The Faarian Chronicles: Exile

by Karen Harris Tully

  “I didn’t kill them. I saved them,” I replied. Teague’s raised eyebrows told me to continue. “They were both on the floor with the haratchi above them and, I don’t know, I just,” I shook my head again, “I guess I just couldn’t stand there and watch them be eaten.”

  “And she dragged three of her cousins into it,” Myrihn crowed in victory, “plus disobeyed the order to come outside to fight the outbreak!”

  “Hey!” Thal exclaimed. “Getting their weapons to overload was part of the plan.” Well, John’s plan anyway. “And Sunny didn’t drag me into anything, Myrihn. I was there by my own choice.” I was thankful for his support, but the giant bandage around his head, which I was assured made it look worse than it actually was, somewhat weakened his argument.

  “Us too, right Otrere?” Lyta surprised me by speaking up against Myrihn. Otrere nodded. “And what did you want them to do? Sunny and Thal were there when they made that giant hole in the wall. Someone had to protect the Kindred from inside.”

  “And don’t you think the Anakharu planned it all that way? Coming when all the warriors were out and everyone else was busy with the haratchi that came through the hole they made in the fence?” Otrere added.

  Her twin nodded. “Sunny did what she had to do, and honestly, she did a lot better than we did against them.” She winced at the memory.

  Otrere nodded unhappily, with only a smidgen of reluctance. “She can move faster than lightning. She saved Thal’s life,” she said. I flushed at hearing Otrere, of all people, compliment me. I’d only done what I had to. I was about to argue when Myrihn snorted and did it for me.

  “Ah yes, and I suppose ditching Mom in the infirmary to go play hero was the right thing to do, too?” snapped Myrihn.

  I expected the twins to back down and agree with their idol, but to my surprise Lyta straightened and glared angrily at Myrihn. “Oh stuff it, Myrihn! You’re the reason their scys didn’t work. You child-proofed them to the point that they were useless against Anakharu!”

  The other council members swiveled as one to look at Myrihn.

  “Hey, I just made sure they couldn’t hurt each other out on patrol!” Myrihn exclaimed.

  “But Myrihn, didn’t you think after Sunny was attacked the first time to take the restrictions off?” Teague asked quietly.

  Murmurs and rumbles echoed around the room as Myrihn sputtered her defense.

  “Despite what Myrihn may or may not have done,” Great-Aunt Nico spoke up, not even looking at her youngest daughter, “I thought this meeting was to discuss Veridian and her repeated disregard for direct orders.”

  “What would you have us do, Nico?” Teague asked, rubbing her forehead.

  “Send her back to Earth. That’s what she wants anyway,” Nico replied. “Isn’t it clear by now that she doesn’t belong here?” Silence greeted her question for several long seconds before mumbles of agreement and grumbles of dissent started around the room. They quickly grew into a heated argument until Teague pounded her big fist against the table for quiet.

  “One at a time!”

  “Don’t you think that’s being rather harsh, Aunt?” Ethem spoke first. “Sunny’s doing the best she can with a difficult situation. One that none of us has ever had to deal with. Are we really going to ship her back to Earth when she’s just getting the hang of things here?”

  Were they really going to debate my future right then and there? I quietly got up and left the room, needing time to think. I avoided looking at the Kindred members as I waded past them through the crowded conference room and packed waiting area outside the open door. I walked until I found a deserted hallway to sink down next to a wall with my head in my hands.

  Sure, I still wanted to go home. I had gymnastics and a whole life waiting there for me. But… I don’t know. I didn’t feel done here yet. I had things to do here, and they had nothing to do with Anakharu and everything to do with my mother.

  Micha followed me out and sat beside me, nudging her giant head into my arms.

  “What am I going to do Micha? Mom’s in jail and now they’re going to send me home? I’ve got to find a way to help her, but how?”

  You must show patience and faith, girl-child. We are doing all we can, and all things come in their own time.

