Sacrifice

Chapter Eleven

“Dad!” Judy’s voice cut across his wavering consciousness.  John looked down and saw that he was on his hands and knees.  Confused, he didn’t remember falling.  “Dad,” she repeated anxiously, closer this time. 

Shaking his head to clear his befuddled thoughts, John took her hand and slowly stood up.  When they had left the hangar, Judy had guessed that it was a two-hour walk to the safety of the mountains.  John supposed that it would have been, had he been blessed with his normal human capabilities.  However, that was not the case now, and with each step he had taken, it seemed that a portion of his strength had slipped into the sandy ground.  He was desperately in need of nourishment, he was exhausted and the heat of the merciless sun felt as though it was trying to beat him down.   It was like a five-pound mallet banging against his body.  Every muscle ached and he felt pain he had not experienced since his change.

“Dad, we are so close.  Less than a quarter of a mile and then we’ll be in the shade and we can hide and wait for night,” Judy explained.  

A quarter of a mile might just as well be two thousand miles.  Clutching on to her shoulder, he tried to focus on the welcome shadows she was pointing out.  So far away....  “Judy, I can’t make it.  I’m sorry.  I wish things were different.  So tired...”

“Come on, Dad, you can make it.  Just hang on to my shoulder,” she admonished him.  She had been appalled at the speed with which the sun had debilitated her father.  She cursed what he had become; she cursed how it had changed him. 

Feeling his hand still on her shoulder, she turned her thoughts back to their present situation.  Grabbing his arm, she brought it across her shoulder.  “Dad, lean on me.  We can make it together.  The sun will be setting in just a little bit.” 

“Judy, don’t think I can do it,” he murmured. 

“Hush and save your strength for walking,” she told him tersely.

“Nothing…left…to save,” he said with a weak laugh.  “Being followed.  Go to the mountains.  Wait for help.”  Suddenly she staggered under his full weight as he slid back to the ground, unconscious.  He felt so hot, and she wondered what to do.  In that instant, Penny’s words came back out of the recesses of her memory.  ‘He did something like that for us?’ and she felt hot tears of shame for the revulsion she had been harboring for Dad and for what he had become.

Looking toward the mountains, Judy saw a tree nearby.  That would afford a slight bit of shade.  Perhaps the Vandir-ent and their Blandorian friends would not reach them before the sun set.  Dad was a big man, and by the time she had dragged him to the tree, she was sweating profusely.  Then she wondered if the setting sun would be enough.  He had to be hungry.  Digging into her satchel, she drew out a thermos and took a drink of the tepid water.  She splashed a bit on his face, hoping that it would cool him down.  “Dad, Dad!” she called out and watched as his eyes slowly opened.  “Dad, I know that part of your exhaustion is from being hungry.  I want you to get some nourishment.  I’m willing,” she said, inwardly shuddering, but mentally bracing herself.

As his mind perceived what she was offering, he recoiled as if he had been slapped.  “No, NO!” he said hoarsely.  “Never.  Not from my own children....  never…”  His eyes closed and Judy watched helplessly as he lapsed into whatever unconsciousness vampires go into when they are deprived of what they need.  In despair, she dug around in her satchel and drew out the knife she had picked up during the fight in the transport hanger.  Finding a stick nearby, she started whittling as the tears trickled hotly down her cheeks.  At the very least, she would have a bit of protection when the Vandir-ent attacked.  She had seen herself on this endeavor as a sort of vampire slayer, a self-righteous judge, jury and executioner out to get back at those who were the cause of her father’s ruin.  Now she was only concerned about protecting him.

Dad needed blood to replenish his strength.  He could use hers, but he wouldn’t.  There were no animals nearby that she could kill....  Her thoughts turned in endless circles.  Dad needed her blood, but how could she get him to take it?  Looking at the knife, she remembered the medical classes that she had taken in preparation for the flight.  Veins and arteries.  Digging furiously, she pawed around in the satchel, found a scarf and pulled it out.  All the innocent little tourist items were beginning to pay off.  

She took the lid off the thermos and set it nearby.  Thinking of the lecture on anatomy, she took the knife and slid it lightly across her arm in a place that she was sure was near a vein.  The blood began flowing slowly, but steadily, dripping into the cup that she held under her arm.  It wouldn’t be much, but maybe it would be enough to give Dad the energy he needed to reach the refuge of the rocky hills. 

