Fic: Time on Mars - Part 1

[i_o_r_h_a_e_l]

Title: Time on Mars
Art Post: Here
Fandom: Supernatural RPS
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Rating: R
Summary: All Jared wants to do is to find his way home. But things are not that simple now that Jensen is in the picture.
AN: Written for j2_everafter, based on the movie John Carter. Thank you for the mods of j2_everafter for organizing the challenge. I know this is the last challenge and I’m so sad to hear that. :’) My gratitude also goes to vamous for her help betaing this. Any remaining mistakes, however, are mine and mine alone. And to deadflowers5, thank you for the art! :D






One second he was riding his old truck on a long and lonely stretch of dusky road; the next he was back standing in front of his house, looking up with mounting dread as red tongues of flames ate up one by one the slabs of wood making up his old ranch house, the sounds of the burning and creaking almost drowning the strangled screams of his two most beloved people on earth.

“Pam? Leah?” Jared’s shaky questioning tone slowly rose up to a shout and yell and finally a scream too when he received no answers. “Pam! Leah!” He chanced himself a quick second to run back to his car to grab his axe and charged through the front door that had been darkened by the fire. More blackened doors and walls, fires, stuffy smoke filling his lungs, Jared ran on, slashed everything on his way. His eyes watered and he knew it was the hot smoke. He didn’t cry. He couldn’t cry until he found them.

Suddenly a pair of strong hands grabbed his arms from behind and he yelled.

“Let me go. Let me go!”

“I’m not letting you die like your wife and daughter, son. You can’t save them. You have to let them go.”

“No!”

But more hands were seizing him and taking him out while others threw buckets and buckets of water to put out the fire. Jared was stunned in place as the flames quieted down but even through the screams and shouts of men giving directions to pour away water -- there was no sound from his two dearly loved women.

“Come on, son. There’s nothing you can do here.”

“You did it,” Jared lashed out. “You burnt my house. It was me you wanted to die, wasn’t it? Didn’t you?” His father-in-law stood frozen before him and Jared knew it was true. He yanked himself away from whoever was still holding his arms and walked away, never looking back.

Jared gasped and he was back driving his truck on the road, so close to riding himself into the ditch.

“Huh.” He panted and rubbed his face with a dirty towel he tossed at the passenger seat beside him that would forever be empty now. He flicked his eyes at the backseat where Leah used to be strapped there at her special seat. Jared wiped eyes that had suddenly turned wet, with the back of his hand. He needed to get out of here.

He had to get out.

The road was still deserted when he started his truck back up. He squinted at the sky which was darkening rapidly -- the nearest town was still one or two hours’ ride and he shouldn’t be stuck here in the middle of nowhere when the thunderstorm came. Jared pushed his car as fast as he could. When the first lightning struck, slashing the sky into two, Jared ducked without meaning to and cursed. He gripped at the steering wheel tightly; the wipers danced like crazy as rain poured down from the sky in torrents like all the gods were angry. The truck slipped a couple of times and Jared considered stopping for a while on the side of the road until the weather calmed down. But it was an old truck; he couldn’t guarantee it would start again once it was turned off. So he went on.

Another bolt hit the ground and a huge tree was cut in half. Jared bit back a shout as part of the tree fell across the road. He slammed on the brake, spun the wheel, and the truck veered off the road, turning 180 degrees -- the driver side of the truck slammed against the tree trunk and Jared bounced and smashed his head into the wheel.

He was out of it when a sliver of bright blue light crept out amidst the heavy rain, lightning, and thunder, and a hooded figure materialized inside the car and slipped a kind of medallion into Jared’s hand. Soon the blue light swathed both Jared and the figure and with a snap of fingers it blinked out taking both figures with it.

~~~

It was almost nine in the evening. His Royal Highness Jensen Ackles, Prince of Helium, was still deep in his study of the special weapon of the Therns. His father, the Jeddak or King, was His Royal Highness Ross Ackles, King of Helium. Prince Jensen was a member of HRA, Helium Royal Army, but his main duty was here at HRI, the Helium Research Institute, as the Chief Head. He had been given the job when he finished his post graduate degree in molecular biology at HRI three years ago.

Jensen quite enjoyed his job and he had to admit he was not really soldier material - though of course if his country summoned him he would never evade it - and his father realized it as well. So this elegant, white, high building with a dome-like rooftop was set as Jensen’s main headquarters with him mostly cooped up in the laboratory at his long round table.

In the past months he had been wracking his brain to produce the kind of weapon the Therns had. He had staff to research everything about the Thern people, and the tools they had, but no one really knew that group of people, and they wouldn’t come willingly to you unless it was their own intent to share something with you.

Open books were scattered all over his table, a quill was in his hand, and a thick notebook was filled with scribbled new findings he got from those books. A holographic computer screen floated above his table showing a blue screen with the turning figure of a Thern detailing all the information about his body, bone structure, and DNA configuration. Jensen still couldn’t decide if the Therns were the same as them, citizens of Helium, and their enemy Zodanga, or not. From their features they were more or less the same, with one head, two arms, and two legs. They were unlike other inhabitants of Barsoom, the Tharks, who had four arms and blue skin and a head that was oblong and had two antennas. He’d learned that the Tharks were the natives of this planet while people of Helium and Zodanga came from another planet some hundred thousand years ago. No scientist had yet found the answer to where they originally came from -- another puzzle Jensen was determined to decipher.

Two o’clock and Jensen rubbed his neck, smoothing out the knots there. His phone beeped and he clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Prince Jensen?"

"Who's this?"

"I'm First Lieutenant Kirawa from the Fifth Cavalry Squadron. It's about Captain Christian Kane, sir."

Jensen froze. Chris, his fiancé, was flying tonight.

"Is something..." He struggled to keep his voice straight but it failed him.

"I'm sorry, sir. His plane was shot down above Zodanga. We're afraid he will not survive."

He was sitting down already so it wasn’t possible to collapse further but Jensen still felt as though all his joints and bones had turned to jelly. This damn centuries-long war over Barsoom! Why couldn't they just share the planet together?

"Prince Jensen?"

Jensen pulled himself together. "And his body?"

"The cavalry have already launched a search operation."

"Thank you, Lieutenant Kirawa."

"Sir."

Jensen took off without looking back. His transport was ready at the door and it glided through empty traffic at a full speed taking him back to the palace. Jensen went immediately to the throne hall and pushed open the high metallic-hued double doors.

"Father," he snapped, striding forward. Ross Ackles rose from the throne, arms wide open.

"Jensen, I'm very sorry, son." He moved to hug Jensen but his heir turned away. "Jensen?" He sounded hurt but Jensen knew better.

"Do not even pretend to be sad," Jensen said bitterly. "I know you disapproved of my engagement - it wasn’t what you intend for me."

His father clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. "I will not listen to this. If I didn’t know what you are going through tonight, Jensen, I would..."

"What, hit me? Banish me?" Jensen's jaw tightened. "Or do you want to have me killed? Go ahead, Father. I'd rather die than--"

"Enough! You know it's inevitable -- now. It's for your own country, Jensen. For the sake of the people."

Jensen shook his head. He was not even spared some time to grieve. To mourn. Without saying anything he whirled around and left, shoving at the doors as he half ran past them. His father's voice thundered behind him but he heeded it no more.

