Liberi

[Lord Palatine]

Liberi
(Categories: Fan Favorites, Best Original Work)

People had conquered space or so the historians would have them believe. The reality was there just wasn’t the space on earth anymore so colonies had been sent out to find more and gotten lost. But that was so long ago no one remembered. And the historians on Liberi had created a different version of the truth. To have them tell it the people that were had eagerly left Earth to find new civilizations.  Then, deciding their self sustaining space crafts were enough, chose instead to live indefinitely floating through space and raising their families there. Only there was an unforeseen problem. Something about being in space for that long had mutated human’s genes. The percentage of disabled children born increased year after year until nearly every child was born “incomplete” as the ship’s elders put it. The resources it took to care for these children nearly consumed the ship. No one could find a reason or a cure. Eventually The Elders stepped in. The incomplete children were taken away, “rehabilitated” and never seen again. Rumors flew around the ship but no one knew for sure what happened to them except The Elders, and they weren’t talking. The scientists on the ship put all their time into finding a “cure” for preventing more disabilities and eventually found a way to extract the mutated genes without harming the fetus. This discovery nearly came too late. The population had been steadily declining with no new children being born. Those that were not already married were paired up and ordered to procreate. There was no romance to making a child anymore. Babies were created in petri dishes where scientists could extract the faulty genes as they grew. Pregnancy became illegal without The Elder’s approval and those who did not comply were treated like all other criminals aboard the ship.

The room is freezing but then again, most rooms on the ship were freezing at one time or another. Cameras face the four of them from every wall. They know the priests and The Elders are talking about them from another room. Occasionally a red light comes on that shows they are recording. They haven’t said a word to each other, the four of them. The youngest sits crying. She can’t be more than 12 or 13. Next to her sits a stoic woman. Her jaw locked as she glares at the camera. The third could be stone she sits so still. The fourth woman paces. Occasionally stopping to put a hand on her slightly bulging stomach. She rubs it absentmindedly, obviously farther along than the rest of them.

They wait as the time ticks on and on. The sobbing from Youngest continues. Stoic looks like she is about to say something to her then reconsiders. Pacer gives up and sits on the last empty chair though sitting makes her fidgety. The stone woman’s eyes finally flick to the door as it opens slowly.

The priest enters. All the camera lights flick on suddenly. The priest tries to look grim as he shakes his head but it is obvious to the four women then he is trying hard not to smile. “The trial is over. The decision final.”

Youngest sobs even louder, her entire body shaking. The rest do not react. For Stoic it is a show of defiance. The other two had seen this before. There was never reprieve. They must be made an example.

The priest makes a show of explaining their fate. “You know this is the way of things. You cannot commit a crime and expect not to suffer the consequences. There is a law and an order to things on this ship or else we would all be like animals. No exceptions. No reprieve. You are all criminals in the eyes of the ship and The Great Master Above. Your insatiable appetites lead you astray and you cannot be allowed to infect others. Your carnal inclinations have been punished by The Master who has handed down His judgment through the great Elders of this ship.”

That was why they are here, the four of them. All pregnant without permission. All waiting to be condemned. They know nothing about each other, are not allowed to speak in their own defenses. Turned in by family or friends for the most part who hoped to gain favor by showing their adherence to the rules. All four have received their sentence.

The priest fluffs his chest as he sits in the only comfortable chair in the room. “My dear ladies,” He flutters,” It is now time to absolve yourselves of your sins before the end.” He motions at Youngest expecting her to talk, but she continues sobbing. Instead Stoic opens her mouth, not waiting for his permission.

“I cannot tell you my name as the powers that be have stolen my identity and threatened my family if I pretend to be human anymore…”

The priest looks worriedly at the cameras….

“…. But you all need to hear this. I was one of those unlucky ones. One who couldn’t find a man for myself so one was found for me. We didn’t like each other much though we tried to make it work. Had three kids like we were supposed to. After a while he couldn’t take it anymore and he… left us.”

Even Youngest stops crying and stares at Stoic. On a ship when you want to walk away from your responsibility there is nowhere really to go… except out.

“One night after a shift at the bar I work at I was ambushed by three drunk guys. They did this to me. I don’t know which the father is. Didn’t really get a chance to ask.”

“Yes that’s quite enough,” stammers the priest

“No, I’m not done. I’ve seen enough of these to know where this is going. You parade all of us out here and try to make an example of us by having us tell how immoral we are. You’d think you would have learned by now it’s your system that messed up. Your methods don’t work. You keep telling us this is the answer and it just isn’t. Even when we do what you want us to. Well listen to me now all you sickos getting your jollies by watching this. I’m not the only one here that is getting the shaft. Plenty of you are going to be here, just you wa…..”

The dart catches her in the neck and she falls heavily to the floor.

Stone, Pacer and Youngest stare at her body. The priest lets them and the audience take a long look before he continues.

“Well after that interesting display…. We need to move on. Are you ready yet my dear?” He smiles at Youngest. She nods, terrified.

“My name is… wait, I’m not supposed to tell my name. Me and my boyfriend, we were... We didn’t know. They just said ‘don’t do it’ but never said what it was. We were alone one day and it just… it felt good”

With that she breaks into a fresh round of sobs. Pacer moves as if to put her arm around her but a look from the priest stops her. Pacer and Stone share a glance. They had both been there as well. Abstinence only education in school. Those who were not lucky enough to have parents that would talk about it were often left… well, here.

The priest gives Youngest an exasperated look and motions to Stone. She takes a deep breath.

“My husband and I, we met in school, fell in love and got married. We have four beautiful children. We are very lucky to have them and love them with all our hearts.” Stone speaks directly to the cameras, her voice breaking. “ This was an accident. We were both sterilized following the birth of our daughter 7 years ago but guess we are just very unlucky.”

Stone opens her mouth like she is going to say more, then shuts it suddenly. The priest glares down at her as if daring her to continue. Stone and Pacer both know it will do no good. Speaking out will put Stone’s family at risk so she stays silent.

Pacer starts talking quickly.

“I am 15 years old though I look older. My dad thought so too. The baby is my father’s. He comes to my room sometimes at night. I wasn’t sterilized because they would ask why when I am so young and he didn’t want my mom to know…”  She can’t keep going.

Stone takes Pacer’s hand in hers with tears in her eyes. Youngest has stopped crying. The priest looks furious. He struggles with his words

“As you all have obviously… The Elder’s in all their knowledge…The Master has declared you unfit and given you damaged children. You all know the punishment for this.” His voice raises to a squeal.

“There can be no exceptions! You have been judged! You should not have taken your course and The Great Master is frowning down upon you.”

The cameras are whirring excitedly. The priest stands to leave. “I will pray for your souls,” he says as he walks toward to door.

“As we will yours,” says Stoic, nearly imperceptive.

The priest pauses but does not turn. The door shuts behind him.

Stoic, Pacer and Youngest all turn and hold hands. Over the loud speaker they hear the voices of the priest and the Elders reciting The Great Master’s prayer. The cameras are still filming them as they walk defiantly to the double doors on the far side of the room. A loud clang announces their opening.

“How bright the stars are…” Pacer says.

And the abyss rises to meet them.