With thanks to Maureen Peck and Jerry Accettura, who keep our Denver folkdance group in step.

Connections are so important.

Here on Luna, twenty of the 23 cities are connected by tunnels. Each city is distinct, with their own populations, industry, favorite foods and music, but together they have formed a government that unites them and stands together against outside menaces (like Earth.) Three cities are not connected. Two at least can be contacted via old-fashioned radio links and warned of pandemics, invasions, and other threats and will respond: Message received. One... well, no one knows anything about the third unconnected city other than that they receive deliveries from the Gilgot on a quarterly basis.

In the Galaxy, 27 sapient species have connected together in the Galactic Government and Galactic Courts. These connections allow for reasoned discourse among the species and resolution of disputes. The Akher, a post-biological species, is not a member, nor are the Qrad, an Aquatic species who are intensely isolationist.

In our own lives, we have connections with family, friends, even our enemies are connections, of a kind. I am faced with one of those difficult connections while waiting for one of our Smedley center meetings to begin. The Xx have rolled over next to my perch.

"We are sorry about Uralia," spells out the Xx to me.

"So are we," I respond.

I used to like the Xx very much. As a sapient slime mold species, I found them to be interesting, intelligent, and pleasant. Then they made an agreement with the Uralian Leader to build him ten new Destroyers to be used in his war against my own Lian system. To the Xx, a contract is sacred. Friendship is not. I have trouble with this prioritization. While the Xx on Luna agreed it was "unfortunate" that their contract might lead to the destruction of my people, and possibly even my own assassination, "the Xx always fulfil their contracts."

We have not spoken since. While we were hiding from assassins, they did not come to the Lian Embassy like the other Ambassadors for meetings and dancing.

But, I have missed them...

In the chess game of connection, it is "my move."

"I've missed you," I tell them.

"We have missed your friendship," they reply.

It is a first step in building a bridge. I can never trust them as I did before, but we can, perhaps, build a new type of friendship, in time.

***

Yaeyeia is working hard NOT to make a connection with her newly-assigned junior Oeyian Ambassador. He, to me, looks like a bush of some sort, and is VERY young, VERY shy, VERY uncertain of himself. Yaeyeia just wants to take a hedge clipper to him and trim him back to soil-emergence height. His (also unfortunate) name is "Woh." Pronounced just like the Lunar word: woe.

"I NEVER met anyone so useless!" she opines while we sit (with her Aide) on our favorite park bench. "Oeyiah must be crazy to send HIM out to be trained! It will take YEARS! He never remembers ANYTHING I tell him."

"What do you think, Kevin?" I ask her Aide.

Kevin hesitates. He is a thoughtful, careful man. His opinion will mean something. "He is rather timid," is his measured conclusion.

"And CLUMSY!" asserts Yaeyeia. "He knocks over EVERYTHING!"

"And there's not that much in your Embassy that can be knocked over," I point out.

"He knocked over the fertilizer dispenser," she says, darkly.

"That could be serious," I agree.

"It was messy! Wasn't it, Kevin?"

"It was, indeed, very messy."

"Our floor is permanently stained a pale beige. And, we had to go on starvation rations until the next delivery!"

"That would be very unpleasant," I agree.

"I've GOT to find some way to get him recalled to Oeyiah."

We think a bit.

"Maybe a war?" I suggest.

"Hilarious. You are the most hilarious Uralian I know."

"Well, just because it didn't work for us doesn't mean it wouldn't work for you..."

Yaeyeia glances at me. She thinks I am being morbid about the whole war/assassination/bomb-your-own-people thing. But it is hard not to be consumed by our recent events.

"I'm just not cut out to be a teacher," she sighs. "Or a parent. I never wanted to be a parent."

"Parenthood is not innate in everybody," I agree.

"I'd be a better "parent" if my "child" had any aptitude."

"They're all difficult in their own ways," I assert, thinking of my two children, now safely back at their archaeological dig on Akher.

"Your children are perfect. You've told me so."

"Biology helps. You have no genetic link to Woh."

"Thankfully!" she snarls.

