Tim stared at a microfilm reader and rubbed his eyes in response to the post-midnight fatigue. Crystalheart was seated next to him, drinking from a mug of coffee. "This caffeine-seed extract is very good with that pollinator-processed nectar."

"What? Oh, the honey. Yeah, great stuff."

"O'Neal, we have examined these records for many days. We have seen no evidence of redirected finances to support Streamrider when she was here, or to examine her ship after."

Tim rolled his chair back and drank from his mug of coffee. "This is getting messier all the time. The only way would be for Chambers to have some outside funding. But where, and how, could he get that amount of money?"

"Perhaps we need to further investigate his personal history."

"Kid, I like the way you think."


Daria and Jane waited in an antechamber to the main room of the Public Hall. There were still in the suits they wore earlier, and each held a slender glass of fruit juice as they talked. Jane pointed to the door leading out to the main room. "One more hurdle to cross today. I really could use some coffee."

"They must have some kind of legal stimulant, we need to ask. I could really use a cup myself."

"Your kids certainly have been busy."

Daria shook her head. "They've revolutionized an empire. I can't believe it."

Jane clinked her glass against Daria's. "Guess it's all of those bad influences they had growing up."

"Come on. I only taught them a bit about my sense of right and wrong. They made all this work."

"Yeah, kid."

"Jane."

Another door opened and Eveningsky and Autumnblossom entered wearing deep blue garments with a bright gold braid collar. Truemind entered immediately behind in a similar blue garment and a platinum collar. Eveningsky approached and said, "(Whichever ones of us are in residence attend a public audience each day. The audience is chosen by lot from those that request attendance. A further fifteen are chosen to ask any question they wish of us.)"

Jane leaned over to Daria. "You have the coolest kids."

Daria smiled at Jane and then turned to Eveningsky. "I'm also here as Ambassador; I will be willing to answer questions posed to me."

Eveningsky gave a small laugh. "(Don't forget to turn your translators on so the public can understand you.)"

Jane laughed also. "Glad someone around here is thinking."

Eveningsky continued, "(We will go out and open the public audience before we introduce you. Ready?)"

Daria inhaled. "No. But if you wait for me to be ready, you'll never get started."

Eveningsky pressed a button on the wall near the door and a single, deep tone sounded in the hall. Truemind led her sisters out to a dais set before a crowd of several thousand.

Daria gulped and rested her hand on Jane's shoulder. "Push me if I need it."

"My pleasure."

"Some friend."

Truemind's amplified voice carried through the hall. "(Welcome, citizens. My sisters and I are pleased to have the opportunity to hear your questions and concerns.)" She looked toward Daria briefly. "(It is also with great happiness that I can introduce the new Ambassador from the People of the Soil, and the person who is Mother in my heart. The Lady Daria, and her Deputy Ambassador, the Protector of all three of us during our metamorphosis, the Lady Jane.)"

Jane gently tugged at Daria's arm to get her moving onto the stage. She looked out over a large auditorium that held thousands of Folk, all intently watching her approach.

Jane said out of the side of her mouth in a whisper, "No…" At the first sound of translation, Jane quickly shut the device off to finish saying, "…offense, but if I hadn't already gotten used to them, that visual would have really creeped me out."

Daria lightly shook her head and whispered back, "Don't forget to turn it back on."

"Oops," Jane muttered as she did turn the device back on.

As they got closer, Truemind was seated on a raised cushion in the center, Eveningsky to her right and Autumnblossom to the left. A pair of cushions was placed just in front of Truemind. Two ornately uniformed guards stood at floor level on either side of the dais.

After she and Jane were seated, Daria said to the audience, "Greetings from…the People of the Soil. I hope my stay here will continue to be as pleasant as the hospitality I have felt since I left my home planet. I understand that this is a forum for asking questions. Please feel free to ask of me also." Her voice in translation was amplified through the room.


Daria listened in fascination to the questions. Some were serious questions on how the new government was forming. Others looked for opinions on more local problems, while others were fairly personal.

The questioners stood on a small dais set about 20 feet in front of the main one and raised so the questioner would be at the same level as the royals. Each waited, seated on a row of cushions near the dais and approached in the order they had been seated.

A middle aged woman asked, "(Do you fully intend to allow overrides of your vetoes?)"

Truemind nodded.

Daria smiled at the human trait she'd picked up and was being adopted more by those with regular contact with the royal family.

Truemind said, "(I do. If the elected president and two-thirds of the legislature agree, my veto of a law can be overridden. I will not have absolute power.)"

The next questioner was about their age. "(What are your plans for future student financial aid?)"

Eveningsky answered, "(We are investigating new funding mechanisms. Or first concern will be for need-based, followed by aptitude based. I will be blunt; we do not yet have a solid program developed. We hope to have one to propose by the start of the first legislative session.)"

The final questioner was a male. He turned his attention to Daria. "(Ambassador Daria. I have a question for you.)"

Daria said, "Go ahead, please."

"(There have been many stories about what you did for the royal family. Please tell us directly. Is it true you provided an artificial diet for them?)"

The two guards carefully began to move forward.

"It is true."

The questioner's hand moved to a pocket of his coverall and the guards moved forward quickly. He removed a short tube as one guard broke into a run toward him and the other in front of Daria. The questioner rammed the palm of his hand against the base of the tube. A loud report echoed through the room and a flash erupted from both ends.

