Helliana and her new friends were playing with a pod of dolphins in the lagoon. They were tossing two brightly coloured balls around and making a surprising amount of noise. Deepsix watched from the beach and despaired of making himself noticed.

Harrassan grinned at the sight of the frustrated twiceborn. He stood back as Falreena trailed as ever by her two satellites approached.

Falreena having spotted Deepsix and Harrassan joined them on the shore, wincing at the shriller squeals of joy coming from the chaotic mess of dolphins and children in the lagoon. She smiled wistfully at the sight, she couldn’t remember the last time she had seen anything even remotely like it, certainly not in her lady’s temple. “When are we leaving Harrassan? And have you seen the little pest?”

Deepsix turned to look at Falreena, “Helliana is in the middle of that lot,” he said pointing to the children.

Harrassan chuckled, “There will be a ship leaving in about two hours. The next will leave tomorrow. I suspect we’ll be on the one leaving today.”

Falreena stared, “When did the brat learn to swim like that?”

“Probably when she was changed,” suggested Harrassan. “I fear you and Azurea have lost her.”

“Changed...” said Falreena blankly.

“Yes changed – haven’t you noted that all the children out there have gills and move in a very – um, strange way in the water? No flailing, they flow,” Deepsix explained. “And how am I supposed to get her attention.”

“Oh that’s easy,” said Harrassan. “HELLIANA DEEPSIX WANTS YOU!” he bellowed.

The play quieted for a moment as everyone looked towards the shore. Helliana draped an arm over the back of one of the dolphins and they made for the shore. Helliana waded until she was standing near the shore. She removed a belt with an oilskin wrapped pouch and offered it to Deepsix. “Here she is Deepsix. I wish you both luck.”

Deepsix reached out and took the offered belt, “Thank you Helliana.” Then he unwrapped the pouch and checked inside. He smiled and stepped back away from the shore. “Good luck with your new life.”

Helliana smiled blindingly, then she took one step back, standing slightly deeper in the water of the lagoon. She curtseyed, which looked distinctly odd given how she was clad and where she was standing. “Lady priestess, I must inform you that I will be staying here when you leave. I—I like it here, It’s not because of you lady, you’ve kind of ignored us runners and the other orphans entrusted to the temple, but, but the Matron’s mean, and, and Belatranda is too, she just doesn’t care. So I’m staying here where I’m welcome. Bye.”

With that Helliana turned and took a few running-splashing steps before diving back into the lagoon, disappearing from sight.

* * * EARTH & TARIFAX – REDMOON PRIDE * * *

Silvia Redmoon stretched and twisted, glorying in her body. She shared a grin with her sister Jade. They hugged excitedly and then examined the things that had been left for them. On leaving the cavern they bumped into Kaikane. He promptly gathered them both in a fierce hug. After some babbling they continued walking down the passage, Kaikane in the middle with an arm around each of their shoulders.

They finally arrived at a comfortable room. They found it already occupied by a small brown haired woman with a prominent nose. Unlike the three newcomers who were wearing jeans and t-shirts she was wearing a knee length grey skirt and loose ivory coloured blouse.

Mary appeared and smiled a welcome. “Vicky, these are Kaikane and his ladies Silvia an’ Jade. They are the joint heads of the Redmoon pride. You will be workin’ together in Washington DC. Vicky will be in charge of intelligence gathering and the Redmoon pride will be providing cover an’ defence.”

Mary allowed them to talk for a while before once again claiming their attention.

“Silvia, I want you to visit Conimbriga on Tarifax. Take who you will with you when you visit the Caradix Emporium. I figure your restaurant will need exotic fare and well trained staff used to handling the self important types that proliferate near the centres of power. Conimbriga has had three top class restaurants an’ one of its best hotels closed down by the council after the arena of blood affair. Suspect that the prime chefs will have been snapped up by now but you should be able to get some good people. An’ we will be able to free ’em which I kinda like. If you pick up too many, so be it, we can open another place. Your pride’ll be big enough.”

