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Night Skies Hotel V: Shadows on the Sun By Solari Author's note: "Shadows on the Sun" is the second story in the three-part "Foundations" trilogy that shines a light on the wider Night Skies Hotel universe. The other stories in the "Foundations" trilogy are "Night Skies Hotel IV: The Lost Worlds," and "Night Skies Hotel VI: Destroyers of Worlds." It is recommended that the stories be read in order, or the reader risks not understanding the events that unfold. *********************************** "Change takes time, but it's already under way. I'm among the young men on Terra who have seen past the mindset of the old Patriarchy, and know that women are just as capable of governing as men are." - Deyvid Trion *** CHAPTER III: ONE MAN'S DREAM Rising up through Terra's atmosphere, it looked like a harbinger of death - a brilliant spear of light that hurtled higher and higher, reaching for some unseen target in orbit far above the planet. The roar of its passage faded into silence as it achieved escape velocity and soared through the last thin vestiges of Terra's outer atmosphere into the airless void surrounding the planet. As it powered past a PATHWAYS satellite, "it" become a ship, rather than a missile. "Unified Terran Military transport zero-seven-four, you have been cleared for docking at Nexus." It was a UTM ground control station. "We repeat, you are ..." "Acknowledged," the transport's pilot interrupted. "We're switching over to Nexus' comlink network ...," a short pause, "... now!" Chatter filled the cockpit of the transport as it hooked into the part of the comlink spectrum Nexus used to direct all Sol System activities outside of Terra. It only took the crew seconds to find an open frequency, but in that time they heard tidbits of conversations from various parts of the solar system: mining crews on Marrz requesting additional supplies; manufacturing executives on Luna reporting monthly quotas filled; data feeds from robotic probes in the outlying areas of the solar system; a scientist excitedly explaining some obscure concept related to faster-than-light travel; and, last but not least, survey crews in the Asteroid Belt reporting on the latest discoveries of valuable metals and minerals. "Are we there yet?" "Very shortly, sir." The pilot pointed to Nexus as the transport drew closer to it. "Our berth is on the other side of the space station. Just hang on for a few more minutes, sir, and your stomach problems will be over." Senior Scientist Dom Thetis blanched. The command crew had apparently overheard him emptying his stomach during the boost phase of the flight. He smiled wanly at the flight captain and retreated back into the passenger quarters. He glanced furtively at his assistants and wondered, not for the first time, why none of them had had to make use of the ship's barf bags. Before long, Dom's gastric problems were forgotten as he stared in awe at the massive expanse of Nexus. A gray, sphere-shaped structure dimpled with docking berths and observation decks, it had hung in the skies of Terra for well over a century - a bright star heralding the Patriarchy's first permanent space presence following the unification of Terra. From that orbital toehold, Terra's humans had expanded their presence in space to the point that Nexus was now only one of four large space stations dotting the skies of their world. Yet it never ceased to amaze Dom, even though the scientist had made dozens of trips to the station in the last four years. "None of this would have been possible without Gaia," Dom said absent-mindedly. A junior scientist looked at him oddly. "Sir, the stations were here long before first contact with Gaia," the man said, a perplexed expression etched into his soft, unlined face. "No, no, not that." Dom laughed slightly. "I mean the temporal research we've been conducting since Gaia exchanged knowledge with us four years ago." There was a slight thump as the transport settled in its berth. "The data they provided pointed us in the right direction, saving us years of valuable time." The junior scientist nodded. "True. And once we got rid of those annoying gate storms, we were able to explore research paths only hinted at in Gaia's data." "And now we have reached a pinnacle," Dom said. "We're going to find out shortly if the latest modifications work. If they don't, it's back to the drawing board." A concise, clear voice filled the passenger cabin. "All personnel will disembark at this time and confirm their registration with station staff. Directions to assigned quarters will be provided afterwards ..." *** Several days had passed since the transport carrying Dom and his research staff had docked with Nexus. Those days - for Dom, at least - had been a blur of last-minute tweaks, numerous meetings, sleepless nights and pacing. Lots of pacing. The responsibility of being a senior scientist in the Terran New Worlds program had weighed heavily on Dom, contributing to his 60-year-old appearance, even though he was only 44. At long last, however, the time for applying theoretical knowledge to the real world had come. "Have I ever told you that I've dreaded this moment ever since being given the responsibility to improve our ability to travel to parallel timelines?" Dom confided to his protege. Griffin Dair grinned. "Many times, sir. In fact, I've lost count over the years." His voice turned serious. "Rest assured, sir, that I have the utmost confidence in your abilities. All you have to do is look at me for proof of that. You took me, a snot-faced street urchin, off the streets of Craterium in Marsupia and molded me into the scientist I am today." "I appreciate your sincerity, Griffin, but where are you going with this?" "I'm trying to reinforce your self-esteem. Really. I was a hard-headed kid, but you turned me around, made me an asset for Terra. Therefore, there isn't a damn thing you can't do." Dom smiled. "Your enthusiasm is ..." The scientist's voice trailed off, as did the rest of the chatter in the observation chamber. The source of the awed silence was soon evident by the entourage that cleared a path for them - a phalanx of thirty-six muscular, black-uniformed men known as Sentinels. The men, armed with weapons both visible and invisible, were charged with the protection of the nine Champions who governed Terra. The Champions themselves weren't far behind their escorts. Trelisk Trion, the imposing, gray-haired Champion of Atlantis, stepped up to the podium, surveying the quiet crowd with intense, icy blue eyes. He, like his fellow Champions, wore a severe-looking uniform whose only markings were the dragon insignia of the Patriarchy and a coat of arms depicting the province he governed. "As you all know, Terra's explosive population growth has placed an incredible strain on the planet's ability to support us," Trelisk said. "I will not mince words, citizens: If today's demonstration by Senior Scientist Dom Thetis is successful, it will not only open up a number of new timelines for Terra to take advantage of, but will also enable us to improve access to the timelines we already know about." