It's been three weeks since we arrived on Majah Prime, and finally we negotiated for our crew to come planet side. The crew is enjoying tours by Majah-tu volunteers who are showing them the palace grounds and the sights around the city near by; Mr Ahamadi is sitting next to me with Mandy on his other side at a conference table, as I expose to him my proposition that I feel is a good thing for UEA Gov. "Basha, I want to know is what you think about staying here as the Ambassador for Earth?" He looks at me surprised, but at the same time he considers it.
"I am most honored for the trust you place in me." he stands up and walks to the window and looks out onto the palace grounds with is hands behind his back; he turns around and comes back to the table looking at each of us in turn. "I will accept this honored position and fulfill it as best as I can." I smile nodding and I look towards Mandy, but she avoids eye contact with me and I slightly narrow my eyes at her.
"Very well Mr. Ahmadi I will bring this proposal treaty to the King, and hopefully he will like the Idea." I pick up my note book and check it and jot down some notes about the proposal, that I will present in writing to make it an official request. Mandy and Basha are speaking of nonessential things; just simple small talk. "Mandy, would please just go over this and see if it meets with your approval." She looks at me with daggers in her eyes and I sit there realizing what's going on, though she takes the note pad and starts to read through it. I think we're going to have a talk after the meeting is over.
"Yes, I think this will work, but I'd change this part and make it sound less demanding and more of a request." I nod as she hands me back the pad. I make a note to make the change.
"Well basha I think we're done for now and thank you for your acceptance of this position, and for the future Earth." I stand with him and shake his hand he then turns and leaves the room; Mandy also stands to leave. "Major, may I have a word with you Please." She closes the door and returns to the table sitting down. "Mandy..."
"Stop right there Captain!" she says forcefully and I look at her. "it's Major Roberts, so we're clear here." She states with authority.
I nod. "Well then Major, we have to work together on this to make sure that the embassy is established." She looks at me and turns away. "Major, you are the commanding officer of the mission so you are the ranking Earth official here." I take a breath, because she does out rank me right now. "We need to work as a team that is in command, and we can't let personal feelings get in the way."
She looks at me."Why?" she asks me. "Why are you slipping away from me?" Her question hits me hard and I look down.
"It's hard to explain" I know how weak that sounds after all we've been through. "This is something that I cannot stop." God almighty this is difficult to voice, but I owe her that much. "This is a place in this time that was seen before our arrival to this world and I am meant to be here now with her."
Mandy stands up angrily knocking over the chair she was sitting on. "Do you think I'm stupid!" she shouts. "Don't think for a moment that I believe this 'I'm destined to be with her crap!'" She heads to the window and she leans her forehead on it. "You said that life will always show what you have to do, so you are doing just what you want and then go around telling me that it's written in the stars!" She turns and the tears are streaming down her cheeks. "You spend hours with her walking, taking, laughing and going on, but what about me!" She stands there crying. "You forgot me." She wipes the tears from her eyes and straightens her uniform looking at me with cold eyes. "We will finish this mission here and we will leave for Earth as soon as we're ready" She grabs her things walking out of the room leaving me sitting there feeling worse than I've felt in a long time, though I can't blame her for anything that has happened because it's not her fault. I get up after a while and head for my room stepping in closing the door behind me.
I have to stay calm and get this typed up, but at this moment my heart is not in it. I sit down in front of the computer and printer that I had set up; and I just can't focus, so I shut it down laying on the bed instead. I lay there for hours; the room gradually gets dark as the sun sets. I decide to get this work done and then present it to the King, so I get on it, to have this ready for tomorrow.
The next morning I'm in my dress grays and I grab the proposal and head out as Mandy steps around the corner meeting up with me. "Major, are you ready?" I ask.
She put her hand on my arm stopping me from leaving and I turn around. "Ant please don't forget me." She says in a soft voice.
I shake my head. "I won't." I say.
"I know this has been strain between us for a while, though I know that Jah-jahní is good person, but I don't want to lose you." Her voice is full of pain and her eyes look puffy, which mean she cried a lot last night.
