Beyond

“Goodbye.”

Time broke free from its moorings somewhere near the pyre. I felt my small hands immersed in cold ash, brushing cracked remnants of shell-plate into a crude wooden box. “I know you can’t hear me, Elder.” I whispered. “But your body will return to our home. With me.” I shut the lid, held it tight—and then saw only darkness. Akra. Goodbye…

Somewhere in time Nick’s hand was rested on my back, guiding me through the Canada base. It’s bright. I thought. Is it daytime? Did I sleep? My eyes passed over the trees before me and oil fields to my right. Vivid, irrelevant images imprinted themselves on my mind—trees, snow, and the great expanse in the middle of nowhere that employed and housed less than a hundred of my people. A dim shock passed through my chest when I realized I was talking, smiling, laughing. Images and sounds came to me as though from a great distance…myself, sitting mesmerized by the sight of five Poleepkwan children kicking a soccer ball about. I’d never seen such a toy before, only shreds of them in District 9. Its newness seemed bright, the black and white contrast not dimmed by wear and dust. Poleepkwan children laughed as though they had never known fear. I smiled, and a little one with moss-colored plates waved at me.

My mind shifted as though rifling through photographs and throwing them randomly up to my eyes. “Your ass is mine, Prawn.” Douglas’ hands gripped my body, shell-plates rasping against dirt. “The light.” Akra’s voice echoed. “That beacon Christopher passed to you...”

The light…where is it? Where am I? The moment shifted again and I sat beneath bright fluorescent bulbs, surrounded by bookshelves. I glanced about and saw that I held a thick tome of history in my lap, yellowed pages bearing black-and-white images of humans holding signs. Right—I’m reading about labor strikes. Unions. Lawrence Owen mentioned that Tanukashi wants us to organize…

I wandered on legs I couldn’t feel past older, taller Poleepkwa in the brightly-lit hallway. Right. Nick showed me. This is where we sleep. There were no tents here, no makeshift shacks, but structures made of three modular buildings connected like a “U.” In each arm of the “U” was a hallway with ten rooms on each side; in a style I’d heard compared to a dorm. Each room held a small desk, chair and double bed. A bed, with sheets and a pillow!

“Are you okay, kiddo?” Nick’s hand was on my shoulder, guiding me somewhere. Living shell-plate and spirals of blue paint seemed to melt in my vision. Why was Nick’s face distorted, so far away through dust and motes of light? My eyes refused to focus. Where did he come from? Is this real; is this now?  I whispered something about Akra, and he looked down at the carpeted floor with a heavy sigh.

“I didn't know him much, but the loss of such a wise father figure and leader is terrible, to say the least. Still, his legacy lives on,” I followed Nick as though we wandered through fog, walls and world about me like a distant dream. “In you.”

He’s right. What’s wrong with me? I thought, drifting in numbness. I knew this would happen. Akra…you knew. You wouldn’t live forever. Damn it, why don’t I know where I am? It shouldn’t be like this, I’ve survived worse. I squinted, blinked; trying to push through my personal haze as though it were a physical thing. I’m sitting somewhere. Feels like a plastic chair…

Elder, I spent every waking moment in that box thinking of Father. When I was free you were my second Father. It’s stupid and selfish but I’ve lost you. What I have is only your words, your legacy. I have to follow you without you.

A human voice echoed into my mind, distorted by computer speakers. Ryan? I need to hear this!   

My body was cold. Good, I’m feeling it, something real. Sensations came slowly but I grabbed at each one like a lifeline. My computer screen glowed before me, set on a clean table in the base library. Strong grey-black plates moved in the corner of my eye. Nick.

The screen shifted as Ryan angled a webcam until his young human face appeared in our view. “Sherry, Nick? Can you guys hear me?” He paused, muttering with a slight smile, “God, it’s late.”

 

Nick smiled and lifted his hand up to greet our friend. “Look who it is! Took ya long enough. Having too much fun in Japan to see us now?” He chuckled.

 

My vision cleared enough to see the tension in my “big brother’s” eyes.  “Never too much to take time out for you guys. But, it seems like that's coming to an end anyway.”

