The shuttle flew low over the water, en route to Walak. Nobody said anything. Nobody could.

Gae was laying against a window, still sobbing, trying to compose herself to make the call home to her children, and finding herself unable to. Temis was pacing, angrier than anyone had seen him. Tylum was numb; she kept trying to compose a letter to her sister-in-law, asking for help in making sure Praxa never treated so much as a scilith for the rest of her days. For what little it mattered.

Leny had remained behind. She was unsurprised that the peacekeepers were doing absolutely nothing, as was Vanser. Still, she had managed to copy every last one of the records from the site; she had also made arrangements to adopt every human on site, and cajoled the staff into finding a ship to take them to Kaeda that night.

She also had taken possession of Yamanu’s body, and had gently secured him in a biostasis container, not one that could sustain life, but one that could keep his dead tissue preserved until he could be buried on Archavia.

Back on the shuttle, Aezhay held Thurfirt tight to her breast; she hadn’t let go of him since they’d left. This was not something Thurfrit would ordinarily complain about, especially given that he felt very much like curling up and staying there forever. But somewhere in his grief and anger, a thought bubbled through.

He had been replaying the incident. Trying to imagine how he could have saved Yamanu’s life. He would have had to trade himself, he thought, or argued enough that the doctor had grabbed him, not Yamma. Would he have been as stoic as Yamanu? He didn’t know. But he would have gladly given up his life to spare his friend’s.

And after he died, Aezhay would have been as broken as Gae, though in a different way – his wife was much more likely to hit someone, hard, which Yamanu probably would have found understandable. But when it was done, Yamma would push through his grief, and do what he always did – push on. He would eulogize his friend. But he would push on.

The fight was bigger than any of them, Yamma had said, many times. Bigger than all of them.

“Zhay,” Thurfrit said, softly, “I need my pad.”

“Hm?”

“My pad,” he said. “I need it.”

“What for?”

“My job,” Thurfrit said, quietly. He grabbed it, and typed up a quick message to a few people – Loona Armac, Pryvani Tarsuss, Lezah and Aisell, Joca Haerst. It was very simple, and to the point.

My friends,

This afternoon, Yamanu Neutha was killed in Krogh Fazala. He was killed by a veterinarian, a Dr Praxa, who blamed Yamanu and the Aenur Foundation for changes in the way humans are seen in the Federation. He was gassed, along with 29 other humans that she was “euthanizing.” I have attached the video of the murder as taken by my gool; I will warn you that it is a video of a mass murder. You don’t need to watch it if you do not want to. Know that Dr Neutha died bravely, saving the life of a condemned human in the process.

A release will be going out shortly with further details. Please keep Dr Neutha’s family and friends in your thoughts and, if you are a believer, your prayers or meditations.

Sincerely,
Thurfrit Maris

He sent the message, and rubbed his eyes. “Councillor Temis,” he said, quietly, “There was to be a rally tonight in Walak.”

“Hm? Yes, yes. Right, in four hours. I’ll…I’ll cancel….”

“Don’t,” Thurfrit said, causing every eye in the shuttle to turn his way.

“What do you mean?” Tylum said. “We have to cancel.”

“No,” Thurfrit said. “We have to…we have to speak. We have to tell Yamanu’s story.”

“No, we can’t,” Aezhay said. “It’s…I…I don’t…I mean, Gae….”

“Thurfrit, I understand,” Temis said. “But with Dr Neutha…I mean, it isn’t safe right now.”

“Safe?” Thurfrit said. “Councillor, nobody should know better than you that it’s never safe. Never.”

“But Thurfrit, we lost Yamma,” Aezhay said, wiping her eyes. “I don’t…I can’t….”

A tired, thin voice interrupted.

“I remember when I took Yamanu home, after I found him. He was scared and sad, he’d just lost Aenur and he had no idea whether I was really his friend. He was devastated. Heartbroken. But he never shut down. He wanted…he wanted to keep moving. He thought he owed it to her, to keep working, to keep working to become free. I suppose I should have resented it, you know. She was always the core of why he did. But then, she was the core of why I did, too. We both felt guilty, we both felt we failed her. Maybe we did, I don’t know. But all we could do is keep working to fix things for those who came after.”

