E:A Vol 8 Ch 11: June 27, 2121

June 27, 2121

After a week of discussions regarding Parker Williams, Zy’nayth decided to move his family to his island home on Kiva, the Raythian homeworld. John’s team had other duties to tend to, from clearing out debris and rebuilding interior rooms of the city-ship due the rebel Rayth attack, to procuring livestock and other foods from Gren, an agricultural planet with which they’d been trading. Then of course, were their regular missions visiting other worlds, negotiating trade agreements, offering help where they could, or making first contact, though this latter item was low on the priority list at the current moment. Those duties kept John and other members of the Alpha Team from having time to talk with Parker to try and gather more information and, more importantly, get him to the infirmary where Becket could run scans and draw blood to check his DNA.

So at the end of the first week, when John told Zy’nayth that he hadn’t had a chance to follow up with Parker due to his duties, namely reconnecting with other worlds to let them know why they had been absent for almost a year, Zy’nayth had three options: wait it out, entrust befriending Parker to someone outside of his trusted circle of friends, or move his family since Victoria was getting more and more nervous as each day passed. He opted to move his family. The Parker Williams case was far too sensitive, for he and his wife, to pass on to anyone outside of his inner circle.

Zy’nayth told John to continue to pursue their chosen course of action when time allowed, but until he knew for certain, one way or the other, about Parker Williams, the High Chancellor needed his wife in a safe location, one that Parker Williams, or Jason McGuire, if that was who he was, could not get to. That location was on Kiva.

“I’ve missed this place,” Victoria said as they hauled groceries into the wooden, two story, circular home. From the outside, it looked like a squat silo, but the intricate details of moldings around the windows and doors, as well as the designs inlaid in the wood itself were so elegant, it gave one the feeling that it was a place built with consideration and love.

Baxter and Celeste, the twins’ two Jack Russell Terriers, darted off as soon as they entered, getting reacquainted the house. Ky’nayth and Mik’kenna took their bags to their room. They were a little disappointed to be leaving Terra 2, but their father told them that he was worried about their mother’s safety. Plus, he wanted to spend more time on Kiva to work with his Council on several projects he had on his mind. With the time difference between Terra 2 and Kiva, he was either cutting time with his family or being on-site at the chancellery. Now that wouldn’t be an issue.

Victoria and Zy’nayth were putting the food away when the doorbell chimed. Baxter and Celeste went running to the door, barking, tails wagging.

“Come in. We are in the kitchen,” Zy’nayth sent telepathically to Ny’van who was expected. The Vice Chancellor walked in with Vin’toz, his puppy, who immediately pounced on Baxter. The dogs yapped and began to play. Then little Boots came bounding in with Janice. He was still quite the curious sort, so Janice had to keep him leashed as they walked across the courtyard of the village from the bridge portal to Zy’nayth’s home.

“Hope you don’t mind me tagging along,” Janice said.

“Not at all,” Zy’nayth replied. “Ky’nayth, can you make sure the dogs have food and water?”

“Kay,” the boy said.

“Mik’kenna, dear, please help Vin’toz and Boots find the way out if they need to do business.”

She nodded, and with Baxter and Celeste’s help, she showed the puppies the doggie door that had been put in the backdoor. It led to the fenced-in backyard and garden, which was now mostly weeds due to the little time the family was on the island.

“Okay, everything’s put away,” Victoria said as she walked into the living room then sighed looking at their suitcases. “Groceries, anyway.”

Ny’van and Janice had come to escort Zy’nayth and his family to visit Inv’al, Ny’van’s dying son. Though In’val looked worse every time they saw him, he was in good spirits and enjoyed hearing about Ky’nayth and Mik’kenna’s adventures. Sha’na, his wife, did as well, noting how advanced both kids were, even for Rayth. They were still very much children who liked to explore and go on adventures, but their understanding of concepts was vast, their knowledge deep, and they were very quick learners. She knew of Zy’nayth’s photographic memory and wondered if his children had inherited that as well.

June 30, 2121

“Mommy, I has problem,” Mik’kenna said, walking into the backyard. They’d been on the island for three days, the first of which was spent visiting In’val and Sh’ana. The second getting reacquainted with the neighbors. Now Victoria was busy pulling weeds out of her garden after she and Ky’nayth trimmed the lawn.

“What’s wrong, sweetie?” she asked, then took a sip of her iced tea.

“No telescope. Can’t work. I in middle of ‘sploring stuff around new planet and no telescope. I no know what to do now.”

“Well, maybe you can go through your files and plan out the next areas you want to study. When Daddy gets home tonight, we can figure out what we can do.”

“Kay. Can I go Uncle Ny’van’s? He might has telescope.”

“I believe he is at work with your father.”

“Oh, yeah. You want help with garden?”

“Don’t you want to figure out what areas you want to explore next?”

“I already know. I made list long time ago.”

Victoria chuckled. “Okay, you can help your brother with his section. I think he and Baxter are busy digging holes.”

“I pulling weeds!” Ky’nayth exclaimed. “Baxter trying to bury everything!”

