Modified: the Alien's Mate

Chapter Five

While Regina was wrestling with her internal conflicts, Edgar was sitting on a bed in the medical bay and watching his chief medical officer Albert Reyes as he prepared medication for him.  The harsh light in the room, made him squint briefly. Ever since, he docked he was having trouble with the lights he thought, his mind went to his prisoner and he contemplated how he was going to interact with her.

“If you keep appearing in my medical room like this, I shall just have to write your name on a bed here,” the doctor said, looking at him briefly from over his shoulder. He went back to his task. “You have barely recovered from your last mission and here you are again.”

            He did not believe Reyes wanted him to respond, instead, he stared at the blue tunic of his uniform and wondered what it was about humans which made them think that they should give sage advice when they deemed themselves of a mature age. Albert Reyes was in his fifties, a youngster compared to him, yet he was always treating Edgar as if he were the younger of them.

            Physiologically, he looked nothing over thirty, yet he was seventy years.  One time, Reyes had even told him that he wanted to find the reason the Karans did not look the age they were. He had said he would bottle the formula and sell it to humans because they had been able to eradicate diseases and made breakthroughs but had never found the secret to immortality.  

           “Must you keep treating me as a youngster?” Edgar asked. “I think you like to forget that I am the captain of this ship and can blast you into space if I want to.”

Reyes came towards him with a hypo-pen in his hand. “I suggest you reconsider doing anything drastic, I am the only one who knows you the most,” he stated, jabbing him in the leg with more force than was necessary then went back to his worktable.

        Edgar pinched the bridge of his nose and rolled his shoulders hoping to ease the tension in them. His eyes went to the nearby medical bed with its insistent humming and glared at it. Usually, his sensitive ears could filter out the noise, but every sound was surprisingly too loud. There was a nagging headache stuck behind his left eye. Normally, he did not suffer from such maladies so the size of this one was a whopper. Closing his eyes, he exhaled deeply as he rubbed his temple.

“Are you in pain?” Reyes asked.

He did not open his eyes, the lights inside the medical room felt intense and they had never bothered him before.  “It’s not from the wound. Suddenly, I have an almighty headache.”

            He felt more than saw the doctor’s concern across the room. “Would you like something for it?”

            Now the pain was more insistent, and he pressed harder on his temples. “Anything would be good now, doc.”

            Normally, he did not like the doctor’s penchant for plying him with medication any sign of his distress but in this instant. He would take whatever the doctor ordered.

            Within seconds was near him and pressing the hypo-pen into his arm.

            “Do you think I had some reaction to the drug you gave me before?” he asked, opening his eyes, and fixing them on Reyes’s face.

            The doctor shook his head. “It is the same medication I have given you each time you were injured. It helps with the healing process.”

            He considered the doctor's words, but he could feel the pain behind his eye begin to ease. “I guess you’re not a quack after all doc,” he muttered grudgingly.

            “If I were, you wouldn’t have kept me around for so long.”

It had been on his first trip to earth that he had met Albert Reyes, he had been a young doctor who had a keen interest in Karans. At first, he had been suspicious of a human who wanted to learn about his kind. At that time, humans had not accepted their kind seeking refuge on their planet after the Cascade had destroyed millions.

            He had taken a liking to the young Reyes, though he had reservations about his motives for his interest in his kind. It was years later that he had learned to trust the man. When he had finally accepted a command, he had asked Reyes to be his chief medical officer. The human had accepted the job and had been his doctor since. Onboard his ship the doctor was one of the most trusted members of his crew. He was also his confidant.

            “Did you find what you were looking for on Newah?” Reyes asked, watching him.

“It was a successful trip.”

            “How successful could it be since you came back in this condition?”

His lips lifted at the side. “Regina Wilde is on board as we speak.”

            Edgar tugged at the high collar of his shirt.

The doctor leaned closer. “Have you spoken to her about helping you?” he asked, lowering his voice though none of his aides was in the room.

He shook his head and frowned. “Not yet, I had to see to my injury.”

            Reyes stepped away from him and his eyes narrowed at him. “Is there something more you’re not saying?” he asked suspiciously. “I never know you to put off anything, especially this.”

            Edgar shrugged. “It was not the right time to ask her.”

Reyes was correct, though he had told her she was under arrest, apart from putting a proximity bracelet on her he had made no other arrangements to get her imprisoned by his superiors.

            “So, tell me, what is the problem, there must be one if you are hesitating to speak with her.”

            “Finding my mother’s ship is a very important matter to me, but something about Regina Wilde has been bothering me.” He let the doctor hear the worry in his voice. Edgar did not believe Reyes would think any less of him being a captain if he shared his concerns especially about this. Reyes was the one who always encouraged him to find what happened to his mother’s ship all those years ago.

