AEA7
E, Eris, Erim [He, His, Him; She, Hers, Her respectively]
The MDDS is curious if social Druintes can integrate into life at the Halls for Orphans and be changed to become more mainstream, or if the influence will go the other way. Falstraq insists that mainstream Druintes should embrace social ways or the Druinte civilization could be doomed, but there are plenty who assume that the social Druintes will either conform to mainstream ways or prove incapable of living at the Hall.
“Why are we even doing this?” One member of the MDDS asks. “We should send them for hard labor and be done with it.”
Falstraq protests loudly against this. “That would be unwise. Integrating social Druintes will have the effect of lowering the suicide rate among mainstream Druintes in their adulthood. I know this to be true.”
Many of the scientists who make up the MDDS gasp at the certainty. They are used to only displaying such surety after years of research.
“You will stake your reputation on this claim,” Duraq 33 says before dismissing the assembled members. E requests that Falstraq stay behind for a private word.
When they are alone e says, “I actually agree with you.”
Falstraq is stunned at the admission. The Lead Scientist had not publicly expressed his hopes for the result of moving the social Druintes in with orphans.
“This is why we have taken such drastic measures, or why I have ordered them. Our ways are harmful to our species, I see that. And your numbers of social Druintes have only grown over the years, which suggests to me that despite the disgusting displays of physical contact that you all are so prone to, you all are doing something right. I want the result of this whole mess to show that the social Druintes can make the orphans happier and more able to complete the work of the MDDS.”
Falstraq is stunned to silence and Duraq 33 can see it.
“You should not be so shocked. I am speaking to you in confidence, but my predecessors studied the orphan problem extensively. Duraq 32 commissioned the secret study to track suicide rates among you social Druintes and the data is clear. Suicide did not exist in your city. What did you call it?”
“Chaguzi.” Falstraq answers.
“Yes, Choice. A fitting name. We at the MDDS have always believed that limiting the choices that Druintes have to make, helps to focus their attentions on the goals of the MDDS. But Chaguzi has proven us wrong. And I want all of the scientists of the MDDS to see that. I want you to show them.”
Falsrtaq is resolved at the leader’s trust and e hopes that social Druintes can live up to the expectations e has created.
Falstraq finds Suun and Seel in their living quarters in Hall 1 and Seel is singing to Suun who looks at erim with love in eris eyes. They share their quarters with ten other orphans and Falstraq is surprised to see that the orphans are not lost in the study of some advanced science, but instead are sitting still, as though listening to Seel but pretending not to. Falstraq’s presence in the room seems to disrupt the calm that Seel’s voice creates.
“I hope that you all are ready,” Falstraq says to Suun and Seel when they notice erim.
Suun smiles. “We have been placed in a room full of Green team compatriots,” e says standing. E goes over to one of the orphans in the room and Falstraq follows. Suun raises a hand and Falstraq can see that e means to place it on the orphan’s cheek. Falstraq knows that many conflicts start this way; the orphans are generally confused at the emotions that touch elicits
“Suun, don’t…” Falstraq starts but Suun flashes a smile and rubs the cheek of the orphan lovingly.
“E has vowed to protect us in our first endeavor at the games.” Suun motions with eris free hand. “They have all vowed to protect us.”
Falstraq marvels at the look on the orphan’s face. It is similar to the comfort that God display and Falstraq is encouraged.
Watching Suun and Seel in the games is a different story. The two are obviously out of place, and the protection that their roommates provide them, leads to infighting within the Green team. Despite the protection, Suun and Seel experience physical violence for the first time. The two are punched and kicked, wrestled to the ground and roughed up in ways that causes Falstraq physical pain to witness. The Green team is the first team disqualified despite their skill and when Falstraq finds Suun and Seel with their team at the conclusion of the games, e winces at their bruises. The captain of the team yells at everyone and then singles out the couple.
“We don’t sacrifice our best defenders for talentless dead weight!” The orphan is big and imposing and even Falstraq cowers away from eris intensity.
The orphan that Suun had touched, stands in defense. “If you had not been yelling at us, we could have protected them and been victorious…” before e can finish, the captain springs on erim and a violent fight ensues that Falstraq breaks up.
As the orphans leave the gymnasium to continue with the rest of their day, Falsratq walks with Suun and Seel to the Hall of Atmospheric Surveillance where they will continue the work they started in the city of Choice.
“I am very sorry for all of this.” Falstraq says, helping Seel who limps from a leg injury.
The couple laughs. “We won’t be such easy targets next time,” Seel says.
Falstraq fakes a laugh and hopes that they are right. But e can’t know how right e is.
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