Celeste trotted over and saw her brother digging holes and decided it looked like fun and joined in. “Mommy!” Ky’nayth exclaimed.

“It’s okay,” Victoria laughed, “just keep pulling the weeds out and piling them up. The dogs are enjoying themselves and there’s nothing for them to ruin except the weeds which is fine with me. Besides, I think they’re natural diggers. Bred to dig for their prey. And really,” she said taking a sip of her iced tea, “it beats me having to turn the soil.”

July 18, 2121

A little more than three weeks after Zy’nayth had moved his family to Kiva, Col. John Hagen managed to run into Parker Williams on his way to the mess hall. “Join me for lunch?” he asked the younger man.

“Sure,” Parker replied with a shrug.

They got their food and sat at a table. “Listen, I know I’m not the most observant guy, unless it’s work related,” John said, “and I apologize, but Parker, we had you listed as being lost in the attack. What happened?”

Parker sighed. “Don’t remember much. I remember the attack, or part of it. I was on the mainland. Next thing I remember is waking up and everything’s been pretty well destroyed, and the city-ship was gone.”

“Wow, that would be quite a shock. Were you injured? You seem physically fine…what’d you do?”

“I had bumps and bruises. Nothing major, thankfully. Some of the farm wasn’t too damaged, so I had plenty of food.”

“So you survived by yourself for what, three months on your own? Pretty impressive. Though I guess having food from the farm made it a bit easier. Still, you must have been elated when the city-ship came back.”

“I was terrified, actually. I didn’t know if you were you or if they’d captured the ship. So, I laid low. Colonel, I just didn’t trust anyone. I saw Doc Wells and his team, I mean they were here before the ship doing some work cleaning up, I guess, but…I was afraid. Were these guys traitors and when the ship returned…I still couldn’t believe you were back. It took me quite a while to convince myself it was safe to come back. Only came back about two months ago.”

“Well I’m glad you’re back. Have you thought about talking with Doc Maison? You know, help you deal with the trauma? Or maybe Pastor Jacob.”

“Nah. I’ll be fine. Just settling back in. Being around everyone again helps.”

“Good, good. But keep them in mind. They’re very good at what they do, though from different perspectives. So, anything I can fill you in on? I’m sure Clark has gotten you up to date,” he said, speaking of the head of the maintenance staff.

“Not really. I mean nothing that you can update me on. Kinda excited about that other facility.”

“We all are,” John smiled. “New toys. Becket especially. Some of the med equipment has him drooling.”

Parker laughed, “I can imagine.”

“Oh hey, he’s gonna want to do a physical on you. Get your records up to date and such. Or have you stopped in there already?”

“No, sir. Haven’t.”

“Well, he’s busy getting things set up in the new facility this week, but if you want to be a test subject, he could try out one of those new scanners on you. Well, I’d have to ask him. He might be too busy until things settle.”

“I hate getting my physical.”

John grimaced, “We all do. But you know how he is. Soon as he finds out you’re alive and well, he’ll want to make sure it’s scientifically proven. Probably run every test known to man on you.”

“Should I just stop in the infirmary?” Parker sighed.

“You can, or I can see about getting you under one of the new scanners in the new facility. Be the first.”

“Doesn’t matter to me, though I’d love to get a peek at that new place.”

“I’m having dinner with Becket and Lia tonight, so I’ll set up something for you then. Now, mind you, it might not happen this week. I have no idea what he’s got to do.”

“No problem. Like I said, not exactly my favorite thing.”

Again John laughed. “Okay. I’ll give you a call in the morning. What time are you usually up?”

“Up by six. I’m at work by seven.”

“I’ll call you before 7:00. So, is there anything I can do for you? I want to help out in any way I can.”

“Nah. I’ll be okay. I appreciate you taking time out to have lunch with me.”

“I do try to keep in touch with everyone. Not easy with as big as our staff’s gotten, but I want everyone to know I’m here for them.”

“It’s appreciated.”

John’s comlink buzzed and he answered it. “Duty calls,” he said to Parker, “gotta go. Listen, you need anything, you let me know. I can’t imagine what you’ve been through, and I really want to help you get back on your feet and into the swing of things. Call any time, day or night.”

***

“If it wasn’t for Zy’s gut feeling,” John said to Becket and Amelia over dinner, “I’d say he was telling the truth. He had an answer for everything. Hesitant in the right spots. Tensed up when talking about the attack and seeing our ship and not being sure if it was us or the rebel Rayth.”

“Zy might be wrong,” Amelia said. “I know it’s not the norm, but it’s possible.”

“But he has had eight, nine months to come up with a good story and rehearse it,” John said. “And if it is Jason, he has to keep his cool if he wants to get to Victoria, because to get to her, he has to go through all of us and the big guy. He knows it won’t be easy. He needs us to trust him.”

“I’ve got it!” Becket said.

“Got what?” Lia asked.

“The connection between Zy’s brother and Jason. Zy’s brother wanted him hurt. Jason taking Victoria away would do that. Whether he kidnapped her or killed her, it would hurt Zy more than anything, except maybe hurting the kids.”

