“Yes. It has been the worst part of this assignment. Watching people suffer for days, weeks, months or sometimes even years is devastating,” I said, paused and continued, “Especially since I know it is unnecessary.” Cooper didn’t respond. He just stared down at his plate eating. Olivia sat quietly staring at Cooper. It was a bit awkward. After a long awkward silence, Olivia began talking about the arid deserts of planet Earth which were slowly spreading in every direction.
The three of us ate at least one meal a day together. In the middle of the second week, a man who looked to be about my age approached our table just after we sat down. “Hi I’m Emanuel. I am called Manny. I heard you speaking English and I wondered if I could join you. I speak English and Spanish.”
Manny began eating dinner with us each night and as our conversations drifted into “end of life” suffering, Manny seemed very sympathetic. Manny told us he worked at a clinic in the beautiful port city of Antofagasta, Chile where he spoke mostly Spanish. On Earth, Manny was a nursing assistant but back on Ranjisan he was a hematologist. He told us his background and knowledge of oncology and hematology made it especially painful for him since he believed he could cure most diseases the clinic’s patients suffered with.
Although the clinic was an outpatient center, Manny told us he had made a lot of friends during his time in Chile and he had seen a few people die slow painful deaths. “There is a woman who I spend time with. Her sister died a few months ago of pancreatic cancer. She suffered a lot and I wished I could have done something for her.”
Manny looked more human than Ranjisi and I assumed he colored his hair and mustache to blend in better in Spanish speaking Chile. “Have you been in Chile for a long time Manny?” I asked. “You’re skin tone is quite dark. It looks great.”
“I’m in my second tour in Chile. I conditioned my skin during my first tour by spending time in the sun. As you know, we have to take our time in the sun very slow. We can’t get skin cancer thanks to our vaccines but we can easily get awful burns.”
“You almost look like you could be Hispanic,” I said.
“Almost, but my bio says that I was born in the US and moved to Chile as a youth. That’s much safer and I can easily talk about growing up in Florida without saying anything that will make people curious about my background.”
As our nightly conversations continued, we often touched upon the subject of some of the worst diseases still flourishing on P3 such as diabetes and cancer. Most of our discussions about the status of medical advancement on P3 usually ended up in a discussion of end of life beliefs and laws on P3. On our last night at dinner we had a longer than usual discussion about Tseen Ke. Everyone had left the dining room when we stood up to say our goodbyes. During our time at CIPE, we had become friends and we hugged for a while before heading for the elevators.
It was almost midnight and I was falling asleep watching historic sporting events on the big screen when there was a knock on the door. I was surprised to see Cooper standing there when I opened the door. I didn’t know who I was expecting but Cooper was the last person I expected to see standing there. Somewhere in the back of my mind I guess I was hoping it was Rachel although I knew that was unlikely. “Hey Cooper, what’s up?” I asked in my best New York accent.
“I wondered if I could talk to you for a few minutes Luke.” I nodded and motioned for Cooper to come in and have a seat.
Cooper sat quietly looking around for a while. I had the impression he had something important to talk about so I just waited patiently. Finally he began speaking but he sounded a bit timid. “You feel the same way as I do about all the end of life suffering we see here, don’t you?”
“I think so. I watched my best friend here die a very slow, long and painful death. I still have dreams or nightmares about it.”
Cooper was quiet for few long awkward moments before speaking again. “Have you ever thought about breaking protocol?”
“Yes. I even looked into purchasing acupuncture needles but that is impossible. Also, if I was able to get my hands on acupuncture needles, I would need to be alone with the patient for at least an hour. I don’t know if it would even work since the human anatomy is different.”
“I’ve been down that path many times. There is only one way to do it and do it correctly and that is with Tseen Ke.”
“Yes but how would that ever be possible? The drugs cannot be reproduced here,” I said.
“Suppose I was to tell you something? Would you be able to keep it a secret? Before I tell you I need your word that even if you want no involvement, you will never tell anyone.”
