With thanks to Graham Lau, Tina Morrell, Tim McCleerey, Anita Madson, and Lynn Cohen for their encouragement.

My-day-on-Luna 2920. I have been on Luna exactly 8 Lunar years.

Whoopee.

It's hard to celebrate given the present uncertain conditions.

Life was so much easier and more pleasant when we were all getting along. Or, at least when I THOUGHT we were getting along.

I used to walk the streets of Luna City feeling that everyone who passed was a kind person who welcomed me to their City, to Luna. Now I think, "Hmm... I wonder if they are glad I'm here, neutral, or if they want me to leave and never come back?"

I even catch myself looking at Wan and Juan differently. I have to keep reminding myself that each of them risked their lives for me when the Leader was trying to have me assassinated.

After our initial meeting at the Uralian Embassy, the City Ambassadors and the Exo-Ambassadors have made sure to meet together at the Smedley Center once a week to discuss topics of mutual interest. I cannot say definitively that we now understand each other or like each other better than when we only met for Cultural Evenings, but it is the only hope we have to foster that understanding.

I am beginning to like the Ambassadors from New Nuuk and New Kyiv very much. Tentatively. Hesitantly. I wonder if they are also feeling tentative and hesitant.

The Ambassador from New Princeton only came for the first meeting and was very disruptive. I believe we are all glad he has stopped coming, although we DO continue to invite him.

The New Chicago Ambassador is now the one voicing anti-alien sentiments, occasionally joined by New DC.

Happily, joint meetings are now catered by the FastFood. At least there is something that we can eat! I believe the Smedley Center caterers are also trying to learn what exos eat, so even their offerings may improve in the future.

So, culinarily, things have improved. I guess we have to savor any victory we can find.

Of course, just a few months ago, the Smedley Center introduced exo-friendly furniture. So the trend is NOT necessarily due to the present tensions.

Hmm.

Maybe that is what set off the New Princeton Ambassador? Wasting money on exo-friendly furniture that could have been better spent on... not sure what. Something for Lunars, definitely.

Hmm...

Maybe that is the key... or at least a chink in the door...

What IS it that the Lunars think they are not getting that is being given to exos?

***

Yaeyeia and I meet at the Park.

It would be safer to meet at one of our embassies, but we both need some fresh air. And so far, at least, we have not been attacked in public.

We sit on (or behind) our favorite bench with Kevin as our guard, should any trouble arise.

"We should have invited the Xx," Yaeyeia comments.

I nod. "We'll invite everybody eventually. This is just a brainstorming session."

"Brainstorming? Sounds painful."

"So many Lunar phrases sound painful," I agree.

I turn to Yaeyeia's Aide. "Kevin, you are our expert on Lunars. What is it that Lunars believe exos are stealing from them?"

Kevin wriggles uncomfortably. "I have no idea. Really."

If Yaeyeia had fingers, she would shake one at him. "This is serious. We need to know. No matter how embarrassing."

He leans forward, covering his face with his hands. "Really. I have no idea."

I'm thinking. "It's not jobs. The only jobs aliens have on Luna is a couple of professors at the Universities, and, of course, US, the Ambassadors... but that's not a job Lunars compete for..."

Yaeyeia also muses: "It's not MONEY... Luna pays for everything in trade for AI access..."

I sit up. "Maybe that's it! Maybe the Lunars didn't actually WANT to reinstate AI on their new planet but felt they HAD to - to pay for alien goods and services?"

We are both looking at Kevin. (Well, OK, Yaeyeia is ALWAYS "looking" 360 degrees, but she is paying special attention in the "Kevin" direction.)

From under his covering hands, Kevin mumbles, "No. We installed AI even before the Gilgot came. We thought it would help solve some of our problems - like insufficient air, insufficient water, dwindling food."

We continue our surveillance. Kevin finally breaks. He sits up. "OK. Here's what I think the problem is. On Earth, we were the pinnacle species. The only sapients. We were so smart we could destroy ourselves AND our planet, and we were doing a pretty good job of destroying both. To avoid the destruction, the smartest people did what Gordon Smedley said: build spacecraft, gather supplies, flee to space."