  “Can’t we break her out or something? I mean, if the judges won’t even look at all the evidence…”

  They will girl-child. If we were to attempt to remove her from her current situation, she would not allow it. To be on the run, unable to return to the Kindred, would not be a path she would choose.

  I nodded and leaned my head back against the wall in defeat. A few minutes later, Nico came stomping past, followed by Myrihn.

  “Don’t think this is over,” she snarled at me.

  “What was that all about?” I asked Micha, bewildered.

  Thal came out next, almost vibrating with impatience while Micha bonked her head up under my chin as if to say, keep your chin up, kid, and ambled back into the meeting.

  “The Council demoted Myrihn!” Thal exploded. “She’ll have to earn her status back as a Council member. And don’t worry, they’re not sending you back to Earth. Most of the Council agreed on that.” He looked at me warily, as if unsure how I’d take the news.

  I smiled in relief. “That’s great, Thal,” I replied weakly, swallowing my almost equal disappointment that I wasn’t going home.

  He beamed at me. “Come on, they want us back inside now.”

  Despite my expectation of being grounded, or whatever they did here, the rest of the Council surprisingly seemed to understand.

  “Sunny,” Teague began, “Any of us – well, most of us – would have done the same in saving those women from the haratchi, despite their being our enemies. We Katjes are hardwired to save people and kill haratchi. It’s what we do, and it’s an example of how very much you do belong here.” Most of the rest of the Council members nodded in agreement.

  “As for disobeying a direct order, the Council finds that you and Thal both did so for the right reasons – this time. You won’t be punished. That being said,” she continued, “you are Kindred now, and you will be expected to follow orders like everyone else.” She pinned me, and then Thal, with a look. “Is that understood?”

  Relieved, we both nodded.

  “Also,” Ethem spoke, reading from notes on his link, “until we can find out where these attacks are coming from, the Council is assigning you a rotation of guards.” I groaned, but he held up his hand and continued. “The warriors will each take a shift, one at a time, and agree to give you as much space and privacy as possible during your off-duty time. Correct?” The warriors around me all nodded solemnly.

  “And in return,” Ethem continued, “you will be expected to communicate any suspicions you have with them and not go off on your own. Agreed?”

  I nodded again, in resignation this time. I supposed that was the best I could hope for, under the circumstances.

  The meeting broke up and Penthe ordered me, Thal, and the twins to the infirmary to rest and recover so she could keep an eye on us for any after effects of the taser. I spotted Sarosh shadowing me as unobtrusively as she could. By lunchtime, we were all going stir crazy, and I was happy when Teague called my link to go see her in my mother’s office.

  When Sarosh and I got there, I was surprised to find one of the head justices from the trial. The tall, craggy-looking one: Justice McCall.

  Chapter 35: The Slow Hum of Justice

  “Veridian,” he began.

  “Sunny,” I corrected, crossing my arms. What was he doing here? He should have been able to stop the other justices who put my mother in jail without even listening to the evidence. But he didn't.

  “Sunny, this is…” Teague began.

  “I know who he is,” I interrupted. “He just sat there at the trial and let them put my mother in jail. And for what? For protecting me when an Anakharu broke into my room and tried to kill me. They wouldn’t even look at all the
evidence. What kind of justice is that? People who won’t give memory testimony are automatically guilty? Bunch of lazy, power hungry monsters! You don’t care about the truth at all, do you?” I found myself shouting right in his face with my hands balled at my sides.

  “The truth is why I’m here, Veridian. I’m attempting to get your mother a retrial,” he replied, leaning away from me warily.

  “Oh.” I stepped back and noticed Teague grinning out of the corner of my eye, well, as much as Teague ever grinned anyhow.

  “Before trial began,” Justice McCall continued, “I received an anonymous message offering payment – of a sort – to make sure the General did not go home anytime soon. I ignored it, of course, but during the trial I realized that my counterparts had received, and must have taken, similar bribes. The attack on you last night merely strengthened my suspicions. Someone set your mother up to get her out of the way.”