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "In time, we will be able to colonize many of these timelines. That will reduce pressure on Terra while also opening up new worlds for the resources we need to sustain our growth." Dom had felt the pressure of his responsibilities before, but now the scientist really felt the weight settle on his shoulders as Trelisk continued to speak. Seated in the front row of the chamber, he looked past the ranks of Sentinels, and through the other Champions, focusing solely on Trelisk. If the Champion noticed, he gave no immediate indication. "Success means all Terrans will have the opportunity to thrive!" Trelisk boomed. The Champion turned his gaze to Dom. "Senior scientist, show your people the glorious future that awaits them." *** "He's so adorable, don't you think?" A discreet cough, followed by a whisper. "Too gangly. Red hair. Pimples. You do the math." "Tsk, tsk. I think you're being too picky, Sonora," Artemis said quietly, observing the young man seated at a nearby table. His face was partially obscured by a HyperNet lens, and Artemis could see his soft, doe-like brown eyes intently following the stream of text and images. Artemis sighed dreamily. She had been discreetly observing him every chance she had for more than a moon now. At first she had thought her feelings were merely fleeting, but she began to think otherwise as time wore on and her feelings, if anything, grew stronger. "Your hormones are out of control," Sonora teased. "Are not!" "Are too!" The young man frowned and disconnected himself from the HyperNet. He looked directly at Artemis and Sonora, mild annoyance flashing across his face, but didn't say a word. Artemis blushed, her face turning bright red in an instant. Eris chose that moment to return from another part of the library with several data wafers in hand. "Milady, here's the information you require ...," she looked up and her voice trailed off as she observed the situation. Her mouth quirked in bemusement. "Milady, it appears I have missed a situation that has caused you considerable humiliation." "Yeah, you did. And it was all Sonora's fault!" Artemis declared. She stole another discreet glance at the young man, but he was exploring the HyperNet again. "What do you have to say for yourself, Sonora?" Eris asked. "That you shouldn't take everything Artemis says at face value," Sonora replied. "The High Princess brought it on herself with her girlish 'He's so adorable' comment." She playfully punched Artemis in the shoulder. Eris sighed. Sometimes being a Prime Guardian was more work than the title was worth, and this one was one such instance: mediating between an overly serious and smitten High Princess and an overly playful companion. It didn't help matters that the Sonora was her daughter, and was along officially because she was training to join the Military Guild. "Sonora, you know very well that you're supposed to be shadowing Artemis, studying her every move, so that one day you can be of service to her family and the Guild Mistresses as a Guardian," Eris said. Sonora rolled her eyes as only a teenager could. Eris addressed Artemis next. "Milady, it wouldn't hurt to loosen up a bit. Sonora was just ribbing you about, err, well, having a crush." "It's not a crush, Eris," Artemis protested. "I think I like him ...," she pointed at the red-haired, pimply, brown-eyed young man. He was still engrossed in whatever he was reading, not realizing he was the center of attention again. Eris eyed the young man critically. "I suppose you want me to introduce you to him." "You would do that for me?" The words dripped with innocence. "Milady, don't play cute with me," Eris said. "You're the High Princess, and are of age now to make your own decisions. As long as it's not a life-or-death situation, you have the ..." Artemis winked, grinning. "Loosen up, Eris! I'm just having some fun with you." Sonora tried to muffle her laughter, but only partially succeeded. "You fooled me, milady," Eris admitted. "Anyway, here are the data wafers you requested, and now I shall do what I can to set up a meeting between you and the young man." *** The flight of seven Stormrider-class pulse-detonation fighters soared silently past Nexus. In the cockpit of the lead fighter, Flight Captain Bukk Se'Dion divided his attention between flying and keeping a close eye on a colorized bloc of his heads-up display. The bloc was alight with multiple colors seemingly dancing in randomized patterns, but looks were deceiving. It was actually a sophisticated computer program - independent of the craft's onboard system - that had been engaged by Bukk, and was now automatically scanning space for a weak point in the space-time fabric separating Terra from a parallel timeline. It took the computer less than a second to lock onto a weak point and calculate a safe route into Timeline 0001. An instant later, the random colors became a single bright blue bloc, indicating a successful transition sequence was lined up. "We have a go from the computer," Bukk said over the comlink to the rest of the flight and, more importantly, to the observers on Nexus. "I am initiating the transition sequence now." Bukk blinked at another part of his HUD, and a stream of brilliant energy shot out from a small generator embedded in the front of his white, triangle-shaped fighter. Roughly ten thousand miles out, the energy stream blossomed into a large, pulsing whirlpool of energy - the gateway into Timeline 0001. The entire flight of Stormriders plunged into the maelstrom with nary a second thought. An instant later, the Stormriders found themselves soaring high above another world that had little in common with their Terra. This Terra was primitive and savage, its people not even having formed nation-states yet. Its single claim to fame: It had been the first parallel timeline encountered by TNW teams fifty-four years ago. Bukk monitored the status of the other Stormriders during several minutes of uneventful flying. Satisfied that nothing was amiss, he called up a list of timelines and selected a destination. Shortly thereafter, another stream of brilliant energy shot out from his Stormrider and blossomed into a whirlpool. The fighters leapt through the gateway, emerging an instant later into their native timeline near Nexus. Bukk commed Nexus' observers. "The transit into and from T0001 was a success." He scanned his HUD, which was scrolling data anew from all seven Stormriders. "Our ships sustained no damage, and all systems - biological, mechanical and electronic - appear to be in optimal condition." The roar of cheering from Nexus echoed over the comlink, filling Stormriders' cockpits. Bukk and his fellow pilots smiled broadly. Terra had, for the first time in its history, succeeded in taking ships into and safely returning them from a parallel timeline. "We've earned our place in the history books, pilots," Bukk commed. "Now it's time to really test the mettle of the eggheads' improved temporal technology!" He called up the timeline list again and selected T0028 - the newest world, charted by TNW teams only two months ago. The gateway computer calculated a transit time of fourteen seconds to T0028. Bukk blinked and, as before, a stream of energy shot out from his Stormrider, blossoming into a gateway. The Stormriders sped into the maelstrom - and all hell broke loose halfway through the transit. Two of the Stormriders outlined on Bukk's HUD glowed red. The display beeped and scrolled status reports as the pilots sent out frantic distress calls. "I'm taking a pounding out here! Engine power has been halved! My automatic backups have engaged, but I'm not sure if ..." "Most of my computer systems just went down, flight captain! I'm struggling to keep my bird straight and level!" Bukk heard the stress in the pilots' voices, could see their heart readings going off the scale on his HUD. "Hang in there!" he ordered. "The transit is nearly completed!" The flight of Stormriders exited into the normal space of T0028 seconds later, although it felt like an eternity. A fighter, its engines burnt out, tumbled away from the group, exploding in a brilliant flash that lit up space for an instant with the intensity of a star. Bukk recovered his wits almost immediately and contacted the Stormrider with the damaged computer systems. "Orion, what's your status?" There was no reply. Bukk carefully edged his own craft closer to Orion's and gazed across the airless gulf separating them. "Orion?" Still no reply came. The pilot's cockpit was foggy. Cold fear stabbed through Bukk. He didn't need to check his HUD to know that the environmental controls were failing aboard Orion's fighter. But there was only one person capable of doing anything