Delicate Separation
Slamming the newspaper facedown on the table, John took a quick breath and then seized it by opposite grey edges and began to tear, shredding it into drifting bits of printed paper that fluttered around the kitchen to land softly on the floor.
He hadn’t always been so excitable about the written word, but his personal problems left him very few outlets to vent, especially given the court proceedings – any outbursts in public would hurt his case.
It was the “divorce seen beyond the world”, as the media had taken to calling it, but John had stopped watching TV or even listening to their prattle months ago. It wasn’t worth it.
He’d gained enough notoriety as the first man to marry an alien to have had enough of the press to last him a lifetime, even if everything in his relationship with Zz’Tebra had gone smoothly.
John sighed and reached for the nearest pile of paper scraps; his lawyer would be here soon and no matter how much he paid the man, he was sure the slick bastard was leaking anything of interest to the press and a tantrum in his kitchen – even one as minor as this – might make the evening news.
He was halfway to the garbage can when the text from the closest paper bit leapt up at him: “‘he could never satisfy me’; Zz’Tebra tells the real story”.
There was a slithering hush as the paper hit the floor a second time. His lawyer be damned – this crap wasn’t even worth throwing away.
***
“The court will come to order!” Judge Bulkston’s voice boomed out but was muted by the rumbling chants that rolled in from the public street beyond the double-paned windows.
Even with a decade of cordial relations with the SerHn behind them, the people of Earth were still militantly xenophobic, and the few pockets of alien civilization on the planet came under regular scrutiny and occasional attack.
While formal relationships existed in abundance and outer colonies enjoyed far more agreeable relations with their galactic neighbors, John was the first “ordinary” Earthman to make inroads with the species, and now the first to have his heart broken by one of them.
He couldn’t even bring himself to glance in her direction as Bulkston fought to restore control, but he couldn’t stop his mind from imagining how she must look and he felt his body warm.
It had been the same from the first moment he saw her, green skin glistening as she stepped out of the North River. Her kind were water-lovers; they didn’t need it to survive, but water revitalized them, engaged them in a way that went beyond human comprehension. She had been beautiful, exotic, luxurious, and host of words she’d tried to teach him but he could never understand. Everything about her was perfect, and the feeling seemed to go both ways.
At least for a while.
“This will be the final day of proceedings!” Bulkston thundered. “I’m weary of the incessant and changing demands of the plaintiff,” and John saw the judge cast a furrowed-brow glare in the direction of Zz’Tebra and her lawyer.
He heard the scrape of wood on tile as a chair was pushed back followed by the strident voice of her attorney, James Peckman, a snake of a man with as much charm as a rock.
“We also seek a swift resolution, Your Honor,” Peckman’s tone dripped servility “and we are prepared to agree on all points.”
John heard the snapping of a thousand cameras as he turned slowly in disbelief. Sitting demurely in her chair, Zz’Tebra held both tiny hands between her knees, her head and side fins drooping sadly. Something had taken the fight out of her.
“Objections?” Bulkston rumbled and John felt a shove from his left side. He shook his head quickly; he just wanted this to be over.
“None!” His lawyer was triumphant – not only had he successfully represented his client’s interests, but he’d proven himself an “expert” in extraterrestrial law, something that would no doubt prove lucrative in the coming years.
The hum of the courtroom seemed to fade as Bulkston’s gavel was raised, and when it came down, John was sure he’d heard a single, lonely word.
Gone.
“The court will come to order!” Judge Bulkston’s voice boomed out but was muted by the rumbling chants that rolled in from the public street beyond the double-paned windows.
Even with a decade of cordial relations with the SerHn behind them, the people of Earth were still militantly xenophobic, and the few pockets of alien civilization on the planet came under regular scrutiny and occasional attack.
While formal relationships existed in abundance and outer colonies enjoyed far more agreeable relations with their galactic neighbors, John was the first “ordinary” Earthman to make inroads with the species, and now the first to have his heart broken by one of them.
He couldn’t even bring himself to glance in her direction as Bulkston fought to restore control, but he couldn’t stop his mind from imagining how she must look and he felt his body warm.