  “Yeah,” I replied, having figured that out already. “But why? And who sent you that message?”

  “Unfortunately, it has proven untraceable. However, I am sure the reason why someone went to such trouble is your unique DNA. You are aware that you’re not the only half-Earthan in existence?”

  I nodded, thinking of Russ and his family back home.

  “There are quite a few of you on Earth actually. However, you are the only one who’s been able to come to Macawi. You’re the only one with the chlorophyll mutation, or possibly some hybrid of it.” He looked speculatively at my hair, which now had at least an inch of greenish-brown roots showing. “No one is sure why, but you can bet the scientific community wants to find out. You and your Kindred will need to be careful.”

  I nodded shortly and recrossed my arms. Yeah, I’d figured that out too.

  “As soon as I can gather enough evidence, I will be taking it to the National Council. They are already starting to receive pressure from the Kindreds questioning the fairness of our justice system for Faarian defendants. I am confident that we can force a retrial for your mother.”

  I started to ask what good that would do when he held up a hand.

  “With new justices.”

  “Well, I hope you’re not expecting Mom to give your precious memory testimony this time, cuz she still won’t do it.”

  “Mmmm, quite.” Justice McCall pressed his lips together in displeasure. “Without her memory testimony, preparing for trial will take many times longer, but the quicker I can gather the evidence, the quicker it can be done.

  “Now, I need you to tell me everything that happened on the night and morning in question. Don’t leave anything out.”

  “Why? I mean, we already did that whole mind-reading thing in court.” In front of millions of people.

  “Yes, well, it appears that the red police who arrested your mother have both gone missing. Something that we missed perhaps the first time in their memory testimony, or… something compromised, perhaps. So please, humor me.”

  Ha! I wanted to yell. So that memory testimony wasn’t fool-proof after all! But I refrained, not wanting to tick off my mother’s one champion on the court. "Okay.” I took a deep breath. “Don’t you need a recorder or something?”

  “I have a very good memory.” He tapped the side of his head.

  I told him the entire story, starting with being chased by Drazen, then dreaming he was after me, only to wake up to the attack itself. I mentioned seeing Micha trying to get into the casket and the red police lifting the lid to put something inside before Micha suddenly gave up. I even told him about the dream I had that following night from the dead Anakharu’s perspective. After all, if I wanted Mom to have the best chance, he needed to know everything, no matter how unimportant. When I was done, he was studying me quizzically and humming under his breath.

  “You’re related to John McCall, aren’t you?”

  He nodded. “I assume you’re talking about my nephew, John?”

  “Yeah. So you're related to the McCalls on Earth too?” I asked. “In Colorado?”

  He blinked. “That’s one of my brothers and his family. He fell in love with an Earthan woman and decided to stay there with her since she couldn’t move to Macawi, of course. Why do you ask?”

  “You hum like they do. Under your breath.”

  “Faarians can’t hear that,” he said, giving me a strange look.

  “What, really?” I asked, looking over at Teague who shook her head, looking puzzled.

  I shrugged. “Well it must be my Earthan side.”

  “Hmmm.” He shook his head. “I’ll need to talk with this Ahatu, Micha, now. It was… a unique pleasure meeting you Veridian. Sunny. I will do everything I can to get your mother released back to you. You have my word.”

  We shook forearms and I thanked him before Teague led him off to find Micha.

  “He hums?” Thal asked, making me jump. He and Sarosh both stepped out from behind some potted palms by the door, grinning.

  “Thal? What are you doing here?” I asked.

  “Listening in, what does it look like? How else would I know anything in this place?”

  I shook my head at him and laughed, giving him a little jab in the arm. “Get back to the infirmary before your mom catches you gone, will ya?”

  “Alright, alright. You coming?”

  “In a little bit. I’ve gotta email Dad, and at least it’s quiet in here. Okay with you?” I asked Sarosh as Thal left.

