Human

     A heavy layer of tension hung in the air as the people of the planet Aukere went about their daily lives. It was hard not to notice the simmering glances that Aukerens shot towards the militant Earthlings in their ridiculous blue and gold life support suits. It was true that the suits were vital for Earth born humans outside the safety of their bases, but that didn’t stop Aukerens from hating everything those suits stood for.  

     The Origin Guard was the Earth’s special Aukere military branch where only Earth born humans were allowed to join. Inside the palatial military bases humans enjoyed luxury, high incomes, and true human prestige. It was a den of overindulged, entitled, and vicious snobs with a metaphorical “no Aukerens allowed” sign that we all resented. Much to our indignation, all Earthlings viewed Aukerens as a lesser subhuman race. I found myself comparing the dark mahogany skin tone and black hair of Aukerens to humans’ natural colors. Hate was born from so little. 

      “What are you looking at gene splice?” The vitriolic voice of a guard made me snap my eyes down and curse myself for having been careless enough to stare at them. Anything more than a glance was just inviting trouble. The crude insult he made about the Aukeren race’s origin burnt a slow molten anger within me.  

     “I apologize sir, I meant no disrespect.” My throat felt tight around the forced words of contrition.  

     “Next time keep your weird reptile eyes off me.” The guard sneered at me disgustedly. It took everything I had to remain passive.

     “It’s called a nictitating membrane.” We both turned to see a congenial looking man smiling benignly. Like most Aukeren men, the man was powerfully built with a very dark skin tone of maroon hues. Although he was the picture of serenity, I knew that he more than anyone held an intimidating amount of resentment towards the Origin Guard and Earthlings.  

     “Ishedus Corliss.” The guard nodded with distaste marring his lips. Ishedus smiled blandly at the guard, because he knew that his position in Aukere as a pira tycoon gave him a good measure of enforced respect among the humans.  

     “If you’ll excuse us, I have some business with him.” Ishedus didn’t wait for the guard to respond, but simply clapped me on the shoulder and led me away.  

     Being in Ishedus’ presence always gave me strength and a stronger sense of pride in myself. He was a giant in the pira industry of mining and exporting, as well as the owner of all the pira foundries. Because of this he held a lot of clout among Earthlings for his wealth and the fact that it was through him that Earth obtained most of its pira.  

     Pira was Aukere’s most precious commodity. It was a mineral not found on Earth, and was intrinsic for building the nuclear fusion reactors that Earth and Aukere relied heavily on for energy. Pira easily withstood the high heat and the speed of the neutrons generated by fusion reaction.  

     “Thanks for saving me back there Ishedus.” I gave my boss a grateful smile and exhaled loudly.  

     “I’m just glad I came upon you when I did.” Ishedus gave my shoulder a squeeze before releasing it and walking companionably beside me.  

     “Gyan, It would be a dangerous thing to attract their attention right now. For the sake of the cause, you must be more careful.”  Ishedus remarked softly.    

     “I promise it, Ishedus.” I vowed, feeling the chill of shame at having been reprimanded by Ishedus. He was right though. It was a delicate time.  

     We made our way to one of Ishedus’ factories and slipped inside. Ishedus’ stride took on a new purpose as he walked into a cavernous space filled with the brothers and sisters of our cause.  

     People quieted and moved aside as our leader Ishedus strode for the makeshift dais set up at one end of the room. It felt good to walk beside him, and as his right-hand man I got many nods of respect as well. 

     Ishedus and I had become close after Ishedus inadvertently learned that my estranged father was actually a human named Bram Roth who held a high position within the English government. My father didn’t keep in touch with my mother Tamah and me, but he had recently contacted me to urge me into becoming a spy in the Aukeren rebellion for the EUN (Earth's United Nations.)  I had vehemently refused. When I told Ishedus he shocked me by telling me I should have taken the deal. His logic was sound though, as he explained that it would have been an invaluable source of intelligence and misdirection against Earth. My blunder haunted me, although Ishedus assured me that he understood why I turned it down.   

     “Brothers and sisters,” Ishedus began, “I am sickened to bring you news of our beloved Emeric Fesler’s removal from his post as viceroy. The rumors were true.” Ishedus was solemn as we all cried out in shock and protest. The heads of the Fesler family had been acting as Earth’s viceroy since the first established colony on Aukere. The Fesler family like all the original colonists had started out human and then made the genetic transition to subhuman in order to flourish on Aukere. A loud chorus of why’s bombarded Ishedus and he calmly held out his hand to stem the outcry.  

     “As we all know Lord Emeric Fesler is an avid Aukeren advocate and has made great efforts in the human rights of Aukerens and the prejudice against us. Earth has declared that the interests of the Fesler family no longer coincides with the interests of Earth’s United Nations, so EUN has decided to take direct governmental control of Aukere with the enforcement of the Origin Guard. Emeric Fesler will be removed and thanked for his services.” Ishedus gazed out at the sea of rebellious Aukerens and reflected their outrage back at them. I could feel my own heart dancing to the rhythm of wrath as I silently shook in rage. How dare Earth remove our only voice.

