Chapter Three: Pride and Prejudice
The Taelons were being moved into the headquarters building in groups of ten for their own safety. They had been staying in the lair because first priority had been given to Tay'jay's Espelons in the Taelon-Espelon living quarters at the ANA building. The Taelons had complied because they knew the Espelons were without a home and that the quarters were still under construction. However, the workers had finally finished the barracks, and it was time to move. The Taelons were being evacuated from the lair in groups of ten via Auger's portal. They had to wait ten minutes because each time, the data log had to be reprogrammed to give a different location of departure. This was necessary to keep any backtrackers from finding the lair.
Da'an went with the first group and took an elevator to the top floor where Hubble and the radio and communications team had been stationed. Several human resistance fighters who were in hiding had been moved to the ANA building as well and were given jobs.
Hubble and Da'an had accepted that neither one was going away any time soon, so they had gotten used to each other. However, they were far from friends. They could not even be called mutual acquaintances. Therefore, it was normal for Da'an to see Hubble's tense stare as she walked in.
"I do not mean to be in a hurry, but…I'm in a hurry," Da'an said.
"If you and your brother hadn't decided to evacuate the Taelons in the dead of night just for 'security purposes,' I could've gotten a decent sleep tonight," Hubble said activating the transmission tracker. "You have an encoded message. It's asking for your cypher key. I assume you have one."
Da'an understood exactly what he meant. She took control of the central computer and used her global to upload a program that would decode message.
Balvak's face appeared on the screen. Da'an ignored the surprised look painted all over Hubble's face.
"This message is intended for Da'an and Da'an only," Balvak said. "Da'an, I have news of reconstruction on Jaridia. We have been in negotiations with the imprisoned high council for several days and we have finally drawn an agreement, which will start the reformation of our government and our assistance in your cause. We call it the Lillian Contract. As the only representative of the resisting Taelons, you are invited to the signing. You must bring a human representative and an Espelon representative to make the treaty official. Also, bring extra security. We have been experiencing problems from loyalist insurgents for weeks now. I look forward to your response with due haste."
Da'an turned off the message and looked at Hubble.
"I take it you're going," Hubble said.
"I have to. They cannot sign the treaty without all the representatives there."
"Well don't count on sending Liam or Renee. Renee has business in Japan, and T'than's been watching Liam like a hawk ever since he first left for Jaridia."
"I had no intention of taking either of them with me, especially considering neither of them run this place," Da'an said staring at him.
Hubble sighed. "I can't. I'm too close to the president. They'll notice me gone."
"According to you, three whole continents endorse this secret Skull and Bones-like society you call the Atlantic National Alliance. I am quite sure President Thompson will be more than happy to give you a leave of absence on something so crucial. In fact, he may even want to come himself."
"I can't just sign a treaty with a whole other species without the president and Congress's endorsement. And you know that anything the American government knows will go straight back to Zo'or and the priests. Their heels are dug in too tightly with the American government."
"You have friends in the Senate that can get this motion approved, and if all else fails, it is not technically a treaty. It is a contract, and the Constitution does not dictate that the president has to get approval on the signing of a contract."
"You're a slick one, Da'an," Hubble said, "but the president's foreign policy is straightforward: no entangling alliances."
"You know, you were so quick to send human and Taelon troops to assist them, but when they are offering to help us—"
"If we sign anything official, we are confirming that we are doing deals with the Jaridians. If anything goes wrong, the American people will suffer."
"You got America into this the moment you agreed to help the Jaridians. I wonder, are you kicking yourself for forcing me to assist the Jaridians the first time they requested help?"
"Don't flatter yourself. This whole incident goes public if I go to anyone in the White House, and I can't just leave on a whim."
"Why? The Senate and House do it all the time. In fact, they get free air service for it."
"That's a whole other branch, Da'an."
"Oh please. The only difference between the executive and legislative branch is their party affiliations."
"All the more reason the Senate would never endorse a treaty with the Jaridians. They know Thompson and his party are supporters of the Taelons."
"We are not talking about the Taelons. We are talking about the Jaridians."
"To the GOP, there's no distinct difference between the two. The Senate will never stand for it."
"Listen Mr. Urick, either you make arrangements to go to Jaridia with me or you send someone qualified to do it. Go as an ANA representative and not an executive representative if you have to. I really do not care, but you started this brittle alliance with the Jaridians. You are going to finish it if I have to storm the White House, pull Thompson out of bed, and discuss this with him myself."
