《Above and Beyond》 Crash Threads of heat from the crashed escape pod weave through the biting, bitter cold, but it isn¡¯t enough to get my many limbs to stop shaking. Focus. I¡¯m stuck on a strange alien planet surrounded by frozen H2O particles and odd growths. Possibly indigenous natural growth? This is quarantined territory for a reason; populated by dangerous, violent creatures. Many species share the surface and liquid saline H2O. Terrifying to consider what they will do if I¡¯m caught. Sheer stupidity drove me to run through this space. Dying here will be a welcome relief to my torment on the Council prison transport, though. Something inorganic hums over the hiss and pop of the crash site. What if I didn¡¯t go fast enough, and it¡¯s the council? Panic drives me towards the wreckage instead of into the growths. This technology cannot end up with the natives. It¡¯d prove disastrous for the lives of everyone in the free verse and beyond. A growth grabs my foot, taking me to the ground. I stumble to my feet, refusing to give into the black at the edges of my vision. Back at the pod I punch in the code I saw my guards use. Thankfully, the code works, and the guards'' bodies will be dust and debris along with everything else here. Things get darker. The loud rumble of the auto destruct shakes the ground. While I¡¯m losing my only shot at getting the comms array working, it will set a beacon the resistance can ping. Or the council. Hopefully someone, anyone safe, finds me before they do. Stealing the small escape pod and running will only make everything worse for me if I¡¯m caught. More odd growths attack as I¡¯m trying to run from the implosion. This time, they pull me to the ground. I¡¯m only vaguely aware of the loud, violent explosion as I finally succumb to the darkness clouding my vision. +++ Warmth cradles me. Moaning, I try to open my eyes. Loud angry noises bounce nearby, causing panic to swell in my throats. With great effort, I get an eye open. Odd growths and frozen H2O particles no longer surround me. Apparently I¡¯m inside a dwelling? Some type of synthesized material is imprisoning me and a containment module of fire burns in the wall. Two creatures are here. One has 4 appendages, a shaggy coating, and emits loud vocalizations, trembling. Shaggy Beast launches at me and tries to eat my face with a pink appendage surrounded by sharp white blades.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Fear causes me to release a cloud of smoke and try to run, but it¡¯s hard to get out of the soft cell. Another puff of smoke puts a second barrier around me as I heat my hands, trying to burn my way out. The alien erect on two appendages has what could be hands (only two?) up with a calm demeanor. Shaggy Beast makes a high-pitched sound, trying to attack again. The other alien turns, says a single word (at least I believe it¡¯s one?), and the beast slumps to the ground. A single word can make others sleep? Stars above, I have to avoid them using this power on me. All my eyes finally open, helping me see better; my wounds are crudely and inefficiently covered. The vocalizations are quieter, but still angry and jumbled. I prepare to release another cloud of smoke and burn through the wall of the dwelling. It seems to be constructed from the growths outside. May the mighty have mercy. These monsters pile the bodies of sentient entities and live in their carcasses! Should I have taken my chances with the council? Grief causes me to tremble so hard I slump down the wall. I don¡¯t want to die like this. The creature follows my movements to the ground with me. Still holding an awkward pose. I mimic the movement, hoping they will spare me. Its face contorts and I want to grieve again. It stops holding the posture, so I do too. Putting a hand on itself, the alien repeats something several times. Perhaps they have first contact rituals as we do? I never learned we¡¯re not allowed to initiate first contact. ¡°I am M¡¯Awk,¡± I whisper, fear gripping my voice. The words cause it to cringe and put hands on the side of what I¡¯m assuming is a head (there is only one). ¡°M¡¯Awk?¡± it gestures to itself, ¡°Sally.¡± ¡°Sally?