"Smedley? Like in the Smedley Center?" Yaeyeia asks.

Kevin nods. "The same. He didn't join the refugees; he said he was too old. But for years he had been traveling the globe - Earth, that is - trying to get a small population to save themselves from total annihilation by fleeing to space. Our ancestors, everyone here on Luna, was part of that resettlement.

"We thought we were the brightest and the best. But then, we were stuck on Luna. We never heard from the Mars colony, which was supposed to be our final settlement. We were running out of water - we recycled everything we brought with us, but it was slowly leaking out into the universe. We couldn't expand much beyond the ships we arrived in because the air would become too attenuated, and it was leaking, too. We couldn't grow crops in the regolith. We were dying on a planet we couldn't survive on. Then the Gilgot came. We were saved! But we were saved by just some transport-jocks, not scientists, not engineers, and every one of them was smarter than we were. At least as far as surviving in space."

"The Gilgot are a VERY ancient species," I try to inject.

"Doesn't matter!" Kevin asserts. "We thought we were the BEST, we WERE on our planet, but in space, we are mere infants!"

"We're ALL infants in some way. Each species contributes something to make the Galaxy better."

"And AI was QUITE a contribution," adds Yaeyeia.

"But, we are no longer the pinnacle!"

I nod, understanding. "I imagine it takes a while to process that. Lunars are still processing."

"Exactly," affirms Kevin.

"That takes over 60 years?" demands Yaeyeia.

"Evidently longer," Kevin asserts darkly.

I am thinking. "We had contact with the Gilgot originally when we were first fleeing Uralia, when our star's expansion was beginning to make life on our home planet... uncomfortable... We NEEDED help, and were glad to get it. But it was a long time ago, and we have retained no cultural memory of feeling diminished that we couldn't handle it all ourselves."

Yaeyeia is interested. "Did the Setow make that connection? Between the Uralians and the Gilgot?"

I nod. "That was our first interaction with the Setow."

Yaeyeia has an idea. "Maybe that is the problem. The Setow brought you and the Gilgot together. They "paved the way." Maybe the Setow DIDN'T make the connection between the Lunars and the Gilgot. Maybe it was just an accident! Maybe, without the Setow, these connections are just too confusing and hard!"

"You mean the Gilgot coming to Luna was just a lucky accident?"

"It's possible," Yaeyeia asserts.

I nod, thinking hard. "Kevin, do Lunars have any tradition, any history that MIGHT indicate a Setow connection?"

"Setow?" asks Kevin.

"A Post-Biological species who are pure thought spirits that float around making mental contacts between physical species."

"Like angels?" Kevin asks.

I nod hesitantly. The only "angels" I've seen in Lunar culture are winged creatures wearing robes in ancient religious paintings. But if Kevin thinks that describes the Setow, fine with me.

He shakes his head. "Not to say that didn't happen. It just hasn't entered our mythology."

"Then, I'm thinking it never happened. All the other species ABSOLUTELY remember their first encounter with the Setow. They teach it to their children. It becomes an important species memory."

"I've never heard of anything like that happening on Luna. We were still hoping to hear from the Mars colony. We got the Gilgot instead."

Yaeyeia is thoughtful. "Maybe humans can't "hear" the Setow like we can. But maybe the Setow knew there was a problem and contacted the Gilgot."

I nod, thinking hard. "When the Setow contacted me about the New Petrograd perchlorate problem, they contacted ME. I'm not sure they contacted the Lunars at all..."

"Maybe they can't."

We all consider that possibility.

Yaeyeia tries for clarification: "But the Lunars were on the verge of extinction when the Gilgot arrived?"

"Probably within 3 to 6 months, depending on the City - of course, they weren't "cities" at that time. In fact, one of the landings had already gone silent. We later found the New NCAR refugees had died a few weeks before the Gilgot arrived."

I find all this history fascinating. "Where did the Gilgot first land?"

"New Minneapolis."

"Were you broadcasting for help?"