 

Shit! This is important, focus! I leaned forward, furrowing my plated brow. Imagine that beacon before you, and follow it. Breathe. “What are you talking about? I'll see you soon, right? When we get back to D-10.”

 

He pushed the camera back to reveal a man I’d never seen before, of a sort I’d never met in person—every fold of his dark business suit was immaculately pressed, black hair styled as though he’d stepped out of a magazine. Ryan introduced him as Lawrence Owen, a Tanukashi lawyer. When he spoke it was with the voice of a politician. “See, there's a small matter that we need to discuss. Mr. Baumgardner and I have spent the day talking about this particular subject. For,” Mr. Owen paused, his dark brown eyes appraising us both. “Assurance reasons, we thought it best to tell you of the plan. Obviously, this can't be on any record.”

 

I shook my head, struggling to grasp the present moment. “Have we ever been on any record? Tanukashi officially doesn’t know I exist. What's the plan?”

“It has to do with the law, Sherry.” Ryan enunciated the word as though it were heavy.

 

“The law?” Fog seemed to fill my mind again and I glanced over at Nick for guidance. “That can't be good.”

 

“Nope.” He met my eyes. “It usually means that what we've got comes with strings attached.”

 

“Not in this case.” The lawyer said evenly.

 

Ryan aimed a slight glare at Owen, and then addressed his friend and “Poleepkwan Princess” in a measured tone. “Technically speaking, ARFA broke the law. Technically speaking, the Poleepkwa are property of MNU. Technically...and technically, we've been smuggling contraband.”

 

I sighed. “Right. You stole MNU's property, and are illegally giving it food and shelter. With Tanukashi's help, technically.”

 

“That is going too far, Ms. Johnson.” Owen’s face hardened almost unnoticeably, casting a harsh glance at the bothersome little “alien.”

 

“Too far?” Nick gave a disparaging click. “You guys signed on with us to help, remember?”

 

Ryan lifted his hand. “He's just trying to save his ass, forget it.”

 

“I realize that and it's pissing me off!” Nick’s voice was tight, his mouth-tentacles flared outward. “I've had enough politics from MNU.”

 

“Well, Nick, get used to being pissed.” Ryan’s eyes seemed darkened, aged. “Because I’ve got good news and bad news.”

 

The hand that I rested on Nick’s arm did not quite feel like mine, but that of an inept puppeteer.  Nick’s posture relaxed slightly, though wounded sub-arms twitched with tension. “I…can tell. Let's just let them tell us what they have planned.” I looked up at the camera. “Well, what is it?”

 

“The bad news is that we've been…” Ryan paused. “‘Stealing.’ And even though we're trying to get the Poleepkwa recognized as sentient beings, that hasn't happened yet. Kurt is saved from murder by ‘Ex Post Facto,’ and so am I condemned.”

 

The room spun about me as I clenched my fists and stared at his image on my screen. “Ex Post Facto? What's that…?” My throat constricted. “No. Not condemned...you're going to die?”

 

Ryan pursed his lips. “It means ‘after the law,’ more or less. Even when the Poleepkwa are recognized as people, Kurt won't be tried for murder, because when he killed, they weren't. We weren't stealing people, but helping them illegally immigrate. It still counts as stealing property. And, death is a possibility, but I wouldn't count on it.”

 

Nick’s mutilated hand gripped the edge of the table. “Yeah, like spending a few decades in an overseas prison is any better.” 

 

“Funny choice of words.” My “big brother” ran a hand through his red-blonde hair.

 

“Prison.” I grabbed tight onto Nick’s other hand as though by reflex, yet my heart felt strangely numb. “You're serious.” 

 

“Tanukashi will have to do a thorough search of ARFA, and give the UIO full access to the search, if we're going to work with ARFA.” Owen’s voice held a tinge of remorse, yet his words were calm. “We're going to have to admit the ‘illegal activities.’ Someone is going to have to take responsibility.”

 

“And there are only a few of us in ARFA who have the authority to take that responsibility.” Ryan laid a calloused hand on his own chest.

 

Nick’s voice was grim. “The way you're putting this...it's sounding like you might just go martyr yourself.”

 

Owen broke in. “That's not—“

 

“Look, someone has to go to jail, because that's what the law says.” Ryan’s tone was firm. “Forget the corporate crap.”

