Anakron, Hal, and Yoeke were in the officer's lounge of the Lady Devora. Widhbo was leading a discussion from his magiton body which sat in the center of the conference table.

"Widhbo has come up with a new plan I want you to hear," Anakron said, calling Cratus on the bridge.

The lieutenant engaged the automatic pilot setting to rendezvous with the Moz Lidule and joined them.

"To catch you up, Lieutenant, I suggest we take a planetoid body, attach huge rockets to one side and shove it straight at the demon, forcing him into the black hole. I think I can build a shielding device so the demon won't be able to see us coming," Widhbo explained.

"How do you propose to shield such a large mass?" Cratus asked.

"I had the privilege of transporting Tajlon and Nova with their guardchevs," Widhbo said. "Combining what I learned from studying the guardchev mechanisms with the cloaking techniques of the BakoNaat, I believe it is possible."

"That might work except for one minor detail," Yoeke said. "We don't have a planetoid to throw at him."

"It's so cute watching a garwolven trying to think," Widhbo said. "Objects have been falling into the black hole in the center of this galaxy for millions of years. There are lots of things about to fall into it now, including planetoids. All we have to do is grab one and use it."

"I want to see you grab a planetoid, Widhbo." Yoeke said.

"You'd be surprised what I can do with enough power," Widhbo bragged. "That's where Sag Leggan can help."

"It's an excellent idea," Anakron said, projecting a holographic map of the galaxy. "The demon is here. We should be able to find a suitable planetoid here in the Loca region."

"I like it," Hal said. "When are Greyla and Nova expected back? They should be here by now."

"I received word they were delayed due to a cosmic dust cloud," Cratus said.

"That's not right," Tajlon said. "I've been watching all the navigation logs and there's been no sign of a dust cloud in their vicinity."

"What are you saying?" Anakron asked.

"Etaine is up to something," Tajlon said. He got up to check the data again at the flight console.

"She's mental. You can't trust her." Widhbo added.

Yoeke snickered. "Mental, There's an area you have some expertise in."

"I can ask to speak with Greyla directly," Cratus offered.

"Tajlon, go with the Lieutenant to the bridge and see what you can find out," Anakron said. "Widbho, work with Hal on the shielding and let me know what resources you'll need."

"What about me?" Yoeke asked.

"I'm sending you back to the Moz Lidule. Take our interstellar transport and report to Admiral Bethon. Let him know our plans."

"Oh, sweet joy! The Lady Devora is a splendid ship, Lord Anakron, but I don't think I could stand it here a moment longer," Yoeke said jumping up from the table. He gave a little joyful hop as he headed for the door. "I'll gather my things and be ready in no time."

"What things could you possibly have?" Widhbo asked. "You don't wear any clothes."

"You wouldn't understand, Widhbo. I doubt you'd recognize a grooming aid if you sat on it."

"Oh Yoeke, I practically invented grooming. Birds take baths on a regular basis," Widhbo said. "You could use a bath more often. You still have sand in your fur."

* * *

Tajlon burst into the conference room. "Has Yoeke left yet, Lord Anakron?"

"No, why?"

"I confronted the BakoNaat pilots with the fact there is no dust cloud. They have remained in orbit around Erizza on Etaine's orders. I demanded to speak with Greyla as diplomatic protocol requires," Tajlon explained. "She informed me Etaine now wants Bethon in exchange for them."

"Another hostage situation?" Anakron said rising from the table. "This is outrageous!"

"Greyla said Etaine even tried to stop her and Nova from leaving. Nova invoked the BakoNaat's rule of hospitality." Tajlon gave Anakron a quizical look. "She said you could tell me more about their diplomatic training."

Anakron nodded. "Sag Leggan graciously provided some useful information on the BakoNaat culture. I gave Nova a copy as well."

Tajlon realized he was only getting part of the story. Nova could give him the details later. "Well, there's a loophole which Etaine exploited that Leggan did not anticipate. The rules of hospitality only apply on the planet. She's holding them off the planet, on the Adder, which by her way of thinking, doesn't count."

"This has gone far enough," Anakron said. "She is violating all rules of etiquette by seizing our ambassadors."

"What can we do? We can't alienate the BakoNaat," Tajlon said. "We need their help,"

Anakron paged Yoeke to inform his of this turn of events. "We'll refuel the Lady Devora and wait while Yoeke takes Etaine's message to Admiral Bethon."

"Let me talk with Etaine," Tajlon requested. "I understand her to some extent."