about it - and it appeared Orion was incapacitated. "Uhh." Hope blazed anew within Bukk's chest. "That's it, Orion! Keep talking! Stay with us!" Orion Shivas writhed wordlessly within his cockpit, his hands cupped disbelievingly around a pair of large, firm, plum-nippled breasts that had burst through his gray flightsuit the instant his Stormrider had exited the gate. His breaths came in short, hard gasps - the atmosphere in the cockpit was quickly becoming poisonous as environmental systems failed one by one. Soft, auburn hair erupted from his scalp, pushing his helmet aside as thick, lustrous locks spilled past his narrowing shoulders. Images and thoughts of sex, conception and childbirth hammered Orion's changing mind ... "Get away from me!" Orion's scream echoed over Bukk's comlink - the flight captain's training kicked in and he dove sharply away from Orion's dying ship. Moments later, the computer failure cascade reached a critical component and it, too, exploded in a brilliant starburst. The shockwave slammed into the remaining Stormriders, but their structural integrity fields held for a second time in less than five minutes. Silence reigned. The experiment that had been going so well was now anything but well. "We're getting out of here," Bukk finally commed, his voice flat. "Nexus needs to know about what just happened." "What if our systems fail as well?" a pilot shot back. Bukk grimaced. "Then we die! The way I look at it, we have three possible fates - one, we will survive and make our report to Nexus; two, we will explode upon exiting near Nexus; or, three, we can remain stuck in this alien reality, paralyzed by our fear and the inability to repair any problems our Stormriders might have." The flight captain called up the list of timelines. Bukk blinked and, moments later, a whirlpool of energy opened up near the Stormriders. The other pilots hesitated only for a moment before following him into the maelstrom; they were blissfully unaware of Orion's anguished cry that echoed over and over again in Bukk's mind, refusing to die. "Get away from me!" "Get away from me!" Bukk squeezed his eyes shut, but the scream continued to echo. "Get away from me!" "Get away from me!" Bukk wondered if his mind - tormented by its failure to save the pilots - was playing tricks on him. He shook his head, knowing better, but then it dawned on him why Orion's last cry would haunt him for the rest of his living days. It hadn't been Orion who'd screamed. It'd been a woman. *** Despite her extensive contact with the Terrans during the past four years, Artemis couldn't suppress the slight shiver of excitement and trepidation that traveled down her spine as she and her escorts, Eris and Ceres, entered the grounds of the Terran Embassy, which was situated deep in the heart of Themiscyra. For the first time in her life, she was setting foot on soil governed by the Patriarchy. "If I'd known he was such a rising star in Terra's Patriarchy, I might have thought twice before having you arrange a meeting with him," Artemis whispered to Eris. "Milady, in matters such as this, you must follow your heart," Eris said. "And right now, I can only hope that your heart will not be broken so early in life." Artemis glanced at Eris. "What's that supposed to mean?" The trio of Gaians passed by another layer of Terran security, gray-clad guards who nodded politely but otherwise remained uncommunicative. Eris gave Artemis a meaningful look. "You know very well, milady, that Terra is governed by the Patriarchy, a male-dominated system of government. Rumor has it they're not known for treating their women very well." "They're not all that way," Artemis said decisively. "You met Jericho Sah'nah, and he didn't come across as some sort of woman-hating alpha male. Also, cooperation between the Science Guild and its Terran counterparts has forged a strong relationship over the years." "All very true, milady," Eris said. "However ..." "... we have yet to engage in any real cultural exchanges," Ceres interjected. "We've allowed some Terrans to explore our world beyond the antiseptic hallways of academia, but they've yet to reciprocate." Artemis considered the thoughts of her Prime Guardians, knowing them to have merit. Yet she remained optimistic - after all, Terra hadn't slammed the door on Gaia after learning that it was guided by the matriarchal Sisterhood. There had to be something about her world that intrigued Terra, and vice-versa for Gaia. Perhaps it was the fact that each world was governed so differently that sparked fascination. There was an old saying about opposites attracting. Perhaps that concept also applied to relations between parallel timelines. The Gaians halted at the entrance of an expansive flower garden. A pair of Terran guards - clad in black uniforms - blocked the gated archway. One of them stepped forward and formally saluted Eris and Ceres. "The son of Trelisk Trion, Champion of Atlantis, wishes that the Gaian High Princess would meet with him by herself," the guard said. Artemis smiled charmingly. "Hey, no problem here!" The Terran guards stood aside and Artemis vanished into the garden, leaving Eris and Ceres somewhat agape at her eagerness. "That was quick," Eris observed. "Uh-huh," Ceres said. She turned to the Terrans and smiled brightly. "You guys up for some polite conversation?" Silence. "I bet you just get all the chicks back home, don't you?" One of the guards cracked a small, frigid smile. "You're pretty funny - for a woman." Ceres arched her eyebrows. "Well, I can't take all the credit. My sense of humor comes from my father's side of the family, and I got my dazzling smile from my mother." "Is it true women of the Sisterhood cut off their right tit and kill male babies?" The guard's frosty smile widened a bit. "I hear that ..." "Be quiet and stop embarrassing Terra," the second guard interrupted. He looked apologetically at Ceres and Eris. "He was speaking personally, Prime Guardians, and not for Terra's government." Eris nodded in understanding. "For the record, however ...," she thrust her chest out, proudly displaying the ample bosom nature had provided her with, "... we do not cut off our right breast, nor do we kill male infants. We cherish them just as much as our daughters." The second guard nodded, but didn't speak again. His compatriot, the frosty smile long gone, rolled his eyes, but likewise didn't say another word. Ceres and Eris put a bit more distance between themselves and the Terran guards. "I think it's time for the Culture Guild to send representatives to Terra. They need to be disabused of these nasty tit-cutting and baby-killing rumors," Ceres whispered. Eris shrugged. "I agree, but their hands are tied since the Patriarchy refuses to budge when it comes to cultural exchanges." *** Artemis and Deyvid Trion had discreetly observed the entire exchange between the Terran guards and the Prime Guardians. The pair had retreated into the lush heart of the flower garden and were now sunning themselves in a small meadow. "In a way, that guard did speak for Terra," Deyvid said. Artemis looked at the young man who had caught her interest. "I'd be a liar if I said that didn't worry me." "Well, don't lose any sleep over it, High Princess," Deyvid said. "If anything, Gaia has softened Terra's rougher edges during the last four years." "Oh, really?" Deyvid smiled. "Really. Change takes time, but it's already under way. I'm among the young men on Terra who have seen past the mindset of the old Patriarchy, and know that women are just as capable of governing as men are." His smile grew broader. "And, perhaps, Gaia's matriarchy will see that men are capable of governing effectively as well." "We allow our males to have a say in how they're governed," Artemis said. Deyvid tapped his head. "According to what I've learned from the HyperNet, males are limited to insignificant roles at the grass-roots level of the institutions that govern Gaia. The