She is Mine

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Thanks to Anthony Terpiloff for Collision Course and the character Arra. Thanks to Margaret Leighton for her ethereal portrayal of the character Arra that has inspired my stories.

Archive: J/H Romance/Serious list site and any other I choose.

Copyright (c) 2004 Sonia's Russell/Koenig Saga

Beula's status report: October 5, 2004 Dr. Helena Koenig recording. Life on Beula has proven to be a challenge in some ways but mostly the Alphans are glad to finally have a place to call home. Commander John Koenig is leaving for a meeting tomorrow with all the members of the Gorin, Sirtis, Cross, Xeno and Patheni Systems. This will be the first meeting ofits kind and the Commander will be introduced as the final piece of the intergalactic stronghold.

6 PLACE ME LIKE A SEAL OVER YOUR HEART,
LIKE A SEAL ON YOUR ARM;
FOR LOVE IS AS STRONG AS DEATH,
ITS JEALOUSY UNYIELDING AS THE GRAVE.
IT BURNS LIKE BLAZING FIRE,
LIKE A MIGHTY FLAME.

7 MANY WATERS CANNOT QUENCH LOVE;
RIVERS CANNOT WASH IT AWAY.
IF ONE WERE TO GIVE
ALL THE WEALTH OF HIS HOUSE FOR LOVE,
IT WOULD BE UTTERLY SCORNED.

Planet Fentoid: Many spacecrafts landed on the platforms and were taken downward into hangers. Ships of all sizes and shapes graced the docking sights. They were from five quadrants and they transported from their portals as soon as the ships docked. Creatures of all shapes and sizes stepped into chambers and were teleported to the main hall. Everyone was in gray military dress.

THE GREAT HALL WAS A PENTAGRAM WITH DIMPLES ALL ALONG ITS SIDES LIKE A GOLF BALL. IT WAS WHITE AND PRISTINE IN THE MORNING SUN. THE PLACE WAS A FORTRESS SO IMPENETRABLE EVERYONE LOOKED ON IMPRESSED BY ITS LOFTINESS AND GRANDEUR NOT TO MENTION INDESTRUCTIBLE MATERIALS NO ONE HAD EVER SEEN BEFORE.

THE LEADERS OF EACH GALAXY AND THEIR GENERALS SAT AT THE HEAD TABLE IN THE GREAT HALL. THE REST OF THE DELEGATION SAT IN COMFORTABLE CHAIRS ON THE MAIN FLOOR. THERE WAS LITERALLY A THOUSAND CREATURES REPRESENTING EITHER THEIR PLANET OR GALAXY.

THE FENTOIDS SERVED LIGHT REFRESHMENT AS A BANQUET WAS SLATED FOR THE EVENING. EVERYONE'S FOOD GROUP WAS REPRESENTED SO EVERYONE HAD SOMETHING TO EAT. JOHN KOENIG WAS PLACED NEAR THE CENTER OF THE PROCEEDINGS WITH HELENA KOENIG AND TONY VERDESCHI ON EITHER SIDE OF HIM.

THE LUDIANS WERE TO BE PLACED AS FAR AWAY FROM THEM AS POSSIBLE AND TO AVOID AN INCIDENT A LARGE PATROL OF SOLDIERS WERE DISPERSED THROUGHOUT THE PRECEEDINGS. LUDIN, RAGHIN AND STEIT MATERIALIZED IN THEIR SEATS. THEY BEGAN TALKING AND AVOIDED LOOKING IN KOENIG'S DIRECTION.

STEIT LOOKED UP AND SAW HELENA KOENIG AND STOMPED ON LUDIN'S FOOT THE MAN LOOKED AT HIM AND HE NODDED IN KOENIG'S DIRECTION. LUDIN WAS VISIBLE UPSET.

THE TWO MEN VANISHED AND RAGHIN WAS LEFT SITTING ALONE. THE FEMALE WAS NOT TO BE HERE AS THE PLAN WAS TO TAKE HER WHILE HER RAGING HUSBAND WAS AWAY. RAGHIN MADE SMALL TALK WITH THE CREATURE BESIDE HIM AND WHEN THE MAN SPOKE HE DID NOT LISTEN. HE WATCHED THE KOENIGS DOWN THE LINE.

"WHAT DO WE DO NOW?" STEIT ASKED.

"I CARE NOT WHAT YOU DO OR HOW YOU DO IT. I WANT HER TODAY. CALL THE MEN BACK TO BASE AND FIX THIS!" SHOUTED LUDIN.

"THIS PLACE IS A VIRTUAL FORTRESS WE CANNOT GET HER FROM HERE," STEIT TOLD HIM. LUDIN WAS OBVIOUSLY FLUSTERED HE NEVER GUESSED THE COMMANDER WOULD BRING HER HERE. IF HE COULD KILL THEM ALL NOW AND TAKE HER HE WOULD, HIS PLANS WERE BEING DELAYED BUT HE WOULD GET HIS OBJECTIVES MET.

"TELL THE MEN TO WAIT, THIS MEETING WILL BE OVER IN A WEEK. LET EVERYONE WHINE AND COMPLAIN HERE, WE WILL HEAR THEM BUT WHEN I AM KING EVERYONE WILL DO AS I SAY!" THE MAN VANISHED AND STEIT CALLED HIS MEN.

"Helena, come with me," John whispered in her ears as she tried to fall asleep naked in his arms.

SHE OPENED HER EYES AND LOOKED AT HIM. "WHY?"

"I DON'T KNOW. I JUST HAVE A BAD FEELING ABOUT LEAVING YOU FOR SO LONG," HE SAID STROKING HER DOWN THE CREVICE OF HER BACK.

"I'LL BE FINE," SHE SAID ROLLING TO LIE ON TOP OF HIM AND LOOK HIM IN THE EYES.

"WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?" HE ASKED AS HE WAS SPENT. SHE SMILED AND LOOKED AT HIM COQUETTISHLY. HE LOOKED AT HER ALL MUSKY AND SWEATY, HER LONG PLATINUM HAIR SWEPT TO THE SIDE. HE KISSED HER.

"DON'T TEMPT ME, I HAVEN'T GOT THE STRENGTH."

She smiled and deepened the kiss she gave him.

"WHAT DID THE SONG OF SONGS SAY,'DO NOT AWAKEN LOVE', HELENA."

SHE SNICKED AND ROLLED OFF. HE TURNED TO HER ALREADY AROUSED.

"COME WITH ME," HE WHISPERED. SHE LOOKED AT HIM, SHE LOVED HIM SO.

"WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?"

"WE'LL TAKE THEM WITH US," HE SMILED.

SHE RELENTED AND NODDED AND KOENIG SMILED.

"What is that sound," Isaiah said to the little ones, "I keep hearing whispers when I am outside but there is no one there." The boy was puzzled and he went to find his father as the little ones shrugged their shoulders.

JOHN KOENIG WAS ABOUT TO BOARD THE NEW EAGLE TO TRY IT OUT WHEN HIS SON CAME RUNNING UP TO HIM. HE TOOK THE BOYS HAND AND PULLED HIM ONBOARD. IN HIS EXCITEMENT THE BOY FORGOT TO TELL HIS FATHER HIS CONCERNS AND THEY TRAVELED ABOUT FOR HALF AN HOUR. KOENIG WENT INTO OVERDRIVE AND WATCHED THE EAGLE GO INTO HYPERSPACE.

THE KALDORIANS AND ZEDAUIS STRUCK. NO ONE SAW THEM APPEAR, AS THEY SHOT AT THE CONTINGENT OF GUARDS THE ALARMS WENT OFF ALL OVER BEULA, THEY HAD SECONDS TO GET IN AND GET OUT. THE MENDALIS FELL AS DID SOME KALDORIANS AND ZEDAUIS. AS FRARG DECODED THE FORCE-FIELD IT FELL THEY SLIPPED UNDER AND GAINED ENTRANCE TO THE HOUSE.

"GET THE FORCE-FIELD UP! IN TEN SECONDS," FRARG SAID, HE KILLED EVERYTHING THAT MOVED IN THE HOUSE UNTIL HE SAW THE WOMAN IN THE ROOM. HE SHOT A POWERFUL TRANQUILIZER AT THE FEMALE AND HOPED THAT IT WOULD NOT KILL HER. HE KILLED THE REST OF THE FEMALES WITH HER. HE COULD SEE THAT THE TRANQUILIZER WAS HAVING LITTLE OR NO EFFECT. THE MAN TOOK OUT THE PROBE AND PUT IT AGAINST HER HEAD IT TURNED TO FLESH AND SUNK BENEATH HER SKIN. HELENA FELT HER MIND FADE OUT. THEY HAD TEN SECONDS. THE MEN SAW LIGHT FLASH FROM OUTSIDE AND THEY NEW THE COMMANDER HAD RETURNED.

FEAR GRIPPED THEM UNTIL THEY SAW THE ROOF LIFT OFF AND FALL. SEVENTY KALDORIANS DESCENDED AND THE FORCE-FIELD SHATTERED. THE MAN TOUCHED HELENA AND A PORTAL OPENED SHE VANISHED FROM THEIR SIGHT THROUGH THE PORTAL. ANOTHER PORTAL OPENED AS THE DOORS WERE TORN APART FROM OUTSIDE.

JOHN KOENIG LOOKED DOWN AT HIS WATCH IN HYPERSPACE AND SAW HIS HOME WAS UNDER ATTACK.

HE CAME OUT OF HYPERSPACE AND GUNNED IT TO BEULA, HE DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE HIS SON STRANDED, HIS HEART RACED AS DID ISAIAH'S. KOENIG LOOKED AT HIS SON AND THEY BOTH VANISHED FROM THE CRAFT.

THE MENDALIAN SOLDIERS AROUND THE HOUSE LAID DEAD AS DID THREE KALDORIANS. KOENIG COULD SEE HIS HOME HAD BEEN BREACHED. THE CONTINGENT OF KALDORIANS DROPPING FROM MID-AIR SHRIVELED AS KOENIG AND THE BOY HIT THEM WITH RAYS OF LIGHT FROM THEIR HANDS.

KOENIG BLASTED THE DOOR OFF THE HOUSE AS THE SHIELD BROKE OVER THE HOUSE. KOENIG LOOKED UP TO SEE THE ROOF WAS OFF THE HOUSE HE VANISHED AND TURNED UP INSIDE ONLY TO SEE SOMETHING GOING THROUGH A PORTAL. KOENIGS RAGE WAS IGNITED AND HE CHANGED TO PURE ENERGY AND BLASTED THE PORTAL. HE HEARD THE SCREAMS OF THE MEN AS THE PORTAL CLOSED. BOTH KOENIG AND ISAIAH TELEPORTED THEMSELVES TO THE FREQUENCY BUT THEY SAW ANOTHER PORTAL CLOSE BEHIND THAT ONE.

JOHN KOENIG SANK TO HIS KNEES A MASS OF PURE ENERGY. HE LOOKED AT HIS SON WHO WAS ALSO A MASS OF ENERGY.

JOHN SCREAMED, "HELENA!" BUT SHE WAS GONE.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" ISAIAH CRIED.

TWO MONTHS LATER ON THE ISLAND FORTRESS OF STYLS QUELINE QUE EMERGED FROM THE GREEN WATERS OF THE SPA. SHE SMILED AS THE CHILDREN CAME RUNNING UP TO HER. SHE HUGGED THEM AND WALKED AWAY WITH THEM LAUGHING. WITH HER HUSBAND AWAY SHE SPENT MOST OF THE TIME WITH THE CHILDREN.

SHE LOUNGED ON THE CHAIR AS THEY PLAYED. SHE LONGED TO SEE HER HUSBAND AND KNEW HE WOULD BE HOME SOON.

KARL WALKED TOWARDS HER AND HER EYES LIT UP WHEN SHE SAW HIM. SHE WAS DELIGHTED TO SEE HIM.

"WHY HAVE YOU STAYED AWAY SO LONG?"SHE ASKED HIM AS SHE TOOK THE HAT OFF HER HEAD AND LET HER LONG PLATINUM BLONDE HAIR FALL PASS HER SHOULDERS.

THE MAN CAME TOWARDS HER AND THEY KISSED DEEPLY.

"YOU KNOW I HAVE TO BE AWAY FOR WORK, QUELINE DO NOT FUSS AT ME," HE SAID SMILING.

"I WILL BE BACK, DON'T LEAVE." SHE RAN TO THE SHOWERS AS THE CHILDREN LEFT. SHE QUICKLY SHOWERED AND THE LADIES IN WAITING POWERED AND PERFUMED HER AND HELPED HER DRESS.

