When Aliens Weep (6 page)

“Sister Echo, our long-lost new family member, has brought great pride and acclaim to her lineage. Without her dedication to her humans and the wildlife the Womb entrusted to them, they would have been lost when the final intervention vanquished yet another doomed planet. We grant you this great honor with exquisite pleasure.”

Raising his arms in tribute, the minions again took to the air. The golden flight of the celebrants lit up the room, ablaze in color and the occasional glimpse of a minion with its own fire butterfly won from one dangerous campaign or another.

Baby and Echo stood holding hands and staring in wonderment, overcome with the emotion of being home at last, and feted by one and all. Occasionally they would turn to Wil and Netty for reassurance, proud to see them relaxed and smiling.

A sudden commotion parted the crowd once more as a time-worn but determined white, curly-haired, wingless but loyal Barney made his way to Echo’s side and curled at her feet. Echo slipped her free hand down to pat his head, sending an aura of triumph to Netty and Wil.

“My Barney is with me.”

Netty and Wil sent their proud feelings to Echo. Together they watched the display until the minions began to settle down again. The enormous room descended into solemn thoughts as Forbation nodded to Baby and Echo, sending them back to their seats, Barney trailing closely behind them both.

Forbation removed the rose-glass tray from his seat and held it aloft. The crowd of minions moved back and the floor in front of the dais slid back, revealing a gaping maw. As everyone watched, a translucent throbbing mass emerged from the depths, the smell of organic mustiness stronger. It stopped as it rose a few inches from the floor, its bulk still resting under their feet, its mystery hidden by the floor.

Netty gripped her chair at the unaccustomed hammering of her heart. Glancing at Wil, she could feel his emotions racing in tune with hers.

“We accept the need to terminate life as directed by the Womb. Yet our hearts bleed with the necessity. This is a tribute to the wisdom of the Womb and our own private anguish for the elimination of life, necessary though it may be.” Forbation’s aura dimmed. The ruby glass tray in his upraised hand exploded, sprinkling ruby dust down on the gelatinous throbbing mass that had risen from the depths of the floor where it melted quickly into the frightening creature.

A sudden flutter above her head made Netty look up. The minions had gathered in line and one by one; they flew over the mass, dipping down to place a hand on the throbbing mystery. Netty watched as one of their antlers split to spill out a red droplet that fell to be absorbed just as the ruby tray had been.

Wil and Netty swapped puzzled glances.

Forbation stood watching the procession. It was clear the ritual would consume hours. At a nod, Baby and Echo approached. Their antlers opened and red drops emerged, the antlers closing behind. They each took their red drop in leather hands and lobbed them into the maw to be absorbed.

They turned to face Wil and Netty.

“We must return to the others now. It is time to sleep.” With those words, Baby, Echo, Barney, Wil and Netty bowed and waved to Forbation, getting a slow nod in return.

“We will talk again, Sister and Brother,” Forbation said.

The small group made their way back to the survivors’ quarters after returning Maya to the children’s section. They were full of wonderment at what they had witnessed. Baby and Echo were oddly silent, avoiding all mind queries.

The minions of Oolaha continued to pay their respects to the Womb, well into the night.

***

Wil and Netty entered the survivors’ quarters along with Baby, Echo and Barney, who hurried off to find Chloe. A few tired and restless survivors waited for them, peppering them with questions.

“I’m very happy for Baby and Echo. I’m sure it means a lot to be back with their own kind . . . their family,” said Hud, his voice trailing off with a broken sob.

Abby hurried to his side, her arm snaking around his shoulders. He held his head in his hands, rubbing his face, shoulders quivering silently. Looking up, they watched the quiet tears course down his face.

“I have yet to hear what we’re going to do to look for my wife. And Peter. You saw how Bonnie is. I don’t know if she’ll survive this if we don’t find him. There’s been too much loss. Her mother . . . Johno and Crystal . . . the others . . .” His voice broke. “Ginger Mae was her best friend.” He stared into the face of his fellow survivors, emotions razor-thin. “How am I to go on without Ginger Mae? She’s everything . . .” Shaking his head, he swallowed, unable to speak.

“Try not to make yourself sick over this, Hud. We need information before we can come up with a plan. Netty . . . do you know what our first step should be?” Abby appealed to her mentor.