Sisterhood and its guilds do not allow participation at any other level." "True, but our system is still better than what Terra has," Artemis said. "It's my understanding that your women have absolutely no say in their affairs." "Correct," Deyvid said. "But there was a time when women governed parts of Terra. That changed when the Patriarchy united the planet nearly two centuries ago." He looked thoughtful. "Women governed some of the dozens of warring nations that once competed for resources on Terra. That period in our history was known as the Chaotic Times." Artemis frowned slightly. "It sounds like it was a violent era." Deyvid nodded. "I suspect your planet wasn't much different, but I couldn't find much on the HyperNet about Gaia's past. Lots of legends and myths, but little in the way of facts." "Maybe you just didn't use the proper search parameters," Artemis said. She winked. "Tell me about the nations that were once part of Terra." "We had a wide variety of governments: matriarchies, monarchies, fundamentalists, republics, socialists, communists, democracies, and greens," Deyvid said. "But in the end, none of it mattered - the Atlantis-borne Patriarchy swept over the planet after nearly a century of sporadic, but intense, warfare: All the nations and their resources were harnessed to create the Terra you know today. We are one people, one planet, one government." "I didn't realize I was here for a history lesson," Artemis teased. Deyvid waggled his finger playfully. "You asked for it, High Princess. Anyway, having a firm grasp on history is necessary to prevent the mistakes of the past from coming back to haunt the present and future. Considering the lofty goals I have, that can't be a bad thing." Artemis' admiration for Deyvid grew. For a young man who was only sixteen, he knew where he was going in life. Perhaps someday I, too, shall have that same clear-eyed vision, the High Princess thought. "You really are a rebel, aren't you?" Deyvid laughed. "Yeah, I guess you could say so. My father is a bit touchy about where I go, and he'd have a fit if he knew I were on Gaia alone. Then, as you already know, I'm among those pursuing a future that will shake the very foundation of Terra if it comes to pass." This was the first Artemis had heard of Deyvid's father's attitude. "Aren't you concerned that your father might do something about your defiance?" "No. He's the Champion of Atlantis, but he's hardly a zealot," Deyvid explained. "He's one of the Champions with his head screwed on straight. He's usually practical when it comes to Gaia, mostly because my world is benefiting immensely from Gaia's generosity. The well-being of Terra's people are first and foremost in his mind; Patriarchal politics comes in a distant second." "Well, it's good to know that at least one of the Champions is a statesman," Artemis said. "I hope you succeed in winning the hearts and minds of others as well." Deyvid stood, and helped Artemis to her feet. "I share your sentiments, High Princess, but it will take time, patience and, above all else, political skill." "There's no need to be formal, Deyvid. Call me Artemis." "As you wish, Artemis." Deyvid grinned boyishly. The pair meandered back toward the garden's entrance. "We can meet again, if you wish?" "Most definitely," Artemis said. "But next time, I want to take you to my home. The palace of the Sisterhood has a garden on its grounds that's gorgeous during the day and hypnotizing at night, even more so when the Twin Moons are full." Deyvid's boyish grin widened. "I'll take your word for it." *** The no-holds-barred probe into the destruction of the two Stormrider fighters was in its fifth week, but it had aged Dom another five years. The senior scientist hadn't bothered much with sleep or relaxation, and it had taken heavy a toll on his body. But perhaps today there would be closure, for the time had come for Dom to present his findings before the Council of Champions in the ancient city of Atlantica, the capital of Terra. A black-clad Sentinel appeared at the doorway of the antechamber where Dom, Griffin and the rest of the team responsible for Terra's improved temporal technology waited. He nodded curtly and left without uttering a word. The moment was at hand, and Dom's group made their way out of the chamber. "Do not be fearful, sir," Griffin said quietly as the group moved, single-file, between two rows of silent Sentinels. "We have done nothing wrong, and the science shall prove it." "Fear? I do not fear, Griffin," Dom replied. "I mourn. I mourn for the pilots who died, I mourn for Terra's people, and I mourn for the setback to our program." Conversation ended as the group filed into the gargantuan, brightly-lit, chamber that housed the Council of Champions. All nine seats in the towering, horseshoe-shaped black granite dais were occupied, and the observation galleries along the walls were packed with lesser officials and Terra's elite. Dom's group stood respectfully in the center of the horseshoe, waiting for the proceedings to begin. "Your findings, Senior Scientist Dom Thetis?" boomed Trelisk Trion, the Champion of Atlantis. There was no ceremony, no pomp or circumstance, no preamble. The leaders of Terra sought answers, and nothing less would satisfy them. Dom's amplified voice filled the chamber. "My group and I have come to the conclusion that the improved temporal technology was not to blame for the destruction of the Stormriders and the resultant loss of life." A murmur rolled across the chamber. Dom's group stood firm. "What brings you to this conclusion?" This question came from the Champion of Oceania. "A combination of lab simulations, detailed examination of the surviving Stormriders, and mission logs," Dom said. "Repeated testing and examination always came up with the same results." He punched a sequence into his padd and larger-than-life holograms coalesced into existence in mid-air. Griffin spoke next. "As you can see, the modifications to the temporal technology - miniaturization, enhancements to power generation and a vastly improved computer system - performed admirably. They showed no signs of degradation during either the instaneous transition into Timeline 0001 or the fourteen-second transition into Timeline 0028." "But it was a different story with the fighters themselves," Dom said. The five holograms enlarged, showing the triangular Stormriders in even greater detail. "We found numerous stress fractures in not only the ships' hulls, but in areas related to propulsion and internal circuitry. Most were microscopic, but an alarming number of them were larger." Trelisk gazed at the holograms, seeing what Dom and his team were describing. But the Champion wasn't yet convinced. "Flight Captain Bukk Se'Dion reported that his fighters were struck by shockwaves from the exploding Stormriders. Could these stress fractures have been caused by that?" Dom shook his head. "The micro fractures pre-dated the mission itself. We also examined Stormriders that never went through a gateway, and a number of them had similar fatigue," the scientist explained. "It's normal wear-and-tear, and the fighters would likely never have had broken up with normal use and maintenance." "But going through a gateway to another timeline doesn't qualify as normal use," Griffin said, rejoining the proceedings. "The transit doesn't affect our biology, but is incredibly destructive to artificial constructs not designed with timeline travel in mind. We believe that the transit to Timeline 0001 set a chain of events into motion. When Se'Dion jumped into Timeline 0028, the long transit exacerbated the problem and, subsequently, led to the loss of the Stormriders and their pilots." "To be frank, Se'Dion and the others were fortunate to return alive," Dom said. "Their fighters were on the verge of breaking up. Only their structural integrity fields kept them from turning into scrap metal." "You paint a provocative