QUELINE ADJUSTED THE BROACHES ON HER GOLDEN ROBE AND LOOKED AT HERSELF IN THE MIRROR. HER MIND FLICKERED FOR A MOMENT AND SHE SAW IN HER MINDS EYES SOMETHING SHE HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE, ANOTHER MAN. THIS ONE SEEMED FAMILIAR TO HER BUT SHE COULD NOT PLACE HIM. SHE SHOOK HER HEAD AS IF TO STAY THE MEMORY. "GONE," SHE SAID AND LEFT THE ROOM.

QUELINE WENT OUT TO HER LOVE, SHE FELT UNCERTAIN AROUND HIM SOMETIMES BUT THIS ADONIS OF A MAN WAS ALWAYS WILLING TO TAKE GREAT CARE OF HER AND SHE LOVED HIM FOR IT. SHE WANTED TO LOOK HER BEST FOR HIM.

KARL LOOKED AT HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE AS SHE FLOATED TOWARDS HIM AND INTO HIS ARMS. HE WOULD SELL HIS KINGDOM FOR HER AND HE SUSPECTED THAT HE HAD.

"I LOVE YOU," HE SAID.

"I LOVE YOU," SHE SAID. THEY KISSED AND THE LADIES IN WAITING GAVE THEM THEIR PRIVACY. THEY SET THE TABLE FOR THE QUE'S DINNER. THEY EAT TOGETHER LAUGHING AND TALKING GAILY THE WHOLE TIME.

KARL SMILED AS HE NOTICED THAT HIS BEAUTIFUL BRIDE WAS UNAFFECTED BY HER NEW SURROUNDINGS. AT FIRST SHE DID NOT KNOW WHERE SHE WAS AND WHO SHE WAS BUT WEEKS OF TELLING HER WHO SHE WAS AND SENDING SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES IN HER MUSIC FINALLY PUT HER AT EASE. NOT TO MENTION THE POTIONS THEY GAVE HER DAILY AND THE IMPLANT SHE WAS FEELING AT HOME HERE FINALLY.

AFTER DINNER THEY RETIRED TO THEIR APARTMENT. THE PLACE WAS DIMLY LIT AND THEY SAT ON THE LONG RED CUSHIONED CHAIR IN THE ROOM. THEY SAT ARM IN ARM AND HE TOLD HER HOW HIS DAYS FARED. SHE LOVED TO WATCH HIM SPEAK AND HUNG ON HIS EVERY WORD.

THE LADIES BROUGHT IN DRINKS AND THEY SIPPED IT EVERY NOW AND THEN LAUGHING AND TALKING ALL THE TIME. KARL MADE SURE HE DID NOT DRINK ANYTHING THAT WAS FOR HIS WIFE.

KARL LOOKED AT HIS BEAUTIFUL NEW BRIDE, HE HAD NO MORE TIME FOR SMALL TALK, HE MUST MAKE LOVE TO HER TODAY. SHE WAS OVULATING AND EVERY CHANCE HE GOT HE MADE LOVE TO HER IN THE HOPE THAT SHE WOULD GET PREGNANT. THE MOMENT SHE WAS PREGNANT HE WOULD KNOW AND LEAVE HER TO THE LADIES UNTIL SHE GAVE BIRTH.

KARL HAD NOT CONSIDERATION THE POSSIBILITY THAT HE MIGHT NOT BE COMPATIBLE WITH HER. ALL THE SCIENCE AT HIS DISPOSAL WAS WORKING ON THIS, YET WITH NO RESULTS BUT HE WOULD NOT GIVE UP HOPE.

HE PULLED HER INTO HIS LAP AND KISSED HER URGENTLY. SHE SURRENDERED TO HIS EMBRACED AND WAS THRILLED AT HIS TOUCH. HE STRIPPED AWAY ALL HER CLOTHING AND TOOK HER THERE ON THE SOFA.

COMMANDER JOHN KOENIG HAD THE ENTIRE PLANET OF LUD UNDER SURVEILLANCE. THE MENDALIANS, PULS, AND CORONIANS HAD THEM UNDER SURVEILLANCE AS WELL. LUDIN WAS WATCHED AT ALL TIMES. HE SELDOM LEFT HIS PALACE WHICH WAS ODD TO KOENIG. LUD WAS SEARCHED MANY TIMES AND EVERY HOLE WAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN BUT THEY DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF HELENA KOENIG'S WHEREABOUTS.

THE DEAD KALDORIANS AND ZEDOUIS GAVE NO CLUES. JOHN KOENIG HADN'T SLEPT FOR MONTHS. HE HADN'T SHAVED EITHER BUT HIS BEARD DID NOT GROW MUCH. HE WAS STAYING STRONG FOR THE CHILDREN.

* * * *

Philippa, Stephanie, Shena and all the Alphan security team had died that day. The house was demolished and the twins had been hurt but healed within hours. Everyone who tried to stop what was going on paid a price.

KOENIG WAS NOW IN THE FORTRESS ON CHASA. IT TOOK MONTHS FOR THEM TO FINISH IT AND NOW IT WAS VIRTUALLY IMPENETRABLE ACCORDING TO FENTOID STANDARDS. THE FORTRESS WAS ALSO MOVEABLE. IT RESPONDED TO HIS BRAIN WAVE PATTERNS AND COULD TAKE FLIGHT AT A MOMENTS NOTICE.

KOENIG WAS THANKFUL FOR THE TWINS AS THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES WHO SAW EVERYTHING AND THEY TOLD ISAIAH WHAT HAPPENED. KOENIG KNEW HIS WIFE'S MIND HAD BEEN ALTERED AS THEY WATCHED THEIR MOTHER'S EYES GO BLANK WHEN THE DEVICE WAS ADDED TO HER PSYCHE.

THEY HAD GROWN SO MUCH IN THE FEW MONTHS THAT IT GRIEVED KOENIG THAT HIS WIFE WAS NOT HERE TO SEE THEM. THEY WERE TWICE THE HEIGHT OF NORMAL CHILDREN THEIR AGES. SOON THEY WOULD BE A YEAR OLD AND THEY WERE LOOKING TWO YEAR OLD ALREADY.

ISAIAH HAD RUN HIMSELF RAGGED GOING FROM TIME TRAVEL TO SPACE HOLES LOOKING FOR HIS MOTHER. THE BOY CAME BACK AS A TEN YEAR OLD AND JOHN TOLD HIM TO STOP BEFORE HE MISSED HIS CHILDHOOD ALTOGETHER.

THE BOY SAT BEFORE HIM NOW IN THE COMMAND CENTER. THEY WERE BOTH BROODING BUT THE BOY LOOKED SO MUCH LIKE HELENA THAT JOHN COULD HARDLY LOOK AT HIM.

"FATHER, LET ME TRY AGAIN," THE BOY SAID.

"NO, ISAIAH, YOU HAVE NO WAY OF FINDING HER. WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE KALDORIANS AND TRYING TO FIND OUT WHO HIRED THEM. THERE IS NO WAY THEY PULLED THIS OFF WITHOUT HELP AS THEY DO NOT HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY."

JOHN SAY THE BOYS EYES CLOUD UP. HE HAD WEEPED FOR DAYS WHEN HE COULD NOT FIND HIS MOTHER. JOHN HAD NOT CRIED. HE WAS JUST NUMB. HE FELT LIKE A PART OF HIM HAD BEEN RIPPED AWAY. IF HELENA HAD NOT ASKED HIM TO STAY STRONG NO MATTER WHAT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN WORST SHAPE AS IT WAS HE WAS A BASKET CASE.

KOENIG WANTED TO KILL THOSE TWO MEN ON LUD BUT HE NEEDED THEM TO FIND HIS WIFE. HE KNOW THEY HAD HER BUT HE COULD NOT PROVE IT. THEY WOULD START A WAR IF THEY DESTROYED THE LUDIANS. THEY HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THEY MADE A MISTAKE.

"GO TO BED, SON." JOHN SAW THAT THE BOY WAS EXHAUSTED BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY.

"COME WITH ME," HE PLEADED. HE NEEDED TO PROTECT HIS FATHER NOW.

JOHN GOT UP AND SAID GOODNIGHT TO THE MEN AND WOMEN FROM THE FIVE GALAXIES WHO HAD VOLUNTEERED TO OPERATE THIS COMMAND CENTER. PAUL MORROW WAS IN CHARGE AND HE AND TONY VERDESCHI HAD SCREENED ALL THE VOLUNTEERS THEMSELVES.

"FATHER, IF ARRA ISN'T BORN WE WILL GO BACK TO ALL THE HARDSHIPS WE FACED. IT WILL BE HARD TO DEFEAT OUR ENEMIES," ISAIAH SAID.

JOHN STOPPED AND LOOKED DOWN AT HIM. "WITH OR WITHOUT HER WE STILL STAND, ISAIAH. YOUR MOTHER WANTS US TO STAY STRONG." HE HUGGED HIM TO HIMSELF.

JOHN WATCHED AS ISAIAH SLEPT. HIS MIND SWEPT THE UNIVERSE FOR HIS WIFE GONE THREE MONTHS NOW. JOHN WAS STOIC AS HE KEPT PLAYING THEIR LAST DAYS TOGETHER OVER AND OVER IN HIS HEAD.

THE LAST TIME THEY MADE LOVE WAS THAT NIGHT BEFORE THEY WENT TO THAT CONFERENCE. KOENIG COULD FEEL THE POWER IN HIM RISE AS HIS RAGE DID.

HE KNEW SHE WAS ALIVE AND HE KNEW THE PEOPLE WHO HAD HER WOULD NOT HARM HER BUT TWO ATTEMPTS HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE TO SEND HIM ON TO THE OTHER PLAIN BUT NO AMOUNT OF EFFORT ON THEIR PART EVEN SCATHED HIM.

WITH EACH TRY THOUGH HE ALMOST HAD ONE OF THEM. THEY HAD TO WAIT UNTIL HE LEFT BEULA TO MAKE AN ATTEMPT AS THE CORONIANS HAD PUT IN A NEW DEFENSE SYSTEM FOR THEM THAT WAS VIRTUALLY SECOND TO NONE WHEN IT CAME TO DETECTING THE SLIGHTEST CHANGE IN LIFE FORM ON BEULA.

KOENIG SEARCHED AGAIN AS HE DID EVERY NOW AND THEN. HE DID NOT CARE WHAT HAPPENED OR WHAT SHAPE SHE WAS IN JUST AS LONG AS SHE CAME HOME. SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN SO PROUD OF HIM FOR SPENDING MORE TIME AT HOME NOW. HE HAD THE CHILDREN WITH HIM MOST OF THE TIME. THE NEW SECURITY DETAIL WERE ALL ALPHANS WHO HAD TRAINED ON PUL IN THE MOST DANGEROUS ARTS KNOWN TO THEM.

KOENIG LOOKED AT THE REPORT IN HIS HAND. HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND IT THE MAN WAS MOSTLY ON LUD AND YET HE KNEW HE HAD HELENA. THEY COULD NOT BUG THE PLACE NOR COULD THEY GET ANYONE ON LUD TO RAT THEM OUT. THEY HAD SEARCHED HIS PALACE NUMEROUS TIMES AND CAME UP WITH NOT EVEN A HAIR OF HELENA'S.

KOENIG WAS BAFFLED, IF HE HAD HER, KOENIG KNEW SHE WAS NOT ON LUD.

KARL LUDIN'S EYES CLOUDED OVER. HIS QUELINE STILL HAD NOT CONCEIVED EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD MADE LOVE THREE TIMES TONIGHT. HE WAS GETTING FRUSTRATING. IT HAD TAKEN THEM A MONTH TO GET HER TO THIS STAGE EVEN THOUGH THE OTHER WAS STILL IN HER HEART.

HE WATCHED HER SLEEP EVEN THOUGH HE HAD TO GET BACK. ONLY THREE PEOPLE KNEW HIS LIVING ROOM WAS A OPEN PORTAL TO THIS PLANET. IT LOOKED LIKE ANY OTHER ROOM BUT IF YOU STEPPED THROUGH THE WALL YOU WOULD BE IN THIS PLACE.

THEY SEARCHED AND SEARCHED BUT THEY COULD NOT SEE WHAT WAS BEFORE THEM. KARL NEW IT WAS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY COULD NOT CONTAIN HER IF THEY DID NOT SEND HIM TO ANOTHER PLAIN. EVERYDAY SHE REQUIRED MORE AND MORE RETRAINING OF HER MIND AND THE FREQUENCY WAS AT ITS MAXIMUM.