“I don’t know, my dear. Let’s see if Baby or Echo can answer some questions.” The words were still resonating around the room when the two minions proudly entered, Chloe on their heels. Their new butterflies sat preening on their antlers, dancing light from their trails of fire that reflected on the walls of the Womb.

Chloe settled into a comfortable round chair with huge red and green spots; an obvious attempt at someone’s idea of pleasing décor. “I can’t sleep,” she said, rubbing her huge abdomen, her bright eyes radiating admiration for the sparks of fire highlighting the minion’s fire butterflies.

Netty turned to Baby who was settling in Wil’s lap.

“I know what you seek, Sister. I am not the one with the answers. We must speak with a navigator. If anyone can give hope to Sister Bonnie and Brother Hud it would be one of them. Unfortunately, they are all spoken for. Their talent is valuable and much in need. Perhaps a meeting with Brother Forbation will be of great value.”

Netty nodded her head as her brain absorbed the auras that saturated her mind. “Baby, I have a question if you don’t mind. I understand the solemnness of the celebration we attended tonight but may I inquire into the meaning of the offerings everyone made to the . . . eh . . . entity in the floor?”

Hud and the rest of the survivors listened closely as Wil and Netty related the mystery of the ceremony they had witnessed.

Many of the survivors cringed upon hearing of the recipient of the offering. “I don’t understand, girl. What the heck was that all about?” demanded Jose.

Baby and Echo moved towards each other, joining hands. They bowed their heads together as they sent mind auras to everyone. The tentative nature of the auras confused the survivors. Finally, the minions sat on the floor and began.

“The Womb is a singular life force, unlike anything in existence anywhere. We don’t know when the Womb came into being nor do we always understand the reasons behind its directives. A few principles are very clear. The Womb is our creator. We are eternally grateful for the life that has been granted to us. It is our aim to live up to the honor even as we are reminded of our ancestors’ transgressions and fall from grace. Yes, we have been punished but luckily, the Womb is sometimes forgiving. It is part of our culture that whenever a species or an intervention brings about the eradication of life, we honor the Womb’s decision with a sacrifice of our own. It is in recognition of the other life lost and the sparing of our lives when we disobeyed the Womb; creating life from our own cells that would evolve into you, my Brother and Sisters.”

Baby continued. “What you saw at the ceremony was the giving of a part of ourselves to the Womb in respect. Our antlers hold the precious emulsion that contains our defense system. Without that we would perish when we visit other civilizations for study. It is our only protection and our most valued possession. A befitting sacrifice under the circumstances, don’t you agree?”

Baby glanced around at the blank faces of the humans. Cobby was the first to speak.

“I’m sure we will understand in time, Baby. But if the Womb felt humans no longer deserved to live, yet allowed us to live, why destroy the entire planet?”

This time it was Echo who answered. “I am so sorry, Brother Cobby. But it was not the decision of the Womb to let you live. The planet didn’t stand a chance once the Womb realized the evil in man would never change. It will always be there. The propensity for violence, the coveting of that which does not belong to humans . . . It was Brother Forbation that saved you. In his wisdom, he saw a reason to warn us by sending the nooglets to us. If we could complete our task of turning the wildlife back to the Hive and into the portal we would be allowed to save other life. The life we have come to love. You . . . my Brothers and Sisters.”

“But what about all the others, Echo? You loved them too.” Cobby kneaded his knotted brow, grief for his friends dripping from his voice. The aura came slow . . . soft . . . contrite.

“Time, Brother. Time. So much happened . . . unplanned for. Time just ran out.”

A sob was heard from Abby, her tail flexing madly in the air. “But why the entire planet Echo . . .
why?”

Baby raised his glowing eyes to look them all in the face. His aura weighed heavily in their minds, dim and slow.

“Earth was doomed anyway, my Brothers and Sisters. The Womb only exacerbated the process. The meteor that was headed toward Earth would have done everlasting damage. It was stuck in a gravitational tug of war with a larger planet. It would have altered the tilt of the Earth, sending it into a new orbit with the sun. The new orbit would have taken it far from the life-giving rays of the sun that creates the temperate climate needed to sustain life. As the Earth’s new orbit took it further away, it would not return close enough to melt the frozen crust of the planet for eleven years. And that would only occur after the numerous volcanoes of the planet blanketed the atmosphere with ash. Everything left after the initial collision would die, slowly.” Baby’s aura paused.

