Alien Dreams

While Shane was explaining this to T'cara, Moira had been on the portable comm. unit. Director Marcuson had been outraged upon waking and find the message Moira had left. However when she told him what she and Shane had discovered his attitude abruptly changed. Twenty minutes after speaking with her Marcuson arrived with several skimmer loaded with technicians and equipment from El Dorado. Quickly lights, portable energy cells and scanners of all types were set-up in the chamber and the technicians began their work. Following T'cara's instruction, as passed through Shane, access covers were removed from instrument panels and the techs. set to working on their tangled innards.

"Maybe she forgot something, maybe there is a circuit path they overlooked," he said pacing back and fourth.

"Look at her hand, it moved!" Moira called out all at once.

Whirling round Shane saw that it was true. Through the dust and grime covered lid of the tube they could see T'cara's right hand was no longer laying across her left. As everyone gathered close that hand moved slowly up T'cara's body towards her face. All at once T'cara's mouth came open and her chest rose as she inhaled deeply. Then her eye lids fluttered and opened wide. Turning her head T'cara looked at the humans and smiled a glorious smile. As they watched she raised her arms up slowly and began to push at the tube's lid.

"Help me!" Shane cried stepping up to the suspension chamber and curling his fingers under the lid's edge. "Help me lift this."

Coming up beside him Moira and three of the techs. took hold of the lid and together pulled at it. At first that heavy slab didn't seem to want to move. Having been in the same position for so long it had become frozen in place. However though that lid was all but fused to its base at last their combined strength forced it open. As it swung free Shane leaned down and put his arms around T'cara. Holding her gently he lifted her clear of the suspension chamber that had been her tomb for so long.

"Shane," T'cara said in a voice she had not used in long, long ages. "Shane am I truly free? This is not some horrible nightmare? I am really, truly free at last?"

"Yes T'cara you are free," he replied softly, holding her tight as the others surrounded him. He knew there were many trials ahead for T'cara. There would be pain and heartache when she understood fully that she was the last of her kind. She would have trouble adjusting to life surrounded by aliens. However Shane also knew that a person able to endure all T'cara had could adapt to life in the Republic. And he would be there to help her. To help find T'cara a new home and a new future. "You are free T'cara and there is a wondrous Universe waiting for you to discover."

ALIEN DREAMS

By

A. S. Teller