“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”

–Semisonic, “Closing Time”

“Will the Representative yield to a query?”

“Will the Representative yield?” the chair asked Loona, for what felt like the five millionth time in the past three hours.

“Yes,” she replied evenly.

“The Representative from Telemaki Three Rivers may proceed.”

“Thank you, Madam Chair,” Rep. Forna Qorni blustered. “Rep. Armac, this bill will simply grant humans citizenship, won’t it?”

“I thank the distinguished Deputy Floor Leader for her question,” said Loona with a smile, which was legislativese for fuck off. “No, this bill is not designed to ‘simply grant humans’ anything, other than first contact with their homeworld. It is designed to do what it says – study the human question, and try to move us toward an answer. That’s all.”

“And yet, Rep. Armac, you have long advocated for increasing the rights of humans, and have long believed in their emancipation. You began your career writing about humans; you have pushed their agenda ever since. Why should I believe you would support a bill that was not designed to emancipate humans, to make them equal to Titans and other class one sentients?”

“You’ve got this, Loona,” Ammer said, pacing on Pryvani’s senate office desk as the two of them watched the debate. Ammer had declined to go down for the floor debate; he didn’t want to have anyone looking his way, thinking this was his doing. He didn’t want to be responsible for even a flicker of doubt. Besides, Inna was there; she was more than capable of handling things.

“Minister Qorni, again I thank you for the question,” Loona said. “Let me be very clear. If I believed this was simply a bill for immediate emancipation of humans, I would vote against it.”

“Rep. Armac, do you expect me to believe that?”

There were calls for order, but Loona simply smiled. As did Ammer. Qorni had walked right into this one.

“There are many millions of humans in the Empire, Madam Minister, as you well know. A significant majority of them have never been allowed the chance to be free. I have never made any secret of my belief that this is wrong, that it is contrary to the ideals of this great Empire. However, I have never advocated simply throwing humans out onto the street, in the hopes that they can figure things out on their own. A good many would, mind you – but for those who could not, it would be devastating.

“Which is why – ” Loona began.

“So you admit you’re in favor of emancipation?” Qorni said, a bit more sharply than she’d intended.

Loona beamed. “Point of order, Madam Chair; I had not completed my response.”

“The Representative from Telemaki Three Rivers is out of order,” the chair said. “The Representative from Tannhauser West may continue.”

“As I was saying,” Loona said with a sugary smile, “We cannot simply emancipate humans without studying how to do so responsibly and fairly, safeguarding both their liberty and security, and the good of the Empire as a whole. It is no easy task to determine how that can be done, or if it can be done. Again, I’ll make no secret that I will be advocating for a responsible path to citizenship for the humans we have kept as property. But it will be for a responsible path, not a heedless, headlong rush. And I am but one member; the committee as a whole has no mandate to reach any particular outcome, nor to do anything but study the issue and issue a proposal. In the end, the committee is supposed to produce a bill for the legislature to vote on. Obviously, Minister Qorni, should the bill produced by this committee fail to merit the support of the legislature, the legislature will vote it down.

“The committee cannot emancipate anyone. The only way humans can be emancipated is for this body to act. And so I hope that you will support this committee’s formation and its work, Minister, for in the end, the committee’s work will give the legislature more information to act with, and as we’ve seen today, the more information this body has, the better.”

“Boom,” Ammer said with a smile, as Qorni quietly yielded the floor, lest she dig the hole deeper. “That was pretty, boss,” he said to the screen.

“She’s gotten very good,” Pryvani said. “Very good. I’m impressed with your work, Ammer.”

“Not my work at all, Senator Tarsuss. She had this all along. Just needed the usual support a talented politician requires.”

“So now what?” Pryvani said.

Ammer kept his eye on the debate; it was winding down now; they’d call a vote any minute. “What do you mean, Senator?”

“I recall you insisting that this was a temporary stop; I don’t expect you’re going to quit Loona’s staff today, but I’m curious if you ever intend to.”

Ammer smiled sheepishly. “This bill – right here – this was when I always figured I’d go home. When we got first contact and a glide path to emancipation. It’s only a matter of time now. Loona can handle this. And maybe I should quit, do something else. I don’t know.”

“You could probably win the presidency on Avalon after this,” Pryvani said.

“Nah. I’m still trying to get Xanthopolous to run.”

“Which one?”

“Darren. Lysis says she tried it once…it didn’t end well. But if Darren doesn’t want to…well, there are a lot of good leaders there. And Avalon needs a strong president. I’m a backroom dealer. That’s fine for the legislature, maybe the council. But I’m not presidential timber.”

“Well,” Pryvani said, “If you want to ease your way out, I’m going to need a policy director for the committee; the job’s yours if you want it.”