"Yes. We were desperate enough that we didn't care if Earth picked up our signals, although we were careful to direct them outward - away from Earth. But those were radio broadcasts. Since the Galaxy uses quantum communications, it's unlikely the Gilgot would have heard us."

I assume the Setow can pick up on radio broadcasts. Although they wouldn't need to - they seem to be able to detect "needs" a group or species has in a variety of (generally unknown) ways. But, who knows? Maybe the Gilgot DO monitor radio frequencies. They seem to do anything that might increase trade.

Yaeyeia ponders: "I wish the Setow weren't so "scarce" - we need to ask them 1) if they made the Lunar-Gilgot connection and 2) if their connections somehow inoculate the contact-ees from feeling "diminished" by the contact."

Both Yaeyeia and I have had personal contacts with the Setow - surprising because these contacts are so rare. But that doesn't mean we have a special "in" with the Setow. We can't just call them up and ask them things. We wish we could!

So, are the Lunars feeling resentful and jealous because they found they were not the "pinnacle" of the Galaxy?

Who would be the "pinnacle" of the Galaxy?

The Feyar? They invented our quantum communication system. They started and have always run the Galactic Government. But they are acting pretty small and touchy in this present situation.

The Setow? Probably a better guess... As far as we know, they are the first Post-Biological species. But they don't act like they are a pinnacle. They don't boss the biologicals around or try to lead them. They just lurk around. And don't help when WE think we need them - just whenever the Setow think they are needed.

All I know for certain is that Uralians certainly don't think we are a "pinnacle." Did we ever?

"Yaeyeia... do the Oeyians think they are a "pinnacle"?" I ask.

She makes a rude sound over her speaker. "Maybe the trees do."

Uralians have pretty much been raised to believe there is no "pinnacle" species - it is the connection between all the sapients (and sentients!) that is necessary to keep us all safe.

But not all species seem to think that way...

And, historically, didn't Urans think they were superior to Lians?

***

A Delitrian Professor of Alien Studies at the New Harvard University has been attacked. He is in the Luna City hospital, but the staff's knowledge of Delitrian biology is limited. And Delitrians cannot exist in the Lunar atmosphere - it is corrosive to them. He was severely burned after damage to his protective suit during the attack. The hospital has few tools for dealing with a being that cannot have contact with the ambient atmosphere. It is not known if he will survive.

Luna has sent an emergency request to the Polarans for aid - they are the Galaxy's best medics.

The Delitrian Ambassador, always dignified, has spoken to ComNews relaying his sorrow over the attack, and his hope that, "We can appreciate each other's differences and all get along."

The New Princeton Ambassador also is on ComNews: "Lunars should NOT have aliens teaching at our Universities! How could an alien communicate to our students what they need to know? How could aliens teach our students without our students becoming contaminated by alien ideas, philosophies, religions? We can only salute New Princeton University for removing all alien professors from our faculty last month!"

***

The Polarans arrive too late. The Delitrian has died.

The Luna City hospital negotiates with the Polarans to open an alien clinic. They should have had one years ago.

But that, of course, would have been an admission that there is something that Lunars cannot handle without alien help!

I'm sorry... I'm just feeling really angry and frustrated...

***

All of the Exo-Ambassadors attend the memorial at the Delitrian Embassy in Parkside, as do the two remaining exos who are Professors at other Lunar Universities, and all of the City Ambassadors (except for New Princeton, New DC and New Chicago.) Many other Lunars have come to demonstrate they are NOT for the anti-alien movement. I spot Lt. and Dr. Forbes, Dr. Levine and Dr. Russo in the crowd. I also spot my favorite server from FastFood - she has taken off work to be here; it is her usual shift.

Deceased Delitrians must be processed on their own planet (their religion is adamant about this), so the deceased professor is already on a Gilgot transport being returned to Delitria. He is represented at the memorial by a life-size 3d holographic image.

Because Delitrians are much taller than other species (about 10 feet), everything in their Embassy is BIG and SPACIOUS. Their simple, curvilinear architecture makes their Embassy awe-inspiring, maybe a little scary. I'm sorry New Princeton isn't there; I'd like him to be a little in awe.

