Shel

I woke up later than I had planned. The lights were bright in the room to mimic daylight, but outside my window was dark space and streaks of bright stars. I sat up and rubbed my head. For a moment, I thought last night's events were just a dream. First Vai's spirit lit up in his green light telling me that the Vai body was a clone and that he was a clone too. Then my father called into my okulus and the okulus answered without me telling it to. I didn't know it was my father until he started to speak. It was just a strange call from nowhere.

I had a hard time falling asleep after that. I had crept passed my mother after the call to check on Minmin. My little furry friend was wrapped in Esther's long arms. Both were asleep. Both spoke in their sleep. Minmin called out to her mother. Esther called out for her little brother. I had left them without disturbing them. I had intended to tell them both about Vai before they logged into the ansible for school. Looking at my okulus now, I was too late. They would be in school.

My door slid open as I stepped into the living quarters. It was empty. The blanket my mother used at night was folded and placed nicely under the glass table. I wasn't sure where my mother disappeared to during the day. I always assumed she was tracking our next target.

I went to the girls's room and peeked inside. They were both on the bed with their respective okuli wrapped around their heads. I left them there and got an algae shake. I didn't mind the taste of the algae. I know most of the other alien species got sick of the aftertaste quickly, but I was fine with it. It reminded me a little bit of home.

When I finished with the shake, I reshaped the okulus and fit it around my head. I sat on the couch. I wanted to be able to tell Minmin and Esther what happened with Vai as soon as possible. I thought about not telling Minmin about her mother. I wasn't sure I could trust my dad, but the way he was cut off - like the Corruption didn't want him to relay that information to me - made me think it was true. My dad hadn't mentioned Minmin's dad. I assumed that meant the Corruption had him now like they did with my own dad.

I logged into the ansible and looked at the academy coursework I had for the day. It was difficult to decide what I wanted to specialize in. I was leaning towards Jo-Dinun like my mother, but I also thought Gathering command might be good. I knew people would compare me to my dad if I did that and I didn't want that. If I became a Jo-Dinun, I would be compared to my mom so perhaps neither choice was good.

The coursework was almost completed when I heard Minmin and Esther come out of the room. I logged out of the ansible and took the okulus off my head.

"Hi," Minmin said to me as she got an algae apple for her and Esther. Esther took hers from Minmin's small hands and immediately took a bite.

"What's wrong?" Minmin asked me.

Esther's eyes turned to me. She scanned me up and down as if trying to see what Minmin saw. I didn't think she would see it. Minmin knew me too well.

"Esther, may I have a moment with Minmin?"

Esther's eyes turned from me to Minmin - to me and back to Minmin.

"Okay," Esther said slowly and filled with suspicion. She went back into their bedroom.

"What's wrong?" Minmin asked again. She came around to stand in front of the table.

It didn't feel right to tell her this while sitting so I stood. "So, there are a couple of things, but only one pertains directly to you. The rest I'll tell everyone."

"Okay. What is it?"

I took the uneaten algae apple from her hand and placed it on the table.

"My dad called me last night from an unrecognizable number. My okulus answered it even though I didn't."

"Is that possible?"

"Well, he did it so it must be somehow. I don't think he was using his okulus." I paused here. "I don't know if I should admit this. I've tried to call his okulus after the Armstar disappeared. I just wanted to know if he was alive - if he had something to do with what happened. His okulus isn't registered with the Gathering anymore. My calls wouldn't go through."

"So what did he say? Were you able to ask him your questions? Did he say anything about my parents."

I took in a deep breath. She noticed. Her mouth pinched.

"I didn't have time to ask him any questions. Minmin, I'm sorry. He said your mother died. He said she resisted the Corruption until she died. He said she was a hero."

Great tears welled in her green eyes. A tear spilled onto her cream colored fur. "What about my dad?"

"He didn't mention your dad. That was all he said before he got cut off."

Another tear spilled onto her fur. The fur under her eyes quickly became wet and matted to her checks. "Do you believe him?"

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"I don't think he would have been cut off like that if he had been saying what the Corruption wanted him to say. I believe him."

A quiet high-pitched sound came from her throat. She wrapped her arms around my waist in a hug. I put one hand on her back and the other on top of her head between her long, floppy ears.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

She turned away from me rapidly, unexpectedly. I wondered what I did wrong.

"Why don't you have any fur?" She muttered in between sobs.

"Minmin," I said.

She turned back to me and hugged me again. I stroked the fur on top of her head.

There was a knock at the door.

"It must be Owen and Vai," Minmin said. She pulled away and wiped at her wet cheeks.

Vai. Clone Vai who was wrong inside.

"Is it obvious I was crying?"

I nodded. She couldn't just brush her fur and make it dry.

"We should tell them what happened," I said.

She nodded. Esther peeked her head out from the bedroom.

"Can I come out now?"

I nodded. "Answer the door."

Esther's eyes lingered on Minmin's wet fur as she went to open the door.

"Hello, my friends," Owen said warmly from the door frame. He paused as he looked at Minmin. Vai and Warpaint came up behind Owen. "What's wrong?" Owen asked.

"Come in," I said. They stepped inside and the door slid shut behind them.