The guard that moved in front of Daria was spun around hard and blood slung upward across the main dais. The second guard tackled the assassin, who was staring at the shattered remains of his hand. The blackened tube of the improvised gun had dropped to the ground. More guards poured into the room and cordoned off the royal family.

Daria rushed forward to the fallen guard with surprising speed and Jane stumbled after her. Daria dragged the fallen guard closer to the dais and within the cordon. The bullet from the gun had entered the guard's lower thorax and passed horizontally through much of the abdomen.

Daria sat and pulled the guard into her lap. After she saw bright red blood from each of the breathing apertures along the guard's left side, she yelled, "Get her a medic! Now!"

The guard slightly raised her head and reached up with one hand to touch Daria's face. "(Are you unharmed?)"

"I'm fine. You rest while we get you help."

"(My duty is done.)" She relaxed and leaned against Daria's chest. The guard's abdomen very gently rose and fell with weak breathing.

Jane knelt beside the two of them and also yelled, "We need some help here!" She pulled a cushion over and ripped a strip of cloth off. Quickly folding it, she pressed it against the guard's wound.

The assassin struggled with the guards until a purple flash caused him to slump to the ground. One of the newly arrived guards kept a pistol pointed at his head. "(Give me an excuse.)"

Autumnblossom began to organize the ever-increasing number of guards to restore order. The crowd was near panic and restless with curiosity.

Truemind forced her way through the cordon and addressed the crowd. "(Everybody, please listen.)"

The milling slowed and the roar diminished. She spoke again. "(We are unharmed. Please remain calm and stay still. The perpetrator is in custody. One of the Nestheart guards is gravely wounded.)"

Eveningsky, along with one of the palace physicians and two others carrying a stretcher, rushed to Daria. The doctor carefully lifted the edge of Jane's bandage, and then looked along the bloodstained side of the guard. She removed a package from a case she carried and opened it. It was a semi-rigid bandage with a clear gel on one side. The doctor held it close to the wound and used her other hand to move Jane's hand and bandage away.

The new bandage was rotated into place and carefully smoothed down. "(We need to get her into surgery immediately.)" She gestured to the two attendants. "(Take her to the operating room on the second sublevel of the Defense Hall. Have her prepared and I will be in shortly.)"

The guard was lifted onto the litter and quickly moved away. The doctor looked at Daria's blood-soaked clothes. "(Are you injured?)"

Daria looked down at herself in shock. "No." She turned to Jane, wrapped her arms around her friend and looked at Eveningsky. "Why didn't the guards have shields?"

Eveningsky sat beside them and gently placed a hand on her mother's shoulder. "The Nestheart Guards will not accept them. They claim shields lead to overconfidence and inattention."

Through quiet sobs, Daria said, "Not another one. Please don't let her die."


"Healthy and energetic." The obstetrician gently placed the newborn in Quinn's waiting arms.

The tiny girl gurgled and stopped crying. Quinn smiled down at her daughter. "Daria Jane. I'm sure your namesakes are having the times of their lives now."

A blond-haired man gazed down at his wife and daughter. "But, I bet they would still rather be here."

Quinn looked up. "Bill, I'm sure you're right."


The three sisters gathered in a secure room beneath the residences. Consoles of numerous types lined the walls of the starkly utilitarian room.

"(These Folk are insane!)" Autumnblossom yelled at her sisters. "(They tried to ram Nebulachaser. Ram! This is the third time they have almost succeeded in killing Mother. We cannot let this continue.)"

In a calmer voice that was still cracked with strain, Eveningsky said, "(We cannot allow their actions to guide our response. They want Mother harmed, but they also want us to act rashly and strike back with violence, to become abusive and paranoid. We hold the upper hand now, but will not if we allow that to happen.)"

Truemind tightly grasped her hands under her neck. "(You are both correct. We must act, but not strike out. Today was not only a strike against Mother, but against us. They want to show that they can reach wherever they choose.)"

Autumnblossom paced back and forth. "(Allow me to assign protective guards to Mother and Jane. I know Mother will not like it, but we cannot take any more chances.)"

"(I agree. We must show that they are under royal protection,)" Eveningsky said.

Truemind gazed at both. "(I want those guards hand-picked.)" She went to a console and examined the display. "(What is the condition of the wounded guard?)"

Concerned, Autumnblossom said, "(She is in critical care after surgery. We don't know if she will survive.)"

"(Damn.)"

"(Mother has gone to see her.)"

"(Make sure both are safe and guarded, but not disturbed.)"

Truemind asked Eveningsky, "(Do we know how he got a weapon in, and how he managed to be chosen to ask a question?)"

Activating a display next to Truemind, Eveningsky explained, "(The weapon was a simple improvised firearm using a stone projectile and a friction ignited primer for the explosive powder. It was completely nonmetallic. We have ordered chemical vapor detectors installed as soon as they arrive to prevent further incidents.)"

"(The cleric?)"

Autumnblossom moved over and pointed to the display. "(The improvised weapon partially exploded in his hands. One hand was too badly damaged to repair. He is under medical sedation until his condition can be stabilized.)"

"(How did he get the lot to come forward for a question?)"

"(Several questioners reported that they had been approached to sell theirs. We located the person who did sell a lot. It was a student. When the cleric offered her a year's living expenses for the lot, she accepted.)"

