“Is everything all set for tonight?” Amber brusquely asked the triplets.

It was Prince Luqrit’s last day on Earth and the final arrangements were being made at The Facility for the ceremony, and as always, Amber seemed as if there were more important things she should be doing.

“Yeah, U-SAF are flying him and Jabeetna here right now, and they should land in two hours,” Holt explained.

“Good. And Do’Lânqwa? Is he ready?”

“We’re not his minders. Go find out yourself,” Blane shot back, rolling his eyes and not trying very hard to hide it.

“Thanks. Big help,” she snapped, strutting off in her heels.

“I can’t stand her,” Mindy complained. “There’s something about her I don’t like.”

“No I know,” Holt agreed. “You’d think she’d be nicer considering what everyone does for her.”

“I’ve lost count of the times I have wanted to seduce her into telling me what she’s up to,” Mindy admitted.

“Ew,” Blane said. Mindy gave him a look that said ‘I know!’ “I don’t get what Do’Lânqwa needs to be ready for anyway, or what she’s stressin’ about.”

“Did I see Ms Hamilton just leave?” Do’Lânqwa asked, appearing with his boys Wo’Trendsont and Ta’Balshén, all three dressed sharply in tailored suits.

“You don’t have to call her that when she’s not here, dude,” Blane said.

“Yet I cannot call her what I want to call her in front of the children,” Do’Lânqwa replied.

“But yes,” Holt said. “She’s asking us if we know if you’re ready or not.”

Do’Lânqwa rolled his eyes. “She’s insufferable.”

“This is all just a big waste of time. This doesn’t need to be a big pompous ceremony,” the youngest triplet ranted. “The Prince is leaving, you’re getting his kid… What more is there?” He stormed off.

Do’Lânqwa waited until he was out of ear shot. “Is he… he ok?”

“Yeah, he just needs a moment. He’s just conscious that the last time there was a ceremony on Earthtun, our parents and brother died,” Mindy explained.

“That is understandable,” Do’Lânqwa said. “Are you both ok?”

“Yeah, we’re fine. We know that that won’t happen here,” she said. “Anyway…” she continued, changing the subject so to not dwell on the negatives. “Boys, you’ll be getting a sister! Pretty cool right? Sisters are the best!”

Wo’Trendsont enthusiastically cheered in the way a toddler might, not fully understanding the situation. And Ta’Balshén just shrugged and grumbled in the way a teenager would.

“Go and take Wo’Trendsont back, will you please?” Do’Lânqwa asked, addressing Ta’Balshén. When the boys had gone, he turned his attention back to the triplets. “He is a bit put out that Jabeetna wants to be a girl, but is… was a boy. He is still getting his head round it all.”

“I’m sure he will. This is a mostly inclusive and progressive planet,” Mindy reasoned. “But when he meets her properly, he’ll soon just see her as the person she is.”

“I think you are right. Thanks Mind. Right, I best go. If I’m stood still in one place for too long then Amber will be sure to find me.”

***

Later that night, the short, formal ceremony had begun on the runway of The Facility. It was at Prince Luqrit’s request that the handing over of guardianship of his daughter to Do’Lânqwa be marked in some way. The plan was then for The Power of Three to escort his jet out into space.

A red carpet was laid out, leading to a large circular platform. Another red carpet came off from the platform leading straight to the Prince’s waiting jet where the triplets were stood in their jump suits.

Do’Lânqwa, Ta’Balshén and Wo’Trendsont were stood with The President of the United States and President of the UN, Glói Valtersson.

“Do’Lânqwa,” the Prince said once he had paced onto the platform. “I hereby bestow upon you my daughter, to protect, to guide and to treat as if your own whilst she is on this planet.”

“It is an honor, Prince Luqrit, and I give you my word that I shall do what you cannot in your absence.”

The two men shook hands before bowing to each other. The Prince took his daughter in a close embrace which they held while they both sobbed.

“This is difficult, I know Jabeetna, but please know this is the only way I can truly keep you safe. Use this time to live the life you desire. The life you deserve. And only when you are old enough, I will return for you. Do’Lânqwa is a good man, living here on a planet that is also not his, bringing up children who are not also from here. He will do right by you. Give him the respect he deserves.”

The Prince wiped his daughter’s tears from her eyes with his thumbs as he cupped her head. He then turned to face the two Presidents.

“I give you my word that I will keep to my side of our arrangement. I am incredibly grateful for everything you have been able to give my daughter.”

“Thank you,” POTUS said, taking his hand. “On behalf of Earthuu and the United States of America, I wish you safe onward passage.”

Prince Luqrit smiled and gave his daughter another hug before walking down the red carpet towards his jet. He took a final look towards Jabeetna, waved and walked on board.

“Right, this is our turn now,” Holt said, as the three leapt into the sky.

***

The home of The Power of Three, Las Vegas. Three weeks later.

The alarm sound for the second time that night. Mindy threw the covers off her and jogged to the console.

“Shit,” she whispered to herself.

There wasn’t even time to get the jet ready for this one. She sped dressed into her jumpsuit and ran for the garden, taking flight as soon as she could.

Once in the troposphere, she saw for herself the enormity of the situation, and she was on her own for this one.

From her position, she could see four of the seven crafts that had just entered the space around Earth. Three of them looked the same and were equally spaced in Earth’s orbit- Mindy had to assume the other three were on the other side of the world.