“I think I understand. I have thought about it and if there was a way to get Tseen Ke kits here, I would do it. I would never, ever tell anyone.”
“This is my third tour here. I’ve learned how to work around the system. I have acquired many sympathetic allies. Some of them have finished their tours here but we still try our best to keep in touch. I’ve arranged for someone to smuggle the Tseen Ke drugs here. He will arrive with the group of cadets in about three weeks. I could arrange a meeting with him. There are others. If you agree, you would be the fourth Ranjisi to be part of it. It is complicated and it will require a great deal of planning for each patient. We’ve also decided that the group will need to approve the patient and the plan before it is executed.” Cooper was silent for a few moments again. He could see I was deep in thought. “If things work out with the Tseen Ke kits, we may try and smuggle some other drugs here, possibly even Zaurak Elakribi.”
“Wow. Cancer is the big killer here. It’s quite unbelievable knowing how simple it is to cure with Zaurak,” I said.
“So, what do you say Luke? If you are interested, you will be contacted in about a month. It will require some secret meetings and maybe some travelling and of course you know that you would be breaking CIPE protocol. If we are exposed and apprehended, we could wind up in a Ranjisan prison.”
“I’ve already thought about it Cooper. Count me in.”
6 - Arkab’s candidate
The CIPE conference ended and I went back to my dual role of observing and studying the human race while working as a human hospital worker. Becoming part of the secret Tseen Ke team seemed to be always in the back of my mind. I couldn’t forget about it since I was reminded of it every day as I watched people suffering in their final days. During the period when I was waiting to be contacted by Cooper’s colleagues, I had watched one dying person suffer who I believed would have met the guidelines for Tseen Ke. Her name was Wendy and she was dying of Leukemia at age nineteen. I only transported her three or four times and I didn’t really know her but I could tell by the look in her eyes that she was ready to cross over.
Sometimes I wondered if it would have been better if I was assigned to the cultural-tribal study group. I would at least have a better knowledge of the various human religions. I thought maybe it would help me understand the connection between belief in a Supreme Being and forcing people to suffer in their last days.
The Tseen Ke secret team contact finally arrived about six weeks after the CIPE conference. I had developed the habit of eating dinner out on my days off. I worked some weekends but most of the surgeries were done during the week so I was rarely off on a Tuesday. I was sitting in the Athena Diner eating the Tuesday special when I realized someone was looking at me. I looked up and an elderly man was standing there looking down at me. I immediately assumed he was human due to his age. I had seen some elderly Ranjisi at the CIPE Center back on Ranjisan but it never occurred to me that some of them were serving in Phase II assignments.
“Luke Riley?” the man asked quiet enough that only I could hear him.
“Yes.” I looked surprised as it dawned on me that he was part of Cooper’s Tseen Ke group. I stood up and started to extend my arm to shake his hand when he gave me a quick turn of his head. I quickly withdrew my hand as he sat down opposite me.
“I am called Thomas Wrigley,” he said with a slight accent. I was p
retty sure the accent was British or Australian. The waitress appeared next to the table and Thomas looked up at her and smiled. “Just coffee please.”
Thomas and I talked quietly about anything and everything except the real reason we were there. Thomas was on his third assignment in London where he worked at a hospice as an orderly. He worked at the facility but he was often sent out to dying patient’s homes to help care for them. I finished eating and paid the check quickly. I was anxious to learn more about how we planned to proceed. As soon as we stepped outside and began walking toward my apartment I couldn’t wait any longer. “So Thomas, do you have it with you?”
“No. It would have been far too dangerous to bring them on the plane.”
“Them? So you have more than one?” I asked.
“I shipped six to your address. They will come in three separate packages. That’s about as safe as we can do it. No matter what we do going forward, there will be risks. When you receive the packages, be sure to keep the contents in a safe place.”
“I understand. What do you think will happen to us if CIPE finds out?”
