Vacation In The Shade

Justice

The immigrant detention center overflows with Human Beings of all ages and sizes. A few seem to be alone but most are huddled together as family units or groups of friends. Children and some adults weep due to hunger or fear or both. Other than being branded with the title "Illegal Alien", they all have one thing in common with Aster and Sol;  dark skin color. Aster is one of the few solitary figures sitting alone at a cold aluminum table when Sol approaches.

"Hey, where you been?" Aster asks.

"Scouting." Sol says. He takes a seat opposite Aster and takes a quick look around. "I wanted to find out why we were captured."

"Well?"

"To start," Sol begins, "we should have taken Leo up on his offer. If I knew from the beginning what I know now, I would have never set foot on this planet."

"Did you learn how we were discovered? I can't believe so many aliens know about this planet."

"That's just it." Sol says, "you and I are the only real aliens here. Everyone else was captured because they come from a different country."

Aster tilts his head. "What? Foreigners are called aliens?"

"Not all of them," Sol says, "just the ones who bypass the long and arduous process of entering this country lawfully."

"Why would they bypass the process?" 

Sol is silent for moment. His voice cracks a little when he answers. "Some don't want to wait in a line that's years long. Some come from deadly, dangerous places and want to survive. Most simply want a chance for a better life for themselves and their families. I had conversations with a number of Humans here and the stories are similar. They're running from despair and towards hope."

Sol's words hang in the air. The table between them is an island in a sea of desperation.

"Their situation is bleak," Aster says, "but we can't do anything for them. We need to think about us. How are we going to get out of here and find some yellowcake?"

Sol's shoulders are slumped and his head hangs over the table. "I don't think my heart is in this venture anymore. It all seems trivial considering what's going on around us." Sol raises his head to make eye contact with Aster. "There's something else I've found out."

"What's that?"

"Have you noticed?" Sol asks, "Every person in this detention center looks like us. Dark hair, brown eyes, brown skin."

Aster shrugs. "Yeah, so?"

Sol leans in closer to Aster. "So think about all the other humans we've seen since we arrived. The officers who captured us, people posted at every door, the guards who surround us now. Almost all of them are a much lighter color, shades of pink. I think these people are being singled out because their brown."

"Ridiculous! You can't make that assumption," Aster says, "we're in one small area of a relatively large planet. It might not be like this everywhere."

"It appears to be like that here, for these Humans around us. We can leave whenever we want but what about them?

Now it's Aster's turn to lean in. "I know you, I know what you're thinking. We are not supposed to interfere."

"Unless it make us wealthy right?"

"FIne," Aster leans back, "what do you want to do?"

Sol shrugs. "I don't know."

"Hey, you two!"

The uniformed man was indeed shouting to get Aster and Sol's attention. The broad-shouldered officer approaches the table motioning for them to stand. "You guys are up next."

Aster and Sol rise to stand next to the table. "Next for what?" Sol asks.

"You want to see your lawyer of not?" the guard replies gruffly.

"Lawyer?" Aster asks

"Follow me." says the guard.

Aster and Sol are lead through the detention area to a heavy steel door. The guard signals to his co-worker through a small window of bullet-proof glass and the door  swings open. A march down a narrow corridor and a short elelator ride bring them all to a small meeting room. The guard turns the knob and pushes the door open. "Wait in here."

Aster and Sol are left in the room for several minutes. In whispered communication they debate whether they should activate their implants for a trip back home. Neither one has convinced the other when without knock or warning, the door swings open.

"Good afternoon gentlemen." A man in his mid-twenties enters and places a tattered leather briefcase on the table. "My name is Rick Hunter and I'll be representing you at your hearing tomorrow."

Rick looks as worn out as his suit which is saying a lot. The blue shade of the fabric varies on the surface of his jacket as he takes it off and places it on the back of a chair. 

"You two are an interesting case," Rick says rolling up his sleeves, "I get no ID, but nobody knows you guys. None of the restaurant workers detained in the raid, no one in ICE, nobody in that neighborhood."

"Well," Aster says, "we just got here. We don't know anybody."

"Ok," Rick says, "this is probably your first time through the process so do you want to know what's going to happen?" 

"Yes." Aster says.

Rick sits in a chair opposite Aster and Sol and points to them both. "You two were apprehended during an ICE raid on a restaurant known to employ illegal aliens. As far as we know you have no ID, no employer and you've yet to tell anyone your country of origin. With me so far?"

"So far." Sol says.

"Tomorrow morning," Rick continues, "I have to convince a judge that there's a good reason to allow you to stay in this country. There'll be another lawyer in the room trying to convince the same judge that you need to be put on the next plane out of here."

"Sounds like you have a tough job." Aster says.

Rick throws a bewildered look at Aster. "It is tough. Is there anything you guys can tell me to make my job, and as a result your lives, easier?"

Aster and Sol trade thoughtful looks. "Can we have a moment?" Sol asks.

Rick looks at his watch and ten at his clients. "Alright, but I have six more clients so five minutes, no more." He packs up and leaves the real aliens to talk.

"We should leave right now." Aster says.

"No, there's something I need to do first."

"There's nothing for us here," Aster retorts, "our plan is a bust and the situation here is not going to change no matter what we do."

"I have to try," Sol says, "what if some things work the same here as in our society. We get to speak to a JUDGE Aster. Someone who can make a difference."

"What if that's not the case," Aster says, "what if the judge can't change the laws or what if the judge doesn't see things your way?"

"In that case," Sol says, "we make the return trip, but at least I will have tried."