“Good afternoon, boss.”

“Inna,” Loona sighed, as she and Aisell descended the stairs from the residence to the office, “how long have you been lying in wait for us?”

“Twenty-five minutes. And pretend I’m not here, Madam Floor Leader, Inna just wanted company while she waited.”

“Good afternoon, Minister Smit,” Loona said to the man in the breast pocket of her chief of staff. “And feel free to chime in as needed, you have clearance. Walk-and-talk?”

“Walk-and-talk,” Inna said. “Good afternoon, Ms. Maris, good to see you again.”

“I’m not Aisell anymore?”

“We’re announcing you as consort today, ma’am,” Inna said with a grin. “It would be inappropriate for me to refer to the boss’s partner informally, at least in a work setting.”

“Basically, you’ll know there’s trouble if Inna ever refers to you by your first name,” Loona said. “So I understand the senator and her group are all here?”

“Yes, boss,” Inna said, trailing Loona and Aisell as they wound their way through the back hallways of the main floor. “But that’s not why I’ve been waiting. We got a heads-up; the Emperor is going to address the Senate after the ceremony.”

“I know,” Loona said, “he called me about two hours ago, on the direct line. He’s going to name Princess Vallero as his successor.”

“Vallero?” Ammer said. “Why not Rhionne?”

“We both know why not Rhionne,” Loona said.

Ammer sighed. “Yeah, I suppose we both do, Madam Floor Leader. And it’s probably the right decision, still….”

“I know,” Loona said. “It would mean a great deal to have a hybrid as the likely next-in-line. But Emperor’s in the same bind as I am.”

“I know. Empire is the priority,” Ammer said. “Vallero creates another problem, though.”

“Officially, yes. But Vallero and Rhionne are both comfortable with Antero’s children getting priority when it comes to selecting Vallero’s successor; she may announce it early in her time in office, simply to make it clear.”

“Just as long as we don’t have any fights about succession,” Inna said.

“It’s hard to complain about that, really,” Ammer said. “Kaleva and Vellamo would have been 1-2 if Antero hadn’t had to sacrifice himself. The Emperor put this together well — which doesn’t surprise me. And the Dunnermac, Avartle, and Ler have managed without one of them on the throne, humans will too.”

“So that’s that, anything else I need to know?”

“Yes, got a text from the Deputy Floor Leader, he just wanted to let you know that Dases Brid met with him today. He told me to tell you that he’s not planning on doing anything about it.”

“Of course not,” Loona said. “Berisen can drive me crazy when it comes to the medical budget, but that’s because he’s smart. Brid was never going to get his backing.”

“Madam Floor Leader, I agree, but don’t sleep on Brid,” Ammer said. “He’s not as dumb as he seems to be.”

“He once tabled a motion to ‘go home,’ because he forgot the word adjourn,” Loona said.

“True, boss,” Inna said. “But Ammer and I have been talking, and I think he has a point. I’m not saying Brid is a threat right now, but he’s…what’s the word? Human term from Earth, you mentioned it the other day?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. He’s not ‘book-smart,’ but he’s ‘street-smart.’ Means he knows how to get around day to day, knows the wrists to shake and the places he can get a good deal. I’m not saying he could figure it out on his own, mind you.”

“Hmm,” Loona said. “You make a good point. Most Imperial citizens don’t know what a motion to adjourn is. You once told me, Ammer, that used correctly, stupidity can be an advantage.”

“Exactly,” Inna said. “Not saying he’ll challenge your premiership anytime soon. But the conservatives are about to lose power, and unless something dramatic changes, they’re going to get blown out in the general. They’ll be looking for new faces, ones who weren’t friendly to that do-gooder Armac.”

“Right,” Loona said. “Honeymoon won’t last forever, and there are always gonna be plenty of conservatives who despise me.”

“Why did you go into politics again?” Aisell asked, as a staffer opened the door to the reception area.

Loona nodded to the staffer, and smiled as she passed. “Why does anyone do anything? Pryvani Tarsuss talked me into it. And speaking of Senator Tarsuss, it’s lovely to see you.”

