Under a Starless Sky

“Why is this man being killed?” Mother asked.

“We apologize for waking you mother.” This came from the eldest Elder. She did a gesture and came to her feet, head bowed, avoiding meeting ‘mother’s eyes.

“I see no fault in this one. Why do you wish him to die,” Mother asked.

“It is because of him, Tulia was killed.”

“She is safe with me. All who die are safe with me. Do you not still teach this?” Mother asked.

“He defies us. He does not conform to our ways.”

“He is male. They have their ways. We have ours,” Mother said.

“He uses magic and tech,” Lanore said.

“Ah,” Mother said. She approached the cylindrical shield and made it go away. She offered a hand to Shen to help him up. He didn’t accept. “Take my hand child. Stand up.”

Shen stood up, but he didn’t take her hand or meet her eyes.

“Why do you avoid me?” Mother asked.

“I have met your kind before…” Shen said.

“You have not met me, child,” Mother said. “I am adult. Not some wild flower trying to eke out a living.”

Shen met her eyes. There was connection. Eye contact wasn’t necessary, as Mother was full telepathic and she knew things- likely everything, from his fear, to his lust, to his wanting to just exist with her. If she asked questions, it wasn’t because she lacked information, but because she wanted others to hear what she already had discerned. She wanted the individual to hear their own response to her. She wanted clarity. There was also truth that she was mature- her flavor was different than Jazmyne. The tone she set in his head was different. It was patient, kind- grandmotherly, an attribute gained from experiences.

“That’s better. I am Melekia,” Mother said. “I recognize you, Jon-Shen. You have been charged and sentenced to death. Does no one stand with you?”

“I stand with him,” Tama said.

“Thank you, daughter, but I was asking him,” Mother said. She made eye contact with Loxy, but then returned her gaze to Shen. “Do you believe in things unseen?”

“Sure. I used to play Pokémon go,” Shen said.

Mother smiled. “I like you.” To the elders, she said: “I see no fault here.”

“He has been charged. We have consensus.”

Mother frowned, nodding. “Undo your binding.”

“No.”

Mother frowned. “Do you know why old-tech was for bidden?”

“Because it’s evil…”

“No,” Mother said. “It was because tech is vulnerable, and without full tech there is injustice. Full tech was necessary to bring life here. Full tech transformed the sea and the land to make it habitable. It made the air breathable. It was at risk to being turned off by solar flares, by the energy ejected from the Twins. And so, when the time came and the environment could support our kind, biological life became the preferred vehicle; consciousness was shared between the two. Bio-life contains all the programming necessary to rebuild the first kind, the machine kind. We lived together in peace. The fall wasn’t inevitable, simply coincidental. Tech is not evil, any more than the body is evil; it is only in how it is used that the distinction arises. Beings are not good by virtue of being, but rather goodness is an attribute that is activated through cultivated thought, sustained through practice. Tech was the bridge to here. We are the bridge to there. Cyclical. Tech will rise again, and we will go forth and colonize other worlds through tech. Tech will fall away and then return. We are always one.”

“There are no other worlds but this.”

“Jon-Shen, do you understand?” Mother asked.

Neumann machines created the world?”

understand. There was consensus in deviation. It was intentional that we not recreate Earth precisely as it was. In some ways we did better, in some ways, we failed worse. There were unresolved themes that needed to be revisited so that soul may continue

here?

not you?” Mother

was no response. Maybe there wasn’t a response to his

laying the foundation for this world? Was there not consensus for the plan?” Mother asked. “If

Lanore said. “He must be put to

could have at any time exercised powers and conquered the world.

“He is nothing…”

what you want.” Mother touched Shen’s face. “Jon-Shen. You had superior knowledge, power, and tech at your disposal, and you had this from day one, and yet you

want to rule the

want to have

voice in disregard of others,” Shen said. “I

have consensus,” Lanore said. Boldly, to mother she added: “You cannot interfere with

cannot. Jon-Shen, on the other hand, holds the authority

a male. He has no

so commands it, I will elevated him to king, and he will have authority over all in this

be another way,” Shen said. “I don’t want

You cannot suffer the pains of

cannot interfere with this affair,” Mother said. “But you have authority, Sir. Speak and your will is

want

simple thing,” Tama said. “Simply

have consensus, Mother. I demand that

no fault in

consensus,” The Elders echoed,

this is what you want, you

other

any you love will go hungry again. You will love many, father

are no stars here,” Shen

will be stars,” Mother said. “You are the

you?!”

everything and I am nothing- I will be anything you

resisted. The field collapsed around him, enveloping him, resulting in pain and loss of breath, but no ground was

“Wait!” Tama said.

light held its position. Shen struggled to remain on his feet and breathing. He struggled to find meaning, to understand, a part of him just wanted

“Yes, daughter,” Mother asked.

no voice here,” an

said.

says will overturn

twin is put to death, the other should go with the first,”

up, Tama,” Lanore

pleased with the idea. “We

unreasonable,” Shen

authority in this,” Mother said. “Go, child.

do people keep saying that?” Lanore said. “I

you, now?” Mother said. “And

Tama went towards Shen.

“No!” Lanore said. “Tama.”