A knock at their dorm room door woke Amy and Beth from their brief nap. They were snuggled up on the bed, more or less still in uniform. "I'll see who it is," said Amy, zipping her skirt and buttoning up her blouse.

Beth sat up, her uniform equally disheveled. What had started out as a brief afternoon nap had turned into a passionate making out session, during which both of them had fallen asleep in each other's arms. She looked out the window, and saw the sun setting amidst the belt of stars that adorned the Tau system. "Beth, get dressed…they're here!" Amy called out. Beth pulled her uniform back together, leaving her necktie hanging loosely around her neck, and her top few buttons undone. She stepped out of the bedroom into the living room, where two women in business suits were waiting with Amy. "Bethany Devereaux?" one of the women chimed. "Yes," Beth replied, rubbing her eyes. "I'm Ariana Ortega, and this is Marissa Villanueva. We're here to represent the two of you," announced the taller woman. The shorter of the two, with long, blond hair spoke. "You can call me Marissa. We have a lot to discuss, but first –" She took out a small electronic device and aimed it slowly around the room. It beeped several times during her sweep. She turned to Ariana. "It's not safe to talk here. Seven bugs, all military grade."

"Fix up your uniforms, girls," Ariana intoned. "There's a little café nearby. We can talk there."

A short while later, Marissa pulled over to the left in front of an antique-looking building, a wooden shingle hanging in front. The Lamp House. The four got out and went inside. Inside, a bevy of young women dressed in maid uniforms gathered shoulder-to-shoulder at the reception kiosk, bowed deeply, and welcomed them. "I'd like my normal booth," Ariana said flatly to the young girl who approached them. "Of course, ma'am," she smiled, and led them to a booth far in the rear of the establishment. "What's the special today, Cathy?" asked Marissa sweetly. The girl tossed her hair back and announced, as if reading from a script, "We have a lovely, limited edition Orange Pekoe Tea from the grand continent on Sea of the Forest Star, and we have a very rich dark roasted coffee grown in the mountains of old Earth, on the Southern surviving continent of the Americas."

"Old Earth, huh?" Ariana grunted. "Sounds expensive…"

"It is," Cathy responded, as perky as ever. "But it's worth the price just to inhale the aroma."

"Okay," Ariana said finally. "Four Earth coffees and four chocolate parfaits."

"Very good, ma'am," Cathy beamed. "I'll be right back!"

A few minutes later, Cathy and another girl arrived, one carrying a tray with a large, polished silver carafe of coffee and 4 glass mugs with silver frames and handles. The other girl carried a tray with four of the Lamp House's famous chocolate parfaits. They set them down and served each of the women a parfait and a mug, pouring the first round of coffee. The rich, heady aroma wafted around the table, getting everyone's attention. "Is there anything else you ladies need?" Cathy asked with her usual perkiness. Ariana handed her a wad of cash. "We'd like to be undisturbed. Just tell us when it's closing time. Otherwise, leave us be. Keep the change."

Cathy looked down at the wad in her hand with wide eyes. "Yes, Ma'am!" she glowed. "Please come again!" She and the other girl retreated quickly back to the front.

"So," Ariana began. "Tell us everything you know about the Nebula Cup Disaster. And I do mean everything."

The girls looked at each other, and Beth spoke. "We heard that they hit some bad weather, and there were a lot of wipe-outs -"

"Stop right there, Miss Devereaux," Ariana glared across the table at her. "I don't want to know what you HEARD. I want to know what you KNOW. And I know that you know exactly what happened on Calmwind. Now, start again, and don't try to bullshit me. We can't protect you if you don't trust us. If you don't trust us, just say so, and we will leave, and you two can figure this shit out for yourselves." Ariana started to rise from her chair, as did Marissa.

"…no, please don't go…" Amy whimpered, looking desperately at Beth. "We have to tell them the truth, Beth!" The women settled back into their chairs, gazing expectantly at Beth.

Beth closed her eyes and let out a resigned sigh. "…fine..." she said, looking directly into Ariana's eyes. "This is what happened."

