All That Glitters Ch. 51

She finished in front of Garnal and Shallel, both of whom were smiling at her.

"Wow! Your list of accomplishments in school are better than mine!" Shallel said. That got a bark of laughter from Garnal.

"What do you expect, Shallel. None of our parents would have been pleased with wishy-washy results from any of us," Garnal said. She had to let Grace go as the leadership of the Greater Community came to give personal congratulations to her. Images were taken, including a group image of all with Grace in front of the Greater Community leaders and one the same with all the graduates and the leaders.

Grace was on a high that lasted well into the night, not allowing her to fall asleep until well into the morning. She would be a tired young woman when she arrived at Denders, ready to reprise her new role as EA to Fiona Marsh.

Warship Astigalin, The Dalagent System, Eighty-Six Light Years from AsocAR, The Asocan Realm

Master Chief Petty Officer Mark Prestel assembled the slaves together in the largest available room of the Astigalin. He had good news and bad news for them. He didn't like doing this, however, as the Boatswain for the Astigalin, he was in charge of the common slaves. A few of the officers and senior enlisted men had private slaves of their own but the rest of the crew was assigned slaves as required or as a reward. Prestel was responsible for ensuring that the crew's needs were met by the Astigalin's common slaves.

"Many of you are aware that Lindsey was badly hurt by Master Johnson a few days ago," Prestel began. "There has been a trial on this issue and Master Johnson has been condemned to death by Captain Joseph Matteus. The Admiral has signed off on the order. Johnson will be placed in the airlock and ejected into space before the first shift in the morning."

As most of the slaves had been beaten by Johnson at one time or another, they were all very pleased to hear this. However, showing that pleasure was another thing, they were slaves after all.

"What about Lindsey, Master Prestel?" asked Hilda, the senior slave on the ship.

"She is beyond our ability to help her," the Boatswain gave them the bad news. "We have given her to the Asocans to bring to their local hospital. We hope that they will be able to do more for her than we can."

"Will they be able to help her, Master Prestel?" Hilda asked.

"I honestly do not know, Hilda, however, there is little that we can do. She will die without more advanced care than we can provide," Prestel admitted.

"She must be pretty bad then if we have passed her off to the Asocans," Hilda told the other slaves. "I would not expect her to return to this fleet."

The other slaves looked around at each other. Death for slaves in the Alliance was a common theme. There was little they could do about it. They would mourn the loss of their friend, later, away from the ever watchful eyes of the Masters.

Day Fifteen of the Second Denders Summit, Gold Conference Room, Denders Resort, Terra, The Sol System

The leadership cheered as Grace came into the conference room for the morning brief. She blushed a little but then sat down behind her principle, Fiona Marsh, smiling brightly.

"Good morning all," Sylvia began. "Today is the last day of political activity for the Second Denders Summit. Starting at 1400 hrs, the stage on the beach will conduct the second Interspecies Partnership Concert.

"As before, this will be a live performance from around the Greater Community, with many of the performers actually here at Denders. The event has been planned out for several months now, so sit back today and enjoy the concert.

"Juanita..."

"Thank-you, Silvia. The President would like to extend his gratitude for those of you who came to his daughter's graduation last night. He hopes that you enjoyed the event."

Everyone chimed in with comments confirming that before laughing and allowing Juanita to continue.

"Tomorrow, we will be conducting a media scrum in the theater. I would ask that the leaders be available for a few questions at that time. We hope it will not be too much of an imposition on you. This will be the last official event of the summit. Then we will begin to move the participants back into the ships that you came here on and prepare to leave Terran space for your home worlds.

"I am available today, as usual, if you need anything in regards to requests for the UDC and the new Ministry of Interplanetary Affairs for the Greater Community.

"On Monday, I will take up my residency at the Johal Consulate. I look forward to serving the Greater Community in that role for a few years to come. Thank-you all for all that we have managed to accomplish over the last two weeks."

