Mars

Martin Stein was having some very unflattering thoughts about their 'host' on Mars. Naturally, he waited until he was back on the Acheron before giving voice to them.

''I don't know why he thought a Jewish intellectual and an Earth Xer General would make a good social pairing'' he complained.

He hated everything she stood for and she had nothing but contempt for him. That should have been evident from the icy glances with which they'd acknowledged each others presence. King Mallam had chosen to ignore the undercurrents. He'd simply invited them both to have a drink.

Apparently the king's invitation and been relayed - probably by something like an A.I. - because grey-clad individuals carried in a table and three chairs. Another glasses, a fourth a large flagon of a light blue sparkling beverage. They sat down, fortunately with the King between them.

''This has been tested for human consumption'' Mallam assured them.

A servant filled their glasses. Martin suddenly realised why something about what was happening bothered him. The people setting table, chairs etc didn't speak, Mallam didn't acknowledge their presence. The one pouring the drinks never looked directly at the King or the guests. Naomi had mentioned the Daxomite underclass - these servants were acting more like slaves.

The drink should have been - was delicious - but he was being left with a sour taste in his mouth. Lance no doubt felt right at home here.

''I would hear of your worlds, your lives'' Mallam told them.

He's looking at me, Martin thought. He talked about his happy childhood, his parents' faith - his faith. His years of studying, meeting Clarissa, their marriage - admitting his own imperfections as a husband, Lily's birth and early years. Moving on, he talked about how the particle accelerator explosion had changed his life, what becoming a meta-human had meant to him and Jefferson. While trying to make it sound not too much like science fiction, he touched on the altered timeline, his group's decision to oppose Savage once again.

Through all of it, Lance had a disdainful look on her face, which rapidly cleared when Mallam turned to her.

She described an ideal childhood in a world being united under one ruler. Of her decision to join her father in military service, rising through the ranks as Mallam himself had.

When she finally fell silent, Martin found himself unable to hold his tongue anymore.

''What she may not know, Your Majesty, is that a movement such as hers arose on our Earth. It was the darkest period in our history. Millions were murdered, many more worked to death. But, in the end, it was defeated. Since then, we've tried to be better, imperfect though we still are.

What she does know is that it was also defeated on her world and the people there are trying to create something better.''

''Your Earth is full of squabbling and division'' she'd snapped back at him. ''With as many weak and bad rulers as you have good and strong ones. No one - not even your so-called United Nations - leading humanity into a united future.''

There had been more in the same vein, while Mallam simply sat and watched, the silent servitors refilled their glasses. Martin had given up drinking while he still had some control over his tongue.

X

Since then, several things had happened. Savage and his allies had been moved from the cells into regular quarters on the mothership but were still semi-confined. The Acheron group were escorted whenever they left the ship.

Mallam had arranged several more, equally explosive, pairings - and one trio. Joanne and Mick had gone head-to-head with Lance. He'd found himself in a rather arcane debate on science and ethics with Nikki. Savage and Stephanie Karras. Jax and Cassandra.

''Is this some kind of experiment?'' he'd finally burst out at Naomi, during one of her occasional visits. She didn't seem to be turning out to be much of an ally.

''He's learning about you all'' was all she could offer. Apparently, he was keeping his conclusions to himself.

Then the other ship arrived.