THEY WERE A FORMIDABLE FAMILY, THE BOY WAS RELENTLESSLY IN SEARCHING THEIR COMPUTERS FOR ANY INFORMATION ON WHAT THEIR PLANS WERE. THE THIRD ATTEMPT TODAY HAD FAILED WITH THE DEATH OF TWELVE HIRED MERCENARIES.

HE KISSED HER CHEEK. SHE WAS ALL HE HAD EXPECTED AND MORE. HE DID NOT KNOW HE COULD HAVE FALLEN EVEN MORE IN LOVE WITH HER BUT HE HAD.

HE WALKED THROUGH THE LIVING QUARTERS AND OUT THE DOOR AND THROUGH THE KITCHEN AND INTO A WATER CLOSET. HE WAS BACK ON LUD.

DAR, CENTY, STEIT, AI'SON AND KOENIG WERE ON THE PLANET STYLS FOR A MEETING ABOUT TERRITORIAL SPACE. THIS WAS ONE OF THE TROUBLE SPOTS IN THE GALAXY AND KOENIG WAS LEARNING HOW TO DEAL WITH THE REBELS. WHILE SOME SYSTEMS OBEYED THE TERRITORIAL LINES THE RAIDERS DID NOT. KOENIG WAS HALF LISTENING.

THE DELEGATION OF STYLIS WERE CLEAR AND MADE THEIR POINT SO NOW IT WAS UP TO THE GORIN SYSTEM TO PROTECT ITS CITIZENS. OF ALL THE PLANETS IN THE GORIN SYSTEM THESE PEOPLE WERE MORE LIKE HUMANS BUT KOENIG DID NOT GET THE IMPRESSION THEY WERE A FRIENDLY PEOPLE. THE WERE VERY PRIVATE AND HUMBLE CREATURES.

"WE WILL START A NEW LINE OF ACTION SINCE THE ONE WE HAVE IS NOT WORKING," KOENIG SAID STANDING. HE DID NOT SHAKE THEIR HANDS AS THIS WAS NOT A TRADITION HERE WITH THEM. HE WOULD BE BACK NEXT WEEK TO SEE THAT THE NEW PRECAUTIONS WERE WORKING.

THE MEN STOOD WHEN KOENIG STOOD. THEY NODDED TO THE STYLIS AND TOUCHING THE BUTTONS ON THEIR LAPELS THEY ALL VANISHED TO THEIR SHIPS. WITH ALL THE ATTEMPTS MADE ON HIS LIFE JOHN KOENIG'S SHIP WAS SURROUNDED BY A CONTINGENT OF SHIPS. A NECESSARY NUISANCE TO KOENIG BUT HIS CHILDREN NEED NOT FEAR THE LOSS OF THEIR FATHER WITH THEIR MOTHER MISSING.

THE MEN HAD ANOTHER MEETING BUT THIS TIME WITH A KALDORIAN MERCHANT THEY WERE PUMPING FOR INFORMATION. KOENIG WATCHED AS TONY VERDESCHI AND CAPT CONNER RYN QUESTIONED THE MAN. HE READ THE TRANSCRIPTS BUT SAW NOTHING OF HELP TO THEM. KOENIG SAT AT THE EDGE OF THE TABLE AND LOOKED AT THE CREATURE. HE FELT THEY WERE WASTING THEIR TIME WITH THIS FELLOW.

"LET ME KNOW IF YOU FIND ANYTHING," KOENIG SAID AND HEADED TO HIS QUARTERS. HE ENTERED AND LAID ON HIS BACK ON THE BED. HE DID NOT WANT TO CLOSE HIS EYES AS HE WOULD SEE HER FACE.

KOENIG HAD DONE ALL HE KNEW HOW TO DO TO FIND HIS WIFE AND THE MOTHER OF HIS CHILDREN. HE WAS AT A DEAD END. HE LAID IN THE DARK AND HIS HEIGHTENED SENSES COULD FEEL THAT THE SHIP WAS MOVING SLOWLY AWAY FROM STYLS.

KOENIG FELT ISAIAH EVADE HIS MIND, AND THE BOY WAS SINGING A LULLABY. KOENIG FELT HIS EYES CLOSE AND KNEW HE WAS GOING OFF TO SLEEP. SLEEP THAT HAD VANISHED THE DAY HIS WIFE DID CAME.

John Koenig was in a glade walking slowly around. He was puzzled as to whether he was sleeping as he walked around. In the clearing he saw her, his wife and he ran to her.

"HELENA," HE CALLED TO HER.

SHE LOOKED UP AT HIM BUT SHOWED NO SIGNS OF RECOGNITION. JOHN WATCHED HER BACK AWAY AS HE APPROACHED.

"WHO ARE YOU AND WHY ARE YOU HERE?" SHE ASKED A LITTLE AFRAID.

KOENIG LOOKED AT HER AND THE TEARS BEGAN TO FLOW. "HELENA, ITS ME JOHN YOUR HUSBAND." HE REACHED FOR HER BUT SHE BACKED AWAY.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" SHE ASKED LOOKING FOR A WAY TO ESCAPE HIM.

KOENIG WAS FEARFUL HE KNEW THAT SOMEHOW IN HIS SLEEP HE HAD FOUND HER. HE COULD ONLY SUPPOSE SHE WAS ASLEEP SOMEWHERE AND DREAMING THIS AS WELL. KOENIG NEEDED TO KNOW WHERE SHE WAS AND HE DID NOT WANT HER TO WAKE UP SO HE BACKED AWAY.

"WHERE ARE YOU?" HE ASKED HER NOT DARING TO MOVE.

"WHO ARE YOU? WHAT DO YOU WANT? PLEASE LEAVE." SHE AS VERY AFRAID NOW BUT THE MAN SEEMED FAMILIAR TO HER.

"WHERE ARE YOU? WHAT IS THIS PLACE?" HE KEPT ASKING.

SUDDENLY KOENIG FELT THE ENTIRE PLACE GO BLACK AND FADE IN WAS IN A DEEP SLEEP AND HE LOST THE VISION.

The ship went into warp drive and headed out to explore a new planet for the Alphans called New Eden.

THE SCIENTIST GAVE KARL THE NEW FERTILITY POTION AND HE LEFT FOR HIS WIFE'S QUARTERS. SHE WOULD BE WORKING ON THE STATUE TODAY, THE ONE SHE HAD BEEN WORKING ON NOW FOR A MONTH EVER SINCE THE DELEGATION FROM THE GORIN SYSTEM CAME HERE. HE TRIED TO GET HER NOT TO FINISH IT BUT SHE HAD INSISTED. HE COULD SEE WHO IT WAS GOING TO BE AND HE DID NOT WANT TO FIELD ANY QUESTIONS FROM HER AS TO WHO IT WAS.

AS HE ENTERED THE QUESTRY HE SAW THAT SOMEONE HAD BEEN HURT AND SHE WAS SETTING THE LEG. HE HOPED IT WOULD BRING BACK NO MEMORIES.

SHE LOOKED AT HIM AND SMILED, "LOOK KARL, I SET HIS LEG AND BANDAGED IT. I NEVER KNEW I COULD DO THAT, WOW. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE I LEARNED THAT."

"DO NOT WORRY QUELINE, IT WAS PROBABLY A LONG TIME AGO. HAVE YOU FINISHED THE STATUE YET?"

"NO, I WAS WORKING ON IT WHEN HE FELL FROM A TREE." SHE SMILED AT HIM AND HE TOOK HER ARM AND ESCORTED HER TO HER WORK AREA. HE HANDED HIS LATEST CONCOCTION TO THE SERVANT GIRL WHO WAS ALWAYS IN WHITE AS WAS THE TRADITION OF THESE PEOPLE. THEY LIFTED THE LITTLE BOY AND TOOK HIM TO THEIR MEDICAL AREA.

"WELL, WHY DON'T YOU WORK ON IT A LITTLE LATER AND COME AND SPEND SOME TIME WITH ME."

SHE LEFT THE STATUE, WASHED HER HAND AND CAME OVER TO WHERE HE WAS LOUNGING. SHE NEEDED TO TALK HIM ANYWAY. SHE SAT AND TOOK HIS HAND. ONE OF THE LADIES CAME OVER AND HANDED HER A DRINK, SHE DRANK A LITTLE OF IT THEM MADE A FACE.

"WHAT IS IN THIS IT IS SO SWEET. I CAN'T DRINK THIS SERI."

"DRINK IT DARLING IT IS A SPECIAL POTION TO HELP YOU CONCEIVE," HER HANDSOME HUSBAND SMILED AND SAID.

"AGAIN KARL," SHE SIGHED AND WENT BOTTOMS UP ON THE CONTENTS. SHE KNEW THERE WAS NO ARGUING WITH HIM. HE NEEDED AN HEIR AND SHE WAS TRYING TO GIVE HIM ONE. SHE HANDED SERI THE EMPTY GLASS AND SMILED AT HER.

"KARL, I NEED TO ASK YOU SOMETHING. ITS ABOUT A DREAM I HAD RECENTLY, NOW DON'T GET UPSET BECAUSE I NEVER MENTIONED IT BEFORE. BUT I HAD A DREAM ABOUT A MAN AND I JUST CAN'T SEEM TO GET HIM OUT OF MY THOUGHTS. IT HAPPENED ABOUT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AGO. THIS MAN KEPT ASKING ME WHERE I WAS AND TRYING TO TELL ME I WAS LOST. DO YOU KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT."

"SOUNDS LIKE YOU MUST HAVE EATEN SOMETHING THAT DID NOT AGREE WITH YOU. FORGET ABOUT IT AND LETS GO TO THE SHOW. THEY ARE PUTTING ON A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE FOR US AT COOM. SO GET DRESSED AND I WILL WAIT FOR YOU."

QUELINE COULD SEE SHE WOULD GET NO WHERE WITH HER HUSBAND AND SINCE THIS WAS ONE OF THE RARE OCCASIONS WHERE THEY WENT OUT SHE KISSED HIM ON THE CHEEK AND HURRIED TO GET READY.

KARL CALLED SVE, ONE OF HIS FOREMOST SCIENTIST AND TOLD HIM TO GET A SECOND IMPLANT FOR HIS WIFE.

"THIS TIME, GET IT RIGHT YOUR EXISTENCE HERE IN THIS PLAIN DEPENDS ON IT."

"SIR, HER BLOOD IS VERY RARE AND IT KEEPS DISARMING OUR POTIONS AND DEVICES. HER BLOOD KEEPS CHANGING. I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER WE CAN KEEP HER SUBDUED. THE EFFECTS WILL LAST AT THE MOST A DAY."

"FIX IT!" HE STORMED.

HALF AN HOUR LATER SHE APPEARED DRESSED IN A SILVER FLOWING GOWN WITH RIPPLES AT THE SIDES. SHE WAS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD AND KARL STOOD TO KISS HER. HE WOULD MAKE LOVE TO HER ALL NIGHT WHEN HE CAME BACK, FOR MORE REASONS THAN ONE.

"FATHER, I WAS READING THE ILIAD, ABOUT THE ABDUCTION OF HELEN OF SPARTA WHO LATER BECAME HELENA OF TROY. SHE WAS MARRIED TO MENELAUS WHEN PARIS STOLE HER FROM HIM AND STARTED A WAR."

"YES, SON I READ THAT STORY A LONG, LONG TIME AGO, IT'S A GOOD STORY."

"I THINK IT IS OUR STORY AND I THINK WE NEED A TROJAN HORSE."

"A TROJAN HORSE, WHERE?"

"IN THE PALACE."

KOENIG STOOD UP AND LOOKED AT HIS SON. HE HAD A POINT. THEY COULD NOT BRIBE ANYONE FOR INFORMATION AND ALL THEY HAD WERE DEAD ENDS. HE NEEDED SOMEONE ON THE INSIDE. THEY HAD THE GO AHEAD TO SEARCH LUD, COURTESY OF LUDIN HIMSELF, ANYTIME THEY WANTED. IT WAS HIS WAY OF PROVING HIS INNOCENCE IN THE DISAPPEARANCE OF HELENA KOENIG.

"MAYA WOULD BE THE PERFECT PERSON TO DO IT. SHE CAN TAKE ANY FORM BUT SHE CANNOT HOLD THAT FORM FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR. WHERE WOULD SHE HIDE UNTIL WE COULD GET HER OUT."

"I CAN HELP HER HOLD THAT FORM FOR A WEEK IF SHE WANTS TO GO."

"SHE WOULD HAVE TO BE VERY SMALL."

"THEY HAVE MANY ANIMALS AND INSECTS ON LUD, SHE COULD BE ONE OF THOSE."

KOENIG LOOKED UP AS THE TWINS CAME RUNNING INTO THE ROOM. HE SCOOPED THEM BOTH INTO HIS ARMS AS THEIR NANNY/SECURITY GUARD CAME RUNNING IN AFTER THEM.