But maybe that would just make his loss-of-pinnacle-hood (assuming Kevin's hypothesis is correct) feel even worse.

The Delitrian Ambassador reads poetry of his species. I don't understand a word, but in his deep, sonorous voice, it sounds sad but uplifting. Music and song plays from his com unit. Either Delitrians aren't allowed to sing for a live audience, or, maybe, the Ambassador is just not good at it. The music sounds, to me, like the same series of notes played over and over. It is soothing to the point of boredom.

The service lasts 4 hours - we are all standing the entire time. There are no "potty-breaks."

By the time it finally ends, we are just a teeny bit less sorry for the Delitrian loss...

***

I am NOT dining at the FastFood. I am at a "nice" restaurant in Parkside with Dr. Madison Forbes and Dr. Rachel Levine. Lt. Forbes has been known to call this restaurant a "fern bar." Dr. Madison and Dr. Levine are certainly eating large bowls of something green and fern-like.

I cannot imagine Dr. Levine at the FastFood.

Remembering my Ambassador-Guardian's comment about "chomping on Aquatics," I have ordered shrimp. It was an unfortunate choice. I have arrived at the restaurant with Juan's specially-engineered adaptors (made from pool noodles) that I can stick the restaurant's fork, spoon, or knife into that allow Uralians to handle Lunar utensils with our claws. Unfortunately, the shrimp arrived on wooden skewers that I am totally unable to handle even using the adaptors. The skewers just spin around.

Our saber claws may look nice, but they can be a nuisance!

Seeing my plight, Dr. Madison offers to detach the shrimp from the skewers for me. I accept her offer, but it is mortifying. I feel like a hatchling needing my mommy to cut up my food for me.

Finally I can taste the shrimp. Not as good as the FastFood. Not enough grease.

I want to pick the brains of these two scholarly women to see what they think about the xenophobia on Luna and in the Galaxy. I tell them about Dr. Tan's observation that xenophobia is rooted in a frustrated feeling of entitlement - that the xenos are somehow cheating the entitled Lunars out of things they should naturally have.

"Makes sense," agrees Dr. Madison.

I also tell them his statement about it being at its core caused by self-doubt and insecurity.

"Sounds right," says Dr. Levine. "You know, you should really talk to the people in New Haifa. They know more about racial bias than even I do. And they'll talk to you. They know and respect you because of SafeGuard."

I nod thoughtfully. "Good idea. I'll try to arrange that."

"But, you know," adds Dr. Madison, "while that explains xenophobia in the general population, there is also a xenophobia propagated by persons in power. To solidify their position and unify their people, they define an "other." Blame for everything that goes wrong is ascribed to the "other." We are "us" because we are not "them." I think these persons can make an inherent tendency toward xenophobia even worse by encouraging it - making it patriotic."

Dr. Levine nods. "Hitler solidified his position using hatred of the Jews."

"And Bismarck tried to unify Germany by creating an "other" from Catholics. Of course, since Catholics were about half of all Germans, that was not the best strategy."

I am trying to process this. "So, there are actually TWO kinds of xenophobia - one that is inherent in a population - another that is used by a leader, who may not even believe in it, for political gains?"

The two doctors nod.

Dr. Levine says, "I've heard that Ambassador Johnson is campaigning to become the next Executive Ambassador..."

"I've heard that, too..."

I'm confused. "Ambassador Johnson is the Ambassador from New Princeton?"

"Hmmhmm." The doctors agree.

"And the Executive Ambassador is the head of the Lunar Government?"

"Hmmhmm."

"So he might be using xenophobia to promote himself, get this new position?"

Both nod.

"He might not even believe in it himself?"

"Hitler WAS anti-Semitic," affirms Dr. Levine. "His earliest writings are on that subject."

"But Bismarck, while raised to be suspicious of Catholics, didn't actually begin to rail against them until it served his political purposes," Dr. Madison asserts. "And he changed over to the socialists later."

