Data storage integrated every surface, even the floors and buildings’ infrastructures, with extrusions into Areon’s core. Even my purple dress stored the most recent version of my research and progs I used in my work. If my prog had worked, to port me to the Barrens, my dress would have stayed in the lab. That thought embarrassed me. Our clothing stored vast amounts of information.

The metals-based molecular arrangement storage of information, used every solid inorganic to house our databases. All the counters around us. Every chair.

I admired the dark wood of my chair, smooth and cool. Once, Areon had trees, but they all died, and the Black Forest holds them encased in clear glass. Papa took me to see them, once, on my 12th birthday. Aronna shall see them on her 12th, if we survive War.

Ryee smiled at me and my heart fluttered.

Simulants brought the replacement irradiation chamber, which looked more worn than my ill-fated one.

My coworkers all stared at it. If the EDs had been active, I would be on my way to Detector Force, my chest heaved so with emotion.

Ryee gasped. I followed his gaze to my emergency port code. “Surely you ne wished to port yourself to the Barrens!”

“What?” Vonn and Derees ran to us! When Vonn saw that, he stared at me. Grabbed my shoulders with both hands. His gray eyes filled.

“Why did you write this?” Derees had my arm. He also had tears!

I looked down. “I wanted to make sure that if anyone were to die, I would be the sole casualty. Experiments are tied to us genetically. See this code.” Prog One scrolled to the line.

Derees frowned. “That is not part of Prog One. Someone tampered with your copy.” An official copy of Prog One appeared, and that line was not on it.

Tanda came. She shook all over. “That line is also in my copy of Prog One.” Vonn moved a hand to her shoulder. His anguished face shocked me. Surely he is thinking of the five memorials on his graph of our department. He does not want to lose us.

Ossy and Citsa always whispered that the others were critical of my projects. So, I worked harder, to occupy my mind. Now I see. Did I assume that my death would not affect anyone but my family? Vonn dreads to lose anyone. Derees’ hand trembled on my arm. He held Tanda’s also. She gripped my hand.

I must call Security! Vonn snapped his gaze to his menu. Startled. A notice on the top left of his screen got all our attention. A memorial for Director Ado Pragate. His face fell.

In the corner of our room near the ceiling, the ED blinked, fins rapidly rotating. I gasped. Blinked several times. Oh, my heart shook me—

Ryee pulled my face even with his. Koch and Wilnes cannot see us. The ED appears to function but my progs interfere with it as long as I stand in this chamber. Holos of us at our workstations show. As we speak, I notify Cevit Ion of our danger. Now we know enough to begin an inquiry, but we must gather evidence against this evil government. Will the four of you help us?

Vonn put his hand on Ryee’s. I will help.

Derees added his. I will, also.

I put mine. Yes! I will do whatever I can.

Tanda reached. My husband works in the Council Chambers. He wants a chance such as this, to defeat the Rads! An Elshar recruited him as an operative.

What is his name?

Kol Weiss.

Ryee smiled. Ah, he is Cevit Ion’s operative! You know of the dangers of his work?

Yes. He wants to protect me, but I think all of us should be operatives. If we die, it is to save our people.

Do all of you feel this way?

All four of us nodded. We live in danger anyway, from our government, from our work here. But if we can help Areon’s government turn from evil, this is more important work.

Then I will share a secret. Diplomats have a special mind link called the Diplomatic Link. If I give him to each of you, there is help. He may not save you, but you pass information that may save countless others.

Vonn said, Give it to me. I am responsible to this section, but also to my people.

Ryee spread his fingers across Vonn’s forehead. Gradually moved the fingertips back a row at a time, until he reached the back of his head. You are strong enough to bear him. Touched him between the eyes. He paled, and his head fell! But Ryee held him up and stared into his face until color returned. Vonn smiled, big! So many minds!

Derees trembled. I will try to be brave.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Remember, bravery is ne lack of fear. Bravery is acts despite fear. Ry’nao taught me this. With care, Ryee felt his head. Frowned, then nodded, as if having a conversation that included Vonn. Ryee touched him and he fainted! O, my friend, I apologize! Gently, he held him up until he looked up.

Like Vonn, he smiled. Then paled. No!

What is it?

My wife is having an affair with Ossy. He recruited her for the Rads. What will become of my sons? He sobbed. And, my unborn child.

I put a hand on his shoulder. Such a tragedy! The way he spoke about Patasia before Ryee came, I thought his marriage was perfect!

Then, Ryee touched me. I grasped my seat! Did I fall off? Minds asked him questions.

Who is this?

Welcome!

Pah, an Areonian!

Many comments! He warned them all away and others helped. I felt weak, then he led me to gather strength.