~~~

He felt different even before he opened his eyes. The last thing Jared remembered before he passed out was how he’d turned his car sharply to avoid a felled tree but it was such a crappy job he did because he crashed into it anyway. As far as he could recall he’d actually totaled the truck, as well as his body, and thought that he should have died instantly.

Yet here he was, alive and breathing and, as he slowly got up, he saw there was no blood, no broken bones, no cuts. Not even a scratch. Jared rubbed his eyes as he sprawled there on the ground, sweeping his eyes around his surroundings. He couldn't even begin to fathom what he saw. "I must've died anyway," he mumbled, and grabbed his throat when he couldn't hear his voice. Did dying mean he lost that too? Jared tried to clear his throat, and, ah, here it was. It turned out that his throat had just been too parched to say anything. Jared was incredibly thirsty, and he sighed miserably -- it would be terrible to have died thirsty like this. Where was he, hell? Well he hoped he could find a spring here. That would help even if the water was hot.

This was a rather strange hell, though. He saw no fire, or souls getting punished like he had heard people talk of the afterlife before. Although the wide open terrain was barren with a mountainous area in the distance, rock cliffs, deserts, and valleys. There were barely any trees and everything was in reddish and bright orange colors. Jared scrambled up to his feet. Hell or no he just had to survive -- he didn't think he could allow himself to simply wilt away and die. Again.

He turned to one direction and took a step -- or so he thought - because he was suddenly pelted forward and fell into small, quick steps, before he went down on all fours. "Huh." Jared frowned and rose back up. Again he tried to walk and again he was thrown ahead, scrambling, struggling to keep on his feet, but this time he face planted as his hands failed to stop his fall. Jared made several more attempts but every time he only ended up kissing the hard, sandy ground. It was as if his body had no weight and when he moved he would just get catapulted ahead.

Breath heavy and exhaustion threatening to make him give up, Jared slowly stood up again. Carefully he lifted his leg and placed his foot flat some two feet in front of him. Nothing happened. Good. Jared took a relieved breath. He tried the same thing with his other leg. Okay. The key was always to use your body weight.

He made those long and slow steps for some time but the too light feeling still followed. He thought he weighed next to nothing here, and if that was true, why push himself to always weigh his steps down? Jared tried to hop like an over-excited kid and whooped cheerfully when he practically leaped to the air. He pushed his next step harder in to the ground and was sent one or two meters up above, shouting and grinning with joy.

That was the start of an extraordinary exploration -- Jared leaped and bounced up so high he landed on the rocky mountain, then down in to the valley, and back up to the hard terrain or desert. Sometimes he jumped so high he thought he'd touch the red sky. He strayed far from the place where he woke up but there didn't seem to be a change in the landscape. What puzzled him most was that not once did he encounter a single living thing.

Or a sound. It had been very quiet here, not even the sound of the wind. Come to think of it, Jared didn’t even feel a waft of wind on his face as he busily jumped around places. Surely there should be oxygen here or how could he even be alive in the first place? Unless of course the theory that he had actually died already was still an option.

Then he caught a noise. He couldn't have imagined it. He tilted his head sideways. The noise seemed to come from his right. Without giving it another thought he leaped eastward, bounced down several times, and landed on top of another rocky hill. The sound, much louder now, came from somewhere down the hill. Slowly, as he didn't want to stumble again like the first time, Jared climbed down the hill and jumped down on to a vast slab of flat stone. He frowned. The sound came from beneath the stone. He crouched down and began to clear away the sand and dirt covering it and his eyes widened as it he saw that the stone was made of a kind of glass rock. It was see through. Jared peered into it and his eyes widened when he recognized what was inside. Eggs. Hundreds of eggs, each bigger than Jared. They were moving and shaking, like they were ready to hatch. And as they moved, screams seemed to seep through their shells. Jared grimaced. He didn't want to think what these creatures would be like when they grew up if this was their behavior before they got out into the world. But perhaps in this world it was a normal thing.

~~~

Jensen couldn't stomach the idea of having breakfast with his father and the topic of conversation he knew would arise. He couldn't think of anything when he knew that today the army representatives would deliver Chris's body, or what was left of it. They were going to bury him at the Park of Unknown Soldiers and Jensen wanted everything to run smoothly. Chris's parents would arrive soon. They had been informed that being the Crown Prince's fiancé their son would rest at the royal palace before the funeral. Jensen couldn't imagine how it felt to lose a son. It nearly made him lose his mind to lose a lover.

This place had been one of Chris's favorite to visit whenever he returned from his assignments, the far eastern part of the park. He had loved the long slow walk they had to do before they reached the place, past a vast green maze made of low-cut hedges across one of which they often kissed. They would just laugh and spring apart after realizing they must have made such a show for the gardeners and maids there. Still they would do it again, and again.

But it was to the park they went to spend some time alone and alone they were. It was always quiet and safe with the colorful, large flowery bushes, tall and shady trees, rattan benches for people to rest, calming fountains, and many kinds of bird species fluttering in the sky.

Today everything was there, the trees, the flowers, the birds, but not the one that meant so much to Jensen. Chris wasn't there. Never would be, ever again. And suddenly nothing seemed important to him when the reality drilled itself into him. Jensen's knees gave and he fell down to the smooth thick blanket of grass on the ground. He heard low, growling sounds like that of a wounded animal and it took some time for Jensen to realize he was making them. He felt like he was breaking into pieces. Chris was his love, his life. He didn't know what to do now. His world was too bleak to see and it felt as though it was closing in on him. He knew he just couldn't go on without Chris.

"I'm sorry for what happened to your fiancé."

Jensen jumped to his feet at the voice and the touch on his shoulder. He whirled around and hissed when he saw who had the nerve to interrupt his grieving.

"Lord Sheppard. What are you doing here? Who allowed you to enter the palace?"

His Excellency Mark Sheppard, iron-fisted ruler of Zodanga, their archenemy, raised his chin and leered down at him, before he seemed to recall his intent and nodded briefly.

"You are mourning, I understand. But I will tell your father that the sooner our wedding ceremony is held, the better for both of our countries. You love your people, do you not, Jensen?"

"As I cannot say the same about you for you only love my ass."

Quiet fell and Sheppard backhanded Jensen across his face, so hard that Jensen went sprawling to the ground. Jensen's hand flew to his face and felt the heat, his right ear ringing.

"You--" he gasped and rose to his feet although the pounding in his head made him sway a bit.

"I'll find guards to send you away. You have no right to be here." Jensen looked around but he couldn't see any Helium guards. This part of the park was too far from the palace. The guards might be there on the outer gates but here he was utterly alone, save for Sheppard and his bunch of thugs. Jensen shivered inwardly but tried not to show it. He stomped his foot and whirled around to leave, but was grabbed at once on both sides and dragged back to face Sheppard.

"Let. Me. Go." Jensen gritted his teeth.

Sheppard squinted, sighed, and waved his hand to motion his guards to release Jensen. "Just let go of him," he said resignedly. "Not this time. I'll soon have him legally as my groom."

Jensen snatched himself free and left quickly. "Not in your lifetime," he spat.

