Honorable Mention!!

 I entered my short story into a HUGE contest in February, and last week I found out that it received HONORABLE MENTION!!! 

 Believe me. I'm just amazed that it received anything. I put a lot of pressure on myself and I fill my head with doubt.  This was that little bit of a nudge that I needed to give me confidence in my writing.  It's not perfect by no means, but it's a start.

After I'm finished with my book in progress (Beyond the Silence), I am going to make this short story into an actual book. Until then, I'm happy to share it.  

Only Human

            The tension in the small courthouse room smells of bleach and impassive decisions.  Even the air feels stiff and emotionless as you enter the building.  Elorah never felt more alien in this place that ironically was created by Polarians that colonized Earth long ago.  She grudgingly breathes in the overly disinfected air.  It’s enough to make Elorah nauseous.  She sits staring at the gloves she must wear in public and nervously pulls at random strings found on the scrub suit.  It covers her whole body up to her neck.  They wouldn’t want anyone exposing human skin now, would they? She thinks as she rolls her eyes.  She looks up at the clock for the millionth time. As every minute passes by, she wishes she could understand why one of her protectors felt that coming to the Courts was their only option.

            Lenox and Remus sit on opposite sides of Elorah, both stoic and brooding, annoyed with one another. Her protectors are a part of the Specialized Adoption Integration, which meant that two carefully selected Polarians with a perfect citizenship record and solid intelligence could be permitted to house and rehabilitate a human child. Elorah is one of the last full-blooded human children. The few that remain are usually born from illegal breeding farms on the outskirts of Atlantia, the capital of what used to be the United States.  The Polarians created the SAI program to ensure the protection of the endangered race.  Since they consider humans to be feral creatures yet understand their intelligence potential, this allows the Polarians to rehabilitate them into their disciplined society.

“SAI Case #543, please step forward for verification before proceeding into the judge’s chambers,” the videocall came through on the translucent screen that hung on what looked like a two-way mirror.

Lenox looks down at Elorah with her enormous violet eyes. She is already feeling regret. You can sense it in her uneasy expression, “Elorah, keep your emotions neutral, no matter what.  Please. This will go by smoothly. I’m sure this will just be a warning, and we will be on our way.”  She always used to have a way of making her feel comfortable during difficult situations, but Elorah can’t help but feel bitter at Lenox’s innocent demeanor. “Remus, remember our primary objective. We are supposed to keep Elorah safe.  No need to make this worse than what it is.” Lenox’s tone tenses as she straightens her silk robes with her webbed hands.

Remus ignores Lenox for two seconds while he has a quick moment with his girl.  He pats the top of Elorah’s hat that was made to cover her auburn curls.  He gives her a big grin and pats his heart twice. She returns the gesture they’ve exchanged since she was a toddler, but he can tell it is only half-hearted.

He groans as he stands up, returning to reality, and scratches the ivory scales on his face, “Of course, our primary objective,” he repeats sarcastically without looking in Lenox’s direction. “Just remember we wouldn’t be in this... predicament if you would have just kept your mouth shut.  No one would have known.”  He steps forward to be scanned by the identification drones. Afterward, a hidden door opens, and Remus’s large reptilian-like figure proceeds to another room.

Elorah glares at Lenox as she steps in behind her.  She knows she shouldn’t be taking this tone with her protector, but she is angry and confused at this whole situation. “I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. I don’t know why we needed to come here of all places to sort this out! I thought he was there because of you -- ”

Lenox snaps, “Elorah! This is not the place to discuss this matter!” She tries to hush her.  “This is our mess.  We will fix this.” Her smooth scales look paler than usual.  She is nervous, maybe even terrified, about what could happen.  She takes a deep breath, “We will all be fine. We just need to remember always to tell the truth about the situation. If they see we are honest, then maybe they will let this small mishap go.”

Lenox and Elorah proceed into the judge’s chambers, where there are two specific seats designated for the Polarian protectors. Remus has already taken his seat while looking stressed and uncomfortable.  On the corner of the judge’s white metal desk is a see-through fiberglass enclosure, and the only thing inside is a plastic chair with a disposable covering. Elorah already knows this is where she needs to go. She sits down on the plastic and knows not to make any sudden movements, no emotion or reaction of any kind.  Here she has to be on her best behavior, or they would take her to the Kennels. We wouldn’t want the human to be acting human, would we? She thinks as she looks over the fiberglass enclosure.  Then she directs her attention to her protectors.  Remus looks back at her and smiles.  Lenox tries, but something is eating her up from the inside.  Elorah assumes she feels guilty for choosing to come here, but Lenox always follows the rules and does things by the book, no matter who it hurts, even herself.

