Wild

 

"I'm sorry." Nick clicked again, propping himself up with his intact arm. He’d rested on his makeshift bed for the past few hours as I tended to him, an ineffectual but determined nurse. I could at least keep his prod burns clean and deepest gashes bandaged.

 

“No, I’m sorry.” I bunched up another faded blanket to support his dark-plated head. I wouldn’t let him rise for a moment. “You need better care than I can give you…”

 

“You shouldn’t have to do this for me. Really, I'm sorry."

 

I smiled and rested a hand on his face, just beneath where our cheek-plates protrude to the side like arrowheads. Since Sue’s words hours ago I’d felt as though my chest would swell and burst open with pride. You did it, big brother. Professor… “At the very least I see a different life for us. In time it may prove to be better, but it will certainly be different.” I’d doubted Christian when he’d first spoken those words, months ago. Now even the words different life felt like seeds of potential where I’d thought MNU had irrevocably salted the earth. The Elder is ill, but he’s surviving. Tanukashi may not be better, but there’s a chance. We have a chance. Nick is hurt but I can help him. And I’m not alone…

 

 “Stop saying that,” I ordered, swishing both my antennae forward in the Poleepkwan equivalent of a wink. “Or I'll get Eric to conk you on the head and make you rest.”

 

His eyes widened theatrically. "Yes, mum." I almost turned away before he muttered “Sorry.” under his breath.

 

“Conk!” I tapped my open hand against his blue-painted forehead with barely enough force to crinkle paper.

 

"Oh, no!" Nick fell back slowly, throwing a dramatic arm across his thick-shelled brow. “Cuteness overload…ack!”

 

I tumbled down onto the blankets with him and joined in his clicking laughter; as though he were my little brother and we wrestled playfully on the dirt floor of our shack. Over a year ago…a lifetime. “You're a lot like Oliver, you know.” I grinned. “Well, Oliver mixed with a wild urkbos!”

 

“Umm…what?” Nick cocked his head to the side, mouth-tentacles curved with amusement but confusion in his eyes. Had I just complimented or insulted him?

 

“On our homeworld! It’s a huge lizard, strong and this big…”I poked him in the side playfully. “Never mind. A lion! You’re like a lion, Nick. A wounded lion...”

 

He puffed out his chest. "I am the king of the wild!" I tucked the blanket back around him—lion or not, he needed to rest. "I might be wounded, but I'm still here. It's fun just playing around sometimes."

 

“It is. I'd…forgotten about that. I guess that's why you're like Oliver.” I rolled from the makeshift bed and handed him the best meat I’d been able to find in our supplies, a six-pound leg of ham. “Here, Mr. King.”

 

Nick gave a mischievous chuckle and patted my head. "Oh, I could get used to that name.” He dug into the meat gratefully. “Thanks for helping me out these days. How've the other kids been?"

 

“Honestly...I'm not sure.” I knelt in the dirt and picked up my alcohol-soaked rag again, cleaning his leg wound as gently as I could. How could I explain that the kids are just…there? They’re not my Elder, struggling for every breath. They’re not Ryan, half a world away. And they’re not you. The sound of their voices doesn’t keep the ghost of Douglas’ hands away. You do.

 

 “Jared seems all right.” I glanced away, flicking my antennae back in a blush. “I haven't thought about them as much as I should. I've thought of you...and since they took you, Christian made it. He gave his speech...” I met his eyes, my words coming out in a rush. “And it was amazing. It worked, Nick. Sue just told me. Tanukashi will take over within a month!”

 

"Ha!” His strong mandibles tore into the meat, chewing with obvious relish. “I'd expect nothing less from my mentor! If there was anyone who could get it done, it would be him."  

 

I inexpertly wrapped a fresh bandage around his lower calf. The bullet had torn through his plating and been carelessly yanked from the flesh beneath with some kind of blunt tool. I shuddered at the odor of infection, but at least it seemed to be lessening. “I didn't know the Professor was your mentor. The bases must be pretty amazing, if they make teachers like you both.”

 

He settled back, pressing his hands together as though making a pledge. "They are, and the people who run them are equally amazing. Come see them with us. We can go anytime." 