"DAWN, PLEASE CALL MAYA, TONY, PROFESSOR BERGMAN, DAVID KANO, BEN VINCENT, ALAN CATER, SAHN AND PAUL MORROW INTO THE CONFERENCE ROOM IN AN HOUR FOR A MEETING."

"YES COMMANDER." SHE LEFT THE ROOM AND CAME BACK LATER TO CONFIRM THAT THE MEETING WAS SET.

KOENIG SAT WITH ISAIAH AND DISCUSSED THE MATTER SOME MORE.

HE LOOKED AT THE TWINS AND THEY LOOKED SO MUCH LIKE HIM IT BROUGHT HIM THE GREATEST JOY JUST TO SPEND TIME WITH THEM. HE AND ISAIAH WERE PRACTICALLY INSEPARABLE NOW.

HE SPENT THE REST OF THE TIME WITH THEM. THEY WERE NOW A YEAR OLD AND GROWING.

KOENIG CALLED THE NANNY AND HANDED THEM OVER AS HE TELEPORTED TO THE CONFERENCE CENTER.

THE ALPHANS IN NEW GRAY MILITARY DRESS ALL STOOD WHEN HE CAME IN. THEY SAT WHEN HE SAT. HE COULD SEE THE TRAINING ON PUL KICK IN EVERY TIME THEY HAD DUTIES TO PERFORM. THE ALPHANS, THEMSELVES, WERE ADAPTING TO THEIR NEW ENVIRONMENT.

"I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THE DANGER WE ARE IN AND CONTINUE TO BE IN UNTIL HELENA IS BACK. I THINK SHE IS IN THAT PALACE SOMEWHERE ON LUD AND WE NEED TO FIND HER SOON BEFORE SHE IS COMPLETELY TAKEN OVER BY THESE PEOPLE AND WE LOSE HER ALL TOGETHER."

"COMMANDER, YOU KNOW WE WILL DO ANYTHING TO HELP YOU. WE HAVE ALL BEEN TRAINED AND WE ARE READY FOR ANYTHING," MAYA VERDESCHI SAID.

"I AM GLAD YOU SAID THAT MAYA, BECAUSE THIS INVOLVES YOU MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE."

"WHAT'S UP JOHN?" TONY ASKED.

JOHN KOENIG OUTLINED THE SITUATION AND THE PART EACH OF THEM WOULD PLAY IN BRINGING HELENA HOME. THEY KNEW IT WAS DANGEROUS BUT THEY WERE WILLING TO DO IT TO SECURE THE FUTURE OF THE ALPHANS.

HE TOLD THEM ABOUT HIS DREAM AND ALSO ISAIAH'S PART IN THE PLANS.

QUELINE WAS ONE MONTH PREGNANT AND GLOWING. HER HUSBAND WAS VERY PROUD OF HER AND SHE WAS SO RELIEVED TO NOT HAVE TO DISAPPOINT HIM. HE HAD TO STAY AWAY FROM HER AS ALL PREGNANT WOMEN WERE DANGEROUS TO THE MEN.

SHE SPENT HER DAYS, GARDENING, PAINTING, SCULPTING AND GOING TO THE SHOWS WITH THE STYLS WOMEN.

SHE HAD NOTICED THAT THEY WERE DIFFERENT FROM HER BUT SHE DID NOT THINK MUCH OF IT. SHE HAD NOTICED THAT THEY WERE STILL GIVING HER POTIONS EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD CONCEIVED.

SHE HAD TAKEN TO THROWING THE POTIONS AWAY AFTER PRETENDING TO DRINK IT. MORE AND MORE SHE RECOGNIZED THAT STRANGE THINGS WERE HAPPENING AND SHE WAS SOMEHOW SECLUDED AND WENT TO THE SAME PLACES ALL THE TIME.

SHE ALSO FELT SHE WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS PLACE AND HAD NO RECOLLECTION OF A PREVIOUS LIFE OUTSIDE OF THE YEAR SHE HAD BEEN HERE.

THE OTHER THING THAT KEPT CONCERNING HER WAS THAT MAN WHO SHE SAW IN HER DREAM. HE WOULD NOT LEAVE HER MIND AND SHE HAD MADE A STATUE IN HIS HONOR.

SHE KNEW SHE LOVED HER HUSBAND BUT SHE DID NOT KNOW WHY SHE HAD NO OTHER MEMORY OF HIM EXCEPT ON THEIR WEDDING DAY AND IN THIS PLACE. HE HAD TOLD HER SHE HAD NO FAMILY BUT SHE COULD VAGUELY REMEMBER CHILDREN IN ANOTHER PLACE AND TIME.

HER HANDS WENT TO HER STOMACH AND SHE ABSENTMINDEDLY STROKED IT. SHE KNEW SHE WAS HAPPY BUT SHE FELT LIKE SHE HAD LOST SOMETHING VALUABLE IN NOT REMEMBERING.

QUELINE BEGAN TO SUSPECT THAT THE POTIONS SOMEHOW PLAYED A PART IN HER NOT REMEMBERING.

SHE RECOLLECTED THAT SHE HAD AWAKEN ONE MORNING NOT EVEN RECOGNIZING THIS PLACE UNTIL HER HUSBAND AWAKEN HER MEMORY THAT MUSIC THEY PLAYED TOO WAS HAVING AN EFFECT ON HER AND SHE HAD TAKEN TO STICKING SOMETHING IN HER EAR TO DROWN IT OUT.

QUELINE FOUND HER SELF REMEMBER SOME THINGS BUT THEY DID NOT FIT INTO ANYTHING HERE AND SHE WAS CONFUSED.

SHE WISHED SHE COULD REMEMBER. SHE STARTED READING THE LADIES THOUGHTS IN HER THIRD MONTH OF PREGNANCY. THIS BROUGHT HER CHILLS AS SHE DID NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WERE THINKING HALF THE TIME AS IT DID NOT MAKE SENSE.

THEY KEPT CALLING HER BY ANOTHER NAME IN THEIR MINDS AND SHE SOMEHOW RECOGNIZED THAT NAME. SHE FELT ISOLATED BUT SHE DID NOT LET THEM KNOW THAT MORE AND MORE SHE WAS SEEING THAT SHE REALLY WAS A PRISONER HERE AND THIS WAS NOT HER HOME.

SHE WISHED THAT MAN WOULD COME BACK TO HER IN HER DREAM AND TELL HER WHO HELENA KOENIG WAS.

AS THE CONTINGENT OF PULIAN SOLDIERS DID THE LAST SWEEP OF THE PALACE ONE OF THEM TOOK OF HIS GLOVES AND SHOOK IT OUT. HE PLACED IT BACK ON HIS HANDS AND GAVE THE ALL CLEAR.

NO ONE SAW AS THE NROD BUG AS IT FELL TO THE FLOOR AND SCURRIED TO THE CORNER. IT WENT AROUND AND AROUND THE ROOM BACK AND FORTH COVERING ALL THE GROUND IT COULD. MAYA KNEW SOMEWHERE IN THIS PALACE LIED THE ANSWER TO HELENA KOENIG'S WHEREABOUTS. ITS PINCHER FELT AROUND AND KEPT A TAB ON ANYTHING NOT NORMAL IN THE ROOM.

SHE VOWED TO FINE SOMETHING. MAYA WENT UNDER A CHAIR AS SOMEONE APPROACHED.

LUDIN ENTERED THE ROOM, WHENEVER THE MEN LEFT THEY DID A SWEEP, LOOKING FOR ANY BUGS OF ANY KIND.

HE KNEW THIS WOULD BE THEIR LAST SEARCH AS JOHN KOENIG WAS SLATED TO GO TO ANOTHER PLAIN WITHIN THIS VERY MONTH. HE WAS NOT WORRIED AND HE KNEW THAT THIS PLAN WOULD SUCCEED. HIS WIFE WAS NOW ALMOST FIVE MONTHS PREGNANT AND HE WOULD LET NOTHING STOP HIS PLANS EVEN IF HE HAD TO KILL THE MAN HIMSELF.

THE ROOM WAS CLEAN SO HE WENT TO ANOTHER ONE. UNSEEN BY ANYONE MAYA VERDESCHI HITCHED A RIDE ON HIS BOOT STRAP. WHERE HE WENT SHE WOULD GO.

"HOW LONG HAS SHE BEEN THERE, NOW JOHN?" VICTOR ASKED.

"SIX, DAYS AND NOTHING YET VICTOR,"

"WELL WE WILL PRAY. I KNOW SOMETHING WILL TURN UP, MAYA IS RISKING HER LIFE."

"I KNOW VICTOR, I KNOW."

THEY HEARD A RUMBLING OUTSIDE THE FORTRESS AND KOENIG TURNED ON HIS VIEW SCREEN THAT WAS SENSITIVE TO HIS TOUCH. HE SAW IT BEFORE IT HIT THE FORTRESS.

THE BUILDING BEGAN SHAKING AND A HORRIFIC SOUND WAS HEARD THROUGH THE SYSTEMS. THE FORTRESS TURNED RED AS THOUGHT IT WAS BEING HEATED.

"VICTOR, WE ARE UNDER ATTACK STAY PUT. THEY DON'T WANT YOU JUST ME."

"BE CAREFUL JOHN."

KOENIG COULD SEE THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO PENETRATE HIS COMPOUND WITH NOT ONLY SONIC WAVES BUT RADIATION. HE COULD NOT RISK HIS CHILDREN GETTING HURT WHICH WAS WHAT THEY COUNTED ON AS HE EMERGED OUTSIDE AND THEY SEIZED HIM AND IMMOBILIZED HIM IN THE GRUDIAN RAYS.

KOENIG HOWEVER WAS NOT AFRAID HE LIVED FOR THESE MOMENTS WHEN THEY ATTACKED HIM SO HE COULD WORK OFF SOME OF HIS FRUSTRATIONS. THE IRON ARMS OF THE ROBOTS GRIPPED HIM. THEY WERE LIKE A VISE AND THE RADIATION FROM THE MACHINES AROUND HIM POUNDED HIS FLESH.

HE MORPHED AND EXPLODED INTO A MILLION PIECES OF ENERGY AND EVADED THE MACHINES. KOENIG RADIATED A BLINDING LIGHT THAT MELTED EVERYTHING AROUND HIM AND THE KALDORIANS HAVING PREPARED FOR THIS EVENT CAUGHT HIS LIGHT AND STARTED SUCKING KOENIG INTO ANOTHER DEVICE.

THEY WERE NOT PREPARED FOR WHAT HAPPENED NEXT. THE TWINS AND ISAIAH STOOD ABOVE THE FRAY AND THEIR LIGHTS WENT OUT. IT OBLITERATED THE DEVICES THAT WERE HOLDING AND SUCKING KOENIG IN. WITH THE MACHINES GONE KOENIG WAS RELEASED AND HIS AURA FLOWED TOGETHER AND BACK FORMING HIS BODY. HE SAW THE THREE LIGHTS ABOVE HIM AND REALIZE HIS CHILDREN HAD COME TO HIS AIDE.

KOENIG WATCHED AS THEY LOWERED THEMSELVES TO THE GROUND.

THEY HUGGED HIM.

"SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE GETTING DESPERATE TO ME. THEY PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS TO DESTROY ME THIS TIME."

"I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE TO THE NEW PLACE."

"I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT. LETS LEAVE BEULA TO THE BEULANS. WE ARE LEAVING. I WILL INFORM THE ALPHANS TOMORROW. BEULA IS NO LONGER SAFE FOR US."

KOENIG GATHERED THEM IN HIS ARMS AND VANISHED.

QUELINE'S WATER BROKE AND SHE COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT SHE WAS IN LABOR UNTIL THE LADIES THAT ATTENDED HER TOLD HER THAT SHE COULD ONLY HOLD A CHILD FOR ONLY SIX MONTHS. THEY SAID THEY DID FOR A LONGER TIME BUT FOR SOME REASON SHE COULD NOT. SHE WAS SURPRISED WHEN SHE SAW THAT SHE HAD GOTTEN SO BIG SO QUICK BUT NO ONE TOLD HER THIS BIT OF NEWS. SHE WAS RUSHED TO THE SCIENTIST LAB WHERE SHE GAVE BIRTH TO A BOUNCING BABY BOY WITH THEIR HELP. KARL HAD ALREADY KNOWN IT WAS A BOY AND HAD NAMED HIM RUSSELL AFTER A LOVED ONE HE HAD LOST MANY YEARS AGO HE SAID.