"(Then we need to tighten up the lottery to make sure those chosen are those that use it.)"

Autumnblossom made an entry into her console. "(I've ordered a preliminary plan to be in place before tomorrow's audience. I am not happy about doing any before we revise the security, but I will accept Eveningsky's position that allowing a disruption will strengthen them.)"

Truemind asked, "(Eveningsky, have you discovered yet how they knew to make contact with the old resistance collaborators on Mother's homeworld?)"

"(Not yet. We still only have the Reconciliation Commission confession from one old resistance specialist. Who inconveniently met an accident before she could talk in detail.)"

"(Help me prepare a statement to the press, and get back to it. I have a bad feeling about that connection.)"


July 11

Dear Mom, Dad, Quinn,

I have requested that this message be delivered to you before the regular communiqué is released to the public.

We arrived at Nest earlier today. I had a chance to be with all of my children, I'd never felt happier.

Unfortunately, there was another attempt on my life today. During a public audience, one shot was fired. I'm unharmed, but I'm watching over a young guard who took a bullet in my place. I'm positive I will be placed under protective guard. It only seems prudent, even if I don't like it.

Mom, I want the full truth to get out. Please retrieve my diaries from the house. I want the year I was at the cabin published. If there are any profits, please put them in a trust fund for Quinn's baby. I know this has been hard on you. You can look at the rest. Please remember, a teenage girl doesn't always see things as clearly as an adult.

My thoughts are also on you, Quinn. I hope the little one arrives safe and sound, and hopefully not as late as you were.

Love,

Daria


"Sweetwind…that doesn't sound like a name for someone in your line of work." Daria sat cross-legged next to a zero gravity bed supporting the comatose guard, cradling a portable computer she had been composing the message on. Multiple clear hoses crisscrossed Sweetwind's body, connecting small cup-like devices attached over each breathing aperture. A small feeding tube was attached to the slender proboscis and an intravenous drip was carefully inserted between exoskeleton plates in her arm.

Jane softly approached carrying a bundle. "You really should get out of those clothes. I brought over some for you."

The sticky dampness of blood reminded Daria she hadn't changed since they left Nebulachaser. "I suppose I should."

"The attendants said there is a washroom you can use to clean up."

"Thanks." She carefully accepted the bundle. "Will you stay here with her?"

Jane sat on the cushion Daria had just vacated. "Take as long as you need."

Daria returned about fifteen minutes later in a comfortable pair of sweat pants and pullover shirt. "Jane, could you please get rid of that suit for me? I can't bear to look at it again."

"Will do. You're going to stay until she wakes up, aren't you?"

"She took a bullet for me. She deserves no less."

"I'll be back."


The news broadcaster said to the camera, "(The Queen issued the following statement in regards to today's events.)"

A recording of Truemind was played: "(There has not been an assassination attempt like this in over two hundred years. All of us have been shocked to the core. The perpetrator has openly proclaimed responsibility for his actions in the name of the Traditionalists. Freedom of worship is one of the founding principles of what we have struggled to establish. We assume that today's act, as well as the previous attempts on Lady Daria's life, is that of individuals. We will therefore take no action against the Traditionalists for them. However, we cannot stay idly by as individuals attempt to impose extrajudicial judgments. The responsibility of capital punishment is reserved for the highest court for use in extraordinary cases and is not the prerogative of any other organization. We ask the Traditionalist clergy for full cooperation to bring to justice those individuals who have been involved in these incidents.)"

The broadcast view shifted to a still photo of Daria watching over Sweetwind. "(We leave you with this view of the Lady Daria sitting vigil with the brave guard that saved her life.)"


Sweetwind felt like every lung on her left side was on fire. Her moan was like a deep rattle as she stirred on the bed and tried to look around.

Strange sounds came from her side, followed by a toneless voice of translation. "Thank goodness."

With difficulty, she turned to face the voice. "(Lady?)"

"Please, just call me Daria. I insist."

"(Are you well?)"

Daria smiled. "I'm fine. You're the one we've been worried about for the last three days."

"(Me?)"

"Yes, you. The bullet passed through all eight lungs on your left side. It was very close."

"(L…Daria. You were concerned about me?)"

She nodded. "You saved my life. Yes, I was concerned."

"(But, that is my duty.)"

Daria looked around the room. "But, you shouldn't have to wake up alone in a hospital."

"(You have been here?)"

"As much as possible, and Jane has been here when I wasn't."

"(You do me great honor.)"

"Your willingness to die in my place…" Daria paused and placed her hand on Sweetwind's. "…honors me. I'm learning how much I mean to the Folk, but actions like yours..." She moved her other hand over to hold the young guard's. "…will never be taken for granted."


AUGUST 2012

"It sure makes my job easier when I find such basic motivations," Tim said while viewing printed records of certain numbered back accounts.

Crystalheart walked over from the desk he was using. "There were compensations paid to Chambers?"

Tim whistled as he swiveled his chair to face his partner. "Big ones." He held up one set of records. "This looks like the account he used to pay for the various operations." He then held up a second set. "These are his personal accounts that include money he skimmed from the first, in addition to what looks like direct payments."

"Do you know where from?"

He set both down on the desk. "Not yet. But, it looks like we have a possible timeline, now. How fast can a transmitted message get here from Nest?"

"About two months at maximum power; the process is more efficient than for ships."

Tim tapped his fingers together in front of his face. "Could a communication device left by Streamrider work that fast?"

