Page 54 of No Strings Attached

Acken, Caussus, Trak, and the Ophidian—no,Steev, Vi had told him—were sitting around a low table, eating. Well, everyone except Steev. Vi grabbed Bahbi’s hand and led him over. Bahbi watched Trak’s nostrils flare, head swivel, and eyes widen as they approached. Then he looked into Bahbi’s eyes, held his gaze, and slowly nodded. Trak was acknowledging him, too.

“Look at this,” Vi said, holding up the crown to show everyone. She held it by the filament, so it appeared to float above her hands. “Bahbi made this crown prototype. Isn’t it beautiful? Turn it on, please, Bahbi.”

He pulled the stylus out of his pocket and tapped the green orb, then it lit up. Everyone seemed to admire it, appreciatively.

Acken said, “Oh, that is a wonder!”

Trak continued staring at Bahbi, while Steev leaned down to gaze at it up close.

Caussus said, “Master Bahbi, you truly have a talent for elegant design.”

Vi swung toward him, nodding. “Yes, he does. Put it on me, Bahbi, so they can see how incredible it looks.”

Everyone stared at Violet in awe after Bahbi placed the crown on her. Then she promptly took it off and said, “Let’s see how it looks on Caussus.”

Something in Bahbi clenched in denial, but he fought against it as Vi walked over and placed the crown on Caussus’s head. He had told Violet that he accepted the King and Queen arrangement, and he would let the battle rage within himself, keeping it invisible to her until he won, and it became true.

Acken shouted, “All hail, the King!” and Caussus dropped his eyes, smiling.

Vi was gazing raptly at the crown on Caussus’s head when she said, “Oh, Bahbi, it’s even more magnificent than I had imaginedwhen it’s worn.” She turned and walked back to him, then wrapped her arms around him and said, “Thank you.”

Bahbi found that he couldn’t say anything under the intensity of everyone’s admiration and Vi’s affection. He just nodded and looked down.

Vi pulled away and said, “Sit down, I’ll go grab us some food.”

Steev was explaining his conversation with the King and Queen of Serpentia while Vi and Bahbi sat side-by-side and ate.

Vi asked, “So, they want to meet us on the space station? To see you and check us out?”

Steev said, “Not just that. The King and Queen only leave Serpentia once or twice, maybe three times, in their entire reign. We require others to come to us for most of our diplomatic relations and trade. It is considered the highest honor to receive them, and they wield that power like a club, demonstrating their favor for only a few rulers while demonstrating their dismissal of all others. Ogobian broadcasting will be all over this event.”

Vi was thoughtful, “So I guess you told them the story we’re selling instead of the truth, huh? They think you’re aligned with the King and Queen of the mysterious planet Oz, not just some rag-tag group of freed slaves?”

Steve nodded, “Of course. We don’t want the truth to reach anyone outside this group, do we? But I did tell them that the King and Queen of Oz saved me from the fate of auction and slavery. They were very relieved and eager to show their appreciation. Mind you, not relieved about me personally, just relieved that there is no Ophidian royal in captivity or sold into slavery. It would diminish our power and capacity for threat ifone of us were sold into slavery and that fact known throughout the galaxy.”

“Your mom and dad don’t sound very nice, Steev,” Vi remarked.

“They are not. But Serpentia can be a powerful ally of Oz,” he smirked.

“And such an alliance can benefit us how?” Acken asked, leaning in.

“Well, for one thing, we have traversable wormhole technology from a fixed location to a movable one. We use it for real-time communications during galactic travel, mostly, but it can also be used to quickly emplace a major force of Ophidians anywhere, anytime. I lost my endpoint device before Qlu captured me, so I have asked them to bring me another one when we meet. If you can establish an alliance, we might have an Ophidian army behind us if, or more likely when, we need it.”

Acken sounded deeply impressed when he said, “Oh, yes, we must have that alliance.”

Vi looked back to Steev, “OK, so let’s talk protocol and how to impress your parents.”

Steev hissed out a laugh, “Well, first of all, you should know that they are offended by clothing. Since we don’t wear any, they feel that others are attempting to hide their true forms from view when they are received by royal houses draped in pound after pound of fabric.”

“Wonderful,” Vi sighed, “naked on intergalactic TV.”

Bahbi read Vi’s dejected body language and asked, “How about body jewelry covering…um…certain places?”

Steev thought about it, then said, “That should be fine,” and flicked his head toward Caussus. “We’ll need to do something with Caussus, anyway, something that keeps his missing testicles a secret.”

Bahbi glanced at Caussus’s groin and nodded, “I have an idea for both him and Vi. Can they wear blades?”

“Yes,” Steev said, “it would be strange if they didn’t.

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