     “My people! It’s time to protect what’s ours! To prove to those Earth bastards that we are just as human as they are! It’s our duty to our people, to our children, to our future to not sit back and let Earth walk all over us.” Spittle flew from Ishedus’ mouth as his face grew dark with fervor. The crowd cheered their agreement, calling out their existence and their anger to the universe. “It is time for us to FIGHT!”

     “WE! ARE! HUMAN!” We all chanted over and over in unison.  

     It had been three weeks since Ishedus had cut Earth off from all pira related exports. We had reliable information that tomorrow night the Origin Guard would be attacking us. A few moderately successful skirmishes against the Origin Guard had given us confidence against our enemy. It was true the Earth military was better prepared, but we had the upper hand when it came to passion and pure blood lust. Through the battles we had proven that we were serious and that negotiations were no longer an option. Our demands were simple and reasonable. We wanted an EUN allied government ruled by the Fesler family, our full human rights, and the reduction of the Origin Guard.

     “Gyan!” I looked over to where Ishedus was bent over a 3 dimensional map talking urgently to a group of people. “I left the plan copies up in my office right on top of my desk, would you mind?”  

     When I reach his office I see that he’s already remotely unlocked the door for me to enter. I immediately see the pack of plan copies and grab them, but the glow of a mail page floating above his desk catches my attention. I spared a moment to look at it and was shocked by what I saw. It was a message from the EUN addressing three of the storage facilities containing casts of pira that Ishedus had signed over to the Origin Guard. 

     I commanded the mail back to his inbox and began snooping around his letters. I was horrified to learn that Ishedus had been feeding the EUN information about our rebellion. Ishedus had been the one to propose the plan to the EUN in return for a powerful position in the newly formed Aukere government. Earth wanted Ishedus to incite the rebellion so that the EUN could do a surgical removal of the insurgents. And in return the EUN agreed that as long as Ishedus could keep his name unconnected publicly to the rebellion he would be rewarded.  

     A memory formed of Ishedus refusing to be the face of the rebellion. His explanation was logical and charismatic when he told us that the rebellion didn’t belong to one man alone, but to all the men and women who fought for their rights. It belonged to Aukerens.   

     The soft susurration of fabric alerted me to Ishedus standing in the office with me, his face cast in shadow.  

     “It’s very inappropriate to read someone else’s mail. I was wondering what was taking you so long.” Ishedus said blithely while shutting the door behind him.  

     “Is this what I think it is Ishedus?” I was willing him to say something, anything to change the reality of the situation.

     “This makes things easier for me.” Ishedus smiled like the gleam of the knife allowing me to see that the man I thought I knew was a mask. “With your convenient parentage, it won’t be a far stretch for people to see how you sold out your race for your own advantage. Like father, like son.” My mind was a maelstrom of shocked betrayal. This man had been like a hero to me.  

     “You wouldn’t.” I choked out, seeing the pieces fall together too perfectly. I was desperately trying to reconcile this monster with the man I thought I had known for so long.  

     “Well that’s a stupid thing to say. I’m obviously capable of many things you never would have dreamed I’d do. What makes this so different?” He cocked his head inquisitively. “You’ll go down as a traitor to the people you were willing to die for. It’s kind of poetic.”  

     “I don’t understand why you would betray us."  I surreptitiously looked for something to defend myself with or a way out.  

     He guffawed unexpectedly. “Why would I not betray you?! This rebellion isn’t going anywhere. I have nothing real to gain from this. You don’t get respect and power by demanding it like little children holding sticks.” A loud noise from downstairs distracted us.  

     “Damn it, they’re early.” Ishedus muttered in annoyance. I took his moment of confusion to try to lunge past him to the door, but he easily batted me out of the way. He withdrew an energy fusion gun and aimed it calmly at me.  

     “What’s going on?” I demanded as he pressed the priming button and the gun began glowing green. I could hear the savage sounds of battle echoing through-out the building. 

     “It’s the clean-up crew. The Origin Guard is here to squash the rebellion.” He smiled confidently.  

     “So you’re just going to kill me?” I already knew the answer, but I still needed to ask.

     “Don’t get second thoughts now. Weren’t you prepared to die for what you believed in?”

     I glared at him resentfully and shook my head. “I never believed in this. In spite of everything you’re doing to undermine our beliefs, our...no, my people will persevere.” I glared at him viciously, but he wasn’t really listening.

     "You know what? I’m actually a little nervous. I’ve never killed anyone before.” The gun flashed brilliantly in front of my eyes as the soft sound of the laser hitting my body echoed within me.  

     As my senses slowly abandoned me, I heard a beautiful rebel yell, “WE ARE HUMAN!”  

     Our rebellion was only just beginning.