by Edward Brody
“Just a moment,” the girl said as she walked to the door and peeked her head outside, whispering to someone. She returned to the bedside a few seconds later. “Food will be here shortly.”
“Are you also human?” Mich questioned the girl.
The girl put her hand to her mouth and held in a laugh. “No, I’m not human. I’m a neander. I suppose it’s true what they say. You really don’t know anything, do you?”
Mich sighed. “Guess I’ve got a lot to learn. I’ve kind of been out of action for about 70 years.”
“Neanders are similar to humans in many superficial ways. In fact, we once lived together on E-17. But you can easily tell the difference between humans and neanders as my kind are all born with this pattern on our foreheads.” She pointed to the tattoo-like shape on her head.
“You lived on Earth?” Mich inquired.
“I suppose that is what it was called at the time. And I didn’t personally live there, but my ancestors did. History tells us that neanders and humans once lived in harmony on E-17. My kind was the first race to live there, and after some time, primitive humans were discovered. Neanders were far more advanced than humans, but we welcomed you into our civilizations and taught you many of our technologies.
Eventually, as the number of humans grew, the craving for wealth and power grew as well. Humans demanded to rule our lands and waged war to control areas with the most resources. Rather than engage in a senseless power struggle, my people simply left E-17 to continue our future on other planets.”
“Well, that certainly makes humans sound pretty shitty,” Mich said.
“Many species in the galaxy do not hold humans in high regard,” Lena acknowledged.
She looked down in her hands and held out the small book that she had been carrying since she entered.
“I picked this up in the Library and thought it might help you understand what happened to your people and E-17. If you have time you can read it… if you’re curious or bored.”
Mich accepted the book and looked at the cover. On the front read the title “The Cleanse,” and there was a picture of planet Earth as he remembered it. On the back of the book was a picture of a blackened planet with overly large oceans and seas, brown clouds, and discolored land masses.
“Thank you,” Mich said.
At that moment, there was another knock on the door, and a short, stubby man with an uneven head who looked very similar to the Queen’s servant entered, carrying a medium sized tray filled with various foods. He sat the tray on the table along with two plates and forks, bowed, and left without saying a word.
The smell of the food made Mich’s stomach growl in anticipation.
“Let’s eat,” Lena said with a light clap of her hands.
Mich made his way to the table and eyed the food on the tray. Half of it looked familiar to him, but the other half looked very, very strange. “What is all this?” he asked.
“Let’s see. We have a bit of roasted chicken, korg legs, corn, mashed rittle brains, lumpa leaves, and vanilla pie.” Lena scooped some mashed rittle brains on to Mich’s plate, and they made sloppy sound as they landed. “Here, try a bite.”
Mich bit his teeth tightly as he sat down at the table.
* * *
By the end of the meal, Mich had nearly cleaned the table of the lumpa leaves and rittle brains, and commented that korg legs tasted a lot like pork chops.
He had tried to tell Lena a bit about his life back on Earth, but found himself struggling for the right words. He was a business man who had sold weight loss pills? He had only a few friends, and spent his time working and sleeping with women? He had money, but he used it to buy fancy cars and an overpriced home rather than anything of substance? Part of him couldn’t believe it was all gone, but now that he was on the outside looking in, it all seemed so shallow.
He started taking a liking to Lena. He knew the primary reason he was attracted to her was for her flawless face, body, and large chest, which seemed to capture his attention every time she moved. But she also had a fun, although somewhat serious, personality and an elegance to her he had never seen in another woman. He wondered during the meal if it were possible for two different humanoid species to mate, but quickly buried the idea when he remembered he now basically had nothing to his name, and his people ran Lena’s species off of their home planet in the distance past. His chances with someone like her were basically slim to none.
“Tomorrow, a guard will fetch you from your room so you can board your flight to Rashada,” Lena explained as she stood by the door. “I never thought I’d enjoy the company of a human, but I had a rather fun time talking to you.”
“So did I,” Mich agreed. “I feel a lot better now after speaking with you.”
Lena’s tilted her head down slightly and she tried hold back her frown. “You probably don’t understand this yet, but it’s unlikely that we will see each other again. Best of luck to you, Mich.”
“Wha.. Hey!”
Lena slipped through the door without giving Mich the time to ask for clarification.
His shoulders sank, and he immediately felt depressed after Lena had gone. For the time that she was there, he had forgotten how alone and confused he felt in this strange new world. “Oh, well…” he muttered to himself. He had a lot of learn about the behavior of other species as well.
He picked up the book that Lena left on the table and made his way back to bed. He took another deep look at the front and back covers before opening the book to the first page.
“The Clease
A documented account of events that transpired on E-17, formally known as ‘Earth’.”
Mich learned from the book that only 2 days after he had been placed into life suspension, the wars that were already going on had escalated to widespread desolation. The United States invaded several Middle Eastern countries in an attempt to remove the terrorists that nuked Syria, Israel and Lebanon, and the terrorists responded the same day by releasing multiple nuclear weapons on the US from Mexico, killing millions upon millions of Americans. While most people in North America had assumed they were relatively safe from any harm, the group of terrorists had been smuggling uranium into Mexico City and building launch pads in an unmonitored zone a little south of Tijuana over the course of several years.