“And since he was monitoring Zy, he probably found out about Jason through someone on Zy’s ship. Remember, he did find traitors on board the flagship,” John said.

“Forgot about that, but now it makes sense. I bet that’s what happened.”

“I’ll call Zy after I get out of here and fill him in. When can you give Parker his physical? I was thinking Friday since I told him you were in the middle of a move. That’ll keep up an appearance that we’re not in too much of a hurry to get this done.”

“What if he runs?” Amelia asked.

“Don’t think he will. If that is Jason, he wants Victoria and revenge. I don’t think he’ll bolt now that he’s made a reappearance,” John said. “That said, I really don’t want to put this off.”

“But you told him probably not this week,” Becket said, “today’s Friday, so next Friday might be a bit soon. I am busy, that wasn’t a lie. How about Wednesday? The 30th? That’ll give me time to settle my nerves. I don’t know how I’m going to pull this off. I really don’t lie well.”

“Zy will push for it to be done sooner.” John shook his head. “But you’re right. You have to get things moved and if we push it ahead, it could raise suspicions. I don’t want you caught in the middle. Okay, I’ll tell him the 30th unless Zy intervenes after I call him tonight. I might see if Parker wants me to join him, you know, moral support for the guy who’s spent months living on the mainland terrified of Rayth.”

“That would be great, but don’t push it. We don’t want to scare him off.”

“Don’t worry. It’ll be optional.”

***

As John left Becket and Amelia’s chambers, he tapped his comlink to talk to Zy’nayth. “Think I can drop by the island? I have something I need to talk to you about.”

“You can drop by the island, but I am in our chambers on the city-ship. We came over for Maressa’s first birthday party on Sunday.”

“Oh, right. Okay, on my way up. And uh, it’s about that pet project of mine, so we might want to meet privately so we don’t upset…”

“Yes. I will handle that,” Zy’nayth said. He walked into the kitchen where the kids and Victoria were putting away the few groceries they’d need for their short stay. “John is coming up to discuss some business. Could I get some iced tea to take to my study? I am not sure how long this will take.”

Victoria took a pitcher and a couple of glasses to Zy’nayth’s study just as John arrived. He gave the kids hugs and kisses, having missed seeing them on a regular basis. They were always there on Sunday mornings for Pastor Jacob’s service, but it was usually a short visit. Then he greeted the dogs with scratches behind their ears. “Good to see both of you, too,” he said then stood up. “Okay, big guy, where we headed?”

“My study,” Zy’nayth said.

John explained his lunch with Parker, Zy’nayth wanting every detail and as close to Parker’s answers as John could supply. Then he told him about Becket’s theory regarding a possible connection between Zy’nayth brother, Koh’vash, and Jason McGuire. And finally, the date of Parker’s physical. It was an hour-long discussion, much of which Zy’nayth spent thinking about how to tell Victoria what was said and deciding if it was worth the wait until the 30th to get the DNA needed to determine who Parker really was.

“So,” John said, “you’re okay with the 30th?”

Zy’nayth nodded. “Yes. I agree that it may raise suspicions if you attempt to get him in sooner. Combine that with me moving my family to Kiva and he has enough to believe we are onto his deception. I would rather have everything decided now, regarding who he is, but it is prudent not to push him into hiding. So, yes, the 30th will do.”

“Okay. I’ll confirm a time with Becket and let Parker know in the morning. You going to tell her?”

“Yes. I have to.” Zy’nayth thanked him for the information then saw him to the door after John gave the twins and dogs more attention.

After the kids were prayed with and tucked in, Victoria and Zy’nayth retired to their room. They changed into their pajamas then climbed into bed. “Becket has come up with a connection between Jason and Koh’vash,” Zy’nayth said as he settled next to his wife. “If, indeed, Parker is Jason.” Then he told her what he’d learned.

She seemed to take it well enough, but she snuggled closer to her warrior husband.

“Zy, if that is Jason…are we married?” she suddenly asked. “Are we living in sin if my first husband is still alive?”

“We both believed Jason was dead, and remember, we do not yet know if that is truly Jason. We can talk with Pastor Jacob if it turns out that it is Jason, but I do not think God is going to punish us from marrying when we truly thought your spouse was dead. But let us not worry about this until we know one way or another about Parker.”

Victoria nodded. “I’m more worried about the kids.”

“You are my wife. They are our children. Even if that is Jason, you are my wife. And if Pastor Jacob says we cannot live as man and wife, we will not break our family up. I will stay in the guestroom. We will be a family.” He smiled and kissed her forehead, “And I can keep you young, and Jason will grow old and die, then we can be husband and wife again. I love you, Victoria.”

She smiled into his silver eyes, “And I love you more and more each and every day. You are the best husband a woman could want, and you are an amazing father. Thank you for giving me this life.”