Hubble stepped up in front of Da'an. "Are you threatening me?"
"If I was threatening you, I'd use a gun. This is an ultimatum. I look forward to hearing your response in the Oval Office," Da'an said shrewdly.
Hubble stepped back and gave Da'an the dirtiest look he could muster. Da'an was unaffected.
"Hah!" Hubble laughed suddenly. "You are good, Da'an. You're like a snake, you know. You just sit there so casually and friendly, allowing your prey to get comfortable, and then you strike like the cold-blooded animal your species is."
"I'd prefer to think of myself as water. Soft and hard at the same time."
"I never knew you had it in you, but I guess two thousand years of facing Jaridians begets your kind of personality. All right. I'll see your challenge and attend the signing, but it will be as an ANA representative. That means that America is not obligated to assist them, but as an unofficial office of the executive branch, they have to assist us, and any country a part of the Atlantic National Alliance."
"You must be very proud of yourself," Da'an said monotonously.
"Oh, I am," Hubble said, "and despite what you believe, I'm not opposed to getting my hands dirty when I need to. Just tell me when to leave."
"I'll let you know," Da'an said on her way out.
"Da'an!" Hubble yelled. "One more thing!"
Da'an whirled around and sternly faced Hubble. Hubble marched up to her and gave her a sly look. "Your child was a jack-ass to kick you out of the Synod. A stupid, pompous jack-ass." With that he turned away and let Da'an leave.
She was surprised that such a sign of respect from Hubble Urick flattered her.
The next day, at around noon, Da'an summoned the Taelons and the Espelons for a meeting. Street was outside feeding Ariel with a depressed and devastated Auger sitting beside her.
"I should've known we'd eventually have to go back to that hell hole," Tay'jay said to himself.
"And they want us to bring our own security?" Ta'lay asked.
"Balvak stated that loyalist insurgents have been cropping up everywhere trying to sabotage the treaty signing," Da'an explained. "I believe his forces may be understaffed."
"So this is another classic case of us saving their asses," a disgruntled Espelon said. "Maybe we should start getting paid for this."
"That is blasphemous talk and you know it!" cried a Taelon.
"I'm just saying that they've been killing Taelons and hunting Espelons for hundreds of years, and now all of a sudden we're obligated to fight for their causes and sacrifice our people for theirs'?" the same Espelon argued. "Seems a little unbalanced, if you ask me."
"They are offering their services to us if our opposition to the priests becomes violent," an Espelon female said. "It's not like we're getting nothing in return for this."
And what will you say when something goes wrong? a Taelon naysayer asked in Eunoia. Will it still be worth it when one of us in this room becomes severely injured or dead?
"I don't think it's right to judge the Jaridians on what they have done," the same Espelon female said. "The Taelons have done terrible things as well. Tay'jay knows. The priests sent bounty hunters to wipe us out all the time, and Taelons in the outer colonies wouldn't take us in for protection. But are any of us calling you out and refusing aid to you? No."
"I am!" an Espelon male said. "I never wanted to help you idiots in the first place! Tay'jay made us come for his stupid sister, and now we're stuck here."
"That's a load of sha'bra, and you know it, ass-hole!" another Espelon yelled. "Tay'jay let us decide and you chose to come. You're no more obligated to be here than the Taelons are obligated to serve Da'an!"
"And in the meantime, all of you don't have to go," Mi'en said. "If you had been paying attention when Da'an first spoke, you would have heard that this is completely optional. Not everyone has to go."
"That's right," Ta'lay said, "and for truth to tell, I know how many of you feel. I cannot stand the Jaridians either, and it boils me that we have to work with them. However, I also know that we have been battling for thousands of years and eventually this bloodbath has to end. It will never end unless one of us agrees not to fight, and the Jaridians have taken that step. Our bitterness is what keeps us from helping them, and bitterness only leads to more fighting and more dying. This war needs to come to an end, regardless of how you feel about what they did back then."
"I'd rather pass up an opportunity to gain an ally than gain a mole that will betray us later," a Taelon said.