¡± Perhaps my vocalizations are too loud for the Sally alien? It cringes again. I try to speak as quietly as I can. ¡°Please do not eat me,¡± I beg. The Sally moves to an odd box and opens it. Cold wafts out along with H2O particles. Tears fall faster, at least I can cry without a punishment protocol initiating, that¡¯s nice. My name repeats softly, even if the tone is harsh. Okay, it¡¯s trying to reassure me of something? The Sally puts a vial from the cold box to a hole with sharp white things and tips it back. Before holding the other out to me. Ah, its offering local sustenance. I take the vial and tap my holopad; it hasn¡¯t been online since the crash. Which is both a blessing and hinderance. The holo cannot start rehabilitation or punishment protocols, which means no pain. However, they blocked my translation centers, so I have no way of communicating without it. ¡°I can¡¯t ingest it without a scan,¡± I explain as quietly as I can. The Sally repeats, ¡°M¡¯Awk ¡ª safe,¡± several times. Then gestures around before walking away. Shaggy Beast gets up and goes too. I don¡¯t know how to get out from under these dead bodies, so I curl around myself in the dwelling¡¯s corner and cry myself to sleep. Introductions Prisoner, you have crashed and are in critical condition. You appear to be the lone survivor. Yes, may I have precise coordinates, please? Prisoners cannot access that information. Try another query. Will you assist me in communicating with this native? Humanoid genetic scans show female, though identification may not match. Prisoners cannot access that information. Try another query. Please run the translator and dampen my vocals by forty percent? That function is accessible to prisoners. When I talk something affects the Sally. I just want a translator, please. Processing query... Acceptable. Communication privileges will terminate if you move outside appropriate conversation parameters. Standby¡ª Thank you, Holo. Proceed, Prisoner. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Prisoner cannot mention destruction. The Council is indestructible! Sorry, Holo. I turn to Sally. ¡°The odd growths grabbed me. You live under their bodies. I was, am, rather terrified.¡± Prisoner will refrain from going beyond acceptable parameters. Another deviation will initiate punishment protocols. Sorry, I¡¯m trying to stay within acceptable parameters! Please do not punish me! You are not allowed those responses, Prisoner. Sorry, Holo. Will you please run a scan for acceptable nutrients, Holo? It will cost three spins during the next punishment cycle. Agreed. Analysis complete. The Council does not allow those responses, Prisoner! Holo chirps in a harsh tone. Sorry, it¡¯s involuntary! Something she secretes from her skin. Protocols and Protections Prisoner. if you return to stasis until the humanoid awakens, I¡¯ll give you one hour with the translator. Agreed. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Yes, you do, Prisoner. Agreed, Holo. Prisoner is being punished appropriately. The council is infallible! You are a Sevanst. Yes, Holo, agreed. Prisoner is not allowed that reaction! Sorry, Holo. Second warning. Prisoner is not allowed that reaction! Sorry so sorry, Holo. I just want to calm the native. Prisoner is not allowed that reaction! No, wait! Immunity? Holo? Prisoner¡¯s next official punishment cycle is imminent. Four spins for each infraction. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Is that true, Holo? The sentence lasts your lifetime. No one can change that. Prisoner is not allowed that reaction! Four spins. Sorry Holo, it¡¯s involuntary. Four more spins. Continue making this more fun for Bench¡¯o and the rest. Perhaps they¡¯ll use the special punishment garbs. Yes, Prisoner, how can the humanoid help? Wrong answers earn extra spins. Holo, please no more! I understand and respect the Council and their authority. You deserve it, though. Prisoner will respond. You deserve it, though. Correct? Unexpected Visitors Seventeen. The wheel spun seventeen times while Sally argued with Bench¡¯o. Somewhere outside myself Bench¡¯o and the guards¡¯ laughter registers. Congratulating each other on the torment that just transpired. No one has survived this many trips around the wheel. Maybe I am Asowana, living death? Sally kneels, cradling a head and putting a vial to my lips. Struggling, I manage to get the liquid to fall down my throat. ¡°M¡¯Awk, can you hear me?