***

Clmntr has returned to Lia5 to visit her daughter, who is very ill. Lnbršr took her in his transport. The Embassy is desolate without them!

I remember when Tfns was banished, I was so lonely I got Kitty. It has been so comforting to have her with me in this present emptiness.

Clmntr had taken over my previous task of visiting schools to tell the children about our planet. After the war, my attempted assassination, and the bombing of Uralia, children are especially eager to hear our stories.

In Clmntr's absence, I am back to my old task. I am at Maddy and Connor Forbes' school (Maddy is the eldest and Connor the second child of Lt. Forbes and Dr. Madison.)

They are pantingly interested in what it was like to be the target of assassination. They gasp when I tell of the assassin's successful entry into our Embassy and his death at the hands of our Aide Wan.

"So, you were saved by a LUNAR?" a male child queries.

"Wan was very brave. He had been knocked out by the assassin but regathered himself and blasted the assassin."

"Wow!" The children are mumbling to each other excitedly.

"With a BLASTER?" another male asks.

"With a blaster," I agree. Blaster fire has been a common problem in our Embassy. But I'm not going to tell the kids that.

"Did the Lunars win the war for you?" another child, also male, asks. I've noticed a pattern: male Lunar children ask blood-thirsty questions.

"The Uralian Leader blew up his own people using nuclear weapons," I clarify. "No one won the war. It just ended because... well, because one side wasn't there anymore."

More mumbling. I bet the other Ambassadors don't have this great a response from their audiences.

"Then Uralians are dangerous?" Another male. "My dad says Aliens are dangerous."

I think this one over. "The Leader was..." how to put it... "psychologically challenged." Mumbling. "OK, he was CRAZY." Intense happy mumbling. "Uralians who are NOT crazy are no more dangerous than Lunars." I assert.

"You LOOK scary," a little girl insists.

"I look like a dinosaur," I correct.

More happy mumbling.

"But not a T-Rex."

Thunderous applause.

Wow. All you have to do to be a hit with kids is to be assassinated and have your planet blown up by a maniac.

And looking like a dinosaur doesn't hurt.

Easy...

***

Maintaining some connections, while necessary, is not necessarily pleasant.

We are trapped in another unending meeting at the Smedley Center. This one is a meeting between Exo-Ambassadors and the Ambassadors of the Lunar Government. The Ambassador from New Princeton is speaking:

     "What I worry about is the threat from within:
       the retreat of Luna from some of its most fundamental
       values.
      For years, we’ve been told that everything we fund and
       support is in the name of our shared democratic values.
      Everything from membership in the Galactic Government
       to our support of the Lian system in its recent war
       is billed as a defense of democracy."

Heads pivot towards me as the only Lian in the room.

     "But we ought to ask whether we’re holding ourselves to
       an appropriately high standard.
      And I say "ourselves" because I fundamentally believe
       that we are on the same team."

I suspect he is talking only to the Lunar Ambassadors, not the Exos.

    "Luna faces many challenges, but the crisis we face
       right now, the crisis I believe we all face together,
       is one of our own making.
      Of all the pressing challenges that the cities
       represented here face, I believe there is nothing
       more urgent than alien infiltration.

And, I was, sadly, right. He is only talking to the Lunars.

     "Today, almost every city has aliens living among them.
      We get our alien-manufactured goods delivered by aliens.
      We need to become more self-sufficient or we risk losing
       our culture, our heritage, our history, our religion to alien
       influences."

Heads now swivel to the back of the room, where the Exo-Ambassadors are sitting in our specially-designed seating. We are universally mentally squirming. We view "alien" as sort of pejorative. We prefer "exo" or "xeno"...

     "Humanoids are the pinnacle of galactic evolution."

I think about that for a bit. The Lunars and Earthers are humanoid. The Delitrians are also humanoid, but about ten-foot tall. They are also very religious, but I haven't noticed them trying to proselytize the Lunars. Would I? The Aquatic Kalad are sorta humanoid-ish, although their arms and legs have definite fin-like characteristics. And on Oeyiah, Yaeyeia says there are humanoids, but they are not sapient. We don't have any idea whether the post-biological Setow and Akher were humanoid when they were biological. Certainly the powerful Feyar are not.