“Madam Floor Leader, darling, I’m so glad you accepted our invitation,” Pryvani said, grasping Loona’s wrist. “You remember Zhan, of course?”

“Krator-Imperator Tarsuss, good to see you again.”

“And you, Madam Floor Leader,” Zhan said, coming to attention as best he could from his perch on his wife’s shoulder, and saluting.

Loona returned it; she knew her salute would never be military-grade, but then, she was Floor Leader, and it didn’t have to be. “By the way, Remind me to introduce you to Minister Segdi later. She and the Dodecahedron have been discussing an idea for a human-commanded ship. Other than the Prince Antero, of course. Lord Carey, it’s good to see you again. I understand you’ll be launching in about six weeks?”

“That’s the plan, Madam Floor Leader,” he said, and did only marginally better than Zhan at saluting without falling forward into his wife’s bra. (Not that he would have minded, but it would have been just embarrassing enough that he couldn’t really enjoy it.)

“I am very much looking forward to seeing the Antero in the sky, Lord Carey, and not just because we can really start to push forward once it is. I’m excited to see what those ships can do. Between you and Captain Gwenn, the Insectoids don’t stand a chance.”

“That’s very kind of you to say, Madam Floor Leader. We will do our best. We owe the bugs…well, what we owe the bugs isn’t polite to say in the reception area of One Imperial Square.”

Loona smiled at the small man. “At some point, I’ll invite you into the office, where you can use the profanity they deserve. And Lady Carey, excellent to see you as well.”

“I’m surprised you’d say that,” Thyllia said, wincing.

“Why?”

“Oh, just the last episode of ‘Dangerous Brains.’”

“Ah,” Loona said, with a grin. “Darkstar has quite a hit with that. Channel 999 must be loving it. And I think it’s quite well-done! Naturally, a series that borrows from Earth’s sketch comedy tradition would come out of your production house.”

“Well, yes,” Thyllia said, “and that’s good, but still….”

Loona chuckled. “Look, I thought the sketch was funny. Garma Narnar got my accent pretty close, and the conceit that I’m a robot run by seven humans? I thought it was well-executed. As for the rest, look, if you don’t have a thick skin, you’re not going to make more than three weeks as a politician. There are millions, if not billions of people who would be happy to see me vaporized, even if they wouldn’t pull the trigger themselves. Someone making fun of me? That’s just life in a democracy. In fact, if you’d pass on to your producer, assuming we can make the schedule work, I’d love to stop by for a guest appearance if they ever want to revisit the sketch.”

“You’re a terrible actress, boss,” Inna said. “At least when you’re not negotiating.”

“I know, and that’s why it would work, it’s always good when politicians show a bit of awkwardness. Why do you think Zeramblin kept showing up on ‘Good Night Wedney?’ Inna, can you get Lady Carey’s contact information for me?”

“I think it’s on file, but let me get my pad. Ammer, I’m going to need you to scoot just a bit to your left….”

Loona paused, and looked at her remaining guests. “I remember the day I was sworn in, I was just in awe, the entire time. How are you both holding up?”

“I’m still not speaking to Ryan,” Alex said. “This is the worst present ever.”

“Senator-Designate Carey, I’ve known you long enough; you’re no better actor than I am.”

Alex sighed. “Look, if I stop making fun of Ryan and admit that this is a great honor, I start to get claustrophobic. And look at the size of this room, there’s no excuse for that! I don’t know, Loona…Madam Floor Leader. I know the Senate isn’t the House, but….”

“But it’s not nothing, either. Which is why we need good men and women to serve in it,” Loona said. “And Lord Carey couldn’t have chosen any better. I’m sure you’ve told him this, Rixie? Wait,” she added, noting for the first time that Rixie was wearing a dress uniform, “did they ‘Article 42’ you, Magister-Imperator?”

Rixie executed a perfect salute, not so much as perturbing the man on her left shoulder. “They did, Madam Floor Leader. In fact, before I leave Tuaut, I would like to request some time to meet with you, and with Ms. Maris.”

“Is this about that thing you sent me?” Aisell asked.

“Yes, it is,” Rixie said.

“Well…I’m…you’re sure about me?”