¡± Sally whispers. Must have earned translator privileges. ¡°Mhm,¡± ¡°You¡¯re free... At least for a bit. No punishment for happiness. No limits on the translator.¡± She gently pours more liquid into me. ¡°How¡¯s this? I guessed you¡¯re reacting to silica and sodium carbonate and made this. Is it okay?¡± Pain radiates in residual waves from the punishment cycle. The waves quickly pull me under. # My limbs are still malfunctioning when I wake. Sally is next to me in the synthetic cacoon. Rufus nuzzles a hand and wiggles under my limbs. # When I regain awareness, the room is bright. Sally is still next to me. ¡°Had us worried. How are you feeling?¡± A deep breath helps will my words to the surface. ¡°Limbs are still malfunctioning... Finding it difficult to move.¡± Sally lifts the bottle. ¡°Want to try more?¡± I nod slowly. ¡°First time in many hunger does not stab me.¡± Sally helps me drink. Rufus licks a limb and whines. ¡°I will be well, friend. Needn¡¯t worry.¡± That helps him calm. Sally chuckles, head leaning to the side. ¡°Didn¡¯t realize you spoke retriever.¡± Confusion causes my coloring to shift. Strange, I¡¯m not supposed to be able to do that. Holo blocks all natural responses. ¡°Apologies, not understanding, speak retriever?¡± Sally smiles, causing her eyes to wrinkle. ¡°You were barking at Rufus.¡± ¡°Ah, we can converse with all sentient life. Holo inhibits my natural translators. Prisoners must stay within approved vocal and auditory parameters.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know if you understood me earlier. No punishment, no restrictions, you¡¯re free while with me. Least until they finish deliberations.¡± Bright colors weave along my body, singing with gratitude for the grace and mercy. Sally¡¯s eyes widen and her mouth drops. ¡°So beautiful,¡± she murmurs. We lean into each other. I want to close the distance and initiate some type of contact, but the heat between us shifts when a crackling comes from outside. Rufus bounds to a transparent hole in the dwelling. He jumps at it, excitement coloring his words. Sally stands and goes over. Looking out, she quickly turns back to me. ¡°A car? Someone else is here.¡± The gratitude turns to fear, and a plume of smoke swallows me. Sally coughs and waves a hand in front of her face. ¡°Nothing to worry about, I¡¯ll get rid of them. Can you stand?¡± I cannot. Sally lifts me and walks through a door into a unique part of the dwelling. She carefully sets me in a pile of synthetic material that swallows me like the clouds back home. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯re safe. Just stay here.¡± Her mouth gently bumps against mine. I wish to continue bumping our mouths against each other, but she rushes from the room. ¡°Heya Salad, you here?!¡± a new voice shouts. Rufus is not doing angry vocalizations, but happy ones. ¡°Rufus, buddy! How are you, friend?¡± ¡°Holy shit, Jill! What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Guess you reported a satellite impact? My bosses were gonna send Garrison, but I asked to come instead. Wanna take me to the crater?¡± ¡°Like I said, nothing¡¯s left.¡± ¡°Well, I gotta interview you, search the property, and take pictures of the crash site. Fucking bureaucrats. Wait, you got someone here? You¡¯re... I don¡¯t know, glowing.¡± ¡°Uh, no, nothing, no one. Let me grab my coat.¡± Sally comes into the room. ¡°You¡¯re going to be okay. It¡¯s just my sister, Jill. Let me get rid of her.¡± I nod grief falls and smoke seeps from me. Her mouth bumps against mine again. Heat returns and my coloring relaxes. ¡°You¡¯re safe, everything is. Just rest, be right back,¡± she murmurs, top head resting against mine. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The door pushes open. ¡°I knew you weren¡¯t alone! Who are you... Holy fuck! What is that?!¡± the newcomer raises what could be a weapon, and points it at me. Because my limbs still malfunction, I can¡¯t move. To create a distraction, my heads untangle and a plume of smoke releases. Coloring shifts, so I blend in with the synthetic material surrounding me. ¡°Put the fucking gun down. This is M¡¯Awk, M¡¯Awk, my sister, Jill.