But Zy’nayth knew if it was Jason, he wasn’t sure how he would handle it. Killing him would be simple but it would weigh on his conscience. Before, Jason had brutally beaten Victoria and was attempting to rape her near-lifeless body. Plus, he had shot at Zy’nayth, nearly two dozen times. Not the kind of thing any person takes lying down. Back then, he was not a Christian. He didn’t care if the man lived or died. His only thought then was to save Victoria. If Parker turned out to be Jason, he really wasn’t sure what he would do. His first instinct was to kill him. That scared him.

July 19, 2121

Maressa’s first birthday party was a day early so that the entire family could attend. Balloons and streamers filled Zy’nayth and Victoria’s living room. It was a surprise party so Chris had asked Victoria if they could have it at her place, one because it would have been hard to decorate his own place with the guest of honor running around and two, it was large enough to hold their entire family comfortably. So that morning, Victoria, Zy’nayth, the twins, Janice, and Amelia got the decorations up.

Chef Nihru, a pastry chef, had made a two-tiered chocolate cake with all kinds of fund designs for the little girl’s first birthday. Piles of presents were placed in the center of the living room. Maressa wasn’t really sure what was going on, but she had fun ripping paper off of the presents and, of course, consuming the tasty chocolate cake.

The next day, Chris took his family to Earth to celebrate with Alessa’s parents. They would return two days later with more clothes and toys for their little girl than what she needed.

July 30, 2121

“Welcome to our new little medical facility,” Becket said, showing Parker the rather large area in the newly discovered underground mainland facility. “Until we get the true medical facility in the city-ship dug out and fixed, we’ll be bouncing between our infirmary and this place.”

“Why not just move this tech stuff over to the infirmary you have now?” Parker asked.

“Thought about it, but we don’t really have room, and everything here is set up perfectly. I don’t want to mess that up. Okay, let’s get started with some old-fashioned stuff, just because that’s how I am. Gonna take your height, weight, BP, etc. Then we’ll get you on the scanner bed. This is Kia’myn, she’s the Chief Medical Officer on the Mythican ship. She’s here to make sure I don’t break the equipment. Not sure if you two have met.”

“No, we haven’t,” Parker said as Kia’myn shook his hand then stood aside as Becket, with Geoffrey as his assistant, began the physical. The basics were done but before they went to the scanner, Becket mentioned the flu that had spread earlier in the year.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a blood sample to see if you’re a carrier. And I just want to get a new baseline for things like cholesterol, sugar levels, liver enzymes, and such, since it’s been a while. Though Kia’myn tells me the scanner can handle most of it, this equipment hasn’t been used in ten thousand years, and I don’t want to have to make you come back and go through this all again.”

“No problem. Can we do the blood work now? I hate that part.”

Becket chuckled. “Sure. Geoffrey will take the blood while I make a few notes and get the scanner fired up.”

***

“How long until we know?” Zy’nayth asked when he got word from Becket that the blood samples had been taken without incident.

“Probably by morning. The sequence will take a few hours to get sorted out, then we have to match it with what we have in the database.”

“Call as soon as you find out. I do not care what time it is.”

“Will do. Give Victoria a hug for me.”

“I will. Thank you, Becket.”

July 31, 2121

Becket had the results as soon as he walked into the infirmary Thursday morning. He read the results then pulled up his notes on his tablet, looked over a few things to get his thoughts in order, then he called Zy’nayth. “I’d like to set up a video call. You, First Science, Vince, John.”

“Is it Jason?” Zy’nayth asked.

“I’m waiting for more data. It should be here in an hour or so and until I have that information, I’d rather not say one way or another.” Becket heard Zy’nayth sigh. “Sorry, Zy’nayth. But if I say the wrong thing, it would only complicate matters. You want me to be sure on this, don’t you?”

“Yes. Of course. I want Victoria on the call. She is already anxious. Noon your time?” Zy’nayth asked.

“That should be more than enough time.”

John and Vince were with Becket in Vince’s conference room. Ja’val was in his lab on the Raythian flagship. Zy’nayth had returned to the island and was in his study with Victoria when the call came through.

“Hi everyone,” Becket said. “I’ll tell you the most important thing first. Sorry it took a little longer, but I wanted to make sure. In any case, unless someone changed his records on Earth from his birth, the man is not Jason McGuire.”

“Not Jason?” Victoria asked, making sure she heard him correctly.

“It’s not Jason,” Becket repeated. Victoria breathed a sigh of relief.

“Ja’val, can you see if those records were tampered with?” Zy’nayth asked.

“Already on it,” he replied, typing away at his holographic keyboard, eyes on a second monitor.

“If he’s not Jason McGuire, who is he?” Vince asked.

“Let me first say that he’s had extensive alteration surgery on his face. He didn’t look like the man we see now. Kia’myn was there when I did the scan, obviously since it was, more or less, my first time using it for a real purpose. She told me after Parker left that Mythicans and probably Rayth as well, would not do such a sloppy job. So I’m led to believe the surgery was done on Earth or by less than reputable Rayth.”

“Plastic surgery?” Vince asked. “You’re talking plastic surgery, right?”

“Yes, sir. Kia’myn pointed out things with the tissue, not what we can see on the outside, but what is underneath. Apparently, this can be done so skillfully that basically you’d never see it even on those Mythican scanners unless you were looking for specific details that would identify alteration surgery had been done.”