"You may do so after we have a better handle on the situation," Anakron said.

"You know she isn't rational, Tajlon," Hal added. "We've all seen how Etaine reacts when she's upset and Bethon will never agree to her demands."

"I'm not so sure," Anakron said. "We'll wait for his response. Bethon has a curious relationship with Etaine and he was devastated when she left the Moz Lidule. I believe he'll come."

"What sort of relationship? I thought they despised one another," Hal said with a confused look.

"Apparently they found that thin line between love and hate.," Anakron said.

"Yeah, I can relate to that... " Hal shoved his hair back from his brow in frustration. "I never know which side of that line I'm on from one day to the next."

"Etaine certainly inherited Greyla's changeable nature," Tajlon said. He watched as Yoeke left and warped back to the Moz Lidule in the transport. The vastness of space made the situation even more depressing. "Greyla doesn't hate you Hal."

"That's what I keep telling myself."

"I happen to know Greyla loves you very much, Hal," Anakron said.

"How would you know that?" Hal asked.

"I’m not at liberty to say."

* * *

Anakron and Taljon joined Cratus on the bridge.

Widhbo had found a niche to suit his magiton body. "Here's where the action is, shipmates. Now that Yoeke has left I will be here a lot more."

"Admiral Bethon is holding a sector meeting to firm up alliances. He'll be here as soon as he can." Cratus informed them. "He’s agreed to meet with Etaine."

"Send notice we'll try to establish a safe arena in which to negotiate. Prepare to warp to Erizza, Lieutenant," Anakron said.

"Should I hail the Adder, Sir?"

"No. We don't owe Etaine any courtesy. We'll surprise her."

"How's your shield program coming along, Widhbo?" Tajlon asked. "Could you make one to hide the Lady Devora from Etaine?"

"Great minds think alike, Tajlon. I'm doing it now. It will be a good test run."

"How long will it take before it's active?" Anakron asked.

"I can make a demo by the time we get there." Widhbo replied. "You won't be sorry you gave me this new toy, Lord Anakron."

Arriving at the planet, Erizza, Lady Devora took up an orbit in the same plane as the Adder, their new stealth shield in place.

"The shield is active," Widhbo said. "Greyla and Etaine may be able to sense our presence in spite of it."

"Yes, but she wont' be able to see a target. Send a message to Etaine," Anakron ordered. "Tell her we have come in advance of Admiral Bethon in response to her request to meet with him."

"Done," Cratus said. "I'll transmit her responses directly back through the communication console."

Etaine's answer was prompt. "Welcome, Lord Anakron. You'll forgive the lack of hospitality. We weren't expecting you. I will have a proper reception prepared shortly." Her image on the screen appeared fuzzy, but they could see her crown and finery. The shields were distorting the transmission to some extent.

"No need. We're here strictly on business and don't plan to stay long, Etaine.," Anakron replied. "I've come to bring back my ambassadors. I wasn't expecting to have to retrieve them."

"Did you get my message?" Etaine asked. "I'm not getting a very clear picture. First Greyla blocks me and now you are hiding behind some new artifice. Not a very transparent way to do business."

"Your words are coming through clearly enough.,"Anakron said. "Admiral Bethon is on his way."

"I'm so glad." Etaine said with a happy sigh.

Tajlon approached the console. Anakron nodded. "Tajlon wishes to speak with you."

"Hello Tajlon," Etaine said. "I missed you."

"I've missed you too Etaine," Tajlon said, "But I'm disappointed by your actions. Let Greyla and Nova go. The admiral has agreed to see you and will come of his own accord. You are insulting him by this childish behavior and violating BakoNaat hospitality."

"You know nothing about the BakoNaat, Tajlon. Our rules of hospitality do not extend past the atmosphere of our planet."

"Have you removed all of the BakoNaat atmosphere from the Adder then? Tajlon asked.

Widhbo cackled to himself. "Oh yes, try getting around that one, Etaine."

"Don't be silly, Tajlon," Etaine said. She gave him a condescending look.

"You're the one splitting hairs, Etaine. You have to release them by your own rules."

"As queen, I make and break the rules here." Etaine said agitation growing in her voice. She raised her scepter to emphasize her point.

Tajlon clenched his fists, at a loss for ideas. Etaine clearly had the upper hand. '"As queen you should release your guests."

"And as Widhbo, I shall retrieve Lord Anakron's subjects." Widhbo said. He had the coordinates from his last visit and teleported to the bridge of the Adder. He pulled Greyla and Nova into his magiton body, then teleported back in a matter of seconds where he expelled them on the bridge as separate entities again.