Ammer smiled as he watched Loona’s summation. “No, thank you, Senator. I appreciate the offer, but even if I were the best person for the job, I’d decline. A human policy director would be devastating to its credibility. Besides, I’m not the best person for the job. That’s Inna Lektas.”

“She’s young.”

“She’s older than me,” Ammer said. “Besides, she’s brilliant. Best policy mind I’ve seen. I’d hate to lose her off of Rep. Armac’s staff, but I’m not going to be able to keep her much longer. Policy director for this committee would all but guarantee her a chief’s slot with someone. She deserves it. She’ll be a great one.”

Pryvani smiled. “And as long as she’s here, you’re not going back to Avalon, are you?”

Ammer sighed. “No, Senator. As long as she’s alive I’m not going back to Avalon. If this all goes horribly wrong, I’ll ask Rep. Armac to sell me to her. Maybe if she dumps me, I’ll reconsider. But hopefully, I don’t screw things up badly enough that she wants to.”

The chair rang the bell once, and Ammer and Pryvani grew silent.

“The Secretary of the Imperial House will read out the bill to be voted upon,” the chair said.

“House File 2119-Ishaytan-17, authored by Rep. Zeramblin, co-authored by Rep. Armac of Tannhauser West; a Bill for an Act modifying the Terran Conservation Act; Authorizing the Imperial Military to make first contact with Earth; Authorizing the Office of the Floor Leader to appoint an ambassador to Earth; Creating a special committee to study the Human Question.”

The chair rang her bell again. “The members shall vote.”

It wouldn’t take long; five minutes was all. Though both Ammer and Pryvani knew the bill should pass, both found themselves holding their breath regardless.

The secretary finally nodded to the chair, and she spoke. “By a vote of 808 aye, 192 nay, House File 2119-Ishaytan-17 does pass, title agreed to, and by previous Senate concurrence is adopted into law.”

The chair rang her bell three times, and called for the clerk to read out the normal calendar for the day; she didn’t push it, though; she was aware that it would take some time to restore order. There were lots of hugs and wrist-shakes on Loona’s side of the aisle, and a fair number of shrugs and a few arguments on Zeramblin’s; as for the Floor Leader himself, he simply caught Loona’s eye and nodded, and with a slight smile, headed off the floor. The bill was already law, he thought. May as well appoint that ambassador sooner than later.

In Pryvani’s office, Ammer was simply beaming. “All right,” he said, poking at his pad. “What else is on the calendar?”

Pryvani laughed. “You’re not fooling anyone, Mr. Smit.”

“No celebrating while we’re in session,” he said, studying his notes. “Tonight, after adjournment, drinks are on me. Are you coming out with us? You and your staff are absolutely welcome. You’re part of the family.”

“My staff probably will,” Pryvani said, “but I won’t. Now that this is through, I’m heading offworld.”

“Going back to Avalon?”

“Gonna visit my husband,” she said with a grin. “Don’t tell him; it’s a surprise.”

Ammer actually paused at that. “Well,” he said, chuckling, “though part of me wants to ask to tag along…you give Stratikos Tarsuss my best, and give the folks from Earth a warm….”

He stopped talking; he didn’t realize he had until a few moments after he stopped.

“What?”

“Heh,” he said, quietly. “I’m sorry. I just…we did it, didn’t we?” He turned to Pryvani, and laughed out loud. “This is real, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Pryvani said with a laugh that echoed his. “It is, majordomo.”

“All right,” Ammer said. “Well. Then. Um.” He laughed again. “All right, I’m breaking my own rule. I think, if I can trouble one of your staff for a lift back to my office…I’m gonna take five minutes and enjoy myself.”

“I’ll take you myself, Mr. Smit,” Pryvani said, offering a well-manicured hand to him. “You’ve earned it.”

“We all have, Senator,” he said with a smile. “Thank you.”

* * *

“So why are we doing half breakfast foods? It’s dinner time,” Lauryna said, looking at the menu for the gala.

“Trust Alex,” said Rixie with a smile, happy that Dr. Geen’s adjustments had her voice at a more normal register. “He may act like an idiot from time to time, but it’s just that – and the man knows food. This brunch thing – he has them lined up for it from Aementos to New Trantor.”

“Besides,” Eyrn added, “They’ll just be getting up. It’s breakfast for them. I like the idea. Hopefully they like spakkal and eggs.”

“I’m just hoping my folks have the sense to be polite and not mention that it’s comparatively bland,” Aerti said with a grin. He was feeling quite marvelous; he still wasn’t quite sure they hadn’t all died, and that he wasn’t planning a diplomatic meal in the afterlife, but even if he was, he was having fun.

“Gormlaut isn’t going to be overly bland,” Eyrn said. “And….”

