E:A Vol 1 Ch 6—August 31, 2115

Six weeks had passed since Jason’s arrival to Terra 2. Victoria avoided by either staying in her chambers and not answering her door, or working in the medical research lab where you had to have a high security clearance to enter. Today it was the lab. As always, she had at least one Marine stationed near her, or Be’atta or Kaven, who though not technically Marines, were just as skilled, if not more so.

“Have you tried contacting the Commander?” Be’atta asked, sitting in a chair, keeping her friend company.

“No. The Commander has his own work. He shouldn’t need to come to save me when I’m living in the center of a couple hundred trained soldiers. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.”

“Victoria, I have to be honest. Jason seems very sincere in his love for you. I know it’s not true, but some people around here believe he’s a good guy.”

“Be’atta, no!” she looked up from the microscope and turned to her friend. “Don’t believe it. That man tried to kill me. He’s trying to make me look like I’m insane or something…that he’s the good guy, the victim. He’s evil, Be’atta, pure evil.”

“I believe you; I just wanted you to know that despite what you told me, his deception is so good that I want to believe him. Vince is still trying to find a way to ship him back to Earth without him exposing this secret little expedition to your planet. He says someone higher up is pulling the strings down there and won’t let him ‘fire’ Jason. You’re right, Jason has connections.”

“Leave it to him and his family to have all the angles covered,” Victoria sighed.

September 2, 2115

As the lights came up in the city on Monday morning, Victoria got herself out of bed and after a quick shower and light breakfast, she headed down to the lab. It was early, so her assigned guard hadn’t arrived at the infirmary yet.

“Hey honey.”

Chills ran up Victoria’s spine as she looked up to see her husband sitting at one of the workstations across the room. “What are you doing here, Jason? This isn’t your department. You don’t have clearance to be in here.”

“I wanted to see my wife who’s been avoiding me.”

“Perhaps because it’s because you’re trying to kill your wife,” she replied as she quickly headed towards her own workstation.

“Vicki, I’m not here to hurt you. I just want my wife back.”

“My name is Victoria,” she said as she sat at her station, her hand next to the emergency alarm that each station was equipped with. Bringing in Gyhan for treatment, and not knowing which were allies and which were part of the rebellion, alarms were put at all of the workstations just in case.

“I’m sorry, Victoria. I’ll leave you to your work,” he said and left the lab.

With a sigh of relief, she went over her notes and began her rounds. As nurses and technicians made their way in, she felt more at ease, but it wasn’t until Becket arrived that she felt safe.

“He was in here this morning,” she said after handing Becket a cup of tea.

“Any staff? Your guard?”

“No. I was early so the guard wasn’t here. I sent the one who stands post outside my door home, I didn’t think I needed him to escort me at 5:30 in the morning. Becket, I want to go off-world. I don’t want to be anywhere near Jason. They haven’t given him bridge access, he couldn’t follow me.”

“I’ve already talked to Vince about it, but with the Gyhan attacks, he said no. He can’t afford you getting shot out there. Plus the Commander told us he’d be by this week, right? He said the first of September.” He sighed as he set his cup down. “If you’re really upset and don’t want to wait until the Commander arrives, perhaps Vince would let you go to Elgolia.”

Victoria shook her head, “No. I’m just too nervous. I can wait a few more days for the Commander to arrive.”

September 16, 2115

It ended up being nearly two weeks before the Supreme Commander arrived. While Victoria did her best to hide her fear, she was often skittish when a door opened, while she was alone, or nearly alone,  basically she was terrified unless there was an armed guard with her. And after Jason showed up in the research lab unexpectedly, that was no longer a safe zone for her. When the Supreme Commander finally arrived on September 16, Victoria could hardly keep herself from running to him and giving him a big hug, it was such a relief to her that he was there.

“Forgive me for the delay. We have had some…issues that needed tending to.” The Supreme Commander paused in his stride. “I thought the research laboratory was to the right,” he said when Victoria took the left corridor.

“Yes, but I must speak with you privately first.”

“Very well, Victoria.”

It was then that Jason came face to face with his first Rayth. He was about to say something to Victoria when his eyes went from her to the man at her right. The very tall, very powerful imposing figure.