QUELINE LIKED THE NAME AND WAS GLAD TO SEE HER HUSBAND ON THE MONITOR AFTER SO MANY MONTHS AWAY. SHE DID NOT NEED TO RECUPERATE FOR LONG AND IN A WEEK SHE WAS OUT AND ABOUT WITH THE BABY.

ALL HER SUSPICIONS AND STRANGE HAPPENINGS FORGOTTEN SHE SETTLED IN TO CARE FOR THE BABY. LUDIN WATCHED THEM ON THE MONITOR WITH PRIDE.

MAYA VERDESCHI WAS FLABBERGASTED. SHE HAD FOUND HELENA KOENIG, BUT WHERE WAS SHE. SHE HAD TO WAIT FOR THE MAN TO MAKE A MOVE.

DAYS LATER SHE DID NOT KNOW HOW THEY GOT FROM LUDIN'S APARTMENT TO THIS WORLD BUT HE HAD STEPPED THROUGH FROM ONE ROOM INTO ANOTHER AND THEN ANOTHER AND NOW HERE WAS HELENA KOENIG BEFORE HER.

ALL THE PLANS THEY MADE WOULD MAKE NO DIFFERENCE HERE THEY HAD NOT PLANNED ON A PORTAL. SHE HAD TO GO TO PLAN C. HELENA KOENIG WAS QUELINE QUE AND THE MOTHER OF A BOUNCING BABY BOY. MAYA HAD TO GET BACK. SHE COULD NOT HOLD THIS FORM FOR MUCH LONGER AND THE MEN WOULD BE HERE SOON TO RETRIEVE HER.

SHE DECIDED TO GO BACK WITH LUDIN AND WAIT FOR THE SOLDIERS TO PICK HER UP. THERE WAS NO WAY SHE COULD RESCUE HELENA SHE HAD NO IDEA WHO SHE WAS AND WHERE SHE WAS. SHE WOULD NEVER GO WITH MAYA ANYWAY.

JOHN KOENIG STOOD IN THE DOORWAY OF THE PULIAN VESSEL MAYA AT HIS SIDE. THEY HAD MET WITH THE ENTIRE CONTINGENT OF GORIN, SIRTIS, CROSS, XENO AND PATHENI SYSTEMS. NOW THEY WERE PERCHED ALL AROUND THE PLANET OF LUD SHIPS ARMED AND ON TARGET.

THE LEADERS MATERIALIZED ON LUD AND LUDIN, RAGHIN AND STEIT APPEARED BEFORE THEM. KOENIG STEPPED FORWARD EYES BLAZING.

"YOU HAVE THIRTY SECONDS TO RELEASE HELENA KOENIG FROM THAT PLANET YOU HOLD HER ON. IF YOU DO NOT RELEASE HER WE WILL DESTROY THIS PLANET!"

"WE HAVE BEEN OVER THIS KOENIG I DO NOT HAVE YOUR WIFE!" LUDIN BLAZED BACK.

"YOU HAVE HER MAYA VERDESCHI FOLLOWED YOU FOR A WEEK AND SAW YOU STEP FROM YOUR ROOM INTO A WORLD BEYOND THIS PLACE. WE KNOW YOU HAVE HER AND IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY YOU WILL BE TERMINATED LOCK, STOCK AND PLANET."

LUDIN LOOKED AT THE LEADERS AND REALIZED HIS TIME WAS UP AND HIS PLANS HAD FAILED. HE ATTACKED KOENIG WHO WAS READY FOR HIM.

BOTH MEN COLLIDE AND MET EACH OTHER BLOW FOR BLOW. LUDIN WAS NO MATCH FOR HIM. KOENIG, SO ENRAGED BURST INTO FLAMES AND LUDIN WAS BURNED BADLY AND FELL BACKWARDS DEFEATED. HE DID NOT WANT TO PLAIN.

"KOENIG, STOP, YOU WILL KILL HIM!" RAGHIN SHOUTED.

LUDIN LAID ON THE GROUND HIS SKIN STILL BURNING. HE WAS HELPED UP BY HIS COUSIN, STEIT. HE BACKED AWAY FROM KOENIG, HE WOULD LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY. HE COULD NOT RISK THE LIFE OF HIS PEOPLE OVER HIS DREAMS.

"RELEASE HER," HE SAID TO STEIT.

"SHE WILL NOT KNOW YOU, COMMANDER," RAGHIN SAID.

KOENIG DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGED WHAT HE SAID. HE JUST PULLED ALL THE ENERGY HE COULD MUSTER AND BLASTED THE MAN. SPARKLES WENT FLYING EVERYWHERE AS RAGHIN EXPLODED INTO A MILLION TINY PIECES AND THEN VANISHED.

EVERYONE BACKED AWAY FROM KOENIG INCLUDING HIS OWN MEN. NO ONE SAID A WORD THE LOOK ON KOENIG'S FACE SILENCED THEM ALL. THE MAN HAD BEEN THROUGH HELL THESE ALMOST TWO YEARS SINCE HIS WIFE WAS ABDUCTED.

"RELEASE HER!" KOENIG SEETHED.

THEY FOLLOWED THE LUDIANS TO LUDIN'S QUARTERS. THEY STEPPED THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE DOORS AND INTO THE PLANET OF STYLS. RIGHT UNDER THEIR NOSES. DAR AND THE OTHERS WERE APPAULED.

CENTY AND DAR DISAPPEARED TO HAVE A WORD WITH THE LEADERS OF STYLS AS THEY TOO WOULD PAY FOR THIS TREACHERY.

QUELINE QUE CAME INTO THE HALL TO PICK UP HER SHAWL WHEN SHE SAW THE MEN COME IN. SHE HAD NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE BUT THE MAN IN HER DREAMS WAS HERE. SHE THOUGHT PERHAPS NOW SHE COULD GET SOME ANSWERS.

"HELENA!" JOHN RAN TO HER AND TOOK HER INTO HIS ARMS.

"WHO IS HELENA?" SHE PUSHED AWAY FROM HIM CONFUSED.

"YOU, YOU ARE HELENA KOENIG," JOHN SAID THE TEARS IN HIS EYES NOW.

"NOT QUELINE QUE? DO I KNOW YOU? I KEEP SEEING YOU IN MY HEAD. WHO ARE YOU?"

"YOUR HUSBAND, JOHN KOENIG," HE REPLIED.

"KARL'S MY HUSBAND."

"NO, HE ISN'T. I AM."

"I WAS THERE WHEN WE GOT MARRIED THAT MUCH I CAN REMEMBER. WHERE IS KARL?"

"HELENA, HIS NAME IS LUDIN AND HE KIDNAPPED YOU A YEAR AND A HALF AGO FROM OUR HOME PLANET ON BEULA."

"I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. WHAT'S HAPPENING?"

"YOU ARE GOING HOME." SHE LOOKED AT THE MEN AND THAT STRANGE WOMAN WITH THEM.

"I DO NOT KNOW YOU AND THIS IS THE ONLY HOME I KNOW. WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE WITH YOU?"

"WE CAME TO RESCUE YOU LADY HELENA," AI'SON SAID STEPPING FORWARD.

"HELENA, THAT'S MY NAME THE WOMEN TOLD ME THAT MUCH. I BELIEVE YOU BUT WHAT DO I DO NOW?" SHE LOOKED CONFUSED AND STARTED BACKING AWAY FROM THEM. SHE TURNED AS SHE HEARD THE BABY CRIED. JOHN FROZE FROM MOVING FORWARD.

"WHERE IS KARL?" SHE TURNED TO THEM AND ASKED.

"OUTSIDE," KOENIG SAID HESITATING. HIS WIFE HAD A CHILD FOR ANOTHER MAN. HE DID NOT WANT TO BELIEVE IT.

"I NEED TO SEE HIM."

"HELENA," JOHN SAID MOVING FORWARD.

"PLEASE, I NEED TO HEAR FROM HIM."

LUDIN STEPPED IN AND SHE WAS APPALLED TO SEE HE WAS HURT. SHE RAN TO HIM.

"YOU'RE HURT, WHAT HAPPENED?"

"I WILL HEAL REMEMBER QUELINE WE AM IMMORTAL." HE REACHED OUT A HAND TO HER AND KOENIG BLAST HIM WITH A SHOT FROM HIS HAND THAT THEW HIM BACKWARDS AND FLAYED HIS SKIN.

"NEVER TOUCH MY WIFE AGAIN!" KOENIG BELLOWED MARCHING FORWARD.

HELENA SLAPPED HIM ACROSS THE FACE AND WENT TO LUDIN'S AIDE.

"YOU ANIMAL!" SHE GLARED UP AT HIM. "WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO HIM?"

SHE TURNED TO HIM. SHE COULD SEE THAT THE MAN SHE LOVED WAS IN PAIN. SHE KISSED HIM GENTLY ON THE LIPS. LUDIN KEPT ONE EYE ON KOENIG AS HE RETURNED THE KISS. HELENA FELT, HOWEVER, THAT SHE MUST FIND OUT IF WHAT WAS BEING SAID WAS TRUE.

"IS THIS TRUE, I'M NOT YOUR WIFE BUT YOUR CAPTIVE?" SHE ASKED.

"I LOVE YOU," HE SAID, "BUT YOU WERE HIS WIFE BEFORE YOU WERE MINE. I STOLE YOU FROM HIM," HE DECLARED.

HELENA'S HEART SANK AS SHE SAW THE TRUTH IN HIS EYES. HER LIFE FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF HAD BEEN THE LIE AND THE TRUTH WAS NOW HERE. SOMEHOW SHE KNEW IT WAS ALL TRUE.

KARL LUDIN QUE WATCHED AS THE TEARS FORMED AND FELL. SHE HAD LOVED HIM THAT MUCH HE KNEW. HE HAD DESTROYED ANY HOPE THAT SHE MIGHT LOVE HIM ON HER OWN BUT HE HAD KNOWN NO OTHER WAY TO WIN HER. HER LOVE FOR KOENIG WOULD ALWAYS COME BETWEEN THEM BUT HE WOULD LOVE HER NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENED NOW.

SHE KISSED HIM LONGINGLY AND KOENIG WATCHED SILENTLY. HE WANTED HER NO MATTER WHAT. HE WOULD DEAL WITH LUDIN LATER.

HELENA STOOD TO HER FEET, "I WANT TO STAY WITH KARL. I LOVE HIM. I DON'T KNOW YOU ANYMORE, JOHN." SHE LOOKED HIM IN HIS EYES AS SHE SAID.

IT HURT JOHN TO HEAR THIS BUT HE WAS NOT LEAVING WITHOUT HER THIS TIME.

"WE HAVE THREE CHILDREN TOGETHER. THE TWINS ARE ALMOST TWO YEARS OLD HELENA."

SHE CLOTHED HER EYES. I HAVE CHILDREN. I ALWAYS FELT I HAD CHILDREN BUT COULD NOT PLACE THE MEMORY. O KARL WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"

She looked at him and cried. He stole her previous life but he had given her another in place that she would also hate to lose.

""WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO NOW?" SHE CRIED.

KOENIG STEPPED TO HER.

"GET AWAY FROM ME YOU BRUTE!!"

"HELENA, YOUR CHILDREN NEED YOU," HE SAID CALMLY.

"JOHN, I HAVE A CHILD WITH KARL THREE WEEKS OLD."

"I KNOW." JOHN WAS ENRAGED AND BEGAN WALKING OVER TO LUDIN BUT THE MEN HELD HIM BACK.

KOENIG WAS HAVING NO MORE OF THIS, "WE HAVE A CONTINGENT OF FIVE THOUSAND SHIPS SURROUNDING THIS PLANET WE ARE PREPARED TO DESTROY IT UNLESS YOU ARE RELEASED TO US," KOENIG TOLD HER.

HELENA KNEW IT WAS TRUE. "I WILL GO WITH YOU," SHE FINALLY SAID. THIS MAN OBVIOUSLY WAS NOT LEAVING WITHOUT HER.

KOENIG TOUCHED HER AND THEY DISAPPEARED. THE OTHERS ARRESTED STEIT AND LUDIN.

HELENA KOENIG FOUND HERSELF ON A VESSEL BEING DRIVEN OUT OF HER GALAXY AND INTO ANOTHER. SHE WAS SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE SHE DID NOT KNOW AND LEAVING THE MAN SHE LOVE AND A CHILD BEHIND.

MAYA VERDESCHI SAT BESIDE HER BUT HELENA WOULD NOT LOOK AT HER.

WHEN THE SHIP LANDED ON NEW EDEN IN THE ZENO SYSTEM. SHE WAS TOLD THIS WAS A NEW PLANET THEY HAD MOVED TO AS THE OTHER WAS OCCUPIED AND HAD PROVEN UNSAFE FOR THEM.