¡± ¡°Please do not harm me, Jill,¡± I murmur, grief flooding out. Jill does not put the Fucking Gun down. Her eyes are wide, body trembling. This is the expected response. Not the one Sally had. ¡°So it wasn¡¯t a satellite. I need to call this in,¡± she breathes, words hardly registering. ¡°No!¡± I sob and try unsuccessfully to find somewhere to hide. ¡°Please, can¡¯t hurt anymore ¡ª do not wish the pain. Don¡¯t let them have me.¡± My grief must strike Jill as it did Sally, because she falters with a rectangular device in her hand. ¡°Jesus, are you... Is it crying?¡± Sally moves her head up and down. ¡°Yes, please, she¡¯s peaceful. A political prisoner that escaped her guards and crashed here. Come on, Jillie Bean, our own ET! Please just ¡ª uh, we¡¯ll grab a beer and talk this out? M¡¯Awk set auto destruct or something is what she said. Truly, it¡¯s just a massive crater. We can call this a satellite dropping and she can be safe.¡± Rufus lies on my chest. He makes an annoyed sound and licks one of my faces. ¡°Well fuck, if Rufus likes you, and Sally vouches for you, you can¡¯t be that bad. What¡¯d you say her name is?¡± ¡°M¡¯Awk. Please, my limbs are malfunctioning, I cannot resist you. Do not harm me.¡± The words tumble from me, shaking with the terror that still grips me. ¡°Muck?¡± ¡°Close, M¡¯Awk,¡± Sally says. The shaggy coating above Jill¡¯s eyes angles, one arches up and the other stays down. ¡°That¡¯s what I just said, right?¡± Sally laughs. ¡°Not really. Suppose it¡¯s close enough, though. M¡¯Awk want to stay here or come back out front?¡± I leak more, trembling, incapable of getting words out. The Fucking Gun goes in a thing on Jill¡¯s trunk. ¡°Fuck, I won¡¯t shoot you. Salad, where¡¯s that beer? Gonna need it, or six, while you explain this shit. Jesus christ, a fucking alien.¡± I let Sally move me back to the main room. Rufus stays with me, licking my faces more. Sally explained this is to calm me. Chuckling, I wrap my many limbs around him to appease him. ¡°Please, I do not wish you to eat me, Rufus!¡± I laugh, which pulls at places that still need to heal, but I cannot stop the laughter as his tongue moves faster, instead of slower. ¡°Rufus, buddy, lay off! Jeez,¡± Jill says, putting her upper limbs around him and hugging him away. He makes loud vocalizations hopping about, body wiggling. Sally locks eyes with Rufus who slumps with a huff. She rolls her eyes and glances at me. ¡°Sorry, you okay?¡± I nod slightly. ¡°My limbs are still not functioning at full capacity. Feels good to laugh with no punishment, though. I have forgotten how it wakes my body with gratitude. Jill, many thanks for not harming me. The punishment cycles have been most severe. I fear the Council hacked Holo? All holo¡¯s have safety protocols that keep damage from being this extensive.¡± Jill runs a hand through the shaggy coating on her head. ¡°I have a million questions for you, Mack.¡± ¡°M¡¯Awk,¡± Sally says, over-enunciating each syllable in my name. Sally hands Jill a container of liquid. Jill drinks the entire thing in one go. Sally laughs and goes back towards the box where she keeps sustenance. Jill shrugs. ¡°Sounds the same to me. Mah-ck?¡± ¡°Close, it can be difficult, I am surprised Sally picks up on it so quickly. I will answer what I can. Do what I can, wish to avoid punishment, or worse, dismemberment by your guards.¡± Jill nods, picking up Sally¡¯s vial of liquid and drinking it as fast as she drank hers. Sally shakes her head and turns to grab another vial for herself. ¡°Yeah, I wanna avoid that fate for you, too. Where¡¯d you come from?¡± I take and release a breath to settle the grief welling up. ¡°Our planet dies, we search for a new home. Others do not want us. Call us criminals, thieves, we are not, just want a new home where we can rebuild.¡± ¡°Where is your former planet? Is it close, in our solar system?¡± While I¡¯m unsure what that means, I assume she refers to the celestial bodies surrounding this star. ¡°Oh no, your system is part of the quarantine zone and is far too dangerous.¡± Sally hands Jill another container of liquid, she takes a long drink. ¡°What makes it dangerous?