Chapter Fifteen

SOPHIE

A few feet from the bay door, Khellen collapsed to the floor as if he had lost control of his limbs. It looked like he lost consciousness when his head smashed into the ground. The door was almost closed, but I hadn’t come this far to give up now.

I scrambled and slid under the door, reaching the other side while still holding onto Khellen. I don’t know where I found the strength. I reached under his arms and pulled as hard as I could. Khellen came sliding out just as the door slammed closed behind us.

They would be coming after us. We needed to get away. But Khellen was unconscious and probably hurt. I eyed the cargo hovercraft. I could fly, but I had never piloted a vehicle this large before.

I was going to have to learn quickly.

I wasn’t sure how I could get him into the ship. He was much heavier than me, and now his body was dead weight. I walked around the craft and found a floating lift used to move cargo into the building. It was designed so anyone could operate it with minimal training, so it didn’t take long for me to figure out how to lower it, drag him onto the lift, and move him into the hovercraft.

After I had boarded the ship myself, I hustled to the control panel and pressed the button to close the door. Then I studied the array of buttons, lights, and sliders. When I recognized the ignition controls, I reached out and managed to start the engines. Maneuvering carefully off the loading dock, I realized flying this ship wasn’t much different from ships I’d piloted before, except for the size. I did crash into something, but it was small, and I hoped it was irrelevant. I took a deep breath, plotted a course, and got us moving.

When I checked the sensors, there was no one behind us. I headed away from Holding Center 241 and didn’t look back.

After an hour moving at the highest speed I dared, I set the hovercraft to a more normal velocity and put it on autopilot. I called Khellen’s mother on an encrypted channel.

“Fiona,” I said, as soon as she answered. “I think we need to get off this planet as soon as possible. Do you think you can get us two tickets on the next ship out of here? It doesn’t matter where we go.”

“Sophie, what happened? Do you have him? Are you all right?” She looked flustered.

“We’re both alive, but we’re going right back to prison unless we fly out of here.”

“I’ll do what I have to do. I’ll get them somehow and call you right back.”

“Don’t forget to encrypt the line.”

She nodded and the screen went black.

I climbed over boxes and containers until I reached Khellen, who looked pale and was breathing shallowly. Was there anything I could do?

I tried to remember my first aid training but couldn’t think of anything, and my training on humans might kill an alien. I thought there might be a first aid kit in the vehicle, so I combed through cabinets and compartments until I found one. I brought it back to Khellen and activated it. A male VR assistant’s voice started telling me what to do.

“Please scan the patient.” When I finished the scan, the computer gave me further instructions. “Use the decontamination unit to neutralize the pathological viruses.”

I guess using a random piece of electronic equipment as a sterilization device wasn’t a safe medical procedure. I poked through the kit for the decontamination unit and ran a full procedure on Khellen. Next, I attached the unit to the ceiling and cleaned myself twice.

Khellen had terrified me when he told me about the disease. It explained why he treated me roughly when I found him. The woman in his cell— I didn’t want to think about him mating with her — had been coughing, and he wanted to protect me.

When I finished, the computer recommended decontaminating the vehicle as well. After another scan, it declared we were virus-free. I blew out my breath in relief.

“Use the coagulator to stop the bleeding at the site of the wound on the patient’s head,” the man’s voice said.

I did as he instructed and made Khellen as comfortable as I could, getting him onto one of the floating stretchers instead of leaving him lying draped across crates. I covered him with a blanket and kissed him briefly on the forehead.

He might never forgive me for how I had betrayed him, but I had made partial amends by rescuing him. If I could safely get him to a place where the government couldn’t reach him, I could live my life with a clear conscience.

I hoped he would forgive me, but I didn’t expect him to. Especially after seeing the anger in his eyes when he pushed me out of his cell. I had left him to be taken to the prison and abandoned him because I was scared, all to further an ideal.

