31. Axl

I receive an urgent VM. It’s from Fox on Alliance Force. He’s speaking in the men’s language.

“Axl, the goddesses have made their demands known. At your request, we have kept an eye on Madame Georgiana. It has come to our attention that she is pregnant. She has not been with any other man since leaving you and as she has no memory of what happened between the two of you, she has become mentally unstable. She has checked herself into a hospital for her mental health. We are preparing to remove her from Earth. As by Alliance law you are legally married. Congratulations. Your wife will remain with the Alliance Force until you arrive, at which time you can make other arrangements for your future. Walk in the goddesses’ light.”

A wave of emotions pass through me but most of all relief. These last months have been agony without Georgiana. I set in course for Earth. Then VM Fox, “Fox, the goddesses shine their light on me. I’ll arrive at Alliance Force in three days. I will collect Madame Georgiana myself from Earth. I would also ask for a transfer to the Alliance Force. It would humble me to be under your command. I am coming out of the darkness.”

I strap in and prepare myself for three days of nonstop jumps across half of the galaxy. It will be exhausting, but it doesn’t matter. The goddesses want Georgiana and I to be together. And I will do my best for Georgiana by taking a position with the Alliance Force, so that she can live near her home.

It’s obvious to me now that the Alliance Force doctor on his own, or under the recommendation of Fox, allowed Georgiana to return to Earth, knowing she was pregnant, allowing her to make a choice about her own future. It angers me that the Alliance Force would put the fate of an unborn child in the hands of Georgiana without her memory of who the father was, but I remind myself of their faith in the goddesses. They are true believers and protectors of the Lost People and believe by doing this they were asking the goddesses to guide us as they believed we could not guide ourselves.

My mother will be furious when she discovers she has a grandchild but one that will never carry the House Zu name as I will have signed myself over to the Alliance Force, if Fox will have me that is.

I arrive on Alliance Force and Fox greets me in the docking bay.

“The goddesses be blessed,” I say. “Thank you for contacting me.”

“You walk in their light Axl. I don’t want you to waste any time. Of course, we would be lucky to have you here, but are you sure? It’s a tremendous step down and you’d be giving up your imperial status by joining our House.”

I grasp Fox’s shoulder. “It’s the goddesses’ will. It’s the only place I can go and keep Georgiana close to Earth. And protecting the Lost People was good enough reason for you to give up your imperial status,” I say but wonder if it’s the Empress’s wrath he’s concerned about. “The High Priestess has given me permission to leave the Empire permanently. She says that I’ve served more than what could be expected of any man.”

“You won’t mind sharing the High Priestess’s official release? After I was hoodwinked by you last time, I’m not taking any chances.”

I realize this is the price I have to pay if he’s going to give me Georgiana’s whereabouts. I get out my IC and transfer the formal proclamation from the High Priestess. I wait while he verifies its authenticity and reads it.

“I’m content,” he says. “You know I blame myself for this. Had I stopped you or made you take the binding tattoos...”

“She is my true other half,” I say. “I should have never left her side and you’re right; we should have taken the binding tattoos. I’m sorry I lied.”

Fox shows me his IC. It’s a contract for the Alliance Force. It’s renouncing my position in House Zu for the humbler House of the High Priestess and a demotion in rank. “This is a generational mission. You will never live in the Empire. You will never retire. You will die here on this base or on Earth. Your children will also serve the Empire here. Are you prepared to make this commitment Imperial Fleet Reserve Commander Axl of Imperial House Zu?”

All the men working in the docking bay have stopped to watch us now. I feel their eyes on me. I read through the contract and then agree with my fingerprint and my GC number. I take off the ID necklaces around my neck, one being the Empress’s personal seal, and hand them to Fox. “I renounce my position in the Empire. I am no longer a member of Imperial House Zu.” I feel both sad and as if a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I bow and use Fox’s title to show his superiority over me now. “Commander Fox, I would be honored to serve the Alliance Force.”

Commander Fox takes my necklace and then hands me a new one. It reads, ‘Officer Axl Alliance Force.’ I put it on. Then he hands me one more. It says, ‘Georgiana Smith, Alliance Force.’ I grasp it tightly.

“Caroline already has your quarters ready. I want to remind you; you are no longer imperial. They are standard family quarters near her family’s.”

“We will be grateful to have them. Thank you. Please have some clothing made for her. I’m assuming there is a budget for that?”