“That is true. We generally do not perform such procedures anyway. A waste of time,” Zy’nayth said with a wave of his hand. “Who is he?”

“Dolan McGuire,” Becket said, “a cousin of Jason’s.”

Victoria sat back in her seat and took a deep breath.

“What do you know about Dolan?” Zy’nayth turned to his wife.

Victoria shook her head, “Not a lot. Grew up in the same city as Jason and his family, but their fathers hated each other. Jason’s dad was rich and successful, Dolan’s wasn’t.”

“Did Jason and Dolan get along?” John asked.

“Not really. Jason thought very little of him because he wasn’t rich, didn’t have power, all that garbage. He never talked about him much, only at the holidays when we had to go to their big family get together. That’s when he’d say things like Dolan wasn’t worthy to have the McGuire name, and so on.”

“Would Jason bring him here to Terra 2? We know Jason bought his own way here, but would he pay for someone he didn’t like to come?” John said.

“Stop right there. Let’s end this call now,” Vince said. “I’m not comfortable with this going out over the airwaves. High Chancellor, when are you able to meet in person?”

“We can bridge over at 2:00 your time.”

“What about the Mythicans?” John asked. “Bring them in. Might have information on this surgery or something.”

“Not at this point. Let us keep it to our smaller circle,” Zy’nayth said. “Those of us on the call, Kaven, Be’atta, the First Commander, and Christopher.”

“I’ll set it up,” John said.

“I will alert my First Commander,” Zy’nayth said, “Science, would you see if Lutia can watch the children while we meet?”

“Will do,” Ja’val replied.

“Victoria,” John said, “hang in there. It’s not Jason. That’s good.”

“Yeah,” she said, holding back her tears. “See you in a couple hours.”

The call ended and Victoria wrapped herself into her husband’s arms. “I’m not sure what to feel. I’m thankful it’s not Jason, but now I’m full of more questions.”

“As am I. On the positive side,” he smiled down into her green eyes, “we do not have to worry about our marriage since it is not Jason. I did not like the prospect of sleeping in a separate room.”

Victoria managed to chuckle. “I love you, Zy.”

He kissed her forehead. “And I am very much in love with you. Are you going to be all right while I head back to the office?”

“Yeah. Kids and I are planting more flowers. I’ll be okay.”

“Remember, it is not Jason. And we will find out what Dolan is up to.”

She nodded and let out a sigh of relief. “God, I am so thankful it’s not him.”

Zy’nayth gave her a tender kiss and wiped away her tears. “Are you sure you are okay with me leaving for a couple of hours?”

She nodded, “Just getting this out of my system. I’m okay. Go.”

“Call me if you need me to return.”

“I’ll be fine. Go,” she smiled. Zy’nayth gave her another kiss then headed back to his office.

Victoria walked out into her backyard where Ky’nayth and Mik’kenna were busy replanting the potato starters the dogs dug up.

“They no stop digging them up,” Mik’kenna said, exasperated. “We has to have dig things for them to do so they leave taytoes alone.”

Victoria laughed, “They probably think it’s a game.”

“I tell them no,” Ky’nayth said, “but they no stop!”

Victoria sat down and dug a hole with her hand, dropped a starter in it, and covered it back up. She continued and neither dog attempted to dig hers up. She did it again, and again the dogs left hers alone. “Yeah, they think you’re playing with them,” she said. “Why don’t you two just dig the holes? I’ll plant the potatoes.”

The kids dug the holes and the dogs helped, completely ignoring the potatoes Victoria planted. Instead, they got their little paws in with the kids’ hands to help dig.

“See,” Victoria smiled, “going much faster now.”

“They silly puppies,” Ky’nayth said as they finished the last little row for the potatoes.

“I think we need more taytoe plants,” Mik’kenna said.

“Honey, half the garden is potatoes,” Victoria said. “We didn’t need two more rows of them as it is. Remember we need other veggies and fruit. We’re doing this to help people on the island. I’m sure not all of them love potatoes as much as you do.”

“They should,” she replied with her dirty hands on her hips. “Best veggie. You can fry and bake and roast and stuff them and they good with everything!”

“They are. Now, where are the flower plants?”

“I get them,” Ky’nayth said.

An hour and a half later, they went to clean up. Zy’nayth arrived on time then they headed to Terra 2 after having a quick sandwich and chips. Baxter and Celeste stayed behind and napped after their hard day of work.

The couple headed up to the conference room after they bridged in while Lutia took the kids back to her chambers.

“So, I probably messed things up,” Becket said when they were all gathered. “But it’s my routine to follow up with the patient asap when I get test results. I told Parker, or Dolan, that the blood tests were fine. His cholesterol was slightly elevated. But I mentioned that the scans showed he’d had extensive surgery. Sorry, but I thought he might become suspicious if I didn’t say anything after telling him about how great that Mythican scanner was. I felt I had to mention it.”

“What was his reply?” Zy’nayth said.

