Sacrifice

Chapter Six

The small contingent of shrouded figures held in their hands weapons that looked suspiciously like laser pistols, but John had no intention of waiting to find out.  Rushing in with his staff, he knocked away two of the weapons and clipped one of the guards across the head.  The next guard had a rod-like apparatus that he brought near the professor’s neck.  A charge of some kind of unknown energy surged down his side causing him to stumble as he grabbed the alien by the arm and threw him over his shoulder.  As soon as the guard was on the ground the sensation ceased.  John felt a slight weakness and he shook his head as he stood to his full height.  It passed quickly.  “Dreel, watch out for a rod-like weapon.  It has some kind of immobilizing effect,” he called out over his shoulder.

John turned and saw two of the guards engaging Dreel with knives.  Grabbing the one nearest him, he spun the alien around and decked him with a solid blow to the chin.  He was amazed at the power that he felt as he fought.  “Dad, look out!” Will shouted.  Pivoting, John felt, rather than saw the knife entering his lower back, but there was no pain.  Dropping to the ground, he reached over and grabbed his assailant behind the knees.  The griforis fell heavily, hitting his head against a cabinet, and then was still.

He noticed that Dreel had just dispatched his last opponent.  Will and Penny were at his side.  “Dad, we’ll get you back to the Jupiter II.  You’ll be okay,” Will said, horrified, his eyes glued to the handle of the weapon sticking out of his dad’s back.

“I thought I told you to get out of here,” John snapped, trying to reach behind him and pull out the offending blade.  Quickly looking up, he saw the few remaining griforis watching silently.  Anxious, the professor wondered why they didn’t push their advantage.

Will and Penny continued to offer encouragement with voices that seemed devoid of any hope.  In chagrin, he realized that his supposed injury was causing them unneeded anxiety.

“Just get it out, I can’t reach back there,” he said.  Dreel leaned over his children and calmly pulled the knife out.  As he sat up, the children looked at him in disbelief.  “I will explain later.  Just believe me when I say that I’ll be all right.”

“It would seem that your children’s assessment of your determination to rescue them was correct, Professor Robinson,” a sonorous voice declared.  John stood up to face a yellow-shrouded figure flanked by the few remaining conscious soldiers.  It was apparent that this griforis was a leader of some kind.  It was hard to determine at the moment, but he appeared to be the same one with whom he had talked before seeing Dreel.  “It would also seem that this acquisition was very unprofitable for us.  You have destroyed our defensive computer.  We needed these defenses.” 

The Leader looked at the dead consoles in dismay.  He had not only misjudged the abilities of the Vandir invaders, but also the resolve and prowess of the human children and their father.  Leader peered closely at the children’s sire, who stood resolutely, his triumph and resolve very apparent on his face.   It was also apparent to the griforis that he had misjudged the unwavering devotion Professor Robinson had for his children.  Devotion so strong that he would become Vandir in order to attempt a rescue.  Sighing, the griforis realized that his mishandling of this situation had doomed his race to ignominious death.  He had even gone so far as to invite the children’s father to come to their underground sanctuary.  Unwittingly, perhaps, but an invitation nonetheless.  He ground his teeth in frustration, but allowed none of his inner emotions to show 

“I disabled it, didn’t destroy it.  And you took what didn’t belong to you in the first place,” John said with conviction.  “These are my children and whatever claims you have on the land will never extend to my children.”

“That could be argued, but it would appear you have won.”  The griforis seemed to be looking past him for a moment and then he brought his gaze back to the human’s face, the light lavender eyes boring into John’s hazel ones.  There was quiet resolve in the countenance of both men.  “Or have you?  Indeed, Professor Robinson, you were determined to get your children back, just as the surface dwellers said you were.  Are all humans as attached to their offspring as you are?”

“Most are,” John said simply.

“Go.  Take your children.  Hopefully you will not regret the decision you have made,” the figure said, and then motioning to his companions, retreated back into the cave.  “Leave us to our demise.”

“I think we should get to the surface as quickly as possible,” Dreel said pragmatically while still puzzled over the griforis’ comments. 

John noticed Arist had rejoined them.  “Yes, let’s go, before they change their minds,” he concurred.  As they ascended, he felt exhaustion setting in.  The cave seemed to get steeper and steeper.  Soon he noticed Dreel at his side. 

“Another reason why it was necessary to wait a day,” Dreel said softly.  John nodded in agreement. 

Will walked back to join the pair, concern manifestly evident in the boy’s eyes. “Maybe we should rest.  That knife had to have hurt you, Dad,” Will said. 

“There is no wound, Will,” Judy said before John could say anything. 