~~~

Jared couldn't begin to describe his feelings as the creatures circled him, coming closer and still menacing. With their blue skin, eyes that were bigger than their head, four arms, and bent, skinny legs, they looked like they were out of the pages of a science fiction novel. The one who stood the closest to Jared kept telling him to -- shag? -- while gesturing something with two of his hands. Jared's gaze switched between those hands and the creature's eyes, shaking his head uncomprehendingly. Jump, this thing told him to jump? Jared had thought about doing it -- to escape. But these creatures were one and a half times taller than him. They'd easily defeat him if he jumped high and they did too, even higher.

"Shag," the creature said again or that was what Jared thought. But then it changed its strategy. It tapped its chest and said, "Jeddak."

"Jed - dark?" Jared repeated.

The creature repeated, nodding, "Jeddak."

Jared felt like doing Me Tarzan, You Jane when he thumped at his own chest. "Jared, Texas."

"T-e-xas," repeated Jeddak slowly. "Texas."

"No, no. It's Jared, from Texas."

It was talking to a baby who just learned to speak. Jeddak nodded vigorously. "Texas. Shag." He made that gesture again with his hands.

Jared stared, resigned. So if his name now turned to Texas...

"Texas, shag!"

Aw, what the hell. He jumped high into the sky and landed on an empty land. He looked around and frowned to find he was alone. Where were those creatures? Had they landed on a different place? Jared squealed in a surprised delight to realize that maybe those things couldn't even jump. That meant he managed to escape after all. Jared leaped again as high as his anti-gravity ability allowed him, and again and again.

Until suddenly he was swept up while he was in the air by too many hands and fingers and he was tossed unceremoniously to the back of an ominous flying bird where he landed on his stomach with a loud huff. Oxygen was sucked out of his lungs and stars danced in his eyes. But Jared was more angry than shocked and leapt to his feet with a shout as he charged the closet creatures. He lashed and kicked and shouted angrily all the time he attacked, but his captors were too much. One of them grabbed him from behind and, with four limbs fastening around his body, Jared was barely able to move. Still he fought, twisting and turning in the creature's clutches, until suddenly a loud bang came from one of their weapons and with a belated reaction Jared stared as right thigh was engulfed in flames. When Jared's brain finally caught up with the pain, he roared in misery, his head thrown far back. He would have been thrown off the giant bird had he not been held up. Blackness edged around his eyes as his shout reduced to a whimper and the world seemed to spin around him. He struggled to stay conscious but the sharp sting and awful burning smell finally defeated him. With a sigh he went limp in his captor's hands.

~~~

Noise. It was so noisy everywhere and Jared shouted in despair pulling his hands up to cover his ears, but he failed. Hands and fingers from all directions came to restrain him. They grabbed his arms and legs, his head, and soon he felt them tugging at his shirt and jeans. What? No! Jared fought with all his strength but he was one while they were many. They had no difficulty at all ripping the clothes apart and soon he was naked without a thread covering his skin. He tried to cross his legs in a last effort to keep his dignity, but even that was denied him. They seized his thighs and set them wide apart. Jared yelped in humiliation.

It was of no help at all. And the next thing drowned his self-worth, literally, for they doused him with a high volume of water. Jared gasped at that, twisting and turning without success with him still held down. He spluttered the water and tried to ward his hair off his face, and finally they stopped. Jared took a deep breath as he relaxed even though he was soaking wet and shaking in cold. He'd only just become conscious but he felt drowsy now. He was barely awake when they dabbed him dry with an extra thick and heavy towel and sprayed every single part of his body with lots and lots of white powder. It smelled weirdly familiar, like Leah's baby powder but perhaps it was his muddled mind talking. Jared didn't know if they clothed him again after that. He was long gone by then.

~~~

Jensen knew staying at the palace was not an option. Besides it was not safe anymore. The enemy's leader could easily go past the guards, or was it someone from the inside who allowed them? Lord Crowley gave him the creeps. He wouldn't want to breathe the same air as him let alone sleep in the same bed. Jensen shuddered just to imagine it.