 

“You need to go to one of the bases. I mean, they can do a better job getting you healed than I can.” I paused thoughtfully, resting a tiny hand against the bandage. “And Akra's getting worse...he should go too. I didn't think I'd ever leave D-10, but if we're trying to make this place more like those places, maybe I should actually see one of them. But I will come back.”

 

Nick raised his leg and smiled at my handiwork. "Looks perfectly taken care of to me." His mouth-tentacles curved upwards in a grin. "So, it's decided then! We'll head to the Canada base by the end of the week. You'll love it so much, you'll forget about this place!"

 

I narrowed my eyes. “I'll think about it. And I won't—“ I stood up and stomped my foot, then glanced aside in embarrassment. “Forget about this place. At least not until it's empty, and all of our people are free.”

 

"Yeah, I saw that one coming.” He set down the leg of ham and threw up his hands with exaggerated frustration."Still worth a try, right? At least you're considering it." Nick’s laugh felt warm and unfamiliar to me, like the noon desert sun when one first steps out of the tunnels. "I'll take all the victories I can get over your stubbornness."

 

“Yes, I’m stubborn.” I wiggled my mouth-tentacles at him good-naturedly, and then stood up with my hands on my green-plated hips. “Now I may just be a Poleepkwan Princess while you’re Mr. King of the Wild,” I nodded towards the remaining meat. He must be starving—had they fed him at all? “But I insist that you eat that.”

 

“Ordering your teacher around isn’t going to earn you a good grade, you know.” He laughed, but bit off another generous chunk. “Though, this is some damned good food.”

 

His head cocked to the side, bright blue eyes suddenly thoughtful. "Let's compromise. What if we both go to the Canada base? I'd get my non-needed treatment and you'd get to check the place out."

 

“You need your treatment a lot more than I need to ‘check the place out.’” I waved my hand, brushing the idea away.

 

"So, it's a deal, then?" He beamed and clapped his hands together. "Awesome!"

 

Even my sub-arms rose up as though warding off the idea. “You're not saying...you mean that you won't go unless I do?”

 

He tried to cover his triumphant grin. "Well, the only reason I have to go to one of the bases is to give you the grand tour."

 

I clenched my jaws, burying my face in my hands. “You're incorrigible.” A moment of puzzlement passed over his face at the word. Of course—he didn’t know my Father. You don’t know how brilliantly he could speak when he gave us lessons in writing and technology. Though he used the same words on his blog. And you don’t know that I spent every silent day in that one meter by one meter box repeating his words in my head; reliving each moment of his wisdom. Father’s vocabulary is the least I’ve gained from him. Memories of him carried me through.

 

“You have to go because you're hurt...” The shadow of a tear formed behind my eyes and I glanced downward, away from him. “You almost died to protect me. It's my...” I bit back the word “fault.” No, Douglas’ fault. But still…

 

The hand that he rested on my shoulder had only two fingers remaining, but his clicks were quick and cheerful. "Hey now, enough of that. Who was the one who called me a lion? Lions don't die so easily, you know. I'll be up on my feet in no time. Just see, they can't keep me down."

 

“All right, we'll make a deal.” I sighed. “Our people should know about the takeover. I'll leave for the base after I make a transmission to the District—“

 

Nick threw both arms upward as though he’d bet with the Nigerians on the winning scorpion-rat. "Woo-hoo! I wins!"

 

I lay my hands on his wounded arms and gently lowered them. “I wasn't finished!”

 

"Aww, that damn fine print!"

 

I shook my head. Why does he talk so much like a human? It must be from living at one of the bases for so long. “And I'll stay until you're better. I will come back when Tanukashi takes over. There’s a lot to be done. I'll return here through the front door—I would like it if you'd come with me. If you're up to it I mean.”

 

He grinned. "You know I'll come with. After all, the princess needs her bodyguard. Those politicians better hurry up with the paperwork, or they'll have me to deal with." He paused, his neck-folds widening in a yawn. “‘Scuse me.”

 

I reached for an extra blanket and pulled it over him. It was maybe eleven at night, or one. I couldn’t remember last time I’d bothered to check, and the tunnels were always dark. “Excuse you for being so sneaky, maybe.” I smiled, wiggling my mouth-tentacles at him. “Now get some rest, all right? It's the least you've earned.”

 

Nick mimicked a slight bow. “Yes ma’am.” He rearranged the pillows and laid his head down, shifting slightly on his side to face me. "You should get some rest yourself." He flashed a quick smile. "I saw you nodding off before. You ain't that slick, little lady." 

