Allison looked over the eulogy she had prepared with Bit the night before she was surprised to see the wording changed. She raised an eyebrow as she paced in her school uniform.
“Bit, this isn’t what we decided, you’ve changed the whole meaning of it, its just supposed to be a small goodbye. I sound like I’m addressing the High Council.”
Bit spoke softly to Allison as the teenager paced back and forth.
“Trust me, it is the proper send off. It has all your sentiments. I want it to be special. I feel I had a part in the birth.”
Allison rolled her eyes.
“Fine, you don’t really ask for much.”
Bit spoke again.
“Speaking of asking for much, would it be too much trouble to use the spring festival of rebirth outfit to it? You look so good in the dark green Qual’sa silk, and the gold and emerald jewelry too. I would skip the makeup; I suspect there may be tears. I believe this is a celebration of rebirth. One life has left this plane of existence, and another has joined it.”
Allison quirked her head to the side.
“You are being very demanding today, but yes, you are right its probably better then my wrinkled school uniform. How did I miss a whole dress?”
Allison retrieved the dress and wandered off to get changed into it. Though now she had to do something with her hair. Thankfully she had her hair clip from Queen Aryna to finish the outfit off. She looked at herself in the mirror. She looked like royalty. Yes, this was better. As Queen Aryna had said, you show respect by looking your best. She pulled out the tablet she was allowed to use on the station and tried to memorize her Eulogy. She was pacing back and forth. She realized Bit had changed it again.
“Bit, stop! I’m trying to memorize this, which is impossible if you keep changing it!”
Bit apologized through the tablet. Allison didn’t know that contrary to Maria’s research, Bit was no simple housewife in life. She didn’t know that Bit was shit at math because Bit had spent her life doing other things, for her husband, the elected leader of the Synthlin. She didn’t know that Bit had spent her life being an oratory coach, a speech writer, and a propagandist. She didn’t know that Bit knew a great deal more about what was going on that day than Allison.
Allison didn’t know a lot about what was going on today. She didn’t know her invitation to Futara, Futama, Leshy, Ember, and the Grand Eminence had spread through the rest of the staff. Nor did she know that it had spread through the patients. Were they coming to see the new human baby, the Battlelord or to help say goodbye to a lonely nineteen-year-old orphan? It was anyone’s guess.
Allison didn’t know that it was tradition for the brothers and sisters of Silwrath to attend the memorial service no matter the distance. No matter what the divide between them. So, she didn’t know that in attendance to her planned quiet memorial service for a girl no one knew would be the Primarch, in person.
She did not know that when the Primarch called off the council meeting due to a death in the family that the story of the human girl who fought so hard just to see her daughter one time before she died had touched the council’s hearts so profoundly that they had put a vote if the day should be a national day of mourning, for the poor girl, and the rest of the humans that died on Yellowstone. She did not know that the Primarch seeing this upwelling of support and wanting to show support for the System’s Alliance had ordered the proceedings broadcast, including to the League schools.
She didn’t know that Bit wanting to include T’hyl and the friends of Mary from the Old Places, would offer to send live feed to the embassy via hyperwave. She didn’t know that when T’hyl asked for permission to keep the children back from school so they could watch and take part by having their own service. She didn’t know that the Headmistress would misunderstand that it was a memorial service for all of the victims of Yellowstone, with Mary being used as the proxy for them. So, she suggested instead of that, they hold an assembly which the embassy staff were more than welcome to attend where the whole school could mourn.
Allison didn’t know that word spread that she would be doing a memorial service for the victims of the Sal’nash throughout the Andromeda Sector Board of Education. She didn’t know that all of the schools in her home galaxy would be attending via live holofeed. She didn’t know that each of the other boards in the other galaxies had followed suit. That the eyes and ears of every child who was in school in the System’s Alliance would witness this, small, intimate memorial.
She did not know that the various churches heard about it from the teachers, and each scheduled a memorial service, featuring a live feed of her eulogy. It did not matter if they believed in Budha, The Dark Mother, Christ, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, this was a chance to mourn this tragic loss and find closure. Yellowstone had been the worst attack in so long. The only monsters to hate were ravenous bugs, not humans.