= = O = =

Footman XVII watched through the observation port as the big blocky firewaggon stopped in front of the main entrance of the Caradix Emporium. Four figures emerged and made their way to the entrance. He noted that two were walking confidently in front of the group with the big one lurking just behind them in typical bodyguard fashion. The last seemed to blend with the fog.

Footman XVII picked up the speaking tube and said, “Party coming, looks like two principals with bodyguard and a rogue or thief. Big firewaggon.” Then he made his way to the entrance and awaited their entrance, ignoring as always the actions of the door boys.

Sales XI briefly checked himself in the mirror before making his way to main reception. He bowed when Footman XVII showed the new clients in. He checked them out visually. The two women looked to the buyers, they looked to be related. Their clothing was too closely cut and left their hands free so they were not society ladies and did not desire to be taken for such. Big and muscular, they were probably ex adventurers then. So handle with care. The bodyguard was alert, a really big bruiser.

‘Damn, that thief’s good, I almost overlooked her and she’s wearing silk. Flowing sleeves, just the tips of her fingers showing, loose well cut blouse... Now there lies the real danger... Noble in disguise with two decoys out front... Careful eleven.’

Sales XI made a slight sign to Runner XXIV, smiled politely and said, “How may the Caradix Emporium serve you my ladies?”

Silvia looked round in pretend appreciation and smiled back, “We are hoping to save something of our trip to Conimbriga. It appears we arrived at a bad time, we were told to be sure to visit the Lamprey and Rills. But the Council closed them. We were booked to stay at the Fellows Hotel but they closed that too. Then the Drowned Dove is no more. Most of the research we were planning on for the family’s newest restaurant is impossible. But Vicky suggested we might be able to acquire their kitchen staff as the council usually dumps confiscated slaves at this the premier slave emporium.”

Sales XI set himself to gather the few crumbs of useful information from this verbal haemorrhage smiled inwardly. Played correctly he had a big sale on his hands. He noted Sales IV’s arrival with relief and saw that he had come to the same conclusion as himself.

Sales XI ushered his still talking customer and her entourage into one of the larger private display rooms, as he did so he noted with appreciation the way Sales IV approached the noble lady.

= = O = =

A good three hours later in a crowded bus Silvia chugged the bottle of beer with relief, “Ahhh! That’s better, I haven’t spoken that much... ever! My mouth was so dry.” She looked at the bottle in her hand, “This stuff’s not bad. Not bad at all.”

“Don’t you think you went overboard sis? Four apprentice chefs, the apprentices of the snapped up chefs. Waiters, reception workers, kitchen workers,” joked Jade.

“No, Mother did tell us we could always open another place, and some of these people might want to bail. And what are that motley lot you picked up Vicky?”

“Intelligence for Rich and Mother.”

* * * EARTH – HOUSTON * * *

It was a seemingly peaceful scene that belied the tension and frustration of all present. Everyone was busy tracking the unidentified spacecraft that had just taken off from the moon.

They watched as it continued to ignore all attempts at communication and now it seemed to be heading for Mars.

“Still no new sign of reaction mass use, no wait, there we go, they seem to use small rockets to manoeuvre. Resending communications protocol.”

Then with a faint crackle a male voice erupted from their speakers. “Radio! Mais quel genre de primitives utilisent la radio? Je sais, Je sais, un et un est deux, deux et deux sont quatre ... et puis?”

There was a stunned silence in the room. Then several people started babbling before the voice resumed.

“Donc vous ne parlez pas français? La dernière fois que nous étions ici, le Françes était la langue diplomatique.”

Silence resumed, another brief crackle came from the speakers, followed by, “Après tout, qu’arrive-t-il au roi Louis XV?”

Silence reigned for a long moment, then the mission director asked plaintively, “What did they say, that sounded ... familiar somehow.”

“Err... I think they’re saying ‘Only err... backwards societies still use radio. We know how to count, can’t you speak French? The last time we were here French was the language of diplomacy’. And, and ... ‘What happened to Louis XV?’.”