THE CHILDREN MET HER ON ARRIVAL AND THEY RAN INTO HER ARMS. HELENA KOENIG WEEPED AS SHE SAW THEM. SHE DID NOT KNOW THEM BUT SHE LOVED THEM ON SIGHT. THEY CRIED AND CRIED WITH JOY. THE CHILDREN WERE TOLD THAT SHE DID NOT REMEMBER THEM AND TO GIVE HER TIME.

ISAIAH PLACED HIS HANDS OVER HER LEFT AND RIGHT EAR AND FELT THE IMPLANTS.

HE TOLD HER TO SIT AND HIS HANDS ROAMED OVER THE SPOT AND WARMED. THE TWINS EACH HELD HER HANDS TO DULL THE PAIN AS THE IMPLANTS STARTED COMING OUT OF HER HEAD. THEY APPEARED AT FIRST VAPOR FORM BUT AS THEY HIT THE AIR THEY TURNED TO FLESH THEN CRYSTALLIZED.

KOENIG WATCHED TOO HURT TO SAY MUCH BUT SO GLAD HIS CHILDREN HAD SKILLS.

HELENA FELT NO PAIN. SHE TRUSTED THE BOY AND FELT WHAT HE WAS DOING MUST BE DONE. SHE LOOKED AT THE IMPLANTS WHEN HE WAS FINISHED. SHE DID NOT FEEL ANY DIFFERENT BUT SHE FELT FREE SOMEHOW.

SHE AVOIDED JOHN KOENIG AS THE CHILDREN SAT WITH HER AND TOLD HER SOME OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED IN HER ABSENCE. AFTER THREE HOURS SHE WAS EXHAUSTED SO THE CHILDREN WENT WITH HER UPSTAIRS TO BED.

THEY WENT INTO THE BED WITH HER AND THEY ALL FELL ASLEEP ON HER. JOHN KOENIG HAD CALLED AHEAD AND REMOVED HIS THINGS FROM THEIR ROOM HE KNEW SHE LOATHED HIM NOW AND WOULD RESIST HIM BEING IN THE SAME ROOM WITH HEM.

HE SAT DOWNSTAIRS IN HIS OFFICE. HE WAS RELIEVED AND HE WAS AFRAID. HE HAD HIS WIFE BACK BUT HE DID NOT HAVE HIS WIFE BACK. HIS WIFE HAD BEEN MARRIED AND SLEEPING WITH ANOTHER MAN FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS.

KOENIG WAS SO ANGRY HE COULD NOT THINK STRAIGHT BUT HIS ANGER HAD DISTURBED HER ONCE AND HE DID NOT WANT HER TO WITHDRAW FROM HIM. HE HAD NOT IDEA WHAT TO DO NOW. BUT HE KNEW TIME WAS ON THEIR SIDE.

THE NEXT MORNING SHE DID NOT GET UP. THE CHILDREN CAME DOWNSTAIRS BUT SHE LAID IN BED. JOHN COULD HERE HER SOBS. HE WAS DEVASTATED THAT SHE WAS CRYING FOR THE MAN WHO ABDUCTED HER.

THIS WAS THE LAST STRAW EITHER THAT PLANET WAS GONE FROM THE PENTACT OR HE WOULD BE. THEY WERE EITHER GOING TO CHARGE LUDIN WITH TREASON OR KOENIG WAS GOING TO TAKE MATTERS IN HIS OWN HANDS EITHER WAY THEY WOULD BE GONE FROM THEIR LIVES.

HELENA KOENIG LAID IN BED AND SOBBED SHE HAD GIVEN BIRTH AND NOW HER BABY WAS ON ANOTHER PLANET IN ANOTHER GALAXY. SHE DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND THAT MAN WAS SO ANGRY SHE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO BEG HIM TO LET HER SEE HER SON. SHE WAS MISERABLE. SHE HATED KARL OR LUDIN, WHATEVER HIS NAME WAS.

HELENA TURNED OVER ABOUT NOON AND SAW THAT THEY HAD LEFT HER LUNCH THIS TIME. SHE SAT UP SHE WAS NOT VERY HUNGRY. SHE REALIZED WHY THE OTHER PEOPLE HAD SEEMED SO UNLIKE HER. SHE COULD TELL THAT THESE WERE HER PEOPLE. ONLY THE PSYCHON WAS DIFFERENT.

SHE GOT UP AND SHOWERED AND CHANGED INTO WHAT SHE COULD ONLY SUSPECT WERE HER OWN CLOTHES, NOTHING WAS FAMILIAR TO HER.

AND, IF YOU DO NOT OBLITERATE THAT PLANET AND CHARGE THAT MADMAN WITH KIDNAPPING AND TREASON AGAINST HIS COMMANDER! I WILL."

HELENA DID NOT KNOW WHERE THIS WAS COMING FROM BUT SHE COULD HERE EVERYTHING THAT MAN WAS SAYING DOWNSTAIRS AND IT WAS AS THOUGH HE WERE IN THE ROOM WITH HER.

SHE RAN DOWNSTAIRS AND HEADED TO WHERE SHE THOUGHT HE WAS SPEAKING. SHE DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF IT BUT SHE MUST STOP HIM FROM KILLING KARL OR HURTING THAT PLANET.

SHE BURST INTO THE ROOM AND KOENIG TURNED AROUND. HE SAW THE LOOK OF INDIFFERENCE ON HER FACE AND HE WAS FURIOUS ABOUT HIS LOST.

"DO SOMETHING OR ELSE I WILL WITHDRAW FROM BEING YOUR COMMANDER DAR! I WILL NEVER WORK WITH LUDIN, RAGHIN OR STEIT! CALL ME BACK WITH YOUR ANSWER."

"JOHN," SHE SAID COMING INTO THE ROOM TIMIDLY.

"I WILL CALL YOU ALL BACK," KOENIG SAID AND HUNG UP. HE TURNED TO HER AND HER LOOK WAS ONE OF ANGUISH.

SHE CAME TO HIM AND SAID, "JOHN, PLEASE DO NOT PUNISH THEM OR DESTROY THAT PLANET. I KNOW THEY DID THE WRONG THING AND WE ARE BOTH SUFFERING FOR IT BUT MY SON, RUSSELL JUST LOST HIS MOTHER I DON'T WANT HIM TO LOSE HIS FATHER TOO, PLEASE."

HE SAW HER TEARS AND HE ACHED. SHE HAD A SON FOR ANOTHER AND HE WAS HURT. HE DID NOT KNOW WHERE TO PUT THE HURT. THEY WERE BOTH HURTING AND NEITHER ONE COULD HELP THE OTHER.

"I WILL NOT DESTROY THAT PLANET BUT THEY HAD TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTIONS, HELENA. I WARNED THEM AND THEY DID NOT LISTEN. THEY CANNOT BE TRUSTED AS THIS IS THE 5TH TIME THEY HAVE COMMITTED A MAJOR INFRACTION."

"PLEASE, I NEVER WILL ASK YOU FOR ANOTHER FAVOR BUT THIS ONE. I DO NOT WANT MY SON TO BE FATHERLESS."

THE TEARS RAN UNHEEDED DOWN HER CHEEKS. SHE LOATHED THIS MAN BUT SHE HAD TO STAND HERE AND BEG FOR HER SON'S LIFE.

JOHN KOENIG COULD FEEL HIS HEART RIPPING OUT OF HIS CHEST. HE WANTED HIS WIFE BACK NOT THIS WOMAN BEGGING FOR THE LIFE OF ANOTHER.

SHE SANK TO HER KNEES AND KOENIG COULD TAKE IT NO LONGER HE VANISHED. HELENA LAID ON THE FLOOR OF THE DEN AND CRIED. SHE COULD FEEL THE PAIN IN JOHN KOENIG. SHE HAD HURT HIM, GOOD, BECAUSE HE HAD HURT HER.

AFTER A WHILE A KNOCK CAME AT THE DOOR, HELENA STOOD UP AND COMPOSED HERSELF.

"COME IN," SHE SAID.

A BLACK MAN ENTERED THE ROOM AND HE WAS DRESSED IN A GRAY UNIFORM OF SOME KIND. HE HAD KIND EYES BUT HELENA LOOKED AT HIM WITH CONCERN AS HE HAD MEDICAL SUPPLIES IN HIS HANDS.

"WHO ARE YOU?" SHE ASKED.

"BOB MATHIAS," HE SAID. HE HAD A MUSTACHE AND A KIND SMILE.

"DO I KNOW YOU?" SHE ASKED.

"YES," HE SAID, "YOU DO."

HELENA REALIZED HE HAD NOT SAID THE 'YOU DO' OUT LOUD. SHE WAS READING HIS THOUGHTS. THAT MUST HAVE BEEN WHAT SHE WAS DOING WITH KOENIG ONLY HIS THOUGHTS WERE MUCH LOUDER THAN THIS MAN'S.

"ARE WE FRIENDS?" SHE ASKED.

"YES," HE SAID. I HAVE MISSED YOU MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE.

"I am your colleague?"

"DID YOU JUST READ MY MIND? YOU NEVER DID THAT BEFORE, THIS IS NEW. YES YOU ARE DR. HELENA SUSAN RUSSELL KOENIG. BELOVED WIFE OF JOHN AND MOTHER OF ISAIAH, JOHN JR. AND NATALIE.

HELENA LIKED THIS MAN HE WAS VERY DIRECT. NOW I KNOW WHY I COULD SET THAT CHILD'S LEG SO EFFORTLESSLY AND WHY KARL NAMED OUR SON RUSSELL.

"WAS I HAPPY HERE?"

"EXTREMELY."

"DID I LOVE JOHN?"

"MADLY." HE WATCH THE TEARS FORM IN HER EYES.

"HOW LONG HAVE WE KNOWN EACH OTHER?"

"TWENTY YEARS, I KNEW YOU BEFORE JOHN DID." THAT MADE HER SMILE.

"I DO NOT REMEMBER MY LIFE HERE AND I DON'T LOVE THAT MAN," SHE STATED FLATLY.

"HE HAS BEEN GOING CRAZY THIS ALMOST 2 YEARS LOOKING FOR YOU. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A MAN SO IN LOVE. HE LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT AND THAT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE WITH HIS BLOOD. BOTH OF YOU ARE SELF SUSTAINING."

"AM I NOT LIKE YOU THEN?"

BOB BEGAN TO EXPLAIN TO HER HOW SHE CAME BY THIS BLOOD AND WHAT HAPPENED TO HER PREVIOUSLY WITH LUDIN.

SHE WAS HORRIFIED. SHE NOW SAW WHY KOENIG WAS IN SO MUCH PAIN AND RAGE.

"WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR HAND?"

"I NEED TO DRAW SOME BLOOD FROM YOU TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING WITH YOU, HELENA."

"GO AHEAD," SHE SAID HOLDING OUT HER ARM.

HE TIRED THE ELASTIC AROUND HER ARM AND PREPARED THE NEEDLE. HE HAD A HARD TIME PUNCTURING HER SKIN. ANOTHER NEW THING.

HE TOOK THE BLOOD OPENED THE DOOR AND HANDED IT TO A NURSE. HE CLOSED THE DOOR AND LOOKED AT HER. SHE WAS EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN BEFORE. HER PLATINUM BLONDE HAIR WAS ALL THE WAY DOWN PASS HER SHOULDERS.

"WHAT DO I DO NOW?"

"YOUR MEMORY WILL COME BACK SLOWLY. JUST GIVE IT TIME AND IN THE MEAN TIME GET TO KNOW YOUR CHILDREN."

HE STOOD BEFORE HER AND HELD OUT HIS HAND. HELENA TOOK IT AND WENT INTO HIS ARMS. HE HELD HER AND HE COULD FEEL HER RELAX A LITTLE. HE KISSED HER CHEEKS THEN LEFT.

SHORTLY AFTER HER CHILDREN CAME IN AND THIS LIFTED HER SPIRITS CONSIDERABLE.

HELENA SPENT THE NEXT TWO MONTHS GETTING TO KNOW HER CHILDREN. SHE EVEN PLANNED HER TWINS BIRTHDAY PARTY. ISAIAH TOOK HER ALL OVER THE PLACE EXPLAINING WHY THEY WERE ON A NEW PLANET AND WHY HE WAS REALLY ONLY 2 1/2 YEARS OLD.

SHE HARDLY SAW JOHN KOENIG AND THAT WAS FINE WITH HER. SHE SPENT TIME WITH THE ALPHANS AND GOT REACQUAINTED WITH THEM. HELENA REALIZED THAT SHE HAD FORMED NO BONDS WITH THE PEOPLE ON STLYS BUT SHE WAS BEGINNING WITH THESE PEOPLE.

