven’t filled all of it. To be here without you would mean being incomplete. There is no choice between whole and incomplete. The decision has been made for me, right here, where your hand rests. You are more to me than an Anuan attachment. You are my other half, Gaige, and nothing will change that.”

  CHAPTER 90 -

  GAIGE

  Since we were children, I’d felt something. Then, being with her as an adult, the attraction had been unbearable to fight. Now, I no longer had to. She understood what she felt. Knowing all there was to know and how that could have skewed her interpretation of her feelings, she knew. And I knew, too. I always had, really.

  “Gaige.” Victoria gripped the collar of my flight suit. “You’re staring.”

  My thoughts came back to the present. I still knelt in front of Victoria in her bedroom chair. “I’m in shock.”

  “Let me help you.” She took my hands in hers and placed them back on her thighs. “I believe we were right about here.”

  “Yes, I think you’re right.” Stroking her legs, I leaned in close and kissed her. I savored every slow and lingering second without fear of taking advantage of her now.

  She let out a soft, relieved moan, and pulled the front of my flight suit open.

  “Mission Commander to Gaige.” I heard in my ear. “Mission Team is assembled, waiting on you.”

  “No!” I yelled.

  “No?” Victoria pulled back, complete confusion on her face.

  “No?” Tas said through the mission channel in my flight suit.

  “I’m sorry, Commander. I need a moment. Disconnect from mission channels.”

  “Commander?” Victoria sank, letting go of me. “Your mission is now?”

  It would have been easy, though rude and unprofessional, to keep going and let the mission team wait. But I wasn’t going to rush bonding with Victoria. It deserved more respect than that. She deserved more respect than that. And Brian might not have time to wait.

  I stood, refastening my flight suit. “I’m so sorry, Victoria. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  She followed me to the door. “You’re serious?”

  “I’ll hurry, I promise.” I kissed her on the cheek. “Okay?”

  She threw her head back. “The timing could be better, but go.” She waved her hands to shoo me off. “Go get Brian.”

  “I do love you.” I kissed her again and ran out the door, ready to be back where we’d left off.

  CHAPTER 91 -

  GAIGE

  Running down the corridor on my way to Engineering to get my cloaking suit, I linked back into our mission channel. “I’m sorry, Commander. I’ll be there soon.”

  “Nice of you to join us, Gaige.”

  “Yes, sir.” I grimaced, embarrassed I wasn’t showing better leadership qualities at the moment. “How does everything look?”

  “The solar energy should be low enough not to cause a problem with the ship’s cloak within thirty Earth minutes,” Tas said. “The captain is standing by to move the ship into position. That should take less than a minute. Slight problem, though. Pags just gave us another update on the general. He’s still going at a damn good pace and even in the short time since this afternoon’s briefing, he’s progressed quite a bit. At the rate he’s going now, it’ll be close. I told Pags to notify us when he gets within fifteen minutes of the facility.”

  “Copy, Commander. I’ll be there shortly.”

  After suiting up in my cloaking outfit, I arrived at External Transitions, X-Tran as we called it. Trigget, the transition controller, stood at his transition console with Conner, studying readouts suspended in front of him. Tas stood back, arms crossed, watching the team work. He gave me a nod with a critically arched eyebrow when I entered. If I hadn’t been helping his niece through her transition, I’d have gotten one hell of a reprimand for this one. I returned his greeting, glad he hadn’t said anything about my tardiness.

  I tossed my cloaking hood on a table that lined the wall. “Sorry I’m late. Is everyone else ready?”

  “I took roll,” Conner said. “The bridge, Engineering, Surveillance, sickbay—all the ground mission support locations and functions are linked in.”

  “Thanks, Conner.” I wedged myself between Conner and Trigget so I could look over the solar values with them. “Are we going to be within an acceptable solar range before the general arrives?”

  Tas stepped forward. “The timing’s still tight, Gaige. We’re staying with the plan to wait until the ship’s cloak will hold. If it looks like the general will arrive before that time, we’ll have to reassess that plan.”

  Conner tilted his head, scrutinizing the numbers. “Maybe the mission should be postponed until after the general’s gone.”

  I stepped away from the displays. There was no need to stare at the numbers. It wouldn’t make them change any faster. “No. We don’t know what the general has planned. He could take Brian underground someplace where we wouldn’t be able to transition. Or worse. And Brian can’t go much longer without adequate food.”

  “I agree,” Tas said. “If we’re going to have a chance of getting him out, we have to do it before the general gets to him.”

  Trigget still watched his display, waiting for the solar values to reach the cloak’s tolerable range, while the rest of us debated.