I told them about my dad's phone call and Minmin's mom. Esther and Owen hugged her at the same time. Vai hesitated before he took a few slow steps to Minmin and patted the top of her head awkwardly.

"She was a hero," Warpaint said proudly. "Captain Svolun said so himself. You can be proud little Starwatcher, friend of Vai."

Esther pulled Minmin to the couch as she held the Starwatcher close to her. Minmin nodded to Warpaint's words with her head buried in Esther's shoulder.

I had hoped to tell them about Vai being a clone and that the real Vai - even though he was a clone too - was still around, but I couldn't announce that with the other Vai right there. How was I going to inform them that this other Vai was going around killing innocent K'thaktra?

"I found the Awakened One last night," Esther said as she still held Minmin.

"What did he say?" Owen asked. He sat next to Minmin on the couch.

"He told me where he was. Well, not exactly, but I'll find it like I did last time." She looked at Vai. "I know El and Lieutenant Commander Ma'amaloa won't like it, but can I try to open the light inside you?"

It wouldn't work. The light was with the real Vai and he had said this other Vai was incomplete.

"Yes," Vai said. "It's bothering me that I don't have it."

I looked at Warpaint's head. The real Vai was there watching all this craziness without anyone but me knowing.

Esther untangled herself from Minmin and stood to face Vai. She placed one hand on his forehead and the other circled to the back of his head. Minmin sniffed loudly and wiped away at the tears that matted her fur. It seemed like she was done crying. At least for the moment.

Esther closed her eyes. Vai closed his. I looked at Warpaint again. There wasn't any sign of Vai's green light, but I knew he was there. Esther opened her eyes.

"There isn't any sign of your light," she said quietly.

Vai frowned. He looked at the ground and shrugged. "My father said it was gone. I guess he was right."

"Maybe if - " Everyone looked at me. "Maybe if we all go into our spirit selfs using the light - maybe if you really concentrate, Vai, maybe you'll find a hint of your light." I lied. His light was all with the real Vai, but I wanted to use this opportunity for everyone else to discover the real Vai too.

"I guess it couldn't hurt," Vai said. He sat down in one of the chairs. Esther, Minmin and Owen were on the couch. I sat in the other chair across the table from Vai's chair. I closed my eyes and used my purple light to lift out of myself. Minmin, Esther and Owen immediately followed.

Real Vai came out of Warpaint like he had the previous night.

"What the hell," Esther said as her spirit self surrounded by her pink light skittered backwards.

"I haven't had time to tell them what you told me last night," I said to real Vai.

"What's going on?" Owen's head swiveled from the other Vai to the real Vai several times.

Vai wasted no time explaining to them about the clones and that Other Vai was incomplete. He told them how Other Vai had killed a K'thaktra and that he was already planning his next K'thaktran victim.

"We should tell your father," Minmin said.

Other Vai's fingers tapped his thighs impatiently. His brown eyes opened into narrow slits as he looked at each of our still bodies. He closed his eyes again.

Except, I've told you all highly classified information. I'm not sure how my father will react to that. I also don't think he will know of a way to get me back inside my body - Other Vai's body. I'm not in his Laumalie preserver and my father seemed stumped by that.

"We'll tell my mother and Lieutenant Tanpo," I said. "I don't think they will be able to get you back into your body, but they can at least try to help us stop Other Vai."

"This is so weird," Owen said. "I knew you - or I guess Other Vai - wasn't quite right. You wouldn't ignore my call."

No. I wouldn't. I was angry with him for ignoring your call, but he can't hear me. Warpaint can't hear me either. I'm relieved you can hear me at least.

Other Vai peeked his eyes open again. A small sigh escaped his lips before he closed his eyes.

Esther looked mortified. She hadn't recovered from the initial thought of the different Vais. That was all I thought it was, but Minmin thought differently.

"Esther? What's wrong?"

"What if my family is still out there somewhere floating around as spirits? What if they are trapped? I abandoned them. They are alone."

No. I'm the one that's different. I think because I'm a clone. I'm sure your family has passed on to where they should be. They aren't suffering.

"Are you sure?" Esther asked. A tentative hope slowly spread over her face at Vai's words.

I know I'm different.

Esther nodded. "I'll accept that for now. The thought that they are trapped somewhere is too horrible."

"So, we need to stop Other Vai from killing anymore," Owen said. "And get you back into your body."

Other Vai stopped pretending. His dark eyes opened fully. He rubbed the palms of his hands over his thighs as he waited for us.

I don't know that is possible. I might be stuck like this forever.

"I'll ask the Awakened One," Esther said. "He knew you were dead even when I insisted you weren't. He told me the breathing Vai was fake. He told me your light shouldn't disappear no matter how injured you were. He told me to try to bring out the light again in Vai. If I couldn't find the light, Vai was a fake. He was right."

Thank you, Esther.

"Do you know when Other Vai plans to kill another K'thaktra?" Owen asked.

No. He doesn't talk much to Warpaint. He internalizes his plans.

"Don't worry, Vai," Minmin said. She took Vai's spirit hand in hers. "We'll get this figured out and get you back into your body."

Thank you, Minmin. I'm sorry about your mother. Thank you, all of you. I'm not alone anymore.