“You speak French Bailey? Get on the mike, someone give him the script. Come on Bailey start talking.”

“Um... My French isn’t very good, I can kind of understand it but I’m not good at speaking...”

“Mandy, get me a French speaker ASAP. And Bailey, get talking. Badly is better than the rest of us. You can stop when we get a Fr— French speaker to take over.”

* * * EARTH – MARY * * *

Michaela got out of Dr Gullwing’s car. She looked dubiously at the cat man holding the sign with her name. He, noticing her looked asked, “Dr Michaela DeBlasio?”

“Yes, but I was expecting Mary.”

“She’s feeling hunted at the moment, I’m here to take you to her, she’ll be passing in the Storm Dolphin shortly. She’ll stop and you can go aboard. Dropping you off should be easier.”

Minutes later they were heading out to sea, and in due time they saw the bow wave of the Storm Dolphin closing rapidly. It slowed and stopped, Michaela and Gullwing clambered aboard. As soon as they were settled Lissa opened the throttle and they drew away from a couple of boats that had left the dock when they had spotted the Storm Dolphin approaching. Lissa took them straight out to sea.

Mary swung her chair round to look at them and said, “Hello Michaela, I take it this is Dr Gullwing the oncologist.”

Michaela squinted, “Mother of Monsters and Blackbeard’s Bane? Interesting titles you have there Mary.”

Mary grinned, “See you’ve been levelin’. Congrats. The latter doesn’t really apply on Earth.”

Michaela snorted. “Gordon, this is Mary Silvestre who I suspect, created the little ponies. Mary this is Dr. Gordon Gullwing.”

“Please call me Gordon. Lovely speedboat you have here Mary. And Tina is making a complete recovery. Michaela suggested you could explain.”

“Explain? Look I added healin’ ability to them along with a bonding affinity. I personally don’t have a healin’ ability though I can use DNA to regrow or fix creatures includin’ people. Added a bit of that too. Look it’s magic. I’m not into the theory of magic so I can’t really explain. I do have the ponies you asked for. By the way, I thought Cas was comin’.”

“She wanted to. But she’s been dragged of to consult about flying jellyfish.”

“Oh those. They don’t fly, they fill themselves with hydrogen and float at the mercy of the wind.”

Michaela stared flatly. She frowned, “Mary, what?”

Mary lifted one shoulder briefly, “Mother of Monsters,” she explained. Tessa giggled as she carefully deposited two pet carriers on the deck near Michaela.

“Intelligent octopi...”

“Hapalochlaena sapiens,” interjected Mary.

“...Flying jellyfish, intelligent ponies. And what else Mary?”

“This an’ that.”

Gordon filed the conversation for future contemplation and watched the armed leopard girl place two further pet carriers next to the first. “I note two have wings, and two appear to be unicorns.”

“Well you have four controls. I suspect the healin’ ability took better with the ’corns. Which is bizarre if true, I’ll leave it to you to find out. I strongly suspect the ponies will only be willin’ an’ able to work with kids.”

“What about adults Mary?” asked Gordon.

“I can see ’bout creatin’ something that will be willin’ to work with adults. But I have other things to do first.”

* * * EARTH – IN THE NEWS * * *

Paris is celebrating today. The alien visitor has been speaking to various agencies in French and it has gained quite a following here in France.

* * *

Naturalists have tracked the flying jellyfish recently seen floating over Galveston. They have been named Chrysaora volans. It is now certain that they evolved from Chrysaora chesapeakei. Scientists are almost certain that these creatures are an artificial creation.

They are very effective at absorbing and metabolizing oil spills. They transform the oil into hydrogen and incredibly tough and lightweight carbon sheets.

When the hydrogen finally escapes the creatures react in one of three different ways. If they land in the sea they resume their existence as jellyfish. In freshwater they divide into six smaller creatures and attempt to make their way back to the sea. On land they again separate into six creatures but in this situation they form polyps and anchor themselves and await rain to shed their eggs.