When the sky finally turned dark, Jensen slipped out of his private chamber, nodding at the guard who simply nodded back and said, "Your Majesty," and walked toward the Library. Then, half way there after a quick check around and being certain no guards were in sight, Jensen switched directions and slipped into the small airlift chamber. He pressed a button and was zapped up to the highest tower. Nobody was at the rooftop on his way to the landing where their flying cars were parked. Under normal circumstances Jensen might have frowned upon the fact that no guards were around. This might be the reason why the palace could easily be intruded by the Zodanga thugs. But tonight it worked in Jensen's favor. Otherwise it wouldn't have been this easy for him to sneak into his transport without anyone enquiring about it.

Jensen secured the door and slipped his personal identity into a slot. He huffed in relief when the dashboard flickered on. He pressed the intended speed, altitude, and coordinates, and the machine softly whirred to life. Just then he saw several guards jump out of the airlift compartment entrance and run toward him -- but they were too late. Grinning widely Jensen waved at them as his car zoomed into the sky.

"Bye-bye, boys."

~~~

Five minutes passed but the chains around his wrists still wouldn't budge. Jared tugged futilely and glared in despair at the shackles constraining his arms above his head.

Having returned to consciousness, Jared felt his situation only get bleaker. Aside from being shackled like this, he was also left barely clothed, shirtless with tight leather pants. Lucky, if one could say that, that they left his legs free, unshackled, so he could at least close them together. Still only so much he could do to stop from feeling humiliated standing half naked like this in the big dark place he thought was a kind of communal prison. Although neither creatures that seemed to be officers of some sort nor other prisoners spared him a glance. Was it because they had assigned him a guard dog? Jared wasn't sure. And by 'dog' he meant something that only acted like a dog and by no means looked like a dog at all. It was taller than Jared and might be ten or fifty times as heavy as him. It was just the way it sniffed, sat, slept, and sometimes looked at Jared that reminded him of his mutt, Harley. Recalling Harley, Jared felt his chest tighten again. He'd lost him in the fire also.

Jared gave the chains another tug or two and finally gave up, hanging forlornly in his manacles. How long were they planning to leave him like this?

"Can I get some water, please? Anybody?" His voice was croaky with thirst and lack of water. He jiggled his chains again trying to attract any attention he could get. Shit, how was he supposed to say water in this place? He couldn't make any gestures with both arms chained like this. In the end he just kept shouting.

Eventually, thank heavens, one of the creatures turned to him. Jared didn't know how he could tell but somehow he was sure this one was a female. She looked hesitant at first but Jared coaxed her.

"Please. Water."

In her hands she had a kind of oblong-shaped water flask made of an animal skin. The female said something as she lifted the flask and raised her brows in query.

"Yes." Jared gasped in anticipation. "Yes. Water. Drink, please."

She let out a string of unintelligible gerbil and looked about to turn away Jared jerked in surprise.

"No! Please don't go. Help. Please."

She sighed, glancing to the left and right like she was looking for someone. Finally she approached Jared and uncapped the flask.

"Thank God." Jared breathed out as she put its mouth on Jared's lips. Jared took some greedy gulps of the water and let out a protesting sound when the female pulled it away.

"More." He gasped. "Please."

"Easy. I don't want you to choke, all right. Is that better?"

"Yes, yes." Jared leaned forward to get more water and this time he swallowed more carefully. He pulled back when he had enough and sighed. The water tasted like heaven.

Suddenly he froze, eyes on the female creature, unblinking.

"I -- I understand what you said," he stammered. She looked at him with a thin smile on her lips, her eyes soft.

"It's the water."

"You poisoned me."

"Not at all. It's our understanding drink. The one who takes it will think he speaks our language. But the truth is we still speak our own. We just automatically connect to each other."

Jared raised one eyebrow. That was one hell of an invention. If they could have something like that back home, who knew what they could do a lot easier in all parts of the world. Perhaps he could bring back a tiny bit of it to the earth then the scientists would do an extensive research on the advanced technology people here had. The question now was, where was here?

"Where am I?" Jared asked. The female looked at him funny.

"Why, you are in Barsoom, of course." As if it explained everything.

"Wha--?" Jared's mouth gaped. "Where is that? Am I somewhere in the Pacific islands?"

This time it was her who looked at him like he'd grown a pair of horns. Jared immediately knew the answer was no. This kind of creatures was way too absurd to be found on earth.

"I'm not on earth anymore, am I?" Jared said faintly. "How did I get here?"

The woman stared at him and answered carefully, "We have an idea about that but we need to make sure."

Jared grew impatient. He rocked the shackles he was chained in. "Look -- uh, do you have, you know, a name?"

"It's Sola. And you are Texas?"

Jared huffed. "No. I come from a state called Texas. My name's Jared."

Sola rolled his name in her tongue. She looked to be enjoying it. Jared shifted uncomfortably.

"Who's Jeddak?" asked him.

"Jeddak is my..." Sola started but she bit her lower lip like she was afraid of letting out a very important secret. "Jeddak means king. Emperor. His name is Tars Tarkas."

Jared gaped. He almost didn't hear the next sentence. His mind was stuck on the word Emperor.

"W-what do you want from me? Am I going to see the Jeddak?"

"That one's for sure. But I don't know what he wants from you." Sola's eyes narrowed as she regarded Jared. "But I'm sure he will do you no harm. He's a good man."

Jared looked down at himself, at the state he was dressed in. For one obvious reason he didn't think he could trust Sola.

"If he didn't mean any harm, then why would he keep me in chains, half naked like this?"

Sola bit her lip. "That's actually how we all dress. I mean our men," she added quickly.

Jared went quiet and he sank back to the wall with a thud when he realized she was right. "God," he whispered.

"What?" Sola asked curiously.

"Nothing." Then Jared nodded to the gigantic creature dozing and slobbering near him. "That supposed to be my guard?"

Sola laughed at the lizard-dog sprawling near Jared.

"That's Woola. He's more a pet than a guard. He's very sweet."

"Sweet, huh?" Jared rattled his chains. "Now you go tell your king to release me. Got it? I have no intention to harm you here. I just want to go home."

Without saying anything, Sola glanced at Jared and left.

~~~

Jensen realized he wasn’t Chris, his late fiancé. Chris was in the air force, a pilot, these people’s commander, while he was in the army. He flew planes, of course, but as a civilian and not as an officer. However he was a royal and that was what these soldiers saw this time. They’d just lost their leader and desperately needed someone to replace him. Nervously Jensen faced them all.