  “But what if you’re right, Commander?” Conner said to his father. “What if the Tamanacke really are behind things?”


  “All the more reason to get Brian out now,” Tas said. “What do you think the Tamanacke will do to him?”

  Conner shook his head. “Worse than not feeding him. Maybe you shouldn’t go down to get him, Gaige. We could transport Brian up alone, and then deal with the rest once he’s on the ship. I think we can all agree he won’t want to stay there, so it’s not like we’d be violating his wishes. It will just be a matter of him deciding where to go—with us or somewhere else on Earth. At least that way, you won’t be putting yourself in danger.”

  “I agree that he won’t want to stay there,” I said. “But, if at all possible, I need to give him the courtesy of explaining what’s happening before we jolt him out of there.”

  Pags’ voice sounded through the mission channel, interrupting our discussion. “The general has reached the fifteen-minute point.”

  “Team Lead,” Tas said to me. “What’s your recommendation?”

  I checked the readouts again, which still weren’t within range. “How much longer Trigget?”

  “Seven Earth minutes,” Trigget answered.

  I turned to Tas. “Our schedule is getting too risky. I agree with Conner. The best thing to do at this point is to bring Brian out alone and explain things to him once he gets here. I don’t like it, but our goal is to get him to safety, not put two people at risk.”

  “Agreed.” Tas nodded.

  I turned from Tas to Trigget to make sure he’d heard the new plan. “Trigget, we’re going to forgo the planned mission. As soon as we can move the ship in close enough, we’ll transition Brian out rather than me going in to get him. Send him straight to sickbay. Once Zada has addressed any medical needs, I’ll talk him through his options. He can take whatever time he needs to decide here on the ship.”

  “Got it, Gaige. You’re not going to the surface. I’ll transition Brian to sickbay.” Trigget’s eyes stayed fixed on the numbers.

  I reiterated what I’d said to the entire team. “Mission change report. I will not be going to the surface. Brian will be transitioned out alone and sent directly to sickbay. Repeat, mission change, no surface attempt. All mission team members hold positions and standby.”

  One by one, all the team members echoed back through the open mission channel that they were clear on the order and they were standing by.

  “Solar values are within tolerable cloaking range,” Trigget said.

  After about twenty seconds, the captain confirmed that the ship was cloaked and in position.

  “Trigget, initiate transition sync,” I told him.

  “Initiating,” Trigget answered.

  “Transition Brian as soon as you get a lock on him,” I said. “I’ll head down to sickbay to meet him. Conner, you take over here.”

  “Wait, Gaige.” Trigget frantically began changing settings on the transition controls. “Gaige, I can’t get a lock on Brian. I can’t even locate him. His life signs must have dropped too low for us to pick up. I’m boosting our sensors at his last known location to see if I can detect him there.”

  “Pags, what’s the estimate on the general’s arrival?” I asked.

  “Five minutes now,” Pags answered over the open channel.

  “Trigget, have you detected Brian yet?”

  “No, Gaige, not yet.”

  “We have to get him out before the general gets there.” I grabbed the clocking hood and turned to Tas. “Permission to re-engage original mission plan.”

  “Permission granted,” Tas said, quickly. “But grab him and get out immediately!”

  I pulled the hood over my head. “Mission Team, resume original mission. Trigget, prepare to send me down.” I stepped onto the transition pad. “Conner, it’s yours.”

  “Ground Mission Team resume original mission!” Conner yelled. “Repeat, original mission is a go!” Conner quickly scanned the suit to make sure the hood was properly sealed. “You’re good, Gaige. Kearon, initiate cloak,” Conner told her over the mission channel.

  Conner stepped up to the controls next to Trigget. My body tingled and I knew the cloak was working. Trigget held his finger over the transition symbol, ready.

  “Cloaking suit is at full shield,” Kearon's voice echoed from Engineering. “He’s clear to go.”

  “Initiate transition!” Conner said.

  “Transitioning.” Trigget touched the transition symbol on the display.

  Before X-Tran faded away, my eyes met Conner’s and I heard his thoughts loud and clear. May peace surround you, Gaige. And I prayed that it would.

  CHAPTER 92 -

  VICTORIA

  My gloved hands slapped against the concrete floor, searching for something in the darkness. I couldn’t recall what I searched for. Only that I had to find it before . . . Before what? Before something happened—something bad.

  “Gaige, Pags reports the general has arrived at the building. You don’t have more than a couple of minutes.”

  I heard the message clearly in my ear, but couldn’t see Gaige anywhere in the thick blanket of darkness.

