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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"God," Alaeh said more to himself. "You refer to the Christian deity worshipped by billions of your people. No. No. Your bible has that information wrong."
"But," Devon huffed, "but you're- you're an angel."
Alaeh replied softly, "If it comforts you to give my species a name, the Divine call us 'Nemlai'."
"Nemlai," Devon tried the word on his tongue. "Then- then what are 'the Divine'?"
"The Divine is a single being," Alaeh explained. "It is the very first being that came into existence. It is older than time. It created all that is."
"What? Everything?" Devon asked with surprise. "Even- even us?"
"You call yourselves 'homosapiens'," Alaeh began. "But the Divine calls you 'brashi'. All of you."
"All of us, as in all animals on Earth?"
"No. Humans. People. All across the vastness which you call the universe. Brashi."
That got the attention of all in the room. Most eyebrows shot up, and some gasped quietly.
Devon asked, "There are really aliens out there?"
"Mr. Hemmel, you need not be weary of them," Alaeh chastised the soldier gently. "You and them are one in the same. You were all created with the same base cell."
"There- there are other humans out there?" Devon asked, unsurprisingly still shocked.
"Yes," Alaeh answered as if it should've been obvious. "From your memories, Mr. Hemmel, I see that your strain of brashi have not yet developed the- the technology to explore the universe. It is arrogant, however, that your strain believes that you are the only living intelligent species in the vast reaches."
"How many strains of- of brashi are out there?" Dr. Amoudi asked, totally engrossed.
Alaeh, surprisingly, turned his body slightly to face the Egyptian scientist. Its blue eyes gazed warmly at Dr. Amoudi with its face humble. Alaeh also flexed its large wings so they spread out at its sides, both having to curl at the ends as he room had only been sixteen feet wide.
"There are," Alaeh responded slowly, clearly thinking, "in human terms, seven hundred fifty-eight successful brashi planets."
Dr. Henderson then asked, "Seven hundred and fifty-eight? Some were not successful?"
After Alaeh refolded its wings behind itself, it replied, "Yes. Some planets unsuccessful you have knowledge of include Mars, Venus, Mercury."
Alaeh then stepped away from Devon, presenting its back to the soldier. Devon once again examined its back, engrossed in the beauty of Alaeh's large wings.
Dr. Corheid asked, "So none of the other planets have life?"
"I did not say that," Alaeh replied as he stood before a computer. "Brashi were unable to thrive in those planets' environments."
The Egyptian lieutenant quickly crouched down to the floor. He grabbed parts of his disassembled firearm and started on reassembling it. Many of the other soldiers followed suit, sliding and attaching parts to their own rifles as well. As they did so, Alaeh touched the screen of the computer monitor. Devon did not fail to notice the small line of white that traveled from Alaeh's finger to the monitor quick as light.
"So- so there are other life forms out in the universe?" Dr. Henderson asked.
Alaeh also touched the CPU, after which it answered, "I did say that, yes."
The computer and monitor powered on, much to almost everybody's surprise except for Devon. The Egyptian finished reassembling his rifle so he trained it on the alien.
"You need not fear me," Alaeh told the group gently without turning to face them. "I am here to... observe the planet."
"Observe it for what?" Devon asked.
"I am to inspect the conditions of all," Alaeh answered.
Devon stared at Alaeh and the computer. The alien had its eyes closed, and the computer and monitor were flickering slightly.
"'The conditions of all'?" Dr. Corheid quoted. "What does that mean?"
Alaeh finished absorbing information from the computer before he answered, "It means that I will be examining the states in which all living beings on Kiorna live."
"'Key-or-na'?" Devon asked then.
As it started to walk around the room, Alaeh elaborated, "Kiorna, yes. You call it 'Earth'. Your name for the planet confuses me, I must confess, due to its meaning."
"You will be studying humans and animals?" Dr. Corheid asked, pensive.
"Yes," Alaeh replied as he stared and walked toward Dr. Henderson. "As well as vegetation."
"What, flowers and fruit?" Devon asked.
"Forests, meadows," Alaeh continued the list, "plains. I will have to survey the magnetic axis points as well. Do you consent to my acquisition of information from you?"
Anxious being measure, Dr. Henderson replied, "Wh-what? Like- like you did with Cadet Hemmel?"
"Alien! Back up!" the American lieutenant shouted.
"To answer your question," Alaeh said to Dr. Henderson warmly, "yes. It is the exact same method of information acquisition that I performed on Devon Hemmel and the device you call a computer. I understand your anxiety, Dr. Henderson, but it is unjust. I will not cause you harm."
Lt. Wynan warned, "Alien, we will not ask again."
But Alaeh was unfazed. It continued, "My touch will alleviate all physical and psychological tension present."
"Soldiers!" the American lieutenant shouted, angry as all hell. "On my mark!"
Alaeh turned its head to face the American, and it softly told him, "Lt. McGregor, it is in your knowledge that your weapons do me no damage. Your efforts are pointless. Dr. Henderson, it is clear in your anxiety that you do not consent to information acquisition. I thank you humbly."
Stunned, everyone in the room watched the being as it walked back toward the bed. Alaeh sat on the bed with its legs crossed, and it closed its eyes.