“Navarchos Bass?” a voice called over the commlink.

“Bass here,” he said.

“Navarchos, we have a call from the Floor Leader.”

Aerti sat up straight. “Well. Okay. Send him through.”

“It’s not for you, sir. It’s for your wife.”

Aerti furrowed his brow. “Well…all right then. I guess the Floor Leader’s got his priorities in order. Dr. Bass, you want us to get out of your way?”

“N…no,” Eyrn said. “I’d really rather you stayed here.”

“All right,” Aertimus said. “Put him through.”

The commlink chirped. “Hello, Mr. Floor Leader,” Eyrn said, fighting the butterflies; It wasn’t like her to be nervous, but she was talking to the political leader of 49 billion people.

“Dr. Bass! Good to talk to you! I understand you’re on Titan Station with your husband, that right?”

“Um…yes, Mr. Floor Leader. I was spending a month visiting him on the Xifos, and things got a bit…complicated.”

“Things got more than complicated; I wouldn’t blame the humans if they wanted to blow up Titan right now. That tuppshaka Solis nearly…but you know this.”

“It’s okay,” Eyrn said. “You can insult Navarchos Solis as freely as you want; nobody on this end is gonna argue with you.”

“Ha! Well, that gorram assleak is not going to be bothering you anymore. Now, I’m guessing you’re wondering why I’m calling.”

“Yes, sir,” Eyrn said. “The election hasn’t started.”

“And you don’t live in my district. Dr. Bass, we just passed the bill authorizing first contact with Earth; vote wasn’t close. You’ll also be happy to know that we set up a committee to look into the Human Question. I know you’ve always had a soft spot for ‘em.”

“They…they raised me. They earned it.”

“Right. I know. I read The Wild Girl. And that brings me to my point. The last part of the bill allows me to appoint an Imperial Ambassador to represent our interests on Earth. I want someone who knows Earth humans forward and backward. Not some politician who once had their staff mention Earth, or some starry-eyed kid who adopted a human pet and thinks they understand all humans now. No, I want someone who understands them at a basic level, and frankly, who understands us the same way. Also, that person has to be someone relatively well-known. I can’t appoint the chair of the xenosociology department at Vorsha Colonial. You know anyone like that?”

“Well…there’s…um….I honestly don’t know, Mr. Floor Leader.”

“I do. You, Dr. Bass. You know them, you understand them, your foster parents were them; more than that, you’re sharp, you’re smooth when you need to be, you know how to raise a fuss when you need to. And you’ve been on enough video shows about Earth that nobody can doubt you know your stuff. Only question I have is whether you’ll accept.”

Eyrn stared at Aerti, who was grinning at her. “We’ll figure it out, Miracle Girl,” he said, quietly, in answer to her unspoken question.

“Mr. Floor Leader…I don’t know how I could decline.”

“Excellent! Well, Ambassador Bass, I’ll be sending through credentials to you as well as some directives going forward. For now, use your best judgment, and try not to agree to anything significant until we have a chance to talk further.”

“Of course, Mr. Floor Leader,” Eyrn said. “I’ll…I’ll keep negotiations to logistics for now.”

“Perfect. All right, I need to get back to the floor. Your husband is friends with Rep. Armac, isn’t he?”

“Yes, sir,” Eyrn said. “Yes he is.”

“Well,” Zeramblin said, “Small universe. Tell your husband thanks for me, and that I’m not gonna look into it further – he’ll know what that means.”

“I’m actually here with Eyrn,” Aerti chuckled. “I’m relieved to hear that, Mr. Floor Leader.”

“Yeah, don’t make a habit of it. Although…well, you get something like that again, do send it on…but send it to me direct. All right, I’ve gotta run. Good luck, Ambassador.”

Eyrn looked around the small office. “Did…did that just happen?”

“Yes it did, Ambassador,” said Aertimus, beaming with pride. “Yes it did.”

“Well,” Eyrn said, quietly. “I guess I’m gonna need an office.”

* * *

On the edge of a prosperous farm, outside a small town on a southern continent of Archavia, Quendra the Great, Screams Like Kipp, Former Leader of the Tribe, Former Elder Huntress, Wife of Luke the Brave, sat by the side of her husband’s bed, watching him breathe.

Lezah and Eyazon had brought him home two days ago, and Eyazon had tearfully told them what he’d found. There was nothing more that could be done. He was not sick with anything in particular; he was just worn down after 25 years of life.

Quendra smiled at that, in spite of herself; when she had been young, before he had arrived, nine years old was considered ancient. Those who reached 10 were fêted and celebrated; legend held that Torn the Aged had reached 16 years, but then, he was said to have a shaar that would come when called and eat from his hand, so she rather doubted that story was completely true.