Gae wiped her eyes, and said, quietly, “Thurfrit is right. Yamma would want us to go to that rally tonight. And even if Thurfrit was wrong…he is the senior human…the senior human on the board,” Gae said, though barely above a whisper. “This is his decision. Not ours.”

“I am so sorry, Gae,” Thurfrit said. “I…I keep trying….”

“It isn’t your fault, Thurfrit, and it isn’t mine, though I keep wondering what I could do differently. It’s…it’s that frakking vet and the frakking Federation and if we don’t keep fighting them, then the bitch wins.”

Gae stood up, and looked around the cabin. Her grief had washed out of her, and what was left behind was anger and resolution. Her husband had fought, every day of his life. He couldn’t fight anymore, but she could, and they could, and she would keep fighting until she joined him in whatever lay beyond this life.

“So we’ve got four hours,” Gae said. “We need to get to work. I just….”

She sighed, as a bit of the resolution faded.

“I have one call I have to make,” she said, soberly. “And then I’ll join you.”

****

Perhaps a third of the members of the Imperial House of Representatives were on the floor, and that was a surprisingly high number; no major business remained before the two-week summer break, and Forna Qorni was simply leading the chamber through a number of pro forma motions designed to set things up for when they returned. About ten more minutes, and she’d move to adjourn, and there’d be a voice vote that most members didn’t actually vote on, and nobody would care – they all had shuttles to catch back to their homes, where they could get a home-cooked meal and an earful from constituents.

At least, that’s what generally happened. And so Qorni was mildly surprised to see a sudden stream of representatives filing in to the south side of the chamber; the Dunnermac and Ler and Avartle representatives taking seats behind the deputy floor leader’s spot. Surely Armac couldn’t be plotting a coup right now – that would be ridiculous. It wasn’t even allowed under the rules for the day. And Armac wasn’t even – no, there she was. Qorni peered across the cavernous house chamber, and narrowed her eyes; from this distance, it appeared Armac was rattled. What in the name of the Emperor was going on?

The chair disposed of the motion to set the committee calendar for two weeks’ time, and Loona Armac rose, wiped her eyes, and in a broken voice, said, “Mr. Chair, I request such time as I may consume for a matter of urgency.”

“By rule, the Member from Tannhauser West is recognized for such time as she may consume.”

Qorni sat down; she was tempted to object, though this was the right of any cabinet official or caucus leader. If she was to object, that objection would be overruled, but it would perhaps draw Armac up short. It would be rude, though, and so she held off, even though it would have given her a chance to remind Loona of who had the upper hand.

Twelve seconds later, Qorni knew.

“Mr. Chair, Madam Floor Leader…citizens of the Empire…I have the…I have the somber duty to announce that The Honorable Dr Yamanu Neutha has been assassinated in Krogh Fazala.”

Loona fought to maintain composure as the gallery gasped in shock and horror. She needed to remain composed. Yamma deserved no less. Thurfrit had forwarded the video of his final moments. He had been composed until the end.

She feared she was not the person he was, but then, few were.

“Yamanu Neutha was put to death by a rogue HOS official, who was supposed to be treating his injuries after an assault at a protest. He was killed by a veterinarian who put him into a box with twenty-nine other humans, who were killed at the same time. They were ‘euthanized’ – by a pet shelter disposing of ‘surplus strays.’”

Loona looked down, and when she looked up, she was no longer sad. She was enraged.

“They. WERE. PEOPLE!” she roared, and her side of the chamber rose to their feet and screamed their affirmation. They held sustained applause for two full minutes, despite the chair ringing his bell. They only became quiet again as Loona raised her head, and stepped toward the microphone again.

“This body has failed, Mr Chair. It has failed. An Imperial province flouts the laws of this legislature, and we do nothing. An Imperial province ignores the rule of law, and we do nothing. An Imperial province allows scores of people, scores of Class One Sentient Beings, to be murdered, and we are doing nothing. Well, I cannot continue to ignore my duty. Each of us has sworn to observe and promote obedience to imperial law, and to promote the welfare, safety, liberty, and dignity of all Imperial citizens. OF ALL. IMPERIAL. CITIZENS. Well, Mr. Chair, Yamanu Neutha was a citizen of this Empire. He was murdered in cold blood. I am aware that we are under the previous rule, and I am aware that even were I to move a question of confidence, it would fail because too many members – on both sides – are absent.