Allison had no clue that System’s Alliance Media Relations, their propaganda arm had heard that she was doing a memorial for Yellowstone, a hero of the System’s Alliance, doing a memorial and they hadn't been consulted? It was too late now. Maria was consulted she decided that some closure would be good for the System’s Alliance. So, she declared a national day of morning for the next day. Now all of the media companies were trying to beg, borrow and steal access to this feed.
She didn’t know that on a distant station at the edge of League space, a Yorleer of legendary flexibility and cooking skills would see the broadcast and silence everyone in the bar. She didn’t know that the Yorleer would buy everyone a round, to toast Mary.
Allison was in the dark about her Babu receiving a message about a day of mourning on his tablet while he shared a bed with an empress. How he had sent a memo to his entire fleet about the broadcast. She had no idea that the empress would see who was making the speech and ask Allison’s Babu for access to the feed, so her people could share in the System’s Alliance grief. Allison wouldn’t see the broadcast on the Ratoan state network, showing her with the banner running underneath future empress of Ratoa?
She would not know that her voice would be so amplified by one trillion screens, one thousand worm holes, ten thousand hypercomms, that one of those screens would belong to a researcher who was billions of light years away who happened to point his experimental FTL comm dish in the right direction at the right time. She would not know that it was the first proof they had of alien life. That her words would take a century to translate. That her message would reach their ears and their hearts would feel the same weight of sorrow hers did.
Allison did not know that that same amplified signal would reach the deepest of darknesses. That an ancient evil would be roused from her brooding slumber by a single low-resolution image of Allison. She did not know that her reckoning was at hand.
All Allison knew was that she was going to do the best she could for Mary. Because though she barely knew the girl. Everyone deserved her best. She was going to eulogy the hell out of this eulogy, Mary deserved it. She paced back and forth checking the tablet every few minutes to verify she remembered what she remembered it was a damn long speech. Allison drank a glass of water, took a deep breath and headed towards the observation lounge Leshy had loaned her.
Everything was prepared just as she’d ask, but there were a lot more people then she expected. She was shocked to see the Primarch standing shoulder to shoulder with the Grand Eminence. Ember was beside her husband holding baby Allie. Allie was looking around the room curiously. Allison couldn’t help thinking the baby seemed a little too ‘with it’ for a one day old. Futara and Futama were standing beside Ember.
The room was filled out by every patient who could make it, every staff member who could be spared. A lectern from the lecture hall had been set up here. In the center of the room lay Mary’s slime filled sarcophagus. Allison couldn’t help noticing how peaceful Mary looked in her lingering death. She looked like she was sleeping and could wake at any moment. The Dark Mother pendant Mary had clung to until she died had been placed on the center of the slime sarcophagus’s glass top.
Allison looked around. She was feeling a bit shy but remembered she’d addressed the entire League council, a few staff and patients she should be able to do, and this was for Mary if she could go through so much to see her baby be born, the least Allison could do was brave her stage fright.
“Hello everyone, I am sorry, I wasn’t expecting such a big response. Thank you for coming.”
Allison stepped up to the lectern.
“We are here to celebrate the life of Mary Elizabeth. When I was trying to prepare this eulogy, I found myself at a loss. She deserves to be known. She deserves to be heard. She deserves to be remembered.
Mary was born as many of us are since the Grey came to our world. In a Genesis Pod. She was adopted by a couple. This is where things went wrong for Mary. I say wrong, not because I think Mary would wish for a different life because then her daughter would not have existed. I say wrong because if the people that needed to pay attention were paying attention it would not have happened. The couple that adopted her were part of a cult. A radical faction of Christianity that believed women should serve men. If you wish to know more, I will be happy to explain it outside of this event. This is not about religious strife this is about Mary. Mary was married to an eighty-year-old man at the age of fourteen. She had three sister wives as she called them. Because of how she was raised she believed this was normal human behavior, it is not.
