Ohber alternated between watching Valeri sleep and staring out the window of his home world. He had never expected to see either one again. When Reginald had injected the new virus, he had also told Ohber that Valeri was gone and would not be returning. He had resigned himself to dying alone on a foreign planet. Miracles did happen. He was home, Valeri was with him, and his body was healing. Through the big window, he could see Milisarians in the marshes, knights practicing, and children playing. Milisaria looked the same, but felt different somehow. It took some time for him to figure out why. Then he realized, everyone was happy. There was no fear or sadness on their faces. Knights stopped practicing to help villagers load wagons. Children dressed in finery played beside those dressed in hand-me-downs. Even the lowliest of villagers carried communication devices. King Siefer had made Milisaria a new world. It was so much better.

He turned as the door opened. He recognized his savior, Alexis. She appeared shocked that he was standing. He grinned and bowed. "I am a fast healer. My body evolved to the demands placed on it in the experiments. Thank you for your hard work. You are a great healer."

Alexis shook her head, "I just aided the doctor. I'm only a scientist. You look much better, but I know you are not completely well. You must not pretend or overdo it. Sit down and let me check your pulse and temperature."

"I am well enough. I must speak to the king and his commander. There are others, still on Earth, that need help." Ohber sat quietly and allowed Alexis to check him over.

"The commander is my husband. He and the king just returned from the villages. They are anxious to meet with you and Valeri. Nabvan is pleased to discover that you are alive. I plan to keep you that way. Your fever is gone, but your pulse is still too fast. You are thin and gray. I will allow you to meet with them if you eat and promise not to get upset."

Ohber replied, "I will try; however, I must tell all of you about the experiments. It will upset me. The others have become my friends."

Alexis soothed him by saying, "Valeri explained everything to the queen and me. We relayed the information to King Siefer and Nabvan. Needless to say, they were furious and wanted to attack. It took some doing, but we calmed them down, and they are now more rational. Your friends are our first priority. I have sent messages to Earth. My friends there will help shut down the program. Wake up Valeri, and I will bring you some food. Eat, take a shower, and then you can meet with the men." She left to get food.

Ohber woke Valeri with a kiss. She smiled and stretched, enveloping him in her arms. After a moment, it dawned on her that he was standing and she was the one in bed. She jumped up and demanded, "What are you up to? Get back in bed."

"I'm fine, or at least I will be soon. Alexis cleared me to eat and shower. If I behave, she will let me join you in a meeting with the king and Nabvan. Thank you for explaining it all to them. It was something I had been dreading. I am not good with words," Ohber declared.

Valeri wandered to the window and asked, "How did they take it? Were the men angry? Am I going to be punished?"

Ohber wrapped her in his arms and answered, "Of course they were angry, but not at you. Alexis said they did not take it well at first. She and the queen settled them down. She swears they are now rational and ready to talk. She also told me they were eager to see me. Then she ordered me to eat and shower. Since she is not back with the food, I will shower. Want to join me?"

"You are incorrigible! You almost died yesterday. You're barely standing." Valeri started laughing. "Save the romantic stuff for when you're stronger. I'll make it worth waiting for. I promise." She was giddy with happiness. He was healing, and plans were being made to help the others.

The shower and eating took a toll on Ohber. He had to rest before the meeting. It was annoying and a waste of time, in his estimation. Alexis and Valeri insisted after they heard his labored breathing. They argued that his mind would be clearer if it was rested. To his shame, he fell asleep as his head hit the pillow. Once again, the women were correct. He was refreshed and stronger after his nap.

The group met in King Siefer's quarters. The table was large enough to accommodate all of them. The children played games on the floor. Ohber stared at them. He found them to be quite beautiful. Humans and Milisarians made wonderful babies. He glanced at Valeri, wondering if she had considered the prospect. She was busy discussing Alexis's lab with the scientist herself.

Nabvan addressed Ohber, "It is good to have you home. We had thought you died long ago. If we had known you were alive, a search party would have been sent. I am sorry you had to suffer."

Ohber asked, "Did King Shene know I was alive? Did he trade me or just abandon me? I have wondered for years. For the first few months, I expected to be rescued. After that, I tried to find a way to escape. I finally resigned myself to dying there, then Valeri came, and I began to hope again."

 

King Siefer answered, "We do not know whether the king traded you or if he truly thought you dead. We only had his words to go by. He told us you died and that there was not a body to bring home. We later discovered that he lied quite often."

"Valeri spent a lot of time catching me up on the changes to Milisaria. You are a good king. I watched out the window this morning. Our people are united. They are happy. Thank you for that,” Ohber replied.

 Nabvan spoke up, " We will be leaving for Earth soon. Our plan is to retrieve all the Milisarians. We will not fight unless it is a necessity. I doubt any guards at the building will challenge our swords."

"You have to save the other species. If you leave them, they will die or be killed. I cannot bear that on my conscious. They became my friends, and Valeri's too." Ohber could not sit still. He stood and paced the room. His anxiety had him gasping for breath.

Alexis and Valeri went to his aid. Alexis demanded, "Sit down and calm yourself or I will make you leave. Let Nabvan finish telling you the plan." Ohber obeyed. He had promised to remain calm. It was difficult under the circumstances.

Nabvan continued, "Alexis has reached out for help from her friends on Earth. They will have the building raided as soon as we remove our knights. The program will be shut down. The aliens will be taken to care facilities, treated, and eventually returned to their planets. If they have no desire to return home, the humans will welcome them. They will be free. We cannot take them from Earth ourselves. We have no treaty with their planets and would be attacked if we tried to get near them."