Jenny hastily made dinner. As she put the plates on the dining table, Keiko stepped in, her nightwear even more scandalous than her business wear. Jenny certainly knew how to appreciate eye candy, and despite her generally negative feelings toward Keiko, her eyes were having a feast.

"Looks good," commented Keiko, picking up her chopsticks.

"I just cobbled some things together," Jenny said with little enthusiasm, also picking up her chopsticks. They each pressed their hands together in prayer. "Itadakimasu", they said in unison, and began quietly eating.

"…is Lynn going to be able to get an advocate…?" Jenny asked, barely above a whisper.

Keiko looked up from her plate, saw the look in Jenny's eyes, and set down her chopsticks. "Okay, out with it. What is she to you?"

"It's not like that – "Jenny started to protest, but Keiko cut her off. "Bullshit!" Keiko blurted. "Look, you and I are more alike than either of us would ever admit. We both like girls…and we've both been betrothed since we were little children to men that we've barely met….and we'll both probably find them to be intolerable."

Jenny regarded her in silence for a moment. It was true. Keiko had been promised by her parents to marry the eldest son of the eldest son of the Doolittle family, her cousin, Robert junior. And she herself had been promised to the son of a politician. She had only met her betrothed once, and he was a buffoonish, self-centered girly-boy. Even his name, Junigh, sounded like a girl's name. And as for her cousin, he was the exact opposite of his father, an officer in the Stellar Military. Cousin Robert was also a girly-boy, self absorbed, self-centered, egotistical and smug. And those were his good points.

"If you're feeling sorry for me, don't." Keiko intoned, reading the look in Jenny's eyes. "Now, I need an answer. What is she to you? Tell me the truth!"

"…I just….I just don't want anything bad to happen to her…I like her…I don't want to see her get into trouble…"

Keiko took another bite of her food, mulling over Jenny's good nature. "Ninety percent of the attorneys and paralegals here on Sea of the Morningstar are in one way or another indentured to Hugh and Doolittle. It's one of the reasons why we never lose at trial…it's one of the reasons why most litigants settle when they know that we're on the other side of the table. So….whoever represents her…will most likely also be looking out for our interests."

"That doesn't make me feel any better," Jenny moped. "Can't you fix it so that she gets someone that could really help her? Someone who could face down those military bullies?"

Keiko mulled some more, as she chewed another bite. It would be a dishonor for her family if she refused to marry Robert, but if the Doolittles fired her, and perhaps cancelled the wedding plans….

"…someone who could face the military, huh?" she chewed. "Ya know? …there might just be someone that I could call…" She leaned across the table, with a rakish grin that made Jenny shiver. "….soooo…..what's in it for me, little kitten?"

Jenny swallowed hard. She felt like the canary looking up at the cat. "If you keep her out of trouble…I'll do anything you want…." She said softly, knowing full well what she might be in store for. Still, she thought, looking across at Keiko's pale yet healthy cleavage, and her curvy, smooth legs tucked underneath her, it might not be all that bad.

"...by the way, there's only one bed here…" Jenny said softly. "Don't fret, sweetie," Keiko laughed. "I'll take the sofa."

"What I meant, was," Jenny continued, a little annoyed, "we both need to get a good rest and be in top form tomorrow, and my bed is a triple large, so you can sleep there with me…just behave."

Keiko regarded her with some respect. She had grown so much, and become so mature since she had last seen her. "I gratefully accept," Keiko said, gently running her fingers through Jenny's soft blond hair. "And rest easy. What I want from you in return for saving your little friend's butt has nothing to do with sex. You're adorable, but you're still just a child." She smiled, as Jenny breathed a sigh of relief. And just a little bit of disappointment.

Lynn heard a knock at her dorm room door. She set down her book and walked to the door. "Who is it?" she called out. "I'm your attorney, little missy" a woman's voice with an odd accent came from the other side. Lynn looked at the clock. It was past curfew, and outsiders were never allowed in the dorms without an escort after curfew. She opened the door, and the woman walked right in, and sat on Lynn's roommate's bed. "Well don't just stand there, lassie" she chided to Lynn. "We have a lot to talk about tonight."