Commander Fox nods. “I’m transferring you her location. Take an Alliance Force transport, it has a holo to look like a human land vehicle and do your best not to make a scene.”

“Thank you, Commander Fox. After everything you didn’t have to.”

“No, I didn’t have to but what’s the point of life if people aren’t allowed to make mistakes?”

“I only hope Georgiana will be as forgiving.”

“Let the goddesses guide you, Axl.”

I make sure my human holo is activated and I fly down to Earth. The Alliance Force transport takes the form of an SUV as I begin driving towards Georgiana’s coordinates. I park and then walk in the entrance to the stress center. I see Officer Sem there too. Before I walk over to the receptionist, I greet him.

Officer Sem gives me a formal piece of paper. “You need this.”

I look down at the heavy paper. It’s a marriage certificate. It’s dated April 30, 2024, Walpurgisnacht.

“Thank you.”

Officer Sem touches my shoulder and then leaves without another word.

I approach the receptionist now armed with our marriage certificate. I switch on my translator to speak English. It’s stealth voice for voice so it should sound like the I’m speaking her language to her, “Hello. My name is Axl. My wife Georgiana Smith was admitted here…”

“Do you have any identification or proof of your relationship?”

I show her our marriage certificate. “She’s unfortunately terribly ill. She had a fall recently and lost some of her short term memories.”

“Oh poor thing,” the receptionist says. “Do you have any photo ID?”

I pretend to check my pockets and pull out a micro hypnotizer. I use it discreetly on the receptionist while saying, “I’d be much obliged if you could tell me what room Georgiana Smith is in.”

“She’s in room 453. However, visiting hours are almost over. You only have ten minutes left. Otherwise you can come back tomorrow. I could let her know you were here.”

“I’ll go and see her now, thank you.” I make my way up to the fourth floor and find her room. I knock softly and then enter without waiting for her confirmation. I had half hoped that’d she be asleep then I could just leave with her and explain everything on the base after her memories were returned to her. But as luck would have it she’s awake.

Georgiana looks up at me, fear crosses her face. It breaks my heart. She doesn’t know me at all. But then again, she’s seeing me as a human man. It’s the wrong skin tone.

“I think you’ve got the wrong room.”

“No, I am sure this is the correct room. You’re Georgiana Smith. You’re my wife.”

“I most certainly am not your wife. I’ve never seen you before in my life.”

I want to take her into my arms and hold her, but I don’t dare. I don’t want to scare her. “I am your husband; you just don’t remember. You had your memory erased when you returned to Earth. But that child you are carrying is our child. I’ve come here to take you home. To our home.”

She smiles but it’s not a real smile. “You’re a little bit too good-looking to be an alien. Is this a joke on me being put on by the nurses? It’s not funny. You tell them that. They can whisper all they want about me being crazy and saying I can’t be pregnant because I’ve never had sex before. That’s the truth.”

“You had never had sex before me. I’m sorry you can’t remember it. But we made a holo so that we could or rather I could always remember.”

“Excuse me? I doubt I would’ve ever made a video of myself having sex.”

I’m racking my brain trying to think of something to convince her this isn’t a joke at her expense. “The cabin in Germany. We met in Germany. The night of the bonfires. You had a green cloak and your hair was braided in the traditional style.”

Her hand goes up to her long blonde hair which is down around her shoulders now. “Traditional style?” she asks me but in a way that sounds familiar to her.

“Yes. That’s where we met.”

“Then what?”

“You left Earth with me.”

“Then why am I here now?”

“You didn’t want to live on an alien planet.”

“And rightly so.”

“But now,” I gesture to her abdomen, “You must come with me. Your baby is half alien. Please Georgiana.” I extend my hand.

“You could be anyone, I don’t believe you’re an alien. What if I was running from you?”

“I am an alien to you and you certainly weren’t running from me.” I try to think if I have anything on me that might convince her. I quickly unbutton my tunic and I show her her old ID necklace. “This one says my name and this one says ‘Georgiana.’”

“I can’t read that. It looks like writing from the Voynich Manuscript which no one has ever been able to decipher. You could tell me it said anything. Look I’m not into sci-fi cosplay.”

I hear a nurse coming down the corridor announcing that visiting hours are over. “Georgiana, please come with me now.”

“I’m not leaving with you. I don’t know you. I don’t even know if you’re real or a figment of my imagination from the medication.”

I look at her bedside table and there is some human medicine there. All my instincts kick in and I decide to just take her. I’ve no idea what they are doing to her here, but I don’t trust any doctors but Alliance doctors.