Ohber argued, "We have no animosity with the Arkani. You have been there. They helped you and Alexis helped them. There is an old Arkani male that needs to go home. He has suffered too much for too long. Do not make him wait. Take him home."

Valeri added, "He's right. Akeila needs to go home. I'm sure the Earth doctors would treat him well, but I don't think he can wait. He's very old and has been given numerous diseases. I doubt he will live much longer. He deserves to see his home one more time. He gave them all the knowledge he held, medications and formulas. It wasn't enough for them. I'm with Ohber. Bring him too."

"If it is possible and he is willing, we will rescue him. The knights must come first. They are our priority. You have my promise: we will not let him die. If we cannot bring him, we will see that he is cared for." King Siefer turned to the queen. "Can you have the knights ready our fastest warship? We must leave today. Alexis, will you gather medications and bandages? We may need to treat the knights on the way back. Valeri, will you show Alexis what else the wounded may require? If we do not have it, we will take it from the program. I believe she also needs to send another message to Earth. NASA needs information from your brother. They must be told how to reach him."

The women took the children and left. Ohber faced the king and said, "I require a new uniform. I only have the torn Earth clothes. I will need a sword as well. I do not know what happened to mine."

King Siefer replied, "You will be given appropriate clothing. The sword can wait until you are well. A home in the village is being prepared for you. You will receive all the benefits of a retired Milisarian Knight."

Ohber's face turned red with anger. "I am going with you! I will not be set aside like an old man."

Nabvan stepped forward. "You are not well. It will be several days before you can leave the capital. Even then, you cannot fight. Alexis explained your injuries. They will never completely heal. You have served the knights well. You are to be honored."

Ohber continued to argue, "I can continue treatment on the way to Earth. I may never fight again, but you admitted there would be no need to fight. The guards would be frightened by our swords. I must come. The aliens will trust me and cooperate. I am one of them. You are strangers."

"I do not want you to have to see that place again. You were locked away and tormented there. You have just returned home. We wished to spare you from returning to your prison," King Siefer explained.

"It would be harder for me to stay here. Allow me this one request. If a fight is necessary, I will stand back and leave you to it. Let me go with you."

The king replied, "It will be an honor to serve with a knight as brave as you. Your request is granted."

Nabvan suggested, "Come with me. I will see that you are fitted with a uniform and given a sword. Changes of clothing and armor will also be provided."

Ohber was measured and fitted with a uniform and clothing. He was handed a new sword. Though he had difficulty lifting it in his weakened state, it felt so good in his hand. He had missed holding a sword. It had been like living without an arm. Dressed as a true Milisarian Knight, Ohber once again felt whole. His pride returned. It was more healing than Alexis's medications.

Nabvan took him outside to breathe in the moist air of Milisaria and walk among his people. The salty smell of the ocean stirred Ohber's blood. The moons pulled forth his power. He gained strength from the planet. He would never take his life or this home for granted again. He would go on this last journey to save his friends, and then he planned to stay home for the rest of his life.

A frown appeared on Ohber's face. Nabvan asked, "Has this been too much for you? Do you need medication?"

Ohber reassured him, "I have drawn strength from this walk. I am fine. It is Valeri that concerns me. Will she go with us to Earth? Will I lose her to her world? I had not thought of these things."

Nabvan shook his head, "She is not going with us. There is too much danger for her there at this moment. She will have to decide where she wishes to be when all of this is over. Do you want her to remain here?"

Ohber said, "My answer would be yes, but I also do not wish her to be unhappy. Earth is her planet as much as Milisaria is mine. She loves her brother, and he loves her. I do not know if she can live without him. Her father will be in danger when this ends. He may be imprisoned, or worse. She may feel the need to be by his side. He is an uncaring and greedy man, but he is still her family."

"She will have some time to consider her choice while we are gone. Alexis and Queen Destiney left Earth behind. They are kind and will help her with her decision. Do not take this worry with you. Leave it here." Nabvan pointed to the sea. "Let the sea wash away your fears. You go back to Earth as a warrior. Your mind must be clear and your heart ready for battle."

Ohber knew he was right. It was the first lesson each warrior was given. Never take your common worries into battle. Focus on your job. If your mind wanders, fellow warriors will die. Their blood will be on your hands and their burdens yours to carry.

"It is time to eat and tell our women goodbye. The warship is loaded and ready to depart." Nabvan led the way to the capitol building.

The warriors ate in a secluded area of the capital. They welcomed Ohber back to their ranks. He knew many of them. They had trained with him. The younger ones were excited to meet the knight that had come back from the dead. He was a celebrity in their eyes. They had heard stories of his capture, the experiments, and Valeri's rescue. It did not seem real to them. The stories fit into the same category as the ancient heroes they heard about in school. Their interest and praise made Ohber feel uncomfortable. He had grown used to being alone, without someone to talk to. Eating had been a necessity for survival. Here, with these young knights, it was a festive occasion. They had never starved, been locked away from the sky, or felt their organs seared from the heat of electricity. It was going to be difficult to integrate himself with the knights. He longed for Valeri and her understanding eyes. With her, he had no need to pretend that he was over the nightmare of the past years. She simply held him, and everything got better. He would miss her on this journey.

It was time to face the music. He had to tell Valeri he was going on the mission to Earth. She would be scared and worried about him. She had a right to be. He was scared and worried too. Could he handle being there? He hoped so.