picture, senior scientist," Trelisk observed. He turned his attention to the brooding Champion of Urippe. "Quality control for the UTM is one of your areas of responsibility, Champion Kane F'Hearsome." Kane stirred. "You heard the eggheads, Trelisk. But since we're playing the blame game, it's my belief that the ultimate responsibility lies with the pilots. It's obvious their training was substandard. A good pilot would have double- and triple-checked ..." "There are no onboard sensors capable of checking for stress fractures, temporal-induced or not!" Raad Darnak roared. The Champion of Marsupia stood, veins bulging from his forehead. "It seems I've hit a sensitive spot," Kane sneered. "I presume the dead pilots were from your province, brother-in-arms?" Raad's face reddened and, combined with the pulsing veins, dark eyes and wild mass of brown hair, almost looked demonic. "They had names, Kane, and, yes, they were from Marsupia," Raad said. "Orion Shivas and Bolean Pieters graduated from the UTM Flight School in Craterium, and were the among the best and brightest in their class. How dare you try to denigrate their memory?! I should challenge you ..." "Silence!" It was Trelisk. "This infighting serves nothing, and I am inclined to believe the findings presented by Thetis and his team." He looked around, receiving grave nods of assent from most of the Champions. He returned his gaze to Dom. "Do you have a plan to solve this problem?" "Yes," Dom said. "Just as we improved our temporal technology, we now need to bring the rest of our technology up to par." He touched his padd, and another hologram took shape. This one scrolled seemingly endless rows of numbers that revolved around resources. "Existing technology needs to be prioritized for refitting, and we also need to design new technology that's built with extended timeline travel in mind." Griffin spoke again. "It won't be cheap, nor will it be easy, but it's necessary if we intend to take full advantage of our improved access to other timelines." The crowd murmured. If Terra couldn't use the improved temporal technology to its fullest extent, it would be a matter of when, not if, Terra would no longer be capable of supporting its billions of inhabitants. "Then so be it, scientists," Trelisk said. "Your plan will be codified into a global program and initiated as soon as possible." He stood, as did the other Champions. "This session of the Council of Champions is adjourned." *** "The test results indicate you are a carrier for the genetic trait," the healer said softly. Sonora didn't say anything right away. She turned her gaze to the plain, white wall and stared at it blankly - finally, she sighed and leaned into her mother. Eris gently stroked her daughter's thick, auburn hair, knowing that it might take Sonora some time to accept what she would be capable of doing if, in the future, she wasn't careful. "We appreciate your time, healer," Eris said. "The trait is present in most of the women in our lineage, so this was more or less just a formality." "It's nothing to be worried about or ashamed of," the healer said. "Twenty-seven percent of Gaia's women carry this trait. It's an indelible part of what we are." Sonora stirred. "When will it be fully expressed?" she asked. "By the time you're eighteen, as it is in all women who carry it. Not before then, however." Sonora dipped her head in silent acknowledgement. At least I have a few years left before I have to really start watching things, she thought. Eris stood - she was ready to go. Mother and daughter bade the healer farewell and made their way out of the clinic. Neither spoke as they dwelled on their thoughts. For Eris, her daughter's diagnosis brought back memories of when she had been informed that she, too, carried the genetic trait. Eris smiled slightly at the memory of her mother taking her to a royal forest not far from Themiscyra for a mother-daughter bonding session. Perhaps she would do the same with Sonora, to answer any questions she might have. After all, it had worked wonders for her that day so many years ago. Sonora, on the other hand, was having difficulty grasping the fact that she was now a member of a very special group of Gaians. She had been raised among them from the moment of her birth - after all, they were a beloved part of her lineage. There was no prejudice against the women who carried the genetic trait, and they were found at all levels of Gaian society, from Guild Mistresses down to those who made their living in the carnal districts of the arcologies. Sonora reflected on that knowledge, and began the journey of accepting and celebrating what she was becoming. "I wouldn't be surprised if our friends and lineage just assumed you'd be diagnosed and are putting the finishing touches on a party right now," Eris said. "Well, it is something of a new beginning for me, isn't it?" Sonora asked. "It makes sense to celebrate, as we have for others in the past. I shall be a part of the festivities, mother." Eris couldn't help but smile as she helped her daughter into the Windstar. Nonetheless, she would keep an eye on Sonora, and make plans for an outing to a royal forest for a special one-on-one talk. But as far as she could tell, Sonora was adjusting nicely to the fact that she was in the process of joining the Gaian women who were unique in singular sense: They had the natural ability to transform males into females if they had sexual contact with them. *** Raad stared intently at the shimmering faces that floated in the air before him. Numbers and text scrolled near the holograms, outlining the life history of the pilots killed in the Timeline Incident - as it was now being called - three months ago to the day. Orion Shivas and Bolean Pieters had been exonerated of the slander levied against them by Kane at the probe into the destruction of their Stormriders, but Raad refused to let the matter go. He needed to know if there had been anything in the pilots' files to set Kane off. And so he had spent weeks going over the data repeatedly, line by line, only to come up empty. Orion and Bolean had been the good, disciplined military personnel Raad had declared them to be before his peers in Atlantica. Both pilots would have made excellent additions to the TNW program, Raad thought. As it was, they died on their maiden trip into another timeline. A loss for Terra, but at least they didn't leave families behind to suffer as well. Like most of the males who formed the UTM, Orion and Bolean had been taken by the Patriarchy as newborns from their mothers - females who, for the most part, were the chattel of various Champions, their subordinates or the state. These women were impregnated during anonymous couplings meant to give pleasure to the male sex partner while also ensuring future soldiers - or additional female chattel - for the Patriarchy. Orion and Bolean had ended up in communal quarters with other male infants, raised by unrelated female serfs. As the years had progressed, they were moved into male-only quarters, where they grew into boyhood, entered their teenage years and, finally, adulthood. Their entire lives had been spent on UTM bases, attending UTM schools and, in the end, officially joining the UTM itself. The ultimate goal was the creation of a military whose members were loyal only to their brothers-in-arms and, more importantly, to the Patriarchy. The leaders of Terra knew success on both accounts, and the result was an immensely powerful military that was efficient and, above all else, deadly when ordered to act in Terra's interests. Raad's computer chimed. He punched a key, silencing the alert. "Yes?" A small hologram coalesced above the keyboard. "My liege, your advisers have arrived for the quarterly Status of Marsupia report," the official said. "Do you wish to see them?" "Send them in. I hate putting off paperwork." Moments later, the door to Raad's private chamber whooshed open, revealing a pair of watchful