Kitty Katt 11: Alien Separation (53 page)

M
Y STOMACH FELL.
Will he ever be himself again?

Chuckie has been harmed. The Matriarchs are doing good things for Chuckie, and the Matriarchs will repair Chuckie's mind.

It's his emotions and psyche that are really hurt, aren't they?

Yes. To discover that one you felt was your close friend is actually your betrayer? That is a terrible thing. And then to suffer as Chuckie did, right after? That makes all the rest worse. Chuckie will need Kitty, but Chuckie will need Jeff, and Christopher, and Paul, and all the others just as much.

He needs to know, really know, that they're his friends, right?

Yes, but Chuckie needs to know more that the others will not betray Chuckie. Chuckie will know this in time, but Kitty must be patient with Chuckie. Kitty must also not let Chuckie do what Chuckie wants to do.

Murder Cliff Goodman.

Yes. If Chuckie does this, no matter what the reason, unless it is in self-defense or the true defense of others, Chuckie will never recover.

But he's killed people before. We all have. Not that I'm condoning it, but we've all done what we had to do at one point or another.

Yes, but all those times Kitty and the others were killing in self-defense or in the true defense of others. Killing in cold blood, no matter the motivation, alters the killer in ways that Kitty cannot see. But ACE can see those changes, and ACE does not want those changes for Chuckie, or Kitty, or anyone else ACE watches over. Anyone else ACE loves.

I can understand that. Thank you, again, for your part in helping us survive all of this.

ACE felt evasive in my mind and he didn't say anything.

When Sandy or, more likely, the Superconsciousness Seven, or whoever else might come, tries to make anyone involved pay for it, I will fight for you. For all of you. I promise.

Kitty keeps her promises. ACE is not afraid for ACE.

I know. I know who you fear for. But we'll cross that bridge when it falls down on us.

Kitty will prevail. Kitty thinks right.

Then I felt the warm, loved feeling that was ACE hugging me in my mind. Heaved a sigh, snuggled closer to Jeff, and went to sleep. Mercifully dreamless.

The next days were busy, and though Chuckie was involved in all the discussions, he went nowhere without a katyhopper escort. Usually it was Turkey, Saffron, and Pinky, but sometimes it was Boz or another Matriarch.

Jamie went everywhere with us, too, simply because Jeff and I weren't going to leave her alone anywhere. Within a day she and Gower were looking normal, and Boz assured me that the drug was out of their systems with no side effects. The Power of the Purple Land apparently. Though Tito, of course, was planning many tests for the moment we got home.

We did get to have a proper reunion with our old friends from this system. It was fun to show off Jamie, take them around the planet, and have the Beta Eight natives get to meet their solar system neighbors.

Haven and the All Seeing Mountain were the biggest hits, but the Blue Land's floating buildings were a draw, too. Everyone only got a cursory look at the Purple Land, but the strautruch rides through the Yellow Land were a highlight for everyone, other than those afraid of heights.

I had to focus on diplomacy in a big way, however, because setting up the political system on Beta Eight was of high importance, and Beta Eight wanted the Gods speaking for them. And my first suggestion raised a lot of controversy.

“I can't believe you want to leave a clone of Ronaldo Al Dejahl in power,” Tim said for, by my count, the tenth time.

“I want him as part of the government, not all of it. But there are at least three highly sentient races here in the katyhoppers, the strautruch, and the Lecanora, plus the ocellars, the bosthoon, the chochos, and all the other life-forms, including the snakipedes. Ronnie can actually control those, and no one else can.”

“Why not get rid of them completely?” Reader asked. “Why leave that dangerous a predator on the world?”

“They're our best protection,” 2.0 said. “I can train them to protect, not kill, the other people on this planet. It'll take some time, but not as much as it could. And they were here before we came. They're native to this planet.”

“We've been told that Zenoca created the Horrors,” Fancy said.

“I'm sure she took credit for them. And she did make them bigger. I believe they started out as small pest control. Most of the giants are dead now anyway—they died protecting us during the Rapacian attack. As far as I can tell, there are only babies alive right now, and I can train them and their offspring. But they were here first.”

He had a point, and we'd spent some time determining that I'd destroyed the only cloning facility on the planet. And maybe 2.0 really could make a monster into a useful part of the ecosystem. Precedent had certainly been set, with him as Example A. 2.0 and The Clarence Clone both gave me hope that if we could possibly find Earth clones before they were completely twisted, maybe we could redeem them as well.

“Then they belong here,” Rohini said. Rohini was definitely the deciding voice for all of the system, though he was careful to let it appear that Alexander's word was law. “If Ronaldo will train them and control them, we agree that they should not be exterminated. And before anyone complains, please remember that the Cleophese are frightening beings capable of much mass destruction, too. But they evolved on our world before we did. It is their world, too.”

Alexander nodded. “We agree.” He was working well with Rohini, probably because he'd spent a lot of years working with Councilor Leonidas.

“Great, then we move on. I think we keep Ronnie as part of the government because, frankly, while he wasn't the greatest king, the Lecanora know who he is, and calm transition would be nice. Add on a katyhopper representative, a Strautruch representative, and a Lecanora from the white, green, black, and blue sections of the world, and you have seven representatives with equal voice, meaning there can never be a tie in terms of voting.”

“Who chooses them?” Jeff asked.

Everyone looked at me. “Fine. I was going to push my agenda anyway.” This earned a laugh from the humans and 2.0 and polite looks of confusion from everyone else. Forged on. “In addition to Ronnie, Fancy Corzine should represent Iceland, Zanell will represent the Black Land, and King Benny will represent the Blue and Bronze Lands.”