Lynn closed the door, and slowly walked over and sat down on her bed, facing the woman. She seemed to be in her mid sixties, slim and slight in build, with wavy auburn hair and intense green eyes. She opened up her computer, and started tapping away at the keypad. "So, you're twelve years old, your parents are planetary archaeologists, and this is your first year on Sea of the Morningstar…right?"

"…uh…yes…" Lynn answered warily. The woman looked up at her, as if she just realized something. "Sorry," she began, "I've studied your file so thoroughly I feel as if I already know you." She laughed slightly, and then continued, "I'm Maddie, your attorney." She reached across the short table and offered her hand. Lynn took her hand and gave her a firm handshake. "So the school sent you here?" Lynn inquired. "Not exactly," Maddie replied. "I'm doing a favor for a friend. There'll be no cost to you, your parents or the school. Also, I spoke a wee bit to the school's assigned advocate, and I asked her what would happen if the school's interests in this matter were incompatible with yours. She said she would have to discontinue representing you if that came up….so…it's up to you. Do you want me to stay and continue this?"

Lynn thought for a moment. "I'd like to know who's paying my tab…who is this friend who owes you a favor and decided to bestow it on me?

Maddie smiled broadly. "I like you, little missy," she beamed. "You're the spittin' image o'me when I was a lass…all full of yourself…brassy…a wee bit cocky…but sorry….the terms of our agreement are that you either accept me or you don't. My employer insists on being anonymous."

Lynn thought for a few moments more. She knew that her parents were struggling to pay her tuition to this prestigious girls' academy, and that hiring an attorney would strain them further. And she was disheartened by the allegation that the school would throw her under the bus if need be, even though she still had no idea what she had done wrong. And this woman had an air of honesty, and down-to-the-ground kindness. She reminded her of her late grandmother. "All right," Lynn decided. "But I don't even know what this is all about…why am I in trouble? Why do I NEED an attorney?"

Maddie smiled gently. "There, there, now little miss. Let's take it one step at a time, and not get too troubled, eh?" Lynn nodded. "Good, then. Why don't you start by telling me about the Nebula Cup?" "I don't know anything about the Nebula Cup," Lynn offered. "I'm not even in the yacht club…I don't really care much about space ships or space travel…really, I'm kind of sick of it."

"That's right; you traveled with your parents all over until you started this middle school, yes? So your only friends were a pick, a shovel and an ultrasonic imaging scanner?" she asked with a slight laugh.

Lynn didn't find it funny. "Please don't misunderstand," she said. "I love my parents, and I'm deeply grateful for all the sacrifices they've made for me. You're right, this is the first time I've had real friends, and a feeling of permanence. Space travel is tedious and repetitious. Endless inspections, checklists, malfunctions –" she grasped her hair in her hands. "Ugh! I don't even want to think about it…" Maddie came over and sat beside her on the bed, gently putting an arm around Lynn's shoulders. "Don't fret, child," she cooed, and looked up behind them at the pictures on Lynn's wall. "She's pretty…a friend of yours?"

Lynn looked up at them as well. "Just someone that I admire…she's really popular…everyone admires her…"

"Aye," Maddie smiled. "And as they should. Miss Jenny Doolittle. She'd be quite the catch."

"You know her?" Lynn asked, surprised. "Not personally," Maddie replied. "Though I remember meeting her and her father when she was a wee lass."

"I just wanted her to notice me…" Lynn said softly. Maddie regarded her for a moment, searching for the right words. "It's hard, isn't it?" Maddie thought out loud. "You see someone who puts a flutter in your heart, and you dinna know what to do…and not knowing what to do…you just DO something…right?"