Here is my friend Natamian. Touch his mind. He is rested and well. Take a bit of his energy, then we shall find others—

I saw him in his Sleeping Chamber by his bed. Suddenly a—creature—Zbbat! They have six arms that are tentacles! It snatched him—

Natamian heard my memory and gasped! He took me, here in MarKu? How? I am in the home of my King!

I told him how to avoid this. He ported to the Master Prog Instructor, who also listened to me. Where comes this information? I could not tell him! Sobbed! They found the Zbbat’s ship, in orbit! Destroyed it!

Thirteen long years, he was in slavery and suffered, the most injured living MarKuan! Jia, a healer, was with him. I saw her in Master Healer Pie’s chambers learning from him. I warned her also of how she would be taken, as she entered a slaver’s ship to help slaves. That ship was also in orbit, and traders bought all their slaves. Soldiers protected the healers, but a trade inspector found illegal slaves. MarKu kept the ship and Ih Esta ported the slavers to Gowa!

Natamian is Pie’s only son? I heard the anguish of his mind. He misses Natamian’s mother, a brave diplomat who died when he was three. I saw her die of poisoning and pointed out the trader who planned her death. Pie knows now how to save her!

Someone else touched my mind. King Herda of MarKu. I pictured myself bowing in the Old Forms, a very low bow that would be impossible in my Areonian body. How did I know—Ryee knows it—I wept. All of MarKu will be taken by slavers, all 70 decillion Zheien citizens! His sorrow dimmed my sight!

Ryee led my mind away, back to the lab. I shook all over! On my arm were yellow sprinkles, as in that memory of his father’s! With a gasp, he touched it and a cloud rose. How is it you can sweat so, as does a Zheien?

It never happened to me.

His mind helped me calm, but that vision of Zbbat taking six Zheien at a time, one struggling person on each gigantic yellow arm—

Think ne. Be calm.

Another voice. Ryee, allow me to help her.

I appeared on a yellow ship. Bowed, but this yellow-skinned Zheien pulled me into his lap! Maiden, I am Cevit Ion.

Seventh Galaxy Minister? Oh, I am rude! Will I bring shame on—

I wish to help you, Maiden. I fear our Link is too much for you!

I saw his home, as Ryee showed me when he rode the dorna. But, I saw Elshars racing dorna and throwing rocks at people! Other primitive weapons that would not be detected by the Ishah Hub. One ship took a third of them to a healer colony on Alb Seer. Another third died trying to reach it! The other third were trapped in their homes! The sight of that violent scene made me shudder.

There is nae healer colony on Alb Seer!

They tortured King Challet and gave his five-year old grandson Exorbar in front of him. He was in stasis with his family for years! I felt sick. Cevit Ion hummed, and I relaxed against him. His heart pounded audibly. Faces he knew. His father died that night in Prov Nine.

Cevit Soron gasped. Dear bae! What upsets?

Ejis nae! What can we do to prevent this, Fa?

The attack will come from the Council of Prov Nine. Your colony must go to Alb Seer—

Fhiah is on Alb Seer, but there is nae space for us—

There will be an unwell colony named Rainbow, started by an Earthan, Molly Brown. Many Failed colonies will go there.

Ry’nao wishes a new healer colony in the First. Show this to King Theaspaura. He is wise, and shall provide a home for your people. Prophet Melchis told him to reserve the Barrens when he migrated to Alb Seer to start Fhiah. Pirad, Elder of Bisillipia will come and make Rainbow a place of miracles.

Maiden, o, you must stop! Look at this sweat-powder on you—

Then, the thing I did not want to see—

The silver poles. I floated between them as Governor Schwer listed my DF offenses and pain—

I screamed! He held me.

But then, I saw something else happen. Ryee carried me onto his ship. A riot began. Because of this, the Rads could not hold onto their power. A new government formed.

Cevit Ion hummed, and I finally calmed. I know what I have to do. My life does have a purpose, after all.

Maiden, everyone’s lives have purposes. Father of All leads us. O, I must leave you! Ryee—

I have her.

I looked into four worried faces. “Are you well, Adia?”

Ryee brushed sweatpowder off my arms. A yellow cloud of sparkles rose. How is this possible? Suns rose outside, a beautiful view from the window, of the Barrens, once my refuge. It is morning. Large windows showed farms of Kleideu to the far left. When last we slept here, I woke before the others and watched the suns rise. One yellow, and one smaller blue one.

Derees took my arm and wiped some of the yellow powder off. Sniffed it. When he disturbed it I smelled the sweet smell of it. Shuddered.

This is Zheien sweat? Are you mixed? Someone talked to him in his Link.

I laughed. I am Areonian, as you are! It is a mystery. But, I have a large mystery to solve, and it is ANW. My mind opened and I saw how to create new fuels. Parts of it. Why can I not see all of it?