In the vast, open hall, with lower-ranked officers behind him, Jensen stood at the raised platform before less than a thousand airmen, not nearly enough for a regiment. They hadn’t come out totally unscathed but they were alive, unlike thousands of their friends out there. And it was all because of those Zodanga bastards.

“I’m speaking before you not as your Prince, let alone your leader. I’m speaking here as someone who faces the same grief as you all do. Someone who lost a beloved person. We all know whatever we do will not bring our loved ones back. We just want some justice, and to do something to stop others from losing their beloved, too.”

Silence, and just when Jensen started to fidget in his place, someone at the back yelled, “Yeah!” Others started to respond by shouting back and clapping their hands, and only then Jensen could begin to breathe again. Someone patted his shoulder. Jensen glanced back. It was Colonel Heyerdahl, the regiment commander.

“Well done, son,” he said, shaking Jensen’s hand.

“Thank you for your support, sir,” Jensen said. He knew the colonel risked his own career, and maybe life, for Jensen. The older man just shook his head and took him in a one-armed hug. He knew what Jensen was going through. Chris had been one of his favorite men and they often talked, the three of them.

“I wish I could do more, Jensen.”

Jensen looked up at him. Heyerdahl was one of the few Helium citizens who got to call him by his first name. He might look stern and rather scary for his subordinates but Jensen felt a lot closer to him than to his own father.

“It’s more than enough, sir.”

“All right.” Heyerdahl nodded, stepping back. He took over the mike from Jensen and addressed his men. “You’re dismissed. Briefing first thing tomorrow morning at oh five hundred.” He turned to Jensen. “You need to rest, too. But if you feel like talking I’ll be in my quarters.”

“Yes, sir.” Jensen curved up his lips in an abortive attempt to smile. “Rest it is.”

~~~

He never heard of a President or a King of a country interrogating a criminal by himself, but here he was going face to face with the Jeddak of Tharks who he’d met before, which he found astounding, too, considering the Jeddak also led his company by himself.

“So you’re Jared from Texas.”

At least now he got it right. Jared nodded. “Right.”

“And like you said, you didn’t know how you got here.”

“I didn’t.” Jared sighed in despair and ran his fingers through his hair. “All I remember was it was raining hard, I was in my truck, and suddenly there was this big tree in the middle of the road. My car turned upside down, and when I was awake, I was in some strange and barren red land.”

“You don’t remember meeting someone or having something in your hand?”

Jared frowned but not because he didn’t remember. “Why - why do you think I was with someone?”

“So you weren’t?”

“I don’t remember, okay? I passed out.”

Jeddak folded his arms, all four of them, on the table. “You were with someone, and you had something in your hand.”

Jared sat back, resting his hands on his bare laps. "What are you saying? You actually know who brought me here?"

"I have suspicion, a very strong one at that. No," Jeddak remedied. "I think I know."

Jared waited. He leaned forward when the tribe leader didn't seem to be talking soon. "So? Are you going to tell me?" It sounded like it was Jared who was doing the interrogating now.

But the Jeddak didn't waver. He asked back, "Are more of you coming to Barsoom?"

"What? No." Yet Jared soon realized he talked too soon. Who knew? He certainly didn't. He clamped his mouth close and said no more, just looking at the Jeddak closely.

Silence filled the air and some seconds later Jeddak Tarkas sighed.

"It seems like the Therns have begun kidnapping creatures from other planets."

Jared winced at being called a creature. If only Tars knew he'd been thought to be the same thing...

"To look at you, it appears you might come from the same place as the people from Helium and Zodanga."

Jared's ears perked high. "There are humans here? Like me?"

Jeddak raised an eyebrow. "You certainly look like them. They came here and tried to banish us. But it was thousands of centuries ago." Jeddak watched Jared closely. "Hm, no wonder the Therns are looking for your new generation. You seem to have acquired new abilities, like jumping high into the sky."

Jared didn't say anything about this new 'ability' he had was sure one hundred percent that it was due to the lack of gravity in this planet, though he noted that everyone he saw here walked normally just like all people and animals on the earth and guessed it be something about these creatures' anatomy. Instead, Jared enquired more about those inhabitants from Helium and Zodanga.

"Will I see them, people of Helium and Zodanga?" To his shock, Jeddak jumped up and shouted at Jared.

"You don't go near them, do you hear me?"

Jared flinched. "Why not? If they look like me, it's most probably that they did come from the same planet as me. They might - they might have an answer for me." Jared's voice weakened as the last words left his mouth, they sounded unconvincing even to his own ears.

His suspicion was proven when he saw the Jeddak sneer at him. Jared suddenly felt as if he went boneless. He collapsed back to his chair. The Jeddak followed suit, sitting back down at his own.

"And if they have an answer for you, do you think they'll give you? Why do you think they have stayed here if they do, knowing that they've been kidnapped?"

"Why not? They're welcome to stay -- and indeed they do -- if they find it's nicer to live here, but they shouldn't stop others who want to return," Jared tried to argue.

"Well, you can try. I myself strongly suggest you do not."

"Why do you care?" Jared spat out. "Oh, I know. I'm your prisoner, huh?"

Jeddak raised all his four arms in resignation.

"You don't want to trust us, that's your problem. But if you insist on going to Helium and Zodanga and end up getting captured by the Therns, don't say I didn't warn you."

Jared gawped at him.

"As for you being our prisoner, no, you're free to go."

Jared continued gawking.

"Go ahead. Go on. The door's over there."

Jared hesitated, standing up slowly and walking toward the door. After several steps he turned back but the Jeddak only sat there with arms folded.

"You -- you don't want to do anything to me?" he stuttered. "Some research perhaps? I can jump very high, you know." Jared felt silly but to be honest he was nervous suddenly being freed to do whatever he wanted in a place he couldn't even begin to imagine before in his life. He felt utterly alone. He squashed his own thought about Stockholm Syndrome when it crossed his mind, though. This was not about it at all.

The Jeddak stayed still like a statue. Jared sighed again and turned back to the door.

"We don't have to do anything to you to find out that you are special and none of us can be like you."

Jared halted and looked over his shoulder, grinning. Jeddak talking gave him hope that they wouldn't just throw him out of here without any food or shelter.

"Why not? Your scientists can try to find out what makes me like this."

"But will you like that? We're not one of those people who like experimenting with other living beings. You're just like us. You have feelings."

A little shame flickered in Jared knowing that his kind on earth would certainly rip Jeddak's off if they ever laid hands on one of them.

"That’s so wise of you."

Jeddak got on his feet and spread his four arms. "You are our guest now. I apologize for the inconvenience we caused. You are free to roam on our land. My daughter Sola will take you places and Woola will be your guard dog."

Jared almost laughed at the image of the supposedly guard dog that kept dozing. But he remembered something.

"Wait. Perhaps I can -- do something for you?"

"What do you want, Jared from Texas?"

Jeddak's gentle tone washed all over him and suddenly he felt overwhelmed.

"I just want to go home."

"Then so be it." Jeddak nodded. "Sola will help with anything we have to find your way home."

"Really?" Jared sniffed, rubbing his eyes that suddenly turned moist.

"It's true. As long as you promise not to seek the Therns. We'll do anything we can to stop you."

Jared opened his mouth but nothing came out. If finding the Therns was the only way that could send him home...

But he was freed from having to promise anything. Shouts and calls were suddenly heard from outside. He jerked his head toward the small round glass window high up the wall but nothing was visible.

"What's that? What's wrong?" he asked Jeddak.

But the Thark leader had shot up and out of the small interrogation chamber. Jared dashed in his wake.