THE DAY AFTER THE TWINS PARTY, HELENA KOENIG NOTICED A NUMBER OF PERSONNEL FILLING INTO THE CONFERENCE ROOM. SOME SHE HAD MET BEFORE AND SOME SHE HAD NEVER SEEN. THEY WAVED TO HER AS THEY PASSED HER IN THE LIVING QUARTERS AND AN OLDER MAN STOPPED AND CAME OVER TO HER.

"HELENA," HE SAID AND EMBRACED HER.

"VICTOR," SHE SAID WITHOUT HESITATION. SHE HAD REMEMBERED THIS MAN. HER MEMORY WAS COMING BACK.

"OH, MY YOU REMEMBER ME?" HE SMILED DOWN FONDLY AT HER.

"YES, YOUR NAME JUST CAME TO ME. I KNOW I KNOW YOU." VICTOR KISSED HER AND WENT INTO THE MEETING.

JOHN KOENIG CAME DOWNSTAIRS AND HE WAS TALKING WITH BOB MATHIAS. HIS FACE WAS GRIM AND SHE COULD SEE HE WAS ANGRY. THE MAN HAD A HORRIBLE DISPOSITION AND HELENA WONDERED WHY SHE WAS EVER IN LOVE WITH HIM.

If that bastard wasn't in exile I would kill him myself. Koenig thought.

Helena read his mind and cringed. She saw they were coming over to her.

"HELENA, BOB HAS SOME NEWS ABOUT YOUR BLOOD SAMPLES." HE HANDED BOB OVER TO HER AND WENT INTO THE MEETING. HE DID NOT LOOK AT HER BUT SHE FELT HIS PAIN.

"HELENA, I FOUND SOME GOOD THINGS AND SOME BAD. TRACES OF DRUGS THAT ARE MIND ALTERING AND A FERTILITY POTIONS. SOME OTHER STUFF TOO THAT THE CORONIANS COULD NOT CYPHER. THEY KEPT YOU DOPED-UP AND DELIBERATELY GOT YOU PREGNANT," HE TOLD HER.

"I KNOW I TRIED TO AVOID SOME OF THE STUFF THEY GAVE ME BUT I COULD NOT AVOID THEM ALL. AS FOR THE FERTILITY DRUG. I WAS AWARE OF IT. I WANTED TO GET PREGNANT."

SHE SAW BOB FROWN THEN.

"The good news is your blood is destroying the effects of these things fast and changing its composition. It is as though it is counteracting what was done and building up antibodies that would not allow this to have an effect on you ever again. You blood is like a computer and it is recalibrating your system. Now I drew John's blood and both of you are recalibrating. John Koenig is now the only one you can mate with. Anyone tries to mate with you and they will die."

Helena Koenig was aghast at this. "Why only John Koenig?"

"YOU BLOOD HAS IT'S OWN GENETIC CODE WRITTEN IN TO PROTECT ITSELF AND YOU. JOHN HAS YOUR BLOOD LITERALLY RUNNING THROUGH HIS VEINS. APPARENTLY THEY KNEW THIS AND TRIED TO COUNTERACT IT. IF HE HAD CONTINUED TO MATE WITH YOU HE WOULD HAVE HAD A FATAL STROKE SOON. YOU BLOOD WAS POISONING HIM SLOWLY."

"WHAT?"

"I FOUND ALSO THAT BOTH YOU AND JOHN KOENIG ARE LINKED TOGETHER LIKE A MASTER COMPUTER IF YOU DIE OR IN THIS CASE GO TO ANOTHER PLAIN HE GOES BUT IF HE DIES YOU DO NOT. YOU ARE THE MAIN COMPUTER AND ISAIAH WELL HE IS LIKE A MASTER COMPUTER A NEW SPECIES SO TO SPEAK. ALL YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE MASTER COMPUTERS AND YOUR BLOOD WILL DEEM WHO BECOMES WHAT. IT IS WRITTEN IN THERE BLOOD GENETICALLY."

HELENA KOENIG SAT DOWN. SHE HAD NO IDEA WHO SHE REALLY WAS AND THIS WAS EVEN WORST. SHE REALIZED HE WAS SAYING SHE WAS AN IMMORTAL.

"ANOTHER THING YOU DO NOT GET MORTAL ANYMORE BEFORE OR AFTER PREGNANCY. YOU WERE IMMORTAL THROUGHOUT THIS PREGNANCY. SOMEHOW YOUR BLOOD PROTECTED THIS FETUS FROM ABORTING. IT IS EXTRAORDINARY."

"I USE TO BE MORTAL BEFORE AND AFTER MY PREGNANCIES?"

"YES, BUT HELENA THERE IS MORE TO LEARN ABOUT THIS BLOOD OF YOURS EVERYDAY." BOB TOUCHED HER SHOULDERS LIGHTLY AND WENT INTO THE MEETING.

HELENA KOENIG WENT TO HELP AND GIVE THE TWINS A BATH BEFORE THEIR SLEEP OVER AT THEIR AUNTY MAYA, WHO HELENA FOUND OUT WAS A METAMORPH AND, WHO HAD FOUND HER. THE CHILDREN HAD ANOTHER CHILD TO PLAY WITH AS SHE WOULD CHANGE INTO A CHILD AND PLAY WITH THEM.

ISAIAH HAD GONET OFF THIS MORNING FOR SCHOOL ON PUL AND SHE WOULD MISS HIM. HE WENT FROM GALAXY TO GALAXY LEARNING ALL HE COULD.

JOHN KOENIG WRAPPED UP THE MEETING AND SPOKE SOME MORE TO BOB. BOB TOLD HIM SHE KNEW ABOUT THE FERTILITY POTIONS. HE NEEDED TO TALK TO HELENA AND NOW WAS THE TIME TO DO IT. NO ONE WOULD DISTURB THEM.

HE WENT UPSTAIRS AND KNOCKED AT HER DOOR. SHE SAID TO COME IN SO HE ENTERED. SHE WAS SURPRISED TO SEE HIM. HELENA REALIZED FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT THE STATUE SHE DID WAS OF HIM. A HUMAN HIM BUT HIM NONETHELESS.

SHE HAD DREAMED OF HIM. THIS MAN WAS HER LIFE WHETHER SHE WANTED IT TO BE SO OR NOT.

THE ROOM OPENED INTO A LOUNGE AREA FIRST WITH THE BEDROOM IN THE REAR AND A HUGE HIS AND HERS BATHROOM THAT HELD A SUNKEN BATHTUB TO THE RIGHT.

"MAY I SIT?" HE ASKED AND SHE NODDED.

I do not loathe him anymore but I don't love him either, she thought.

"I can read your mind, Helena and I'm aware of it when you read mine" he said.

"OH! I AM SORRY, JOHN. I DID NOT REALIZE THIS. I KNOW YOUR HURT." HE LOOKED AWAY BRIEFLY THEN HELD HER EYES AGAIN.

"YOURS IS THE ONLY MIND I CAN READ. I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU TO SEE HOW YOU WERE DOING."

HELENA COULD FEEL NOT ANGER OR PAIN FROM HIM NOW ONLY A GENTLENESS SHE HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE. WAS THIS THE MAN SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH.

"I AM FINE, I AM ADJUSTING. I..."

"I KNOW IT IS DIFFICULT AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY I WILL WAIT FOR YOU NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES."

HELENA DID NOT WANT TO HERE THAT. SHE DID NOT WANT A LIFE WITH HIM.

"JOHN, I THINK WE SHOULD GET A DIVORCE."

HELENA FELT THE SHARP PAIN FROM HIM ENTERED HER SOUL AND SHE FELT HIS PANIC AND THEN HIS DESPAIR. HE STOOD AND JUST STARED AT HER AND SHE FELT EVERY EMOTION HE WAS GOING THROUGH.

"DID YOU EVEN HEAR WHAT BOB SAID ABOUT OUR BLOOD? WE ARE LINKED TOGETHER, HELENA," HE SAID SOFTLY. SHE STOOD. SHE DID NOT WANT TO LEAD HIM ON AS SHE FELT NOTHING FOR HIM.

"I CAN'T LIVE WITH YOU UNDER THE SAME ROOF," SHE STATED FLATLY.

"I LOVE YOU AND I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT YOU," HE STATED.

"I DO NOT LOVE YOU, JOHN."

JOHN DID NOT THINK HE WOULD EVER HEAR THOSE WORDS FROM THOSE LIPS. THEY STARED AT EACH OTHER. JOHN'S ARMS WENT OUT TO HER ARMS AND HE GRIPPED HER. SHE COULD FEEL THE HEAT GO UP HER ARMS BUT IT DID NOT HURT.

"ARE YOU STILL IN LOVE WITH LUDIN?"

"NO, I REALIZED THAT THAT WAS A FANTASY. I DID LOVE HIM BECAUSE MY MIND WAS EMPTY OF YOU."

"CAN YOU BRING YOURSELF TO LOVE ME AGAIN?"

SHE COULD NOT LOOK AT HIM, BUT SHE REMEMBERED SOMETHING.

"I will always come back to you," she remembered say this to this man.

John pulled her close and gently kissed her lips. She pulled away, hat too was familiar and other memories flowed into her mind. Just by him touching her she was remembering things.

"JOHN I REMEMBERED SOMETHING JUST NOW BUT IT IS GONE NOW." SHE LOOKED AT HIM AND HE SEEMED VERY FAMILIAR TO HER. JOHN KISSED HER PASSIONATELY BUT SHE DID NOT RESPOND AS THE MEMORIES FLOWED INTO HER MIND.

SHE PUSHED AWAY FROM HIM IN DISDAIN. "I AM NOT READY FOR THAT, JOHN."

"If just touching and kissing me brings back memories what would my making love to you do?" He asked her.

Helena backed away from him then as it had sparked a memory of them in an intimate position. Helena realized that at some point she had been crazy about this man.

"WHAT DID KARL DO? HE DESTROYED OUR LOVE. I CAN FEEL SOMETHING POWERFUL WAS THERE BUT I AM AFRAID OF WHAT I FEEL. IT IS OVERWHELMING."

"LET ME MAKE LOVED TO YOU," HE SAID.

"I CAN'T, I.."

JOHN PULLED HER TO HIM AND KISSED HER AGAIN AND SHE FELT A SPARK LIGHT THAT SHE HAD NEVER FELT BEFORE. SHE PULLED AWAY AGAIN AND LOOKED AT HIM. THE PASSION IN HIS EYES SPARKED HER PASSION AND SHE CONSIDERED MAKING LOVE TO HIM IF ONLY FOR A MOMENT.

"I LOVE YOU," HE SAID AND HIS GENTLE HANDS WENT TO THE SMALL OF HER BACK AND PULLED HER TO HIM. SHE COULD SEE HE WAS NOT THE MONSTER SHE THOUGHT HE WAS AND SHE ONCE HAD GREAT FEELINGS FOR HIM.

"I CAN'T MAKE LOVE TO YOU. BUT I DO NOT WANT A DIVORCE NOW. I WANT TO SEE IF WE CAN FALL IN LOVE AGAIN. THESE FEELINGS THOUGH OVERWHELMING FEEL RIGHT TO ME. I CAN TELL THAT I ONCE DID LOVE YOU VERY MUCH, JOHN."

"AS I SAID BEFORE, I WILL WAIT FOR YOU."

HELENA KOENIG HELD HIS HANDS AND SHE FELT THE SPARK AND SHE GOT AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE MAN. HIS ANGER WAS NOT A MEAN ANGER NOR A VINDICTIVENESS IT WAS DRIVEN BY LOVE OF HER.

"THANK YOU JOHN, THANK YOU," SHE SAID.

KOENIG RELEASED HER AND TURNED TO GO. SHE WATCHED HIM WALK AWAY AND THIS TIME SHE UNDERSTOOD BETTER WHO HE WAS. HE WAS SUDDENLY NOT A STRANGER AND SHE WAS GLAD HE HAD BEEN BOLD ENOUGH TO KISS HER OR SHE WOULD NEVER HAVE FOUND A PART OF HERSELF IN HIM.

DAY BY DAY HELENA KOENIG'S BLOOD CALIBRATED ITSELF AND LITTLE BY LITTLE SHE REMEMBERED. ONE DAY THE FACT THAT SHE WAS A MEDICAL DOCTOR CAME FLOODING IN. A WEEK AFTER THAT SHE WAS BACK TO WORK IN THE MEDICAL CENTER, HELPING OUT A FEW HOURS EACH DAY. IT FELT GOOD TO BE USEFUL. JOHN WAS THRILLED TO SEE THIS AND HOPED AGAINST ALL HOPE THAT SHE WOULD KEEP HER PROMISE AND COME BACK TO HIM AS WELL.