“You’re one of those Rayth,” Jason said. “Vicki, what’s he doing here?”

Victoria quickly stepped behind the Supreme Commander who let out one of his deep snarls, sensing her fear of the man. “He’s the Supreme Commander of the Raythian Army,” Victoria said. “Go away.”

“You truly have lost your mind. Since when did we start conspiring with the enemy?” Jason asked as Victoria continued around the other side of the Commander inching her way towards her quarters.

The Commander turned back to Jason and with a glare that would frighten a stone wall, Jason backed off. Jason stood in shock as the Commander and Victoria continued to her chambers. Once they were both inside, Victoria used the wall control panel to shut and lock the door before she sank onto her bed and began shaking. The Commander sat next to her and tentatively wrapped a strong arm around her.

“What is wrong, Victoria Carson?”

“That man, Jason, is my husband,” she said then began to weep.

“You did not say you were wed,” the Commander said.

“I wish I wasn’t,” she said then she told him the story of her past with Jason. “I haven’t felt safe since he arrived. I’m so glad you’re here.”

“I am afraid that I cannot stay long. I would offer you refuge on my ship, but…it is not exactly safe for humans. Unless you happen to be one’s mate…wife.”

“I can’t go now anyway,” she said, calming with each moment he was near her. “We’ve come across an epidemic. Becket and I are trying to find a cure. I can’t let him do this on his own.”

“Where is this epidemic?”

“Farvosk,” she replied, “in the village of Ga’ton. She then went on to explain the symptoms, more to stop thinking about Jason than anything.”

“We, too, have encountered this in another village on the same planet. So far, we have not found a cure either.”

“You’re trying to help them, too?”

“This infection not only kills half of the people it infects,” the Commander said, “those that live, we cannot feed upon. It will kill us. This is the fifth planet where we have encountered a poisoned food supply.”

“Do you think the Gyhan are behind this? Poisoning the humans in hopes of killing you when you feed?”

“I believe so, but I do not have proof. I shall look at your research. Again, I am afraid that I can only stay a couple of days.”

Victoria nodded. “Then we should get to work.”

“I will find some way to provide protection for you before I leave.”

“Thank you. I’ve been a nervous wreck since he showed up.”

“You do not trust your military to protect you?” he asked as he stood.

“I trust them. It’s just that I feel safer when you’re around.”

He gave her a slight bow then they went to the medical research lab where Becket was already working. “Ah, good to see you,” he said as they entered. “Has Victoria talked to you about her husband?”

“She has. It also appears that this epidemic is a common foe. May I see what you have found?”

As the trio worked, Becket and Victoria took turns tending to rounds, checking on their patients.

“Victoria,” Col. Hagen said as he caught up with her in the hallway later that day, “I heard the Commander is back.”

“He is. How are you feeling?”

“Better. Should be back on active duty in a week. I hope. Is the Commander in the lab? I owe him an apology. A big one.”

“He is. I’m headed back there after I pick up some items from med-storage.”

“Want a hand?”

“Sure,” she said.

Victoria had just entered the secured storage area when she heard the crack and thud. She turned to see John slumped on the floor with Jason standing over him, gun in hand. “Come on, Vicki, we have things to discuss.”

“Jason, don’t do this.”

“I spent a fortune to get here, and I don’t intend on leaving without you.” His plan was to take her to the control room and force her to use the bridge to get back to Earth, but that didn’t happen. As they made their way through back corridors so as not to be seen, guards found Col. Hagen out cold, and sounded the alarm. The only area Jason could think of to take her to was the astrophysics lab, and with the staff out to lunch, the room was empty.

With a few keystrokes at his workstation, the doors slid shut and went into emergency lockdown. Jason had made sure he knew how to do that in case he needed to buy time.

“Jason, you know you’re ruining any chance you have to returning to Earth, let alone keeping yourself out of prison. Not even your family can get you out of this one,” Victoria said. “They won’t let you out now. John’s second in command here. You’re out of your mind if you think General Cavanaugh will let you go.”

Jason sneered, “I guess I’ll have to settle for finding a nice quiet little village for us in this big galaxy. You know some codes, don’t you dear? I’m sure you do.”