“But Mr Chair, this body and its leadership is on notice. In the next two weeks, either we will see justice, or this government will fall. I would greatly prefer that justice comes, and swiftly – because Yamanu Neutha, and the other humans who died with him, and the humans living in Federation Province deserve immediate justice. But if we do not get justice for him – well, I will not be able to serve in this government anymore, not without violating my oath of office.”

“Will the member yield?”

Loona stared at Qorni for a hard moment; how dare she interrupt. Her eyes were fire, but her voice was cool. “Of course,” she said.

“Do you think that threats are…”

Qorni was rather shocked by the volume of anger those words triggered; the gallery, which was rapidly filling, was jeering loudly, and the other side of the aisle was shouting incoherently; well, incoherently at first, followed by a chant that centered around one word – αҍαδαxι.

Resign.

Loona held up a hand, and her side gradually quieted. She looked at the Floor Leader evenly, and said, “Madam Floor Leader, this is not a threat. This is a matter of urgency. This government’s failure to defend the Charter has led directly to the death of dozens of people. You are being notified, simply, that a significant number of the members of this government do not accept this. You may be able to form a majority while turning a blind eye to the degradation of people in the Federation, and if so, the rules of the House will allow you to govern. But make no mistake – that majority will not include hundreds of members who currently back the coalition.”

“Still, Representative, decorum suggests…..”

“Yamanu Neutha was my friend, Madam Floor Leader. He was a good and decent man, and he has been murdered. Murdered, Madam Floor Leader! And you presume to lecture me on decorum? YOUR INACTION KILLED HIM, MADAM FLOOR LEADER.”

“The member is out of order, personal insults….”

But Loona did not stay to hear the chair’s ruling. Instead, she stormed off the floor, followed by everyone on her side of the chamber – and Qorni could not help but notice, a few members from her side as well.

“Mr. Chair,” Qorni said, quietly, “I move that the House do now adjourn.”

****

“Armac just threatened to pull out of the government,” Cesil said, checking his pad. “Timing works out well, she can’t for two weeks. They’re on a break.”

“It’s only a matter of time,” Rimosi said. “And I’m not sure that Qorni can stick with Hab, not after this.”

“Frakking idiot doctor.”

“Should we actually arrest her?”

Cesil laughed. “That would be sending…well, a rather significant mixed message.”

Cesil crushed his blunt into the ash tray, and sighed. “How close are we?”

“Another week would be great,” Rimosi said.

“We don’t have it,” Cesil said. “Ten’ll get you twenty that Qorni invokes Article XXII in the next eighty-four hours. Under my basic right as the Guide of My People, I am dissolving the government, and replacing it with one that will defend our people. Starting with you. Lord Scylane Rimosi, Chancellor of the New Imperial Military, contact our allies. Inform them that it is now or never.”

“Poron Cesil, Guide of the New Empire,” Rimosi said, “it shall be done.”

****

The main square in Walak was full.

They would have come out even if the rally had been canceled. They needed to be there. Few of them knew Yamanu Neutha personally, but they had listened to him, they had seen him fight. The video of his last moments had been leaked onto the internet, and while there were of course those who gleefully cheered his passage, so very many had seen in him a willingness, even in death, to do what was right. To stand for justice and liberty. To die on his feet. To die a person.

There were plenty of people in the Federation who didn’t see it that way. But even they sensed it – a change in the direction of the wind. Yamanu Neutha had faced death with more courage than most Titans could dream of. He had died for his cause.

Whatever his size, whatever his vulnerability, it was a courage that reverberated.

And so over a million Titans and humans were in the square, spilling onto the side streets. Dunnermac and Avartle and Ler – those few souls who lived in Walak – were there as well, and were surrounded by people who greeted them. Some awkwardly, some apologetically – but they welcomed them as their friends and allies.

Gae had tried to get a speech together, but she simply couldn’t. She felt like she was failing Yamanu, but Thurfrit had told her, gently, that he knew Yamanu as well as anyone, and if the situation was reversed…well, Thurfrit knew exactly what Yamanu’s reaction would have been to losing Gae. It would mirror his reaction if he ever lost Zhay. Gae was far more coherent than she had any right to be.

Palsa Temis had delivered a short, pointed speech, stating that he was embarrassed to be a Federationer, and demanding of his people the answer to a simple question – “Is this who we are?” The crowd’s roar of No! was gratifying, but Temis couldn’t help but think that he wanted to hear it from the frakking Block.