 

“’Little lady?’” I rolled my eyes. “But all right. My cot is right over there--if you need anything, I'm here.”

 

"Hey, I'm pretty sure that was my line. As soon as I wake up, you're getting sued." He closed his eyes. "Sleep tight, Sherry."

 

I rested a tiny hand on his head for a moment before walking to my own cot. A faint burst of gunfire echoed above us, ubiquitous and usually ignored. Yet I flinched. Don’t be too happy. The ratta-tatta noise seemed to persist. Don’t forget your duties. Ratta-tatta. Douglas. Violence. They’re shooting our people… Ratta-tatta. This has to be stopped.

 

  My smile faded as I crawled beneath rumpled blankets and settled into my cot, but I extinguished the light and kept my voice upbeat. “You too, Mr. King.”

 

 

 

How do I describe what the world above us became? I was naïve, hopelessly a child. I think I expected the black-clothed, faceless guards of District 10 to patrol, shoot, and prod like mindless wind-up toys until the day Tanukashi replaced them with a newer, kinder, sleeker model. But before two days had passed their regulation vests and helmets lay discarded in the dust like spent cocoons. At least among those who cared to appear at all. I’d never seen an entire squad of holders sitting in a tent with decks of cards and open flasks, and patrols had never been so lax. Apparently when humans know they're going to be out of a job soon, they become as "aimless" as they accuse Poleepkwa of being.

 

This was indirectly our doing, and our advantage at first. Nick and Akra had to rest but Eric and I ran about aboveground, handing out all the food and medical supplies we could give. Jared joined us, by my side as soon as he was released from school for the day. By the end of this month… I thought, staring at the marks of the cattle prod on his back though he dismissed them. He’ll still have to go. But to a better school. We’ll make it better.

 

 Faces blurred together—at some point I reached up and handed a heavy package of biltong to a red-painted Poleepkwa. Suspicion sharpened his cold eyes.

 

“Why?” He clicked, making no move to take it.

 

“Because you’re hungry.” I said simply. “And I have food.”

 

“Troublemaker? What do you want?” His antennae swished with confusion, glancing about for a guard who wasn’t there. We moved from one sector to the next, wherever there seemed to be the most Poleepkwa and fewest guards. The ones assigned to patrol here were probably napping in their truck…

 

“Nothing.” I shook my head. We recruited carefully for our schools—I could hardly go around telling everyone that I was part of some nebulous resistance. Even now. “Here, just take—“

 

A rapid burst of gunfire tore through the air only a few meters away. In the slum of District 9 it had long since become instinct—I fell flat into the dirt and rolled into the half-shade of the tent beside me. It was no more protection than a wisp of cloud, but could at least keep me hidden. Jared, where are you?

 

Bullets followed by human laughter were nothing unusual, but this man’s laugh was oddly slurred. “Are you shooting at anything?”

 

“No.”

 

"Okay then.” I glanced up. The human’s black-clad back was turned to me. Just a tiny Prawn in a dirt-streaked tent—nothing suspicious, nothing to notice. He waved a thick, dark brown hand at the other, and then at some white cylinder in the distance. Filthy bits of paper blew through the air; a pile of trash burned a few paces from the spot his filthy hands pointed to. “Hey man, look at that propane tank. Bet I can pop a round in it from here."

 

"...fokkin' A." The shorter, paler human’s exclamation was punctuated by a belch.

 

Bang! A single shot did nothing. He shoved the small black handgun into its holster at his belt, hand clumsy with inebriation and sweat-soaked in the desert afternoon. It seemed to take long minutes before he was able to aim his heavier machine gun and fire.

 

I heard a dozen rounds hit dirt and metal before he stopped. “Fok, man, nothing. Did I hit it…?” He stepped a few paces closer before fire seemed to leap from trash to tank; the small cylinder burst and flame blossomed skyward. "Fok yeah!” They shouted. “Woohoo!"

 

I winced, crawling and finally sprinting from the tent. We’ve got to get out of here, to the opposite end of D-10. Any human thing destroyed…Poleepkwa always get blamed.

 

A third, lower voice barked at them. "What the fok, man? You almost burned my fokkin' face! I got a job interview next week..."

