What Jen found more fascinating was the crash course in all things Edevian. Imagine, a world where women rule and men accept their subservient status. Jen did become quite upset as Aarien detailed events leading up to her former lover's tragic death, and she secretly seethed that some men had the gall to ruin such an ideal world. Honestly, that Bamud guy sounds like many men on this planet, recklessly grasping for anything just so they can be on top, so to speak.
Anyway, with Claire and Aarien safely tucked away in their hotel hideaway, Jen did caution the women that Van and the Browns had hired a private detective. That man, Derek Ballard, had yet to learn exactly where Claire was, but it was only a matter of time before Van could show up and force Claire to return home.
That could never happen, so Jen told her niece, "Honey, I think you and Aarien should remain here. Pansie and Jody are planning to join us this evening, so we must keep a sharp lookout for this Ballard guy."
"I know, Aunt Jen," said Claire, "Pansie called me, said the guy tried to pump Jody for information. The nerve of Van! Hiring that detective. If he thinks he's going to drag me away from all this–"
"But he won't." Aarien reassured Claire that nothing or no one would dare to intrude on their new-found happiness. "Remember, I gave you the Dream Shield. I feel it should be put to use at once."
"What is the Dream Shield?," asked Jen, her curiosity running wild. When Aarien and Claire explained what the device does, Jen wondered if it could be used to rescue Emily. After all, she tried for so long to wrest her sister from the oppressive clutches of Howard Brown. But Emily, drained of all her independence and dreams, meekly accepted the station handed to her. At their last meeting, Jen suggested to Emily that they get away for a weekend, just the two of them. Sort of a "girls only" vacation. For Jen, it was a chance to reconnect with Emily, do some serious consciousness raising. However, Emily, fearful of her husband, respectfully and firmly declined. "No, Jen," she said, looking away, "that isn't a good idea. What if Howard finds out, and you know how he feels about you. No, I'm content with things as they are."
So Jen just chalked it all up to her brother-in-law's usual mind games and repressive attitude. In time, Emily just may come around, and with this latest episode with Claire, there might be one last chance for Emily to reclaim a life forcibly taken from her.
"Uh, Aarien," she asked, "Can this be used to...How can I put this? Undo a 'brainwashing'?"
******
Why didn't he just go up to the room? Derek Ballard could have done just that: Follow Jen Dorfman to the elevator then instantly discover which room Claire Brown was in. But he had his orders: Call Van Allen the moment he had any leads, and this was the first major break all day. Trying to pump information from Jody and Pansie didn't work out, so Derek reported to Van, and Mr. Allen instructed him to seek out Jen, Claire's aunt. "She's one of them, too," explained Van over the phone, "And I can safely bet she's the one who's hiding Claire. If you spot her, don't tip her hand by following her. Call me at once."
And so Derek did just that, pulling out his cell phone and dialed Van's private line. "Mr. Allen, I followed Ms. Dorfman to the Clarion Hotel. She was in the lobby for a few moments, had a drink, then made a few calls. I also saw that Pansie chick leaving the hotel late this morning."
"Was she with her partner?"
"No sir. She was with another woman. Dark-haired girl, about her age."
"Good work! Stay there. I'll call Claire's parents. We'll meet you in the lobby in about an hour. Don't let any of those women out of your sight."
******
Back on board the StarSeeker, Captain Darelia pondered her commander's latest message: Seek out Claire Brown's mother, take her to the ship and introduce her to Legudia, one of Edev's elder priestesses. Why? Is it that important? Darelia also thought of ways to approach the woman. From Aarien's reports, Emily Brown was once a woman of means and independence. However, for reasons yet unknown, Emily allowed herself to fall into a momentary lapse of responsibility which led to her entrapment as subservient wife of Howard Brown.
Time was of the essence as Claire's father and fiance had hired a detective to find Claire and bring (no, force) her back home. And what was this about using the Dream Shield? That device was to be used only for dire emergencies.
Well, this was an emergency, and with the ship now repaired, it became imperative for the Edevian crew to return home as soon as possible. Word came from the home planet that Queen Utina was ill, perhaps dying. Aarien would be surely heartbroken when she hears of this news as the commander always idolized the Edevian monarch. Of all of the officers in Her Majesty's royal fleet, Aarien was a particular favorite.
Darelia sent her reply to her commander with a postscript alerting to the queen's precarious state of health. Whatever business Aarien and the expedition team had on Earth, it had to be wrapped with all deliberate speed. And now Aarien wants to take not only Claire back to Edev but the girl's mother as well. Once the reply had been sent, Darelia immediately paged the ship's chaplain; Legudia would have to pull herself from her sacred duties to do this one favor asked of her commander.
******
"Claire," said Aarien, "we must return the ship by the end of tomorrow. I want you to come with me, please. You will not regret your decision. I assure you that you will have every advantage on Edev that you do not presently enjoy on Earth. And I want your...No, we must return as soon as your sun sets tomorrow."
"But what about my folks? Aarien, not that I'm grateful to you for sort of rescuing me from a horrible existence, awakening me to wonderful realities and a bright future, but..."
Claire stood at the window overlooking the park and bustling downtown traffic. She couldn't imagine that within a day she'd be on her way to a strange new planet, leaving all she had known behind. Leaving her folks would be tough, her reservations about her father's iron-fist rule notwithstanding. Certainly, she loved her mother, and it pained her to leave Emily all alone with Howard. To Claire's thinking, perhaps not having a daughter around to ease things would make life that much more unbearable. Claire's heart ached for her mother, especially after Aunt Jen unloaded a few pertinent facts about a young idealistic Emily Dorfman, a bright, gifted woman who had everything going for her. Claire had no idea her mother was a straight-A student, of deep social and political convictions, active in all things progressive and scholarly. Emily's future was to become a teacher of American history then, after earning her doctrate, go into research, perhaps delving into politics. But that academic future was short-circuited after what Aunt Jen called a "momentary lapse of good sense."