HELENA WATCHED HER HUSBAND AS HE PLAYED BALL WITH THE CHILDREN. HE WOULD CATCH THE TWINS EVERY NOW AND THEN AND HOIST THEM IN THE AIR AND THEY WOULD SQUEAL WITH LAUGHTER. ISAIAH WOULD JUMP ON HIS BACK AND HE WOULD SPIN WITH THE CHILD.

HELENA'S MIND WENT TO RUSSELL AND SHE KNEW HE WAS BEING LOOKED AFTER BUT SHE LONGED FOR HIM.

BEEP BEEP.

HELENA LOOKED DOWN AT HER COMMUNICATOR AND SAW THE PICTURES OF RUSSELL COMING IN. SHE HAD BEEN GETTING THESE SINCE LAST WEEK AND SHE HAD SENT MESSAGES OFF TO HIM. SHE KNEW THAT THIS WAS KOENIG'S DOING AND SHE WAS GRATEFUL.

HE HAD HAD HER MARRIAGE TO LUDIN ANNULLED ON LUD AND HER SON WAS IN EXILE WITH HIS FATHER. RUSSELL COULD RETURN BUT NOT HIM. SIRIDA, RAGHIN'S WIFE RULED LUD NOW UNTIL RUSSELL BECAME OF AGE. HELENA HOPED SHE COULD SEE HIM SOMEDAY SOON.

SHE SIGHED AS SHE WATCH HER HUSBAND MORE AND MORE HE BECAME FAMILIAR TO HER AND SHE DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE HIM NOW. SHE SAW A SIDE OF HIM SHE HAD NOT EXPECTED. HE WAS NOT A BRUTE. HE HAD BECOME A FRIEND.

ANOTHER MEMORY CAME FLOODING IN, IT WAS MOONBASE ALPHA, SHE REMEMBERED THAT ROCK. THIS ALL CAME ABOUT FROM HIM TOUCHING HER THAT NIGHT. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY MADE LOVE WOULD SHE REMEMBER EVERYTHING.

SHE BEGAN TOYING WITH THAT IDEA JUST TODAY, COULD SHE AFTER SLEEPING WITH KARL SLEEP WITH THIS MAN. SHE DID NOT KNOW IF HER FEELINGS FOR HIM WAS STRONG ENOUGH.

BLEEP BLEEP

ANOTHER MESSAGE WAS COMING IN SHE SAW. HELENA NOTICED IT WAS VIDEO AND THOUGHT THEY MUST BE OF HER SON. SHE WATCHED AND SAW THAT SOMEONE HAD SENT HER HER WEDDING VIDEO OF HER AND JOHN'S NUPTIALS.

HELENA WATCHED AND SAW THAT HE WAS DIFFERENT THEN. HE HAD A BEARD AND A HUGE GRIN OF HIS FACE. THE LOOK SHE GAVE HIM WAS EVIDENT. SHE LOOKED UP FROM THE VIDEO AND WATCHED HIM WITH THE CHILDREN THEN SHE WATCHED SOME MORE OF THE TAPING.

SHE REMEMBERED THAT THEY WERE BOTH JEWISH AND HELENA REMEMBERED THE CELEBRATION AND THE FACT THAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE INVISIBLE BUT HE SHOWED UP ON THE MONITORS AND VIDEO.

SUDDENLY HELENA WANTED THOSE MEMORIES AND FEELINGS BACK. IT WAS NOT HIS FAULT THAT SHE WAS TAKEN BY A MADMAN. SHE REALIZED THAT THAT WAS WHO KARL LUDIN QUE WAS.

"I HAVE TO GET MY LIFE BACK," SHE SAID AFTER WATCHING THE VIDEO.

LATER THAT EVENING, AS THE CHILDREN WERE ALL IN BED, HELENA KOENIG RESOLVED TO SLEEP WITH HER HUSBAND THAT NIGHT. SHE WENT TO HIS QUARTERS AND KNOCKED AT THE DOOR.

"COME." KOENIG STOOD WHEN HE SAW WHO IT WAS. HE HAD SHORTS ON AND NOTHING ELSE. SHE WAS IN A LONG NEGLIGEE AND NOTHING ELSE. KOENIG DARED NOT MOVE. SHE CAME TOWARDS HIM AND HE JUST STOOD THERE. HE COULD SEE THAT SHE WAS AFRAID BUT BEING BRAVE.

She stood before him and his hand reached out to her. He touched her and she remembered when they first met. A tear came to her eyes and John took her into his arms and held her.

"ARE YOU DOING THIS SO YOU CAN REMEMBER?"

"YES," SHE WHISPERED.

HE PUT HER AWAY FROM HIM. KOENIG LOOKED AT HER, "I CAN'T MAKE LOVE TO YOU JUST TO SEE IF ALL YOUR MEMORIES WOULD RETURN. YOU NEED TO FEEL SOMETHING FOR ME."

"I FEEL OUR FRIENDSHIP, JOHN."

"I NEED MORE THAN THAT HELENA."

SHE LOOKED AT HIM AND HE LOOKED AT HER. SHE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL IT WAS ALL HE COULD DO TO STEP AWAY FROM HER. SHE REACHED OUT HER HAND AND TOUCHED HIM AND A MEMORY OF THEM SITTING ON A TREE TRUNK CAME TO HER.

THE LOOK SHE GAVE HIM THEN WAS SO STRONG IN HER MOMORY HELENA COULD NOT LOSE IT NOW.

"JOHN, MAKE LOVE TO ME."

KOENIG COULD FEEL EVERY FIBER OF HIS BEING SHAKE AND HIS LEGS TURN TO JELLY. THIS WOMAN WOULD BE THE DEATH OF HIM. "NO."

HELENA REACHED UP AND UNDID HER GOWN AND IT FELL TO THE FLOOR. SHE STOOD NAKED BEFORE HIM AND JOHN'S BREATH CAUGHT IN HIS THROAT.

"MAKE LOVE TO ME."

KOENIG LOOKED AT HER. WOULD HE BE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HER IF HE DID MAKE LOVE TO HER.

"HELENA, I LOVE YOU. I JUST CAN'T RIGHT NOW." SHE REACHED HER HAND DOWN AND PULLED HIS SHORTS DOWN AND THEY BOTH STOOD NAKED.

Helena could see he wanted her.

"MAKE LOVE TO ME. I WANT TO KNOW WHO I AM AND I WANT MY LIFE BACK. MAKE ... LOVE .. TO.. ME." SHE CRIED, STANDING THERE, FOR HER LIFE THAT ONCE WAS, FOR HER LOVE STANDING BEFORE HER WHOM SHE HAD LOST.

KOENIG GROANED HE COULD NOT LET HER GO NOW. HE WAS LOST. HE PICKED HER UP IN HIS ARMS AND HELD HER TIGHT. HELENA KOENIG BEGAN REMEMBERING HER CHILDHOOD BACK ON EARTH.

SHE LOOKED DOWN AT JOHN KOENIG AND SAW SUCH LOVE AND PASSION THERE THAT SHE WANTED TO LOVE HIM.

"MAKE LOVE TO ME, JOHN KOENIG." HE STEPPED BACK SLOWLY AS SHE WRAPPED HER LEGS AROUND HIS WAIST. HE HELD HER TO HIM, THEIR HEARTS POUNDING.

Helena remembered her parents as she was poised over him and she descended in slow motion. She felt him and a flood of memories assaulted her senses and came rushing in. Koenig exploded at the first touch and Helena Koenigs body absorbed it all. Her memories came crashing back and rushing forward and with it came her pent-up feelings and her body released itself and Koenig's anatomy absorbed it. They became one again in mind and body.

This time Koenig turned to the bed, gently eased her on it and took her. They exploded together and Helena Koenig felt a seed being planted in her. She conceived. John Koenig felt it also and his eyes opened wide in surprise.

HELENA KOENIG WAS INDEED AGAIN HELENA KOENIG. HER HUSBAND HAD UNLOCKED THE DORMANT RECESSES OF HER MIND AND HELENA CRIED LOUD GUT WRENCHING SOBS.

"OH NO, NO, NOO, NOO, NO." SHE SCREAMED AND JOHN THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING MAD. HER EYES WERE WIDE WITH FRIGHT.

"OH NO, NO, NO, NO." JOHN HELD HER AS THEY WERE STILL JOINED TOGETHER.

SHE SOUNDED LIKE A WOUNDED ANIMAL AS SHE CRIED AND THRASHED ABOUT ON THE BED. JOHN COULD FEEL HER PAIN. IT WAS TEN MINUTES LATER WHEN SHE STOPPED HOWLING THAT JOHN LOOKED INTO HER EYES.

"HELENA," HE SAID SOFTLY.

"JOHN," SHE SAID ADORINGLY. "I AM SO SORRY." SHE SHOOK HER HEAD FROM SIDE TO SIDE. HE HAD TEARS IN HIS EYES.

"SHHHHH," HE SAID.

"I LOVE YOU," SHE SAID AND STARTED HOWLING AGAIN. KOENIG ROCKED HER BACK AND FORTH AND MADE COOING NOISES AT HER IN AN EFFORT TO CALM HER.

"HE STOLE... MY... LIFE!" SHE HOWLED IN ANGER. SHE HATED HIM.

"HELENA, I LOVE YOU. I'LL NEVER LET YOU GO, HONEY. DON'T THINK ABOUT IT ANYMORE"

"Oh John, how can you forgive me?" Her eyes were dark pools of regret.

"I am mad about you, kid. I can't live without you and you and take that both ways. Please darling, no more tears."

"JOHN, JOHN, JOHN."

"HELENA, HELENA, HELENA." HE KISSED HER THEN AND FELT HIS NEED RISE. SHE FELT IT ALSO.

"MAKE LOVE TO ME," SHE SAID BREATHLESSLY.

JOHN KOENIG MADE LOVE TO HIS WIFE THIS TIME. SHE CLUNG TO HIM AS THOUGH SHE COULD NOT LET HIM GO. HE KISSED HER REPEATEDLY AND SHE GAVE HIM KISS FOR KISS. SHE HAD FELT NOTHING LIKE THIS WITH KARL, HOW COULD SHE HAVE FORGOTTEN THE LOVE OF HER LIFE.

THEY LAID TOGETHER AFTER AN HOUR TOTALLY SATIATED. HELENA WAS SO HURT AND WOUNDED JOHN HOPED SHE WOULD NOT DWELL ON WHAT HAPPENED TO HER. HE HELD HER IN HIS ARMS ALL NIGHT. HIS BABY WAS BACK.

WEEKS LATER, AS THE CHILDREN AND THE KOENIGS CAME BACK FROM VACATIONING, ISAIAH FELT IT WAS TIME TO FILL THEM IN ON THE LATEST THAT HE KNEW.

"MOM, DAD, I KNOW YOU HAVE NOT TOLD ANYONE THAT YOU ARE PREGNANT BUT WE CAN TELL."

"YES, NATHAN IS ON HIS WAY," JOHN SMILED. HELENA SAT BESIDE HIM ON THE COUCH HOLDING HIS HAND.

"I HAVE TO TELL YOU WHAT I SAW FOR OUR FUTURE," HE CONTINUED.

"WHAT IS IT?" HELENA SAID.

"RUSSELL, HAS ALTERED OUR FUTURE. NATALIE WILL NOT BE TAKEN ANYMORE AS WHEN YOU WERE TAKEN AND HE WAS BORN OUR FUTURE CHANGED. WE STILL HAVE DANGERS TO FACE BUT NOTHING ON A MAGNITUDE THAT WE COULDN'T HANDLE."

"BECAUSE OF RUSSELL?" HELENA ASKED.

"BECAUSE OF RUSSELL, LUDIN DOES NOT HAVE TO STEAL NATALIE HE HAS AN HEIR NOW. WE ARE SAFE FROM THAT THREAT."

THEY WERE RELIEVED TO HERE THIS.

"BECAUSE THE LUDIANS INTERVENED WE DEFEATED THE NATAS AND AVOIDED UNNECESSARY HEARTACHE. EVEYTHING IS ON TARGET AND YOUR PLAN WORKED. WE WILL BE VICTORIOUS IN THE FUTURE."

HELENA SMILED AND PICKED UP NATALIE AND JOHN PICKED UP JOHN JR.

"THANKS, MOM," NATALIE SMILED HAPPILY.

HELENA WAS GLAD THAT SOMETHING GOOD CAME OUT OF ALL THIS TRAGEDY. ISAIAH SAT BESIDE THEM AND THE BABY IN HER WOMB JUMPED.