"…yeah…" Lynn continued softly, staring at her shoes. "..they said she would notice me if I –" She stopped suddenly and looked up at Maddie. "They?" Maddie inquired. Lynn pulled away from the woman. "You're trying to get me to snitch on someone else, right?" Lynn fumed. Maddie shifted a bit, turned to Lynn and firmly grasped her shoulders, looking straight into her eyes, her accent thickening. "Listen to me. This is no' some silly code of honor in your little girl school, where no one likes a tattle tale. This is the real world, and ye can be crushed like a wee lil' bug." She squeezed Lynn's shoulders hard for a moment, making the girl wince in discomfort. "Let me read you the charges, and the possible outcome, and ye decide if ye want to take one for the team and let whoever put you up to this skate away laughing while you fall on your sword." The grandmotherly demeanor was gone. Maddie's intense gaze drilled into Lynn, filling her with fright and exhilaration all at once. "…I'll tell you everything…" Lynn said quietly.

Robert Doolittle's shuttle hung above the Hugh and Doolittle shipyard's primary dry dock, where the keel of a massive battleship was being laid. She would be the sixth in the Maricot Class, but she would have more firepower and advanced technology than any of her sisters. He watched on the monitors as one of the dock workers welded a metal plate bearing his name and signature to the primary sill of the massive starship. His military career was winding down, and he looked forward to the day when he would command his company's largest warship. "Beware the Jabberwocky," he mused aloud. The pilot looked over at him. "Sir?" the pilot asked, not wanting his superior officer to think he was ignoring him. Doolittle shook his head, a slight smile on his lips. "Nothing, lieutenant," he said. "Just an old poem, from an old, dead world." But, he thought to himself, looking out at the expanse that would one day become his enormous vessel, there will be no frabjous day, nor shouts of Callooh! Callay! No one would slay THIS Jabberwocky. His Carrollesque reverie was interrupted by the beeping of the comm system. "Sir," the pilot called out. "You have an incoming transmission from Tau Ceti three."

"I'll take it in the aft compartment," he replied, realizing only at that moment how gay that sounded. "Make it a secure channel." "Yes sir," the pilot replied smartly, routing the call out of the normal comm lines and disengaging the automatic logging protocol. He knew his boss well enough to know that if he wanted a secure line, he didn't want it logged.

"Colonel Mays," Doolittle greeted the man on the video screen, noting from the icon at the bottom right that both sides of the conversation were secure. "Have you found out anything?"

"Not yet, General," Mays replied. "My team has arrived, and they're settling in. We have a pretty good idea who our suspect is, and the school has assured me that they'll hand her over with very little drama. The principal insisted that the school at least give the appearance of acting in her defense. The only snag that I see is that she's just a child."

"How old?" Doolittle queried. "She's a first year middle school student," Mays replied, looking down at her file. "That would make her about twelve."

"That's fine." Doolittle grunted. "We're not looking for an execution, anyway. Just knock her around a bit, and offer a plea deal. Who's her family?"

"They're no one in particular, sir. Planetary archaeologists. None of any prominence. I'm sure they'll roll over easily."

"Good," Doolittle approved, a slight, devious smile creasing his lips. "What about the other matter?"

"No further contact, sir. Whatever they were, they slipped through our frontier headed for Orion. There were three distinct energy signatures, battleship class from the look of them. Some anomalous gravity wave readings were logged as well. We've plotted every possible course along their last known trajectory, but no other sightings have been reported. All of the listening posts along that route have all reported in, so there's been no hostile action that we're aware of."

"Any Empire traffic?" Doolittle definitely didn't want THEM involved.

"Empire comm traffic has been strangely silent, sir," Mays replied. "A few blips here and there, but nothing about – That."

"Very well then," Doolittle said with finality. "I want this done quickly and by the numbers. Hold your hearings, find her guilty, and get her the hell off Tau and away from my niece."

"Yes, sir!" Mays responded, signing off.

Robert Doolittle allowed himself a broad grin. In the dim light of the aft compartment, he almost seemed to have fangs. Soon, he thought to himself. Soon he will be back in control of the company, after a long and glorious military career, and back in control of everything else. Everything was coming together. It was going to be amazing. He looked down at his personal data tablet, and began reviewing a technical letter about a prototype gravity wave propulsion system. He leaned back and stretched. Indeed, things were going to be truly amazing.