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The one not moving like the others looked familiar… Fuck, it’s Prince Luqrit’s jet! A light display around a circular hatch strobed, inviting her in, so she of course approached. The hatch slid open as she got close.

“Prince Luqrit?! I thought we were being attacked!” she shouted sternly as she entered the jet’s navigation bridge.

“I’m sorry! There’s no line of communication with this Earth up here! It’s good to see you, Mindy!”

“Do you mind telling me what’s going on?” she demanded.

“Of course. But don’t worry. This is just me keeping up with my side of the deal. This is the HALO.”

“HALO?” she repeated, examining a screen which showed six dots equally positioned around the planet.

“It stands for ‘the Huu-Riq Alliance Legion of Over watchers,” he said beaming with pride. “I’m very proud of it actually and I had the best working on it the moment I got back to Earthriq. It actually helped to distract me from my pain…” he trailed off. “Anyway, do you think we should get the President up here to hear this?”

“I think it’s safer if you tell me first and I’ll pass it on,” Mindy said bluntly. She was still riding on the wave of adrenaline thinking she was having to fight.

“Alright. I can see that you’re still suspicious, but there’s no need Mindy. The HALO comprises of six satellite pods, fixed around Earthuu’s orbit, facing away from the planet. Their intention is to not interfere with the earth, but to watch might be coming towards it.”

“Ok, well that does sound pretty cool,” she decided, calming down. “Are they automated? Manned? Who’s in them?”

“Yes, they are manned. Now remember, I said they won’t ever be on the Earth, or interfere with what happens on the ground. So I beg you to make sure you to tell the President that, because it's important."

"Right? So go on, what's the big deal?"

"They’re manned by prisoners from Earthriq.”

“What? You’ve put criminals in there?”

“Wait, you need to listen. They won’t-”

“Won’t be coming down, I know, I heard you.”

“So please don’t worry,” he pleaded. “Literally, if they do anything beyond the agreement we’ve made with them, their families die.”

Mindy was shocked. “Oh, but I don’t think that quite makes this any better actually…”

“But it does. They’ve sworn to protect Earthuu, they’re still paying for their crimes and if they fail to do so, they do so knowing their loved ones will suffer. So they won’t fail! It’s an effective fail safe,” he confidently assured, as if the ethics weren’t questionable in the slightest.

“Do I want to know their crimes?”

Prince Luqrit shrugged dismissively, as if annoyed that the focus was on this aspect of the plan. “Murder mostly. But the man in the yellow pod has no legs. He just committed fraud.”

“Riiiight. So only five of them are violent offenders?”

“Exactly! Which is who you want in charge of guns. They won’t have reservations. And this part is the really good part.”

“Oh, so that wasn’t the really good part?” Mindy asked sarcastically, which was lost on Prince Luqrit.

“No… I’m about to tell you the really good part. While I was on Earthuu there was a wealth of history to read upon. It really was fascinating. I spent hours reading and then one night when I was thinking about the symbolism of the HALO programme, it came to me that that they should be represented by the Gods these people look up to. Gods overlook people, like the HALO programme would be designed to do.”

“Gods?”

“Gods, yeah. See this first over watcher, in orange, is based on Soteria. Excuse me if you know this all already but Soteria is the Greek goddess of safety and salvation, and preservation from harm. Right? You see my thinking already? Then in the pink pod, the over watcher is inspired by Vishnu, who in the Hindu religion is the supreme being who protects the universe.” He flicked the console which switched to show stats of the satellite pod he was referring to every time he swiped.

“Ok, go on.”

“The lime green over watcher’s inspired by the Roman goddess of safety and well-being, Salus. The yellow takes inspiration from Horus, the Egyptian Pharaoh whose symbol of the eye which is on the front of the pod, by the way, represents protection. The gold one represents the Mayan god, Maximón, who according to various legends would protect people…” He swiped the console once more for the last one, in an aqua blue colouring. “…and our final one is a representation of the Aztec Huitzilopochtli who was a born defender. Literally, the stories said he burst from his mother’s womb in full armour and defended his mother from his brother and sister who had planned to kill her! Fascinating, yes? All these Gods from different cultures are powerful defenders and protectors and here their symbolance will do so from space for this planet! The HALO programme!” he declared, spreading his arms wide, causing his staff on the bridge to applaud.

“Wow, you’ve really thought about it,” Mindy marvelled.

“I think the President will be very impressed, don’t you?”

“I think he’ll be very grateful.”

“Thank you. I hope he’ll understand why I didn’t come down to inform him myself. I don’t want to confuse or upset Jabeetna and spoil her adjustment. How is she doing?”

“Yeah, I think she’s settling in really well. Ta’Balshén has already accepted her as a sister which is really sweet.”

“Aaah, that’s great!” Prince Luqrit welled up with joy. “How are your brothers? Where are they? I thought they’d be here with you.”

“They’re in a country called Thailand with Do’Lânqwa-” Mindy noticed the Prince look concerned. She’d said the wrong thing so quickly backtracked. “Jabeetna is ok and being looked after,” she lied. “You knew he’d have to work some time, right?”

He sighed. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I know he knows what he’s doing and will keep her safe from harm.”

Mindy felt her heart beat quicker. “It’s all good, Prince Luqrit. She’s safe. And thanks to you and the HALO programme, she’s going to be a lot safer.”