I would think the pinnacle of galactic evolution would be seen on more planets... would be, I don't know, more dominant?

     "Humanoid species lead in intellectual and cultural pursuits."

Lunars brought AI to the galaxy - a useful (although potentially dangerous) invention. The Feyar brought quantum communication. The Gilgot brought galactic transport. The Xx can manufacture ANYTHING. We Uralians invented SafeGuard. Sounds like the humanoids are on par with the jellyfish-like Feyar, the crocodilian Gilgot, the slime-mold Xx, and the Utahraptor-like Uralians. Not "leading in intellectual pursuits."

And EVERYONE prefers their own culture.

     "We don't need aliens to prosper."

I think about how Earth refugees came to Luna - with inadequate breathable air, inadequate water, food that was running out after 18 months, insufficient machinery and phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria to transform Lunar regolith to arable soil, only a limited numbers of excavators to dig the caverns the cities are in. Would Luna exist without the "alien" Gilgot traders? I think they'd all have been dead a couple of years after landing...

     "And we know the situation - it didn’t materialize in a
       vacuum.
      It’s the result of a series of conscious decisions made
       by greedy businessmen and corrupt politicians all over
       Luna over the span of 65 years."

And I had always felt Luna had unusually selfless business owners and politicians.

     "How long before we change course and take our shared
       civilization in a new direction?
      No voter on Luna went to the ballot box to open the
       floodgates to unvetted aliens.
      But you know what they did vote for?
      More and more Lunar cities are voting for political leaders
       who promise to put an end to out-of-control
       alien infiltration."

I wonder which cities those could be? Maybe he means New Chicago; they just passed a law limiting restaurants to serving only Lunar-produced beer and wine. Of course, his own New Princeton has a law up for vote later this year forbidding exo-churches and another forbidding exo-marriages.

    "Now, I happen to agree with a lot of these concerns,
       but you don’t have to agree with me.
      I just think that people care - about their homes;
       they care about their dreams; they care about their safety;
       and their capacity to provide for themselves and their children.
      To believe in democracy is to understand that each of our
       citizens has wisdom and has a voice.
      And if we refuse to listen to that voice,
       even our most successful fights will secure very little.
      Do not be afraid.
      We shouldn’t be afraid of our people, even when they
       express views that disagree with their leadership.
      Thank you all.
      Good luck to all of you.
      God bless you."

Silence. Then hesitant, weak applause.

The Ambassadors from New Nuuk, New Kyiv, and New Harvard rush back to assure the exo's that they totally disagreed with the speech. Others just avoid our part of the room.

We exo's ignore the inedible Smedley Center food offerings and adjourn to the FastFood.
Even the vegan Polarans.

The FastFood definitely believes they ARE experiencing an alien invasion!

When we arrive, my Ex-Guardian, now one of the Gilgot Ambassadors gives me a hug, Because she crawls on the ground and I am upright, this means she grabs me around my ankles. "Ambassador Ptsgbw! So good to see you!"

I brush her backbone and she raises her tail in appreciation. "So good to see you Ambassador-Guardian!" Gilgot don't have personal names unless they are VERY high-up. My Ex-Guardian is properly called "Ambassador," but I call her "Ambassador-Guardian," to her amusement.

Her father, Ambassador Heresh ambles toward us. "Should I eat him?" he asks good-naturedly about how to deal with the New Princeton Ambassador.

"Maybe eventually," I prevaricate. I suspect eating one of their City Ambassadors would not reassure Lunars as to our kind intentions.

We have an emergency meeting as to how to handle this new turn of events.

The Lunars had seemed so nice! So welcoming! So open! Is this anti-exo bias something new? How widespread is it?

I cite the child at the school I spoke at: "My dad says Aliens are dangerous."

Other Ambassadors report hearing similar statements.

We need to do further investigations. I need Lnbršr - he's good at things like this!