The leadership cheered and praised Juanita, wishing her all the best in her new role.

"Henadi..."

"Thank-you, Juanita. The management of Denders Resort would like to extend its thanks to the Greater Community for another successful summit held at this location. We look forward to other future events. Bookings for vacations from the various races have expanded since last year. The year ahead looks to be the best year yet for Denders and that is a direct correlation with the two summits. They have been showcases for Denders Resort to the Greater Community.

"I look forward to participating in future events, whether they be leadership summits, ministerial summits, or other events. Denders is and will be at your disposal for future events."

That comment received an ovation from the leadership.

"Silvia..."

"Thank-you Henadi. I shall go around the room for points or problems. There were no problems but several points were brought forward for future events.

The leadership was eagerly looking forward to the start of the Second Interspecies Partnership Concert in the afternoon.

The Beach Stage, Denders Resort, Terra, The Sol System

At 1400 hrs, the crowd on the beach had grown to enormous proportions. Food and beverage venders had been brought to the resort in anticipation of the crowds but they could just barely keep ahead of the crowd's demands.

The emcee took to the stage to a gigantic roar. "Ladies and gentlemen, gentle beings, I would like to introduce to you our first performer...reprising her role from last year, CIARA!"

Ciara Collins came out from behind the curtains in a fiery mood. She danced her way to the front of the stage singing one of her better known songs to the approval of the audience. The mood was festive and Ciara got the crowd singing, moving, jumping, and dancing. She went through a number of her favourite songs and came to the end of her set.

"I want to call out a very dear friend of mine since last year. Someone I met via vid-link, right here on this stage but who is now here in person...Seeka!"

The audience cheered as Seeka came out to sing Ciara's newest and biggest hit together with the star. A thunderous roar was the answer from the crowd at the end of the song as Seeka now took over the stage.

"I want to return the favour to my new friend, who says she knows one of my songs!" Seeka said as she and Ciara sang a song that Seeka had sung earlier in the week. The audience loved it as Ciara and her band left the stage and Seeka began her set. In the middle of her set, Seeka told the crowd that she wanted to bring out two promising young stars to help her with the next song.

The crowd exploded as Ikekiya and Zarreniya came out with their Ukulele and Seeka pulled out one of her own. "These two little singers have been teaching me how to play the Ukulele!" Seeka told the laughing mob.

The two children began to play one of Seeka's songs and she took up the tune with them, their immature voices doing a commendable job of staying with the Byandi superstar, while singing in the Byandi language. At the end of the song, she knelt down and got hugs and kisses from her little stars. They stayed on the stage for the next song, showing the crowd how to dance Byandi style, much to the delight and amusement of the throng, who cheered mightily as the two tykes left the stage.

Seeka played two more songs then the large monitors opened up on a stage from the Pod-Drran home world of Pod-Saar where their top entertainers took up the next set. Near the end of their set, Junelliya came out onto the stage with her Luttrell and did a set of three songs with her former students playing their instruments from Pod-Saar. She finished off by playing the Song of Life, pushing her power into the song for the audience's enjoyment. Junelliya bowed with the linked performers from Pod-Saar to the cheers of the horde.

The remainder of the day continued with group after group performing live or via link from all around the Greater Community or from around the Union. As the day wound down, the crowd was anticipating the start of the fireworks when the emcee came out with a special announcement.

"Ladies and gentlemen, gentle beings, we have a special surprise tonight as members of the Terran Militia and the President's Navy Orchestra will play the 1812 Overture live with canons!"

The orchestra quickly took up their seats and began to play the opening piece of the overture. As they segued into a lull the first canon shot rent the air, scaring everyone in the crowd who was not familiar with the piece, mostly the members of the Greater Community, and even many who were.

"Are these humans insane?" the Mylatrin Adriné screamed after being badly frightened by the first shot of the canon, her daughter laughing hysterically at her mother's plight.