I'm thinking. Urans always felt superior to Lians. The Leader used this inherent feeling to raise his popularity (at least among Urans) when he felt his dominance slipping by limiting the freedoms of Lians. This all makes sense (in a nonsensical sort of way...) I am thinking about Uralian bias so much more now than I ever did before.

So... if Ambassador Johnson is using inherent xenophobia to raise his popularity for his own political gain...

Are the Feyar using an inherent anti-Surface-species feeling among Aquatics to bolster their hold on power? Did they feel they were losing control of the Galactic Government?

It seems so unlikely...

My shrimp have gone cold...

They weren't that great anyway...

There is other "vegetation" on my plate.

You can't expect a Uralian to eat vegetation.

I order some bouillon. Even a fern bar should be able to handle bouillon.

It actually is very tasty!

***

I'm putting out feelers to our Galactic Representatives Mrnpk and Jrčtr - have they heard any rumors that the Feyar thought they were losing power? I also send a comdoc to our Uralian Speaker Lncn to see if she's noticed anything like that.

Mrnpk and Jrčtr think I'm losing my mind even to ask that question.

Lncn is too busy trying to get bots to build atmospheric adjustment and water treatment plants in the southern hemisphere of Botslean to even think about the Feyar.

My com buzzes. It is Dr. Lorie Russo, Lunar Government statistician.

"I've been looking through the data you gave me - great stuff, by the way!" she tells me enthusiastically. "I think I've found something that might relate to your problem. Did you know that the Feyar are going through a major internal crisis?"

I am stunned. "I did not."

"Well, their Head is quite elderly. Apparently there is a lot of jockeying for position to take over when fy retires."

I am surprised by this news. I am also impressed that Dr. Lorie knows to use the pronoun "fy" for the Feyar, who have no genders.

"The problem is that no one can decide if being Head of Feyar is higher than being Principal of the Galactic Government. If Head of Feyar is higher, the Principal of the Galactic Government would be the natural one to be promoted to Head. But if it would be a demotion..."

"Got it." For the Feyar, who have always sorta thought they ran the Galaxy, it would be hard to decide whether their planet or their galaxy was the more important.

"I'll keep digging," Dr. Lorie tells me.

"Thanks so much. This is an interesting bit of information."

I send a comdoc to Mrnpk and Jrčtr. No, they didn't know this, either. They think it is Quite Interesting.

As do I...

But how does this fit in with the Feyar assertion of "abuse?"

***

My-day-on-Luna 2945. The Galactic Government, led by the (remotely-attending) Wrvsh, has convened a meeting - even without the Feyar.

Apparently the Feyar do not have the sway over all of the Aquatics that they might hope. Or perhaps not ALL of the Aquatics feel they are being "abused." The Kaladians decide they are losing too much money being unable to sell their wine to Surface-species drinkers and rejoin the Government.

The Yrvr (a glass pipe-like species who live for over 1000 years) also break with the Feyar and rejoin the Galactic Government. No one knows why... but then no one ever knows why the Yrvr do anything. They are the biological species closest to being Post-Biological.

So there are now 13 members in the Galactic Government (out of 27 sapient species - still less than half!) Four are Aquatic (out of 18 total Aquatic species.)

And we still don't know why the Aquatics feel they are abused... although we are beginning to suspect the Feyar, who are undoubtedly the ringleaders, are possibly trying to distract from their own internal problems.

And Ambassador Johnson of New Princeton is encouraging inherent xenophobia among Lunars to boost his own political career.

It is all so depressing. I am returning from a solo-dinner at the FastFood (edible shrimp this time!) - I am too discouraged for company.

Outside our Embassy are four people carrying signs.

Great. We are being picketed.

But one sign says: "We Welcome Everyone!"

Another says: "We Heart Aliens!" I have no idea what that means, but it sounds non-hostile.

The four, catching sight of my vehicle, wave and cheer.

I wave back.

Maybe this is a good sign...

Maybe there is hope?

I think I'll contact New Haifa. I'd be interested in their insights...