“There are maybe four people total that are mission-critical,” Rixie said. “You’re one of them.”

“I’m honored. I don’t know if I agree, but I’m honored. Loona, we do need to find time to meet with Rixie. Can’t say more right now. But if you meet with her, you’ll have the opportunity to meet Iron Maiden, so I can pretty much guarantee you want to.”

Loona blinked, and turned her head slightly. She’d always wondered….

Of course, it wasn’t certain until it was. “Inna? Make sure that you get Magister-Imperator Carey on the schedule. Cancel anything short of a meeting with the Emperor to make it happen.”

“I assumed so, as soon as I heard ‘Iron Maiden,’” sighed Inna.

“And Dr. Bass, Mrs. Bass. I know, I said it last time I saw you, but….”

“But nothing, Madam Floor Leader,” Hussel said, grasping her wrist.

“You let Aerti and Niall save Sorcha,” Lilitu said. “That alone would earn you our undying gratitude. And Niall. That they saved so many others, including your niece, just makes our debt so much more.”

“Besides,” Hussel added, “Niall and Naskia are as much a part of your family as ours. And while I wouldn’t presume to declare the Floor Leader a part of my family….”

“I am not worthy of that honor,” Loona said. “I am proud enough to be your friend. As I said to Senator-Designate Carey, the Senate could not possibly add two better families to its roster.”

“Madam Floor Leader, we should be heading over. Senator Zakrov ColVanos will be meeting us by the chamber.”

“Of course, Senator Tarsuss,” Loona said. “Let’s go.”

Reevah Tam nodded to Loona, and with two quick gestures, the security team for the Floor Leader formed up around the group. Rixe moved toward the front, where Reevah worked the point.

“Ceremonial uniforms? Cousin, you have my sympathies.”

“Emperor’s request as the uniform-of-the-day,” Reevah said, not looking back. “We don’t have to like it. If the Emperor asks us to show up naked, that’s what we do.”

“And what if Zhalem does?” Rixie asked, with a smirk.

“Oh, you know Zhalem, cousin,” Reevah said. Rixie grinned; as impassive as Krator Reevah generally was, she couldn’t quite keep the smile off her face.

“I do, and I know what she thinks of you,” Rixie said. “She needed someone just like you.”

“I needed someone just like her,” Reevah said as they reached the lift, and this time she didn’t bother to hide her smile. She ran a keycard over the sensor, then typed in a code. Moments later it opened, and the group boarded.

There is a tunnel directly from One Imperial Square to the Legislature, and another from the Legislature to the Palace. If a Floor Leader so desired, she could remain indoors for the entirety of her term in office. That was not Loona’s style, of course, and most days, she had security at least walk her across the street. But with a large group that included two members of the 79 Families, a senator, and two senators-designate, Loona bowed to expedience. It would be easier on her detail to take them through the tunnels, and safer.

They reached a set of escalators, and rode them up a floor. The security team opened a set of double doors, and Reevah led them out into the foyer of the legislature.

Loona gave a cheery wave as the crowd of sight-seers in the foyer began their chatter and scattered applause. She didn’t react much more than that; she’d grown accustomed to it in the short time she’d been Floor Leader. She wouldn’t be working the rope line today, as they were close enough to session that it would be rude. Yes, the Senate would wait for her, but she didn’t want them to have to.

A different wave of chatter came from a different direction, and Loona didn’t have to wonder at who it was for. From the other side of the foyer, the Emperor and the Imperial Family had entered. His guard, like hers, was dressed in ornate ceremonial uniforms. Praetor-Imperator Chonemes, the head of Tiernan’s guard, nodded to Reevah, who saluted. Chonemes directed the combined guard to encircle the two parties of dignitaries, as Loona greeted her Sovereign.

“Your Imperial Majesty,” Loona said, bowing at the precise fifteen-degree angle that protocol demanded of her.

“Madam Floor Leader, it is good to see you,” Tiernan said, first nodding, then reaching out a hand. Loona grasped his wrist, and smiled. Official protocol didn’t require the Sovereign to shake her wrist; it was a sign of the Sovereign’s respect. Tiernan had done so with Zeramblin many times, most notably, publicly, and pointedly in the days before passage of the Zeramblin Act.