¡± Jill asks. It¡¯s strange that she is unaware and must ask. I rock my head, colors deepening. ¡°Well, we have seen the threats thrown out of this place. The violence that will befall any, including your own species.¡± Jill makes the confused facial contortion the same way Sally does. I chuckle, causing colors to swim through me. ¡°Sally¡¯s face makes the same contortion when misunderstanding. What is said to bring this on?¡± ¡°What threats do you mean?¡± ¡°Hm, I¡¯m not sure how to explain. Like a holo, but not?¡± Sally picks up a small dark... something. Similar to a device used during punishment cycles. Sally will not harm me, I remind myself. She taps the device and a flat... viewfinder? Spouts noises and images. I recognize some from feeds being monitored. ¡°They look like this?¡± Sally asks. With a grounding breath, I curl in on myself, realizing I¡¯m safe. ¡°Similar, not the same.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just entertainment, we put pictures together to tell stories.¡± Jill has finished her bottle and retrieves another. Sally hands me the drink she made, I need help to drink, limbs still not working. ¡°Do you enjoy the entertainment, Jill?¡± I ask. Jill nods with a smile. ¡°Do you have any hostile intents? You or your captors?¡± Smoke seeps from me and my coloring shifts so I can blend with my surroundings. ¡°Yes, my captors have many towards me, my kind.¡± Jill shifts her head back and forth. ¡°I mean towards Earth. You gonna, you know, invade or anything?¡± The question is shocking. ¡°No one dares enter the quarantine zone! Unless suicidal or stupid. I was desperate, wanted to escape the torment. Find somewhere to hide in peace.¡± Jill turns from me to Sally. ¡°What are you going to do, Salad? Your replacements will find Mah-walk when they come out here.¡± Sally raises and lowers the part of her that holds her upper limbs and runs a hand through her shaggy coating. ¡°Hopefully, she¡¯s somewhere safe by then.¡± ¡°There is nowhere safe. The Council will find me and add time for my escape attempt.¡± Sally takes one of my limbs, squeezing gently. Which I¡¯ve learned is a gesture of comfort from her. ¡°We¡¯ll find you someplace safe then. I promise to do everything I can to keep you from getting hurt anymore.¡± Jill nods, her entire self relaxing more the longer we speak. ¡°Yep, I¡¯ll do what I can on my end. You¡¯re not dangerous. Anyone Rufus loves this much can¡¯t be.¡± I glance down at where Rufus rests on a limb. ¡°When I first awoke I thought he was trying to eat me, it was terrifying! However we have become¡ªcompanions.¡± He mutters his agreement, which makes me chuckle. ¡°Rufus will stay with you while I take Jill to the crash site.¡± I appreciate that, but am confused when my colors shift and smoke seeps from me. ¡°Hey, M¡¯Awk, don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll be safe. Rufus¡¯ll protect you.¡± ¡°What if they come while you¡¯re gone? A punishment cycle initiates?¡± ¡°That asshole can¡¯t do that. Not while you¡¯re under my protection.¡± I have to trust her words. Sally has done nothing to cause harm. Rufus curls into me closer and mutters encouragement. Which amuses me. ¡°Between your assurance and his, I accept I¡¯m safe.¡± ¡°Okay, when we get back you¡¯re gonna explain how you can understand the dog.¡± Jill stands, sways, then walks towards the door, finishing her bottle and grabbing a new one. Sally pats my limb and looks at Rufus, who curls closer to me. ¡°Thanks for staying with her, Rufus. Behave. We¡¯ll be back. You¡¯re safe.¡± I watch Sally and Jill walk out the door with apprehension. Peanut Butter Did you believe we would stay away? Holo? I¡¯m supposed to have a break. Sally keeps me safe. You know very well we¡¯re merely appeasing the humanoid. Who is no longer in the vicinity. Once we lock on your physical coordinates, the retrieval team will bring you to Prime. No... Yes, they want to see how many spins you can survive. Punishment will be never-ending. Guess what we can do? Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Ten spins and you can breathe again. We¡¯re coming for you. You will pay dearly for this. They have short lifespans and we have a long memory.