“Normally a planet called Saturn would have protected Earth from the deadly meteor. Saturn is huge compared to Earth but its size diminishes a fraction every year, allowing space debris to slip by and lessening the power of the ricochet of debris into deep space, thereby protecting Earth. It was only a matter of time. The nudge given by the Womb was actually more humane.”

Maniacal laughter was heard from the entrance to a new bedroom. It was Bonnie.

“You all sit here whining about the past. That’s rich. We are all alive. We’re the lucky ones. We can’t do anything about those that were left behind. They’re gone.
Gone, you
hear?”
She pounded her fist on the palm of her hand, her tear-streaked face red and
swollen.
Her eyes blazed with pain and insanity
.
“Where is my husband? Where?”
Her fists slapped her palm in rhythm with her bitter words.
Her eyes flashed madly, searching. “Hud?
Tell them.
We need to find Ginger Mae.” She ran to Hud, her fists on his chest, her face upraised beseechingly. “Pretty please, Hud? Make them understand. Make them find Peter.
I need to find Peter
.” Her voice rose hysterically.

Kenya turned her face into Kane’s chest and began to cry softly. Reflections of anguish remained on everyone’s faces as Hud slipped his arms under Bonnie’s legs and, with a nod to Netty, carried Bonnie back to the bedroom, Netty trailing behind.

The room filled with silence, Kenya’s sobs finally trailing off. Jose stood slowly, a mystified expression overtaking his sadness. “Does anyone hear that?”

Cobby spoke up. “Hear
what?”
They all listened intently. “I don’t hear anything.”

“Well,
I
certainly do.” Jose hurried into the hallway that led to the blocked pathway, marking the entrance to the rest of the Womb. He stopped suddenly as he witnessed overhead the hurried flight of hundreds of minions heading outside where the clang of a signal called them. The rest of the survivors hurried after him.

Abby called to Echo. “Hurry, girl. Something’s going on.” The hallway lit up as Echo and Baby entered with their fire butterflies firmly attached. Baby fluttered into the air, joining the flow of minions. Within minutes, he was back on the ground with the survivors.

“We must go back. There is great danger.”

Jose waved Baby away, flipping caution to the wind. “What possible danger could we be in? We’re here on Oolaha. Nothing bad happens here. This is where the Womb lives, for heaven’s sake.” He dashed outside with the minions, the survivors trailing reluctantly.

A scene of haphazard chaos met their eyes. Minions were dropping from the sky like leaden raindrops, shrinking back out of the way as Forbation stood hunched over, swatting at them with a glistening ebony stick. From across the field a sphere was being gravitated their way, a few minions fluttering above. The strange moon of their new planet shed green-tinged light on the haphazard scene, throwing long sinister shadows over the landscape. As the sphere drew closer, the multitude of minions heeded Forbation’s admonitions and wobbled their way far from the path. Baby threw out his golden arms, reflexively protecting his survivor family.

“What the heck is going on?” Jose demanded. He stepped out toward the path to the sphere, Echo’s aura pleading with him for great caution. Everyone froze as the sphere approached, seemingly of its own volition.

The closer it got, the more it became clear something was wrong. The sphere was rolling, not gliding as it should have been. The minions that controlled the gravitational device fluttered helplessly high in the sky. Jose could make out a form inside the sphere, vague and sinuous.

Suddenly, as the sphere stopped in front of Jose, a golden bullet with a fire butterfly on her antler shot from inside the Womb. She was carrying a large sack. Flying above the sphere, Navigator IV dumped the contents of the sack on the sphere. They watched as it flowed down the sides where they could plainly see a network of spider fractures spreading across the surface of the sphere. But not before Jose glimpsed the most amazing sight.

Inside the sphere stood what appeared to be an eight-foot-tall sunflower, its form curvy and slender as if to model the human female form. Its olive leaves branched out like arms, gripping the sphere from side to side. But it was its flower that most entranced Jose. It sparkled with the power of the sun, gleaming, glowing and hot.