"What do you have to say in your defense before the sentence is finally passed and you lose your existence! Speak!"

The judge's harsh words penetrated Mori's consciousness only sporadically. There were still the terrible images flickering before his closed eyes, which were wet and clotted with his tears. Over and over again he heard the cries of his human and the impact on the water surface after the wheelchair had tipped over the slope. The splashing and rowing of strong arms, which only began to paddle after minutes and finally, he heard the desperate answer to his question. The distant words of the man who confessed his love to him in his last breaths.

'He had to die because of me. ... What have I done.'

Never again would Mori be able to love, never again would he feel, shine and blossom these intimate feelings. He was sure, because there was only a terrible emptiness in his feelers, which were in fetters not to give or receive vibrations. These bells on the tentacles robbed him of his ability to perceive others prematurely, and the heat had also burned down to a small flame and did not warm up any more.

Mori had been captured by his own father's hand when he was so careless and flew back to Torio despite his injured feeler. The alien's grazed sense organ left a tiny trail of blood in space that had betrayed it. At least that's what the curly head thought. The unhappy lover assumed to have fallen into the trap of the special forces and was tortured in front of the waiting astronaut. By Kazmi, who had given him this one chance before, the last one he had so thoroughly screwed up. Mori did not know that every action was part of his father's plan.

The decapitation was inevitable and the accused alien had long since come to terms with it. That's why he kept silent, didn't even listen properly to what they accused him of, how stupid and careless his actions were.

Mori did not want to hate his father even more for that. The alien knew that Kazmi could not show any weakness as a leader. He was responsible for the IUCHIS species and therefore could not spare any defector or traitor, not even his own son.

Mori's only hope was his youngest brother, who offered him his help and who already played his lifesaver at the first failed change of person. But since the incident, Hichan had never shown up again, and the older one assumed to know the reason. The redhead would never resist. Kazmi was very powerful and influential and most of all his father.

"Very well, since you have nothing to say, the verdict will be passed." A hammer blow ended the trial for now and the jury retreated for a short time to talk. It would not take long, since it was a clear thing and even a miracle could not change anything.

Mori glanced furtively through the ranks. His father didn't move a muscle, stared stubbornly and gave the impression that he was not affected by this matter. A few seats behind him, the accused could recognize his mother. She was very inconspicuously dressed, wearing a veil in front of her face so that her tears could not be seen. She was alone, the two younger sons not at her side. Couldn't he say goodbye to them? Once he was in District 69, there was nothing left but assembly line work. No contact with the outside world, no family and no love ...

But it wasn't supposed to end like this, even though they had always called him an outsider, since he refused many things of his kind, lived alone and happiness was not his best friend, he wanted to make his own decision and take the first opportunity to break up. End his life as well. Who knows, maybe those destined for each other met again in another life?

With his head hanging down, Mori sat in the dock. The twelve people who had just returned and noisily moved their chairs back into place took no notice of him. Only when the judge gave a signal did one of the jurors stand up and look angrily at the alien to be condemned.

"Guilty, in the sense of the prosecution! ... For high treason of his own species and the murder of a human!"

The condemned alien had already suspected it, but the verdict of guilty, to be heard so loud and clear, hurt infinitely in his chest. He felt something like heartache, even though it was said that the aliens' antennae were the most important organ.

A pain that penetrated so deeply into Mori's soul (yes, aliens have such a thing with me) almost paralyzed him and made everything around him dark. They could decapitate him, torture and torment him, he would feel nothing but infinite emptiness and loneliness.

"Come on, get up. The trial is over and your new life awaits you." Rough hands grabbed him by the sleeve and pulled him up. "You are lucky, the beheading cannot take place today, so enjoy the last hours with your feelers." The guard laughed mockingly and pushed Mori in front of him, through a narrow corridor in the courthouse that led to the prison cells. No, the alien was not robbed of his head. Decapitation meant removing the retractable antennas that were responsible for all the supernatural abilities. Mori would be able to live without his antennae like a normal human being, which was not a very pleasant thought. There was only one place for the kind of criminals where this simple life was possible.

