Chapter 31

Fox

Everything is quiet and dark. Am I in the Afterlife? The last thing I remember is the duel. Now I feel no pain. I wait for the goddesses to greet me.

When no one divine speaks my name, I open my eyes. I focus and realize I'm in the medical center. I sit up. Caroline and the doctor come toward me. I look over my body. I'm healed.

"Are we all dead?"

The doctor smiles. "Helga stopped the duel. It was declared a draw."

"What? How is that possible?" Then the memory of her coming to save me rushes back. "I thought that was a dream. I thought I was only seeing her again as a gift from the goddesses."

"She had Sem break down the gymnasium door," Caroline informs me. "She's wasted no time in asserting her authority in her new position as your wife. And it feels natural her being here."

Caroline's words move me and any worries I had about Helga taking over as Consort to the Commander disappear. "I'm comforted to hear that from you, Caroline." I try to stand, but the doctor puts his hand up. "Just a minute. I want to make sure you're really fine before you walk out of here. We came very close to losing you."

"Did you…?" I ask. Alliance doctors are not supposed to bring people back from the dead after a few minutes have passed, but my doctor picks and chooses when he wants to follow ‘rules from across the galaxy' as he puts it.

"Only you could tell me that," he replies mysteriously as he runs a scanner over my body. I'm eager to go see Helga. No doubt, I'll have a lot of explaining to do.

"May I leave now?"

"Yes, go find your wife and thank her for all of us. As much as we respect Sem, we're not ready to lose you, Commander."

I stand on my feet. I've dried blood all over my body, but everything feels fine. I walk through the corridors of my base looking for Helga. The computer said she was heading this way. When I see her, I don't waste any time. I run toward her and pick her up in a strong embrace. I don't care who's watching. I don't care that I'm naked. All I care about is her.

"I thought I'd never see you again. I thought you were an illusion." I notice the blood on her dirndl. "But you were really there. You came to save me." I kiss her lips a hundred times. She tastes so delicious and real. "You came for me, and because of you I didn't die. I will always be indebted to you, Helga, my human wife."