 

"Seriously, man? Damn, you think ahead." He hiccupped.

 

My antennae perked up at the sound of a familiar whistle. It’s not easy to produce that noise with our mouth-tentacles. I nearly smiled. But Jared learned it from our Professor…

 

 I ran to the sound and found Jared kneeling in the dirt, one arm around the forest green-plated shoulder of a wounded older Poleepkwa. Eric stood a few steps away cradling a trembling little one to his chest. My mind seemed to stutter, taking a moment to grasp the scene before me—cots lay bent and thrown against the white sides of the tent, one crimson-smeared. Blood still trickled from tent walls into the dust…the odor was human.

 

“Sherry!” Jared looked up at me, his face exultant. “Did you see that?”

 

“Wha…”

 

“These two bobbleheads just started prodding him out of nowhere.” Jared tipped his head towards the green-plated one. I’d occasionally heard the children use that name for the guards, probably after their round helmets. “They were going crazy, one of ‘em grabbed at his belt like Douglas—then the others tore ‘em apart! They were screaming at their radios but no one showed up.”

 

My head spun as I helped him to his feet. “What’s your name? Are you all right?”

 

“Steven. My knee.” He grunted, leaning heavily on his left side. “They shot my knee…” His antennae twitched in amazement. “I don’t even know those guys. They just surrounded the pigs and tore them to bite-sized—“ He paused and wiped the blood from his eyes.

 

I glanced up at Eric. “We should get one last group out before the switch. They’ll leave with Nick and me.”

 

He nodded. “It’ll be harder without our fearless leader.” I smiled at his affectionate name for Ryan. “But we can get another dozen out.” His words were low and sparse, almost whispering to this stranger that we could help him, take him to a safe place. I almost didn’t hear the incredulous exchange as we zigzagged through the orderly tent rows towards our hidden tunnel entrance. Two more lives were saved, and another nine joined them in the tunnels over the next three days. Father had always tried to shield us from the worst of the chaos—riots in the District, gangsters with their indiscriminate gunfire. Now, those of us who could seemed to rush towards the growing turmoil with open arms.

 

Preparing to leave had my stomach in knots. It was better; rules unenforced and grunts not caring. Or violent, and more vulnerable than they knew. But how could I leave now, with so much happening? Yet Akra’s every cough and Nick’s brave smiles were a constant reminder. They needed help. And I would return.

 

I sat before one of the Elder’s computer screens, preparing my transmission to the District when a video call from Japan interrupted me.  Ryan’s bright, freckled human face hadn’t changed, and he greeted me with a smile that made me want to hug the screen.

 

“Heya kiddo, how are you doing?”

 

“I'm doing all right.” I switched on the webcam and waved at it. “I've missed you.”

 

“Yeah?” He tipped back his brown wool hat.  “So did MNU.”

 

I laughed. “And I'm sure their higher-ups are kicking themselves in their fragile human heads for it.”

 

“Hey, we humans aren't nearly as fragile as you think.” He pointed at his chest with a soft half-smile. “It's not our fault our planet is smaller than your homeworld.”

 

I wiggled my mouth-tentacles at him. “Excuses, excuses.”

 

“Yeah, yeah. How is everyone? Jared, Nick, the schools?”

 

“Everyone?”  I breathed deep. “Nick is back. You've probably heard.”

 

His young countenance darkened, red eyebrows drawing together. “I did hear. I talked to Kurt about it, actually. He seemed rather… put out. But I’m glad we didn't have to kill him.”

 

My eyes widened, but I rested my hands gently on the desk. “What did he say?”

 

“If it wasn't for Christian and I, Nick would probably be dead by now, and he'd still be chasing the schools.”

 

My jaw tensed. Could he have kept Nick alive on purpose? To bargain with us, in case the UIO actually...I pushed the thought away. “That's what he said? Well, he was right about that at least.” I sighed. “Nick is amazing...so brave, he's survived this long.”

 

He tipped back the brim of his hat. “Nick is beyond amazing, leaps straight past wondrous, and is more along the lines of fantastically glorious.” I burst out laughing.  “While I was away, he kept you safe at the ultimate cost to himself. He willingly put himself near certain death, to save you.”