I straightened my shoulders and pulled myself together. This was not the time for a pity party. I picked at the compound, which had lifted more each day since Fiona applied it to the marriage certificate. The exposed bit of corner was big enough now to grab with my fingers. I pulled on it experimentally, feeling immediate pain with the glue-like substance tugging on the delicate skin of my forearm. I wasn’t going to get it off this way.

I wished I had an opportunity for a doctor to remove it, but I doubted there would have been time for that and to free Khellen. There was no way to know for sure, and I might drive myself crazy with fruitless thoughts.

A tone signaled a communication from Fiona. “Sophie, I’m on an encrypted line, and I’m transmitting the tickets now. I’ve arranged for medical transport for Khellen directly to the shuttle.”

“What about…”

She ignored me and continued with her monolog, answering my question before I got a chance to get it out. “Don’t worry about the Warden’s men. They won’t bother you. If they ask you anything, give them the code included with the tickets. He’s been kind enough to assist us.”

Fiona had convinced the Warden to help us, no doubt. I briefly wondered what she had promised and if she would regret it. But I had no time now to ponder what favors Fiona had offered to save us. Besides, she had feelings for Seamus, so our situation may have given her an excuse to do what she wanted. I tore my thoughts away from Fiona’s love life and focused on her instructions again.

“When you get to the spaceport, a medical transport team will meet you. They will bring Khellen to the shuttle and into a private cabin. Using this route will avoid any problems with him not having identification. They will have the required information to get him checked through. The documents say you will be allowed to stay with him in the private cabin because you are his wife. I suggest you remain there for the entire trip.”

“Where are we going?” I asked. Anxiety was making my stomach feel tense. I rubbed it, and with a start remembered that I had a child growing inside me.

“The flight will take you to Shveitz. It’s a neutral planet that takes in political refugees. Once you arrive, you’re going to be on your own, Sophie.”

I nodded at her. “Thank you, Fiona. We’ll be in contact as soon as we can.”

Fiona teared up. “Please take care of him.”

“I will.” Of all the promises I had given in the past month, this was the one I felt deep within my soul. I would take care of Khellen and bring him to a safe place, no matter the cost to me. If he decided to kick me out of his life, I could live with it. But until he was safe, I would protect him.

She said good-bye, and I cut the connection.

Everything went according to plan. The medical team met us and accepted Khellen as a patient. After checking Fiona’s documents, they fast-tracked us onto the shuttle and into a room just for us. The technicians checked us over once we were inside. They didn’t have to decontaminate us again. As part of their onboarding procedure, the physicians scanned us with their equipment and found nothing irregular.

They were slightly concerned with Khellen’s head injury but determined he could travel as long as he had it checked when we arrived on Shveitz. They administered a tranquilizer to put him in a light coma for the duration of the trip. I slept most of the time and Khellen rested quietly under his sedation. His color and injury improved as his body healed.

The medical technicians said the coma would wear off about three hours before landing. When we got closer to the planet, I booked us a hotel in the central city and arranged for medical transport for Khellen, in case he had problems regaining consciousness.

I impatiently waited for Khellen to wake up as the lilac-colored planet came into sight on the cabin’s view screen. I didn’t know what would happen when he woke up, but I certainly wanted to get things moving. I was tired of waiting.

The planet got closer and closer, and he continued to sleep. I resigned myself to the fact that he wouldn’t wake up, and we would need the medical transport after all. I strapped Khellen in before we landed, kissing him again as I fastened the straps on his bed. I secured my restraints and we landed without incident.

In the docking bay, a recorded voice welcomed us to the planet, instructed us to remove our belts and gather our belongings. I released myself, and as I reached for Khellen’s straps, he finally opened his eyes. I helped him undo his restraints, and he sat up, looking around in confusion. He glanced down at his white hospital sweatpants and the long-sleeved shirt. There were frown lines between his eyebrows as he tried to orient himself.

