CHAPTER 25
Calluvia didn’t have winters. It didn’t have deserts or wastelands. The weather was perfect most of the year. The surface was green and lush, ridiculously tall trees everywhere.
Harry had always loved this about his home planet, but now he couldn’t help but notice how artificial it was. All of this was genetically engineered from the remains of extinct plants, and millions of agricultural robots looked after it. The planet looked vibrant and perfect on the surface, but it wasn’t natural.
Harry wondered what Calluvia would look like if his people didn’t interfere with the natural order of things. The lovely gevishku tree he was sitting under had been extinct for a million years before the geneticists decided to bring it back just because it was so pretty. Was it right?
Similarly, the throwback gene he was carrying would have never existed if the geneticists hadn’t interfered with the natural order of things. The surl’kh’tu were long extinct, but here he was, a throwback to ancient times.
Harry leaned his cheek against the tree’s smooth trunk and closed his eyes. He wondered if the tree was empty on the inside, too. Was it lonely, because it didn’t really belong here? Could it feel pain? Or was it just numb by now?
“…Harry!”
Harry flinched and looked up.
His father was frowning at him, a look of great concern in his eyes, which made Harry wonder how long his father had been trying to get his attention. It had been happening a lot lately. Too often.
A shiver ran up Harry’s spine. Was he going to disappear into his head one day and never come back? He hoped it wouldn’t end that way. He didn’t want to be some kind of vegetable. A death would be preferable.
To his relief, his father didn’t comment on his lack of reaction. He sat next to Harry on the bench and looked at the fountain opposite them.
They sat in silence for a while.
“You were a surprise to us,” his father said at last, his voice quiet and contemplative. “When your mother found out she was pregnant, she didn’t want you. She argued that we already had the heir, and Sanyash was the spare. She insisted that she had no time for another child.” His father smiled. “But I knew her. She was simply thrown off her balance. You know your mother likes to calculate her actions ahead of time. Ksar and Sanyash’s births had been meticulously planned. She had specifically chosen the main traits she wanted them to have—leadership, superior intelligence, strong will—and their fetal development was supervised by the best geneticists at the Reproduction Center. You were very much unplanned, her only natural child, the only one she carried under her heart for ten long months.” His father smiled at Harry. “You’re different from your siblings. You may not have their leadership qualities, but you have a good, kind heart.”
Harry swallowed. “Why are you telling me this?”
His father squeezed Harry’s shoulder. “There’s no need to hide in the gardens, Harry. Your mother may not show it, but she loves you more than any of her other children. She may not approve of your choices and may not be happy about the…situation, but all she wants is for you to be healthy and happy. You’re her baby and always will be. I’m pretty sure she won’t disown you even if you murder someone.” His father chuckled. “Don’t tell her I told you that. She always says we spoil you too much as it is.”
Harry smiled back shakily and hid his face in his father’s shoulder. “Thank you,” he said hoarsely. “I love you, Father.”
His father patted him on his head. “I love you too, kid. Just hold on. Your brother is working on a solution as we speak.” He chuckled. “I suppose we must be glad now that Ksar was created to succeed, no matter how impossible it might seem.”
* * *
Calluvian Political Herald
Intergalactic Union Date: 18768.038
...There are strong rumors of intense lobbying happening in the Council. If the rumors are to be believed, Lady Zeyneb’shni’waari, the Queen-Consort of the Sixth Grand Clan, is going to propose a bill with amendments to the Bonding Law. It is not the first time she expressed such ambitions, but if the rumors are any indication, this time the bill has a chance to pass.
Calluvian Political Herald
Intergalactic Union Date: 18768.108
Breaking! A repeal of the 156th law has been proposed at the Ministry’s 2311th session.
The 156th Ministry law, colloquially known as “Pre-TNIT law,” is the law concerning civilizations that have not reached the technological level required for Contact. Currently the law forbids the Union of Planets’ citizens to have a permanent residence on pre-TNIT planets or have interpersonal relationships with members of pre-TNIT civilizations.
If the law were to be repealed, the Union citizens would be able to visit and stay on any pre-TNIT planets without the Ministry’s sanction. It would also mean that a marriage to a member of a pre-TNIT civilization would be recognized by the Union law.
However, experts think it is unlikely that the 156th law will be repealed. So far, only a quarter of the Lord Chancellors seem to be in favor of the proposal.
Calluvian Society Gossip
Intergalactic Union Date: 18768.122
Amid all the political talk in the past months, it has gone largely unnoticed that Prince Harht’ngh’chaali of the Second Grand Clan has been barely seen in the society. The press officer of the Second Royal House informed us that Prince Harht had been pursuing studies and had little time for social life. However, our insiders learned that Prince Harht barely leaves his rooms anymore. If the rumors are to be believed, he is ill and has been ill for a long time now. We at the Calluvian Society Gossip wish the young prince a quick recovery, but one cannot help but wonder why the Second Royal House is being so tight-lipped about Prince Harht’s illness.
Calluvian Daily
Intergalactic Union Date: 18768.163
Breaking! The amendment to the Bonding Law passed!
Now, upon reaching the age of majority, any Calluvian can file a petition to dissolve the childhood bond. However, not all petitions will be necessarily approved.
Calluvian Society Gossip
Intergalactic Union Date: 18768.165
Scandal in the Second Royal House!
As we reported yesterday morning, Lady Leylen’shni’gul filed a petition to dissolve her bond to Prince Harht’ngh’chaali. At the time we thought the girl was mad, but in light of what we have just learned, we might revise our opinion.
Late last night, another petition was filed by a member of the Second Royal House: by none other than Crown Prince Ksar’ngh’chaali. Our Lord Chancellor wishes to break his bond to his bondmate, too!
Now, we would never speculate or imply that the two petitions are connected, but one wonders, what is the rush? Have Prince Ksar and the lovely Lady Leylen’shni’gul had a secret fondness for each other all these years? If that is the case, what about Prince Harht, who is rumored to be ill? One also wonders if the Third Royal House will take offence on behalf of the jilted Prince Seyn…
Calluvian Daily
Intergalactic Union Date: 18768.183
In all the uproar caused by the amendment to the Bonding Law, the approaching session of the Ministry has been almost forgotten. However, if the proposed bill regarding the repeal of the 156th law passes, the potential consequences will be as life altering as the amendment to the Bonding Law.
Calluvian Political Herald
Intergalactic Union Date: 18768.206
Breaking! The Pre-TNIT law repealed by a very narrow margin!
When it started to seem that the opponents of the repeal would prevail, the Lord Chancellor of the Planet Stuxz had a change of heart and voted in support of the repeal.
“It suddenly occurred to me that the 156th law cannot keep existing in its current form,” the Lord Chancellor said. “I’m still not entirely convinced that it needed a complete repeal, but perhaps I will make amendments to it and suggest a new, softer law in the next session of the Ministry.”
His former allies were unimpressed by his sudden change of heart.
“I believe the voting was somehow rigged,” Lord Chancellor Aimanu insisted. “There are telepaths among the Lords.”
However, such suspicions were dismissed by the Ministry’s security. “The Chamber of Lords is protected by the best shields in the galaxy. Neither electronic nor telepathic interference is possible. The results are legitimate.”