Page 114 of Invasive Species
“But then the Prif ordered the return of the Selthiastocks, saying the experiment was over, it had failed. We hadn't even gotten halfway through; we were meant to see you to full adulthood. But any who refused would see their child arrested and…” She bowed her head. “She made us promise we wouldn't try to look for you, our children, and any attempt would mean your death. I… I had to, Gara, I had no other choice. I did what I thought was best.”
Arra-bellah is ramrod straight listening to her story spooling out around us, and I can't feel anything except the pulse of pain along our bond reminding me I’m alive.
Shara says quietly, “Amashi is one of our best scientists, so I chose her for the experiment of raising Tubers as True Born, and… to prove that Tubers do feel, can think, and are worthy to join our society.”
My mind reels. This is Shara’s plan? The current regime would crumble if Tubers weren't forced to provide labor.
Shara shakes her head, gray and silver hair shivering. “I was naive, moving in the open, and Prif Samara… well.” The All-Mother's smile grows hard. “She has vid feeds and spies everywhere, so here is not the time and place, but it's no secret our theories and methods oppose one another.” She lays a hand over Amashi's. “We are doing what we can,” she soothes her.
Amashi—my mother—takes a shaky breath. “I know. But… Gara, it must have been so hard for you, going through that so young when you didn't understand. I tried to follow your career, pleased when you joined a crew going off world, but news of your exile devastated me. And now…” A sob shakes her fragile frame. “Now I'll never see you again.”
I'm moving before I realize it, wrapping my arms aroundher. She needs comfort, yes, but I need it too. As she clings to me, sobbing quietly into my scales the way I did when I had taken a tumble when I was small. Now I hold her in return.
My mother. Shedidlove me.
“But it does mean I was targeted by the Prif when she saw my record.” I glance at Shara.
“Perhaps,” Shara says. “I’m not entirely sure. But I can't say more, not here, and you're not safe here. You have to leave soon.”
“Please, just… one cycle,” Amashi begs.
Shara gives her a sad look. “It's too risky.”
Shaking her head against me, Amashi regains her composure, and I shield her from view until she does. The Tubers here will tell everyone they meet how they saw a female crying over a clone; they don't need the details.
“How have you been?” I ask her.
She sniffles as she sits next to me, and Arra-bellah reaches across the table to extend her cloth napkin to her. “Thank you, human. I've been… working. We cannot talk much, as Shara says, except… I want you to know you have lots of little brothers.”
“True Born? Congratulations,” I say automatically.
She shakes her head with a small smile, but doesn't correct me verbally. “Thank you. Each are a handful for sure, just as you were. Why, it seems they were born running around until I can settle them.”
The coded message is clear enough for me. She's taking in runaway clones. My mother… wait, my mothers, both of them… they’re working to save as many as they can.
My head swims as if I’m on a spacewalk. They can't openly disobey the Prif, but Amashi and Shara are doing what they can to… what? Improve our lot?
“Thank you,” I tell them, because it seems the right thing to say.
“No, Gara. I'm just sorry it's not enough, not for you,” Amashi says.
“Please do not worry over me.” My gaze slides to my mate. “I find my exile very agreeable.”
Arra-bellah nods firmly. “I'll take very good care of him,” she promises. “I wish I had time to… well, I can do a quick sketch.”
My darling mate produces a marker from somewhere about her person with a flourish, then begins making sweeping marks on the sheet protecting the table. Shara watches with interest.
Amashi touches my hand. “I'm so glad I got to see you again, even if it's for one last time. I always wanted to talk to you, to explain, to help you understand it wasn't your fault, but I know it won't ever be enough. You were part of something big, bigger than both of us, but what mattered to me wasyou.Words can't ever heal what you went through.”
“It… hurt,” I admit. “Knowing I played a part in some experiment that failed didn't help. But now I see the experiment is even bigger than that.”
I glance at the All-Mother and her small smile which hides so much. Shara is a general, but instead of huge battleships, she tweaks circumstances and nudges pieces into place. Am I still just a pawn to her? It’s hard to tell behind her silver smile, giving little away.
But I can tell my mother loves me.
“Ta da!” Arra-bellah says, spreading her hands above her latest creation. It's a black and white image of me and my mother from the chest up sitting at this table, her hand on my forearm, love dancing in her eyes as she looks at me.
I glance at Amashi to see the same expression now. “I love it, thank you,” she says, lifting her eyes to mine. “And I love you.”
