Page 6 of Alien Knight Steals the Bride

“Yes! Yes, this is my preference,” Juliette nodded vehemently. “Are we headed for Earth? What happened to the other ship? Can you contact Earth from here?” She’d never felt so completely out of her depth. She was talking to a spaceship. Was she having a really vivid dream? The lucid kind where part of your brain was aware that you were dreaming? If so, then she was the captain. What did captains do in these situations? Juliette swallowed her fear, copying her favorite late night sci-fi show. Straightening her shoulders, trying not to sound too ridiculous, she said, “Uh.. I need a status update?”

“I have set a course for Earth. Arrival time is four days at current speed. Three small vessels are in pursuit. Automatic evasion program running. I have contacted Earth and requested immediate communication with all Doctor Jorvins. Awaiting response.”

Juliette slumped in relief. Trembling with emotion, she checked Torrin’s other injuries, torn by her inability to help. To heal. Another tear slipped out.Broken bones. Raging fever. Now another life-threatening injury, and I can’t even help with the pain.How can he survive this, too? She leaned close, taking his large hand in hers and willing him to hear her words. “Hold on. Do you hear me? Help is coming. Just hold on!”

The A.I. voice announced, “Receiving secure video transmission from Earth. Accept?”

“Yes! Where?” Juliette rose from her position and followed instructions toward the monitor. A large man in a dark green uniform stood patiently in the viewscreen.

“This is Doctor Jorvin,” he began. “With whom am I speaking?”

Juliette raced to the screen. “Doctor Jorvin! It’s me! Juliette Rosen! From Earth!”

Doctor Jorvin’s eyes widened in shock. “Nurse Rosen? We thought you died in the attack, were still buried in the wreckage!”

“Please! I don’t have time to explain, but I need your help!”

“Of course. Anything. How may I assist you?” he asked.

“I’m okay, but my friend needs help. I need your advice.” Juliette listed Torrin’s injuries, describing the charred wound on Torrin’s back as best she could, finishing with, “I have no medical supplies. I don’t know what kind of weapon it was. Please. Can you help?”

“Without examining him myself, I can’t give a true diagnosis,” he said, hesitation in his voice. “You said he’s bleeding from other injuries but not that one? And it’s growing?”

“Yes. It’s black, like dry gangrene, but without the smell. I think it’s something else. Not a normal looking wound. I wanted to talk to you because I think he’s Caldorian. He has markings like your people.”

Doctor Jorvin nodded thoughtfully, his eyes full of concern. “I see. What you’re describing sounds like the result of a Ziphrion blaster. If you’re unable to reach medical treatment soon, the wound will continue to grow, eating away at the flesh until reaching vital organs, causing multiple organ failure and sepsis.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head sadly. “I’m sorry that I don’t have better news. Does he have family we can contact?”

“I don’t know. We were being held on a Vilitos ship,” Juliette replied sadly.

Suddenly the doctor was gone from the screen. In his place appeared a very large, fierce-looking man with dark hair and intense, icy blue eyes. “What is his name?”

“Torrin,” Juliette replied without hesitation, even though her instincts warned her this man was dangerous. Very. Very dangerous. “Please, can you help?”

“Listen carefully,” he said, urgency in his voice. “We’re tracking this signal. We know exactly where you are. You’ll never make it to Earth before he dies. There aren’t many things that can kill your friend, but a Ziphrion blast is one of them,” he said grimly. “You must reroute to Mora Five immediately.”

Juliette’s heart thudded. “Okay. Then what?” she asked when he didn’t continue. Instead, he nodded at something or someone she couldn’t see beyond the monitor before turning back to her.

“Once there, you must find and procure a liquid substance called maju water,” he instructed.

“Water. Okay. I’m good at getting things I need,” Juliette replied, very much relieved to have a plan of action and a means of saving Torrin.

“Do not celebrate yet,” he cautioned. “Maju water is made from maju stones, which is a natural resource on very few planets: Mora Five not being one of them.”

Juliette frowned. “I’m sorry. I don’t see the problem. I’m sure I can find something worth trading.”

“Intergalactic law forbids the sale of natural resources from any planet. We trade technology. Information. Synthetic material. Voluntary laborers.”

She swallowed past the constriction in her throat. “You’re saying I can only get it on the black market?”

The man’s blue eyes hardened even more. “That is exactly what I’m saying. Mora Five has a thriving black market, and an even bigger blood market. If anyone has a supply of maju water, you’ll most likely find it there. Mora Five is an unforgiving planet, but you must go there, figure out who has maju water, and get it from them. No one will stop you from landing, as there is no police force willing to stay on the planet and provide security. Use any means necessary to get that water into Torrin. Do you understand? Any means necessary.”

Juliette nodded. “I understand.”

“One more thing.”

“Yes?”

“Memorize this,” he ordered, holding up a sign with strange alien symbols. “Show the dealer onlyafteryou get the water.Ifyou get it at all. I’m sending you there based solely on a rumor that maju water can be found there. Don’t get caught. Torrin will never survive a longer trip. This is our only hope to save him. It’s better if they don’t know you’re human but do whatever you have to do for mission success. We’ll rendezvous with you as soon as we can.”

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