Sentinels. They stepped aside and Raad's advisers trooped in. There were six of them, all young, healthy and fit. Raad eyed them for a moment, then snorted. They hadn't qualified to be soldiers in the UTM, so they had chosen to serve the Patriarchy as mere functionaries, albeit important ones. Raad waited imperiously behind his large, oak desk as the advisers seated themselves and organized their information. Growing bored as they fussed over details, he called up a hologram of the information contained in their padds and studied it. "There seems to be nothing new here," the Champion noted. "You could have sent this report to the archives yourselves without interrupting my studies!" Surtad Hizket, Raad's senior adviser, nodded. "My liege, you are correct. For the most part." Raad raised his eyebrows and scanned the data again. "What did I miss? Our resource procurement is on schedule. Food production remains adequate. There have been no natural disasters as of late." His eyes narrowed. "And the sky is still cerulean blue." "The number of wild women sightings continues to increase," Surtad reported. "They're mostly seen by the outlying patrols, but other citizens are reporting them in the smaller cities, towns, and even on the outskirts of Craterium itself." Raad double-checked the hologram, which confirmed Surtad's assertion. "Interesting. But if you cross reference that with historical records, Surtad, you will see that this is something of a regular occurrence," Raad noted. "The Patriarchy can be leisurely when it comes to apprehending wild women. Thus, their numbers gradually increase over the years, until we get around to 'harvesting' them, so to speak." "If I may be so bold, Champion, I must disagree," Surtad said. Raad looked at him witheringly for a moment, then nodded. "Go on. I promise you won't end up in the arena against me." "This increase is atypical, in the sense that it has continued unabated despite the best efforts of bounty hunters and other private citizens over a two-year period," Surtad explained. He pointed to the hologram, which changed to show a line graph charting the increase. "It's time to send in the military - this is now beyond the ability of bounty hunters to handle." Another adviser joined in. "My liege, we must move against the wild women," he implored. "Bounty hunters and others have started vanishing regularly in areas suspected of harboring these women. Between that and their population boom, it's time to send in the military to cull their numbers for another generation or so." Raad was thoughtful for a moment. "If you're suggesting we need to allocate more resources to bring in these wild women, don't count on it," he said. "As it stands now, most of our resources are tied up in bringing our technology up to snuff so it can withstand extended travel among the timelines. The wild women are a minor irritant, nothing more." "This will not look good on your record, milord," Surtad declared. Raad leaned forward menacingly and growled. "My record is none of your concern, senior adviser, and I suggest you keep your place, or the arena may be your fate after all." Surtad didn't back down. "Have you considered the possibility, my liege, that it was Marsupia's apparent inability to control its population of wild women that led Champion Kane F'Hearsome to question the skills of pilots Orion Shivas and Bolean Pieters?" "Explain!" "Among the duties assigned to Orion and Bolean were patrol responsibilities," Surtad noted. "They were assigned together - Orion was a dostum, and Bolean was a gunner. They had multiple encounters with wild women and, each time, failed to bring any in." A third adviser took up where Surtad had left off. "One instance in particular stands out. Nearly two and a half years ago, Orion and Bolean were part of a patrol that, we believe, was the first to encounter a wild woman in Marsupia in many years," he explained. "In what was later to become a regular occurrence, the female was allowed to escape." "We believe Kane noticed this pattern, and it led him to question the competence of Orion and Bolean," Surtad finished. "Interesting." It appeared Raad's advisers were valuable assets after all. "You believe we should allocate more resources to the hunt for wild women, so future soldiers won't have their integrity questioned?" Raad asked. Surtad nodded. "Plus, it would mean less ammunition for your rivals on the Council." Raad fumed. He wasn't happy with the idea that Kane had examined Orion's and Bolean's files for data, even though Kane had every right to do so as a Champion. Raad was even more unhappy with the fact that he didn't know what else Kane might have been digging up. The ambitions of the Champion of Urippe could be underestimated. "So be it, Surtad," Raad said. "I am authorizing a ten percent boost in financial resources to aid in the capture of wild women. UTM personnel and others who bring in the bitches alive will also see a nice bonus deposited into their personal accounts." Surtad inclined his head. "Your wish is my command." Raad nodded approvingly. He liked advisers who knew their place. "Is there anything else of note to discuss?" The advisers shook their heads in unison. "Good. I formally declare this quarterly Status of Marsupia meeting over with," Raad stated. "The records of this gathering have been forwarded to the official Patriarchal Archives in Atlantica ...," the Champion executed a command on his computer, which had been recording the meeting, " ... as of this moment." Surtad and the other advisers rose to their feet and made their way out of the Champion's plush and ornate office. Raad watched the door whoosh shut behind them, then returned to Orion and Bolean's records. This time the Champion looked for any electronic fingerprints Kane may have left during his search of UTM personnel files. Raad didn't expect to find anything, but it didn't hurt to look anyway, just to be safe. *** "Push, Maira, push!" The raven-haired woman huffed and puffed, her hands wrapped around her bulging, twitching belly. Her and Ashari were at the base of a tree at the edge of a small meadow deep in some anonymous Marsupian forest. They were surrounded by a large group of other women - some of the sisters they'd helped into the world during the last few years. "Argghh!" A wave of birthing pain swept over her body. Maira gritted her teeth and bore down with everything she had. "The baby's crowning, my love!" Ashari said, reaching between Maira's legs. "Oh! It has dark hair!" Maira was in labor with her first child. Her face screwed up with determination as she gripped her sisters' helping hands and pushed again. "That's it! Here it comes!" Ashari gently grasped the goo-covered newborn as it popped completely out of its mother's fully dilated vagina. Another woman handed a clean, wet cloth to Ashari, who used it to gently swab the infant clean. "It's a girl, Maira!" A tiny cry filled the meadow. Maira burst into tears as her daughter's first tentative cries became stronger, more insistent. "I think she's hungry. Let me hold her. Nurse her." Ashari and a second woman finished cutting the umbilical cord. The woman handled the afterbirth while Ashari laid the newborn girl in her mother's arms. "She looks a lot like you," Ashari whispered softly, "soft, brown hair, bright green eyes." She grinned. "Your attitude." Maira and Ashari kissed as the baby latched onto one of her mother's milk-swollen breasts and began suckling. Maira closed her eyes, reveling in the exquisite sensation of a tiny, pink mouth pulling on her nipple. It felt ... different, but in a good way. "I think motherhood is going to suit me well," she said dreamily. "You know we can't keep her with us." Ashari's voice was soft, but unyielding. "She needs to be sent to another group, one that's further from Craterium than we are." "I know, but I ... I haven't really dwelled on it much," Maira said. "The logical part of me agrees with