Iqi: Chapter Seven
“Iqi, look at this,” Hermione grinned showing me her phone.
It was a picture of me in the park, my back towards the camera, my gaze on the sky. My pale figure contrasted stunningly against the brown, reds and yellows of the trees.
“2 million people have already commented on it!” Hermione squealed. “I’m pissed that they photoshopped me out but it is a really good photo.”
I nodded in agreement. “Is this what all the humans will do with the photos they took?”
“Probably. I wouldn’t be surprised it some of them frame the photo in their homes. Say, when we get back to the condo I’m going to make a website for you.”
“We probably won’t be back until tomorrow or very late tonight.”
I frowned still upset at myself for being so absent minded and forgetting Captain Kiernan would be leaving today. I could have spent the day with Huder. I could imagine his quite literally bone crushing goodbye already. I could feel Captain’s disapproving gaze on me, scolding me for one last time.
“Hey,” Hermione took my hand. “The pilot said we would make it on time. We’re only half an hour away.”
“I’ll only have just as much time to say goodbye then,” I sighed.
“Whether you have an hour or years, goodbyes always hurt the same. You’ll still be able to keep in touch. And the internet is open they’ll be able to see you all the time!”
I nodded.
Hermione sighed. “I’m not going to lie. It won’t be the same. But I have an idea for a new hobby to keep you distracted.”
“What?” I asked.
“You’ll see once you’ve finished your goodbyes,” she winked.
-
As promised we arrived at the base where our spaceship had landed less than a week ago. There was an hour until launch. It’d take fifteen to get through the checkpoints, ten to get to the space, another ten perhaps to hunt down Huber. Which left me less than half an hour to say my goodbyes.
Hermione let me go ahead of her knowing it would take longer for her to get through the checkpoints. The guard guiding me seemed to understand I was in a rush and moved quickly. Despite our quick pace it was twenty minutes to launch when I finally got on the ship.
“Gt’ire! Where’s Huder?” I asked frantically.
Gt’ire pointed one of her tails down a corridor and I hurried down it. It didn’t take me long to find him, well he found me. Just as I opened the doors to see Captain Ki’rnne giving a short speech of goodbye to a single reporter with a camera, Huder launched himself at me. I could hear the humans cry of surprise as Huder’s muscular body encased me and began to squeeze.
“You fucking brat,” Huder hissed quietly in my ear, in his own language. “Too busy frolicing with your Soenil friends to remember me huh?”
I gasped an unintelligible apology, feeling my wings bending painfully.
“Oh, you better be sorry,” Huder chuckled.
I could hear my heartbeat over the sound of Captain Ki’rnne trying to reassure the humans that I was in no actual danger. I wasn’t so sure my heart felt as if it would burst.
I flapped my one free wing against his side signalling I was at my limit. Huder sighed and reluctantly released his grip. I coughed and gasped pitifully on the floor.
“I’m - I’m sorry. I forgot you were leaving today,” I choked out, wiping tears from my eyes.
“Iqi are you alright?” I heard an anxious human voice call.
I looked up Captain Ki’rnne was standing between the humans and I, he had taken a defensive posture. There were only three humans total in the room but they all had a weapon in their hands and a look of panic in their eyes. My own eyes widened as I realized the weapons weren’t really weapons. One held a jagged table leg, another held the shaft of a lamp as a makeshift dagger and the last had a piece of broken glass in it’s hand, wrapped in a cloth.
The rumours appeared to be true. Humans really could make a weapon out of anything and were absolutely crazy enough to attack animals much more powerful than them. The idea of three adult humans thinking they could take on even a teenage Sikknic was laughable. But here they are, their makeshift weapons in hand ready to attack.
I tried to stand leaning against Huder for support who looked as if he wasn’t sure if he should be fearful of these humans or not.
“I’m fine,” I quickly said. “This is just a misunderstanding. Huder would never harm me, we were just roughhousing.”
“Yes,” Captain Ki’rnne said. “Huder and Iqi have grown up almost like brothers this is just how they greet each other. I understand he may not seem like it to a Soenil but Huder is the same age as Iqi. They are children and I would appreciate it if you didn’t point your... weapons at them.”