John looked at his oldest child closely and saw a strange, fearful look on her face.  She had figured it out and she was afraid of him.  He shook his head slightly, his eyes pleading for her understanding.  She dropped her eyes, turned away from him and started up the slope again.  His own daughter was frightened of him.  A knot began tightening in his chest.  He looked back down at Will.  “I’m just very tired, Will.  That, too, I’ll explain once we get to the ship.  There is much to tell you when we reach the surface,” he said wearily.  He also felt very hungry.  It was becoming an almost desperate need.  By the time they reached the cave’s entrance, his hunger had become maddingly overwhelming.  Sinking down against the wall, he noticed a slight brightening of the eastern sky, indicating that dawn was not too far off.            

“John, I see your wife and friend approaching.  We will leave you in their most capable hands.  Arist and I need to return to our ship,” Dreel said. 

“I appreciate your help, Dreel, Arist,” John said, his voice thick with gratitude.  The nur-Vandir walked swiftly in the direction of their ship.  The children seeing their mother, shouted their greetings and rushed out of the cave, leaving him behind.

Reaching for the thermos, he undid the cap and drank deeply, feeling his heart beating and sending the nourishment through his body.  As he replaced the lid, he watched the children hugging and kissing Maureen and felt a deep satisfaction.  Wiping away all traces of his ‘breakfast,’ John got to his feet and joined them.  “Let’s go to the ship and talk around the breakfast table.”

“I would like to watch the sunrise, Dad.  All I wanted to do when I thought that we would never get to the surface was to see a sunrise or a sunset,” Judy said, glancing surreptitiously at him.  

“I understand, darling.  Go right ahead, but I am tired.  I’m heading to the ship,” he said.  “Just make sure you watch in case any of the griforis have followed us.”

“No, they won’t follow,” was all Judy said as she stared at the horizon. 

“Oh, John,” Maureen reached her hand around his waist and walked beside him.  “Thank you for bringing the children home.  I just wish there had been another way.  I know this is hard on you,” she said. 

He leaned over and kissed her.  “Maureen, thank you for your love, for your confidence in me,” he whispered in her ear.  

Maureen hugged him tighter.  She wanted to say something about his unwillingness to confide in her, but she felt that this was not the time.  He appeared exhausted.   “Oh, John, whatever happens, I’ll always love you.  After twenty-two years, you should know that,” was all she said. 

Leaning over and kissing her, he said quietly, “I am so tired.  I’m going to wash up and rest awhile.  Wake me when breakfast is over.  I think the children are confused and I really need to talk to them about...my change.”

“All right, dear,” she said. 

Walking up the ramp, John detected a strange smell, one that was familiar, but seemed somewhat nauseating.  It grew stronger as he went down the elevator to his room.  When he passed Dr. Smith’s room, he almost gagged, but he knocked on the doorframe anyway.  Smith opened his door and stared at him in fear.  John saw his room festooned with garlic cloves and his irritation flared to anger.  The replicator had evidently been working overtime.  He guessed that was how the doctor had figured his change out. Either that or he had eavesdropped on his conversation with Don.  “Get rid of it, Smith,” he commanded.

“I am only taking precautions, Professor.  I wouldn’t want to be surprised in the middle of the night,” Smith said in a sly voice. 

It took all of the willpower that John had to keep from backhanding the older man, but what had almost happened to Maureen stopped him.  “Dr. Smith, of all the people on this ship, you are the one in the least danger of that.  The thought of drinking your blood, consciously or unconsciously nauseates me.”  He paused to let his sarcasm sink in.  Smith blinked and then flushed as he understood.  “You will get rid of all this,” John continued.  “That’s an order.  If you trust me so little, you are welcome to leave, but if you stay, then you will follow my instructions.  Do you understand?”  Seeing the fierce anger in the professor’s eyes, Smith quickly nodded and retreated into his room. 

The smell precluded sleeping in his and Maureen’s cabin, so John headed to the chariot where he wearily climbed in and laid back in one of the chairs.  Soon he was sleeping soundly....

Stealthily, he was approaching Penny’s cabin.  It was late at night and everyone except himself was asleep.  Quietly, almost without sound, he slid open her door and slipped into the tiny cabin.  Silently he approached her bedside.  Her dark hair lay in soft waves across her face, her long lashes fluttered slightly as she dreamed. Like her mother, she smiled slightly as though seeing something pleasant. 

NO, he told himself, NO!  Not Penny, not anyone!  But he couldn’t stop himself.  Closer and closer he stepped; he saw the pulsing heartbeat in her neck and he leaned down....

John jerked awake, screaming, “No, NO!”  He jumped up and banged his head on the ceiling of the all terrain vehicle.  “No,” he chanted to himself, over and over again.  Stumbling out of the chariot, he made his way to the access lock and opened it.  He needed fresh air, something to clear his head.  Instead the sun shone in, bright and hot, but he stood in the doorway for quite awhile, until his discomfort drove him back into the ship.  John leaned against the bulkhead, trying to exorcise the appalling vision that had come to him in his dream.  Over and over again, he kept telling himself that he had made the right choice, the only one he could make.  He had saved his children, but now he had to protect them from...himself. 

End chapter 6