Furon Sleeping Quarters, Planet: Iota

"What do you think you're doing?" Gina ranted.

"Look we won't get anywhere ignoring common curtsy." Zod said calmly.

"So you fraternize with the enemy?"

"I was not fraternizing with the enemy, I was giving advice for her social problems."

"Do not deny what I know to be fact!"

"I'm not denying anything!"

"Another denial!" Gina sneered.

"I'm just saying that someone who is emotionally troubled is an easy opponent, but one who is confused has already been defeated, a tactical maneuver."

"You keep telling yourself that."

"I will, because it's the truth." Zod stated and Gina smirked.

"So telling her you like her is another tactical plan?"

"Yes-I mean no-I-WHAT!" Zod stammered blushing like mad.

"I knew it! You have been busted. I saw you at the ball; you gave her a Zirconium flower. A flower that doesn't grow on Furon, yet you miraculously find one just for her! What are you going to do next, give her the Abyss Serum?"

"No! You want the truth?"

"Obviously!"

"She has been upset lately… people always say that… when I was younger I thought I… I just wanted to see her smile, I don't know why."

"I will sort out your mess later, open house had started and I'm not even dressed. I'll see you later."

"O.K. I better find a seat."

Neutral Territory, Planet: Iota

Paper and cloth ornaments twisted in branch like patterns at the foot of the stage. Gold was bent elegantly in the shape of soft lilies and branch floors. Blue velvet pulled back to revile a carefully painted set of a screen door and a cherry tree. The audience sat apprehensively, what was Furon planning? A woman stepped out in an elaborate silk robe, ornaments hung from her hair.

"I am one of the most celebrated women in all of Furon, but a long time ago I had no name." The lights dimmed, and a young girl sat in center stage beginning the play.

"What's going on?" Ember and Zane whispered.

"It's a play, people act out a story." Mika replied quietly.

"Oh." They muttered. The little girl sat, she had been abandoned by her father who threatened to kill her if she ever showed her face. She passed out in the snow, when she awoke she remembered very little and was kind to any who helped her. She reminded Zane of who she used to be. The girl met people who helped her become as normal as one could without a home or family. The girl never found out who her family was, but instead of brooding about her past she decided what to do with her future.

"What are you going to do, shouldn't you find your family?" Gina's character asked.

"I admit the thought crossed my mind, however looked how far I've gotten. I wanted to keep moving forward."

"How?"

"You'll understand when you're older."

"I'm two years older than you, just tell me."

"I want to use my skills for other people. One day I hope to find someone who I can love and trust. After all if I dedicate my life to something, I want it to be to someone who will appreciate it." Zane watched as the girl fell in love with a poor man and the two of them worked until they were extremely wealthy. The woman's kind nature earned the respect of many people who gave her power and money amongst other things. The play ended with the girl stating that she could care less about fine things as long as the people around her were happy, she would always be happy to. Zane left the theater, the play and Zod's words rattled around in her head. What was she going to do? Obviously she couldn't win the competition. If she did that Ember would be praised as an excellent leader who trained the representative. If Sola won she would choose Irk, which would make Zane look incompetent and Ember would look like a master strategist. So Phunk defiantly couldn't win. Which left Akia and Furon, both were supposedly deadly enemies. Akia had been Irk's enemy for years, even before the civil war. Furon on the other hand was full of hybrids, all of which held a grudge against Irk. Both could do evil things to Irk, unfortunately in order to get revenge against Ember she would have to choose one. She would find the best at Akia's event, hopefully it wouldn't come down to a lesser of two evils.