Chapter 20

Helga

Fox says something to me but I don't understand. He comes over and takes my hand. I stand.

Anna says, "He wants you to get a translator."

"I thought that was illegal."

"I guess he found a way to make it legal," Anna says. "I'd do it if I were you. You can always remove it later if you decide you want to learn Alliance the old-fashioned way."

I look away from Fox and at Anna. "Is it safe to do that?"

"They do it often enough, so I don't think it's such a big deal."

"Okay, I'll do it. I want to be able to talk to Fox."

Fox guides me away from the dining hall where we leave everyone else. I can hear them all talking as we go. Fox looks stressed, but I assume that's because of the engine trouble.

We enter the medical center and both the young doctors are there. I assume they greet us although I don't understand their words, and then the younger-looking doctor motions for me to get on the one medical bed.

I jump up and lie down. I realize as the two grey men are looking over me that, actually, they could be doing anything they wanted to me right now and I wouldn't know. I hope they aren't lobotomizing me or erasing my memory. I calm myself. I can trust Fox. And so far, the doctor has given me no signs of being untrustworthy either.

The younger of the two doctors shows me his hand and then makes a motion indicating he's going to touch me. No doubt, he's going to use telepathy.

"You're going to do what you did before?"

"Moer," he says, and I'm pleased I actually know that word is for yes.

"Okay. I'm ready."

A few seconds later, I feel the doctor in my mind. It's strange but familiar. He's searching my thoughts for anything negative about Fox, which I find strange. I don't know him well enough to be upset with him yet , I think. The doctor doesn't have any opinion about this, which I feel is very professional. Then the doctor asks if I want a translator. Like Anna said, he tells me it's not permanent but will give me a headache for a few hours.

I agree. More than anything I want to be able to talk to Fox again. We have a lot to discuss, and I don't want to do it in a room where they question abducted humans. Even though, I am an abducted human as well, I don't want Fox to look at me like that. I don't want his pity.

The doctor begins inserting something just above my left ear. Then he speaks to me gently and quietly, but the sounds still rings through my ears on full blast. My head begins throbbing from the vibrations.

"Helga, can you understand me now?"

"Yes. I understand."

"The pain should lessen in the next few hours. Try to rest. If it becomes worse, come back."

"Okay."

Fox takes my hand and helps me up. "You can understand me now?"

I smile through my headache. "My head is killing me, but I'm ridiculously happy to hear you speak words I can understand again."

He squeezes my hand. "Good. We've a lot to discuss before we reach the base. Do you think you can manage?"

The doctor says as we walk out, "Make sure she takes the test," but Fox doesn't acknowledge him.

"What test?"

"I'll explain later."

We walk back to Fox's quarters, and I realize on arrival they have been cleaned now. In addition, clothing has been set out on the bed. Pajamas.

"Where did you get these?"

"A human woman on the base organized some things for you based on your sizes."

"How did she know my sizes?"

"You're on this ship. Everything is recorded."

"Everything?" I ask, worried that includes everything in this room too.

"Not everything, but you know what I mean. The sensors pick up your measurements, weight, health, all of that."

"I see."

"She sent some other things too," Fox says. He shows me a long black dress hanging up in the small closet which looks very comfortable, and then he brings out two silver bracelets with ornate designs on them.

I touch one. "These are exquisite."

"They're marriage bracelets. You might have noticed Anna wearing one. Couples exchange them when they marry."

"I did, but I didn't realize what it was," I say. I have butterflies in my stomach thinking about Fox asking me to marry him right now.

"I want our relationship to be permanent, Helga."

"I want that too, but I've a lot of questions."

"I know, and we'll go over them, but I wanted to show these to you so that you know I'm prepared to marry you at the end of our conversation."

I look into Fox's green eyes. He's so sincere. "I like that you've come prepared."

"I think the best way to go about this is for you to ask me your questions, and I'll answer them the best that I can."

I consider this in light of what Anna told me about her life. "Do you expect me to live on the base all the time?"

"Yes. Unfortunately, as my wife, you'd have only holidays to return to Earth, as you'd have duties on the base."

"What kind of duties?" My mind conjures up military wives from all the historical dramas I've watched in my life. And before he answers I add, "I can't be a traditional wife."

"No, you misunderstand. Your duties will include things such as managing the pastoral care of the crew and their families and official communications with the Empire concerning our adherence to the laws. At the moment, I still do most of this, but you'd be expected to take over these duties and more. It's a full-time commitment."

"But…" I say as I feel there is a but coming.

"If you don't think you're up to the challenge, don't worry. I can train you in how to do it and what will be expected of you," he says, and I remember he still thinks I'm a server. It's nice that he thinks he only needs to train me for these galactic responsibilities.

"And what is it you'll be doing while I'm looking after everyone's wellbeing?"

"We rescue and return humans who've been illegally abducted by aliens. There are galactic laws, as well as our own Alliance laws, that we use as a framework."

"And you reintegrate these humans on Earth?"

"If possible. It depends how long they've been away and what they've suffered. We try to be as delicate as possible and take most people on a case-by-case basis."

"Is it dangerous?"

"Sometimes."

"Exciting?"

"Most of the time."

"And you don't think I could help out doing that? Like Anna?"

"Her being here was a one-off, and she came mainly to be a support to you. I'm the Commander. My accomplishments affect the happiness and successes of everyone else on the base."

"She told me she's visited other alien space stations."

"With Lev, as anthropologists. I can take you to other space stations, if you're curious?"

"I don't know what I want." I look up at him and run a finger down his arm and take his hand. "I want you, and so far, this doesn't sound bad. But I worry about leaving Earth."

"You can visit. But if you marry me, and that's what we are talking about, it's a commitment to Alliance Force just as much as it is to me."

"I want to see Alliance Force and spend some time there before making a decision," I say.