An Opportunity to Reform

in #writing • 2 years ago

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A story about an Earthling in alien world. If you're just tuning in, consider starting with part 1

Part 29

Two weeks later, at a dive bar in Button, Hank got into a fight and knocked a man unconscious. The authorities tried to send the Earthling to a monastery, but he chose to remain in society with a warden instead. From then on, Hank's every move was tracked and judged by Warden Hilla, who was the toughest looking Motherling Archie had ever seen. Following these developments, observing the drama of Hank Sorty became the new pastime of archivists everywhere.

Archie and the Outcast Five became addicted to this drama like everybody else. For such a peaceful society, the violence was over the top. After a month, they'd seen Hank punch several walls and lose a wrestling match with Warden Hilla. The Earthling's scandalous love life was even more exciting. He would go to a public place and systematically ask all of the females if they wanted to mate until one said yes. Sometimes females from previous liaisons would show up wanting to talk, leading to awkward and upsetting interactions.

Shopkeeper Arnen was obsessed with Hank Sorty and traveled south to meet him. It was a pilgrimage of sorts, led by Senior Priest Danpin. Although they invited Archie, he chose to remain in New Oro. From the archives in New Oro, Archie and the Outcast Five watched the pilgrims arrive and proceed to organize a New Founders Temple ritual in one of Cedret's barns.

During this ritual, they all smoked bath salts and huffed toluene. Danpin treated Hank like he was some kind of messiah, asking question after question between bursts of incoherent babble. Arnen asked Hank how to be more manly, using the English word because the Motherling term had different implications. Answering this question, high on bath salts and toluene, Hank delivered a rambling speech on several unrelated topics.

"I really hate that guy," said Archie, observing the scene.

"The followers of the Founders worship him," said Natlin.

"Shit," said Archie. "Most of us watch because it's entertaining. You never know what he'll do next. But those guys actually take him seriously. Arnen takes him seriously. How can I take Arnen seriously knowing that?"

Natlin laughed. "You never took Arnen seriously," she said.

"Fair point," said Archie. "But what if Arnen convinces Hank to come visit us up here? That could ruin everything."

"Oh, he doesn't seem that bad," said Natlin. "Rough around the edges, maybe. But how much harm could he really do, with Warden Hilla on the case."

"Toxic fuckers like him are a big part of what made my world a dystopia," said Archie. "Maybe they didn't cause Earth's problems, but they're a product of those problems, and their whole way of being guaranteed that those problems could never be solved."

"But what if coming here changes things for Hank?" asked Natlin. "What if all he needs is love?"

"You've seen how he treats the females that give him love," said Archie. "And we've all seen how Hank ended up locked up on Earth. He beat up an old lady to steal her car. The guy's not some tragically misunderstood figure. He's a scumbag too fucked up to ever get better."

"I find it fascinating that he pretends to be intelligent when he's obviously very stupid," said Horner.

"He's like an average factory worker or soldier," said Jili. "I've observed both extensively, and he's a lot like them. Only, he seems to have a problem with authority and impulse control. It's like he wants to be the boss of people, but only to feel important by bossing others around."

"I just had a funny thought," said Benko. "Hank's type is in some ways the opposite of the Outlings. Outlings try and try to fit in, but society has no place for them. Hank's type is perfectly adapted for manual labor and routine tasks, which there's great demand for, yet they will seemingly do anything to avoid fitting into their natural place in the order of things."

"Sounds about right," said Archie. "Where it gets sticky is when the natural order of things is unsustainable and needs to change, which is definitely the case on Earth. I can't fault anyone for rejecting that order. Even if I do totally disapprove of the manner in which this order is rejected, like I do with Hank."

"So which is it?" asked Natlin. "Is Hank a hopeless case or will our planet's ways give him an opportunity to reform?"

Archie returned his attention to the scene they were observing. Danpin and Arnen were both laying on the ground, pawing at each other's faces and huffing chemicals from a small metal bowl. Hank watched them, waiting until their incapacitation appeared complete. Then he went through both of their pockets, and, finding no valuables, he threw the objects he did find across the barn in disgust. Warden Hilla, accustomed by now to Hank's ways, merely noted the coordinates of her ward's infraction and shook her head.

"Uhh, this is how Hank is using his great opportunity to reform," said Archie. "He found himself freed from imprisonment, in paradise, with everything he could ever want at his fingertips. And his response to this opportunity has been to just keep being a selfish dick."

"So you think he's hopeless?" asked Natlin.

"Honestly, I don't believe anyone is completely hopeless," said Archie. "Anyone can change, even someone as far gone as Hank. But will he change? I doubt it. He's too narcissistic to ever even admit that he's got a problem."

"Is there a way we could intervene to improve his odds?" asked Natlin.

"I'm curious about your history," said Archie. "Were there ever people like Hank on Mother? How did you deal with them?"

"You'd have to go back to the Century War to find them," said Kammy. "They'd have all died out before the lasting peace began."

"Died out?" asked Archie.

"By the end of the War, there were many who had known great hardship and became antisocial as a result," said Kammy. "Everyone like that was sent to live in the Midlands. Refugees and the antisocial. They created a new order among themselves that conformed to the global system. Their descendants still live there."

"The Midlands?" asked Archie, who knew next to nothing about the region. "You think there might be someone there who could help with Hank?"

"Possibly," said Jili. "I studied their mating habits extensively. I'll ask my contacts about it."

"Maybe we could do a trip there," said Natlin. "Archie's never been there and neither have I."

(Feature image from Pixabay)

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