District 69, a heavily guarded Arial, without a chance to escape. The atmosphere there was similar to that on earth, but the living conditions were limited to the most necessary, no comfort and luxury, just the hard work on the assembly line to afford a room in a run-down restaurant. Mori would become a number, among many other "criminals", deprived of his strength and condemned to be lonely for the rest of his life.

Even before they entered the cell wing, the alien was pushed into a room and stumbled towards the small table, the only furniture in it. Behind it stood a tall alien with his back to him.

"Father?"

What else was there to talk about? Wasn't it clearly decided what his future looked like?

Mori folded his hands in front of his chest and looked down sadly. If he hadn't discovered this rocket and hadn't seen the person inside, none of this would have happened. Torio might still be alive. ... He should not die so young, so beautiful and innocent. Quietly the unfortunate man cried bitter tears until the door behind him fell into the lock and Kazmi finally turned to him. He too had wet cheeks and red tear-stained eyes.

"You don't need to lecture me anymore, Dad. . . I have learned my lesson and ... I also know that you are not to blame. ... It was my careless stupidity. I really thought ... I could do it." Mori sobbed into his hands, feelers hung limply over his ears, the color faded and all feelings disappeared. "I killed him because I ... wanted him so much." For some time it remained silent, only the soft whimpering and sniffing could be heard, until the older alien cleared his throat noisily:

"Mori, my boy... I am sorry. ... I wanted to spare you all this, but I had no choice. My men have the best training, they are clever heads and act according to the laws of the IUCHIS. They would have banished us... and your human... eliminated." The son looked up.

"You say ... my human?" His big, dark eyes lit up. "You saw him, he was... perfect... wasn't he?" A tender smile settled on his full lips for a brief moment as Kazmi nodded slowly. Then Mori burst into tears again and hid his face in the large neckline of his sweater.

Now the father could not bring himself to remain silent any longer. He stood in front of the slim alien and pulled it to himself.

"Be strong Mori, ... it will be all right. Trust Hichan and me." As the name of the youngest brother was mentioned, the condemned man again became aware of the truth.

"Hichan? Where is he? Why wasn't he at the trial? ... Father?" Instead of an answer, Kazmi took his son in his arms and whispered in his ear:

"I can't talk here. Trust me and by all means leave the shackles on your feelers. They feel your ... Torio." No sooner had these words been uttered than Mori clung so tightly to the commander as if he were his last hope of saving himself from drowning. The long, narrow fingers clawed into the dark fabric of the suit and the thick tears that constantly flowed down caused dark spots on it. All emotions came up at once and the little alien was shaken by his heart-rending sobs. The relief of knowing his most precious treasure was safe filled his heart with so much love, and the hopeful crying made it difficult for him to breathe.

The father was visibly overwhelmed by the emotional outburst of his son. He could not let Mori suffer for another 24 hours, that would have driven him crazy himself.

"You must calm down Mori, he's fine." Slowly he pushed the still trembling one away from him and held his shoulders in a firm grip. "I must go and you do as I told you." Once more he shook the crying alien slightly to make him aware of the seriousness of the situation, then he turned around energetically and quickly left the room.

The commander was glad not to find anyone in the corridor. Desperately trying to hold back his tears, with clenched teeth and his hands clenched in fists, he walked towards the exit and ran straight into the arms of his ex-wife.

Mori's parents had not spoken to each other for three years. The separation was painful for everyone, but unavoidable because the head of the family, due to his influential position in society as leader of the guard units, showed no mercy or pity. There was no denying that Kazmi, through his strict leadership, was able to keep the IUCHIS species in a safe and stable environment. It was only thanks to his consistent accuracy that the aliens were still undiscovered and only then was it possible to live unnoticed and peacefully in space.

This position cost the father of three his family and the love of his life. His wife did not want to accept the severity of his sons and when Mori did not fit into his father's scheme, the marriage broke up. Mako, the mother of the three brothers, always stood by her sons. Even if she could understand her husband in a way, it was quite clear to her that a different fate awaited the eldest son.