“I won’t go. Might as well shoot me now. I refuse to help you in any way, shape, or form!”

The butt of the gun came down across her nose, the blow knocking her out against the wall.

***

“I’m pretty sure it was Jason McGuire,” John said to Vince, Becket, and the Supreme Commander, while Becket checked the head injury, “that cologne of his is awful.”

“Sirs,” Chris said as he ran into the research lab, “astrophysics has been put on lockdown.”

The Supreme Commander let out a growl then accessed the security cameras. Vince Cavanaugh raised an eyebrow, “And how did you know how to do that?” But he didn’t get a response because their attention was drawn to the astrophysics lab’s cameras showing Victoria being repeatedly punched and kicked. Her limp body was covered in blood. The Commander was already accessing the security codes, again causing Gen. Cavanaugh to question how he was able to do it.

John turned to Chris, “Get down there, blow the doors. Get her out of there.”

“Explosives will not work, Colonel Hagen, Major Chapman,” the Supreme Commander said as he typed away. “The Mythicans built the lockdown security measures so that the doors could not be ‘blown.’ I am attempting to override the code to get in.”

“I’ll get teams ready at both exits,” Chris said and ran out of the room, using his comlink to signal his men. Becket followed, getting his medical team ready to treat Victoria as soon as they could get to her.

Col. Hagen rubbed his aching head. “You should probably get Simon and his team working on this code too,” he said to Vince.

“Doing that now,” the general said and continued his conversation on the comlink.

Then suddenly the Supreme Commander left the room in a run.

“No, John. Let him go,” Vince said as the colonel attempted to run after him.

John watched the surveillance screens, both those in the corridors and in the astrophysics lab where Jason was ripping off Victoria’s clothes. “He’s gonna rape her,” John hissed. Vince had just looked over at him in time to see him whisper under his breath, “Hurry, Commander.”

Since the walls were glass, they could see the Supreme Commander as he ran up to the entrance alongside Chris, then shoved the sleeve of his jacket up a couple of inches and pressed something on his wrist. “Stay here, Major,” he said. “I will see to Victoria.”

Jason heard the double doors slide open and took a respite from beating Victoria so that he could shoot at the Commander. The Commander took every bullet, and despite slowing his progress, he made it to Jason.

“No, Commander!” Chris shouted, but the Supreme Commander ignored him as his right hand jabbed forth like a knife, clamping to Jason’s chest. “Let him go, Commander,” Chris ordered as his men readied their weapons, but Jason’s withered body slumped to the floor, a heap of ashen skin drawn tight over the bones.

Becket and his team rushed in to tend to Victoria. “Move aside,” the Commander growled then knelt beside Victoria. She coughed up more blood just as the Commander’s hand settled on her chest.

“She will need a transfusion when I am done healing her wounds. She has lost too much blood, I cannot fix that,” the Supreme Commander said.

Becket nodded to his team and they went to the infirmary to get things ready. “What about you?” he asked.

The Commander let out a typical huff and removed his hand from Victoria. “She can be moved now. Major Chapman, there is no need for the weapons. I surrender myself willingly.”

Instead of locking the Commander in the prison, Vince had him taken to the quarters he had assigned three months earlier after he released the Commander. Guards stayed at the door, but were told he could visit Victoria in the infirmary, but go nowhere else until cleared by the general.

***

“Listen, what he did was wrong,” Chris Chapman said as the command staff met in the conference room, “but we saw, we all saw, what Jason was doing to Victoria. She was nearly dead. He beat her, sliced her up, he was about to rape her. If the Commander hadn’t healed his own wounds by taking Jason’s energy, he couldn’t have saved Victoria. And Becket, as good as he is, wouldn’t have been able to.”

“Dr. McKenna?” Vince asked.

“The major is correct. She had lost too much blood. I only had a minute to check her, but,” he shook his head, “I saw enough to know she had suffered head trauma, probably broken ribs and internal damage, perhaps internal bleeding. We may have been able to save her, but…it would have been a long recovery. Her injuries were probably severe enough that you couldn’t justify keeping her on staff. I’m not sure how much head trauma there was and if it caused any brain damage. In any case, you’d have to send her back to Earth, and I know she didn’t want to go back, not with his family there.”