“He said he’d been in a shuttle accident about ten years ago. Locked in a burning shuttle, barely made it out alive.”

“Is there any way to prove that?” John asked.

“I went back over his scans, and there has been some tissue damage, indicative of a trauma. Bones have been reset, which would happen after an accident like that. But whether or not the appearance alterations were due to the accident or fire, I can’t definitively ascertain. But there was some sort of trauma or accident.”

“Did he seem worried when you talked to him?” Vince asked.

“No. Had the answer right away, seemed pained from remembering the accident. But I’m not trained in body language. Could have been rehearsed.”

“It was right to ask,” Zy’nayth said, “he would have been suspicious if you had not mentioned anything. However, has he been scanned before? He may wonder why this is just now being brought up.”

“No previous scans,” Becket said, “except some done by a handheld which won’t pick up that kind of detail unless I was specifically looking for it.”

“My instinct is to bring him in for questioning, get his side of the story. Why is he here? What’s he up to?” Vince said.

“I suggest it is a small group to question him. John and Becket. Perhaps even Victoria since Becket will tell him we know who he is,” Kol’non suggested.

“Victoria, what do you think?” Vince asked. “John and Becket will make sure you’re not harmed, John will be armed, and we’ll have the meeting in a place where you feel comfortable, and where these warriors can rush in if needed.”

“I’m fine with that, but I don’t know what to ask? I’d just be flustered and nervous and probably scared.”

“I can handle the questioning,” John said, “and both of you can ask whatever you want. So, do we arrest him?” he looked at Vince.

“He has broken into our facility,” Kaven said.

“For now,” Vince said, “we’ll keep him under guard. I’d rather play nice and try and get the truth out of him than throw him in prison. John, you’ve talked to his super, right? What’s he got to say?”

“Clark was surprised when Parker showed up after all this time, but happy to have him back. Good worker, no complaints. For all intents and purposes, the kind of person we’d want on staff. Those were his words.”

“Does he have any idea that he might not be who he says he is?” Chris asked.

“No. Didn’t even suggest it. Just asked if he thought Parker was handling things well, considering what he’d gone through, asked how his work was, both prior and after his return. I talked to several co-workers as well, same answers. All like him, think he’s a hard worker, competent, happy he’s back and well. Everything matches up with the reviews on file.”

“Maybe he’s not a bad guy,” Becket said, “but, yes, I know, he’s here illegally. Victoria, when and where do you want to meet with him?”

“Sooner the better. I don’t want him running off on us.” She turned to her husband, “I’ll let you pick the place.”

“A guest suite on the same floor as our chambers,” Zy’nayth replied immediately. “It should be a bit more comfortable than an interrogation chamber.”

“Then John, if you’re ready, you may as well get him now,” Vince said. “Let’s get this thing done. Chris, Kaven, you’re on security detail. Get up there. Armed.”

“We’ll use the suite to the east of our chambers,” Zy’nayth said.

“Becket, Victoria, head on up,” John said.

Zy’nayth hugged his wife, “You will be safe. I will be right outside the door, as will our friends.”

She nodded then looked at Be’atta, “Can you see if Lutia will watch the kids a bit longer? I don’t want them on the same floor as this.”

“We’ll take care of them,” Be’atta replied. “And we’ll be praying.”

Ja’val took Victoria’s comlink and quickly did something. “We’ll hear everything,” he said as he handed it back.

***

Chris and Kaven stayed in Victoria and Zy’nayth’s chambers until they knew John and Dolan had entered the guest suite. They didn’t want Parker/Dolan alarmed any more than he would be by the suddenly-requested meeting.

When John and Parker/Dolan entered the suite, Becket and Victoria were already seated in the small gathering area. Parker/Dolan sighed and bowed his head but sat down.

“The blood test?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Becket said. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Parker/Dolan replied. “Doing your job.”

“You know why you’re here,” John said, “so want to start at the top? Tell us how you ended up on Terra 2, why, and what you and Jason were planning to do to Victoria.”

Parker/Dolan looked at Victoria, “I didn’t plan on hurting you. I didn’t know what he was planning. All I knew was what he told me: you ran away, were having an affair, and he wanted you back.”

“Why’d he confide in you? You two weren’t close,” Victoria asked.

“He said his family wouldn’t help. They said you weren’t worth it.”

“Did he pay for the plastic surgery?” Becket asked. “Because that was expensive work.”

Parker/Dolan shook his head, “The accident, the fire was real, Dr. McKenna. That is the real reason for the appearance change. Wiped out my savings.”

“I’ll want medical files,” John said, “just to make sure.”

Parker/Dolan nodded.

“So why’d he come to you?” John asked, “His family wouldn’t help. Why you? Out of all of his friends and cohorts, why pick someone who, according to Victoria, he probably hated?”

“That’s probably why. Like I said, all I knew was that he wanted her back. I had no idea he was trying to kidnap her…or worse. I guess I’d be the scapegoat. I honestly don’t know.”

Victoria nodded, “Sounds like Jason.”

“Why’d you agree to help? Same logic, you two didn’t get along, so why help him?”