Finally the cup was almost full and Judy began to feel weak.  She ignored her discomfort.  Carefully laying the cup to one side, she took the scarf and bound her arm as best as she could one-handed, pulling it tight with her teeth.  Blood seeped slightly, but the wound was already beginning to close up.

“Dad, I have some nourishment for you.”  She couldn’t quite bring herself to say ‘blood.’  She held the cup near his mouth, wondering if its very proximity might bring him out of his comatose-like condition.  “Dad!” she cried desperately.  Remotely, Judy had begun hearing vehicles in the distance and knew that they were coming closer.  His eyes opened slowly, as though the very act was tiring.  “Dad, I was able to get something for you to drink,” she said, trying to will him into consciousness with her voice.  Finally responding, he took it eagerly, grasping the cup with trembling hands, taking in its life-giving qualities much as a man dying in the desert takes a saving cup of water.  

He drained the last bit, looking disappointed that it was gone so soon.  Then he gazed steadily at her.  She held her bound arm behind her.  “Fortunately an animal crossed my path and stood still for a couple of minutes,” she lied, smiling to reassure him. 

Nodding, he listened and looked over her shoulder at the approaching dust cloud. The sun was just setting behind the mountains.  Although still slightly weak, he felt energy surging with each beat of his normally dormant heart, and with the darkening of the Blandorian sky. “I sure wish you kids would listen to me, but I’m grateful for what you’ve done.  I know how hard that must have been for you,” John said.  In alarm, he realized their pursuers were much closer than he would have preferred.  “Let’s go.  Maybe we can still beat them.”  He took Judy’s outstretched hand and got to his feet.

They reached the rocks just ahead of their pursuers, and for the next hour in the deepening dusk, they dodged and hid among them.  Judy stumbled, and John grabbed her arm to steady her.  Feeling the damp scarf and hearing her sharp intake of breath, he turned to her, a look of horror on his face.  “You didn’t....”

“Yes, Dad, I did.  You made a decision that had to be made.  I also made a decision that had to be made.  I did it because I love you.  Isn’t that why you made your choice?” she asked him, tears gathering in her eyes. 

“Yes, Princess, it is.  Thank you,” he said huskily, taking her in his arms.  It was good to feel her acceptance.

“Dad!” she cried out.  Pivoting around he saw a Vandir-ent and a Blandorian approaching.

“How touching.  Your disgusting sentiments will cause your demise and she will provide me with my evening meal,” the vampire hissed as he sprang for John’s throat.

Pushing Judy behind him, John jerked his arm up to meet the alien’s attack.  He immediately discovered that his opponent was much stronger and this contest would soon be over quickly unless he figured out another way to defeat the vampire.

The Vandir-ent pressed closer and closer to him, his fangs gleaming.  There was not enough strength in his arms to hold his adversary off.  Shifting his balance, John reached behind the vampire and tripped him with his foot, falling on top of him.  Quickly pushing himself away, the professor rolled aside as a large dart hissed past his head.  The Blandorian hurriedly reloaded his gun for another shot, while John jumped to his feet.  With amazing speed, the Vandir-ent also leaped to his feet and grabbed him around the neck with his hands.  The grip was iron solid and kept squeezing tighter and tighter.  Out of the corner of his eye, John saw the Blandorian aim, saw the bluish tinted, warty-skinned alien’s finger squeeze the trigger.... 

Throwing himself toward the Vandir-ent, John swung him around just as the dart was released from the gun.  With a sickening thud, it buried itself in the back of his foe and on into the vampire’s heart.  Suddenly the Blandorian sank to the ground, and John saw Judy standing triumphant above the alien, a large rock in her hand.  Calmly she bent down and picked up the weapon.

Backtracking, the pair found a transport vehicle.  “If we are lucky, we can send a call to the Jupiter II and then get back into the hills before anyone else shows up here,” he told Judy.  His call was immediately answered.

“We’re in orbit, John.  The Robot is monitoring all frequencies and picked up your signal.  I’ll be down in the space pod shortly.  Can you hide near that location until I get there?” Don asked.

“Yes, we’ll be nearby.  How’s Maureen?” he asked. 

“Maureen only suffered a slight concussion.  She’s fine.  Oh, Arist said to tell you congratulations.”

“Arist?” John asked.

“Yeah, she’s here.  She said that Dreel will dock as soon as you two are back on board,” Don told him.  

