In His Alien Hands (12 page)

* * * *

Arax ran with Meadow in his arms. He raced for the healing chamber. The healer was there, brought by sent word. The absolute guilt on his face was prominent.

“If you place her in there, she will revert like Bertha. You will be left with two charges,” the healer said.

Arax glared at him. “Look at her. The blow has split her skull. She is dying. I would rather lose my mate and gain a child than lose her altogether.”

“Humans are evil. You saw.”

“When did your mind become so warped with hate? I saw what was done to
Bertha
, not my little Neola. I saw the evil inflicted
on
Bertha. She never hurt another. You are directly responsible for the harm caused my mate. Because of you Neola will lose a mother. A wonderful, loving mother. Now fix her, you bastard. Fix her, or so help me they will never find your body.”

Gingerly, Arax lowered Meadow into the chamber. He placed his hand onto her forehead. The pain in his chest was unbearable. The irony of his situation hit home. Now he knew how Titus might feel if Bertha were to be returned to him in infancy. Only Arax would now live it.

“I will wait no matter how long it takes for you to love me again. You will never know fear or pain, my little starfish.”

Arax lowered the chamber lid. The tears flowing from his eyes blinded him. The healer set the machine in motion under Arax’s glaring, heated gaze that was reflected back to him off the machine. The clicks and grinds of the engine started. Arax knew Meadow had broken her arm at five, but she didn’t explain how. She said she was too young to remember. Or she had blocked the memory. Arax wasn’t certain if it her first injury, but he would find out. The machine’s memory board was set up and attached to the machine—it had been used recently. Arax and the healer watched the screen. Her memories fled backward.

Arax cringed when her first memory was of the astounding attack of the Angano. He puzzled for a mere moment, thinking the last attack suffered was from Dacquel. Hands held to her head as though on fire, she battled the winged alien creature, knowing if she died Neola would die. With blinding rage for their endangered child, she struck back at the being while the bastard Dacquel laughed. The burning Angano filtered to ash and the memory ceased as Arax caught his breath. She had battled and won for their child. His heart filled with pride. He may lose his mate, but she would remain spirited. That wasn’t something anyone could take from Meadow.

Arax clutched at his chest, caught by surprise, when the monitor revealed her frightened agony after being hit by the boulder. The insides of the small cave were hammered repeatedly by Dacquel. She did her best to reflect the rock, but it was too large. The rock would have killed a lesser human; the Angano must have altered her thoughts and abilities. If that was so, there was no telling where her memories might take them. She lay on the floor in her own blood, fingers a small waggle while reaching for Arax as she watched him fight Dacquel. Fear shone in her eyes, but it was for him. She was dying, and yet her thoughts were focused on Arax.
My proud water warrior, how brave you are.

A lump formed in Arax’s throat as the memories moved on. This was the first time he had ever heard memory thoughts come to life in his own mind.
I can hear her words.
He cast a fast glance to the healer who also appeared bemused. The deck of a vessel came into play. Being onboard the ship and being injured by pirates was the next injury the machine fixed. A large pirate shoved her to her knees and blood dotted a shin. Arax fisted his hands.

The prick is lucky he’s already dead.

“You see they are all evil.” The healer sounded smug.

“Silence,” Arax snapped.

It hurt to watch his mate flung to the ground, battered over the two years on that miserable vessel day in day out. Her rebellious nature gave him little comfort when she endured a hard open hand to her cheek, making it blaze red. So much suffering and yet his mate persevered. Arax seethed. Never again would she bare the marks of violence.

I will not lose my humanity.
Her thoughts again popped into his head when a frozen, skin cracked and starving Meadow handed food rations to a woman and her children. The pain she endured when she snuck food out a portal, risking the wrath of so many. Back farther she went in her memories, boarding the ship for the first time, her fears, her hopes, the tiny room she shared with others. The first night a storm smashed her into a bed, but she said not a word. Many were injured, some lost. Terror was alive in the air. Her eyes dripped quiet, lonely tears, nothing more, and Arax sucked in his breath when he heard the word of each tear.

I’m strong, the others need help.