 

“I know.  And he’s hurt so bad...there's no way I could ever repay him.” I shook my head as though to clear it, antennae flicking back with slight embarrassment.  “He's pretty persuasive too. He needs medical care at one of the bases. And he convinced me to go with him--just for a short time, that is. Akra needs medical care too…”

 

My big brother was taken aback. That is, he startled backwards in his chair, saucer-eyed. “You're... going to America?”

 

“Yes. Well, to Canada.”

 

“Akra has decided to go as well?” His tone was more formal than I’d ever heard it—sheer shock maybe?

 

“Yes. We're NOT leaving D-10 for good. It's just that Nick and Akra...well, they're both ill. And both stubborn—they won't leave me.” I stared down at my feet. “I...I hope you're not disappointed.”

 

“Disappointed?”  He mimed applause, grinning widely. “Little one, I’ve been trying to get you to go to America since the first time we talked. You’ll be much safer there than you have ever been in your entire lifetime.”

 

“I know!” I pouted slightly.  “But I said I couldn't leave. Not with all of my people trapped here. And this is just temporary, you know. I can't be ‘safer’ forever.” 

 

He shook his head, a sad tinge to his boyish smile. “I know you won't. But, I’ll happily take as much time as we can get. I wish I could join you there…but before Tanukashi moves into D-10, Christian and I will be making our own trip to the West. We'll be stopping by the Nevada base, and then make a stop in Texas. It's been a while since he's seen Brandon.  We'll meet you in South Africa, with Tanukashi.”

I swallowed a lump of disappointment in my throat. Of course I miss him. But he’s doing something so important… “All right.” I nodded at the screen. “Just to warn you, I have a million questions. About Tanukashi, about the speech...when I see you again, you won't be able to get rid of me.”

“I never planned to.”

“I love you, big brother.” My soft smile mirrored his own. “Things are really crazy here...but I know you and Christian have done something amazing.”

“Just you wait; it's going to get even crazier.” He glanced off-screen. “But, duty calls. Take care of yourself, okay?”

My eyes widened, but I held my shoulders high and proud. “Well, I can handle it. You too.” I waved at the screen for a moment before it went dark, and then stood up. It was nearly time.

I switched on a short row of screens beside the transmitters. MNU didn’t have cameras everywhere, of course, but a few places near the factories and around the perimeter. I could see my people, at least some of them, as they heard my words. By now I knew the steps by heart, what to push and power on before my young voice echoed through MNU’s speakers, across half-empty factories and abandoned lookout posts.

“My people!” The sound rang clear, unimpeded. “You feel the chain about your neck released, the holders’ grip is slipping. The worst among them grow even more violent, while the others lie about aimlessly or destroy like careless children. Yet none of them will tell you that their time draws to a close! That our own people have ripped loose their stranglehold on this place, and soon another company will replace them! Tanukashi, another hope! Though we must not trust blindly, these are people who will give us a chance to organize, to govern ourselves! What you see about you is what Father once called ‘anarchy,’ but we are capable of so much more! It was our unity we lost with the hive mind, our guidance! We must prepare to—“

I stopped. The screens before me did not reveal cheering and rapt attention, mixed with the smattering of indifference I had seen before. Deep, throaty bellows of annoyance greeted my words, combined with grimaces on half a dozen displays. My eyes were drawn to a grainy video feed where a red-painted Poleepkwa approached both camera and speaker, appearing to grow larger in my view. He climbed the lookout tower hand-over-hand until it was within his reach and clamped his jaws around the base of the speaker, hands and strong mandibles cracking its plastic case and finally ripping it free. His triumphant howl was echoed by a dozen beneath him on the ground. As for me, I was struck silent.

My mind felt as though it were trying to grasp something slick; some cold fear that it recoiled at and let squirm away. “You have not had time,” The Professor had said once. “To see how aimless the masses are.”

Not their fault!  I thought, keeping my posture straight and resolute. None of this is their fault! I can’t blame my own people. Even those teachers with their prods, I can’t blame them…I shuddered at the memory.

 I should have known it. I told myself over and over again. They just got a taste of freedom, and I was trying to order everyone around. I switched the microphone back on and fairly bellowed into it.

“Fine. Let the District have its ‘anarchy. Tear down the walls of MNU's prison, rip their vicious factories to shreds. Soon, we'll rebuild this place! The old is being burned away, and at long last a new age us upon us."