The bombs that hit California created instability in the fault lines which triggered hundreds of earthquakes throughout the United States and parts of Eastern Asia. The massive quakes also induced multiple Tsunami’s around the world, and volcanos erupted randomly in volatile areas across the earth, spewing large amounts of ash into the air.
With the United States crippled, the North Koreans (who were winning the war over South Korea) formed an alliance with Russia to overtake America and Canada, and destroyers carrying a massive military force were en route to carry out the action.
Despite protests from many governments, much of the Euro-American population decided that the only way to stop the impeding attacks and end the widespread acts of terrorism was to wipe out the Middle East so that they could focus their efforts on halting North Korea and Russia. Another nuke was dropped.
The amount of high-powered weaponry that was used on the Earth in such short period of time sent massive amounts of filth into the air, and coupled with the volcanic activity, caused rapid climate change almost overnight. The atmosphere was blackened and held heat in like a blanket, causing the polar ice caps to melt, and strange weather effects were occurring all around the world.
Fish were dying, and plants wouldn’t grow. Sickness was rampant, and medicine was scarce. The wars stopped due to the amount of catastrophe, but within months, 95% of the Earth’s population was wiped out.
The Galactic Council, who had always monitored Earth, saw that humans were on the verge of becoming extinct and took emergency action to save the rest of the survivors. Massive ships were sent to Earth in an attempt to extract as many humans as possible.
Many of the humans tho
ught that the aliens were gods, and another part of the population tried to fight off the saviors as if they were invaders, shooting and killing many who tried to rescue them.
Approximately 7 million humans were able to be saved, and many refused to leave. It’s believed that the humans who remained died shortly after from radiation, disease, pollution, or starvation.
The humans that were rescued were moved to a previously uninhabited, but life supporting fragment-planet known as Rashada, millions of miles away, on the conditions that they no longer build weapons of mass destruction and learn to live peacefully amongst themselves with all the other creatures in the galaxy.
The book ended with a quote from a rescue worker who had been sent to Earth to save its people:
“Never in all of my life had I felt a pity so great. Humans running for their lives, tripping over burnt rubble as our ships touched down. Why was it that they were so afraid of us, who only wanted to help them, when they had spent their entire lives destroying each other? Humans are like children it seems, and this is what happens when you allow children to play at home alone.
–Elizkara Storm”
* * *
He thought back to his conversations with Benny and couldn’t believe how naïve they were to think that the fighting would simply wash over, that it all wouldn’t lead to mass destruction. After reading the book, he began to understand some of the harsh remarks from the aliens he had encountered.
Mich closed the book and fell into an uncomfortable slumber. Visions of a destroyed Earth and irresponsible humans haunted his dreams.
Chapter Nine
A tall, grey-haired man with peach, leathery skin paced defiantly around a large circular room with no windows. He was wearing black leather garb that fit tightly around his strong frame, and flowing from his back was a black leather cape. His face was almost human, but he had raised boney cheeks and boney brows that extended further than a typical human’s would.
“We must do something about the humans now!” he said sternly.
He was Kryle Yago, a kraw, and a member of the Galactic Council.
“The humans pose no immediate threat to the galaxy,” a middle-aged woman with long, blonde hair, pointy ears and wearing a white robe said. “There is no reason to take action.”
She was one of 8 who were gathered around a large circular table in the Galactic Hall at the request of the kraw.
“No immediate threat?” Kryle snapped.
“Their numbers are small, and they live peacefully on Rashada, Kryle. The humans have learned their lesson,” an older, brown skinned man with the markings of a neander said. His head was bald and light ricocheted off of his shiny skin.
Kryle retaliated, “No Salil, the generation of humans before the last generation of humans had learned their lesson. They have since had sons and the sons of their sons now grow bored. They’re moving back towards their vile ways.”
The kraw walked back towards his seat at the table and pressed a button on his wrist. In the center of the table a hologram picture of a man appeared with details and statistics of the man written to the side.
Kryle indicate the man on the hologram. “Ken Smith, 22 years old and multiple criminal violations on his record. He–”
“Human criminals are not permitted to leave Rashada,” a man with a half metal face and a reddened eye interrupted in a muffled voice. He was younger than the previous two speakers and bore the demeanor of a fighter.
“He stole a transport ship that was carrying food into Rashada and slipped past security,” Kryle Yago continued. “He was captured 2 months later, right outside of Dresdin’s orbit, with his stolen ship carrying over 2 tons of explosives.”
The members of the Council looked at each other in silence.
The woman in white spoke again. “I see no reason to ostracize all humans based on the actions of a few criminals.”
“True, there are many criminals across the galaxy and across all species, but humans are historically the only species that has been so ever-willing to annihilate their own kind on their quest for power or religious superiority.”