"Mandy," I lock eyes with her putting my hand on hers. "There are things that... I can't explain and sound sane." I take a breath and let it out. "I'm not trying hurt you, but there some kind of connection between Jah-jahní and me that I still don't understand."
She drops her gaze from my eyes and I feel terrible, but I can't tell her that when I'm with Jah-jahní... I know I'm complete. You know how bad that sounds! "I guess, " Mandy looks at me. "There are times when you need to let life follow its own course." She slowly pulls her hand back and composes herself pulling on her dress grays smoothing out non existent wrinkles. "Then lets get this done." She says in a calm voice walking off toward the meeting place.
I stand there for little knowing that things between us will never be the same. But we must follow the path set before us, or risk being lost. As we approach the door to the conference room I see Mr. Ahmadi waiting by there, so I look at my watch and we're right on time for the meeting. Mandy greets Mr. Ahmadi and proceeds to knock on the door; we step into the room and the King is there as well as Jah-jahní and another individual I don't recognize, though I may have seen him around. There are also four of the Kings personal guards present. That's when I see our Marines here as well equally armed.
Jah-jahní stands up. "His Majesty Moha-tahn the fourth greets you brave travelers and bids you to please be seated." We take our seats across from the King and his representatives. I steal a glance to Jah-jahní and she does as well, though I think Mandy noticed as she shifts uncomfortably. Jah-jahní eyes shift slightly towards Mandy damn it she noticed! "We now commence the negotiations for the Embassy that you wish to establish here." She looks directly at me. "Do you have the treaty for this petition ready?"
"Yes, it's right here." I pass it to her and she accepts with a slight inclining of her head and then passes it to her King and father, who receives it and puts it to one side without even opening it up. "Your Majesty we come here before you ask you permission to leave Mr. Ahmadi as our Ambassador to represent Earth here, and if you see the plan that we have out lined for your gracious approval..."
The King holds up his hand. "Yes I understand what your previous proposal is, and now this one which is the actual formal one are all about." he has the same colored eyes as Jah-jahní, only less emotional, colder. "What would be the benefits for our people?" He looks at me then at Mandy stopping at Basha. "You are by all accounts brave, but a backwards society. So I ask you how will this Alliance you wish to make help us?" His gaze is even more riveting than Jah-jahní's.
I put my hands on the table interlacing my fingers; not quite sure of what to say except for the truth. "It's true, we are a back water world compared to yours, but we have the potential to grow and learn fast, if we have the right teachers." The Kings eyes flash with great intensity. For just an instant I feel some pressure in my mind, but I fight back. It's a struggle because this is nothing like fighting with a weapon in your hand, I would be in some standing there, with a chance. Here it's not that simple, since they've already shown some ability to use there mind as a weapon. suddenly the pressure eases up and the King smiles.
"You show considerable strength of both will and mind." he turns toward Jah-jahní nodding and she smiles at me and then at Mandy. "You have shown that your people will fight even when the odds are against you. We will allow the Embassy to be established here on Majah Prime." He turns to the Majah-tu male next to him speaking in his own language; this male turns picking up a box and he opens it producing a pen. The King picks up the treaty going to final page where he has to sign and that's just what he does, then Jah-jahní also signs below her fathers name.
I pull out my own pen receiving the treaty so I can sign it and I look at the signatures and I stop cold. I'm caught by Jah-jahní's mark, as I stare at it. It can't be! My mind is stuck this is not possible, I have been drawing this symbol in my journal at the top of every page since childhood. I saw it in a dream when I was ten years old and immediately started to use it. I look up and I notice that everyone is looking at me. "I'm sorry, I was just caught up in the momentous occasion that this represents for our worlds." I quickly sign and I pass it to Mandy. Mandy looks at the page and signs it then she looks to Jah-jahní; she has seen me scribble it on many occasions, she passes it to Basha for him to sign. I have been drawing or rather writing Jah-jahní's name for most of my life. I look at Jah-jahní and she has a curious expression on her face and I look down trying to keep my cool. However, I can feel that Mandy is not happy about this, but we get through the meeting and give our most humble thanks and say our good night leaving them to wonder what just happened,