“This has gone too far. If we are to survive, we must have these creature's unreserved help.” The shadows created by Creator of New Thoughts were most displeasing and no matter how Curiosity moved his statues the resulting display was always, on one level or another, wrong.

“That is not for you to decide,” Argument said. Curiosity was sure that there was nothing wrong with Arguments position, the six hundred and four shadows that he created were as artistically pleasing as Curiosity could make them. No, the problem was clearly with Creator, if he could get him to move a little to the right things might not be as bad. Curiosity snaked between the two, examining the surrounding statues as he watched them go over the same argument again and again.

“It is my remit to suggest thoughts. Judgment has been questioned; we cannot risk the possibility that he is wrong. We should withdraw from this planet until a proper decision has been made on his ability to lead,” Creator said.

“Could you take two steps to the right?” Curiosity asked him, as if the ongoing argument meant nothing to him.

Creator's lights flickered and dimmed a little. “I do not think this is the time for your artworks. You need to pay attention,” he shone. Curiosity turned to Argument, expecting him to say something but for once his lights stayed dark.

“I am paying attention. In the same way that I'm paying attention to the two hundred and four similar conversations being conducted by various high-level Minds within the fleet. I have plenty of spare capacity should I decide to join in, however at this moment I merely wish to listen.” Curiosity knew that he was protesting a little too much, but that was the problem. Mercy had questioned one King; he didn't want anyone else to do likewise.

“Then you should stop wasting your time chasing shadows and join in this conversation,” Argument said.

“I would if Creator would just move two meters to the right?” Arguments lights flickered and he turned to the other. With a dimming of his own lights Creator slowly took two steps in the desired direction.

“Happy now?” Argument said but Curiosity was already whipping through the statues.

“No no no!” The light pattern repeated itself almost too quickly to be seen. Curiosity came to a sudden halt and the entire chamber was plunged into silence. Only to eventually be broken by Creator.

“This is the very definition of poor leadership. Perhaps as a species we have moved beyond the need for Kings. Perhaps a new style of leadership would be better suited.” Again, there was no response from Argument. Curiosity halted his connection to the other conversations. They had mostly followed the same pattern, only this one had the suggestion of completely new leadership.

“Stand over there.” The colour of his light was a pure red and he indicated a spot on the far side of his chamber. Silently Creator marched across the room and took his place. “There, perfect. What you are suggesting is...” he let his lights fade away.

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“Revolutionary,” Creator offered, “yet required. Mercy was correct and we need to adapt to survive.” Curiosity looked at the shadows that were created, they were adequate, but he found his enthusiasm for them beginning to fade.

“You can't replace us,” he managed. “We're the King, we decide what is best for the Scatha.”

“But why?” Argument said. “Hatred created you, but you killed him. Where does your right to rule come from?”

“We're the most experienced and greatest of minds.” Curiosity flickered back and forth from Argument to Creator.

“Yet you still make mistakes,” Creator said. “Perhaps if more minds we're given power or created to supplement the number of kings then this would not happen.”

As Creators lights died away there was the sound of heavy footsteps from the hallway outside and the door open to reveal Judgement lumbering towards them. Curiosity turned to see him enter the room and gave him a short bow of respect.

“I trust all is well here?” Judgement said. Curiosity prepared to tell him it was not when a process in the back of his mind asked him why not? Surely Judgements question refereed to what occurring in the room and all of that was perfectly well wasn't it?

“Everything is well Judgement, I was just working on my shadows,” he said, trying to remember what he and Argument had been discussing. Something to do with Mercy certainly. He accessed the memory. “Argument had just suggested that Mercy is doing extremely well in her task but appears to be getting into things that are not her remit.”

“Yes. Her accusations against me. They are disconcerting but we must not allow anything to distract us from the task at hand.” Judgement said as he came to a halt a meter or so away from Argument. Curiosity untangled himself from his statues and floated over to the two.

“Agreed. The Kings have the unquestionable right to rule,” Argument said. For a moment Judgement just stared at the two of them and Curiosity felt the tension rise in the air. A process in the back of his mind was telling him that something was wrong with his shadows.

“Yes. However, I think that the time for these discussions is only after we have cleared the planet of these creatures. Whoever the murderer is he does not appear to be deleting information or interfering in Mercy's investigation in anyway.”

“Agreed,” Curiosity and Argument said in union.

“Remarkable.” There was another hint and Curiosity felt like Judgement was examining him more thoroughly than he'd ever done so before. “Would you think therefore that the Sea Dancer is still needed?”

“Of course not,” Argument said.

“We have however promised that Raini and Avon not be harmed by us. Everyone knows that,” Curiosity said. He tried to focus his mind and ignore the process warning him about the shadows. “It might look bad if we break our word.”

“Agreed. Would you suggest to the other Kings that we destroy the Sea Dancer but do not directly harm either Raini or Avon. I feel that if I suggested it would not help my position.” Judgement said.

“Of course,” Curiosity said. “Is there anything else I can do to help?”

“No. I need to speak with someone else though. I believe he is being far too effective. Thank you, Curiosity, and thank you Argument, you have both proven yourselves very loyal.” With that Judgement turned and marched out of the chamber, slower, Curiosity noted, than usual.

“If you do not mind, I wish to speak to Mercy for a moment,” Argument said.

“Of course, of course.” A moment later he had disconnected from his body and Curiosity was left alone to think about his shadows. For a few minutes he tried different bursts of light from various angles until he finally found the anomaly in the shadows. It was the body of a Scatha Judge, standing at the far end of the chamber. Curiosity examined it for a few moments, but it was inert with nothing stored in its memory banks and no clue as to who had put it there.

“Oh well,” Curiosity said to no one in particular. “I'll just have to have Argument move it somewhere else when he gets back. He's already got one body here, there is no point in him having two.”