 

I shut my eyes, the vision of him on the screen seeming to fade into formless darkness. Big brother’s…going away. “And you've volunteered. Tanukashi is going to have a ‘merger’ that's not really a merger, act surprised that their pet activist group was smuggling us to the bases they supposedly didn't know about, and make a public show of turning you over to the authorities and putting you in jail?”

 

“No. I will turn myself in on ARFA's authority. Separate from Tanukashi, as an act of openness.” He squared his shoulders, a tinge of pride barely visible in his young face. “It’s better this way, trust me. Why me? Because Dayna can take over for me, she has already kept things in order. And because my counterpart in North America will have a shitload to deal with, really soon. They need a leader there.”

 

“They need a leader in South Africa!” Nick was nearly shouting. “You were the one who started it all, right at ground zero. You've become an icon there, a symbol of hope that the human species is not the demonic, torture-happy thing MNU made it out to be.”

 

“Eric and Char were there when I started. They know the systems better than anyone else. It’s better that one man go to prison now, than many go later.”

 

“It really is better this way.” Owen nodded.

 

Nick leaned in, laying a hand on the screen as though he could pass through it. “Look, I...I can see the logic behind this, but there has to be a better way.” He seemed to be speaking only to Ryan. “There have to be more options!”

 

“Nick, the bureaucrats are going to be out for blood.” Ryan sighed. “Someone will be imprisoned. As much of a complete waste of space he manages to be, they can't have Owen.” The lawyer’s eyes widened in astonishment.

 

“Fuck the bureaucrats!” Nick hissed. “If they want blood, I'll give them blood. I'll force-feed them their own blood till they're full of it!”

 

Ryan’s face seemed strained. “It doesn't work that way, Nick!"

 

“Both of you, please shut up!” I leapt to my feet though I scarcely felt them. “Ryan, you're saying that you need to go to prison for helping us, and to preserve the image and all that...forever? Not forever.”

 

“Not forever. They won't hold me for long.” He leaned towards the camera, folding his hands together. “It's mostly a show. Let me explain. Technically speaking, we stole; so technically speaking, someone needs to go to jail. We need to keep Tanukashi out of this, so the UIO completes the transfer, instead of handing the reigns to someone else. Remember? Remember the deal this dimwit gave you?”

 

Owen inclined his head towards me. “Dim-witted as I may be, I’ll still fight for your freedom, Ms. Johnson.”

 

“As long as it doesn't hurt your precious image, that is.” Nick snorted.

 

“That image is the symbol of your freedom, Mr. Gogan!” Owen’s voice seemed articulate, yet sharp.

 

“Don't assume I'm as docile as everyone else.” Nick’s jaw clenched. “As soon as Tanukashi starts becoming more trouble than they're worth, I'll cut them, and you, loose myself.”

 

“Nick...” My voice trailed off. No more arguing. My big brother’s determined. “Damn it, I hate to say it, but he does have a point.” I managed to glare at the camera through a kind of strange numbness. “Though don't expect me to be grateful to you, Mr. Owen. Ryan, what happens now? To you, to the bases...”

 

“We're going to work on legally granting the Poleepkwa asylum, if not residency in North America, which would make the bases legal. Canada, Poland, Spain, New Zealand, and Italy are scheduled to speak with Tanukashi about allowing legal immigration of Poleepkwa.” Owen smiled slightly. “Mr. Baumgardner will take the responsibility for the illegal ‘contraband.’”

 

“I'll go away for a short while, so that our people can be free.” Ryan said simply, a kind of quiet vigor in his tone. “What is my freedom, compared to that of 2.5 million?”

 

I felt my mandibles click in a faint laugh. “That sounds just like you, Ryan. When? Can I...”

 

“We're afraid that—“ Owen broke in.

 

“Let me say it.” Ryan’s back straightened. “You know what? You’re done here. Unnecessary at this point.” He adjusted the camera away from Owen and made a dismissive gesture at the startled-looking man, his voice tinged with bright sarcasm. “Any more legal proceedings can be carried out at another time, thank you and good-day sir!”

 

Nick grinned. “I'm half a world away and that still felt so good! Bye-bye annoying lawyer.” His smile vanished as soon as it appeared. “Any idea whether or not they'll go easy on you?”