Now they faced each other, Kazmi again in her usual strict leadership role. Only the reddened eyes betrayed an emotional impulse to the verdict of the trial. Mako, however, sparkled at him with an angry look and her lips trembled as she began:

"Nothing can justify this sin against your son. Do you even know what he had to go through? All his life you have tried to steer him into a path that was not meant for him. It's all your fault it ends this way."

The slim man in front of her swallowed hard, once again the commander found himself in a situation that demanded all his self-control. He loved his family and wanted only the best for them, but if he became weak now, he put the future of their entire way of life at risk. There were enough candidates for his job who were eager to change the laws. Young, ambitious aliens from good families, rich and spoiled, but inexperienced and reckless. One mistake and the whole system could collapse and betray the IUCHIS. A fight and the destruction of this space station of the humans they called "Outland" would be the result. A war in space that no one should provoke.

Shinji Kazmi has always felt responsible for maintaining the balance. To maintain peace and order in their ranks. Only through his strict leadership was it possible to live peacefully in the vicinity of the earthlings. In the beginning Mako also understood the concern for a secure future for her sons, but as Mori cut herself off from them more and more, she could no longer cope with her husband's exaggerated accuracy. She had to make a choice, father or son. But finally she lost them both, because the dark-haired curly head was just too similar to her, she always felt it. Her oldest son was different.

"I swear to you, if you let this beheading take place, I will pull out all the stops and you will not win another election. They will demand your resignation, no ... they will overthrow you, I will personally see to it." Her voice sounded bitter, her otherwise so delicate features severe and irritated.

"I don't understand ... how could I have fallen so hopelessly in love with you. You are domineering and a selfish stubborn man. If I could sacrifice myself for Mori, I would not wait a second. I'd give my life for him... he still has everything ahead of him, to find a partner and start a family with her. Happy and able to raise his children according to his own ideas. ... He should not end up like a felon, tied up and waiting for certain death. But ... I cannot help him, ... you can..."

Their desperation tormented the commander inside his antennae. He suffered painfully from the reproaches of his former wife. But he was still Kazmi and they stood in the lobby of the courthouse where many other aliens were busy doing their work. What else could he say but:

"The verdict is in. There is nothing we can do about it, but ..." Slowly he lifted his hand, his long fingers placed under her chin and lifted it gently so that their eyes could meet.

"Trust me, this time I will not disappoint you. I will make sure our son gets what he deserves." She looked at him in disbelief. After the many years in which she tried to hate him, this always correct, strictly law-abiding leader, should there really be any insight? Perhaps he did care about Mori after all?

Did the eldest son, who was far too weak, sensitive and inexperienced for this tough patch in District 69, perhaps get another chance? No matter what his crimes should have been? Hopefully she continued to appeal to her husband:

"If you send him there, he will take his own life. I know Mori. ... Please Shinji, don't let it happen. You must help him." Her pleading words shook Kazmi. How much he wanted to explain everything to her, his plan, the escape, the meeting of the lovers, the place where Mori could finally live without being persecuted. But he was not allowed to. No one was to know the planned actions, no one but the commander himself.

"I assure you to do everything in my power to save Mori." He spoke very softly and had leaned towards her. His hand now lay on her shoulder and pressed her gently. "Just as I rescued you from the human world, I will bring our son to safety. I love Mori."

Mako sobbed and let him embrace him. She didn't know about Torio and Mori's clear love signals for this person. It was a good thing too. There would be too many painful emotions that would overwhelm her human genes in her. The hereditary dispositions that were now rampant in her oldest son. As a result, Mori slowly but surely lost the abilities of an alien and would have to accept many limitations for the rest of his life in space.

But Shinji, his father, already had an idea. The commander had come across this possibility with the help of his youngest son, the redhead. It would once again be necessary to separate the lovers after the consummated union to give them a secure future. Everything would also have gone according to plan, if it had not been for this American woman, so affectionate and annoying.