Committed

COMMITTED by A.R. Kirby Episode 10 norr looked at the couple, his black, marble-like eyes as deep and cold as the cosmos. His quiet, shallow breathing created a low background symphony of tiny bleats and shrills as he awaited their reaction. It was, as he expected, hurried and scared. “Would you please stop asking us if we’re ready to save the world!” Liv said, her eyes wide, her hand squeezing Tal’s so hard he winced. “There’s no way we can do that! We wouldn’t know where to begin!” “We could begin with you not breaking my bones,” Tal said as he lifted his hand and massaged it gingerly. “Even if we wanted to do it, we couldn’t. This isn’t for us. She’s right, Gnorr. “ “Of course I’m right!” Liv looked up at Tal, her eyes wide and questioning. “We’re just normal people!” She whipped around and looked directly at Gnorr’s giant blue potato head. “You said it yourself -- I’m an accountant and Tal is a professor. Those aren’t the kinds of things people look for in heroes! Nobody says, ‘Hey, the world needs saving! We need an accountant!’ We just don’t have the skills to do what it is you want us to do! Even if we did, we’ve got responsibilities! There are two girls depending on us back home! We have jobs! We’ve got a mortgage!” “But you do not understand,” Gnorr said, gliding closer to the couple. “You are the chosen.” G Decisions, decisions Committed by A.R. Kirby “Gnorr, I appreciate your faith in us,” Tal said, pulling Liv close to his side, “but we’re not the hero types. There’s nothing heroic about us. Besides, we have a family to look after. We can’t go gallavanting across the planet -- even the solar system, I guess -- protecting it against some kind of danger that even you can’t explain.” “Yeah,” Liv piped in. “What is this ‘unimaginable peril’ you’re talking about?” Various and sundry low toots and whistles accompanied Gnorr as he moved toward the glowing holographic computer display, motioning for Tal and Liv to follow. “I shall try to explain,” the alien told the couple as they took places on either side of Gnorr in front of the display. Tal let out a low whistle when he saw the display; it produced lifelike three-dimensional holographic images in high definition. “I’d love to have that set up for football season,” he whispered to Liv behind Gnorr’s back. A sharp, brief screech from the alien focused his attention back on the display. “As you have experienced with the IDTP, Empyrean technology can easily manipulate the three dimensions of space,” Gnorr said in his high-pitched drone, and Liv winced at the memory of being squeezed through the mail slot. “However, the dimension of time is much more complex and fluid. Nevertheless, our advanced science has found a way for us to glimpse portions of future timelines; ‘wakedreaming’ you would call it. By manipulating folds in spacetime, we are allowed to see a portion of the future in a general sense. “I myself participated in the wakedreaming and saw great danger for your planet,” Gnorr said calmly while Tal and Liv instinctively ducked as the holographic earth in front of them exploded violently. “Although Empyrean custom -- and law, for that matter -- expressly forbids direct interference with an indigenous culture, I could not let this blue orb which I have come to love be destroyed.” “Didn’t you break that custom when you brought us here?” Liv asked. Tal looked at his wife; she was alert, and interested. 2 Episode 10 The fear was fading from her eyes, replaced by a natural curiosity. “I mean, it certainly seems like you are directly interfering by choosing two people to save a planet,” she said. “It would seem that way,” Gnorr replied quietly, still focused on the rapidly changing display in front of him. “But I am counting on several factors that will help this incident remain unnoticed. First, and I mean no offense to you or your species, but this part of the Milky Way is, in effect, the galactic backwoods. You are far from any main trading routes, no civilization within a couple of hundred light years has achieved interstellar travel at this point, and,” Gnorr paused as he turned toward Tal and Liv, “you’re not quite evolved. To be honest, I don’t think anyone cares.” “However, should this little adventure of mine gain notice,” he continued, “I expect to use in my defense something I learned from your human legal system -- the technicality.” “You see,” Gnorr said as his black eyes twinkled, “the Empyreans are respected throughout known space as impartial observers and scribes. Our historical reporting is beyond reproach. We are objective and deal with only facts. Hence, we are expressly forbidden from interfering with the species and worlds we observe; otherwise, history will be altered, and our recording of history will be tainted. However, the term ‘direct interference’ is poorly defined within Empyrean legal terms. Traditionally, it has been interpreted as any contact with an observed species. Personally, I think it means direct physical contact with the species being observed. So as long as I don’t physically touch either of you, I am in good shape.” “So what would happen if somebody found out?” Tal asked. “Found out what?” Gnorr replied. “Found out that you were helping a civilization you were supposed to be recording,” Liv answered sharply. A wet trill came from Gnorr’s head. “I don’t like to think 3 Committed by A.R. Kirby about it,” the alien said, and turned back to the computer display. “Banishment to one of the lower dimensions is what would most likely happen,” he said quietly. “An eternity of regret, torment, and pain.” An uncomfortable pause followed. Finally, Tal spoke. “Like I said before, Gnorr, we’re honored that you brought us here,” he said. “And we’d really like to be able to do something for you, really we would, but we can’t. We just aren’t those people. You can find someone better suited to this job than the two of us.”” “But