***
Dawn locked and bolted the door behind her, dropped her handbag on the floor, and slid her coat off as she walked along the hallway in the dark. She brushed past the table towards the faint light from the lounge window, guiding herself with her left hand on the wall. She hesitated apprehensively in the doorway before stepping through and towards the small grey creature standing silently in the middle of the room.
“You should not have come here,” she said.
He projected his thoughts. //I need to see you personally.//
“Last night was very dangerous. He nearly caught you in the alleyway.”
//I had to find out about Jensu.//
Tears welled in Dawn’s eyes as she choked back her emotions. She crumpled to the floor, tears streaming down her face. “I am sorry!” she sobbed, “I am so sorry.”
The creature walked slowly towards her. //Please don’t cry.//
She lay sobbing hysterically for several moments. The creature knelt down and gently stroked her hair. He took her head tenderly in his arms. //Don’t cry, my child. You have done well.//
“I murdered Jensu! She needed my help and I couldn’t do anything,” Dawn blubbered through the tears.
//It was not your fault.//
“She looked up at me, her eyes pleading for help!”
//Don’t torment yourself.//
Dawn lay with her head in his lap, tears falling in a puddle. “She looked up at me — totally helpless. I held her in my arms as you two used to hold me as a baby. For all the times you both cared for me growing up on our ship. Cared for me like my own mother and father, the only true family I have ever known. The first time she ever needed me, I failed.”
For a moment he was still, his own tears falling on her hair. //Jensu and I loved you as our own child for all those many years. She was as proud of you as I am today.// He lifted Dawn’s head and put his hands under her shoulders. //Stand up tall and proud as she would remember you.//
Dawn rose to her feet. He continued, //Jensu, my companion, died for our cause. She knew the risks.// He squeezed Dawn’s hands tightly. //She would be glad that it was you who was there for her at the end.//
Dawn’s lip quivered, “But I could not save her,” she wailed.
//You saved her from the Earth Beings. They would have used her pain and injuries against her in an attempt to extract information.//
“I do not deserve your forgiveness, but I will work especially hard to avenge your loss.”
//We do not seek vengeance, only honor. How does the rest of your mission proceed?//
“Tommy will be safely delivered to our people and will grow up as a normal Earth Being child.”
//Excellent. And your position? Do the Earth Beings suspect anything?//
“No,” answered Dawn. “They are looking to a threat from the heavens and want me to answer their many questions.”
//Are you still able to carry out your mission, or do you need to be replaced?//
“I shall be fine. I have to protect Zolti and return him home.”
//You have done well. Our faith in you has been well rewarded.//
She bowed. “You give me honor that I do not deserve.”
//You have earned it. It would be worthy of our princess herself.//
Dawn bent on one knee and bowed. “How is my mother,” she asked. “Is she well?”
//The princess is well and would be very proud of you.//
“I dream of the day when I may see her again.”
//When our mission is complete you will.// He raised his hand across his chest in a salute. //To destiny, fulfilled.//
Dawn returned the salute, “to destiny – and our new home!”
To be continued …
Other stories by Anthony Sunderland
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’59
Dare you come along for the white knuckle ride of the century?
What if the first mission to the stars goes horribly wrong?
January 24th, 2059: Captain Donald Lewis, commander of the Icarus mission, promised his daughter, Janine, that he would return from the nineteen month mission in plenty of time for her 21st birthday.
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Six months later, Valiant returned to our solar system; badly damaged and in danger of disintegrating at any moment. The last surviving crew member died in the arms of the rescue party before she could tell them what had happened.
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