you, my love. If she's with a smaller group further away from Craterium, she has a better chance of living a life safe from the Patriarchal patrols. But my heart doesn't think in terms like that." Ashari sighed. She knew all too well how her lover felt - this child wouldn't be the first, nor likely the last, to be sent away to safer environs. She leaned in and kissed Maira. "I, too, wish we could keep her, but we can't. It would be irresponsible of us to do so. As her parents, our top priority is to ensure her safety, and the only way we can do that is to send her away." Technically, Ashari wasn't the girl's father - that responsibility lay with a woman who was now part of another group, a woman who'd once been a man, and initiated into the Sisterhood by Maira 40 weeks ago. The pregnancy hadn't been accidental, either. After all, there was more than one way to expand the Sisterhood. Upon learning of her pregnancy, Maira and Ashari had formally become soulsisters. They were joined for life. "Just let me hold her for awhile longer," Maira whispered. Ashari nodded. "It's so different, you know. Nurturing life. Feeling it grow beneath your heart, and then giving birth to it." Now it was Ashari's turn to blink back tears. "It's something only a woman can experience." She stroked the newborn's cone-shaped head. "And, someday, we'll be able to be together again. We'll be one big happy lineage." "That day can't come soon enough," Maira said softly. She crooned a song. "Rock-a-bye, little baby. Rock-a-bye, don't cry ..." CHAPTER IV: FORBIDDEN DREAMS Ashari and Maira ran through the forest as if their lives depended on it. A scream rang out behind them - and was abruptly cut off - as one of their sisters went down, entangled in an electrified net that stunned her into unconsciousness. The eerie drone of a Torus gunship - a larger, deadlier version of the standard patrol vessel - filled the air as it moved just above the forest's canopy. Ashari and Maira began weaving, hoping to outsmart the machine and its human controllers. Bolts of red energy replaced the nets, lancing through the canopy and blasting craters into the forest floor. Ashari dodged in and out of the crimson rain, but a sudden scream from Maira caught her attention. "Don't leave me!" her soulsister cried as she stumbled about, half-blinded by a near miss. Ashari skidded to a halt and whirled around just in time to see Maira speared by crimson bolt of energy. Her beautiful emerald green eyes widened momentarily as the light fled from them, and her body toppled lifelessly to the ground. "No!" Ashari howled. She scrambled toward Maira. "No! Noo!! Nooo!!!" Overhead, infrared beams stabbed out from the Patriarchal gunship, and Ashari glowed like a hot sun on the heat-seeking radar. A gunner sneered. "These bitches are so predictable." Ashari knelt next to Maira's lifeless body, caressing it as hot tears spilled down her cheeks. What remained of her reason for living was gone, and she screamed with primal, abject grief. There was a soft whoosh, but by the time Ashari sensed something was amiss, it was too late - a net deployed overhead and came down, entangling her. Ashari struggled for only a moment before the evil hiss of crackling electricity shocked her into oblivion. The gunship, its mission accomplished, moved on to another part of the forest, firing a mixture of electrified nets and deadly energy bolts at other fleeing women. A few minutes passed before the relative silence of the forest was shattered by the steady clomp-clomp of heavily armed troops moving through the underbrush. A boot nudged Ashari, and she stirred slightly within the now-deactivated net. "This one's still alive. Take her in ...," the soldier grimaced as he spied Maira's corpse, " ... and leave her dead friend for the carrion birds." During the last two years, the UTM's campaign to crush the wild women in Marsupia had been largely successful. Unlike bounty hunters and private citizens, who tried to capture the women alive because there was money to be made, the military had no reservations about inflicting death, financial enticements or not from Raad. All the UTM cared about was erasing the stain the wild women brought upon its reputation, and if that meant ruthlessly hunting them down and killing them, then so be it. Yet there were always exceptions to the rules, and today's raid had been one such exception. Survivors from this raid were destined for the vast and bustling slave markets in Craterium. There they would face a grim fate - being sold to the highest private bidder, or ending up as a serf directly owned by the Patriarchy. Two gray-clad soldiers removed the net entangling an insensate Ashari and hauled her up. Her tattered clothing was unceremoniously ripped off as they roughly handcuffed her and dragged her off to a waiting transport vehicle. "Nice tits, bitch," one of the soldiers leered. "You'll probably need those puppies for a new career in pleasing your master's carnal desires!" Ashari didn't hear the insult. She was still out cold, but her subconscious was active, and she dreamed of another lifetime. She dreamed of the wild, carefree life she had led in the forests and hills, of welcoming new sisters into the fold, of singing, dancing, hunting and making love. Best of all, Maira was in her dreams, alive and vibrant once again, and holding an achingly beautiful newborn girl in her arms. A single tear dripped down Ashari's cheek ... *** It was nighttime in the gardens on the grounds of the palace in Themiscyra, but Deyvid could have sworn otherwise as he stood with Artemis amid a field of blooming flowers glowing with a rainbow of colors in the cool night air. In the distance, Deyvid spied trees and vines rippling with a bluish light of their own as well. "How do you do it?" Deyvid asked in an awed voice. "Genetic engineering." Artemis breathed in deeply, savoring the lush, cool air. "We've had well over a two centuries of practice - what's before you is but a miniscule sample of our capabilities when it comes to gene splicing." Deyvid whistled. "I'm impressed, Artemis. This puts to shame the garden the Patriarchy maintains at its embassy." He turned to Artemis and looked deep into her emerald green eyes. "But the utmost beauty lies within you, my dear." Artemis laughed and leaned into Deyvid, giving him a chaste kiss. "Score one for your ability to make my heart go pitter-patter," Artemis breathed softly, pulling reluctantly away. "Yeah, well, I was sort of hoping you'd spill the beans on Gaia's ability to manipulate genetics," Deyvid said. He winked. "Such knowledge would be immensely useful to Terra." "Uh-huh, and maybe Terra can show Gaia how to establish moon bases," Artemis rejoined, equally playful. Deyvid smiled. "We could, but since Gaia hasn't used the knowledge we gave it six years ago regarding spaceflight, what's the point?" Artemis winced at Deyvid's words. Not because they were cruel, but because they were true. "Agreed. The only time we go into space is when we send up automated probes to maintain or add to the GlobeCOMM system in low orbit." "When you do go into space for real, let me know," Deyvid said. "I'd love nothing more than to be aboard a Gaian space station with you, gazing upon your gorgeous world from orbit." "Then you'd better have lots of patience," Artemis teased. "Right now, Gaia's interest remains focused on travel to parallel timelines." "The same can be said of Terra, I suppose," Deyvid mused. He was quiet for a moment, lost in thought. "For the record, we've made good progress in upgrading and creating technology capable of withstanding the rigors of extended timeline travel." "That's good to hear," Artemis replied sincerely. He had told her of Terra's disastrous first attempt at using its modified technology with ships not built for timeline travel. "At the very least, you won't needlessly lose anymore good pilots." Deyvid suddenly took Artemis' hand. "I want to take