King Benny raised his paw. “Shealla, I feel that my appointment will be argued. Plus, why are you giving me two parts of the world to represent?”

“Don't care about the arguments or arguers. You've proved your leadership ability constantly since we've met. They haven't. You're representing your land of birth and the land you led your people through. You're the Lecanora who will think of the disenfranchised first, and therefore you are vital to the world government.”

“I agree,” Fancy said strongly. “I will not accept my position if Musgraff does not accept his. I will only lead if he leads also.”

This earned a shocked and very pleased look from King Benny, some applause from the group, and King Benny a really dirty, jealous look from Zanell. Noted 2.0 noting it, and he nodded at me and winked. Okay, he'd keep an eye on that potential love triangle.

“The strautruch can and should elect their own representative. The Matriarchs should as well, or, if they prefer to have a rotation in and out of the position, that's up to them.”

Antennae waves indicated the katyhoppers were good with this and would be doing the rotation plan. The strautruch were also pleased and shared that they'd choose their representative shortly.

“And the last Lecanora slot should be chosen via random lottery out of those who live in Greenland.” This earned me a variety of raised eyebrows and shocked looks. “Random means the winner may or may not want the position. We come from a world where political power is far too coveted. I'd suggest making all the Lecanora slots random within the sections of the world, as leaders pass on or wish to retire.”

“What Shealla says we will do,” King Benny said. The others nodded and, after a little more discussion, my plan was agreed to. Go me.

Rohini and his people were going to leave the Emergency City in place. The populace could build a new seat of government wherever they chose, but this way they had a building to house refugees and the government at the same time. I really liked that juxtaposition.

“What of the Rapacians?” Lakin asked. “What will become of my people?”

“You'll be sent home, and Alpha Four will install some of the Royal Guard on your planet,” Alexander said. “As we will do with Alpha Five and Alpha Six.”

“As you wish,” Misorek said.

I'd finally learned their names. Misorek was the dude from Alpha Six and Haliya the chick from Alpha Five. They were both ordinary looking to me, which, so far as my limited experience showed, was typical for both planets. They accepted Alexander's decision without question or argument. I'd already told Rohini that I didn't trust them, and I'd passed along the same to 2.0 and the Matriarchs.

“What will happen with me?” Usha asked.

“You will come back to Beta Twelve with me and my daughters,” Renata said. “We are best equipped to deal with you if you try to go to the bad. You will be imprisoned, but not as harshly as we might want—the Lecanora have pleaded on your behalf and mercy will be granted.”

Usha looked shocked. “Thank you,” she said to the Lecanora with us. “I realize this will feel hollow to you, but I actually enjoyed living amongst you. Perhaps, one day, I can return and live here again.”

“Perhaps,” Fancy said. “Time will tell.”

Rahmi and Rhee, however looked unhappy. And also like they weren't going to argue even though they wanted to. Rahmi, in particular, looked ready to cry. She was also looking at Tito. A lot. And he was doing his best not to look at her, but he looked more than a little down.

Put two and two together. Hero worship and mutual respect had apparently worked their romantic magic. “Ah, Renata? Not to create familial disharmony or make you think your daughters haven't missed you, because they have, but I'd like to see if they want to remain on Earth.”

Renata looked confused, then she took a good look at the princesses. “Ah,” she said sadly. “And this is the true loss the war has given me. My daughters love another planet more than their own.”

Cleared my throat. “Maybe not the planet, so much as, ah, people
on
the planet.”

Tito heaved a sigh, stood up, and squared his shoulders. “I'd really wanted to do this more privately, but Queen Renata, while I'm not royalty, I do love one of your daughters with all my heart. I would like to ask your permission to see if Princess Rahmi would have me as her husband. Which I also realize is somewhat shocking for your culture.”

Renata might have been surprised, but she hid it well. She looked sharply at Rahmi, who was trying not to look pleadingly at her mother and failing utterly.

“I view marriage as a partnership,” Tito went on. “Not with one subservient to the other. And I believe Rahmi feels the same, even if it is marriage to a man, not a woman.”

“Since when?” Christopher whispered to me.

“For a while,” Abigail, who was next to him, whispered back. “He's been working with me, Rahmi, and Rhee on fighting and fighting styles since Sis died. Those two hide it well, but they've been a thing for quite a while. And I totally approve.”

Renata nodded. “I have never demanded that my children blindly follow. I raised them to think for themselves. If Rahmi wishes it, you have my permission.”

“I do!” Rahmi jumped up and ran to Tito at hyperspeed. They hugged, then did a family hug with Renata, and Rhee joined in.

“She's taller than him by a lot,” Jeff pointed out.

“And he's definitely someone who's secure enough in his manhood to handle it. Wow, that's your objection?”

Jeff laughed. “No objection at all, really. I've known for a while.”

“I'm sure you have. How'd you manage to keep it a secret?”

He grinned. “Easy. No one ever asked.”

While this was going on, The Clarence Clone came over to me, Wilbur and Ginger trailing him. “Shealla, what will I do?” He looked lost and afraid. But he needn't have worried.

“Clarence, you're coming home to Earth with us.” Felt and saw jaws drop. “You're the good version of your original, and I think your family will be overjoyed to have you returned to them.”

The Clone beamed. “Thank you, Shealla! Will Wilbur and Ginger be coming, too?”

The animals both whined. “Do Wilbur and Ginger have mates in their packs?” More whining. No, they did not. “Do Wilbur and Ginger have potential mates in their packs?”