"So that's why Mom is so...How can I put it? Mousy? I had no idea..."
"That's what I've been trying to tell you, Claire," said Jen. "All I want is your and my sister's happiness. Neither of you will have it unless you get out from under your father's influence. Now, I have a few choice items concerning your fiance, as well as your father. But we can't do what I had planned, not since Aarien has to leave within one day. We have to move fast. I suggest..."
******
"They found her, Emily! I'm off to Van's office, then we'll fetch Claire home. Oh! When I get my hands on that ungrateful girl, she'll regret ever taking off like that."
Howard Brown, his eyes lighting up in triumph, did not notice his wife's preoccupation with planning her daughter's wedding. Ever since Claire walked out then carried on in that "Dear Mom and Dad" phone call, Emily had been a virtual basket case, not talking to or seeing anyone. She shuttered herself inside her home, mindlessly continuing with wedding preparations as if Claire would walk through that door any time.
"Howard," she said, checking off names of those guests who had already responded, "If it's all the same, I'd rather not go with you. Just bring her home so we can get this wedding underway."
Emily deftly wiped away a tear as if not wanting her husband to see the depths of her despair. But Howard picked up on this, saying, "Don't worry, dear. Van and I will talk sense into the girl, make her see the errors of her ways. Once Van places that ring on her finger, after they've exchanged vows, everything will go back to normal, and Claire will become the daughter I've always wanted: demure, submissive to her husband, decent, and not concern herself with worldly pursuits. It was a mistake allowing her to go to college. Sometimes, such education only puts foolish ideas into young girls' heads."
Emily said nothing as she watched her husband don his hat. He was ready to leave when she finally said, "When you do find her, don't lay into her too hard. You know whatever you say to her could backfire. I don't want our girl unhappy; she might feel unloved and unappreciated–"
"Unloved?," said Howard, rolling his eyes in disdain, "Since when didn't we love her enough? Emily, our daughter has done a grievous thing: She's broken a most sacred...She's dishonored her parents, said the cruelest things, walked out on her intended, caused all kinds of turmoil.
It'll be embarrassing enough to face our friends and family when word gets out that Claire nearly threw away a good match with Van–"
"But, Howard, why don't we allow Claire to tell her side? She is a grown woman. For God's sake–"
"Kindly leave the Almighty's name out of this, Emily, and let me do this MY way!"
With that, Howard Brown exited the house without even a goodbye kiss. Deep down, Emily silently grieved for the daughter for whom she had such high hopes. In a way. she wished Claire hadn't gotten her picture in the paper, or that Howard hadn't seen it. Once Claire was out of the house, she could have fulfilled her dreams and aspirations, but Howard would hear none of it.
Emily, in her quiet way, cheered on Claire, and she hoped the girl would never be found. Surely, Claire did say some cruel things on the phone that night she walked out, but to Emily, such grievances had to be aired.
Sighing, Emily returned to the stack of wedding correspondence, sorting through the acceptances and declines. Reaching into a nearby box, she took out a thick stack of envelopes then began putting on stamps. Letters of regret, she thought, letters explaining that there will be no wedding. Claire had changed her mind; there was no other explanation to be given. She waited until Howard was good and gone before putting on her own coat. No way would she allow her husband to see what she was about to do. No, the match was NOT a good one, and she already realized what a mistake Claire would be making if she went ahead and married Van. The girl would be so maltreated, so drained of all her dignity, rendered silent, sniveling, mousy by an abusive man who only wanted a trophy wife, someone to show off to his well-heeled political friends. That would never happen to Claire, thought Emily, and enough was enough. Howard may think he owned his wife's body and mind, but her heart and soul were still very much hers. He would just have to understand that Claire is her own woman and needs to live her life as she sees fit.
"Just as I was to lead my life, but Howard had other ideas..."
Emily's mind was made up the moment Claire told her, "It's MY life! Either let me call the shots or never see me again!"
Of course, Emily never wanted that, never to see her own child again. But Claire had the last word, or it would seem. Not that Emily could help it, not if Howard and Van got to the girl first. That's it!, she thought. Mail these cancellations then go find Claire myself...
What a time for the phone to ring, just when Emily was nearly out the door. Emitting an audible, annoyed sigh, she dropped her purse and stack of stamped envelopes onto the hall table then answered the phone. Whoever it was had better be quick; there was precious time to lose.
"Hello?"
"Mom, it's me, Claire."
"Claire! Oh, honey...my darling...I am so sorry things haven't gone your way. Just tell me–"
"Mom, I haven't much time. I'm leaving tomorrow night, but I want to see you – without Dad or Van. Now, please...Daddy and Van think I'm still at the Clarion Hotel, but I've checked out. Van's hired a detective to follow me but I think we gave him the slip. There is not much time so please hear me out..."
Emily listened as Claire quickly explained her side, told her mom that she didn't mean to break her heart but there was no other choice.
"Honey, I understand completely. Now, I'm on my way to mail these cancellations..."
"Cancellations?"
"Yes, to call off the wedding. Neither your father nor Van know that, but I've had a change of heart. I can't stand by and allow you to throw your life away on that man, as I did with your father..."
"I know, Mom. Aunt Jen told me what happened..."
Claire ended her call by telling her mother where to meet her, what to expect, so to speak. She didn't elaborate other than, "There is someone I want you to meet. Someone who has changed my life, and will change yours. Now, after you mail those letters, I want you to do this..."
TO BE CONTINUED...Go to Chapter 8
Copyright©2004 by Pepper Shriver* (PRP)
*My pen name :-)