~~~

Blaring sounds of planes and all kinds of flying vehicles Jared had never seen before came from the sky above. He ran to the rooftop of the building he was in and together with the Thark people watched the battle that was going on.

"Who are they?" he asked, out of breath.

"Helium and Zodanga. They fight over the planet like it's theirs to begin with."

"Which is which?" He watched two different kinds of battleships, some dominated with blue colors, others with red. "Who's winning?"

"Blue is Helium and red is Zodanga. Zodanga is totally more superior. They expect Helium to surrender soon."

"Yeah?"

"Yes. They actually offered peace if Helium is willing to let Zodanga's king wed their crown prince."

Jared's eyes bulged out. "Their king wants to wed a prince?"

His surprised remark made the Tharks let out strings of chortle.

"Everybody wants to wed the crown prince of Helium. You'll even do so yourself."

"Uh, no. I'm not..." But Jared held back. He wasn't a homophobic and he didn't know how these people reacted to the slightest sign of homophobia. Same sex marriage was definitely not an issue here. He stared at eyes looking at him expectantly.

"Uh, I just -- I don't think I'm going to be interested. I just -- I just lost my wife and daughter."

"Ah," people hummed and nodded in sympathy. Some patted Jared on the back.

"Yeah, yeah." Jared ducked his head, looking around through veiled eyes. "I'm okay." But he felt touched nonetheless and for the first time after he landed on this unknown planet he felt the sharp pang of loss. The memory of Leah and Pamela flashed across his mind and Jared closed his eyes at the onslaught of deep sorrow.

Suddenly everyone around Jared shouted in a shocked tone and it jarred him back to reality.

"What is it?" He strained to see as someone pointed down below. There on the sandy part of the land lay an unmoving figure.

"He was shot down?" Jared squinted searching for any signs of life. But it was too far. "Is he from Helium or Zodanga?"

"He fell down. I guess it was from a Helium ship."

Jared saw how a lot of Zodanga personnel had jumped into the big open ship of Helium. It was almost certain that they would take it over in not too long time. Jared switched his attention back to the fallen soldier.

"Is he dead?" he yelled.

"We don't know."

Jared didn't know what prompted him to act -- he didn’t know whether the Tharks sided with the Helium or Zodanga. All of a sudden Jared had set to jump and before anyone around him realized what he was doing, he'd leaped high into the sky and landed right next to the person lying on the ground.

He looked down and the sight of the man knocked air out of his lungs. Even unconscious and with his eyes closed, the man looked utterly good looking with a smooth, sculpted nose and jaw but those lips -- they made Jared feel ashamed of what he had in his mind right now. He wasn't supposed to lust over an injured man, for Christ's sake. The man could be dead for all he knew.

Jared squatted down and searched for a pulse. The man was alive, thank God. The dunes of sand had apparently softened his fall. It might still endanger his life to simply lift him up, but Jared realized time was not on his side. He slipped his arms under the man's body and thighs and straightened up slowly. Bellows and shouts from above grabbed his attention and Jared looked up to find the Tharks busy waving their hands and urging him to jump up soon.

"Come on, Jared."

"They are coming!"

Who was coming? From different directions Jared saw the ships -- both the blue and red ones -- coming toward him. Jared tightened his hold on the man, took a deep breath, and jumped high, aiming at one of the buildings' rooftops. He almost missed it but the Tharks caught his feet and the man from Jared before he dropped him.

"Be careful. The man might've broken something."

But the Tharks with their four arms knew how to care for a wounded man. They laid him down gently on the floor and Jared knelt down beside him.

"I need a doctor, please." He brushed sand off the man's striking face. He looked ashen and so vulnerable. The freckles on his cheekbones and across the bridge of his nose gave a sharp contrast with the paleness of his face. Jared was so absorbed in his observing the man that he wasn't aware of a presence next to him.

"Jared of Texas, let me see him."

Jared was startled as he turned up. "Jeddak. You're going to check..."

"I might be a commander at war, Jared, but I'm a doctor, too. As well as a carpenter, a cook, a pilot..."

"Okay." Jared backed off, raising both hands. "I'm sorry for doubting you."

Jeddak waved his hand dismissively. "You haven't known me well. It doesn't matter. In time--" Jeddak's words were cut as he gasped in surprise. "For Barsoom's sake, it's Jensen!"

"What?" Jared didn't understand. He switched glances from Jeddak to the man. "Who is Jensen?" In the meantime others shifted closer making a circle around the three of them.

"Everybody back off!" Jeddak roared. "Sola, prepare the care chamber. And I need a stretcher."