"Yes, an undamaged lifeboat is provided with sufficient power."

"So, someone here could also supply sufficient power."

"Correct."

"Okay. This is starting to add up. When did the royal family get treated for their medical problem?"

Crystalheart gestured with one finger. "Two months before the clergy discovered it, or seven months before the Lady Daria was attacked."

Tim grinned and also started tapping one index finger against the other with each point. "That's it. I think that physician knew what had happened very quickly and told somebody else. That would have been mid-September, or so. A message was sent to the old collaborators, which arrived about mid-November. The recipient agreed and sent a message back, which arrived in January."

"When the assassin's transport departed Nest."

"Also, a message is sent back here, arriving mid-March." He held up the records for Chamber's personal accounts. "When he received a very substantial payment."

Crystalheart looked up in surprise. "The Traditionalists would not have gone two months without acting on the information. Somebody must be using the clergy as tool to achieve other goals. And, they must have significant financial backing and potential means to interest the collaborators here."

"Gaining political power is a logical motive and using religion to discredit leaders can be an effective tactic." Tim tapped on his chin. "Simple greed, associated with profits from selling an improved technology would be good motivation for the collaborators on Earth to back a change of government on your planet. But, that still doesn't explain why Chambers so actively participated in the attempt to kill Ms. Morgendorffer. There's still some other motivation going on here."

He started to move to his desk. "I need to report this information."

"This can't go on the weekly communiqué we send."

He looked back. "I'm to report these things directly to the Princess by private channel. Only she has the encryption code."

"Let her know. I'm getting a bad feeling about this."


A man in a black suit shouted toward the camera. "We need space to grow! These others are trying to keep us from our rightful place in the galaxy!"

"Neo-Nazis in Space. Next, on Sick, Sad World."

Tim shook his head at the television. "I wondered how long it would take."

Crystalheart set down a glass. "Not all inhabitable planets have been colonized. Do they not understand that?"

"They see us sandwiched between two superpowers, and our importance in the universe rudely downgraded to latecomer. But then, there are those that are saying this is proof we should concentrate on Earth and not worry about space."

"The diversity of thought among you species is a source of fascination."

"Yeah, we can be a bunch of kooks at times."


Jane stood in front of an easel, painting the grove of crowntrees in the garden. The translucent, amber-like petals of the blossoms seemed to almost glow amid the green foliage. Jane raised a set of goggles from her eyes and grinned at Daria. "They can see into the ultraviolet and have paints for it. They made these goggles so I can also see it, too. I've been handed whole new colors to play with. This is just…wow."

Daria smiled in return. "It's good to see you having fun. The last month has been so busy."

"You relax, too. Sweetwind is up and about. The clerics have been noisy, but they haven't tried anything since that first audience."

"I'm relieved about that and I'm trying to relax."

"You really need to unwind before that big state dinner tomorrow night."

"When we get to meet the ambassadors from the other three species. No pressure, thanks."

"Hey, you could think about Helen going through your diaries."

Daria sighed. "I guess it was a bit panicky, sending a message to her to publish my entries from the cabin year. But, I was sitting there next to Sweetwind that night, and just wanted people to know."

"I'm sure people were pestering your parents about that anyway; hopefully it will give them a little break."

"That's why I told Mom she could read the rest, as payment for all this has put them through."

"There's that conscience of yours showing up again. But, I'm sure those royalties will make it feel better."

"Actually, I told Mom to put the royalties into a trust for Quinn's kid."

"Daria, you really have become a mother."

"On that wonderful note, have fun painting. I want to walk a bit, and maybe do some writing."

"Later."

Daria spent at least an hour slowly wandering the gardens before sitting beneath a massive shade tree covered in purple-black flowers a foot across. Her personal guard took up a position to clearly watch both directions of the trail.

Daria had been writing for only a few minutes when a woman slowly walked down the path and was stopped by the guard. The bright emerald green of her exoskeleton had faded to a dull brown at the edges and the deep purple of her faceted eyes was clouded from many years. She timidly asked, "(May I approach?)"

The guard checked a small handheld scanner. "(No weapons or harmful materials detected.)"

Daria made sure her translator was set to translate English to Folk, only, and said, "Please allow her to come here."

The guard nodded and stepped aside while maintaining vigilance. The old woman hesitated until Daria motioned for her to come closer. She quietly said, "(Please, dear Lady, I hope I am not disturbing you.)"

"No, I'm taking some time to enjoy the garden. The past month has been very busy."

"(Then I am disturbing your rest. There has been much on the news about you.)"

"No. You're not disturbing me. A pleasant conversation would be nice. Are you part of the palace staff, or a visitor?"

"(I only visit.)"

"I haven't had a chance to talk to anyone but my family or officials or staff, outside of the daily audience. Please, have a seat."

The woman folded her legs slowly to sit. "(My old limbs are not as flexible as they used to be. You are most generous to spend time with me.)"

"And I think you're kind for wishing to spend time with a stranger."

"(Nobody as beloved as you can be a stranger.)"

"Beloved? You've just met me."

"(We know the story of your courage and your teachings. And now, of your kindness to that young soldier. Because of you, many of us now have hope for our children and grandchildren.)" She waved a hand at the garden. "(We are even free to enjoy this place. Thank you.)"

Daria quietly said, "You're welcome, though my children are more responsible than I am."