Back her memories spiraled to when she fell from a tree, injuring her ankle as a teen. Her mother was there, lifting her into her arms. Meadow wasn’t sobbing. As she struggled to rise on an obviously twisted ankle, she was laughing. The loving endearment of her mother’s touch to her cheek was familiar. Meadow used the gesture on Neola a number of times. Meadow was forever running her fingertip down the side of his cheek like Meadow’s mother did to her. The gesture was one of love. She must have loved him from the beginning.

Back again the machine spun until she turned five. Arax held his breath. The machine had slowed. This would be her last memory of a significant injury. The day was beautiful. Meadow and her father played in a large, forested area. The animal that attacked wasn’t known to Arax. He had seen a cat before, but this was the largest cat he had ever encountered. Dark eyes of death made his skin crawl when the tawny beast screamed. Meadow’s father was knocked to the ground when the beast went for the more vulnerable victim. Powerful jaws snapped Meadow’s arm. In a blind rage, her father jumped up and stabbed the beast. Razor claws slashed the man to a bloody mess. So too was the animal. The pair were well-matched.

The beast lay on its belly while the man bellowed repeatedly that nothing was allowed to harm his baby.
Not my baby.
Unbidden, the memory of beating Dacquel thundered into his mind. Arax had wanted his mate, needed to know where his Meadow was. The man didn’t stop until the beast didn’t move, as Arax hadn’t stopped until Dacquel could move no more. In the end, both human and animal succumbed to injuries and died. Arax had lived, and he vowed he would take care of this man’s baby. Forever.

Arax wasn’t the only one to have tears streaming down his face as the memories stopped and the machine clicked to a halt. The healer was sobbing.

“You see,” Arax said quietly. “Not all humans are evil.”

“I didn’t know. But I see that now.”

Angry, Arax turned to him. “What of Reef’s mother? What evil did she do?”

The healer blanched. “What will you do with me?”

“I haven’t decided.”

Arax motioned a warrior near. He took the healer away. Arax wanted to be alone. He took a deep breath and dried his eyes. Meadow would be frightened, she would want her mother and father. All she had was Arax. He planned on being the best of both parents to her. The moment of truth was upon them. Arax opened the chamber ready to reach for the five-year-old to soothe her. Pure white smoke filtered and cleared. Meadow lay naked, the machine had totaled her clothing—and left her body unchanged. Arax blinked. His mate stretched, yawned, and smiled at Arax.

“I had the strangest dreams.”

Arax lifted her into his arms. “Did you, my love?”

“I was with my father, and we were on a picnic in the woods. A cougar attacked. My arm was broken. I forgot about that. My dad saved my life. He died protecting me.” She glanced around, concern in her eyes. “Arax, you put me in the healing chamber.”

“You were dying. Your head was smashed in.”

“I was in a cave with Dacquel, and he was crashing into the hole I’d hid in. Rocks started to fall, and my head hurt so painfully.”

“Dacquel has been captured. He hurt you. The machine was my only option. But I swear on my life he never will touch you again.”

“But I’m still me. I mean my age.”

“Yes. I don’t know why. I watched your memories.”

“All of them?”

“Only images of how you were injured. The sight hurt my heart. I want to keep you in my arms forever.”

Meadow wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his throat. Arax kept her pinned to his chest. He didn’t know why the machine had kept her the same age. It was a mystery. He strode to his room where Neola waited and a female bowed and left. Gently, he placed Meadow on the bed.

“I don’t know what happened,” Arax said and pushed a lock of hair from her face.

“You would have given up your mate to save my life.”

“My mate, yes. But never you.”

“Well, I’m just happy to still be Neola’s mother and not her big sister.”

“That makes two of us. And speaking for Neola, it makes three of us.”

Arax pulled them all into a tight embrace. There they lay until they slept. Dacquel could wait until Arax filled himself with the sight of his happy and whole family.

Chapter 9

The procession of warriors followed, all joined by a better cause. Shark people and water warriors alike dragged a howling Dacquel in their wake. He was the last to be disposed of. Arax was glad to be rid of him, Meadow knew, as he had spoken of nothing else since morning. Before long they came to a place where clear, clean water met brackish ink. Meadow knew exactly where they were. Through the portal she could see the sunken vessel where she’d been held prisoner laying on its side. There were also a handful of megalodon swimming nearby.