Mary was victimized by my government several times. They gave her to people; I would not call parents. No mother puts their child through such things. No father lets a man touch their child. My government ignored that she hadn’t attended school or been for a medical checkup. My government knew how sick Mary was, they did nothing, instead they rushed to press her into signing her child over to them, she was uneducated and could not read. She had no experience with such things. My government prevented me from reaching her in time for her to receive medical attention to repair the damage to her brain. My government’s outdated and frankly insane reaction to nanotech robbed her of life saving medical treatments. My government failed her in the worst ways.
Mary needed a government that would look out for the life they created. She needed a government that wasn’t so stuck in the past about a mistake made a thousand years ago by primitive humans who had no comprehension what they were dealing with that they would reject the next leap in medical science, nanotechnology. She needed a government who would not let corruption and greed allow thirty Genesis Pod children to be funneled to a cult by one selfish man. She needed a government that had a heart.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Mary Elizabeth had three fears near the end that she confided in me as I prepared an emergency blind wormhole transit. Her first was that her child would die before her, her second was that she would die before her child, the last was that her child would be given to the same heartless and soulless bureaucracy that had left her in my starfighter having contractions wondering if they would both die before I could reach this station. That had left her with monsters that would have her married off at fourteen to an abusive controlling man.
I promised her I would make sure her daughter was loved. I promised her that her daughter would live in a world where she had limitless possibilities. She would be cared for by loving parents. I promised her my friends in the League and their government would make sure her child was cared for.
I have been told several times by friends new and old that her daughter, Allison, would be taken to the League’s Hall of Heroes and she would be shown my statue, that they would tell her, that is Allison Wanjala, she saved you. She held you just after you were born. She gave you your first bottle.
That statue should be Mary Elizabeth. She is a true hero. She wanted to see and hold her child. She left humanity behind. She cast herself into the cold void of space on the one hope that her daughter would know who she was. Know that she was loved by her mother with all her heart. She wanted her daughter to have a better life than she had. Mary put her faith in us. That if she made that leap, we would catch her. There were no guarantees, no guardrails, no navigation beacons, just faith. She made that leap. That is true courage.
We can learn a lot from Mary. When we are lost. When all we feel is pain. When things are their darkest. We can remember that Mary endured agonizing pain as her brain started to bleed, as the pressure built up. As her nervous system made it feel like she was being burnt alive. As she forced herself to remain conscious so that her daughter would see her mother smile for just one brief moment. If Mary can do that for her daughter, then we can do that for each other. We can endure any torment, just to bring one small spark of light into this universe. We can push ourselves beyond our limits to ensure that love will win the day.
We mourn for this young woman. We can see ourselves in her. We can relate to her struggle. We look at her in this living-death. Caught at that instant between life and death. It is easy to let despair win out. It is easy to see this as only a tragedy. It is easy to see her condition as a terrible curse.”
Allison walked down to the slime sarcophagus and stood beside it looking down at it.
“It is very easy to look upon her and say to ourselves: How horrific. Why would they do such a thing? Just let the poor child rest. What monsters are these that they keep her dead heart beating, keep her dead lungs filling with air. We have to remember that this isn’t Mary Elizabeth. This is a shell, an empty shell, she has left this body behind.
Most importantly we have to remember that she asked for this not so she could exist in some limbo between life and death, hoping beyond hope some miracle of science can bring her back. No this she had done to herself in a simple act of motherly love. She did this so that her daughter would have her milk for as long as she needed it. Of course, the League could synthesize it, but hers is always going to be better for her child.
I consider her condition a fate worse than death. This beautiful soul chose a fate that most sane sentient beings would consider worse than death so that her daughter would have a mother’s milk. Show me someone who has sacrificed more.”
Tears dropped down Allison’s cheeks.
“We are not just here to mourn this blessed mother. We are here to celebrate the new life she has brought into this world. I chose this dress because it is the dress a Qual’sa royal would wear to their festival of renewal. A celebration of new life springing forth from the death of the old. Mary would not want us to be sad. She would want us to look at her daughter. She wouldn’t want us to see her death as an ending, but a new beginning for this child who she knew only briefly but loved more than life itself.