“I have a lot to explain.” I helped him get up and handed him his shoes. “The shuttle has landed, and we need to get off and go to the hotel. We can relax there, and I’ll tell you everything.”

“Where are we?” He fumbled with his shoes. He managed to get them on his feet, but his fingers didn’t do the delicate work, so I had to tie them for him. His problems could be related to being shot or remnants of the induced coma. The technicians said he would recover quickly, but might have small motor issues for a while.

“We’re on Shveitz,” I told him, standing up. “Can you walk?”

He took a few hesitant steps. Even though he looked stiff and sore, he was able to move. “It seems like it.”

“Good.” I grabbed the backpack laden with a few things Fiona had sent. “Let’s go.”

We were fast-tracked through security again. I made a mental note to write Fiona a long thank-you letter.

When we exited into the spaceport, we were met by a jostling crowd of reporters and local police officers. One woman stepped forward and held her hand toward us, palm out. “Halt,” she said. “You’re under arrest.”

I guess I wasn’t going to get a chance to write that thank-you note.

KHELLEN

I had been groggy since regaining consciousness. Sometimes there was short-term memory loss after a medically induced coma. Bits and pieces of what had happened floated in and out of my mind, but I couldn’t remember anything clearly. I obediently followed Sophie off the shuttle. I had to trust her for everything right now.

“Oh no,” I heard Sophie say under her breath when she spotted the police officers.

“Halt,” a female officer said. “You’re under arrest.”

Sophie drew herself up to her full height and faced the officer. “Why?” There was a steely defiance I hadn’t heard before.

“We’ve been asked to detain you. The government of Biyaha has a warrant out for your arrest.”

“That’s why we’re here,” Sophie responded, her eyes intense. She was trying to remain calm. “We’re seeking asylum from political persecution.”

“On what grounds?” the police officer asked, not looking sympathetic at all.

“My husband was being held prisoner by the Biyaha government.”

“Do you have evidence?”

“You want proof they were holding him? How could I prove that?” She was doing her best to hide her desperation.

“We’re not looking for proof of his incarceration. If you can prove you’re married, we have no reason to detain you. He has an outstanding arrest warrant for breaking the Edict of Marriage. If you can show evidence of your marriage, we will not honor the Biyahan request to hold you.”

Sophie’s worried look made no sense to me. If we were married, we would have proof; why was she so concerned? I looked down at my left forearm. There was nothing there. A memory danced around the corners of my mind but eluded me.

The police officer looked down at my forearm as well. “There’s nothing here,” she said pointedly.

“They’re hidden underneath a chemical layer.” Her excuse sounded ridiculous, even to me. “It has to be removed by a doctor under anesthesia.”

The police officer rolled her eyes and shook her head.

“I’m telling the truth. You have to believe me.” Sophie pleaded with the officer, who was moving towards her.

The reporters had been listening raptly, with recorders held over their heads. Suddenly, one of them spoke up. I wondered if they were broadcasting live to their news stations. “Is it true that this man is one of the disappeared?” His equipment indicated he was from Earth.

Sophie’s head whipped around to see who had spoken. She noticed the Earth logo too and hesitated before addressing the question. “Yes, he is.”

“You claim to be his wife?”

Sophie paused again, staring at the insignia on his jacket. “Are you transmitting live to Earth?”

He nodded.

She cut her eyes over to me, and it seemed she had to decide something painful. She slowly pressed her lips together and gave a tiny nod. “I am his wife,” she said, and lifted her head, first staring directly into the camera and then looking back at the police officer. “If I can prove it, will you let us stay here and leave us alone?”

“Of course I will. That’s what I said, isn’t it? I’m not here for fun. Show me proof and you are free to go,” the police officer replied. She looked annoyed but interested.

“Okay.” Sophie took a deep breath. She swallowed and bit her lip, raising her left arm. Sophie had everyone’s attention now, and she knew it. As she lifted her right hand towards her left arm, I saw that it was shaking. I wondered what she was going to do.