A few other locals had spoken, leading up to the final slot. It would ordinarily have been filled by Yamanu, who would give a calm, clear call to work for justice. He would quote King and Gandhi and Mandela and Yousafzai, and with the ease of a master, he would have the crowd hanging on his every word until the last.

Thurfrit was not his equal. But he was, as Gae had noted, the senior human here. And so he loaded his brief remarks into his gool, and when introduced, he walked quickly onto the stage. Aezhay gave him a boost to the podium, with a tearful smile. And then he was left facing a sea of people.

“Yamanu Neutha’s death has come as a shock to us all,” he began, reading the speech he’d written. “He led the Aenur Foundation for two dozen years, and….”

He trailed off. No, this wasn’t right. The speech had worked earlier, when he’d written it – but….

“I’m sorry,” he said, as much to himself as the crowd. “That’s…I had a speech written about what a great leader Dr Neutha was but…but I don’t want to talk about what he did. You saw what he did. I want to….”

He wiped away tears, and said, simply, “Yamanu Neutha was one of my best friends.”

He looked down for a moment, ignoring the text of his speech, which was frozen halfway through the first paragraph.

He looked up at the crowd, and nodded. “In his too-brief life, Yamma did many great things, we all know that. But those are not what I will remember about him. I’ll remember him laughing with his family, teasing me about my hairline, sharing a glowberry schnapps at the end of a week and talking about our children….”

“Yamma loved his children. Loved them so deeply. The life he chose to lead had many sacrifices, but he didn’t feel any as keenly as the loss of time with his kids. I know he was hoping that once emancipation passed, he’d get more time.

“It was made worse by the fact that he was so often joined by his wife, and they both ended up having to travel. Gae…Gae wanted to speak to you all tonight. She loved him, and he loved her – fiercely, intensely, like two schoolchildren. Almost, almost as much as I love my Aezhay.” He sniffed back a tear.

“Yamanu wasn’t just a leader, and he wasn’t a symbol, and he gorram sure never was a pet,” Thurfrit said. And then, looking up, he fairly roared, “He was a person!”

The crowd’s roar of agreement was so loud that Thurfrit swore it pushed him backward. He leaned into it, leaned into it, and let it shake him, and he waited patiently for it to ebb.

“The monster who took his life, and 29 others – and Yamma would be the first to tell you that those 29 were no less important than him – she did so because she thought it would break us. That killing him would prove us weak, prove we were pets, not people. But she was wrong. She was wrong. Just like the Black Block is wrong. Just like Poron Cesil is wrong. No matter what they say, no matter what they do to us, no matter who they hurt, no matter who they kill, they cannot change the truth, they cannot change the simple truth that WE. ARE. PEOPLE!”

Tears were streaming down his cheeks now, but he didn’t even feel them. He heard the crowd’s roar distantly. He wasn’t speaking to them. He was speaking to everyone, and one person.

“Yamanu Neutha died a person. And if I die tomorrow, I will die a person. If every human in the Federation dies, we die as people. You cannot stop it, you cannot change it. And believe me, Poron Cesil, believe me, if you do not want human people in the Federation, you will have to do that. You will have to kill all of us. Every one of us. Because we know what it is to be a pet, and I can tell you that humans would rather die than submit to that again.

“The doctor who murdered my friend and 29 other people thought she would drive us out of the Federation. She was wrong. She ensured that we will never leave. We will see our brothers and sisters free, or we will die, but we will never – never – never abandon them to their fate. We will not fight with weapons, nor with anger. We will not strike out. We will fight the way Yamanu taught us to – with dignity, and honour, and most important, with the truth. And with the truth behind us, we cannot fail. And we will not,” Thurfrit said. “Thank you all, bless you all, and may the Great Spirit hold and keep the spirit of my friend, Yamanu Neutha. Good night!”

He nodded to Aezhay, who offered him her hand. She was crying freely, but she was smiling. She led him quickly to the shuttle, which was waiting to take them to Temis’s home. They would figure out what would happen next once they got there. But there was no question from either of them. Even if the rest of the Foundation needed to leave, she and Thurfrit would stay and fight.

It would be dangerous, but what adventure isn’t?

——————–

Author’s note – Once again thanks to D.X Machina for this chapter.