I was trying to avoid religious references in this eulogy, but I feel I must speak of the Dark Mother because Mary turned to her in her last hours. We believe that the Dark Mother is the mother to all things. Her holy book has many things to say on the subject of motherhood. I will not list them; I do not wish to use up the day. She does say, every mother is a goddess. For they create and nurture new life. She also says that a true mother will do anything for their children. I want to believe that the Dark Mother was holding Mary’s hand across from me as Mary struggled to bring her daughter into this world.
I am going off script now, I am sorry. Mary’s last words were: She is surrounded by love. She never forgets me. Then she was gone. She had this look on her face. Like she had experienced a moment of true bliss. Like she knew it was time to let go. As the light of life left Mary’s eyes my heart broke. I was broken. I was sinking into this dark pit of despair then I felt this cold touch on my cheek.”
Allison’s hand touched her cheek absently.
“It was exactly how my adoptive mother, Apiyo cups my cheek. Then I saw a reflection of the back of my… biological mother’s head in the window across from me. I really want to believe that my mother, the Dark Mother showed Mary, little Allison’s future. That Mary saw her daughter grow up surrounded by love and that her daughter never forgot her. That on her way out she reached out to touch me as if to say, Mary is at peace.”
Tears started falling from Allison’s eyes again.
“I’m sorry, I’m not usually this emotional. I’ll go back to the prepared eulogy so I can start making sense again.”
Allison wiped away her tears and stood behind the lectern again.
“We need to remember that Mary is just one of the 3353 people who lost their lives when the Sal’nash attacked the colony. There will be more. The same condition that ended Mary’s life is affecting so many more. I hope beyond hope that my government recognizes that the best hope to cure these poor souls is nanotechnology from our friends in the League. I hope that there are no more like Mary Elizabeth. I hope that her senseless death is the wake up call my government needs.
I have done my best to tell Mary Elizabeth’s story and truth. I hope others will do the same for the rest of those that died at Sal’nash hands. I pray that no more children lose their parents to the Sal’nash.”
Allison moved over to Ember and opened her arms to take baby Allison. Ember handed the baby to her and Allison held her in her arms.
“I have arranged a symbolic goodbye for Mary, her soul is free, but her body still has work to do. Please, join me at the observation window for a final send off.”
Allison held the baby up so she could see the planet below. Allie reached out her small hands trying to touch it. Bit launched a single black torpedo into the planet’s atmosphere. She spoke again.
“Mary, we commit your energy to the universe. We hope that you rest in peace and that when this planet collides with its sister planet it is your light that sparks a new star so that the entire universe will see your light and know that you lived. May you never be forgotten.”
Primarch Rubina stood beside Allison and spoke so everyone could hear her.
“This world is now called Mary’s world. A memorial world to all who have died to Sal’nash. A beacon will be placed. It will list all of the names of those who were lost on Yellowstone. Mary’s name will be the first. It will be dedicated in the name of my niece, Allison. A recording of the Battelord’s sendoff will be attached. We must all strive to live up to the strength and courage shown by this young human who left us too soon.”
*****
Maria sighed as the memorial ended. Eyre glanced at her Aunt.
“Do you think she has any clue what she has just done?”
Maria stood up and pulled off her jacket then hung it on her desk chair. Her fingers began to stroke the old worn crucifix.
“I have no idea.”
Maria shook her head.
“Her trip to the past changed her. She had everyone in that room hanging off of her every word. She knew how to stand. How to hold her shoulders. How to engage her audience. This was broadcast across the System’s Alliance. If even thirty percent of the population… She is the best parts of Enid and Amee, and now she knows how to use them.”
Eyre sat on the edge of Maria’s desk and crossed her arms.
“We, meaning you are going to have a lot of questions to answer. I wonder if we can get Allison to write your speech?”
“I wonder. Do you think we are losing her to the League?”
Eyre smiled.
“No, she loves her mom. I do think she is rightfully pissed at the System’s Alliance. It will not be long until she starts outright ignoring orders and doing what she thinks is right. I was half expecting her to threaten bloody vengeance on the Sal’nash. Then System’s Alliance Social Services. It is a shit policy to not let mothers who are giving their children up for adoption see and hold their children.”