The humans hesitated but eventually lowered their weapons and dropped them altogether.
“We’re sorry,” one of the said. “We truly thought Iqi was in danger. And we’re sorry if we frightened you Huder.”
Huder simply nodded, he had a peculier look on his face.
“Thank you,” I said. “I know you only had good intentions.”
“I’m pleased to know I will be leaving Iqi on a planet where even the reporters are warriors,” Captain Kiernan smiled relaxing his stance.
The humans laughed. “Oh, we’re not warriors or anything.”
“Yeah I failed gym in high school,” one laughed.
“How did you know how to create weapons so quickly then?” I asked intrigued.
“Oh, uh… Well I don’t know. I just thought Huder was trying to kill you and I didn’t even think about it,” one of them said scratching his head.
“I was a girl scout when I was a kid so that helped I guess. But yeah I just reacted,” another said.
Captain Ki’rnne seemed baffled. “You just... create weapons as an instinctual reaction to danger.”
“Uh, I guess so,” the humans shrugged.
Huder eyed me. “Can you do that?”
I shrugged. “It’s not like I’ve been exposed to much danger.”
“Well, Huder,” Captain said. “Go help prepare for launch. Iqi and I have somethings to discuss.”
Huder nodded and gave me one last look of farewell before slithering off. The humans began to pack up their stuff and clean up the mess they had made. I walked to Captain’s side.
“Captain,” I began in his native language. “I apologize for my tardiness…”
“Don’t concern yourself with that,” Captain said. “It’s good that you’re settling into Earth so well. And it seems that Earth has accepted you.”
“Yes, I feel very welcome here,” I couldn’t help but smile.
Captain turned to me a peculiar expression on his face. “Your mother…” he began.
I looked up at him expectantly.
“Your mother was a force to be reckoned with. A true example of humanity’s ability to not only survive but prosper in even the harshest circumstances. But she had flaws, Iqi. Remember that. Even the best of humanity has flaws. They can be easy to overlook with all of humanities great accomplishments, but don’t ever make the mistake of thinking humans are perfect. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Captain,” I nodded. “I should trust them, but still remain wary.”
“Good,” he smiled. “Iqi, it was an honor to raise you aboard this ship. I hope you find what you are looking for, but if you don’t there is always a home for you aboard my ship.”
“Thank you Captain,” I didn’t know what else to say.
He turned and began to leave. I was filled with a sudden panic of abandon and gripped the fur on his hunches. In my mind’s eye I could see my mother - her image blurry - walking out. He turned to me surprised as I walked to his head and wrapped my arms around his thick neck.
“I’ll miss you Captain,” I whispered.
He rested his head on the back of my wings and we stood there, embraced for a beat before he clear his throat and lifted his head.
“Goodbye Iqi. Be good,” he said then walked out the door.
It was harder then I imagined to stay in the building and watch through the glass as my first family flew off into space. But Hermione came to stand beside me and linked her fingers in my hand with a comforting smile and I knew I’d be alright.
“President Tapiwa wants to talk to us,” she said.
“About what?”
“Our unscheduled outing. We’re kind of in trouble,” Hermione shrugged unfazed that the leader of her world was agitated with her.
~
“Do you have any idea what could have happened to Iqi in that park?” President Tapiwa somehow managed to keep a calm face while speaking with complete rage.
“Nothing happened,” Hermione said. “We took some pictures and got a caricature painting.”
“And Iqi was plucked,” President Tapiwa turned her gaze on Hermione.
“Yeah, but like, he got what he deserved. And Iqi handled it better than I would have.”
“Do you know what that man is going to do with your feather Iqi?” President Tapiwa asked.
“Uh, keep it. I think,” I said sheepish.
She showed me her tablet. There was a picture of my feather along with a selfie of the man holding it up. It was being bid for. I gaped at the still rising price.
“Two million dollars,” President Tapiwa said. “It’s expected to rise significantly over the next few hours.”
“Holy shit Iqi you’re a walking gold mine,” Hermione laughed.