            “Anything specific about her that causes concern?”

The vertical ridges between his eyes creased.  “I placed myself in the line of fire for her.”

            “Isn’t that what a captain does, they are trained to protect those weaker than themselves.”

He scoffed. “If it was so simple it would be better,” he said. “But no, the moment I found her being surrounded by the Allarians I wanted to rip them to shreds. As a captain that is not what my first instincts should be.” Edgar met Reyes's eyes. “It’s her, there was an overwhelming urge to protect, even more than what I was trained to do.”

            Reyes tugged at the shoulder-length strands of his salt and pepper hair. A sure sign that he was troubled by what he had said.

            “Did you experience any other emotions?” Reyes asked, his eyes never leaving Edgar’s face as if he was trying to piece together the jumble of his thoughts and emotions.

            Should he tell him about the unwanted attraction he felt to her despite knowing that she was an ex-convict and a murder suspect.

            “Well,” he hesitated. Reyes's eyes widened as if he was surprised that he was not his usually brusque self.

            “Go on, say it. How bad can it be?”

Before he could say it, the door to the medical room open and two medical aides walked in. The moment they saw the captain sitting on the medical bed, they diverted their gazes.

“Porter and Rogers, take this to engineering and give it Stowe.” Reyes went to his desk, took his portable communication device, and handed it to Rogers.  The young woman took the device, saluted, and retreated the way they came.

            “You were saying, captain?”

Edgar cleared his throat. “I think I’m attracted to her,” he confessed, his voice lowered as if he would be smitten by a deity for admitting this.

            “Is that right?” Reyes said. He heard the amusement in the man’s voice, and he scowled at him. “Why is this funny?”

Reyes shrugged, but he did not lose the sudden sparkle that had appeared in his drab brown eyes. “I have known you going on twenty years, I have never heard those words coming from your lips. And you don’t believe I should be amused?” he said. “I think this is the most amusing thing I have heard in a long time.”

“Come on doc, I am being serious.”

“I know you are,” Reyes answered sobering up. “Knowing you as I do, nothing has shaken that resolve of yours to remain celibate. Yet not even half a day has passed and you’re telling me you feel some attraction to someone you have only just met.” The doctor scrutinised him. “I think this is unheard of,” he admitted, with a frown. He hesitated as if a thought had occurred to him and he was puzzled over the conclusion he had come to.

            “You have some idea. Tell me,” he commanded. His voice was harder than he expected it to be.

            His tone made the doctor’s tense. “I think I may have a theory about what’s happening.”

            “Go on,” he urged impatiently.

Reyes fiddled with his hair again and it made Edgar tense. This was not going to be what he wanted to hear, he was sure.

            “Since I know you and your history. I reckon you wouldn’t have told me about this attraction unless it was stronger than anything that you have felt before, am I correct?” he asked, looking at Edgar for confirmation.

            Edgar nodded. “I have kept my emotions under control all these years with meditation. I have tried doing my mantras, but nothing seems to be helping.”

            “Just as I thought then.” The doctor seems to bounce on his toes. A sudden shiver went up to his spine as the doctor leaned in closer. “I think she’s your kindred soul,” he pronounced as if this was a certainty.

            “Do not be absurd Albert.” Edgar only used the doctor’s name when he was incredulous. “Humans and Karans cannot be soul mated.” His voice was forceful and filled with conviction.

            “That’s not true,” Reyes answered, shaking his head. Shoving his hands into the front pockets on his tunic, he studied Edgar. “Have you never heard of the geneticist Rhea Sol of the Luna Sol Institute?”

“I cannot say I know of this person.”

            “Rhea Sol theorises that a human female can have their DNA modified with the DNA of a potential Karan suitor for a mating bond.”

            Edgar folded his arms. “This sounds ludicrous to me. Why would anyway agree to get their DNA changed?” He shook his head. “It is an illogical theory.”

            Reyes was still studying him, and he shifted on the bed. He did not like the way the man was looking at him as if he were one of his pet fishes he kept in a small bowl on his desk. His eyes drifted to the goldfish, then back at the doctor.

            “Whether you believe it or do not, I have studied Rhea Sol’s research and it is viable. I think she may even have carried out a quantitative study.” The doctor pursed his lips. “But she was killed before I got any more information on the research she was doing.”

            Edgar pressed his lips together and surveyed Reyes. “How do you know so much about this doctor and her research?”

            “You know my interests are on Karans, I came across her research on one of the seminars I go to, she was a rather stern lady, but she was brilliant.”