you to Terra," he declared. Artemis sighed. "You know very well, Deyvid, that the Council of Champions has yet to allow anything beyond scientific ties and an embassy. What makes you think they'll let Gaia's High Princess drop in for an unsupervised visit?" "I'll use my influence," Deyvid said confidently. He gestured at the glorious garden around them. "Your world has been generous over the years - from ongoing exchanges with our scientists to allowing Terrans to trod freely upon your soil. It's about time we opened up a bit more ourselves, and what better way than by welcoming Gaia's High Princess to Terra?" "You just love ruffling feathers, don't you?" Artemis observed. "That's how you get ahead on Terra," Deyvid replied, merriment dancing in his brown eyes. "Yeah, well, don't unduly anger the wrong Champion," Artemis cautioned. "We might have a good thing going here, Deyvid, and I don't want it to end tragically." Deyvid turned serious. "Artemis, I know there's a saying among those who protect the lives of Gaia's leaders: 'You must have faith in your Guardians.' I beg of you to have that same faith in me as well, for I have no intention of leaving this mortal coil before my time." Artemis was touched. "You have it," she said fiercely, crushing him in a hug. "You have it and so much more!" *** The cacophony generated by the crowd in Craterium's slave market filled the air - no sanctuary was to be found from the shouted bids, the cries of pain from groped women, the loud negotiations, or the catcalls and insults. Ashari rode amid this sea of noise, jostled within her holding pen by at least fifty other women. All of them were naked and slathered in oil, and they gleamed wetly in the afternoon sun. Ashari didn't recognize most of the women, but she did sense a few of her sisters mixed in the crowd. She gradually gravitated toward them, and vice-versa. Ashari relaxed slightly as eleven of her sisters materialized near her from the crowd. Together, the twelve women were but a remnant of the nascent and now-shattered Sisterhood that had taken root in Marsupia during the last four years. Ashari spoke quietly to her sisters, attempting to ascertain what they knew, and came away disheartened. The Patriarchy had been brutally efficient over the years in rooting out what it had assumed were mere wild women - if her sisters' stories were true, the latest attacks had been the coup de grace. At most, only a thousand sisters remained alive, and at least half of them had been captured and enslaved. "This is the holding pen you're looking for, Senior Adviser Surtad Hizket," a rough voice announced. "These women are among the most beautiful we have. I assure you, they will be good fuckers and even better baby-makers." Surtad eyed the women critically. Raad was very picky about the women he selected for his hooker compounds, even more so if the women were to be part of the entertainment at the various provincial functions the Champion hosted. The women chosen today would perform in both functions. Ashari edged to the front of the crowd, staring at the two men. She sensed something familiar flowing in their veins, something that had permeated their bodies at some point in the past, but remained dormant. For the first time since her capture, she smiled as her pheromones initiated a subtle change within the men. "I'll take her," Surtad said, pointing at Ashari. "And her, her, her and ..." By the time Surtad finished the selection process, twenty-five women had been separated from the others in the pen, including Ashari and nine of her eleven sisters. "Very good, sir," the auctioneer noted. "Raad should be especially pleased." "He'd better be," Surtad replied, "or you're going to have a surprise visit from some Sentinels. And they won't be coming over for pleasantries. Now, get those bitches tattooed and delivered to Raad's estate by tonight." Surtad moved on, and the auctioneer called for a number of other men. They arrived brandishing stun guns and, without any fanfare, proceeded to jolt Ashari and the other chosen women into oblivion. With four men covering them, six others entered the holding pen. They began removing the insensate women while the others cowered helplessly. "Hey, boss, this one's smiling," one of the men called out as he and another hefted Ashari to her feet and carried her over to a cushioned cart. The auctioneer peered down at the raven-haired, big-titted bitch on the cart and shrugged indifferently. "She's probably dreaming sweet dreams of fulfilling her master's every desire." *** Artemis stepped out of a temporal aperture in the courtyard of the Gaian Embassy in Terra's capital of Atlantica and waited patiently. A pair of nearby Guardians inclined their heads, and she waved gaily at them. She checked the chronometer built into her transtime unit and smiled as, right on time, a small whirlpool of energy materialized and spat Deyvid out. "Ha! Gaia's personal gateways remain faster than their Terran equivalent," Artemis boasted. Deyvid brushed himself off. "Yeah, well, I can't complain," he said, returning Artemis' grin. "It wasn't too long ago when we were stuck with large, clunky immobile gateways that could only be used sparingly." He shrugged. "We've improved, as you can see, all thanks to Gaia." "How times change," Artemis observed wryly. "You definitely have an edge on us when it comes to spaceflight, but we will always be ahead of you in timeline travel." "Oh yeah?" Deyvid challenged mock-seriously. "What's your secret? I suppose it involves genetic manipulation, doesn't it?" Artemis nearly blabbed about Project Infinity, but she caught herself in time. Smiling, she simply said, "Experience. That's all it is." A flash of light lit up the evening sky over the embassy. Artemis craned her head up, tracking a brilliant contrail of energy streaking overhead. It came down quickly, disappearing from view as it slipped behind Atlantica's skyline. She looked over at Deyvid and opened her mouth ... "I bet our ride to Nexus just arrived," Deyvid said. He grinned, placing a finger over Artemis' still-open mouth. "I knew what you were about to ask." "Let's get going then!" Artemis said. Her voice was filled with anticipation. "I've always wanted to ride in a spaceship!" Deyvid laughed. "Far be it from me to curb your enthusiasm!" He checked his chronometer. "Our ride awaits, Artemis!" Thirty minutes later, Deyvid and Artemis arrived at Atlantica's spaceport. The High Princess was struck mute by the sheer vastness of the facility: Dozens of craft - ranging from what appeared to be cargo haulers and passenger ships to military vessels - were arriving and departing at any given moment. But the one ship that caught her attention was a white arrow-shaped shuttle isolated from the general helter-skelter of the spaceport. It was surrounded by a ring of black-clad Terran troops. The vehicle carrying Deyvid and Artemis drove up to the ring of soldiers, where the pair hopped out. Deyvid adopted a more aggressive manner as he strode toward the Sentinels. "What's with all the security?" he barked. "I wanted our presence at the spaceport to be discreet!" "The Sentinels are here because I'm here," a measured voice replied. Two of the Sentinels stepped aside, revealing a tall, gray-haired man with broad shoulders. "I thought it was about time I met the young woman that my son has taken an interest in." "Father!" Deyvid gasped. "I thought you were busy with Council affairs." Trelisk shook his head. "Not tonight. I'm sure the other Champions can keep Raad and Kane from each other's throats long enough for me to visit with High Princess Artemis, heir apparent to the Sisterhood of Gaia." The Champion of Atlantis turned his gaze to Artemis and appraised her. His eyes narrowed. "Deyvid tells me you're a bright, articulate and opinionated young woman. Is that true?" "I'm a product of Gaia's education system, if that's what you mean," Artemis replied, a twinkle in her eye.