She rocked and hummed to the sleeping infant nestled in her arms.For the moment, all was perfection.Cassidy had been surprised by the moments of sheer panic when she felt her responsibility to Jackie the keenest.Degorsk told her it was because she wasn’t getting much sleep.Lidon kept quoting the passages from the Book of Life he thought were relevant to calm her.Only Tranis admitted he often experienced the same terrifying spells.
No one specifically mentioned their fear of the All and what it meant to Jackie’s future.It lay like a dark cloud on their happiness, however.
Cassidy was enjoying a brief respite during which absolute love for her daughter dispersed the cloud.She gazed at the tiny face and took genuine peace in Jackie’s contented slumber.As Lidon often said, “All we have is now.”
Now was wonderful, and she gripped it with all the determination she could muster.
“The baby is well?”
Cassidy looked up to find herself standing there, watching them.The Other had returned.Her tone was terse as she answered.“Not that you care, but yes.”
“You are still angry with us.”It was a statement, not a question.
“I’ve had a few days to think since your last visit.I’ve formed an opinion, and it isn’t flattering.”
The second Cassidy’s brows lifted.“Interesting.Will you tell us?”
“First, you can answer a couple of questions.You mentioned you’re incorporeal.”
“Yes.We can arrange available atoms and assume solid forms to adequately communicate with material beings, such as this body, which is a copy of yours.”The Other’s head tilted.“Does our identical appearance bother you?”
“Not really.It’s your lack of physical existence that keeps the All from threatening you.Am I accurate in my assumption?”
“You are.”
“You’re in no danger from it, yet you allowed it to destroy the sentients of your home dimension.Why?”
“We evolved beyond physical bodies eons ago, as we’ve explained.The matters concerning corporeal life are no longer of impact to us.Why should we interfere in those affairs?”
“Because wholesale genocide of a species is wrong.The genocide of every species in your dimension is an abomination.”Cassidy fairly spat the words.Jackie shifted, and she lowered her voice.“Don’t throw our attempts to destroy the All in my face as an example of hypocrisy, either.There’s a difference between the All eradicating what it doesn’t like simply out of spite and us trying to survive.The All’s extinction to avoid the extinction of untold numbers of other species is a valid solution.A solution you should have offered to those you allowed to die.”
The Other gazed at her for a few moments.Presently it said, “Your people have pets.Four-legged, non-intelligent creatures.The dogs.Yes, it’s similar to dogs and humans when it comes to lower sentients and us, whom you call the Other.Just as dogs can’t comprehend how you think and feel, so it is between us.We see no reason to get involved in your lives.”
Cassidy’s temper was rising, particularly as her doppelganger’s lips jerked a smile that saidyou can’t argue with our reasonable argument.Of all the narcissistic notions...
Unfortunately, the Other had little emotional intelligence, so the names Cassidy could have called it would do little to give her satisfaction.She took a deep breath and concentrated on a more analytical argument.
“Most humans care greatly for lesser creatures, such as dogs.In fact, we have laws regarding mistreatment of animals, some which include incarceration of those who abuse them.We’d certainly take action should some psychopath decide to kill all our dogs.”
“Because you’ve taken them on as companions?”
“Because we don’t turn our backs on the suffering of defenseless creatures.We safeguard them, even those who don’t contribute to our lives.A large number of societies in this dimension feel the same when it comes to non-sentient beings.We recognize their rights to live, even though they may not be self-aware.”
The Other appeared mystified.“Why?”
Cassidy snorted.“It’s a mark of civilization.Have you truly left behind everything you must have once been?Your compassion?”
“We are all equal.There is no need or want for us any longer.No suffering.I suppose we have no need for compassion when our existence is perfect.”The Other shrugged, as if brushing off the notion.
Cassidy suddenly snorted laughter, muffling it as best she could to avoid disturbing Jackie.
“What’s so funny?”the Other asked.
“The answer to my questions is so obvious.How did I not see it before?”Cassidy shook her head at her double.“The Other is a coward.A weak, pathetic coward.”
“We...we fail to see your reasoning.”Bafflement filled her double’s face.
“It’s something my clanmate Lidon quotes from his faith.‘True courage is to take a stand for the weak when it wins you nothing and could cost you everything.’Of course, you have the advantage that you lose nothing no matter how you act, but you lack any bravery whatsoever.”
