Chapter 2 – Another Set Of Eyes

Mei-Wan opened the door to her apartment.

Nick looked at her, wearing a smile. “So... what's this about?”

“Come in,” she said, quickly ushering him past the door.

“You okay?”

She forced a smile. “No.”

He walked into the living room with her. “Trouble between you and Dani?”

“Yes and no.”

Ziana and Delv walked into the room.

“Hello, Nick,” Ziana said.

He smiled. “Hi. Are you relatives of Dani?”

The two children looked at one another and smiled.

“What?” Nick asked.

“They are Dani,” Mei-Wan said.

He grinned. “Right.”

“We are Dani's offspring,” Delv said.

“She's had kids all this time and...”

“No,” Ziana said. “We came into existence four days ago.”

“Dani's people reproduce by division,” Mei-Wan said. “She separated into these two... Ziana and Delv.”

Nick's eyes widened and he turned to them. “My god...”

“It is normal for our species,” Delv said. “The idea of a new being growing inside the body of a female seems quite odd to us.”

“Okay,” Nick said. “But what about Dani? Is she gone?”

“Each of us carries her memories, her feelings, her ideals, even her personality at least for the time being,” Ziana said. “By separating into two new beings, my understanding builds upon the new perspectives I gain from now being two where before I was one.”

“But...” Nick seemed lost in thought for several moments. “Okay, I can see where this might have some advantages at least in terms of continuity, and in terms of survival. If each of the two new individuals are born competent adults, there's no need for child rearing.” He turned to Mei-Wan. “But what about your relationship with Dani?”

“We would very much like to continue it,” Delv said. “But Mei appears to have difficulty with the idea.”

Nick turned to him. “You have to understand that as adults we don't have romantic relationships with children. To do so is wrong on so many levels.”

“But we are not children in the sense you mean it,” Ziana said with more than a little frustration in her voice. “I have the understanding and maturity of someone who has lived for thousands of years.”

Nick nodded.

Mei-Wan realized her answer to this issue might very well have an impact on the future of all humanoid life in this galaxy, but she couldn’t be anything other than what she was, and what they were suggesting to her was abhorrent. “They have been trying to convince me that continuing the relationship does not entail my taking advantage of them, or abusing them,” Mei-Wan said. “But I just can't get past...”

“Their appearance,” Nick said. “And the reality of their coming into existence four days ago.”

“Yes.”

Ziana frowned. “I just do not understand what the issue is.”

“It's not just a matter of Mei-Wan accepting it,” Nick said. “If the rest of humanoid society were to discover that Mei-Wan were having a romantic relationship with two children, she would likely be forced into counseling or worse.” Nick frowned. “And I can only imagine the impact it would have on the work we have been doing.”

“It would be seen as aberrant behavior?” Delv asked.

“Yes,” Nick said. “And criminal.”

“But we are not children!” Ziana shouted.

“You are Dani's offspring,” Nick said. “Whatever the means, that is the reality of your situation.”

“I need you in my life, Mei,” Ziana pleaded, looking at her.

“So do I,” Delv said.

“Have you considered being a foster mother of sorts to them?” Nick asked.

“We discussed that,” Mei-Wan replied. “But I don’t know if I or they would be satisfied with the kind of limitations that sort of arrangement would require.”

Nick frowned.

“I love Mei,” Ziana said. “Why should I hide that fact?”

“Loving her isn't the question,” Nick said.

Delv shook his head. “Your human social rules do not apply to this situation or to us.”

Nick turned to Mei-Wan. “Perhaps it would be best if they returned to their people.”

“We don't want to!” Ziana said.

“What you want isn't enough,” Nick said. “It's what the society will allow, and what Mei is comfortable with.”

Ziana stepped up to Mei-Wan. “We committed to one another. We love each other. What does...”

“She had that commitment with Dani,” Nick said. “Not with either of you two.”

“But we are Dani!” Delv said. “Why can't you see that?!”

Nick looked down at the floor for almost a minute. “You would think with all our acceptance of other life forms and cultures we'd be able to get past this, but I know I couldn't if it were me in Mei's place. I can see why this is so frustrating to you, but...”

Delv stepped toward Nick. “If this is the kind of insanity which pervades your minds, perhaps your kind do deserve to be purged from the galaxy.”

“No! Don't say that!” Mei-Wan shouted.