John acknowledged and cut the communication.  Something was nagging him, and he couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was.  Nervous, he paced until he saw the glow of the Space Pod’s landing lights.  They were able to make it to the vehicle without incident, and soon the little ship was streaking toward the outer atmosphere.  Switching on the communicator, John called with the private signal that Dreel had given him access to. 

“Dreel, when are you going to dock?” John asked him.  “Is Arist with you?”  

“Of course she is, John.  We are meeting you near the asteroid ring, just as we had pre-planned.  Don’t you remember?” Dreel asked in a puzzled tone. 

“Dreel, we’ve got problems.  Rendezvous with the Jupiter II now.”  John abruptly cut the communications and turned to Judy.  “Do you still have that dart pistol?”  Don looked at him anxiously, but didn’t say anything.

“Yes, Dad.  Why?”

“Because we have a Vandir-ent on board,” he said. “She is in the perfect disguise, that of a friend.  Have it ready just in case, sweetheart.  Don’t do anything unless I tell you to.”

When the Space Pod was safely aboard the Jupiter II, Maureen threw herself into his arms and murmured in his ear.  “Oh, John, I was so worried when I heard that you had to walk out in the sun.”

“Judy saved me,” he whispered and then kissed her passionately.  He noticed the Vandir-ent in the background, and realized that she bore more than a striking resemblance to Arist.  He more fully understood why she had been invited on board the Jupiter II.  But he knew that she was an imposter.  Vampire vibes, he thought morosely. 

“Well, Arist,” he said, walking toward the vampire and reaching for her with outstretched hand.  “Dreel sent you over early to celebrate?” he asked innocently, taking her hand.  She acted unsure as to his motives.  Pivoting, he flipped her over his shoulder, ignoring the exclamations of the rest of the family. 

“Your act will not go unpunished, nur-Vandir.  After I destroy you, I will take your family and they will be mine,” the pseudo-Arist hissed as she leaped to her feet. 

“Back off, everyone,” John cried and then charged toward the Vandir-ent, propelling her to the ground again by virtue of the force of his momentum.  She easily rolled out from under him and leaped up, swinging her leg at him in a vicious kick that would have taken his kneecap off had it connected.  John grabbed her foot before it reached him, twisting it around and causing her to fall yet again.  As she scrambled up, he ran toward the far side of the cargo bay, hoping to lure her away from his family.  In her anger, she rushed after him, and with a furious cry she crashed against him, both of them hitting the bulkhead with a resounding impact. 

Her strength was every bit as great as the Vandir-ent he had fought on Blandor, and again he realized that he could not win a contest of brute force.  He saw, out of the corner of his eye, the control panel for the airlock.  Shifting his weight, he was able to move the battle closer to the door.  John felt muscles pop under the pressure of her grip and felt a waning of his endurance.  Another shifting of weight, and he was almost within reach of the airlock button.  A few more inches and he smashed his fist against the button.  The force of her momentum caused them both to fall through the door and it hissed shut behind them.   

In surprise, the vampire released him momentarily, and John threw himself at the emergency release button, hitting it just before her fist came down on his hand in a bone-shattering blow.  The door whooshed open, and she was pulled out by the sudden change of air pressure.  His familiarity with his own ship allowed him to clutch a handrail with his good hand.  As his grip began to loosen, the door slid shut, oxygen filled the chamber and with it a return to normal air pressure.  Exhaustion set in, causing him to sink to the floor where he rested his head on his knees.  When the inner door opened, Maureen was at his side immediately.  Don peered out the airlock window before turning his attention to John. 

“I’ll be fine as soon as I have a drink and some rest,” John assured his anxious wife and friend.  “I didn’t kill her by sending her out the airlock, you know,” he added quietly.  

“I know, John, but Dreel finished the job.  How did you know that Arist was a Vandir-ent?”

“That wasn’t Arist.  You were fooled by a very clever look-alike.  And that is why you invited her in, Don.  Very astute planning on their part.”

“Oh,” Don said in a small voice, chagrin etched on his face.  “I will leave you in Maureen’s hands, while I coordinate the docking on this end,” Don said.  John just nodded and allowed Maureen to help him down to the galley. 

Dreel entered the kitchen as John was finishing his ‘dinner.’ He watched for a moment while the human kept flexing his hand and looking into the mug.  Looking up at the nur-Vandir, John’s only comment was, “Do I have this to look forward to through eternity?”

“Things are not normally this intense, John, but you will get used to being Vandir,” Dreel said, awkward with the situation. 

“Are you sure?” John asked.  Dreel could say nothing, because he really didn’t know.

End chapter 11