He had not ever done so with Qorni, as far as Loona was aware.

There were brief greetings throughout the group; Loona didn’t mind that Tiernan embraced Pryvani – though carefully, so as not to dislodge Zhan. For one thing, Pryvani and Tiernan were friends, and for another, Pryvani arguably was more powerful than anyone in the building.

They rode up to the fifty-eighth floor, the level of the Senate’s Old Chamber. The New Chamber was not in the legislative building proper, and it was almost never used. The Old Chamber didn’t get much use either, as most business took place in the President’s Chamber — that was technically was accessible to the entire body, but in practice had enough room for the President, the Clerk, and two senators.

“This is our stop,” Pryvani said. “Thank you for accompanying us, Your Imperial Highness. Madam Floor Leader.”

“Always a pleasure, Senator,” Tiernan said. “Good luck, Senator-Designate Carey, Lord Bass.”

“Thank you,” Alex and Hussel both mumbled; this was starting to become something of a blur.

Pryvani traded Zhan to Rixie in exchange for Alex, who she took gently in her right hand. She stepped off the elevator along with Hussel, and the three of them stood in a large lobby just off the Senate floor.

“Hello, Pryvani. I was beginning to wonder if you were going to get here for the start of session.”

“Hello, dear. Alex, I don’t believe I told you, but Sen. Zakrov ColVanos has requested the honor of introducing you on the floor.”

“I’m not sure it’s that much of an honor, Your Imperial Highness,” Alex said. “But at least it lets Pryvani relax a bit.”

“Not at all,” Pryvani said. “I will be introducing Lord Bass. Rodrec and Qorni on the floor already?”

“Like I said,” Daz replied, reaching out her palm, “I was worried you’d be late.”

“I rode the elevator up with your father-in-law and the Floor Leader, we should be fine.”

Alex, leaped carefully from Pryvani’s palm to Daz’s. They had made the switch automatically, all three of them. After all these years, it was still a remarkable experience, being passed gently from a pretty girl to another pretty girl. Especially if the pretty girls in question had plenty of experience at it, so as not to risk anyone falling to their death.

“I do hope you don’t mind me carrying you onto the floor,” Daz said.

“Nah, it’s a long walk,” Alex said. “Thanks for the lift, Your Imperial Highness.”

* * *

The opening business of the Senate was routine. Most of it involved procedural moves to get around the necessity of members doing anything – avoiding roll calls, skipping over reading out bills, that sort of thing. Alex was mildly surprised to see that most of those motions were made by Daz.

The Senate generally needed two members present to do business – a president or acting president, and a member to make motions. Daz, Rhionne, and Pierce lived in Tuaut – Daz was the owner of Zakrov Resort Holdings, but she took a hands-off role with regard to the day-to-day business of the company – and she was usually around, so she’d become one of the Senators that the President called when he needed someone to work through a pro-forma meeting. After a while, she’d found herself to be President Esuste’s go-to floor officer, even during meetings like today, when the one hundred fifty desks of the Old Senate Chamber were almost full, and the gallery was overflowing. Daz was happy to talk about mocking the more pompous senators – and she did, to be sure – but she, like Pierce, understood the importance of doing her duty, and she took it seriously.

The Senate Clerk, Yolan Ro, worked his way through the announcements, which were ridiculously long today, owing to the many dignitaries in the chamber. But finally, they came to the order of business that had attracted most of the onlookers today.

“The next order of business,” said President Esuste, “is the swearing in of new members. The Clerk will report the members to be sworn.”

“The Emperor, His Imperial Majesty Tiernan ColVanos, Fourth of that Name, Emperor of Archavia and All Its Possessions, presents the following individuals for membership in the Senate,” said Yolan Ro. “The Hon. Forna Yidodo Qorni, Former Floor Leader of the Imperial House of Representatives, to a term in office for so long as she may live; The Hon. and Noble Alexander Edward Carey, designated to serve as Senate member from the House of Carey by its primate, His Excellency the Hon. and Noble Lord Ryan Alexander Carey; The Hon. Highly Learned Professor Lord Hussel Hurassen Bass, primate of the House of Bass, to serve as the Senate member from his house.”

