Tearing Me Apart - Chapter 5
Disclaimers: This is a work of fiction. Any similarities between the characters in this story and real people (appearances, names, etc.) are purely coincidental. This story may contain homosexual material, including love and sex, so if material like this is illegal in your region or if it discomforts you, please leave.
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Tearing Me Apart
Chapter V
Devon, along with Lt. Wynan, Jennings, and Haynes, rushed toward Peterson. Peterson was physically exerted beyond measure, as indicated by his trembling legs, haggard breath, and sweat-soaked face. The man's legs gave out, he fell to floor onto his knees. Peterson didn't remain on his legs long, he allowed himself to sag further until he laid on his back.
Lt. Wynan crouched down in concern and commanded, "Talk to me, Peterson."
Breathless, completely winded, Peterson responded, "We... all the way... down to... Edfu. Elec... tricity... there. Fucking damn."
"Where're the other soldiers?" Lt. Wynan asked.
"Coming," Peterson answered between breaths. "Ran... fastest."
As he thought deeply, Lt. Wynan said more to himself, "Blackout went... 'bout seven hundred kilometres south. Safe to assume it went all around with a seven hundred kilometre radius. How'd you guys return so quickly?"
Peterson gestured outward as he answered, "Took... turns. Fucking... fast. Took... train... back."
"Okay, Haynes, Hemmel, carry him to the next room and lay him down," Lt. Wynan commanded. "Peterson, you guys call anyone?"
Peterson nodded as his comrades put his arms their shoulders, "The ministry's... having a conference with... the UN. Secretary... call."
"Got it, got it," Lt. Wynan replied hurriedly. "Gentlemen, get him to rest. Then come back and keep an eye on the alien while I make the calls."
Devon looked as he and Haynes carried Peterson out of the room. Devon was not at all surprised to see that Peterson had fallen asleep already.
After he and Haynes returned to the room, Devon returned to his previous spot beside Alaeh. The alien's eyes were once again closed, and it seemed to be meditating. Doctors Henderson and Amoudi were both standing by the bed as well, trying to ask Alaeh questions.
Devon glanced around the room and snorted before he told the soldiers, "Fawkin' wankers can put'cha guns down. Not gon' do ya much good."
"Hey! Hemmel!" Jennings called in alarm when he saw Devon unzipping and unbuckling his vest. "Da fuck are yeh doin', mate?"
As he laid his vest down on the floor, Devon answered, "Alaeh- the alien or whatever, isn't doin' anything. It told us that it means no harm."
"Just because I tell my wife that I'm faithful all these months," Jennings began smugly, "don't make it so."
"Whatever you say, manwhore," Devon said with amusement as he touched his fingertips to the alien's feathered wings.
Tentatively, Jennings also brought his hand toward the giant white feathers. When he touched the wing, his eyebrows shot up for a second, amazed at the utter softness.
Smiling at his comrade, Devon asked, "Soft, id'nit?"
Still mesmerized, Jennings replied, "S'it made of, d'you think? Wha' kinda feathers are they?"
"Dunno," Devon answered, stroking slowly along the wing. "They're as soft as eclectus parrot feathers. Reckon they aren't anything of Earth."
"They are not," Alaeh said suddenly, yet softly, which startled both soldiers. "Nemlai share no- biological similarities with any other organisms. If I were to give your scientists a sample of my blood, they would not recognize the genetics."
"Why's that?" Devon asked.
"Would you?" Jennings asked half a second after.
Alaeh opened its eyes and turned to look at Devon, and asked, "Why is it that your scientists would not recognize my genetics? As I said before, Mr. Hemmel--"
"--You can call me Devon."
"Devon. Nemlai were the very first sentient beings- very first organisms that the Divine created. The Divine did not wish for us to share any- any deoxyribonucleic acid with any other organisms due to our abilities. The Divine wished for us to be superior in every way. Do not think that the Divine bears ill feelings for brashi. Or any other species. The Divine dictates that we protect living beings because it loves you."
"Would you allow us to take a sample of your blood?" Jennings asked again.
Nobody saw until it had already happened. A syringe flew in a quick blur from the counter into the air in front of Alaeh's face. It remained there, floating, for just a moment. Alaeh then grabbed the syringe and stuck the needle into his forearm. It drew just three milligrams of blood, and held the syringe out to Dr. Corheid.
After Dr. Corheid walked off, looking excited, Devon asked, "You said that the Divine loves us. And that nemlai protect the living beings. That's what the bible says angels do. Have the nemlai visited Kiorna before?"
"Yes, of course. The last nemlai to inspect Kiorna was called Rofeil."
(Ro-fail)
"Raphael?" Jennings asked in shock. "The arcangel Raphael?"
