Standing out in the open, grassy field, and waiting for the Council to take me away from the only carbon world willing to fight for me was painstaking. In spite of his adamance on accompanying me, Finley looked nervous; he’d heard what I told Kaitlin at that first breakfast at NASA, about the sort of rights a human wouldn’t have in alien space. What I’d said then, about not wanting primals near children and being willing to put them down if they attacked people, remained true now more than ever.
Finley can’t do anything rash, or it could have dire consequences. Most likely, they’ll keep him away from people, but if he does manage to deal any real damage to the ones he blames for this…they could put him down. He can’t become a true threat to them.
Terry gestured up at the spaceship descending from above us, and shook his head. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do about this, Finley—less than I did when you brought me in on saving the rock people. You sure you don’t need some kind of help here? This…seems like a one-way trip.”
“It’s the end of the line,” Finley said, embracing the construction worker. “You been a good friend, man, to the both of us. The kind I know’d do anything for each other; it’s a shame we never got to robbing banks together.”
“I want what’s best for you, brother, and…I’m not sure this is a good life you’re heading toward. I know Craun means a whole lot to you, and it’s up to you what’s important. Don’t give up out there, alright? I won’t quit on bringing you home. None of us will.”
The farmer nodded, getting choked up. “If Craun can’t give up, neither can I. I won’t accept none of it.”
“Good.” Terry pivoted toward me, locking his toned hands onto my shoulders. “Now you listen to me, Craun. My best friend fell for a rock—a bad, cheating rock—so I know he’s not past doing anything dumb. You better look out for him and keep him safe. He can’t be running off and doing anything stupid; I like him better alive.”
“I’ll try. I like him better as my sweetie,” I offered, feeling a heaviness in my heart as I studied the fun-loving primal. “Could you take care of yourself, and humanity, and Wade? For me?”
“I don’t know if I’m capable of doing all that, but I’ll stick around and help Batshit. Lord knows what they did to him; he can tell me what…might happen to your little group.” Terry was starting to look emotional and uncomfortable, so he hastily turned toward Kaitlin. “You don’t need my instructions. You got more brains than the lot of us, and I know you have a plan. Go get ‘em, Einstein.”
Kaitlin laughed. “You flatter me. I’ll do what I can to convince the Council. Trust me, I wanted to go. I’ll be the first human to step foot on another world, and I never thought that’d happen to me, in my lifetime! I aim to make the most of it.”
“Then it’s settled. Y’all be careful out there. Go make us angry, boys and…girl. Singular.”
Kaitlin grabbed two bags that she’d brought to take with her, which included one of her belongings and an additional one jam-packed with equipment. The NASA scientist had scrawled a note onto the latter, explaining that being permitted to continue her research would allow her the closest semblance of her natural life. It remained to be seen whether the Council would agree. She brought her bags forward for the leery aliens to inspect, as they scanned them and her person for hidden weapons.
The Council don’t trust primals not to try some sneaky attack, though it doesn’t seem they’ve found anything on Dr. Sharp. They’re moving the second bag in as well; it seems they’ve decided to be “merciful” and grant the request, since they took her away from her home and her life’s work.
Finley and I reached for our belongings as well, while an impatient armored Clydid beckoned us forward. My status as a prisoner could mean I wasn’t in to enjoy luxuries, but I had to try to find a way to stay close to the primals…and bring back souvenirs of their kindness. The human military personnel found some bravado, stopping me from walking to join Kaitlin until they saw Wade. There was a long pause of silence, before a wobbly, evidently-sedated human was herded out by a red-faced Kexin.
I eyed her attire, which was the standard medical blue vest with clear sleeves. “That’s a physician of some sort.”
“The others were already released!” the Kexin declared with cheeriness, nudging a staggering Wade forward. I noticed his hands were tied, and how upset the human paramedics looked to see him in such a drugged state. I was concerned for him as well, since he didn’t make eye contact with me. He barely seemed to know where he was. “We made his belly all better! Wade can be returned to nature now. Let’s trade!”
“What have you done to him?” Finley shouted. “I don’t wanna be your fucking zombie!”
“This is a security primal! Wade had to be sedated to be moved safely, especially with Craun here. We saved the big, good boy!”
Barron seemed loopy, a strand of saliva dripping out of his mouth as he took disheartened steps forward. “Outshad? Lettun me go? P-pleash.”
“Wade!” I exclaimed, running toward the out-of-sorts primal with concern. I had to get him away from them; I wrapped my arms around the FBI agent, feeling horrible that he’d taken a bullet for me and been through such denigration. “I’m so sorry, Wade. We shouldn’t have left you. You’re…my hero, and I wish I hadn’t put such…pressure and responsibility on you. You’re going home. C’mon!”
Wade blinked several times, looking at me with unfocused eyes. “Craun? What…I wanoo protecshu.”
“No. I’m going to protect humanity; this is my mess. Go back to your people. You’re safe now. It’s over, and I promise, I’ll never forget everything you’ve done. I owe you my life multiple times over.”
Barron took a few staggering steps forward, as I pushed him toward a crowd of humans waiting for him. He looked a little relieved to see them, though a lack of understanding was present in his usually-sharp eyes. His head turned with a growing expression of confusion, before he noticed Kaitlin backing herself into a cage, Finley strolling toward the ship with horrified eyes, and me surrendering myself to Council soldiers who scorned me. Some realization flashed in Wade’s pupils.
“No. Don’t!” Wade barked, sudden energy entering his motions. “Don’t…trade…for me…”
Barron refused to comply with his captors, defying all of us and fighting against their attempts to push him back toward the other side. Fury glowed in his eyes, as he attempted to headbutt the Kexin physician and to place himself between me and the guards. I looked at Wade with horror as he screamed in fury, his primal body jerking from overexertion. The human military rushed forward to grab the FBI agent, dragging him backward and restraining him.