"Keep in mind that these are not the same Jaridians that sent soldiers to attack us," Da'an noted. "These are Jaridians who enveloped their planet into a civil war just to stop the fighting and this kind of bitterness. These Jaridians are not the high council. I believed once as you did. I believed that they were one and the same, like any other Jaridian. However, if we carry that generalization, it also means that every Taelon in this room is no different than the priests, the Synod, and every other Taelon that has wronged humanity in the six years we have been here. It means that every Espelon in this room is just like those Espelons the priests perceive to be malicious criminals. I do not want to be bitter anymore. I lost one of the best friends that I could ever have to my bitterness."
The entire room grew quiet. Outside, Auger heard Da'an's words, and tears began to fall from his eyes. He looked away from Street and sobbed quietly.
"Look, none of you are obligated to go," Tay'jay said. "This is completely optional. But Da'an and I are going as your representatives to make sure that you get a fair deal out of this. Nobody in this room is getting screwed on our notice. But when I was a warrior battling the Jaridians just before we lost Taelon, I'd have given anything for a chance like this. Do you know how many lives could have been spared if we had just taken the opportunity to get along? Do you know how many lives this treaty is gonna help? By signing this treaty, the Jaridians pledge to grant all Espelons and Taelons in the universe amnesty with the exception of the Synod. That means that the main people who were pursuing us don't hunt us anymore. I mean this hatred cycle is old. It's old, it's obsolete, and it's just plain ignorant. So let's not be like the priests or the Synod, and let's get this weight off our backs once and for all. This is the first and biggest step towards finally ending this stupid war, and I'm taking it."
"So am I," Da'an said.
"Same for me," Mi'en said.
"Me too," Ta'lay agreed.
"Me too!" Auger cried.
The Taelons and Espelons all stared at him.
"I…I'm going with you," Auger said. "I'm going with you for Lili. This is what she would've wanted…right Da'an?"
Da'an sighed and nodded solemnly.
"After all, that's…why the contract's named after her…right?"
"Right," Tay'jay said somberly.
The Taelons and Espelons burst into conversation about Auger. It gave Da'an and Tay'jay time to talk to Auger about the possible consequences of his decision.
"What is that guy's problem?" a female Espelon asked a Taelon.
"He was friends with that woman that died," the Taelon explained. "You know the one."
"The general's wife?" the Espelon asked. After the Taelon nodded she scoffed. "Why bother crying over that bitch? I said good riddance before and I still say it now."
"You and me both," the Taelon said. "That arrogant slut was a victim of her own selfish pride. I don't know why everyone sympathizes with her."
"Seriously," another Espelon female who had been listening said. "You know that Liam guy is just like her too. I heard that whenever he's got a problem he can't solve, he would come to Da'an in a hissy fit. 'My friend got captured by Zo'or.' 'Well, was he doing anything illegal?' 'Yeah, but he's my friend. You have to save him, or you're just like Hitler.'"
"Oh, that's pathetic," the Taelon said.
"I know!" the second Espelon female agreed.
"I heard that he tried to help that Jonathan Doors guy. The man's son even thought he was guilty of conspiring to kill Thompson, but—oh no—the guy's still got to risk his ass helping Doors," another Taelon said. "You know I still think that Doors was involved in the attempt. I don't care what these people say. He may not have done it through the resistance, but he was involved."
"I can't believe Da'an's friends with a guy who would help a man like Doors before her," the first Espelon female said. "And he had the audacity to get mad at Da'an just because he claims she betrayed him. 'You're supposed to be my friend! We trusted you with our lives!' Ha! That's a load of crap. If you really trusted her, you would've tried to save her instead of verbally assaulting her after that Lili whore tried to blow her and a bunch of other resistance members along with her!"
"Where'd you hear that?" the Taelon asked.
"Someone heard Da'an and Link talking about it on Jaridia," the first Espelon female said. "After that, a bunch of Taelons told me. They said they were on the Mothership when Lili tried to blow it up, and they saw Da'an in a cell."
"I heard that he got all in a piss after someone else—not Da'an, mind you—someone else stole parts of Da'an's Mneme technology and tried to use it to steal other people's memories," the Taelon said. "And does he do anything about it? No! Does he just find the bastards who did it and hurl verbal abuse them? No! He follows Da'an on to the Mothership and yells at her just because there's the possibility that the technology can be perverted against other humans. I mean, how stupid can you be? Cars can be used to run people over. Guns kill more people than they save. Humans can use the Internet to steal your identity. But you don't see anybody crying for any of that to be taken off the market. And do you want to know why? Because it's human technology! Not Taelon technology. I guarantee you if a Taelon had invented the car, Liam, Renee and that dead woman would've destroyed the prototype where it began and killed the poor Taelon who invented it too, just to make the lives of another species easier! Tsk! Ingrates."