“Turned him down. I thought he was nuts. He told me she was working for the government on some secret project on another planet. I thought he’d finally lost his mind. Then he starts showing me some files, proof, sort of. Anyway, I thought it’d be a good way out for me. My side of the family is the group of outcasts, and I’m the one furthest out. I don’t even get along with my own brothers and sisters. My father has all but legally disowned me. My mother died in that shuttle accident. I wanted out. I don’t have the brains God gave a flea, but I work hard. I thought maybe I could make a new start here. Jason convinced me this place was real, he offered to forge up a new ID and credentials, get me a job here, all I had to do was help get Victoria back to Earth.” He looked at Victoria again, “If I’d known what he was really up to…I’m so sorry.”

“So you had absolutely no idea what he was planning, that he wanted to kidnap her?” John asked.

“None, sir…I mean other than wanting her back on Earth. I guess…I just thought she’s having an affair and he wants her back…I didn’t think of it as kidnapping.”

“Did you know that Victoria had tried to get a divorce? That she’d tried to get away from him?” Becket asked.

“There were rumors, but his family generally said she was unstable. He said he only wanted to help her; and like I said, we’re the outcasts, so it’s not like they’d really tell us anything like that.”

Parker/Dolan went on to explain the details of how they got to Terra 2. Anything and everything John, Becket, or Victoria asked him about, he answered. He also restated that his stay on the mainland after the attack was the truth and offered to show them the little hut he’d made for himself. John brought in a computer tablet, thanks to Zy’nayth, and, using a Rayth drone, was led there remotely. It checked out. It looked lived in and had been for some time.

“I know I’m in no position to ask for anything, but please, don’t send me back to Earth. I’d rather rot in prison here. I didn’t mean harm to anyone. After things ended with Jason, I thought I’d just lay low, do my job and forget about my past.” He sighed, “I knew you’d catch me eventually, but it was nice while it lasted.”

“After Jason’s death, why didn’t you come forward?” Becket asked.

“Too scared to. I didn’t want to leave; I knew I’d be sent back and…like I said, I’d rather rot here than go back, and if I was sent back, his family would ask questions. I didn’t want to face them. They’d just outright kill me.”

“He’s right,” Victoria said. “Though I’m not sure if they’d actually kill him, I wouldn’t put it past them. But they’d definitely make his life a living hell.”

John looked at his watch. “It’s been a rather long day. Victoria, you have kids to feed, why don’t you go on? Dolan, let’s grab something from the mess.”

“What?”

“We didn’t have lunch, it’s nearly dinnertime, you’ve got to be hungry.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’m not letting you off the hook, Kaven will be joining us and we’re both armed.”

After dinner, Parker/Dolan was escorted back to his own chambers where two guards were on duty, along with a Rayth patrolling the hallway. “Gonna confine you to quarters for now. You can send to the mess for meals.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“You may still end up in prison or sent back to Earth,” John said, “but I want to give you the benefit of the doubt. Victoria has had nothing but nasty things to say about Jason and his family, so I feel for you. But you should have come forward. There’s a lot for us to think about. And remember, Vince is judge and jury here. And then there’s the High Chancellor, he never took too kindly to Jason, and certainly not to what he did to her. His opinion on what to do with you may outweigh all of the rest of us.”

“I know.”

 August 1, 2121

Early the next morning, the group who’d met the day before, reassembled in Vince’s conference room. John presented the information that they’d gathered from Parker/Dolan. Most had listened in on the conversation, thanks to the tweak Ja’val had made to Victoria’s comlink, but hearing is one thing, seeing expressions and body language is another.

“Victoria,” Vince said, “I want to know your gut feel on this. Is he telling the truth? Are you scared of him? Of what he might do to you? That odd feeling you had about him, do you still have it?”

“I think the odd feeling was his eyes, yeah the cologne too, but I knew those eyes and couldn’t place them. The surgery changed his face, but not his eyes, that was the disconnect for me. Am I afraid of him or scared he might do something? Honestly, I don’t know. I guess I’ll always have some fear that Jason’s family, no matter how estranged from him, will want some sort of revenge. But Dolan, I don’t think he’d hurt me. I don’t know. I feel sorry for him, maybe it’s motherly instinct or something that’s messing with reason…or he’s a great actor and is making me feel that way.”

“Do you think he’s telling the truth about what happened? How he got here? His intentions?”

She nodded, “I do. Don’t know why, but I do.”

Vince then looked at Becket, “And you?”

“I believe him, but, like Victoria said, there’ll always be that worry in the back of my mind that he might try to exact revenge for Jason’s family.”

“John?”

“I’ve been thinking and praying about this all night,” John said. “On the one hand, he’s here illegally. He should have come forward after Jason’s death; obviously, he shouldn’t have been here in the first place. Yes, I believe him, but I will always worry if we let him go. I don’t want Victoria or the twins getting hurt because I felt sorry for the guy. Then, there’ve been no complaints about him or his work—before or after the rebel attack. He’s had ample opportunity since Jason’s death to get to Victoria or the kids and hasn’t done so. I don’t want to hold him accountable for what Jason did, but he should be held accountable for not coming forward about being here illegally. And since we’ll never really know if he’s telling the truth…” he sighed, “I really hate to lock him up, but I don’t want Victoria looking over her shoulder every minute of every day.”