She grabbed hold of a small flap of dried skin protruding from her left forearm. With another deep breath, she pulled down sharply. She cried out in pain, and all at once, there was blood everywhere. Everyone gasped.

I didn’t understand what that had to do with showing we were married.

I pulled off my shirt and moved to stop the bleeding, but she pushed my hands away. Turning her forearm to the crowd, she announced in a loud voice, “My name is Sophie Lynch, and I’m Khellen Lynch’s wife.”

Through the veil of blood, the marriage certificate and wedding band were visible to everyone — police, reporters, and Earth via a live feed.

She stepped up to the police officer, letting her arm drop down to her side. “We seek political asylum on Shveitz. Is that enough proof for you to let us in?” she asked, holding out her arm to the police officer.

The policewoman looked shocked, but she nodded curtly.

“Sophie, we need to clean you up.” I was unable to focus on anything else. I took her arm and dabbed it with the white hospital shirt, ignoring the chilly air of the spaceport that was giving me goosebumps on my bare chest. I paused to run my fingers across the picture of us on the certificate. Seeing the picture made all of my memories come flooding back. “Sophie,” I said, meeting her eyes.

She saw that I remembered everything. There was fear in her eyes, as I slowly wrapped my shirt around her arm trying to understand what she had done.

“You’re free to go, Mr. and Mrs. Lynch,” the police officer said, approaching us and speaking more courteously now. “Your records are clear. You are welcome on Shveitz for as long as you need to stay. No one will try to arrest you again.” She nodded an apology at Sophie and addressed the reporters. “You got your story. Please vacate the area now. Mrs. Lynch needs medical attention.” She raised her authoritative voice above the din of the excited reporters.

“There’s a medical transport waiting for us outside,” Sophie said, her face was worried and anxious as she gazed at me. She didn’t seem to notice that her forearm wouldn’t stop bleeding and was soaking the white shirt crimson.

“I don’t know which one of us needs to use it more.” The police officer kindly escorted us through the crowds of people catching flights. Everyone moved aside when they saw Sophie was bleeding, and soon we were speeding away in the medical transport hovercraft.

The doctors evaluated both of us and stopped the bleeding on Sophie’s arm. They thought the bleeding looked worse than it was and wrapped her arm in a white gauze bandage before they dropped us off at the hotel. After reaching our room, we collapsed on the couch in silence. I didn’t know where to start and neither did she.

I gently took her hand, making sure to touch the good arm, without the bandage.

“No, Khellen,” she said before I could say anything. “Let me talk first.”

I stopped, studying her face as she spoke.

“I want to apologize. I’m sorry for walking away and leaving you the way I did. It was selfish and cruel, and even if you didn’t love me, I still should have helped out a friend. I shouldn’t have listened to you when you told me to leave. I’ve been a coward, and I don’t expect you to forgive me. I wanted to get that off my chest before I left.” She stood up then, but I wouldn’t release her hand.

“Sit down. I want to know why you came and rescued me from that place if you’re as selfish and cruel as you say.”

“I couldn’t leave you there after I had realized I had done something wrong. It wouldn’t be right to leave a friend in such a terrible situation.”

“Even if I didn’t love you, you should have helped out a friend. What does it matter to you whether I love you or not, Sophie?” My heart was beating quickly. She was staring down at our interlocked fingers but looked up as I asked my question. Our eyes locked on each other.

“Because,” she whispered.

“Why?” I asked, so quietly I almost didn’t hear myself.

“Because I love you, and I want you to love me back.” Her eyes filled with tears. One rolled down her cheek, and I watched it fall and make a small dark spot on her pants. “Back in the jail when you didn’t tell the Warden that we were married, I thought you might feel the same way, and that was why you hadn’t revealed the truth. I wondered if you wanted me to have the life I thought I desired.” She stumbled over her words and finally stopped. “Do you think you can forgive me, Khellen? Even if you can’t love me?”

I shook my head. “No.”