“Judge Valarian Krane, Polarian President of SAI preceding.” The courtroom drone announces as a stocky slate-colored Polarian walks in with a long, flowing red hooded robe.  Around his neck, he wears gold embellishments to indicate his high status in Atlantia.  Being a judge for the SAI Courts is ranked just below Captain’s Courts, where they handle the major crimes of Polarians and, most importantly, where they decide the fates of the half-bloods and, on rare occasions, humans.

Judge Krane pulls down his hood and stands behind his desk, glaring at the two protectors and then down at his tablet, scrolling through several documents. “Lenox Brekker and Remus Titusian, I see we are back again.” He sighs, almost annoyed at the fact they’ve needed to enter into the Courts twice during their contract.  “Two years ago, you requested separate living arrangements and a shared custody amendment with the human child.  Both of you had a good standing with the Atlantia Federation, and after reviewing the rehabilitation of Z53 for the last 12 years without incident, we agreed to amend your contract.”

The judge looks closely at his tablet, and his voice gets slightly louder, and a hint of disgust edges, “However, it has come to my understanding that Z53 had personal contact with another human.  This is unacceptable for both of the human protectors.  They are never to have contact with one another.  That is the law of the rehabilitation.”

“Lenox Brekker, since you came to the Courts immediately after this incident and told us what took place under the supervision of Remus Titusian, we will show you mercy, and you will be allowed to leave, and your record with remain untarnished.  Unfortunately, we cannot extend that same courtesy for Remus Titusian. Because we do not take these careless actions lightly, you will be held in the Atlantia Underground, where we will review your case in 6 months.”

Remus instantly shoots up from his seat and stares with hatred at Lenox, “How could you!” His eyes are bloodshot with fury. “It was you that was with her, not me! If you hadn’t been distracted, then none of this would have happened!” He wants to grab her and shake her, but he knows that would make things even worse.

“Remus Titusian! If you don’t hold your tongue, your sentence will be extended, and we will transfer you to the Captain’s Courts!” Judge Krane’s voice booms throughout the courtroom. The wall opens right beside the judge’s desk, and a couple of tall Polarian security guards with black robes and silver chains enter.  They walk right behind Remus’s chair, where his eyes are still piercing with bitterness and bewilderment at Lenox.

Remus knows he must stay seated until the end of the court session, and that’s when he finally looks over at his girl, and his eyes gloss over with emotion. He places his massive scaly-webbed hand on his chest right next to where his heart is.  Remus did that every time he felt the need to let her know how he felt. She was his little girl, no matter how different they were.  This... was breaking him.

Elorah’s heart stops beating. Tears had been dripping down her face, and she hadn’t realized it.  She sat frozen during the last 20 seconds with complete disbelief. Why had Lenox lied to the Courts about being with her? Why did she blame this on Remus when he wasn’t even there? And now… he is being taken away.  She wants to run to him and hug him like she is 5 again.  She loves that big oaf that is practically her father.  She presses her hand against her chest and taps twice.

            The judge clears his throat and continues, “As far as Z53, she will be sent to the Kennels per request of Lenox Brekker.  The Courts agree that this is the most logical decision in this matter.”

            “What? No! No! I didn’t do anything!” Elorah knows she isn’t supposed to react, but she can’t help it.  She frowns at the judge but quickly turns to try to look to Lenox for some sense of understanding.  Lenox makes no eye contact; her eyes lock only on the webbed fingers that sit resting on her lap. Elorah screams at her protector, “Lenox---!”

Before she says anything else, Remus completely loses it.  He lunges at Lenox, “You... Monster!!” He pushes her to the concrete floor and places his big webbed hands around her neck. “What is wrong with you! You’ve sentenced our girl to death!”

“I’m so sorry… this was the only way to protect her--”  Lenox’s voice barely audible as she squeaks out the words.

As the guards pull Remus off of Lenox and place him in chains, Elorah stands over her, demanding answers. She’s a blubbering screaming mess, “What are you doing? Lenox! What did I do wrong?  Don’t you care about me anymore? Lenox! Why?--” The other guard pulls her away and places the secured plastic hand braces around her wrists and a muzzle over her mouth and nose.

“ORDER!!” Judge Valarian Krane yells.  “This session is now over! Lenox Brekker, please take your leave.”

Lenox stands up slowly, shamefully.  The torture that she is battling on the inside is completely evident on the outside.  She quickly glances over at Elorah and mouths, “I’m so sorry,” and then vanishes into the next room.

“Okay, guards, go ahead and administer the tranquilizer,” the judge calmly announces.

Elorah suddenly feels a sense of tiredness and nausea wash over her, and the sides of her vision start to darken.  Her eyelids become brick-heavy, and she can’t feel anything.  Everything goes black.