Pirad came out, carrying the sleeping little girl. Berto dashed to Cassandra. “Mama!” Her blue eyes turned lighter blue. “I had a nice dream, Mama!”
“Oh, Destiny, I missed you!”
“I was just visiting Pirad an' fell asleep. I 'wake now. Don't cry. I feel good.”
Berto kissed both of them.
Destiny reached for him. “Fahie!”
He hugged her. “Esta ay, I am your fahie, and I love you! Beauty, let’s go rest, if you want.”
“Esta ay! I want to get to know this little miracle!” They went to Berto’s room, which had them in Elshar Zheiea holding Destiny.
Tan was telling a group of teens about worlds of Alb. I went over. “Madison? Hi! I remember you from the art competition last year! I'm Molly, the girl with the unicorn.” We went to Howard Middle School that Saturday and Angel, Belle and I made lots of friends!
“Molly? Wow! Well, you knew me as a boy. A lot happened. Now, I'm a girl, and Pirad helped me.”
I hugged her. “Oh, that's wonderful!”
“My friends decided to come here to the ship. It's so cool that Earth's getting that treaty! I've been glued to the news. But I cut class today, 'cause Jerrie Thien has it in for me! She's one of those fundamentalist Christians who thinks anyone in the LGBTQ+ community is the devil's tool. She has no clue what it's like for us!”
“Hey, I understand. I'm still plain, ordinary, she or her, but I'm cool with you being a girl. There won’t be any persecution in Rainbow.” I showed her the abuse progs. It had an option for masking telepathy, so if someone thinks of something that offends someone, they can’t hear it. Wish we had that in Rainbow!
“If you want birth control, you can turn it off or on with a wave, like this.” I showed her Be~saech's prog. “No side effects on this, either. It's 100%.”
Then she looked surprised. “You mean I could get pregnant?”
“Yes! Just as if you'd been born a girl! Isn't that awesome?”
“Oh, yeah! My fam, they don't get it. My uncle just puts me down. He thinks if I just do some sports, I'll get over it. They come to my room—I rent from a friend—and I can't even come and go. I'm sick of it. I'm emancipated now. That happened last year when I was 16. I wanted to get hormones, but it's expensive. I'm barely making ends meet! Tan sent diplomats to all of ‘em, but they don’t want to leave Earth. I’m happy they don’t!”
“You won't need money here. We'll give you a ride to another planet that's safe where we'll give you a house, school if you want it, work if you don't. You could be an artist! Want to work for me?” I waved up holos of the worlds with my Earthan Colonies.
“I could? Really?”
Tan nodded. “Yes! Zheien—that's the twin-fingered people—love the arts. You can apprentice to artists whose style you enjoy, and trade your works, or copies of them. Traders will trade for you at no cost and give you trade balance for your work.”
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“What if it doesn't sell?” She looked down.
“You will still have a place to live, food like restaurant food, health care, all of that. But traders know the markets and what people like. I think your work will sell. I love it! The way you sculpt is fantastical and beautiful. In a Zheien colony, you could do the colossal works you always wanted to do!” I really hoped she’d come with us to MarKu!
That's all she talked about at that conference. Her painting decorated an entire hall at a private school in Atlanta. People of a lot of diff cultures worked together, rode unicorns, traveled on rockets, all in bright colors. But her people were realistic, and her clothing details set her work apart. Some parents complained about a few LGBTQ+ refs, and she quietly changed 'em until they quit.
In a Zheien colony, she can put all the rainbow flags she wants! Progs can hide anything that offends a person from that person. Others that want to see, can. All the rulers of Alb agreed to 'em. My first official act as Queen Of Rainbow when I first started, and the Alb Council already agreed to that and a list of progs I wanted at the time.
The group of teens were emancipated teens Madison knew. Another diplomat explained how soon, if the UN agreed, every person on Earth would receive aandats with a parent's permission. All the group wanted them, so they each got one. The diplomat answered all of their questions. When Tan explained the Earthan Colonies, Madison picked MarKu. Her room is next to Belle’s until we land. Angel's was on our other side.
When she has time to adjust to all this, I want to invite her to my Council to represent all my LGBTQ+ people, now that we have ‘em.
Cerict was nearby, smiling. He’s the Assignment Specialist who sends scientist teams on missions. I showed him his wife earlier today and found a health problem. She’s with him.
Our portal had Ben kneeling before me and our wedding clothes. Rainbow in the background with the hospice, the largest building with every wall a diff Rainbow color, sparkling under Alb Seer's yellow sun. White sand had flowers growing everywhere. Ben pulled me into our bedroom. “Cesarae, you must rest.”
Fa held his arm as we passed the portal. These new ones don't hurt Zheien like the old ones did, awful momentary headaches. These are the same for Zheien as they are for us. It's warm like bath water as you step in, and like a cool breeze as you step out. No discomfort. No pain.
They both relaxed.
I giggled and let him put me in the bed.
There are trees in Piedmont Park of MarKu! Goe is so thoughtful! He married Penny earlier. She's 18. He's how old? They're probably recloned at 18. I didn't feel much diff, except for all the new skills.
I let Fa leave. Then I hugged him. “Oh, Ben, what if I can't do this?”
Bellsongs startled both of us! Oh, we giggled and enjoyed it, just like after we married.
Afterwards, I checked Ben, but he was fine! I shared all of my fear of when I can’t save someone, and he reminded me of the times we cried together. I handled it, because I have Ben.
Then I shared my worries about our poor clones, who decided to stay on Earth. Ben’s Elshar clone who married her, she’ll go by Molly. He can stay with her and work in the Embassy. He looks Zheien, but he's actually Elshar, but with the telepathic strength of Zbbat. Cev encouraged all the diplomats to be recloned and do this for when slavers flood Earth. They already did! Hopefully, not many of them have access to Elders who know recloning.
They’re still finding clones of Heden, Mirado, Girfir and their sons. But TS is watching on all the major Elshar worlds, and Andrisch, Master Trader Of Elshar Mashai got assigned to Earth. Berto recommended him. The Nefcot Ring is active and Elshars can use more tech now. Our clones for Earth are very prepared, with all of Ad Beni’s training for operatives. He gave Pirad a database that he gives to multi-tech level operatives, so they and other key operatives could train others.
We talked, and I felt lots better. Then, clicking stopped underneath us. Already?
Ben carried me through people and set me before King Theaspaura. I bowed low. He bowed lower to me. Behind him, I expected to see MarKu’s orange sand, but it was in the middle of seven seven-sided buildings and the nearest was beetle-green on white sand. Alb Seer! We’re in Fhiah!