Several people in the Council breathed deeply and were lost on any words to say.
Another image appeared in the center of the table.
“This is Walter St. James. The leader of a human rebellion on Rashada. It is said that he has already amassed over 100,000 followers.” Kryle paused and panned the room. “The humans no longer want to be led by Galactic Council or the Queen.”
The blond woman began, “Their numbers are small, but I suppose we could give the humans a spot on the junior council, and pending that, they–”
“They want to rule themselves, Lady Hamm, and it will not be long before they want to rule the galaxy,” Kryle intervened. “Walter St. James does not preach peace or equality. He preaches freedom… at any cost necessary.” Kryle slammed his hands on the table and opened his eyes wide. “Humans no longer live isolated from the rest of the universe. If we do not destroy them, we will see another repeat of The Cleanse, and this time every species and every planet is at risk.”
The room was mute a few seconds before a short, large-eyed creature with yellow skin and a pointy mouth spoke in a beady voice, “We understand your concern, Kryle Yago, but we cannot take hasty action against the humans. We must give them a chance…”
Kryle yelled loudly, “My father gave the humans a chance, and all he got was in return was a knife in the throat!” His father had been one of the squad leaders during the rescue missions on E-17. While searching for survivors, a human had appeared from hiding and slit his neck.
Salil, the neander, spoke calmly, “Your father was a brave man, Kryle, and is remembered for his great deeds. We should tighten the security on Rashada and monitor the situation closely. If this so-called rebellion escalates, the Council shall reconvene to decide on further action.”
“Agreed,” the 6 other council members said one-by-one while Kryle looked on.
His face wrinkled with anger, and he walked from the Galactic Hall without saying a word.
Waiting for him beside the exit was another krawl who began walking side-by-side with Kryle as soon as he stepped through the door. He was wearing a black-hooded robe, hiding his dark hair and much of his grimacing face. He appeared much younger than Kryle, and scar ran in at a diagonal angle across the frame of his left eye socket, his eye a cloudy white.
“We must travel to Nerria at once,” Kryle growled. “The Galactic Council has grown soft. The Queen is our last hope.”
“Master…” The hooded krawl hissed. “A rumor has emerged that a human was found on E-17.”
Kryle stopped in his tracks and gave his companion a questioning look. “A human from E-17?”
“Yes… They say he is a human from the past, prior to The Cleanse, frozen underground for nearly a century.”
“That seems unlikely,” Kryle snickered.
“The scavengers who found the human were rewarded 300,000 credits for bringing him to the Queen.”
Kryle bit his inner lip and lowered his brow. “The Queen would not hand out that quantity of credits unless he was a person of importance. Do you know where this human is now?”
“Rumor has it he is being transported to Rashada as we speak.”
Kryle’s mind pondered the possibility that the rumor was true. A human from the past, still harboring the isolated ideas that once destroyed their planet could pose a dangerous threat to the galaxy, he thought.
“Find me this human, and bring him to me… dead or alive.”
Chapter Ten
As the pilot approached Rashada, Mich looked into a large display monitor in the passenger area that showed what was directly in front of them. Rashada was commonly referred to as a “fragment planet,” which is basically a chunk of a full planet which at some point has broken off and formed an atmosphere of its own. Rashada was roughly the same size of Ohio and appeared like an island floating in the sky.
A guard with
alpine white skin and long, stringy ears nudged Mich with the hilt of his gun. Mich had learned from his chats with Lena that these people, the same race as the Queen, were known as alors. “Welcome home human,” the alor said.
When the ship landed, Mich stepped onto the exit platform of the ship and took in his surroundings. Rashada seemed completely flat and lush with green vegetation. Directly in front him were tall, similarly colored buildings that appeared like mushrooms rising out of the ground. Large, 4-legged machines, armed with weapons, walked slowly around the perimeter of the buildings, scanning from side to side as if looking for trouble. Small vehicles buzzed around the flat roads, some with wheels and some hovering like he saw on Nerria.
“What now?” Mich asked as he turned back towards the guard.
The guard again nudged Mich ahead with his gun.
When Mich and the guards reached the bottom of the platform, they were met with an average height, thin woman with pointy ears and feminine, frail features. Her hair was a platinum grey, and behind her glasses appeared to be a small amount of bluish and pink make-up. Beside her stood two masculine guards, completely covered in dark grey metal armor with darkened visors hiding all of their appearance, and a single human about the same age as Mich.
“This is the one,” the guard from the ship grunted.
“Welcome to Rashada Sir,” the gray haired woman said enthusiastically. “We’ve heard a lot about you.”
She shifted her eyes to the guard on the platform and nodded. “We’ll take it from here.”
No sooner than she spoke, the guard returned to the ship, the platform was raised, and the ship headed back into the sky.
The lady spoke with a louder than normal voice, an overly happy tone, and a smile that Mich had trouble determining if was real or fake. “My name is Candy. Well, actually my name is Misharishindaril, but I go by Candy since it’s difficult for humans to pronounce.” She laughed. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
