Author's Note: This and the preceding chapter do not occur consecutively. They are two alternatives of the way things could have gone based on Rruyshah's choice at the end of Chapter 18 (whether to go after Na or to the Kelbrid homeworld). Please do not think that the previous chapter comes "before" this one-it doesn't.

And special thanks to Sinister Shadow. Without your review for "KTW" we wouldn't be here today. This chapter is dedicated "tu yu".

"Rruyshah?"

"What?"

"Some sort of…thing…is flashing. On this keyboard."

"Things have been flashing for the entire duration of this-oh. Something different?"

"Yes."

Rruyshah, in typical Kelbrid fashion, punched random buttons without consideration to what their function might be. But before she could cause too much damage, she triggered a voice.

"Identify your craft."

Indignantly, she gave a piece of her mind. "My craft? This isn't my craft!"

"You are flying it."

"Since when have we ever had to identify our spaceships?"

"Since the tourism industry became successful."

"The tourism industry? You mean those slackers in the tourism wing actually amounted to something?"

"Our tourism promoters were tragically killed in a suicide bombing by the Exalted, Rruyshah," the voice said matter-of-factly.

"A…what?"

"Suicide bombing."

Rruyshah by that time was incapable of answering, so Matrex did. "How do you know it was suicidal?"

"She wasn't seen after that, and who are you?"

Matrex uttered a word outside of Rruyshah's vocabulary to precede "It's got video", but spoke on his limbs. "I'm…a clone. Of Rruyshah. And there's another one of us here who calls herself Rruyshah."

"So who are you?"

"I'm…Matrex," it conceded grudgingly.

"Matrex? Rather a masculine name."

"I am male!"

"With Rruyshah's DNA?"

The original Rruyshah recovered enough to avert the oncoming dilemma. "My clone is delusional." As, judging by the state of things, was she.

The Kelbrid on the ground was weary of these two. "Listen, do you have a craft registration number?"

"No," said Rruyshah as Matrex said "Yes."

"Just land already."

"Excellent." Rruyshah seized control and managed to land. "Welcome home, Matrex."

He stepped out and looked for the first time at his new planet, inhaling the gaseous sulfur. Had he always known this was where he belonged? "Thanks…Rruyshah."

"INCORRECT REFERENCE!" she screeched.

"Uh…what?"

"You're a Kelbrid now! Precede or follow any references to me with "Exalted One"!"