“Delv, no...” Ziana began.

“Even Mei is caught up in this! I had thought that if a humanoid could love one of us, if we could share a life together, then that would be all the proof necessary to convince the others of how right our choice was,” Delv said, turning to Ziana. “But she is just as small minded as...”

“You're angry,” Ziana said. “Don't let your love for Mei be turned into this.”

“Hey, what the hell is this about?” Nick asked, moving to stand beside Mei-Wan.

“Dani was sent here...”

“No, Mei,” Ziana said. “Don't tell him.”

“But Delv already has,” Mei-Wan said.

“Don't tell me what?” Nick asked.

***

The next day, Mei-Wan accompanied Ziana and Delv to the spaceport. They had all come to the conclusion there was no way to bridge the gap between what Mei-Wan could accept and what the two of them wanted. Delv had hardly spoken to Mei-Wan after Nick left the apartment. Most of the conversation from that point forward had been between Mei-Wan and Ziana.

Once they made their way to the hanger where an Undinan ship awaited, Delv didn’t even turn to say goodbye to Mei-Wan, instead running up the ramp into the ship.

“Delv is now an adversary,” Ziana said. “But one I love, and one who still loves you despite the emotional state he is currently in.”

“He's angry,” Mei-Wan said.

“He is hurt by your rejection of us.”

“I'm not rejecting you.”

Ziana held up a hand. “I know. And I understand in part after our conversation through the night. Despite how evolved you believe yourselves to be, you are still beholden to the biology which comprises your form. That is what the others fear, and what Delv now fears. He is troubled by how you, who loved us so very much, could turn from us so quickly and for what he believes is an arbitrary reason.”

“I didn't betray you,” Mei-Wan said.

“Didn't you?”

“No.”

Ziana smiled. “I don't think you did either.”

“Then why...”

“Delv believes you did, and he is hurt,” Ziana said. “In that way, he has become so very human. You taught him that, and now he will act out of it.”

“That's one of our failings,” Mei-Wan said. “We try to be better than that.”

“Understand, Delv is not wrong about what humanoids as a whole may do to this galaxy. Forcas might very well succeed in bringing the Ancient Progenitors back from the abyss of their past. If he does, the choice will be made for us, and my delay in acting will have been a horrible mistake.”

“Please, don't think that way.”

“Mei, it is not what I want. I, as Dani did, believe in you, and what your kind can achieve. However, Forcas may take that away.”

“Then I have to stop him,” Mei-Wan said.

“Yes,” Ziana replied. “Until then, I will advocate for humanoids, and continue my observations. Delv will advocate against. At some point, he and I will come to a consensus on our recommendation to the non-humanoid species in the galaxy.”

“My kind would fight if attacked.”

“Yes,” Ziana said. “There would be terrible losses if we are required to exterminate humanoids. But five billion years ago we saw what being slow to act cost us. We know if the Ancient Progenitors return, it is our own extinction, and the extinction of trillions of others which will occur.”

“I know.” Mei-Wan looked down. “I will do everything in my power to stop Forcas.”

“That's why I still believe in you.”

Mei-Wan nodded.

“One other thing,” Ziana began. “I am now convinced you were correct about Jack McCall.”

“Really?” Mei-Wan asked, surprised Dani had taken seriously what she’d said about Jack.

“Now having a different perspective, I am certain McCall is at the center of what the Temporal Engineers are doing. Everything orbits about him and Forcas. Oddly enough, the two of them have never met.”

“I don’t think they have,” Mei-Wan said.

“Jack is like a chess move you hold in reserve, distracting with other seemingly more important moves.”

Mei-Wan nodded. “Until the time is right to strike.” She smiled. “You remember our chess games.”

“Of course,” Ziana said. Her own smile faded. “I also remember there are pieces you must be willing to sacrifice if the game is to be won.”

“No,” Mei-Wan said, shaking her head. “Not Jack.”

“It may be necessary if he is that important to the plans of the Temporal Engineers.”

“No, there has to be another way,” Mei-Wan begged.

Ziana watched her a moment, then nodded. “Perhaps it won’t come to that.” She turned to the loading ramp for the ship. “I will meet you again, and we will see where things stand.”

“Between you and me? Or between your kind and mine?” Mei-Wan asked.

“Both.”

-GO TO CHAPTER 3-