  She shrugged and looked around the empty room. “I’ll be right outside,” she said and closed the door behind her. Having bodyguards was going to take some getting used to.

  Now that I had at least a little good news, I sat down in one of the worn haratchi-leather chairs to write my overdue email home. I was starting the first lines, trying to figure out exactly how much to tell him about the newest attack when my link vibrated with an incoming message. I switched over to find an email had just arrived from Dad.

  Sunny,

  I’m so relieved to hear you’re okay. Your last email just about gave your old man a heart attack. I can barely wrap my mind around your last message: attacked by someone (who wasn’t clear after the government there got through with your message) and your mother arrested for murder when she was protecting you! I had no idea it was so backwards and dangerous there. I can’t even imagine what you must be feeling, but I want you to know you were right, and this custody agreement was a terrible idea. I’m contacting your mother, whoever’s in charge at the Kindred now, and my business partners, the McCalls, to bring you home. Sunny, I’m so sorry to have put you in danger and I’m going to do whatever it takes to get you home. If anything had happened to you, I don’t know what I would have done. Wait for my next email. I’ll send you an update with travel plans as soon as I can.

  Love, Dad.

  For one millisecond, my heart leapt in my chest – I was going home! – and then crashed into the dirt at my feet. I couldn’t. Not now. I switched back to writing my email.

  Dad,

  I can’t even believe I’m about to say this, but I can’t come home now. I still want to, of course I do, but I can’t leave while Mom’s in jail for saving me. She literally dove out a window for me, and I can’t just give up on her and run home.

  I have more bad news, actually, and then some good. We lost the trial already, Dad. It happened so fast and was completely unfair! Two of the three justices were apparently bought off to find her guilty. The good news is that the third justice is trying to get Mom a retrial with new judges. He promised they’ll at least look at all the evidence.

  So you see, they may need me to testify. I have to stay and see this thing through. I’m being safe though. The Kindred isn't letting me go anywhere without bodyguards now.

  I winced, writing that I was being safe after last night’s attack. But if I wanted Dad to let me stay, it was necessary – and true, now. I wasn’t going to play hero again anytime soon.

  Sorry for making you worry Dad, but I’ll be fine. It may not seem like it, but I can
take care of myself, I promise.

  Love, Sunny.

  After hitting send, I felt lighter and heavier all at the same time. Like I’d done the right thing, but I could see that shining gold medal that had seemed so close, slipping farther away into the mist. And there was nothing I could do about it but buck up and do what needed to be done here. I wondered if this was maybe what Mom had felt like when she’d had to leave Earth.

  I looked around her big, empty office and thought about all the people who counted on her. Mom may be getting a retrial, and I may have squeaked by in the latest attack, but it was clear this was far from over. We still had no idea who was orchestrating these attacks, and who had the power to get her arrested and falsely convicted.

  I was going to need to keep all the friends I could get, so there was one more thing I needed to do since I was still alone: I had a thank you and an apology to make.

  Chapter 36: Glowing Admiration

  “Hey,” I said with relief when John answered, and his little, two-inch hologram popped up. “I was worried your parents wouldn’t let you talk to me after everything. I’m sorry for getting you in trouble.”

  “Hey, Sunny. Naw, it’s no big thing. Put me on the ground, would you?”

  “Um, okay.” Well, I didn’t think apologizing would be that easy. I put my link down on the floor and it started to hover and suddenly John was full-size next to me. A bit on the see-through side, but still.

  “Is this okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah, it’s just… how’d you do that?” I asked. “Thal said he didn’t think it was possible to control another person’s link remotely.”

  He winced. “I hacked your link last night. Thal’s too. It’s not really all that complicated when you know what you’re doing.”

  “But… my link got smashed last night. This one’s brand new,” I protested. Well, new enough. I hadn’t been able to convince Ethem to get me one of the totally unbreakable upgrades.

  “Yeah, well they must’ve just transferred everything from your old one.” He looked around. “Where are you?”