"(It is just horrible how the Traditionalists have passed sentence on you without a trial. This isn't our pre-industrial age anymore.)"

Daria was quiet, looking past her toward the trees beyond.

"(I am sorry. I upset you, please forgive?)"

"It's okay. I know you didn't intend to. May I know your name?"

"(I am Peacetree.)"

"That is a beautiful name."

"(For all my years, I am as nervous as a hatchling to meet you.)"

"You have no reason to be nervous."

"(Rarely does one have the chance to sit in the presence of history.)"

Daria sighed. "Please, could you not think of me like that? Can you speak with me as you would a friend?"

"(I will try.)"

"Please, tell me about yourself."

"(I am a law advisor with three daughters and six granddaughters.)"

That brought a smile to Daria's face. "My mother is also a lawyer. Besides my three children you already know so much about, I have one sister one, who had a daughter about one month ago, providing all went well."

"(If I am not too forward, we know you are unable to bear children. I do not understand why.)"

Daria was mildly unsettled by the question, but covered it quickly. "The water where I grew up was contaminated by uranium and other heavy metals. There was genetic damage that was not treatable."

"(I do not understand. Why would your people use contaminated water?)"

"For a long time, we didn't know. It was from industrial waste of a refinement plant."

"(I am still confused: how would such waste be allowed into your drinking water?)"

"As a people, sometimes we're foolish and don't do the most sensible things."


Daria sat on a cushion in the main room of her residence. It was the front wedge of a dome structure. A small dining room and kitchen were set to one side, and her bedroom to the other. She uncharacteristically sat as if riding sidesaddle, her ankles crossed and knees bent. She wore the single formal dress that Neville's agents had managed to find for her, a purple and black gown she thought would have been more appropriate for her Aunt Amy.

Jane sat across the room in a deep maroon dress and scratched her head as she read from a handheld computer and then set it aside. "The Folk have colonized twenty-seven planets within a roughly three hundred light year radius."

Daria nodded. "Good."

"Earth is on their border with the Seekers, which sound like the Grays the UFO people talk about. The Seekers live on fifty-two planets in an area about four hundred light years across. They fought a war with the Folk a little over one hundred years ago."

Near the end of the war, a damaged Seeker cruiser exploded above Siberia on Earth, what we called the Tunguska Incident, in 1908. As part of their peace treaty, both established listening posts on Earth, to ensure neither side used Earth as an ally or base. Leafweaver was assigned by the Folk military to their post, and was secretly with the resistance."

Daria asked, "Next?"

"The Wavekeepers live on fourteen planets on the far side of Folk space and are amphibious. They kind of look like barrels with twelve limbs, six around each end and that act as arms or legs as needed.

They can remain outside of water for about thirty hours. They are filter feeders of aquatic microorganisms. I'm not looking forward to seeing them eat."

Daria shivered. "I'm not, either."

"The last bunch is the Companions. They are a social species like ants that have thirty-one planets along the border toward the galaxy middle.

Only the reproductives have highly developed intelligence. The defender and worker castes are not as intelligent, but can be specialist trained to complex tasks. They have four arms and four legs."

Jane leaned back against the wall. "Whew. Class is over."

Daria also relaxed. "Just don't forget it before dinner. Speaking of which, remember the convention is for each species to eat in their accustomed way, and it's bad manners to react poorly to anyone's eating habits. We don't want to cause any interstellar incidents right off the bat."

"That is such a common sense way to avoid cultural offenses."

"Too bad we never thought of it."


Tim walked back to the office he shared with Crystalheart. They had adjacent desks, each with a pair of widescreen monitors and sealed, flat panel keyboards. Tim was often happy for them, with how often he had dribbled coffee on his.

A month of digging still hadn't located the funding source for the collaborators, and the fatigue was telling. However, the close work of the last four months had made them partners. They rarely used the translator except when dealing with the public or for more technical needs. Plus, they had learned to read each other's body movements.

The door was ajar as he approached; inside, Crystalheart sat on his modified chair and leaned against his desk, staring at something. Curious, Tim silently moved up and looked over his partner's shoulder to see a small holograph held in Crystalheart's hand.

Tim smiled when he recognized the face, and he said, "Somebody you miss?"

Crystalheart started in surprise and closed the cover on the holograph. "(I…)"

"I saw it was Princess Autumnblossom." I swear, if they could, this kid would be blushing.

"(Yes, it is. I can wish.)"

"But, you can't do anything."

He looked up. "(She is a princess and my superior.)"

"Not to mention three hundred light years away."

"(I understand your attempt at humor, but this is not an appropriate time.)"

Tim reached into a drawer in his desk and removed a small photo. "I wasn't trying to be funny." He looked at the surveillance photo of Daria he kept and showed it to Crystalheart. "We're not supposed to get involved with our cases. Now she's three hundred light years away, and a bunch of people want her dead."

"(Then you may understand why I don't feel like working tonight.)"

"Come to think of it, I don't either."

The thin scraping sound Tim had learned to recognize as a laugh came from Crystalheart before he said, "(We're a fine pair of partners. Working to solve a case spanning many years and star systems, for ladies we care about and will probably never be with.)"

"Are you planning on this being your career?"

"(No. My term of service will be up soon; it is being extended for however long I stay on your planet. I hope to go back to school after.)"

"Be patient, and give her a try once you're out of the service."