“We will now recognize the sponsors of the senators-designate, before they are properly sworn,” Esuste said.

Zeramblin’s introduction for Qorni was brief, polite, and respectful. He acknowledged their differences, but praised her tenacity. Then came Daz’s introduction of Alex.

Alex had to admit, he wasn’t sure why Daz had asked for the chance to introduce him. He liked Daz, she was a good person, a friend, and a long-time business partner. But as she rose, and frowned just a little, it hit Alex exactly why she had asked.

He wished he could waive her off of it – she didn’t owe anyone an apology, least of all him – but she had already begun.

“Mr. President, before I begin my introduction of Senator-Designate Carey, as primate of the House of Zakrov, I am required by custom to formally apologize to the primate of the House of Carey and his kin, Alex Carey, on behalf of a grave injustice that a member of my house has committed against his. Though the House of Carey was not yet in existence when this happened, the gravity of the crime requires my public contrition regardless.”

Daz sighed. She hated this. Hated that her sister was her sister, and had made this necessary. But she hated what her sister had done far more, and she wanted to make sure that it was dragged out in the open; her family’s shame was not made better by ignoring it.

“My predecessor as primate once kidnapped the Senator-Designate,” she said. She ignored the few audible gasps. “During that time, she injured him, and psychologically tormented him, and attempted to dispose of him as if he were mere garbage. That he was at the time not a legal citizen is no excuse, as her treatment of him would have been outrageous had it been done to an animal. But Alex Carey was no animal. He was and is a valiant and decent person, one that is far kinder, far stronger, and far better than my predecessor.

“This is a happy occasion,” she said, “and I do not wish to spoil it with a remembrance of this crime. But I am bound as primate of my family to do so, and more than that…we must remember that it was not an easy path that took us to this day. We should not forget, as this chamber prepares to swear in the Hon. Mr. Carey, that when people say that humans fought for their basic equality, the fight was not metaphorical, it was not spiritual, it was literal – and humans bled, and hurt, and died for their freedom.”

She glanced to the gallery, the section where the Imperial family were gathered; at this distance, she couldn’t see Pierce, but he was there. Even as fortunate as they’d been…it was not easy. For Alex, it had been so much harder. And Alex would be the first to tell you that he was lucky.

This was a happy day, but she wanted them to remember. She wanted them all to remember.

Daz went on to talk about Alex’s many successes – building Rixie’s, serving as a mediator in the early days of the Avalonian Republic, that sort of thing. He was quite worthy of inclusion in the Senate by his own right. She knew that her words about Vasha would remembered, but she was okay with that. Vasha’s actions had brought shame on the House of Zakrov, but that was nothing new.

Finally, it was Pryvani’s turn to talk about Hussel Bass. She opened by talking of the family of Hussel – Aerti, Niall, Naskia, Sorcha, Eyrn – and she made sure to mention Bero, and to give Hurassen respect for his work as her attorney. All this had been in every write-up about Hussel, of course; it was practically boilerplate. Which is why Pryvani did not dwell on it.

“While I know Dr. Bass is rightly proud of the family he and his wife, Lilitu, lead, it would be wrong to see his membership in this body as simply a reward for good parenting,” Pryvani said. “Dr. Bass himself is quite as worthy as any person in this chamber, and has proven it through actions he took a quarter-century ago, in the early days of a fight that has made this Empire far stronger than it has ever been.

“When Naskia Bass introduced her friend, Niall Freeman, a physicist from Earth, a human – and legally, a pet – to Hussel Bass, he could have been forgiven for writing it off as childish excess from a young college student,” she continued. “When he found, after talking with Dr. Freeman, that his daughter was right, that Niall was intelligent as anyone alive, he still could have done what many – I daresay, most – people would have done. Not deny or ignore it – Dr. Bass is not capable of that. But he could have, perhaps, supported Niall quietly, secretly. He could have suggested that Niall work with him as an assistant – give him something to do, quietly, behind the scenes. He could have taken an easier path, for him, for his daughter, and for Dr. Freeman.”