In a last ditch effort to persuade her I produce the marriage certificate Officer Sem just gave to me.

“I don’t remember anything that happened that month.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

Then she gets out of bed and I expect her to hug me, instead she hits me hard in the center of my chest. “You’re my husband and you just left me with amnesia and pregnant?”

“I didn’t know you were pregnant until three days ago. I’ve traveled non-stop across half the galaxy for the past three days to get here as fast as I could.”

“Visiting hours are over,” a nurse in the corridor says.

“Come with me and I’ll explain everything. Georgiana you wanted to return to Earth.”

“Why would I leave my husband if you were a good man?”

“Because you hated my sister and my mother and my alien world. The Empress imprisoned you…”

“That’s an impressive imagination you’ve got.”

Her words are sarcastic but her brown eyes look indecisive. Goddesses help me, I do the same thing I did on Walpurgis night. I use my stealth transport and take her with me. We transport into the Alliance Force’s SUV.

“I feel nauseous,” she says as I lay her down across the seats.

“I’m taking you to a doctor. A real doctor.”

I start the transport and as soon as I can we take flight and are in orbit heading towards the moon. It only takes a ten minutes to reach Alliance Force. Once there, I carry Georgiana to the medical center where the doctor and Caroline are waiting for her.

I lay her down on a medical bed. “When will she remember me?”

“Why are you all speaking a different language?” Georgiana asks.

“Because you’re no longer on Earth,” Caroline replies in English. “It’s okay. We know you and you’ve been here before.”

Georgiana looks horrified. “You’ve abducted me before?”

“Georgiana, you can trust me and everyone here,” I tell her with my translator still on English, but I’m still prepared for her to run any minute as is her custom.

No sooner had I thought it than she springs from the medical bed and tries to run. But she doesn’t get far. I catch her before she can leave the medical center. “See I know you well enough to know what you do.” She feels so good in my arms and I don’t want to let her go, but she’s squirming. “Now please allow the doctor to give you your memories back so that we can discuss everything.”

Georgiana looks into my eyes like she may know me but then looks away. It must be strange for her. Her physical body recognizes me but her mind doesn’t. Regardless, after a few seconds of confusion, I place her on the medical bed but I don’t let go of her shoulders. I’m under the impression that if I don’t hold her, she will run. And I don’t want the doctor to restrain her. I’d rather do it myself.

“Had I been here when you two first came through, there is no way you could have convinced me you were married,” the doctor says while fitting her with a translator again.

“They were in love,” Caroline interjects. “Without telepathy we couldn’t have known that they weren’t really married. You didn’t see them.”

The doctor shakes his head as he works. “I’m using the same translator she had before. It’s better for the mind as it’s familiar.” After a few minutes, the doctor says, “Georgiana I’m going to use my medical skills to relax you. It’s not good for you to be so upset. You need to save your energy to be angry for Axl for what he’s done.”

I give the doctor a look.

“I’m taking care of my patient.”

“What’s he done besides abduct me and is holding me down now?” Georgiana asks.

“Good the translator is working,” the doctor says casually. “As for Axl, you’ll find out soon enough. Nothing too terrible though. Now do I have your permission to restore your memories?”

“You can do that?”

“Yes. I was the one who erased them in the first place.”

“Please, there’s nothing I want more than to remember. It’s been terrible not knowing what happened during that month.”

“You didn’t give her a memory filler? She’s known all this time something was wrong?” The doctor is too old to make such a rookie mistake. I know he did it on purpose. “Why would you punish her like that?”

“By the goddesses Axl, use your mind.”

“We knew she was pregnant but we wanted the goddesses’ will to play out,” Caroline says. “It’s protocol. Sometimes people are unable to follow the goddesses’ light without help.”

“But I didn’t know how I became pregnant,” Georgiana interrupts. “How did I become pregnant? I’ve never had sex.”

“You have,” Axl says. “And once the doctor restores your memories, you will remember.”

“Did you rape me?”

“No,” I say horrified. “Return her memories this instant,” I order the doctor loudly. “I’m tired of these games.”

“Calm yourself or you’ll be sent to the brig. You’re no longer imperial Axl. You’re an officer here,” the doctor says. “And I out rank you.”

“Axl, please let the doctor work,” Caroline says, motioning me to back away.

I reluctantly let go of Georgiana and step back a few paces as I watch the doctor work.