you want to save the world, don’t you?” Gnorr asked as he gestured toward the hologram. Immediately, images from Tal and Liv’s past popped up on the screen. “Oh, look, hon,” Liv said quickly. “It’s the Sierra Club outing at Red Mountain Park a couple of years ago.” “And that’s you at ‘Green the Ham’,” Tal said as he pointed at an image of Liv onstage introducing a band at last year’s fundraiser. More images flashed by: Tal writing a check to Amnesty International; Liv and the girls at an address by the Dali Lama in Atlanta; the entire family at a house-raising sponsored by Habitat for Humanity. “It would seem,” Gnorr said as more images flashed by, “that the two of you have the greater good at heart. You are already doing whatever you can to save the world.” “We’re just doing what conscientious people do,” Liv said. “We like to get involved in making the world a better place.” “In that case,” Gnorr said, toots and whistles coming from every pore, “what I am offering you is the chance to be more involved than you ever dreamed.” “Look, Gnorr, this is getting us nowhere,” Liv said. “Just 4 Episode 10 because we’re committed to saving the planet doesn’t mean we can actually do it.” “Oh, but what if you could do it?” the alien asked. “What do you mean by that?” Tal said quizzically. “I mean, what would you do if I were to provide you with the ability to save the world?” the alien asked. “Perhaps I was a bit too hasty earlier. Maybe throwing the whole ‘you are the chosen ones’ bit at you was too much to take. I’m not asking you to go out and save the world as you are. I know you have the desire. What you need is knowledge and ability. I can provide that. I can make you two the most amazing people the world has ever known.” “The great question is whether a man has the courage and will to use ability wisely,” Gnorr went on. “The reason I chose the two of you is that, after observing you, I felt that you could handle the ability. That’s the thing with great power. People are so tempted to abuse it. You know, with great power comes great responsibility.” Tal looked puzzled. “Isn’t that a line from Spider-Man?” “What? Oh yes, I suppose it is,” Gnorr replied. “One of the joys of my observations is the consuming of your species’ literature and entertainment. To be quite frank, I find your comic books amusing. In fact, it is how I got the idea to fight the great evil that is coming. I am going to give you powers.” “Okay, I’m done here,” Liv said sharply. “I can’t deal with this any more. Powers. Jesus.” “Just wait a second, baby,” Tal said to his wife. “Let’s hear the man out.” “You want to hear some more from the alien that thinks he can make us Batman and Robin?” Liv looked at Tal incredulously. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Tal flashed an embarrassed grin towards his host. “Gnorr, 5 Committed by A.R. Kirby may I speak to my wife for a moment?” “Of course, of course,” Gnorr said. Tal pulled Liv toward the outer edge of the room behind a pillar. Light from the oil lamps played on their faces. He studied her eyes; they were confused and eager for answers. He thought he might have one for her. “Liv,” Tal began quietly, “I think we need to listen to what Gnorr’s saying. I think...” A low burbling sound in interrupted him. He looked to the side and brushed the top of Gnorr’s blond coif with his beard. “Please continue,” the alien said. “This is fascinating.” Tal took a step back so he could see the alien’s face. “Uh, Gnorr, I meant I wanted to speak to my wife privately,” he said. “Oh,” Gnorr said, “I shall let you continue.” He turned and glided back toward his computer pedestal. “You watch a species for a hundred centuries and you think you you’ve got it figured out,” he said under his breath as he moved away. Tal turned back to his wife. “I cannot get over how weird today is,” Liv said, shaking her head. “And now you want to be a super person? That might be the weirdest thing I’ve heard.” “I know it’s crazy...” Tal started. “Damn straight it’s crazy,” Liv shot back. “Crazy enough to land us in Bryce Hospital.” “Yeah, probably so,” he agreed. “But don’t you think enough crazy stuff has happened already that we might as well see it on though?” Liv stepped back, arms crossed, and looked at her husband. 6 Episode 10 “Talmadge Hooper, just what are you getting at?” she asked. “We’ve always said things happen for a reason, right?” His eyes were pleading. “You know I’ve always felt like I should be doing something more with my life -- something important -- we were even talking about it in the car earlier. I don’t want to end up like Old Laz, and neither do you. This is our chance to do something important. I think we ought to try it.” “But Tal, it just seems so impossible,” Liv said. “Okay, let’s talk about impossible,” Tal replied. “Tonight, the cat talked to you, we got squeezed through a mail slot, and now a being from another galaxy is asking us to save the earth -- and we’re discussing it on the surface of the moon. How much more ‘impossible’ do you need to see before you can believe this guy might be on to something?” “When you put it that way, it seems like I’m being silly,” Liv agreed. “I always like what Hunter S. Thompson said,” Tal replied. “’Buy the ticket, take the ride.’” “I don’t know if I’m up for this ride, baby,” Liv said quietly. “There’s so much to think about.” “If we don’t do it, there may not be anything or anyone left to think about,” Tal said in a firm, quiet voice. “If we do... if we do this, then maybe we will make a real difference.” Liv looked her husband in the eyes. They were clear, sharp, and focused. Seeing the eager determination on his face made Liv’s decision an easy one. “Let’s hear the man out,” Liv said, grabbing Tal’s hand and leading him back across the room to where Gnorr was studying a holographic display. “I sure hope we know what we’re doing.” To be continued... 7