“I suspect we would be sent home immediately and we would undoubtedly be expelled from CIPE. I’m not sure if there would be additional civic punishment. It’s not like we are committing violent crimes.”
I was about to open the door to my apartment building when Thomas stopped me. “I have a long trip so I’m going to head back to the airport.”
“How will I contact you for patient approval?” I asked.
“The safest way to contact me is through an anonymous online chat service. We’ve been using HealthChat. Log in and look for TBone or Shadrack. I’m TBone but I’ll let Shadrack know that you may contact him at some point.”
“How will you know it’s me?”
“The first time you contact us, you can tell us it’s you, Luke. After that we’ll know your chat name. Chat sessions are not saved so it’s safe but we are still careful not to type anything that implies that we are not human.”
“One more question Thomas,” I said and continued, “How many times have you performed Tseen Ke here?”
“We’ve done seven so far. The problem is getting the meds here. If we could smuggle more kits, we could do more. That is why we are very selective when approving someone.”
“I suppose children would be at the top of the list,” I said.
“Not necessarily. First of all, we need to be absolutely sure the patient has no chance of recovery. Also, we have found that human children seem to have a special strength when dealing with their own suffering. They seem to handle it better than adults. So it depends on many things. When the time comes that you want to submit someone for approval, we will ask a lot of questions.”
“Okay Thomas. I guess that’s it. I am glad to have met you and I’m glad to be working with you on this.” Thomas smiled and turned around and walked back toward the direction of the subway.
In the weeks that followed, I tried to focus on my real job, observing and documenting my findings while trying to improve the quality of my Discovery Reports. I had come to be a supporter of open contact with humans. There were two things I was sure about. I knew we would eventually make open contact with humans and secondly I knew that the sooner we did it, the sooner we could begin introducing humans to advanced medicine and vaccines. I also knew enough about Earth’s environment to know that the situation was critical. It would require a combination of advances in medicine and changes in the way human activity affects Earth’s environment.
When I returned home from work about three weeks after meeting with Thomas my mailbox was empty except for a key. It was the first time I had received a package in the mail. The key opened the large box at the bottom of the mailboxes. I quickly opened the large box and grabbed the package, feeling something like a criminal. It felt strange. It was official. I had broken Ranjisan law. I was in possession of smuggled contraband.
I received the second package two days later and the third package three days after that. I stored the Tseen Ke kits in a portable safe I had bought the previous week. I felt as if I had accomplished something. I knew I was ready to ease human suffering. It took me a few days to contact TBone on HealthChat where I confirmed that I had received the packages and I was ready to do what needed to be done. TBone (Thomas) told me they would have a candidate to vote on within the next day or two.
Two days later when I logged on, there were four other people in the private chat room in addition to TBone. They introduced themselves as Cactus1, MsOakley, Pocahontas and Shadrack. I wasn’t sure about MsOakley but I assumed that Pocahontas was a woman and the name came from a famous Native American princess. The candidate was introduced by Shadrack.
Patient: Blair McFadden
Female age 27
Stage 4 lymphocytic leukemia
Hospice of Greater Austin
Prognosis: no chance of recovery, 3 to 6 months to live on life support.
“Is she in pain or discomfort?” Pocahontas asked.
“Patient requires transfusions several times a week,” Shadrack responded. “Side effects from transfusions include flu-like symptoms and infections and last up to 48 hours. The only time the patient feels somewhat comfortable is in the period after the side effects from the previous transfusion wear off and the next transfusion begins. This is usually about 8 hours. Quality of life is nonexistent.”
Shadrack paused for a few moments and continued, “But of course the big questions as in the past have to do with her mental state. Is she ready? Is she scared to die? Is she clinging to life?”