Dacquel was enraged. His massive body thrashed as he struggled against his bonds. “I will kill you, Arax. I will claim your female and the child.”

“Not fucking likely.”

Dacquel was flung into the brackish mess. Meadow watched as the water portal to Earth closed. His followers joined him. They were a sorry lot.

“You can’t leave me on this planet,” Dacquel bellowed.

“I just did,” Arax replied.

Dacquel’s howl of rage abruptly cut off as the portal closed then vanished. There was no opening it from Earth’s side. Dacquel was doomed to spend the rest of his life on a dead planet with only his furious companions for company. Meadow gazed at Crash, the ruler of the shark people, and Arax, the ruler of the water warriors.

“The sides for war have been defined on our planet,” Crash said.

“Our people, all of our people, will unite. No more fighting, no more warring. There are other aliens that may come. Agreed?” Arax and Crash clasped wrists. Their planet was finally united. Let the Angano come. All would be ready for them. So would Meadow.

* * * *

What to do with the healer weighed heavily with Arax. He was known as a friend. For now, he remained locked up in the dungeons below to await his fate. Arax had a more severe problem. When they returned he saw someone who shot terror into his being. The Zargonnii warrior Finn and his mate Bethany were in his chambers.

“Finn,” Arax said. “I’d hoped never to see you again.”

“I feel the same. I had no choice. The dark winged warriors aided Bethany and I to come here. They, too, belong to a world within a world, you know that. I explained to them the shuttle carrying Bertha was found. If she’s here, Titus is anxious to have her back.”

“Oh no,” Meadow cried out. She raced to Arax with Neola tucked in her arms. “No, please, Arax, no.”

“The female Bertha was injured to a point of death,” Arax said. “Bertha is gone.”

“She died then?” Finn asked. Bethany sobbed.

Arax was no liar. “No, she lived. But there were complications that are irreversible. The Bertha you knew is no more.”

“I owe it to Bertha to take her back with me. No matter the deformity.”

“No,” Meadow wailed. “Her name is Neola, and she is mine. Arax, please don’t let them take our baby.”

Arax could feel his heart break. It felt as though it was being ripped from his chest. He couldn’t bear Meadow’s pain, he couldn’t bear his own. Neola owned half his heart.

“What?” Bethany whispered. She crept to the child and gazed into her eyes. “Oh my God, this is Bertha? This
is
Bertha.”

“Finn, I realize I wronged you and your people by my previous actions. I should have been better to you, Bethany. I’d never seen a human so close before coming face to face with you. It pains me you almost died in my care. Or rather my lack of concern. But there was no malice in saving this child.” He looked sorrowfully at Bethany. “The child is like my own. She makes me better. I’ve claimed her as my daughter. She is loved by both me and my mate. I know she was your friend or companion, but can’t you see it would destroy Meadow? I’m sorry Titus lost Bertha, but as you can see she is happy with us.”

Bethany looked frustrated. “She wasn’t exactly my friend. We lived together for three years. Or rather we survived together for three years. None of the memories are particularly pleasant. Bertha didn’t want any friends. Or maybe she was too afraid to try. Titus never claimed her as a mate. He was responsible for her, nothing more. The burden of the unknown has bothered him since placing her in the shuttle. The Zargonnii are honorable warriors. They would never harm a child.”

Arax felt the first stirring of hope. “And Titus, what will he say?”

Finn snorted. He gazed at Meadow and then Bethany. “You know what Titus would say.”

Bethany sighed. “True.”

Meadow was a sobbing mess. Arax had never seen her fall apart so horrendously, even after what she had been through. Finn took Neola into his arms and gazed at her before gazing at Meadow.

“It would be cruel to take such a loved and wanted baby away from her parents.” He placed the girl back into Meadow’s arms.

Finn strode back to Bethany and wrapped her in his arms. Bethany’s gaze was thoughtful. “She always did have beautiful green eyes. Only now they shine with happiness, not despair. I like the name Neola. It suits her. If anyone deserves a new beginning, it’s Bertha. No one here knows what she was like before. Maybe she doesn’t need to become the person she once was.”