Jared helped lift Jensen up to the stretcher, stealing glances at Jeddak as he still hadn't said who the man was. They carried him carefully down the stairs, along the hall, and into a large chamber where there were some low mattresses. Not wanting to move Jensen around too much, Jeddak instructed them to put the stretcher down on one of the mattresses.

"Thank you, gentlemen. You all can leave now."

But Jared would not move before Jeddak told him about the man. Jeddak raised an eyebrow at him.

"Jared?"

"Who is he?"

"Jared, I need to take care of him soon. If you please..."

"Go treat him now. But tell me who he is," he said coldly.

"Why does it matter to you?"

"I was the one who saved him from further attack from the Zodanga. I need to know what your plan for him is."

Jeddak seemed to ignore him and began to undress Jensen. Jared sighed.

"Come on, Jeddak."

"I’d work better if you’d stop nagging at me!"

"Tell me!" From the way Jeddak treated him, it was clear that Jensen was not a nobody.

"He's Jensen Ackles, son of Ross Ackles, the king of Helium."

Jared stilled. "The crown prince of Helium? The one to be wedded by Zodanga king?"

"Exactly."

Jared remembered how Jeddak described Jensen and how Jared might fall under the spell of his beauty. Jared stared at the face and suddenly he couldn't breathe. Jeddak could be right.

A disturbing thought crossed Jared's mind. He squinted at Jeddak.

"What's the plan?" he asked suspiciously.

Jeddak stood back and stared at Jared coldly. "Plan? What plan?"

Jared became impatient. "Come on. You have a royal heir in your clutches. You must be thinking of something."

No emotions flickered across Jeddak's face. For the first time Jared felt he'd made a mistake in thinking what Jeddak was really like.

"You thought I was so low? Know this, Jared. My people never like the fact that Zodanga and Helium came to this planet and acted as if they owned it. But we're not at war with either of them. We do think them killing each other is good for us, but we will never do that to either Zodanga or Helium people. And Prince Jensen? I always respected him as a person. He's a great scientist. He always shares with us all the discoveries he makes."

That was something Jared would have never guessed. "Scientist? Isn't he in the military?" It was obvious, of course.

"Yes, but daily what he does is research. He's the head of a research institute in Helium." Jeddak suddenly shook his head, his face folded in concern. "The fact that he joins the war just shows how bad things really are for them. And don't forget he's supposed to marry the king of Zodanga."

That must be really hard for him, Jared thought. A prince, a scientist who was usually responsible for his country and himself, should stoop to become someone else's consort? Even Jared started to feel anger bubbling inside him. He was watching silently as Jeddak did a thorough check over Jensen's body, and squirmed a little as unease flooded into him for looking at that perfect, lithe yet muscular frame. He felt like an outsider and worse, a voyeur. Jared cleared his throat.

"Is he okay? Something broken?"

Jeddak didn't lift his eyes from Jensen, carrying on his job.

"He'll live. He landed on a soft surface, that helped him a lot. He’s cracked his ribs, got some bruises on his back and a little concussion."

"Concussion? Then he's got to be wakened up every now and then. Why is he not awake yet?"

"I don't know. I hope he will soon. I agree with you about the concussion, Texas."

Jared raised one brow at that. Jeddak smirked.

"Sorry. Got used to that already."

"What do you want me to do now, Jeddak? Should I go out there and save other fallen soldiers?"

"No!"

Jared practically jumped at the harsh tone. "Hey..."

"It's not our problem, their war. Don't think I actually approved of this little stunt you did, Texas, going down to save Jensen. I guess it was the right thing to do, but I don't want you to risk your life again for people you don't even know."

Jared went silent. It wasn't like he had anything left in his life. He just wanted to go home. Jared glanced at Jensen and frowned.

"You said he's a researcher?" he asked Jeddak.

"He is. Why?"

"Do you think he knows anything about the technology the Therns used to bring me here?"

Jeddak turned to Jensen. "I have no idea. You can ask him when he's awake. But Jared --"

"What?"

"Don't hope too much." Jeddak gave him a pitying look. Jared didn't like it at all.

~~~

Red was all he saw. King Sheppard loomed over Ackles who hunched over in his throne. His face was as dark as the moonless Barsoom sky at night and his voice was thunderous as he bellowed in Ackles's face.

"He's gone, you said? You couldn't find him anywhere?"

Ross Ackles was visibly shaking and Sheppard loved that.

"My guards are checking every possible place he might have gone to. I'm sure we will find him."

"Oh, I'm not counting on that." Sheppard leaned closer. "But I wish you would. You do remember the lives of your people depend on it? If you can't find my fiancé, I will..."

"I'll find him, I promise you. Jensen loves his country. I know he won't have the heart to bring them any harm."

But Jensen seemed to have vanished from Helium. The guards and police squads that were ordered to help out had gone to the places where Jensen usually was: the research cente;, the army headquarters; even to the gym and cafes Jensen usually hung out with his late fiancé or his friends. Still they couldn't find him. And the people they asked said Jensen had not been there.

~~~

Jared didn't do much else the rest of the day but he appointed himself as Sola's assistant as she took care of Jensen, much to her dismay.

"I can't believe you fell for him, too, even before seeing him awake." Sola pretended to be annoyed.

Jared smiled a little. "What's the matter, girl, do you like me?"

"It's easy to like you, Jared of Texas, and yes, you do charm me." Sola bowed her head. Jared was sure she was blushing despite her blue skin tone.

"How about you, though? What do you think about him?" Jared nodded in Jensen's direction. Sola sighed.

"You know, I’ve actually known him since we were children. Father always brought me every time he made a visit to Helium and Jensen often came here with his parents, too. He was such a handsome little kid back then."

"Really?" Jared couldn't keep his eyes off Jensen, trying to imagine how he was as a boy. It was so easy to picture him as a handsome little kid. "I guess I can see that."

"Yes," replied Sola. "We were good friends."

"Well, we still are." Sola laughed. "But we don't meet very often anymore since the war between Helium and Zodanga got worse."

Jared noticed a sad tone in Sola's voice and he thought she might have fallen for Jensen back then.

"It could happen, right, the thing between you and him?"

"What?" She looked perplexed. "Oh, you think I liked him that way. Oh, Jared. One day he told me all about this boy in his boarding school, but even before that I could see that he was never interested in girls. He was always so polite, kind, and gentle to his friends. But that's all I am to him, a friend, and I know I'm lucky to have him as that."