It had been the same from the first moment he saw her, green skin glistening as she stepped out of the North River. Her kind were water-lovers; they didn’t need it to survive, but water revitalized them, engaged them in a way that went beyond human comprehension. She had been beautiful, exotic, luxurious, and host of words she’d tried to teach him but he could never understand. Everything about her was perfect, and the feeling seemed to go both ways.
At least for a while.
“This will be the final day of proceedings!” Bulkston thundered. “I’m weary of the incessant and changing demands of the plaintiff,” and John saw the judge cast a furrowed-brow glare in the direction of Zz’Tebra and her lawyer.
He heard the scrape of wood on tile as a chair was pushed back followed by the strident voice of her attorney, James Peckman, a snake of a man with as much charm as a rock.
“We also seek a swift resolution, Your Honor,” Peckman’s tone dripped servility “and we are prepared to agree on all points.”
John heard the snapping of a thousand cameras as he turned slowly in disbelief. Sitting demurely in her chair, Zz’Tebra held both tiny hands between her knees, her head and side fins drooping sadly. Something had taken the fight out of her.
“Objections?” Bulkston rumbled and John felt a shove from his left side. He shook his head quickly; he just wanted this to be over.
“None!” His lawyer was triumphant – not only had he successfully represented his client’s interests, but he’d proven himself an “expert” in extraterrestrial law, something that would no doubt prove lucrative in the coming years.
The hum of the courtroom seemed to fade as Bulkston’s gavel was raised, and when it came down, John was sure he’d heard a single, lonely word.
Gone.
***
John stared morosely down at the scrum of reporters waiting outside the courthouse. He knew they’d be there until the building was closed, waiting for his comments, and anything he could do to inconvenience them made him feel just a bit better.
Turning, he made for the concession machine again; looking at food was better than looking down at those idiots.
And there she was.
“Johnnn,” her kind had trouble with soft consonants – something he’d always found endearing.
“Zee,” his voice was cold.
She shrunk in on herself, shoulders rolling forward and arms drooping. She looked pitiful.
“I’mmm sorry,” there was no fight in her voice, no barb as it had carried in the court but only sadness. “I could not see you, after I knewww. You would make it too hard. My first cycle wasss official only today. It was safe.”
“Safe? What are you talking about?” His voice was loud but he didn’t care; he had to resist the urge to shake the truth out of her.
“I’mmm pregnant,” she met his gaze, agate eyes wet “but your kind hate usss. Me. Our child.”
John struggled to find the words, to fit the pieces together, but Zz’Tebra pressed on. “You’d have convinced me to stay. I can’t,” she touched her belly; he could see a slight roundness there, “we can’t.”
Fury stormed inside him, rampaging madness met by desperate want. Nothing would keep him from his child!
She reached out to touch his face with one slender hand.
“This humannn court agreement covers many things, and our laws have bent to accommodate yours. A father has rightsss, and I have ensured yoursss are protected.”
John smiled as she glided away.
“We willll see you on Ser, my love.”
John stared morosely down at the scrum of reporters waiting outside the courthouse. He knew they’d be there until the building was closed, waiting for his comments, and anything he could do to inconvenience them made him feel just a bit better.
Turning, he made for the concession machine again; looking at food was better than looking down at those idiots.
And there she was.
“Johnnn,” her kind had trouble with soft consonants – something he’d always found endearing.
“Zee,” his voice was cold.
She shrunk in on herself, shoulders rolling forward and arms drooping. She looked pitiful.
“I’mmm sorry,” there was no fight in her voice, no barb as it had carried in the court but only sadness. “I could not see you, after I knewww. You would make it too hard. My first cycle wasss official only today. It was safe.”
“Safe? What are you talking about?” His voice was loud but he didn’t care; he had to resist the urge to shake the truth out of her.
“I’mmm pregnant,” she met his gaze, agate eyes wet “but your kind hate usss. Me. Our child.”
John struggled to find the words, to fit the pieces together, but Zz’Tebra pressed on. “You’d have convinced me to stay. I can’t,” she touched her belly; he could see a slight roundness there, “we can’t.”
Fury stormed inside him, rampaging madness met by desperate want. Nothing would keep him from his child!
She reached out to touch his face with one slender hand.
“This humannn court agreement covers many things, and our laws have bent to accommodate yours. A father has rightsss, and I have ensured yoursss are protected.”
John smiled as she glided away.
“We willll see you on Ser, my love.”
- D
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