 

I glanced up at Nick. “Please tell me that the humans have jails as nice, and as different as their schools. If anyone tries to prod Ryan, I'll tear their face off.” I tried to imitate Ryan’s sarcastic smile.

 

Nick nodded. “It's not as bad as D-10 is for Poleepkwa, I can tell you that much for sure.”

 

“I'm afraid we won't see each other again.” Ryan’s voice was soft, accepting. “If things were different, you could come visit me. I know I’ll have a shortened sentence, because of the situation. As for the conditions... it depends. They don't torture you so much in prison, but they can kill. Some of the inmates already have life sentences without a chance of getting out, so they don't think twice about killing.”

 

Ryan might die. Somehow I felt no terror at the idea, only the sensation of those words coming from a great distance. Why am I cold? Chilled ashes…maybe the Elder died and so did I. Ryan’s talking to an empty shell.

 

Nick flinched, his one remaining antennae twitching erratically. “Ouch, that's a bit more than I would've told her. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a white-collar jail, though. Since you've been on international TV, you might be high-profile enough...”

 

“Honestly, I don't know what will happen.” Ryan’s voice was solid, warm. “But I won't let them get me.”

 

“Ryan!” Another Sherry spoke his name, her words horribly inadequate. “Please...please be careful.”

 

“I'll be careful, but I won't lie to you. Or to you, Nick. If the worst happens, I want you guys to know everything I gave. I want you guys to have the truth.”

 

If the worst happens. I choked and something burst within my chest like starlight. The worst has already happened! It’s happened, I’ve passed into nothingness and yet…we’re still here.

 

I stood up suddenly and laid my hands on Nick’s shoulders, while his own hand still rested on the screen. We were links in a chain, one friendship intertwined with another. This is it. I thought; dark haze and finally every wisp of fog clearing from my vision. I felt a sudden unity with every one of our shared people who had fallen, with my distant Father and brother in another galaxy; a oneness with both the living and the dead.

 

My hands on Nick’s blue-painted plates felt solid, real, and yet as though I could see through them and into Ryan, then into myself and Akra again. Whoever passes and whoever remains, we live on through each other. Even without the hive mind, we are one.

 

 “You know you won’t be there any longer than two years and six months.” I actually winked at Ryan, smiling—for what was there to fear?  “If you’re still in then, our people—my Father—will break you out if we have to blow apart prison walls to do it!” I paused, thinking for a moment of the practical, the mundane. “Can I write you letters? Have you talked to Christian?”

 

“You can. And yes, I have talked to Christian about this.” Ryan chuckled. “He was about as happy as Nick in a spider's nest.”

 

Nick shivered at the mention of spiders. “You better not get your ass shanked in there, or I swear I'll stab you myself when you get out.”

 

“Buddy, if you stab me, I’ll stab you with your own shell-spike.” Ryan grinned at the camera, his eyes bright with the devotion I knew so well.

 

“Ha!” Nick’s laugh was triumphant. “Ah, you might just make it outta there alive!”

 

“You guys.” I chuckled with him, struggling for words. Why had we ever fought; why had I ever doubted him? “Ryan...you're very brave, you know. I just want to tell you that I'm sorry—I'm sorry for every time I said something wrong to you, I'm sorry for being such a pain. When you get out, we'll have that birthday party. And you'll meet Father, even if he has to blow up a jail to do it.”

 

He shook his head. “Don't worry Sherry; you've never once been a pain to me. Frightened me a few times, but not a pain.”

 

Images danced in my mind, disjointed and lacking words. I hope you live for many more decades and endure in the memories of your own children. But if you pass, you’ll live on through all you’ve done for our people. That is the light beyond death.  Yet I could only whisper, “Love you, big brother. Please take care of yourself in there.”

 

“I'll be fine.” He nodded at his friend. “Nick, I expect you to pick me up when they let me out of there.”

 

“Count on it! Not to sound all mushy or anything, but we've been through a lot together, man. You're one of the few humans I can say this to,” Nick paused, his clicks growing soft. “Pay attention 'cause I'm only saying it once: I love you, man. Seriously, stay safe in there. I'll see you on the other side.”