            “You sound as if you had a crush on her, doc.”

“Maybe, but as you say humans and Karans are not known to be compatible.”

            It seemed as if they had gone off the topic. The medication he was given made him feel more himself again and the small sting of pain from the blast was almost gone. Lifting his shirt, he poked at the healed skin. Before long not even the outer skin would look blemished, he thought as he dropped his shirt back into place.

            “Doctor, it appears you have not given me an adequate response to my earlier query.”

            “Oh yes,” he responded as if he too had been lost in thought. “I think you need to see where this attraction leads until I can find out more about Rhea Sol’s research,” he advised, then he paused. “And another thing, do you know anything about Raptor Sol’s whereabouts? Rhea Sol was his mother.”

            Raptor Sol, he had not heard the name in two years. He had been his second in command on board his vessel until that incident at the spaceport drove him to resign from the Intergalactic Space Corp. Edgar still felt guilt for not managing that situation well, but at the time he had gotten a good lead on his mother’s ship and in his pursuit of this he had let his friend leave without trying too hard to stop him. It was something he deeply regretted and if he had the opportunity, he would make it up to his comrade.

            “The last I heard he had returned to Newah.”

“He could have told us much about his mother’s research.”

“I do not think you will learn anything from him. I can tell you that he and his family were estranged when he served on board.”

            “That’s a shame,” the doctor said his eyes downcast. “

“Doctor, is there any other way to find out about this attraction business without Raptor Sol’s help?”

            The doctor bobbed his head like a buoy on the roiling sea. “If you bring her here, I can check if she has any of her DNA re-sequenced. Alternatively, you can ask her if she knows Rhea Sol.”

            Edgar scowled. He could not see himself asking her about this. It was too personal. And he also had to consider that though he may feel an attraction to her, she may not feel the same towards him. And there were other factors to consider as well. The last thing he needed was this complication in his life, but if what the doctor said could be true, a small part of him wanted to know. Why? Because it would give him hope. Hope was something he had thought was dead within him.

            “Reyes, I will bring her to do a physical.”

A grimace came over the doctor’s face. “Taking the easy option, eh?”

Sliding off the bed, he gave the doctor what he hoped was a silent rebuke, but the doctor only shook his head. “What would you do if you found out she was the one,” he said. His voice was low and interested as if his answer was of vital importance.

            Reluctantly, he said. “I would have to see what happens with your examination first before I commit to a course of action.”

            “Edgar Wolfblood, always the diplomat,” he chided as he walked towards the door. Though he heard the comment he did not pause or answer, pretending instead that he had not heard it.

            He did not take offence to what his doctor said because he knew what he said was to get him to decide. Reyes’ mission in life was to see him settled with a family and though he had told the human it was not possible; he was afraid the man still had this hope for him. It appears as if Regina Wilde was going to be the embodiment of Reyes’ hope for him.

            Upon leaving the medical bay, his steps were purposeful and steadier than they were when he had entered the ship before. The pain and headache he had were gone, but his thoughts were a jumble of mismatched scenes that he could not fit together.

            Members of his crew saluted with their arms to their chests as he walked past engineering towards the elevation tubes. As he rode the tube to the officer’s deck, a flutter of nerves made him clench his fists at his sides and will them away.

            The doctor had stirred up thoughts he had not allowed himself to consider since the demise of his spouse more than fifty years before. He had chosen to live a celibate life because he felt this was better for him at the time and he had managed it too. So how could a short meeting with a human female turn his whole life upside down? It was unheard of. Disturbed by his thoughts, he willed himself to be his usual self. He told himself it would suit no purpose to think about things that could not happen especially when this was not his mission.

            When he had searched for Regina Wilde, it was to make a deal with her. To get all the information she had on Samuel Beur. In exchange, he would offer her a thorough investigation into her friend’s murder. He would offer immunity from prosecution if she helped him. Never had he imagined that he would have other worries than what he had accounted for.

            An audible breath left him as the door pinged two minutes later and stopped on the officer’s deck. As he disembarked, an off-duty officer saluted him.

            Whilst he was wrestling with should be done, he came to stand at the door of her room. Taking calming breaths, he attempted to dull his senses to her. Though the air in his ship was filtered and the doctor had given all the Karan on board shots to prevent their sense being clogged by too many odours, he could easily pick up hers through the door.

            Every other sound faded into the background as he c****d his ears and listened for her, she was waiting. Edgar’s lips parted as warmth spread through his body and the thought of her waiting for him, but he quickly dismissed the feeling.

            There were more important things than his desires, he told himself, but a part of him could not get over the longing.