While it was not the New Princeton Ambassador's intention, this Lunar prejudice has certainly increased the inter-connection felt for each other by the exos!

***

Apparently Luna is not the only place in the Galaxy having problems.

We are having an emergency on-com meeting with the Galactic Government. While not part of the Galactic Government myself (Mrnpk and Jrčtr are the elected Representatives from Uralia... Lia... whatever we're calling ourselves now) all Galactic Ambassadors have been invited to attend this apparently critical on-com meeting. We wonder what is so important that they would call an emergency "All Hands" meeting.

This is one of the few times I can see and interact with the other Uralian (Lian?) Ambassadors stationed around the Galaxy. And Mrnpk and Jrčtr, who are VERY busy normally. We get together in a com breakout group before the meeting is called to order.

When we get the alert we transfer to the general meeting. There are nearly 250 attendees!

The Feyar tend to run these meetings, as they kinda run most things in the Galaxy. As Aquatics, they do not physically attend the meetings but attend on-com. The Feyar Principal calls the meeting to order: "Attention! Attention!"

On-com attendees are all on mute. Physically-present attendees quiet down immediately.

The Principal welcomes attendees, those physically-present and those on-com. Fy announces the agenda for this meeting. (Feyar do not have genders. Traditionally they are referred to using the pronoun "fy.")

The usual trivial and boring things are brought forward: the Ratihinaconaxemuwezo want to take over a neighboring planet; they are referred to the Galactic Courts. The Delitrians want the next meeting to be rescheduled a day later because of conflict with a religious holiday; a vote (Representatives only) is taken and the delay is approved. A request is made to invite the Qrad to join the Galactic Government (it always is); discussion proceeds as to whether this is to be done via com or via physical visit (that's always done, too); it is pointed out that Qrad is Aquatic and there are no Galactic Government members who can survive their water chemistry (this also occurs at every meeting); a vote is taken and a com contact approved. This is repeated for the post-biological Akher, except the reason against a physical visit is that the Akher, not being physical, don't actually have a location a physical being can go to.

Then the reason for this important meeting: the Feyar Representative is recognized by the Feyar Principal. Fy clears fy throat and announces:

     "Friends, the Feyar historically brought instantaneous
       galactic communication.
      We have led in the Government and are called to be
       a light in the Galaxy.
      But our traditions also tell us that the darkness often
       tries to extinguish that light.
      Too often, we think of abuse only as a distant, foreign
       problem.
      Today, we must shine a light on abuse affecting
       Aquatics: the violent persecution of Aquatic species.
      We cannot remain silent."

I gasp. Probably all Surface-species are gasping. Persecution of Aquatics? Huh??!! The Feyar run EVERYTHING! Who could persecute THEM??

     "Abuse is the misuse of power to take advantage of another.
      It thrives in secrecy, and it is happening within the
       Galactic Government."

Eh?! When? Where? How?

     "The Galactic Government should defend the weak.
      The Government should not be silent on the
       oppression of member species."

Yes, right true, but could we have some EXAMPLES OF THIS OPPRESSION???!

     "We must ensure that abusers are held accountable.
      The Government should offer care to the abused,
       not counseling that enables the abuser."

Yes, yes, yes, but WHO ARE THE ABUSERS??!! I hope it's not us...

     "This Galactic Government must stop enabling, start
       training, and prioritize safety over reputation.
      Until that occurs, all Aquatic species are withdrawing
       from the Galactic Government.
      We will be forming our own Aquatic Council as of today,
       Galactic date 14.78.7961.

The com is drowning in unmute requests.

***

A million questions:

If the Feyar are no longer running it, does the Galactic Government still exist?

(Apparently, yes... Mrnpk and Jrčtr have sent a message that the Surface species will continue meeting at the Galactic Government buildings and the Galactic Courts will also continue to function.)

If not the Feyar running it, then who?

(Mrnpk and Jrčtr tell us the Ratihinaconaxemuwezo volunteered, but, since they will declare war on any species they take offense to, the offer is (politely, VERY politely) declined. The question of leadership remains open.)