“That’s the problem, Hermione. Can you imagine the horrible things people would do to your brother if they could get their hands on him?”
“Yes, I can,” Hermione became serious. “But Iqi can’t be hold up and have his only contact with humans be via fancy galas and events. He needs to meet everyday people not just politicians and celebrities.”
“It’s too dangerous…”
“But I have a solution that can ensure Iqi’s safety and still allow him to communicate with people,” Hermione smiled.
President Tapiwa sat down sighing. “Well let’s hear it.”
“We can make an official website for Iqi. One where everyday people can sign up to meet him. Let’s say three days out of the week we have a small group come to the condo to meet with him. He can learn so much from them and vise versa. Iqi can also maybe do little facetime sessions where he talks to people one on one. Or maybe he can start a video diary on the internet where he can ask people questions and maybe answer questions they may have for him. There’s a whole world of possibility!” Hermione grinned excited.
I also liked this idea of having people come over in small groups and getting the chance to ask them questions. The crowds in the park were rather intimidating, this sounded a lot nicer.
“Hermione I know you mean well but exposing Iqi to the public is too dangerous and the funds we would need for security with all these people in and out will be way too expensive,” President Tapiwa said.
“What if we charge people for these visits,” Hermione argued. “We could also have a donation page.”
“People will find it suspicious that an - and forgive my language Iqi - but an alien asking for money from the public when he seems to already be living a luxurious life on their tax dollars.”
“Then we tell them the truth! We say the cost of security for these visits are incredibly expensive. Rather than spending the people’s tax dollars please feel free to donate whatever you wish.”
President Tapiwa sighed. “Hermione…”
“Please let us try it,” I begged.
They turned to me.
“I’m - I’m tired of being cooped up. People want to know more about me and I about them, but if we can’t see each other we’ll just make assumptions.”
“And assume makes an ass out of you and me!” Hermione added cheerfully.
I gave her a blank look.
“Jesus Iqi you really need to learn how to spell,” she shook her head.
“I’ll let you two try. One visitation. We’ll help you get the website running. But I don’t want random people for the first one. Ask people to send a page long submission about why they want to meet Iqi. Then I’ll have our people sift through to choose ten applicants for this initial meeting,” President Tapiwa said.
“Really!” I beamed.
She smiled. “Don’t get too excited. If this goes south that the end of it. Understand?”
“Yes, President Tapiwa! Thank you!” We grinned.
Hermione and I chatted excitedly about our plans for the event. As we approached the doors I noticed it was raining.
“Is Earth rain toxic?” I asked.
“Hmm, oh no it’s just water. The same kind we drink,” She gave me a funny look. “Do you want to run in it Iqi?”
“I want to fly,” I said watching the gentle drizzle fall from the sky. “I’ve never flown in rain before.”
“Do it!” she said excited. “I’ll get a video!”
She fumbled for her cell phone as we opened the door. She stayed in the doorway eagerly urging me on as I stepped into the drizzle. The rain was cool and refreshing. I stretched my wings to their full length. They were almost as wide as I was tall on both sides. Stunted for the Darite but humans thought they were enormous. I raised them and bent my legs to break into a sprint. I beat my wings as I ran feeling the strength rise in the as I rose off the ground. The humans hurrying in and out of the build all stopped to watch me make my first proper flight on Earth.
Finally I had enough momentum and I leapt from the ground beating my wings hard to lift my heavy body. I rose ten, twenty, thirty feet off the ground and held myself there. I spread my arms to bathe in the rain. I ran my hands through my hair and pulled my sleeves up to feel the cool water on my skin.
A buzzing sound caught my attention and I opened my eyes. A drone was flying near me, hovering in the air and watching. I reached out to touch it but it pulled out of reach. I smiled and prepared myself to descend, my wings already tired from the effort. Judging the distance I froze my wings and dropped from the sky. I could hear the sudden cries of alarm from the humans as i fell from the sky. I smiled and caught myself about five feet from the ground and dropped the rest of the way.
Looking up at the sky all I could think was how much I loved this planet.