“I work as an orderly there at Hospice. I’ve been taking care of Blair for about two months. She has a lot of visitors so I only talk to her in the evening after all her visitors have left for the day. We have talked extensively and I have found again that younger people have less fear of death. It is kind of ‘upside down’ that older humans seem to be more afraid to die. Even though they have lived their lives, they cling to life and worry about every little ache and pain. Younger people seem to understand and they seem to be more willing to accept the inevitable. Not only that, they seem to be less resentful. They generally don’t blame anyone or ask why it had to happen to them. So, in Blair’s case, we have talked about ending her life. I have stopped just short of telling her who and what I am but she knows that I am different. A few times she has asked me who I really am. Blair has expressed the same concept we have seen before in terminal young people: if there is nothing to look forward to, there is no point in continuing to live.”
“Have you actually told her you can do it?” I asked.
“Yes, in a vague way I have told her I could help her pass over.”
“I should also tell you that she comes from a very religious family and she believes in the Christian concept of heaven. At one point she said she was actually looking forward to the journey.”
“I think that’s all I need to know,” TBone said. “I’m ready to vote.
It was unanimous. All six of us voted in favor of Tseen Ke for Blair McFadden.
***
Arkab Oriel-Leonis was a physician back on Ranjisan so when he volunteered for Phase II of the Q76-P3 Discovery Project he was immediately placed in the medical team. His fascination with Earth and the human race began with his father Dziban who was an engineer on several Earth aerial observation missions during Phase I. During those sweet times when his father was home, he would tell Arkab and Arkab’s sister Heka all about Earth and all the different tribes of humans. Heka usually daydreamed when Dziban told his Earthly stories but Arkab was fascinated. So it was only natural that Arkab would eventually become a galactic voyager.
Arkab was in his final year of medical study when Ranjisi officials announced that they were about to begin recruiting for the next phase of the Q76-P3 Discovery Project. The first phase had consisted of aerial observation with no human contact. The second phase consisted of actual assimilation into human society. Arkab was one of the first
volunteers to be accepted into the program. For his second tour on Earth he assumed the identity of an orderly named Joe Moretti. Joe worked at a hospice in Austin, Texas. Working at a hospice was a difficult assignment for anyone, human or Ranjisi. But being Ranjisi added one more layer of sadness. It was the feeling of helplessness that came with Joe’s knowledge of “end of life” dignity which was held in high regard on Ranjisan. Joe Moretti had briefly studied cell diseases in medical school back home so he understood cancer which was about as serious on Ranjisan as the flu was on Earth. A simple set of blood infusions could seek out and destroy the “cloned” cells of cancer and yet Ranjisi recruits like Joe Moretti had to stand by and watch humans suffer and die.
A co-worker at the hospice center once told Joe that the key to working there was to care about people while compartmentalizing your feelings. “You have to feel things. That’s part of how we make dying people feel as if they are not alone,” Joe’s co-worker had said. “But you need to detach yourself from the grief or it will gradually kill you.”
In theory, Joe understood, although it was often easier said than done. He knew he had become too attached to Blair McFadden. He genuinely liked her. Joe sometimes imagined her cancer free. He imagined that they could be more than friends. The heartache always seemed to punch him in the stomach when he walked into her room.
“Your parents left early,” Joe said as he stepped into Blair McFadden’s room.
“I kept falling asleep and it’s a miserable night. I hear the rain beating against the window,” Blair said. “I told them they could leave.”
Blair looked wide awake to Joe. He moved quickly to help her reposition her pillow as she put her weight on her elbows to sit up. Joe cranked her bed up a few inches. He knew exactly where he should stop cranking. Blair leaned forward a few inches and Joe raised her pillow up so it was centered behind her neck. As he began to pull away and turn to see where the visitor chair was, he felt Blair’s hand on his wrist. When he turned back to look at her, he noticed she had a different look about her. Her perfectly shaped oval face was the same. Her light brown eyes were the same although the darkness around the edges looked more menacing. Her head was covered with a thin yellow stretch cap. It was just enough to keep her head from getting cold.
The Good Reaper Page 7