She smiled, though if you knew her well, you might see that is was not a happy smile. “This is the path I chose, as did my husband. It is not a bad path, or the wrong path – not for everyone. We made our choice for reasons that suited us. But this choice was wrong for Niall. Niall Freeman was a fighter by nature, a man who could never accept second-class status, not for a second, not matter the cost. And Hussel would never have accepted second-class status for him, not once he knew that Niall was a person. And so Hussel fought for Niall, when he was legally unable to fight for himself. He used the respect he had earned to force the faculty at Tannhauser Gate University to consider Niall not as a curiosity, but as a potential equal. When they offered a half-measure, quasi-equality, Hussel not only rejected it out of hand, he threatened to resign his position in protest.”

She looked over at Bass, and smiled. She wondered if he realized how much he had accomplished with that simple act of defiance. More than any moment, more than anything, that had been the start. “I should note, this is before Niall and Naskia were married, during a time when they were far from certain that they’d want to build a life together, when they were far from certain that they could. Hussel did not do this for a future son-in-law, or for his daughter. He did this because, simply, it was right.

“History does not record those who choose to do nothing when they could have done the righteous thing. Those people are too common, and their cowardice is not notable in the least. But Hussel Bass chose to take a stand when he could have done nothing, and history will record that as a turning point, one of the key moments that helped us reach this day. So if you wish to know why his family is so accomplished, you have your answer. Simply look to their father.”

And now, it was time. The President of the Senate asked the three new senators to rise, and cross their arms.

“Do you, and all of you, promise to defend and protect the Emperor and the Empire he represents; to preserve and promote the Charter of the Titan Empire; to conduct yourself at all times with honor, dignity, and decency; and to serve the people of the Titan Empire as best you can?”

“I do,” each said in unison.

“Congratulations, you are hereby members of the Imperial Senate,” the President said, and a loud and raucous applause echoed through the chamber.

When applause had died down, the President recognized the new senators for brief introductory remarks. First was Qorni, the life senator. She rose, and leaned into the microphone at her desk. A bit different than the House’s setup, but close enough. There was a low-level murmur from the floor and the gallery; they hadn’t come to see her, after all. But every back-bencher has dealt with that, and that’s what she was now. No matter. She would simply go on.

“Thank you, Mr. President. A wise man once told me that politicians do not choose the course of our careers, our course is chosen for us by the people we serve. If I ever had ever doubted this admonition by my friend and colleague, Sen. Zeramblin, my presence in this chamber today is proof that he was right. I did not expect to end my time as Floor Leader so soon, but I am…I am proud that….”

She stopped. The text of her speech was on the desk, sitting on her pad, but she couldn’t continue on with it.

She had a list of her triumphs, of those things she wanted people to remember about her. She had her resume prepared for historians, as she would hope it would be written.

She looked a couple of desks to her left, where Alex Carey – Senator Carey – sat in a small chair, atop the desk itself, watching her evenly.

She looked down at her speech, for what felt like a very long time.

“Mr. President,” she said, “I had pre-filed my remarks to the body today for the record, but I wish to amend them. I would ask leave that my remarks be revised to reflect my statement as delivered from the floor.”

There was a murmur as the president acceded.

Forna switched off her pad. She might be self-destructing, she thought, but she couldn’t lie to this body, or to the Empire, or to herself, not anymore.

“Mr. President…I had intended in this speech to reflect on those parts of my tenure as Floor Leader and as a Representative that I am most proud of. But I find, as I join this body with two other fine servants of this Empire…I find that I cannot help but reflect on my greatest failure. Not my only failure; no honest leader will ever fail to fail many more times than they’d like. But my greatest failure, and the root of my other failures.

“Mr. President, I take my seat in this body today alongside a human. I fought very hard, very hard, to make sure that would not happen. That humans would not become the equal citizens of the Empire that they now are becoming. I fought very hard to prevent Sen. Carey from becoming a member of this body, from becoming a constituent, from becoming a person.

“Mr. President, Sen. Carey, and my fellow servants of the Emperor…I was wrong.”