Maria held up her hand with her fingers spread apart.
“Not my doing. That is all the Director of Social Services. I think it is a sign we need a change of leadership. God help me. I am going to need to fire some people. Maybe even charge some with crimes. I cannot believe someone thought a girl who could not read and had never gone to school would comprehend the legal text of one of our adoption agreements. She should have had an advocate. God, please forgive me for letting this happen under my watch.”
Eyre snickered.
“I don’t think he’s listening Aunt Maria. He’s too busy trying to figure out how to out propaganda your niece and her religious experiences.”
Maria stroked her crucifix again.
“Do you think it was Enid?”
Eyre shrugged.
“Would she have kept someone alive long enough to see their child born? Yes. Would she have visited one of us children and not at least shown herself… well I guess she did. I’m still on the fence but I don’t know why she wouldn’t just tell Allison.”
Maria frowned.
“It does not matter. We have much bigger things to worry about. I need you to spin up a new corporation, no ties to us, use it to open up a clinic on Ratoa. It needs to look like it has been in the plans for a while, and I asked them to do it. I will ask Allison to speak with the Primarch and ask for a supply of nanites that can cure the neural degeneration, but it cannot be obvious. Make it look like we are trying to conceal it. Leak it to the press. Make it clear to the empress if she agrees to the clinic, we will agree to let Amani be her consort. Old fool will be ecstatic. He threatened to resign if he could not get approval. Well, he gets his wish thanks to the insanity his granddaughter incited.”
Eyre nodded.
“As devious as ever Aunt Maria. Make it look like you were trying to do the right thing but because it skirted the laws were keeping it secret so you could just help people. Our benevolent president. Sure, I will do it, but you promise me you will send Olga after that bastard that sold our Genesis pod kids to a cult.”
“If you think Olga has not already started digging, you do not know her very well. This is the kind of thing she does on her own, for fun.”
Eyre pushed herself up.
“Well, time to go make a conspiracy nut’s day.”
*****
“Welcome to the Truth Today. I feel like for today’s episode all I need to do is replay the eulogy given for this Mary girl by Ms. Wanjala. What a banger. Preach it sister. Preach the truth from the highest mountain. It had it all. Corruption, abuse of power. Governmental neglect. Out of the mouth of babes, am I right?
I dedicate this episode to Mary Elizabeth. Did you notice how Ms. Wanjala never once used the young woman’s surname? Look at the shade. She is saying to everyone, if you neglect your child, if you abuse your child, you aren’t their parents, you don’t deserve to be named.
Ms. Wanjala left us a lot of breadcrumbs. So, we followed them right into the gingerbread house of one Mr. George Attison. Mr. George Attison a lifelong bureaucrat with the System’s Alliance Adoption Lottery. This stinking pile of human garbage is the one name on every single one of the identified children’s official adoption forms. Mr. Attison is what is called a lottery officiant he draws the names and then should be passing them on to someone else to do the actual adoption processing, and vice versa. Mr. Attison found a way to game the system. His schemes were so easy to uncover, the only way he could have been getting away with them was outright incompetence in the department’s internal checks and balances team, or he was paying someone off to look the other way. Either way, I suggest the System’s Alliance take a long hard look at all of his adoptions. Just how many sexual predators have bought children from him? Shame on you System’s Alliance.
This one is a doozy. We have just found out that the President has been in secret negotiations with her counterpart in the League for access to nanites to cure the neural degeneration found to be prevalent in the survivors of the Yellowstone massacre. Nanites are illegal in the System’s Alliance and have been since before it existed as one entity. How is she going to make this work? She is going to use a neutral third-party world, Ratoa for the clinic. How crazy are our laws, that our commander in chief has to do an end run around them to see to it that our citizens receive lifesaving treatments? Good on you Madam President, good on you. If I were able to vote for you I would. You have always been good people. It is a shame you’re shackled by the Board and archaic laws. Maybe it’s time we disband the board? Maybe it’s time we kick this corporate run government to the curb.