And, most important question of all:

WHAT DO THE FEYAR MEAN BY "THEY ARE BEING ABUSED?"

And:

"DO THE OTHER AQUATICS FEEL THE SAME WAY? OR IS IT JUST THE FEYAR?

Of the 27 sapient species in the Galactic Government, 18 are Aquatic. Are there now only 9 members of the Galactic Government?

At the meeting, the other Aquatics did not actually agree with the statement, but they did not refute it either.

And... I just hope the Uralians aren't to blame for this (Mrnpk and Jrčtr say we are not... but then... they would...)

I hope the Lunars aren't to blame, either...
But they are, at least some of them are, anti-exo at the moment... is there a connection?

***

The Exo-Ambassadors are meeting at the Uralian/Lian/whatever-we-are-now Embassy. During my assassination lockdown, they came (not including the Xx or the Ratihinaconaxemuwezo) to our Embassy for unofficial meetings, for chicken nuggets (veggie burgers for the Polarans), and for folk dancing. Now, our Embassy has become the unofficial consular meeting spot, now including the Xx. But not the Ratihinaconaxemuwezo.

"What the hell?!" asks the usually-so-dignified Delitrian.

"Does ANYONE know what abuse the Feyar are talking about?" Yaeyeia demands.

The Xx wiggle a bit. We have trained ourselves to take note of any movements they make, otherwise we might not be aware they are spelling out valuable information.

"Travel," they spell.

"Travel?" Ambassador Heresh demands a clarification.

"Surface species can travel," they spell. They clear, then, "Aquatics cannot."

"They could... they just don't. It's harder for them than for us," Ambassador Heresh says.

"They could bring a vat of their own water and stay in it," My Ambassador-Guardian suggests.

"It would probably get pretty icky after a while," suggests the senior Polaran.

Everyone nods at this unappetizing thought.

"That's why they don't travel," he concludes.

"And water is HEAVY. It's not like for us, which, even if we have to wear an atmospheric or pressure suit, it is no heavier than some clothing. Not all floors could support an Aquatic environmental chamber," the junior Polaran adds.

We nod.

"And, for Aquatics, each species' water chemistry is quite unique. A planet can't just provide "water" for all Aquatics to live in. They would each have to bring in their own," I point out.

"But that is how it has always been. And, it's not abuse WE have visited on the Aquatics. It's chemistry. And their own choice. That can't be the reason. It's got to be something NEW that they feel is abusive," asserts Yaeyeia.

Everyone nods.

The Xx spells out: "True."

We think about it until the nuggets run out. With no new inspiration, the group disbands, and I am rejoined by Kitty, who avoids our meetings. I think the deep, strong-voiced Delitrians and the erratically-moving Gilgot scare her. The Gilgot might also view her as a furry chicken nugget, so it is just as well she stays away.

She hops onto my desk and sits on my com, her favorite place. I scratch her ears and tell her, "The Universe is going crazy. Be glad you're a cat."

She purrs her agreement.

But, the Universe, or at least our part of the Galaxy IS going crazy. The welcoming, accepting Lunars are suddenly afraid of and hostile to "aliens." The noble, creative Feyar are suddenly feeling "abused."

I wish the Setow would make the connections to solve these mysteries!

I listen carefully.

No... no Setow advice for this one. At least not to me.
Maybe they'll communicate with someone else...
Maybe to Mrnpk or Jrčtr or someone else powerful enough to do something about it.

Kitty and I trudge upstairs to our apartment. It is the end of my-day-on-Luna 2900 - an anniversary of sorts.

Maybe I'll celebrate in 100 days...

Maybe there will be something to celebrate in 100 days...

Something to look forward to...

We settle onto my sleep perch. Kitty does the "slow eye close."

I do the same to her.

We are both content.

I settle down to sleep with Kitty on my foot.

If Kitty and I, such different species, can make this connection, why can't sapients?

I don't think the "slow eye close" will work on the Feyar.

Or the Lunars.

I'm going to hope for the Setow to come up with a solution...