The two Espelon girls added their own scoffs and murmurs in agreement.
"He's so self-righteous," a male Espleon added, who had also been listening. "He thinks his species is so bad off just because a bunch of Taelons are on his planet. At least that jerk has a planet. He should just shut the hell up and enjoy life."
"It's not even technically his," the Taelon said. "He's a Kimera bastard."
"Oh, obviously," the second Espelon female said. "You can see it in his hands. You know I heard that he can't use his shaquarava anymore. They say that it has something to do with Earth's atmosphere. Sha'bra. I think he deliberately shut them down because too many humans were giving him dirty looks."
"His name isn't even his true name. He doesn't have a name," the Espelon male said. "He stole that name from a dead soldier in the SI War."
"Oh, typical!" the Taelon said.
"What a prick!" the first Espelon female said.
"I can't believe those humans spend so much time criticizing us and what our species does, and yet they've stooped to the same lows that we've had to for their own selfish intent several times," the Taelon said.
"I'll tell you what it is. It's prejudice," the male Espelon said.
"Prejudiced sha'bras," the first Espelon female said. "They're so hard-headed. They're like that with anything different. If I had been the Synod, I would've destroyed this planet the moment I learned about it and put these creatures out of their misery."
"You and me both," the Taelon said, "but more so to put me out of my misery."
The group of four laughed.
"Hey!" Tay'jay cried. "This meeting isn't over yet!"
The two just stared at him, but when he turned away the Espelon male swiped his fingers across his opposite palm in a gesture deemed highly offensive to any Taelon or Espelon. Whether he meant it for Lili or Tay'jay was a mystery, but the rest of the group enjoyed laughing at his dry humor.
"Okay, voting time. All those who wish to come, raise your hands," Tay'jay said.
It started with a small few. Mi'en and Ta'lay's hands raised instantly along with a few other Taelons and Espelons. Gradually, Tay'jay's influence sunk in and spread. Soon all but six—four of the six had been the three Espelons and the Taelon that had been gossiping about Liam and Lili— were prepared to follow Tay'jay and Da'an down an uncertain path.
"Is anyone else as worried about how this could turn out as I am?" an Espelon cried.
No one answered. There was no need.
It was agreed that they would leave in two days with Hubble Urick and a few human ambassadors sent by the president and sworn to secrecy. Not even Congress knew about the secret alliance. Tay'jay had agreed to stay with Da'an in Link's apartment the night before as Da'an phoned Link to tell him the news. Ariel was perched on Tay'jay's knee playing cooing with glee as Tay'jay teased her with a familiar blue crystal.
"How long are you gonna be gone?" Link asked.
"I have no clue. A week, maybe two."
"You know I don't like that planet, and I especially don't like leaving you there alone."
"I have an entire force of Taelons and Espelons going with me for security purposes. Tay'jay will be with me. I will be fine."
"And the kid?"
"Unless you want to take her, she is coming with me."
"Are you nuts? That kid won't last five minutes on Jaridia."
"I beg to differ. She survived over a year with her natural planets. She is used to the atmosphere, and there are people there who can watch her during the negotiations. I cannot leave her here. I do not trust anyone but you to care for her for over a week."
"I don't blame you," Link said. "Well, it's not gonna look good for my client if I take the stand with a baby in my lap. I'm testifying to everything I've uncovered tomorrow."
"So they didn't settle? Interesting."
"The defense lawyer thinks that with my evidence, the plaintiffs don't have a case. I just have to confirm my findings are legit."
"Are they?"
"As far as I know."
Da'an smirked. "Then, I especially do not want you to worry about us. It will not look good for your lawyers if you testify in an anxious state just because you are worried about us."
"I'll be all right as long as you promise me you'll come back alive and well with the kid."
"I promise."
"Good. Then, I'll be fine. Bring her to the phone. I wanna say goodbye."
Da'an called Tay'jay and had him bring the baby.
"Hey Ariel," Link said to the squealing baby.
Ariel reached out for the screen thinking he was really in front of her.
"Be good for sir and ma'am, Ari. I'll see you real soon, okay?"