"So you're happy for him?"

"I am. And I'm so sad for him."

Jared watched her with interest. "Yeah, I heard that he's wanted by the king of Zodanga. It should never happen, sacrificing yourself for the sake of your country."

Sola frowned. "He'd never do that because it's a stupid thing to do. No, it's his father's doing. He's the one who gave him up."

"What the hell? His own father?"

"Yes. That was what he said the last time we met. But Chris, his fiancé, was still alive at that time, so I guess Jensen felt the wedding with Sheppard, the Zodanga king, would never happen. He wasn't too worried about that."

"He lost his fiancé?" Jared felt as if his heart were stabbed. They both just lost someone dear to their hearts...

"Yes, Christian Kane. He was a pilot." Sola sighed.

"Why?"

"Oh, I don't know. It's just -- looking at the two of them, they were like two princes taken out of a romance novel. They looked so good together. So beautiful. It was very obvious that they loved each other so much."

Jared didn't know if he should feel sad for Jensen or jealous. Apparently Jensen had had someone he cared so much about. It wouldn't be easy for him to accept someone new. But who was Jared kidding? Jensen was a royal heir. Besides, where did this longing to be with someone come from? Jared heaved a deep sigh and stood up from the chair he was sitting in an abrupt fashion. He walked to a big glass window facing out towards the vast reddish plain and sky.

“Are you all right?”

Jared jumped, not realizing Sola had been standing beside him for he didn’t know how long.

“Yes. Yes, I’m okay.”

“Look, I have something to do. Is it all right if I leave you with Jensen?”

“Oh, sure. Sure it is.” Jared smiled briefly and Sola retreated, closing the door behind her.

~~~

The first thing Jensen saw when he opened his eyes was a bare back with ripped muscles on a tall man facing the window, and his heart hitched. He jumped up, only to wince at the pain in his ribs.

"Hey, are you all right?"

"Stay back." Jensen felt around but he couldn't find his gun, his knife, and for the first time he noticed someone must have undressed him. "Who are you, a Zodangan? Release me at once."

"Whoa. Wait, relax." The man raised his hands in a surrender gesture. "I'm not from Zodanga and I will not hurt you."

"Then who are you?" Jensen winced again. His breaths came in short pants as the pain attacked him in waves. He wrapped an arm around his middle section and collapsed back on to his back, squeezing his eyes shut. "Where am I?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"You're in pain." He heard the man say. "Let me get you... a painkiller or something."

There was a slight hesitation that Jensen didn't understand but he couldn't think more of it behind the clouds in his head.

A gentle shake on his shoulder woke him up. He didn't realize he had fallen asleep.

"I couldn't find Sola but they gave me this drink. They said it could help."

Jensen nodded as the man helped him up. He slowly sipped the water. It looked clear but it tasted somewhat sweet and had a kind of different aftertaste. He didn't worry about being poisoned. Not because the man looked kind, but they could have easily killed him when he was unconscious. They didn't have to save him anyway. They could’ve just left him out there to die.

But what if they had recognized him and thought they could get some ransom from his father? Jensen's eyes flew open suddenly.

"Don't be afraid." As if reading Jensen's mind, the man comforted him. He dabbed beads of sweat off Jensen's brow with a piece of cloth.

"H--how do I know? Who are you? Where am I?"

"I'm Jared and I come from Earth. You're in Tharkland. Remember Sola? She said she was your friend."

Sola... Of course he remembered Sola. Having a muddled mind made him unable to recognize the place, but being with the Tharks, Jensen knew he was safe.

"But who are you? I mean, you told me your name, but you don't look like a Thark at all." And nobody in Helium dressed like Jared, neither did the Zodangan. But who knew...

"I told you I come from Earth."

"Where is that? There are only three peoples living on Barsoom. Is 'Earth' some kind of uncharted territory?" Not that he knew of. To his surprise, Jared laughed, showing two deep dimples on his cheeks. Jensen couldn't help but stare with interest. This Jared person was lovely.

"I don't know this Barsoom you're all talking about so for sure I'm not from around here. But I talked to the Jeddak and he said I was most probably brought here by the Therns from the planet where I live, Earth.

Someone from outer space. Wow. Jensen's eyes went wide.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I wasn't familiar with the red sky here. Our sky is blue."

That sounded lovely. Jensen began to daydream. It must feel cool and peaceful. He had never liked the red sky here.

"I know. That's amazing, right?" The corners of Jared's mouth curled up into a beautiful smile. Jensen's heart began to beat faster.

"Hey, are you feeling better?"

"Huh?"

"Your ribs. Some cracked because of your fall. You also have a concussion and several bruises down your body."

Jensen had not been thinking about the pain anymore, but he was troubled about something else.

"You saw the bruises? I mean, you checked all over my body?" Blood filled his face and he felt warm all over.

Jared looked sheepish and he averted his eyes from Jensen's.

"Well, technically it wasn't me. It was the Jeddak as he's the physician here."

Jensen swallowed hard. "The Jeddak -- as in the king himself? I've been utterly dishonorable to him."

"I think that's all right. He is a doctor after all. Jensen, are you okay? You feeling sick again?"

"W-why?" He didn't understand. Jared suddenly came to him and sat next to him on the bed, feeling his temple.

"You look so pale. You want to get sick?"

"No, not really. I guess I was just surprised it was Jeddak who took care of me. I admire him." Jensen drew a deep breath. He felt fine but somehow he didn't mind Jared comforting him. It was... nice. And he wanted to stop Jared when the man awkwardly stood up.

"Yeah, uh, he is quite good. I stayed here when he checked on you. After that Sola came. She left just now." Jared switched glances between him and the door. "Uh, you want me to call her?"

"That's okay, Jared." Jensen smiled, feeling the pain subside into numbness but also kind of drowsy. Must have been the water Jared gave him. He yawned, patting a space beside him on the mattress.

"You mind staying for a while? You can tell me about this Earth place you come from." Jensen sensed Jared's doubts. "Come on Jared I won't bite." He yawned again, and fell asleep even before Jared finally sat with him.

~~~

::: Next part :::