"(The Lady Daria is technically no longer your case.)"

"But we still have that little problem of distance. I don't think they have three hundred light years and four-month communication turnarounds in mind when they talk about long-distance relationships."

"(I don't even know if the princess is biologically receptive for a male.)"

"Now, you lost me."

"(As you know, most of my species are female.)"

"A trait certain examples of my species would be happy with."

"(Most reproduction occurs asexually, each female will produce, most commonly, three daughters.)"

"I knew that." Tim raised a finger and asked, "Okay, can you tell me why these three daughters will look different? Wouldn't they be identical clones?"

"(I need to remember from my old biology class. For each chromosome, females have a pair and males have one.)"

"Diploid and haploid, I remember that from mine."

Crystalheart turned on the translator. "This is getting a little complicated. Except the sex-determining chromosome, one of each chromosome pair is deactivated in females. Before eggs make their first cell division, the chromosome pairs undergo recombination to randomize genes between them. While each egg has the same total compliment of genes, the arrangement on chromosomes is different. Before the first cell division, one of each pair, except the sex-determining chromosome, is shut off. That way, there is more variance in how the children look. Both the sex determining chromosomes stay active because that is what triggers the sex differences between male and female."

"And I thought we were complicated. As I understand, males of your species are produced with only one of each chromosome, or haploid."

"Correct. When we were a primitive people, reproduction was synchronized and males were produced when the local food supply was low and the colony would disperse to find new food supplies. Now, by manipulating the diet, males are produced when a son is desired for whatever reason. Although, sometimes it still occurs randomly. In the old days of synchronized reproduction, all females of a generation that produced males would be receptive. Now, that trait is randomized."

"So, it's a real gamble for a female to be interested in you."

He turned the translator off. "(Most will not. Statistically, the ratio is about one in nine, about the same as the sex ratio.)"

"That's…kind of depressing."

"(When I see how things work here, yes.)"

Tim put the photo away and stood. "Trust me; it gets just as complicated here, just in different ways." He rubbed his temples. "I think it's time to introduce you to my favorite fruit juice drink."

Crystalheart put his holograph in his desk. "(I would like that.)"

As Tim turned the light off, he said, "It's called a margarita."


The grand dining hall had a large, U-shaped table in the center. It was low to the ground and all guests sat on soft cushions along the outer perimeter of the table. Truemind sat at the center of the table arc, her sisters to either side, like during the daily audiences. Daria was to the right of Autumnblossom and Jane to the left of Eveningsky. Along Daria's side of the table were the other three Ambassadors. The multi-language translator again used literal translations of what the names of each mean in their native speech. Daria smiled to think of how her and Jane's names must be translating: UpholderofGood and God'sGift.

Closest to Daria was Trailboldfinder Exemplar, the Seeker Ambassador, who sat alone and wore a brown suit made from a large number of garments carefully fitted together. Daria could tell the resemblance to the "Grays" of UFO lore, but could also tell how descriptions had been inaccurate.

The skin was a medium gray color and seemed composed of millions of tiny scales. Four extremely long fingers emerged from a wide sleeve, no hand was seen and the motion under the clothes would indicate the fingers began about where a human elbow would be. He had solid black eyes set wide on a large head, below were two nostrils set flat against the face that opened and closed with his breathing, and a small mouth above the narrow chin.

Next was Nine Colony Brood Four Seven Three Eight, the Companion Ambassador, along with four workers who tended to every whim with subtle directions. She was a dark brown cylinder about six feet in length, who knelt on four legs, one pair descending from the posterior of the body and one pair about two-thirds forward. One pair of arms arose from on either side of the body from between the two pairs of legs, and one pair of arms were based on either side of stubby sensory stalk that rose at the front of the Ambassador. The stalk had a ring of hearing openings about halfway up, a ring of eyes just below the tip, and a pair of feather-like antennae on top that detected smell. Her mouth was situated at the center-front of the main body, and four slits radiating from the mouth were breathing orifices.

The Wavekeeper consul, Maker of Reefs, was seated at the end. It didn't use a cushion, resting the base of its torso in a large basin with the six legs freely spread inside it. The six multi-jointed arms were held folded on top of the body when not being used. The mouth was out of view at the top of the body, but a pair of eyes in the body midsection allowed a full circle of vision. Water, containing its food, was poured into the mouth by one of the arms, while the excess water poured down the side from two openings rotated a quarter around the body from the eyes. When it spoke, the entire body seemed to vibrate, producing a very low frequency sound that Daria felt, more than heard.

Along Jane's side of the table, Folk dignitaries sat and ate. Captain Newharvest of the Nebulachaser sat closest to Jane and greeted her warmly. Next was Secretary of Cultural Development, Mountainlake. Beyond was the High Cleric of the Traditionalists, Warmhearth, invited as a gesture of good will for cooperation on investigating the assassination attempts.

Truemind formally introduced Daria and Jane to the Ambassadors. The Wavekeeper and Companion representatives gave stiffly formal replies to Daria's approach. She gave what she hoped was a friendly address to each. Her approach to the Seeker Ambassador was more productive.

Trailboldfinder gave a slight bow. "After all these years, it is refreshing to have proper diplomatic contact with your people."

"It is a new and fascinating experience for us. Agent O'Neal told me of the quiet contact between his agency and your people."