“So should we just let the Supreme Commander go?” Vince asked. “I still want to know how he was able to get into our system so quickly. The computer used to fix the virus was not connected to any of our other coding, unless Simon messed up, and I highly doubt he did. The research computers he’s been using with Dr. McKenna’s team have also been isolated, so he could not have gotten into the system from his previous use of our computers. Yet he got into the system in seconds.”

“Sir,” Simon spoke up, “he fixed our code in one night. I hate to admit when someone is better than me, but he is. One night. I’d been working on it for over a month.”

“Could he have stolen any technology from us?” Vince asked.

“For what purpose?” Simon spoke up, “If he did, he obviously hasn’t used anything against us. Listen, the guy scares the crap out of me, but he hasn’t harmed any of us.”

“Tell that to Jason McGuire,” Vince said dryly. “I know, I know. Jason was a scumbag, but he should be allowed to rot in a cell and suffer for what he did to Victoria. He should have had to stand trial and all of his misdeeds, and those of his family, brought out into the open. The Supreme Commander took it upon himself to be judge, jury, and executioner.”

“Vince,” Becket spoke up, “the Commander took twenty-five bullets that were intended for Chris, his team, and my team. He saved a lot of lives by taking those bullets. I don’t like what he did to Jason, I agree that Jason should have stood trial and rot in a cell, but the Commander did put his life on the line for us.”

“John, you’ve been pretty quiet. Do you have a strong view one way or another?” Vince asked.

“You know I have issues with the Commander, but Becket’s right. Chris, Victoria, Doc, and who knows how many more would be dead if the Commander hadn’t taken those shots. Let him go.”

“Anyone in this group object to this decision?”

No one objected. “Very well. Colonel, have your men stand down. I’ll go and talk to the Commander.”

***

A few minutes later, Vince entered the Commander’s quarters. “I’m sorry to have detained you, but I needed to discuss things with my command staff. We appreciate what you did. You saved a number of lives today. But you should have backed off of Dr. McGuire when Major Chapman ordered you to.”

“Victoria would be dead if I had done as the major ordered.”

“Yes. I understand that, and it is precisely for that reason that we’re releasing you.”

“General Cavanaugh, just so that we are clear,” he said as he stood, towering over Vince, who was, by no means, a small man, “I was never your prisoner. Do not think that you will ever truly capture me, detain me, or imprison me without my consent.” With a tap of a button on his wrist, he disappeared.

Several minutes later he reappeared in the bridge portal control room and made his way, unhindered, to the infirmary.

“Went back to his ship to feed,” Becket said to Vince as they observed the Commander sitting by Victoria’s side. “He doesn’t look weakened anymore.”

“He didn’t before he left. His ability to regenerate must be extraordinary.” Vince shook off the thought. “Did I do the right thing by letting him go? Am I doing the right thing by letting him have free access to come and go from the city as he pleases?”

“I think he’s proven that we can’t really imprison him. Besides, I can’t explain it, but I think that the Rayth in there is going to be our best ally. We can’t let him have his run of things, but considering both times we thought we had him in captivity, he could have easily left. And besides, he’s got the technology to teleport in and out at will.”

Vince sighed. “So I’ve realized. Why do you think he’s so fond of Victoria?”

“Besides the obvious,” Becket smiled, “I have no idea.”

“A Rayth and a human?”

“From what he’s said, Rayth have taken human mates. I told you that I think they were once fully human.”

“I still don’t understand all of that.”

“Something happened, a virus, genetic engineering, an accident, or evolution, I don’t know, but I believe they were once human—completely human. I won’t know for sure until we’re able to get more information. I think he knows that, too.”

Vince gave the doctor a pat on the back, “I need to tend to other business. When your team is done analyzing Jason’s remains, get it ready for transport back to Earth.”

Becket nodded then went to check on Victoria and the few other patients in the infirmary. He gave the Commander a nod as he checked the readouts of the machines connected to Victoria.

“You care for her, more than your other patients,” the Commander stated as Becket checked her heart and lungs. “She cares deeply for you, as well.”

