Always Redemption

Yesterday, Nick Greer was so grateful for getting a new right hand that he gave Rome and Rei some critical information regarding the whereabouts of Troutman and Steele, the would-be assassins. He seemed truly stunned by the medical miracle that MINIMCOM had just performed. Something in him had changed. The way he saw the world had changed. The framework of his mental constitution was based upon concepts that had been left in the dust 14 centuries earlier. He literally saw his new world in a new light:

     Greer held up his two perfectly matched arms. The flesh on the new right hand was paler than the one on the left. A few days in the sun would rectify that. Greer turned them back and forth. Then he threw the elastic ball down to the ground and caught it with his new right hand on the bounce up.
     The four humans and one livetar turned to leave when Greer shouted out, “Wait! Virga!”
     “What is it?” Virga asked.
     “What Bonnie said,” Greer asked. “Does that offer still stand? I think I’m ready to let go now. Can you guys find something for me to do rather than sit around here rotting all day?”
     “It can be arranged,” Virga answered in a level tone. “However, you will have to disavow your previous commitment to violence and promise to contribute to the betterment of our society.”
     “I will, I will,” Greer said, shuffling forward.
     “I will send someone,” Virga said. “You will be watched very closely but we will give you your opportunity.”
     “Thank you,” Greer said. He sounded heartfelt. “And Bierak?”
     “Yes?” Rei asked.
     “Thank you, too. I guess I should have listened to you a long time ago.”
     “It’s never too late,” Rei said. “Good luck with your new life.”
     Greer nodded and they left.
     After exiting the sally port and climbing aboard MINIMCOM, Rei and Rome took their places in the cockpit. Virga and Bonnie joined them.
     “It’s a kind thing you’re doing,” Rei said to Virga. “Giving him another chance like that.”
     Virga nodded. “I have not and never will berate you for the class of Essessoni you sent to us,” she said. “After all, I did say to you the more primitive the better. The more we can use, the quicker we can heal.”
     Rei blushed a little bit. “Well, they were useless to us and you did ask. I couldn’t think of anything else to do with them.”
     “It is fine,” Virga said. “We are not displeased. As you can see, the vast majority of them have had an epiphany and have settled in nicely here. That prison block back there only has six residents although now it would appear that number will dwindle down to five. It is a small price to pay for the benefits we have derived.”

If nothing else, my books have always been about redemption. Everybody makes mistakes. It's what one does with the knowledge gained by making that mistake that makes us better people. For Nick Greer, it took a while (and a new hand) but now he has found redemption as well.