So to be sad that she and her husband had only 21 years together seemed almost churlish. They had been together through two lifetimes. Surely she should celebrate it and be grateful for it.

So she told herself, and so she tried to believe, but her heart only knew that she was watching her Luke die, and she could hardly bear it.

“This medicine will ease his pain,” said Loroki Gipetrigrothya the Healer, mixing herbs in the corner of the room, along with some Archavian medicines that Eyazon had brought him. “I am sorry I cannot do more.”

“It is fine, Loroki,” Quendra said, though it clearly was not. “Thank you.”

“Grandmother, you need to rest,” said Paal the Wanderer of Quendra’s Line, softly.

“Paal, have you ever tailed a wounded kalbar for thirty hours through the wilderness?”

“No, grandmother,” Paal said, with a smile; he had been asked this question by his grandmother at least seven hundred times over the course of his life.

“Well then. When you have, tell me what tired is,” Quendra said, though she gave him a wink. She had always liked Paal. Though he looked like her, he had always behaved so much like his grandfather.

“He’s right, mom,” Disa the Wise, Former Leader of the Tribe said. “Dad wouldn’t want you to wear yourself out.”

“Maybe not,” Quendra said. “But he learned long ago that once I’ve set my mind to something, not much will change it.”

“We’ve all learned that, mom,” Maria the Strong, Former Elder Huntress said. She blinked back tears. “You stay with dad as long as you want.”

“Great Grandfather Paal! Great Grandfather Paal!” came a call from outside. Loren Paalkadagoga, Jr. burst into the room. “They told me…oh. Oh, sorry. I didn’t….”

“I believe he’s your great-great-grandfather,” Quendra said with a smile. “Hello, Loren.”

“Grandmother Quendra! Grandmother Maria, Uncle Disa…I’m sorry…I didn’t realize Grandfather Luke was sleeping,” Loren said. “Great Great Grandfather Paal — it’s…did you hear?”

Paal gave a wink to his grandmother; Loren reminded him so much of himself at three.

“What is it, Loren?”

“Well, I was up at the house, talking to Joli….”

“Hmf. I remember when ‘up at the house’ meant you were foraging, not flirting with Thurfrit and Aezhay’s oldest girl,” Quendra said with a sigh.

“I…Joli and I weren’t flirting!”

“You weren’t? Well, that’s silly of you both,” said Quendra. “So what’s the news?”

“Um…oh. Yeah. We were watching the news, and Earth….”

“What about Earth?”

Luke shifted just a bit to look at his descendant; he was suddenly wide awake, and though he looked much as he felt, his eyes were full of fire.

“Grandfather Luke…I’m sorry, I didn’t….”

“If you woke me up, you’d better tell me your news,” he said with a soft smile.

“Yes, sir. Uh…Earth sent a spaceship to Titan Station.”

“What?!”

“Yeah. They’re…the legislature just passed a law allowing first contact. They’re going to relax the blockade a bit. Maybe even let people visit Earth someday from the Empire.”

Luke stared at Loren, then looked up at Quendra. “I haven’t died yet, have I?”

“No, love,” she said, squeezing his hand.

“Ha! That’s…I can’t believe it. That’s wonderful! All right, we need to get a shuttle to Titan Station for Quendra and me.”

“Love, how are we going to book a shuttle?” Quendra asked.

“I’ll get Aisell to do it. She owes me,” he said. Then, looking up at his wife, he smiled. “Well, honestly, I owe her. But don’t tell her that before she gets us tickets.”

“And what do we do once we get to Titan Station, Luke?”

“I’ll tell the astronauts I’m from Earth. They’ll bring me back — bring us back. They have to. I’m from there. And then…then I’ll take you to Colorado, take you up into the mountains. Oh, Quennie, you’ll love the mountains. They’re so beautiful. So much life. You can track a pronghorn, maybe. That’d be a challenge. They’re quick.” He closed his eyes. “Or just look out over them, a sea of rock, beautiful, foreboding, enormous — bigger than the Titans even. Then we’ll go to Boulder. We’ll find a place that serves peach cobbler.”

“Like your mom made?”

“Yeah,” he said, slowly. “Nothing like those peaches on Archavia. We’ll get it warm, with ice cream. Oh, you’ll love that. And then we’ll go out, and I’ll just look at you, against the mountains, beautiful girl. My beautiful Quendra in my beautiful Colorado.”

“And then what will we do, Luke?” asked Quendra, through watery eyes. “Build a cabin up in the mountains?”

It took Luke a while to answer. “No, my love,” he said, quietly. “Then we’ll come back home.” He squeezed her hand one last time. “I would miss home too much to stay on Earth.”

He didn’t say anything else. As his breathing became shallower, she kissed him on the forehead, and cried.