"On behalf of my government, we apologize for the destruction of the War Cruiser Firewing over your planet in the year of your common reckoning, one thousand, nine hundred and eight. The ship was critically damaged and the commander violated protocol, both for attempting to land on a precontact planet and with a failing FTL reactor."

"Your apology is accepted."

"I have made the recommendation to my government that we negotiate the removal of our and the Folk listening posts."

"On that subject I will forward to you a draft amendment to the Peace Treaty the will sequentially shift responsibility for the buffer zone to Earth. This has the approval of the Queen and has been forwarded to Earth. I hope your government finds it acceptable."

"There may be some suspicion because of your close connection to the royal family. However, I think this will be agreeable if your planet can produce a stable planetary government to administer it."

"Thanks, again."

"In the year one-thousand, nine-hundred, forty-eight, a supply ship going to our listening post crashed near your north polar circle. We request the return of the crew's bodies."

"Agent O'Neal had informed me of the incident. I will send your request with my recommendation to return them. With the agency contact, couldn't you request them before?"

"Without diplomatic recognition by our government, the nation/state refused. Now that we are making full diplomatic contact, we hope this will change."

"I apologize, and will make the efforts I can."

Daria returned to her seat and began to eat. Jane had eaten during the formal introductions, and had moved down the table to converse with Mountainlake.

Warmhearth left his seat and walked in front of Daria. "That fact that the royals treat you and your assistant with such honor is a sure sign of the vile contamination you have brought to our people."

Daria carefully responded. "Your displeasure with me is well established, but I do not think this is the proper venue to discuss our differences. You were invited as a gesture of good will."

"This seems to be an excellent venue. You have admitted to the desecration. I demand that both of you be punished for it."

Autumnblossom rose from her seat. "You will make no threats in this hall."

"I make no threats. I make a demand."

Truemind spoke. "We do not accept your demand, for the reason we gave before. Death is a punishment reserved for only the High Court."

"We are a higher court. We demand both be turned over to us for proper punishment."

Autumnblossom leaned forward in anger. "You mean murder."

"They are to be executed by the proper methods. That is not murder."

"You will not have the chance."

Warmhearth pointed his finger directly at Daria. "We have thousands of faithful willing to lay down their lives to remove her stain from our people."

Autumnblossom glared at the cleric. "Those who would stand to protect my mother and Lady Jane can be found by the thousand in this city alone. You cannot blame her for doing everything in her power to save the children she loved and to stay alive, after being tricked into being a host."

"That is irrelevant. She knew the act was a heresy. We can overrun the palace, if needed, to take her into custody."

"Her teachings inspired us to the new vision of the future so many are hoping for. We have seen how those who hope for the future will die to prevent you from succeeding."

Daria looked on in shock. When she could take no more, she pleaded, "Stop! Doesn't anyone realize how horrifying it is to hear that thousands are willing to die because of you?"

Silence filled the room.

Daria rubbed her face and breathed in deeply. There has to be a way to keep this from going out of control.

Daria remembered something Peacetree had said.

"(It is just horrible how the Traditionalists have passed sentence on you without a trial.)"

Daria took a sip of her drink. Damn, you know that's it. You've been thinking about it ever since. But, the odds aren't good to make it out alive. She closed her eyes and steadied her nerves before she opened them again and said, "High Cleric Warmhearth, because these events happened before they metamorphosed into adults, do you agree my children were not of legal, culpable age?"

"They have been harmfully stained, but are not culpable. They cannot remain on the throne as they are, but will be free to once the stain has been cleared."

"Do you agree Deputy Ambassador Jane is a properly accredited diplomat?"

"Yes."

"And therefore, should be granted full prosecutorial immunity?"

He looked at Jane and said, "Unfortunately, yes."

Daria held her hands in a prayer-like fashion and rested her chin on fingertips. "If you hold the Queen and Princesses blameless and recognize Ambassador Jane's diplomatic immunity, will you allow me to stand trial?"

"Trial?"

"You have made claims against me. I ask for you to prove your claims in court against my defense. Do you agree?"

Distrustfully, he nodded. "I agree. You can be held in the capital sanctuary."

Daria shook her head. "Because of the previous attempts on my life, I request the Queen place me under house arrest."

Truemind said, "They must respect the provision that the death penalty can only be applied by the High Court."

Trembling, Daria said, "If I am found guilty, I request that their court decide on the sentence, even death."

Warmhearth stepped back in surprise.

Truemind said, "Out of the question."

Daria looked at her with suddenly old and weary eyes. "Please, there is no other way. Trust me."

Truemind looked between the two. "I do not like this, but I have learned to trust my Mother's wisdom. However, I request the court be made of equal numbers of secular and clerical judges. If Warmhearth will grant that, I will allow the combined court's sentence to stand."

Daria nodded her assent. The High Cleric looked around nervously. The hall was silent in expectation before Warmhearth said, "That is acceptable."

Truemind sadly lowered her head. "I will order Lady Daria held at her residence except when attending trial."


All three rushed through the door as soon as Daria opened it, producing an incoherent cacophony of speech as each talked over the others. Truemind waved both arms back at her sisters. "(Quiet!)" She focused her attention on Daria. "(Mother, have you gone mad? They will kill you if you go through with this.)"

Daria walked back to her cushion and took a seat, motioning the others to do the same. "I'm very aware of that likely outcome. I feel like I've already signed my own death warrant. But, I can see no other way."