Wade fought tooth-and-nail against their pull, digging his feet in the ground and thrashing. The human finally fell limp, defeat shining as his helplessness and inability to stop the exchange set in. Even in his current state, Batshit Barron resisted the idea of giving me up and tried to protect me; I was humbled by his fierce loyalty, though I knew the Council would see that as an outburst of a crazed beast. Maybe it was, in objective terms, but I…understood the reasoning.
It’s the same way I feel, not wanting anyone else to suffer on my behalf. I’ll never forgive myself for bringing that upon Finley and Kaitlin, for the rest of their lives, disrupting what they had before me irrevocably. At least Wade is free. He’s done enough.
“I’m sorry!” I shouted at Wade, as the Council adhered restraints to my wrists. “I can’t let you or anyone else get hurt for me. You’ve done everything that you could.”
The Kexin physician seemed disappointed by Barron’s behavior. “Poor sweetie couldn’t hold it in any longer. I knew it. Higher reasoning, just vanished in a second; a reminder of why you have to respect primals, Craun. So much for anger not working like that.”
“Wade understands that we’re trading ourselves for him. He doesn’t want that,” I protested. “That was a desperate attempt, to the detriment of himself, to stop us from sacrificing ourselves. Even knowing how he’d be treated here, he’d stay to save others…”
“You almost talk like you care. Do you finally feel remorse for manipulating their feeble sensibilities? You don’t need to assign a person’s motives to that beastie though. There was no logic there; even the calm humans recognized that he snapped! They had to restrain Wade from blindly attacking.”
“If Wade was blindly attacking, he would’ve gone after me.”
“You were the trigger, Craun, the thing the sweetie wanted to hold onto. Very agitating. Wade fought against his own people to go after you, poor baby. It’s sad those primals struggle against themselves, and you’ve made them really stressed. This is all too much to ask of an animal.”
“Then let Kaitlin and Finley go! You’re not helping.”
The Kexin sighed. “That’s not my choice, but I agree. It’s cruel and unfair. I heard what Elbi said about them giving her kind, suitable accommodations, and it seems the Council is heeding her plea to return the same. They’ll have the sort of home and amenities they’re used to. That’s the best that can be done now, because of you.”
“The cage really isn’t necessary,” Kaitlin offered, observing from behind the bars. “I’m Kaitlin. I’m fascinated by your rather alien appearance. What’s your name?”
“We don’t want to tie these ones up, or sedate them. They deserve free motion, but no one wants to get close enough to cut them loose,” the Kexin addressed me, ignoring the human altogether. “They’ll be released once they get to their secured wing, and again once we move them into their habitat, so they can be free-roaming. Since you know how to play their emotions, perhaps you can keep them calm?”
Finley curled his fingers around the bars, looking terrified as the cage closed around him. “C-Craun?”
I could barely gaze at him through my guilt and horror. “I’m so sorry, Finley. There’s…nothing I can do. I love you so much.”
“I…love you too.”
“That’s so sad. Finley would be distressed to be separated from you. Why would you do that to a clueless, defenseless animal?” the Kexin asked, seeming appalled by me. “As part of your punishment, Craun Chelton, we’ve decided you’ll be imprisoned right alongside the primals.”
“Wait. Really?” My eye crystals snapped up, locking onto the farmer hopefully. “Yes, put me in the cage with him! Please.”
“As you wish. May you learn your lesson.”
The Council soldiers removed the arm restraints and opened the cage door, shoving me in with Finley. I flung my freed limbs around the shaking primal, and noticed the Kexin staring at my lack of fear with bewilderment. I could help him in some ways: protect him, and do whatever others were unwilling to be close enough to “free-roaming” primals to handle. Our current prison was inched toward the ship, as I noticed the human military watching us with flabbergasted expressions.
Those poor Earthlings can’t believe how the Council is treating their people, after all of the kindness they’ve shown me. I suspect they won’t forget this.
Paramedics attended to Wade on a stretcher, and I noticed that the Kexin medical professional lingered to observe their concerned treatment. She muttered something to the effect of, “Maybe the primal did understand,” though I couldn’t ascertain what that was about. The landing ramp sealed as soon as we’d cleared it, with the doctor hurrying up last of all. I could hear voices saying we were setting course for the Kexin homeworld, and I supposed I was grateful to know the humans were getting people-ish habitation arrangements.
Finley and I clung to each other inside of the cage, until it was left in a sealed wing and unlocked remotely. Kaitlin was the first of us to make a break for the window, and she gazed out at the ground rushing away from us with wonderment; of course, the NASA scientist had been eyeing the spaceship’s engineering with joy since the doors closed. The farmer’s jaw dropped as he got a look at Earth’s circumference, his green eyes shining with emotion.
The majestic sight offered the primals some solace, even knowing they were leaving their world behind for a permanent voyage to unfriendly territory. I hoped that I could find some ways to mitigate the Council’s unfortunate treatments and attitudes of them, but every part of me knew that would be an uphill battle. At least there was the hope that, in my absence, humanity could move on from the turmoil I’d brought to their doorstep and live in peace.
A/N - 41! The Council trades Barron for Finley, Kaitlin, and Craun; Wade is released in a drugged state by a cheerful Snelga, much to humanity’s horror. When Barron’s addled mind realizes that Craun and company are giving themselves up for him, he starts fighting and makes quite the scene for the watching aliens. Finley and Kaitlin are tossed in cages, and then our Saphno narrator is thrown in with them. Earth is soon receding behind them with a grim future awaiting the humans.
What do you expect to become of “traitorous” Craun and the two human captives being taken to Council space? How will Earth react to the treatment of Wade…and how will Wade himself take his humiliation?
As always, thank you for reading and supporting!