Ariel smiled and cooed.
Da'an told her to wave to Link, which she did do by pitching her fist up and down.
"Love you two," Link said.
"Love you," Da'an said, and she turned off the global.
She turned to face Tay'jay. He was shaking his head. "You are such a mom."
"What?" Da'an asked as if nothing was wrong.
"Were you like this with Zo'or?" Tay'jay asked.
"Oh, get off it. Just because you never had children…"
"And for good reason too. I never wanna turn out like that."
"Tay'jay, she is one year old. She doesn't understand adult talk."
"That's not what I'm talkin' about. I'm talking about a certain premarital relationship with a certain strange human guy."
"What about it?"
"'Love you two'? 'Love you'? What the hell is that? Who are you—June Cleaver? Shoot, give it a few years and you'll be vacuuming in pearls and giving him Eskimo kisses when he comes home."
"I will admit it is a little cliché, but how else can I say it?"
"I prefer the poetic way."
"That's even worse!" Da'an said nudging him. "I love Link, so I outright say it. Who cares? It's much better than that stupid schoolchild runaround most boys and girls give each other when they're…twelve. You are supposed to be older than me. I'd think you of all people would understand."
"I'm teasing you, sis," Tay'jay said. "Sha'bra, get a sense of humor."
"I have a great sense of humor!" Da'an said defensively. "I just…don't use it often."
Tay'jay took Ariel and sat back on the sofa. "So, you really plan on taking care of this little rugrat until she's grown, mean and can't stand the sight of you?"
"I do not know."
"Well, you don't have that long, and I don't think it's good for the developmental stages of a child when you don't know what you want."
"That's not what I meant."
"Then, what do you mean?"
"I mean that there is another reason I am taking her to Jaridia."
"What's that?"
"I am thinking about giving her to a family there."
Tay'jay put Ariel on the cushion of the sofa next to him and began gently stroking her back. She was playing with the crystal. "Are you serious?"
"I am very serious."
"Why didn't you tell Link?"
"I was afraid of him getting attached to her…and…I was afraid he would talk me out of it."
"So what are you gonna do? Hold auditions?"
"That's not funny."
"It wasn't meant to be. How are you gonna decide whether or not you want to give her away? Who could you give her to?"
"Before we left Jaridia…with Lili's ashes…Geris told me he was willing to take her if it got too difficult to care for her on Earth. I do not know if he was serious or if he meant just to comfort my grief."
"So you're gonna take her there and see if he's still interested?"
"I am," Da'an said.
"What about your promise you made to Lili?"
"Lili only asked me to care for Ariel because I was the only one in that room she could see. I believe that if she had seen anyone else, she would have asked him or her to care for Ariel. She knows that Ariel cannot handle Earth's atmosphere, and she knew that I was Zo'or's…parent. We were fighting. How could she possibly want me to care for this child? How could I?"
"Lili knew exactly what she was saying before she died, and if she didn't want you to have this kid, she wouldn't have said a word about Ariel. I'm sure the Jaridians had some line of custody in the event both of this kid's parents become incapacitated or deceased. But Lili surpassed all that because she wanted you to have her. You can't break the promise you made to someone on their deathbed."
"Tay'jay, I am frightened for this child. Zo'or is the only child I had before her, and look how he turned out. I do not want her turning out the same way."
"You're talking like it was something you did that made Zo'or that way. I say that's a load of crap. Every parent screws up with their kid once in a while—some more than others. In a completely dysfunctional family, a child turns out perfectly good. A retarded or deaf family raises a kid who grows to become a teacher or a doctor or a humanitarian. Yet in a family as normal as can be, a child grows up to become a serial killer. I'll admit that parenting plays a big factor in a child's development, but if it was just that, how do you explain what I just said? Some of it's the child, Da'an. Zo'or's fucked up because he chose to be. He had over a thousand years to get over himself, and he never did. He has no excuse, and you have no fault. There's a certain point where you gotta stop blaming yourself."
"All the same, I am taking her to Jaridia."
"You can't do this."
"I have to."
"Why? What are you so afraid of?"
Da'an picked up Ariel and removed the crystal she was now sucking on. Somewhere during the argument, it had found its way into her mouth. Ariel whined for it, so Da'an replaced it with a stuffed animal parched on the coffee table. Ariel instantly accepted. "You just don't understand."