Extraterrestrial Moors

17

Each day we come closer to home. My people, the Lemanz, have several planets. But our first planet, my home planet is called Ziamlia. We are only days out from her. Maha has stopped eating. She's too weak to walk again.

The doctor is worried now. So is the Commander. But there is nothing I can do except hold her at night. I do that, but we both know that our time together is almost done.

My commander comes to our room and orders me out. She talks to Maha for some time and when she comes back out she tells me, "She has agreed to eat. I have certain foods the doctor wants her to eat until she is ready for more."

"What did you agree to in exchange Commander? I've begged and pleaded with her to eat and she wouldn't even look at the food, even though I brought her favorites."

My commander's lips thin down in anger, "I had to promise her that you would be transferred off the ship and assigned to her full time. The doctor had suggested that even before she decided to go on a hunger strike."

I'm stunned. The anger and joy compete for first place inside me. This is the elite ship, the flag ship of his majesty's navy. I worked hard for my place here. I had to work even harder than most because of my mother being the CO. So being reassigned brings the anger. But the reassignment is what brings the joy.

"I can only guarantee your assignment with her until your tour is finished. After that I'm not sure what will happen. Truth to tell, Rafe, I'm not sure what's going to happen to her on Ziamlia. I have been told that the procedure is painless, but truth telling among the higher ups isn't something to count on. I'm sorry, Rafe. I wish I could give you and her more. I wish I knew more. I like her and she makes you stronger.

"But I'm just not sure if there can be a happy ever after here."

"If I'm here and they hurt her, I won't be able to stop myself from fighting back on her behalf," I tell my mother.

"I know Rafe." My mother pulls me into her arms for one of her rare hugs. "I know full well, that when you walk off this ship that I might never see you alive again."

"Your father has arranged to have you both stay with him. That is the best that I can do, I'm sorry it's not more."

"It'll have to do then, won't it?"

My mother nods and lets go of her hug. I think she wipes away tears before she turns away from me, but I'm not sure.

"Maha's tray should be here soon. I'll send something for you as well."

"Thank you mother."

I told Maha that I come from the ruling class, but I didn't tell her that my father is the king.

"Are you angry with me?" I ask softly as he comes into the room.

"A little, I won't lie about that. I worked my ass off for this assignment. A lot of people thought I got this assignment because of who my parents are. Nothing could be further from the truth, my brother and sister that had joined before me weren't assigned here because they hadn't earned the right."

"Are all members of your family, members of the navy then?" I'm not really interested, but I am interested in his family. He never talks about them.

"All members of the ruling class are mandated to be part of the military in some form or another. We all have to serve at least one tour before we can go to other duties." He replies like he doesn't really want to continue this line of questioning. I have just one more question though and I need it answered.

"Who is your father? Is he a high ranking politician or something?"

My question makes Rafe laugh a very bitter laugh. "Or something. My father, my father is the king, Maha."

I freeze. He's a prince. He's not just a part of the ruling class. I jump off the bed and run to the bathroom. I make it to the toilet before I lose what little I have in my stomach. Mostly just a bit of bile. Mostly I just have dry heaves.

By the time I'm done I'm too weak to even sit up. I sit there crying.

"Can I come in?" Rafe asks. He's more formal than he's been since we started sharing the bed.

"Why are you asking me Rafe? Or should I call you Prince?" Rafe comes over and picks me up. He holds me up so that I can clean my mouth before taking me into the bedroom.

"While I'm on tour, it's like I don't have a title. I go by my mother's last name, a rather common last name, because too many people would recognize the royal last name. Just call me Rafe like you have been. Or if you are really angry call me Lt."

"Lt. is getting close to me, sharing a bed with me all part of their plan to get me to trust them?"

Rafe sighs, "If it is nobody told me about it. But that's probably why the doctor and my mother encouraged it. I didn't take you to bed because of an order Maha. I took you to bed because I love you." I stiffen at his words.

I just don't know if I can believe him anymore. But I oh, so want to.

There is a knock on the door. Rafe lifts me off of him and sets me down on the bed. He tells whoever is at the door to set the tray on his bed and he brings me the other one. Damn, I made a deal with the devil and now I have to pay.

Rafe waits for the other person to leave before kneeling before me and offering the food. I keep my eyes on him the whole time I eat. It's just soup so it's not hard for me to do so. What is hard is keeping the tears from falling.

Why am I so freaking emotional? I hate it. I never used to be. I guess having someone care for you, or do a damn good job pretending to care for you changes you.