"I have said before," Alaeh began, unimpressed, "your bible has most information wrong. Rofeil. She performed the inspection twenty-one thousand three hundred eleven thousand of your years ago. She rehabilitated two Kiorna species in morality. One of them was brashi. You humans. From the memories of Devon Hemmel and the information acquired from your computer, it is clear to me that Kiorna and countless species are in great suffering. I have scheduled a conference with the nemlai to discuss reparations."
Confused, Devon asked, "I thought you said you were connected with the others telepathically or whatever?"
"We are," Alaeh replied softly. "Sharing such information of this magnitude requires our full attention and stable ground."
"What are your predictions?" Devon asked.
"Regarding the reparations?" Alaeh asked. "Kiorna and too much of its inhabitants are unsafe. Even much of your law enforcement officials abuse power, and are corrupt. There is so much pain on this planet. I do not know what recommendations we nemlai will deem worthy."
"Any-" Devon began, but had to swallow to quell his anxiety. "Any guesses?"
Alaeh sighed heavily before it answered, "I will be making the recommendation that I annihilate all of your technology that is harmful to the planet or any biological beings. I will also recommend that I gather all personnel whom commit official misconduct to rehabilitate their... moral compasses."
"And- and the other nemlai?" Jennings asked. "What d'you think they'll suggest?"
"Kiorna is in dire condition," Alaeh began in a small voice. "The jelsig- the ozone is depleting. Countless species have gone extinct. Yet more are on the brink of the same happening to them. Forests have been cleared. Lakes have dried. The- the ice caps situated at each magnetic axis point are- are melting."
Frustrated and growing more fearful, Jennings demanded, "What will they suggest?"
"I fear the consensus will be brashi annihilation."
Devon's stomach dropped. It had been knotted, just slightly, as he awaited the being's final answer. But it dropped to fast and so hard. Humans could become extinct if the other nemlai deemed it necessary.
"Is- is there-" Devon had to swallow again to calm himself. "Is there anything we can do to prevent our extinction? You- you- you said that- said that the Divine loves us."
"It does," Alaeh said affectionately. "The Divine loves you so much that it created more nemlai to protect you. But the Divine loves all its creations equally. Should we nemlai decide that your extinction is necessary for Kiorna's and its inhabitants' survival, we can plant more brashi cells to renew the evolution."
"You've done this before..." Devon surmised.
"It was no asteroid that eradicated much of Kiorna's life," Alaeh softly said. "His name is Libau. You call the creatures 'dinosaurs', and they did not exist peacefully. Nor did the brashi at the time."
"What about our technologies?" Jennings asked. "Our- our inventions? You can't just wipe us off the face of the Earth."
"Yes we can," Alaeh replied eerily, softly, as the tray of scalpels and scissors floated in front of it. "It is quite easy for us to destroy all evidence of a specie's existence."
There was a sound that rang so faintly in the air. It sounded like radio static. They all watched as the scalpels and scissors disappeared cell by cell until they were no more.
"So-" Devon once again had to swallow his emotions down. "So that's how you'll destroy us brashi?"
"No," Alaeh answered softly. "There are seven billion six hundred two million brashi inhabiting Kiorna. That process would be much too time-consuming."
Jennings immediately asked, "Then how'd you do it? How'd you eliminate us?"
"There are wolnif- insects, you might call them," Alaeh began. "They release a gas that renders animals unconscious and they feast on them. Brashi would not feel pain should we nemlai choose this path."
Tearing now, Devon responded, "That's- that's barbaric."
Visibly concerned, Alaeh asked, "This saddens you, Devon. I understand that. Would you like me to alleviate your sorrow and fear?"
"Why?" Devon demanded softly, still fighting his emotions. "Why do you care whether I'm sad or not?"
"I care because it saddens me to see your mind laden so," Alaeh answered heavily.
"But why me?!" Devon nearly shouted. "Why not Jennings? Or- or Henderson?"
"I do not care whether your companions are emotionally conflicted because they are not potential mates."
To Be Continued...
I hope you guys are enjoying this series. If you ever wanna email me, feel free! I give zero fucks whether you write great reviews or have critiques that you might deem harsh. It all helps me grow as a writer.
Anyway, here are links to my other stories if you're interested in reading my other works while you wait for the next instalment of 'Tearing Me Apart'.
High School - 'Near Wild Heaven'
Relationships - 'Somewhere A Clock Is Ticking'
College - 'The Other Half of Me Unknown'
College - 'You Don't Mean To Hurt Me'
College - 'You Call It Madness'
Science Fiction, High School - 'Connected'
High School - 'Do Not Go Gentle'
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