Anakron suppressed a laugh. "Well, that's one way to do business."

"I'm glad that little experiment is over." Greyla breathed a sigh of relief as she collected herself. "Never again, Nova."

Nova laughed. "I rather enjoyed it. Oh, the things I could tell... "

"Shut up, Nova."

There was a sputtering back and forth in the BakoNaat language as the guards reported the incident to Etaine.

"That was rude!" Etaine shouted back, her color shifting to purple.

"Holding our ambassadors hostage was rude," Anakron said. "Shall I tell Bethon he is no longer needed?"

"If he wants my help, he'll come." Etaine's once honeyed sweet voice was grating and sharp. "And he'll stay."

"Anger isn't very becoming on you, Etaine," Tajlon said. He could see the physical changes begin, her body already forming scales.

"Admiral Bethon is on his way," Anakron said. "The two of you may work out the details. I'll notify you when he gets here." He signaled Cratus to stop the transmission. Etaine was cut her off before she could answer.

"She wants him to serve her for the same length of time as Lotee was held in servitude on the Moz Lidule," Greyla explained.

Anakron raised his eyebrows at that. "This should prove interesting. I want to see how Bethon handles this one."

"My bet's on Etaine getting exactly what she wants." Widhbo said. "Sending more power to the shields."

* * *

Anakron had called Tajlon into his private office. "I have good news, Tajlon. You have been enrolled in the Tor Academy to begin your training to become an elder. You are to leave this very day."

"What? No! I want to fight." Tajlon was caught offguard. He knew Anakron could read him as he struggled to control his emotions.

"I understand that, Tajlon," Anakron said. "I only let you go on the mission earlier because we thought you were the only way to attract the demon. He's decided to chase other things now. You were almost destroyed. I won't take a chance on your life again."

"You have my files. I can be regenerated if something goes wrong." Tajlon turned to leave the room.

“Regeneration can only produce a copy of you. It doesn’t justify recklessly throwing my subjects in the path of danger. This is real, Tajlon. The demon’s even more powerful now. Your very soul could be lost to him. I won't allow it," Anakron stood, blocking Tajlon’s path. "You need to forget about all of this. Our allied forces will deal with the situation. I'm going to make arrangements to have you sent on to the Tor Academy."

"No. I can't go now and leave the others. I won't."

"Are you defying me?" Anakron asked and followed his words with a mental reprimand.

Anakron's displeasure pierced Tajlon's mind, tearing past the guardchev and cutting to his core before the elder god released him. Tajlon gasped at the pain it caused him.

"I did not intend to challenge you, Lord Anakron," Tajlon said. "But I have more reason than anyone to be here. It's my father out there."

"Your father is essentially dead, and you know it. You can't save him, Tajlon.," Anakron said. "No one can."

"I just need to be here," Tajlon said, making one last plea, knowing Anakron would overrule.

"You don't need to watch us destroy him, or what’s left of him in this demon. I'm doing what's best for you. You have to let it go."

Tajlon sat down in resignation, head in hands.

"I'm sorry, Tajlon."

"No. You're right. I can't really change anything."

"Actually, I think it's better if you don't directly have a hand in it. It would haunt you forever."

"I want to see him released him from the demon's control."

"We'll do our best," Anakron assured him. "And the academy?"

"I'll go."

Anakron took a small capsule from his pocket, showing it to Tajlon. "I have managed to salvage some DNA from the pod that appears to be from Jejliard."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" He had not considered the possibility, but Jejliard had been on board the Sora while still in his mortal body. The prospect of regenerating his father was right in front of him. "You can produce him from that sample?"

"It's not enough. I'm giving it to Widhbo for safe keeping. He can search for a close match to complete the genetic sequences which are missing. I wish we had some of your DNA, but there was none to be found. I can make a duplicate of Jejliard, but it will just be a copy. It won't be Jejliard. Every life is unique, just as you are."

"Yes, I understand," Tajlon took the capsule and rolled it between his fingers. "Thank you."

"It could take hundreds of years or even a thousand or more to find a match."

Tajlon nodded, numb with grief and disappointment. A thousand years was beyond comprehension.

"What will I become in a thousand years, Lord Anakron?"

"Your father made a bold decision to risk implanting a chip in his son at such a young age. It turns out that decision has paved the way for you to become the youngest elder god on record. By the time we can produce another Jejliard, you will have been a god for a very long time."