Eveningsky blurted out, "(We can't bear to watch something happen to you.)"

"I know. I've also learned that thousands or millions of others feel the same."

Autumnblossom asked, "(Then, why?)"

"Because many thousands feel as the Traditionalists. You're on the verge of a holy war over what I did."

Truemind nodded her head. "(Yes, we are.)"

"Didn't I teach you about the religious wars on my world? How some have continued for centuries? How many had died?"

Eveningsky said, "(We remember. That is why we need you. To help preserve what we have worked for.)"

"Peace is the best way to preserve all of your work. What I just did can give everyone an out, if they remain honest."

Autumnblossom snorted a rude laugh. "(Like they would stay honest.)"

"Left to their own devices, I don't think they would. But, we just opened their actions to full public scrutiny and opinion in front of the other three ambassadors. Unless they want to destroy all their credibility, they have committed themselves to an honest verdict. You three must convince your followers to respect the verdict, or this won't work."

Autumnblossom was unmoved. "(But, you are putting yourself at great risk when so many are willing…)"

"That is exactly why. A civil war over all your worlds for centuries could cost billions of lives. How can I be a symbol of good with all those lives on my conscience? This way, if I win, the Traditionalists won't be happy but will have to back off. I think they know when to cut their losses. If I lose, they will be satisfied and will drop their demands for your abdication. You can continue with the new government. Either way works best for the Folk."

Daria watched them for a moment and added, "Do not make me a martyr. If this goes against me, tell your people I was flawed and made a terrible mistake. Tell them to move on and make better lives."

All three stood in silence. Finally, Truemind meekly said, "(You are family. All of our financial resources are available for your defense.)"

Eveningsky said, "(It will take a couple weeks to organize the mechanism for the trial. May I please work with you to build your defense?)"

Autumnblossom said, "(All of our investigative resources will be at your disposal.)"

"Thanks, all of you. I'm happy to accept any and all fair help you can give me. Also, I met a rather astute law advisor in the garden; I'd like her on the team."


August 19

Mom, Dad, Quinn,

I have once again requested that this message be delivered to you before the regular communiqué is released to the public.

Today, I agreed to stand trial before a mixed secular and religious tribunal for crimes against the Traditionalist religion. There is a very good chance I will be found guilty and sentenced to death.

Before you ask, I waived my diplomatic immunity. Please accept that this is for the best, to avoid too many deaths to count. My acts are what started this trouble and I must be judged for them. I'll try to send regular updates.

Quinn, I hope you and your child are healthy and happy. Keep her that way. It seems strange saying this when I haven't yet heard about her birth.

Mom, Dad, thanks for everything. I will be thinking of you often.

My love to everyone.

Daria

Jane entered as Daria completed preparing the message and said, "That was one gutsy move, Morgendorffer. Crazy, but gutsy."

Daria turned from the console. "I can't see any alternative that won't cost many lives. My life is worth saving thousands or millions."

"I can't see an alternative, either. That's what I hate so much about this." Jane yelled at the ceiling, "This isn't fair! It's almost as if life is jerking you around for its own twisted amusement."

Daria sadly said, "Sometimes, I wonder that myself. Life seems to revel in giving me good things, and taking them away again. I'm glad you haven't been taken away from me."

"Does this mean I haven't been a good thing?"

"Idiot."

The banter between them felt weak, but seemed to help. Jane said, "I've got a question: with you under arrest, does that mean I've been promoted?"

"I guess it does."

"I've been placed in a position of responsibility?"

Daria relaxed some and weakly smiled. "The day has turned sinister."

Jane abruptly looked serious. "Um, Daria. This really is a position of responsibility. I'm not sure how to handle it."

"I'll be here to help whenever I'm not in court."

Jane sat on one of the cushions. "I don't know if I'm ready."

Daria sat next to her. "Jane, you've maintained peace in Casa Lane for all these years. If you can negotiate with your family, you shouldn't have any problem with aliens."


"Please tell me your head hurts as much as mine," Tim whispered as he leaned against the door frame of his bedroom.

Crystalheart looked up slowly from his place on the couch. "(I am sure mine hurts more.)"

"Water?"

"(Yes.)"

"Aspirin?"

"(Please.)"

Both made unsteady progress to the tiny kitchen of Tim's one bedroom apartment. Tim filled two large glasses with water, and grabbed a bottle of aspirin. He swallowed three and gulped down water before crushing two more between a couple spoons and stirring the powder into the other glass.

Crystalheart drank it quickly and bowed his head. "(That tastes terrible.)"

"I've got some orange juice in the fridge."

"(No, I'm not ready for anything yet.)"

Tim chuckled. "The reaction to you in that bar was fun. I wonder how many patrons are swearing off drinking this morning."

Crystalheart rested his head on the table. "(At least I know your species suffers for this, too.)"

Tim sat and cradled his head on his arms. "I'm getting too old for this stuff."

"(I was not aware you were very old for your species.)"

Tim looked up with a half-smile. "I've got to introduce you to buddy movies."

"(Why did we do this to ourselves?)"

"To forget about the females we can't be with."

"(I don't think I want to do this again.)"

Tim rubbed his temples. "Ouch. Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I'll make you a deal. Your enlistment is up when you finish this assignment and go home. I'll travel with you to see Daria. We both agree to try when we get there."

"(But, what if they say no?)"

"Then, at least we'll know."