After a few moments of watching the being, the American lieutenant- Lt. McGregor, stalked over to the computer.
"What are you doing?" Dr. Amoudi asked Lt. McGregor.
"Seeing if we can use this to contact our governments," Lt. McGregor answered as he moved the mouse and clicked repeatedly.
"S'it working?" Lt. Wynan asked him.
Lt. McGregor slammed both his fists on the keyboard. That was his reply. The computer would not do anything.
Devon stepped toward the bed, he stood about three feet from it when he asked, "What are you doing?"
"I am resting my body," Alaeh answered the soldier. "Acquiring information burdens both my mind and body, more so my mind."
"Which is why you fainted after you took my knowledge?" Devon asked.
"Yes," Alaeh replied.
"Then why didn't you faint when you did the same to the computer?"
Alaeh opened its pretty blue eyes and gazed at Devon as it answered, "Acquiring information from a device is significantly less heavy than the process with a living being. More so with a sentient being, due of the emotions that- that cling to memories."
Surprised, Devon asked, "You know the emotions that I felt in memories?"
Alaeh opened its beautiful blue eyes. They shone with sadness, and its face wore an expression of pity. It gazed at Devon with such meaning, and intense empathy.
Alaeh said quietly, emotionally, "There is so much despair in your life, Devon Hemmel. How- how do you cope with it all?"
"What?" Devon asked gently, and he felt a strange desire to grasp the being's hand. "The emotions?"
"Yes," Alaeh breathed. "It- it all laden's the mind. There is so much pain, and sorrow, and fury in your memories, Mr. Hemmel. How do you endure such intense anguish?"
Devon shrugged, shocked by the alien's attitude, and he replied, "Dunno. Just- just always felt these emotions, I guess. Just grew up with it."
"How could-" Alaeh started but had to swallow his threatening-to-fall tears. "How could your mother--"
"--She got her punishment," Devon quickly interrupted the being.
"And- and Mr. Whitall," Alaeh said, and a tear fell from his eye. "He--"
"--I got justice, Alaeh."
"That is the issue, Mr. Hemmel," Alaeh said quietly. "Humanity has grown dark and destructive. Your mother and teacher should not have caused you grievance. The thoughts should not have crossed their minds."
"Like I said," Devon said with a sigh, "the matters have been dealt with. A long time ago, in fact. I've got closure."
Lt. Wynan approached the bed and demanded, "If you mean us no harm, then why have you disabled electricity and communications?"
"That was not my intention," Alaeh responded with an expression of apology. "I assure you. The- the blackout that resulted was the tavki protecting me."
"'Tov-key'?" Devon asked.
"The- the microscopic beings that encase my body are called 'tavki'," Alaeh explained. "They are sentient, and protect me."
Intrigued, Devon asked, "They're what make you impenetrable?"
"There are two things in all of existence that can forcefully penetrate the tavki barrier," Alaeh said. "They are Nemlai, and the Divine."
"So our guns are completely pointless?" Devon asked, almost amused. "But you can call 'em off?"
"Are you asking whether I can deactivate the tavki, even temporarily?" Alaeh responded. "Yes. They are interconnected with them and myself on a- on a telepathic level. I need only think it, and they become useless, lifeless, invisible creatures."
Much to Devon's utter surprise, Alaeh raised its right arm. Alaeh's left arm moved so fast it was a blur. It had grabbed a knife from Devon's belt and flicked the blade out. Within half a second, the edge of the blade slid down Alaeh's forearm. Stark, red liquid seeped out of the fresh wound, and spilled down to the linoleum floor.
"Holy shit," Devon whispered as he watched the incision close and heal as quickly as it formed.
Alaeh then handed Devon the knife back. After Devon grasped the blade, the alien grabbed Devon's pistol. It pointed the barrel to its forearm, where the flesh was once open, and fired a round. The bullet stuck to the skin, crushed, and the flesh was seemingly unmarred.
After the being offered the pistol back to Devon and he accepted, Devon asked, "Wha' happens if the living conditions of organisms are not favourable?"
"From your memories, Mr. Hemmel," Alaeh began solemnly, "I have gathered that much of life on Kiorna is suffering. My acquisition of information from the computer has confirmed much of that."
"So what happens?"
"Conferences with the other nemlai would occur," Alaeh answered. "If we all agree that the conditions are causing great suffering, we discuss... remedies. Solutions."
"The nemlai would come to Earth?" Devon asked. "Kiorna, I mean."
"What is an example of solutions?" Dr. Henderson asked.
"No, Mr. Hemmel," Alaeh answered the soldier. "Nemlai are connected telepathically and emotionally. We need not be in each other's presence during these conferences.
"The most lenient we nemlai have been with a species was guiding their morals. We taught values, and ethics."
Wearily, Devon asked, "And- and most sev-severe solution?"
"Genocide," Alaeh replied easily, as if the word or action meant nothing.
The door to the room flew open at the moment, which caused it to bang loudly against the wall. Devon looked. It was Cadet Carl Peterson, who was one of the six soldiers that took the handcar south, and he was totally out of breath. And sweating so profusely it was like a waterfall off his face. And he wore an expression of urgency.
"Lieutenant," Peterson said, huffing, as he held a device out. "Sat phone... is... working."
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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