“We came here from Earth together. The first few months were difficult. Spent a lot of long days and nights together trying to help people attacked by the Gyhan and Rayth.” He stopped and looked into the Commander’s eyes, “No offense.”

“None taken. But you must realize that we must feed. It is not an option any more than breathing.”

“I’ve come to understand that,” Becket said. “And I hope to learn more.”

“With Jason McGuire dead, do you intend on pursuing Victoria as a mate?”

“In a heartbeat, but she doesn’t want that. Why?”

“She needs someone she can trust. Her mind is very…she is very scared.”

“You’re reading her mind? I don’t approve of…”

“I tried to link with her while Jason was attacking her. I wanted to reassure her that we were attempting to help her. It was then, and only then, Dr. McKenna, that I have made contact with her mind.”

Becket walked around the bed and adjusted one of the IV’s. “Sorry. I should know better. Take care of her,” he said then left to check on his other patients.

“Dr. McKenna, thank you for being her friend.”

Becket stopped and turned back to the Rayth, “And thank you for the same. She needs you, Commander, more than she needs me.”

September 13, 2115

When Victoria woke the following morning, the Supreme Commander was still sitting by her bed, working on a computer tablet that Becket given him so that he could continue his research.

He turned to her and gave her a nod. “Many people have been worried about you. Dr. McKenna has not slept.”

Victoria groaned as her hand went to her head. “What happened? I don’t remember much other than fists coming at me.”

“Good morning, love,” Becket said as he walked up to her. “Just rest. We can fill in details later. Got some painkillers for you.” He handed her the small cup of pills and a glass of water. “The Commander saved you. Again,” he smiled.

“Jason?” she asked.

“Won’t bother you again,” Becket said. “Now rest. That’s an order. You lost a lot of blood and apparently not even the Commander’s talent can’t fix that.”

“What happened to Jason? Tell me.”

“I fed on him,” the Command said, matter-of-factly. “He is dead.”

Victoria’s hand reached out and grabbed Becket’s. She squeezed it hard as she began crying. The crying turned to sobs and gasps as she rolled onto her side, her back to the Commander. The Supreme Commander stood and left. Becket knew he took Victoria’s response as a rejection of what he had done to Jason, perhaps even of himself.

“He had to,” he said to Victoria. “If he hadn’t, you’d be dead. You were too far gone for me to help.” She continued to sob as Becket held her tightly. “It’s over now, Victoria. Your nightmare is over.”

The sedative that was included in the pills he gave her finally kicked in and she calmed and was soon asleep. Becket gently rested her back onto the bed, covering her with the blankets, then finished his rounds before going in search of the Supreme Commander. He found him in the research lab.

“She’s not upset with what you did,” Becket said. “I think it’s just a reaction to finally being released from the prison Jason’s kept her in all these years.”

“I do not require an explanation.”

Becket watched the Commander as he walked over to the station he was using. A tear crept down the Rayth’s cheek. “Don’t leave without talking with her. I know your time with us is limited this trip, but I also know that what I said is true. She’s not mad at you.” Becket put his hand on the Commander’s shoulder, “Go back and stay by her side.”

The Commander continued his work on the computer as Becket left. That afternoon as Becket made his rounds, he saw that the Commander had returned to Victoria’s bedside, and working away on his tablet while she slept.

It was late in the afternoon when Victoria woke, she looked at the Commander then reached out for his hand. He lifted his chin and took her hand. “Are you feeling better?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said as she squeezed his hand, “thank you. How’s research on the epidemic coming?”

“It appears as if you and Becket have taken a different course of action from my team. I am further extrapolating out your idea. Very ingenious of you.”

She managed a smile, “It’s what they pay us for.”

“I am sorry I upset you by taking the life of your husband.”

“That’s not…” she sighed. “Commander, I’m not upset with you for anything. Jason had it coming. I’m not proud of the fact that I wanted him dead. But the things he did to me…the beatings, the rapes, the torture…” Tears began to flow again and the Rayth gently wiped them away.

“It is over, Victoria Carson. He will never harm you again.” The following afternoon, the Supreme Commander left Terra 2, but promised to return in another two weeks.

 

 

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