“We can know for sure,” Zy’nayth said.

Vince turned to the High Chancellor. “Thought telepathic eavesdropping was frowned upon.”

“It is. I will ask him if he will allow me to search his memories,” Zy’nayth said.

“And if he refuses?” Vince asked.

“Then I do nothing.”

“And we all think the worst of him even if he is innocent of everything but coming here illegally,” Vince said with a sigh.

“If he is being honest with us,” Zy’nayth said, “he will not refuse. He will want his name cleared.” He stood and headed to the door.

“Where…”

“I will see to this now,” he said, “my wife needs peace of mind.”

“Uh…” John got up and ran after the Rayth, “wait up.”

Soon everyone was following the High Chancellor to Parker/Dolan’s chambers. But Victoria beat him to the door and hit the chime, giving her husband a little nudge back.

Parker/Dolan answered and saw the sea of warriors behind her, especially the tall Rayth in white. He blanched and swallowed hard.

“Can I come in?” Victoria asked.

“Um, sure,” he replied and took a step back.

“You guys wait here,” she instructed the others and shut the door. She sat down and told Dolan about the telepathic questioning and asked if he’d be willing to undergo it.

“Is it accurate?”

“Yes. Completely.”

“No chance of error?”

“None.”

“Good,” he said, “Let’s do this. I want you to know I had nothing to do with what happened to you.”

She gave him a warm smile then went and opened the door. As Zy’nayth began to enter, Parker/Dolan shook his head. “One sec,” he said, “in the time I’ve been here, I’ve learned that you’re a man of honor, of your word.”

“I would like to think that I am,” Zy’nayth replied.

“Then do I have your word that what you reveal to the others will only be the truth?”

“You have my word. Only the truth.”

Dolan nodded and sat back down. “Okay. Victoria said I might get sick.”

“If you do, I will stop,” Zy’nayth said.

“No. No. Keep going until you get all you want. I want to be free of this. I want you to know that I’m not a bad guy. I’m not like Jason. I just wanted a new life.”

Zy’nayth turned to Ja’val, “Do you have what is needed to record this?”

Ja’val nodded and made his way into the room and set things up: his tablet and a handheld scanner he designed and built himself.

“John, I would like you to ask the questions. Please ask for specific things, it will speed this up.”

“Yes/no questions?”

“No. Ask for where he was, what he knew. Yes and no do not easily allow for detecting memories.”

Just after lunch, the questioning ended. Everyone was satisfied. He had been telling the truth and truly regretted not providing them with information right away.

Vince looked at Zy’nayth and Victoria, “A moment, John, you, too,” he said and motioned for them to follow him. They walked down the hall and discussed what to do in hushed voices. Vince had already made up his mind, but he wanted to know what Victoria and Zy’nayth thought. The decision was quick and unanimous.

They walked back into the chambers, leaving the door open so the others could hear. Vince sat across from Dolan. “If you would like to continue to live and work here, we would be glad to have you on staff. However, we do feel that some punishment needs to be administered since you did come illegally. To that end, I want you to provide us with all of your real records from Earth, simply so that we have them on file. Medical, dental, police, if there is one. I would also like you to help out with the big dig out project at least ten hours per week for the next six months on top of your normal duties. One last thing, not part of your punishment, just a request, I would like to see you in church each Sunday for the next six months. Other than that, Mr. McGuire, you are free to do as you please.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

He wiped at his tears with his fingertips, “I’d like to keep the Parker Williams name. I’m Parker. My full name is Dolan Parker McGuire. I want to leave Dolan McGuire on Earth. Please?”

“I will have to make it an official change, which means records on Earth will need to be changed.”

“No one there will care.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“I suppose they should be notified that I changed my name, but I have no desire to see them and I’m sure the feeling’s mutual. Thank you, sir. Thank you.”

He managed to get to his feet and thanked Vince with a handshake and Zy’nayth with a bow, then he looked at Victoria, “I thank you most of all. If there’s anything I can do to make it up to you, just name it.”

“Dol…excuse me, Parker, what he did, he alone did. Not you. Your memories prove you didn’t know about what he was plotting. I don’t blame you for anything. However, I do have one thing to ask.”

“Name it!”

She held out her hand, “Friends?”

He nodded and shook her hand. “Friends.”

She gave him a warm smile, “Good. Now, since Sunday will be your first church day, I’d like to invite you to join us for lunch afterwards.”

He looked around at everyone, and suddenly got nervous.

“Just my husband and the kids, these guys usually have dinner with us on Thursdays.” She continued to smile, “You can say no, I’ll understand.”

“Actually, I’d love to come. I hear you’re an amazing cook.”

“Parker,” Chris said, “you have no idea what you’re missing. Never pass up an invitation by Victoria for a meal.”