Nebula intervenes

James opened the door. As soon as Nebula, who was now a light orange color, saw the figures behind him he touched James on the shoulder. James noticed the lack of flickering. No question. These unannounced visitors were danger.

<Elders! Is something wrong?>

The shriveled Novaxans behind alpha flickered at each other. The smallest in the front answered. <That remains to be seen...youngling. You have increased in muscle mass. Why?>

This had to be handled right. He'd planned to get the council involved...just not so soon. Aurora was supposed to argue her own case. Get emotional like she always does. Not like this.

<I...needed to be taken more seriously.>, he responded. Alpha flashed with approval along his chest.

<And you had hoped to accomplish what exactly?>

He took a deep breath. Logic. This had to be cold, hard, logic. He left to James's room, and returned with the orb he had made. He took a quick drink of adenosine before coming out. <Elders...alpha. I know this is hard to hear but we are dying.>

<How dare you!>, the third elder shouted. The humans in the room backed away.

<I have come to this conclusion through much study. We cannot preserve our society without adapting it.>

<We need to bring you back this instant. This has been disastrous enough, our brightest mind corrupted! We should have followed our instinct.>

Nebula shouted back, <No! If we hide away we die! We are on another specie's world! We have the chance to change, to unite with them! Even form family units!>

<Abominations!>, another screamed and grabbed his wrist. <It cannot be allowed!>

<The girl is pregnant with alpha's child!>, he screamed back and tore his arm free.

The council flashed with joy for a moment, and then anger. <How could you know that?>

Nebula cleared his throat. "That's a good segway to this...it was rude to exclude the others present anyway."

"Youngling...what are you talking about?"

"The answers you sent me for. Alpha and this woman have a child on the way."

Archie, who had been stunned in silence staring at Sally until now, sat by her on the sofa. "Is...this true?"

She nodded. The shortest elder flickered, again with joy that turned to anger. "Alpha, what have you done..."

Nebula interrupted. "He didn't know at the time...our DNA is compatible. This. This is how we stay alive...as something new."

"Our traditions-"

"Are holding us back! There are good things to be kept, great things, but you sent me out here because you knew I would see the answer where you can't! This is it! People like her and Alpha, my sister and this human!"

"They cannot possibly feel how we feel!"

"You think so? This human risked everything to save her life when he never knew her! And when they were separated he lied and broke their laws, risked being killed by the guards the humans gave us just to see her!"

James turned pale. How did he know that? "Hey...how-"

"Your sister said you left to get eggs that day...you never did come back with eggs. Where else would you have gone?"

James sat down, shaking and wondering what would happen to him. To her. To everyone. Archie spoke in a shaking voice. "When...they took her at the police building...elders. I saw it...she was...she has...bonded."

"With a human?! We cannot let this continue!"

He stood, almost roaring at them. "I was ashamed that day! Ashamed to take her! I have been ashamed pretending to be enraged at my pod! They have done only what they could! I am no longer going to bow my head to you!"

"And what of the humans?!"

"They will simply have to listen to him!"

"Chrit-", the short elder began.

Archie interrupted. "He has chosen. Nebula."

Nebula flickered with more emotions than he knew could reach him through the adenosine. "Alpha..."

Archie grabbed him, holding him close. The humans we're right about this gesture...it felt almost like sharing a heart. "I am sorry...I have been trying to keep us together. Keep our pod from dying...so much that I forgot that we had trusted you to find the path...now that we have it, I swear I will not falter from it."

The short elder scoffed. "You'll have to convince the humans...and the others of your pod, that this is the right choice."

Archie turned back to him. "Our history has so few major turning events...each of them had spelled the evolution and betterment of our people. They all came from minds like young Nebula. If you choose to ignore his findings, his creativity, you are choosing stagnation and death. Our death. On your hands."

The five elders encircled each other, flickering rapidly. Nebula interrupted them. "You showed joy...briefly, but you did. You were happy I found a way. Happy a child is coming. You had to force your rage...after a little bit of fear. Why?"

They all stopped, slowly breaking their circle. The tallest one, a female in the back, spoke. <We...fear. We fear the humans. Their authorities will likely reject such a permanent mingling...>

<You were the ones so insistent on living in their oceans. Trying to be what we were before our world's end. If you show them this...all of this. I have reason to think they will listen.>, Nebula finished with a smile, and a glance at James.

<We...will try. Come with us. We will have need of you.>

He shook his head. <No...you have alpha. They will listen to him more. I'm staying here...and when you remember to send my sister, I'm staying with her and the human.>

<Is that wise?>

<It's the only chance to show them we can operate similar to their family units. The closer we show them we are, the more they have to see reason.>

<They will want something in exchange...>

He held out the sphere he'd crafted. <Show them this. Tell them this is what one of our minds with their creativity can accomplish. Their world could grow so much...as long as we grow with it, and with them.>

<It may take time to get approval to send her here...>

<It won't. They're using the excuse of alpha choosing who is allowed. These humans...they can be childish. They lie. They try not to get caught lying...so if you have his approval, they will likely allow it simply to avoid saying that they don't want to allow it.>

Archie gave a large grin. <Then I allow it.>