  “I can’t find him. It’s too dark. I know he’s here. He has to be unconscious.” I felt Gaige’s voice resonate in my throat. I didn’t understand, but didn’t have time to figure it out, either. I crawled faster, groping around the floor with my hands. The sound of my breathing echoed throughout the blackness.

  Finally finding what I sought—a person—I picked the lifeless body off the floor.

  Out of nowhere, light flooded the room and I saw the eyes. The yellow snake eyes.

  “NO!” I sat up in bed screaming, clutching at my throat. “I know how the dream ends, but it’s not me. It’s not me. It’s Gaige! And it’s not a dream. They’re real. The monsters, they’re real! Link to Gaige!” I said, throwing off my covers. “Link to Gaige. Link to Conner. Link to Bec.”

  “Yes, sweetheart,” Bec answered.

  “Where’s Gaige? I can’t reach him.”

  “No, sweetheart, you won’t be able to reach him now. He’s on the surface and will only be in communications with the Mission Team.”

  Her words faded into a garbled buzz. Waves of nausea rocked my stomach, one after another in quick succession. Bile burned its way up my throat, but came no further. I wouldn’t allow it. There wasn’t time to be sick. I had to stop the mission.

  Still in the silky nightgown I’d put on to wait for Gaige, I rushed from my quarters. When I left my sector, the Anuan gravity nearly stopped me in my tracks. I pushed my body to cut through the dense, simulated atmosphere. I needed to run like the wind. Instead I trudged along in slow motion, fighting through a wall of molasses-thick air to get to the bridge. I didn’t know where else to go. But Daigon, I was sure, could give the order to bring Gaige back.

  After only a short distance, I could barely breathe, but kept going. Gasping for air, I fell to the floor. My chest tightened and a sharp pain shot down my right arm. I stretched my other arm out and pulled at the floor, trying to crawl forward. Excruciating cramps clamped down throughout my body and my muscles fought every movement. Still, I forged ahead. Nothing was going to stop me.

  Something, no, someone touched my arm. “Victoria, it’s me, Zada. The computer notified me of distressed medical values in your area. I have an assistant with me. He’s going to carry you to sickbay.”

  Someone lifted me off the ground and began carrying me through the ship. I couldn’t tell who through my blurred vision.

  “No. Can’t stop. Gaige.” Wheezing, I tried to push away from whoever held me.

  “It’s okay, Victoria. Sickbay isn’t far. We’ll give you something there to make you feel better.”

  “No! Gaige. Have to. Warn Gaige.” I fought to be put down, but wasn’t able to break free. I had to make them understand.

  “Gaige is on a mission right now,” Zada said.

  I heard a door slide open and Zada’s assistant placed me on a bed.

  “Gaige. Have to. Save him. Going to. Die.”

  “He’s what?” Zada said.
r />   “In danger. Will die. Help him, please,” I begged, hoping she could make out the choppy information.

  “Report this to the rest of the mission team immediately. The commander has to get Gaige out of there now!” Zada said as she waved something in front of my face and everything faded away.

  CHAPTER 93 -

  GAIGE

  A shroud of darkness blanketed Brian’s cell. The one dim light bulb that hung in its center didn’t put out enough energy to light more than a couple of feet of the area directly below it. I couldn’t see Brian, but knew he was there. With no illuminator, or any other accessories available while in the cloaking suit, I’d have to find him without any aid to help cut through the blackness. The diminished vision through the cloaking hood wasn’t helping. I whispered Brian’s name. He didn’t answer. By his weak presence, I suspected he wasn’t even conscious. I moved to the dark edges of the cell, spreading my arms close to the ground to feel for him.

  After a few minutes of groping around the floor for Brian, Trigget’s voice resonated in my ear. “Gaige, Pags reports the general has arrived at the building. You don’t have more than a couple of minutes.”

  “I can’t find him, it’s too dark. I know he’s here. He has to be unconscious.” I couldn’t leave without him. I moved quickly around the cell, sweeping my arms back and forth in front of me. Finally my hand brushed against something. I squeezed the object—an arm.

  “Mission abort!” Tas yelled. “Gaige, we’re bringing you out now!”

  “Wait! I’ve found him.” I followed the arm up to Brian’s head, which lay lopped over to the side. “He is unconscious. Lock on two at my position and get us out of here.” I bent down and picked Brian up as the lights flicked on.

  “Damn you, Anuans!” I heard from outside the cell.

  I spun around with Brian in my arms to see the general—vacillating between himself and a Tamanacke—tear the cell door off its hinges. A clawed hand swung down on me before I could utter a word.