A story about an Earthling in alien world. If you're just tuning in, consider starting with part 1
Part 39
When Mork returned, he sat down. "Thanks for concluding your business so quickly," he said. "I need your help."
"Our business wasn't concluded but we can take it up later," said Donna, annoyed.
"Archie, I brought you into this world, now you must help me immigrate to Earth," said Mork. "My extensive observation of Earthling ways should make it easy for me to establish a life there."
"You want to leave here for there?" asked Donna.
"It makes sense," said Benko. "There's nothing for him here on Mother, with his tarnished reputation."
"Quite so," said Mork. "Although I see it less as leaving Mother and more as a permanent immersive study in a culture not unlike our own if you go back a thousand years ago."
"Where on Earth do you want to live?" asked Archie.
"New York, initially," said Mork. "But the question of who I want to be is more pressing. How do I obtain an Earth identity? From what I gather, having a political and economic identity is important."
"Maybe try the Earthling Nina Wells?" said Archie.
"Or find an immigrant that looks like you and take over their old life," said Benko. "I can make you a list."
"Good," said Mork. "Can I count on your political support?"
"For sure," said Archie. "So, uhh, how was it being a monk?"
"It was like stepping out of time," said Mork. "Doing the same things over and over again. Carrying water, mixing dough, rearranging piles of stones. And lots of sweeping garden areas with a ragged straw broom, for some reason."
"See, that actually sounds better than many places on Earth," said Archie.
"Thanks for your concern," said Mork. "My new life won't be without hardship, but what an adventure!"
In the end, Nina Wells was able to secure Mork a downtown apartment and an income through a shell company she'd set up. The street artist Anton Windle supplied the former Senior Archivist with a ready-made identity. Benko saw to all of the details. There was talk of restricting the technology Mork would be allowed to use during his life in exile, but nothing ever came of it.
When Mork finally left for Earth, stepping from an observation alcove directly into his new Ludlow Street apartment, he had with him two observation devices, a Brockton device, and several other bits and pieces of advanced Motherling technology. His transit also doomed Warden Hilla to a life of remote observation, for his departure didn't release her from her Warden responsibilities.
Once Mork had left, Benko was more emotional than Archie had ever seen him. With the exception of Horner, the rest of the Outcast Five was likewise moved by Mork's passage. Together, they observed Mork's first hour in his new world. He put his bags in a closet, went for a walk, bought a small fruit pie, and ate it on a bench in Washington Square Park.
"He'll fit in alright," commented Archie. "Hard to believe he's the guy that started a global revolution."
"Well, him and Rander's Brockton device," said Kammy.
"Do you think the timing of that invention was coincidental?" asked Natlin. "I think Rander's projects for Archie provided unique inspiration. Rander told me that studying Earth engineering helped him see possibilities he otherwise wouldn't have considered."
"It all comes back to Mork," said Benko.
"And you," said Jili. "You've been at the center of this whole thing since it began."
"We all have," said Archie. "But Mork is the only one that got in trouble for it."
"Him and the archivists elsewhere that copied Mork's transgression, before the Brockton device and the immigration program," said Kammy.
"That's true," said Archie. "You think they'll copy Mork now? Try to immigrate to Earth like he's doing?"
"No one in their right mind would immigrate to Earth," said Benko. "Now that he's gone, I fear he's made a terrible mistake. One he'll be too proud ever to admit."
"He's got housing and income," said Archie. "All he has to do is nothing and he'll be fine."
"He won't be fine," said Benko. "More than anyone I've ever met, Mork is driven to understand Earthlings. He won't do nothing. He'll follow his curiosity, which will lead him to the horrible truth about Earthlings."
"What truth is that?" asked Archie.
"That you're not on the same path the Motherlings took," said Benko. "For us, there was the Century War and then lasting peace. But Earthling war on that scale would make the planet uninhabitable in a short time."
"And you think Mork doesn't know that?" asked Archie.
"I've only recently come to this conclusion," said Benko. "Mork will understand soon enough."
"Wait, but isn't all of your mythology based on the idea that Earth would eventually develop into a global society like your own?" asked Archie. "That Earthlings were essentially just less evolved Motherlings?"
"This is biologically true, but you are right," said Benko. "The mythology will have to change."
"I think it's exciting," said Jili. "I'm making a case for larger-scale Earth intervention. It might be time for us to formally introduce ourselves to the people of Earth."
"Do you favor giving them observation device technology?" asked Kammy.
"I favor giving them access to the devices, but not possession of them," said Jili. "Let the Earthlings see what's out there without giving away the keys to coordinate space."
"I favor giving them information on sustainable ecosystem management," said Natlin.
"What if you pretend to be an authoritarian regime?" asked Archie. "Just show up and start bossing Earth's leaders around. Get them to make some positive changes. Tell them they can join the United Federation of Planets if they fix the world."
"That sounds risky," said Horner. "All of it sounds risky."
"The point is to give the Earthlings all of the tools they need to determine their own destiny," said Jili.
"Speaking as an Earthling living safely here on Mother, I say intervene until your heart is content," said Archie.
Read my novels:
- Small Gods of Time Travel is available as a web book on IPFS.
- The Paradise Anomaly is available in print via Blurb and for Kindle on Amazon.
- Psychic Avalanche is available in print via Blurb and for Kindle on Amazon.
- One Man Embassy is available in print via Blurb and for Kindle on Amazon.
- Flying Saucer Shenanigans is available in print via Blurb and for Kindle on Amazon.
- Rainbow Lullaby is available in print via Blurb and for Kindle on Amazon.
- The Ostermann Method is available in print via Blurb and for Kindle on Amazon.
- Blue Dragon Mississippi is available in print via Blurb and for Kindle on Amazon.
See my NFTs:
- Small Gods of Time Travel is a 41 piece Tezos NFT collection on Objkt that goes with my book by the same name.
- History and the Machine is a 20 piece Tezos NFT collection on Objkt based on my series of oil paintings of interesting people from history.
- Artifacts of Mind Control is a 15 piece Tezos NFT collection on Objkt based on declassified CIA documents from the MKULTRA program.