The music continued till near the end when the canon starting going off at regular intervals which suddenly ended with a crescendo of canon fire that signalled the start of the fireworks.

Most of the members of the Greater Community had not been at Denders the year before and had only seen the fireworks as images from afar. Seeing them live was a delightful surprise for them. They cooed and awed with the humans as the sparkles lit up the night sky.

As the fireworks went on in the background, the emcee was saying her goodnight from Denders Resort to those following via the media. The cameras scanned the crowds, briefly alighting on each of the leaders of the Greater Community, including the President, his date, and his daughter as they eagerly watched the fireworks going off. The image faded to black and the media show ended.

Selta Shall, ShemetAR, The Dalagent System, Eighty-Six Light Years from AsocAR, The Asocan Realm

"What have you done?" Shugrand, the youngest daughter of Martte Unaayel demanded of her elder cousin, Tarrest (note: only siblings of the same clutch are considered brothers and sisters. Siblings from another clutch by the same mother are considered cousins).

"What? Are you not pleased with being named Martte, Shugrand?" Tarrest asked, a sneer in her voice.

"Only the sitting Asoc can bestow the title of Martte on a subject, Tarrest. By having our mother declare us Martte, she is openly raising the flag of rebellion against Asoc >Catal Mutt Herrtt," Shugrand said.

"Yes, this I know, Shugrand. I am mother's strategist," Tarrest insisted. "I will go with her to AsocAR to help her claim the title that she was refused so many years ago. You have been named by mother as Raddon of ShemetAR. That will be temporary, as mother intends to reward the current line of the Mutt Shemet with the responsibility for ShemetAR, giving them title for the planet in place of the line of Mutt Shemet that originally opened the planet and then died out.

"After that happens, you will be moved to a new position, probably on AsocAR." Tarrest turned and left.

"She is a fool," Shugrand muttered under her breath.

"How so?" asked Gashafen Mutt Shemet, the Aide to the Raddon, now her aide.

She has sharp ears, Shugrand thought to herself.

"My mother and cousin have attempted three times before to depose Asoc >Catal. Because they never openly declared their involvement in those coup attempts, they were never formally charged with them. By openly declaring themselves in rebellion, if the coup fails, they will be executed, as will I, all our mates, and any adult children in our lines.

"My elder cousin thinks she is a grand strategist but she has failed on three separate occasions, only keeping us alive because everything was done behind the scenes. I was too young to participate the last three times. That is no longer the case. Having been named Martte by my mother and made Raddon of ShemetAR, even if only temporarily, I will be executed with those fools when they fail again," Shugrand explained.

"Do you expect your mother's attempt to fail?" Gashafen asked.

"Yes. Plainly put, they are both fools," Shugrand stated, pessimistically. "They will do something stupid which will wind up costing them the contempt of the people and the title of Asoc, resulting in our deaths."

Shugrand did not have to wait long for her statement to be proved correct...

Main Cafeteria, Denders Resort, Terra, The Sol System

Conversation at breakfast was from the various teens talking about the amazing show that they had witnessed the day before, including the 1812 Overture and the fireworks. Even the adults were gushing over the event.

Shallel came over to where Grace was sitting with her boss and with Raymond and Liea's gang. A couple of chairs over was the Piscium family. The children happily eating scrambled eggs while chatting with their fellow stars, Ciara, and Seeka.

"I am going to miss you, Grace," Shallel said as she hugged her friend. "I will keep in touch as often as I can."

"You can send e-mails to me with media content if you want, that way I can take time returning your messages. We only need to go live with each other a few times a month," Grace suggested, getting a nod from Shallel.

"I will do that and will suggest it to Garnal. I regularly talk with her but she, like me, is going to be busy with university this year so we will not have the same opportunities to talk live," Shallel said.

"I know what you mean. It is going to be very busy for me as well," Grace admitted.

Seeka and Ciara were having a great time with their two favourite performers. They had been to their villa several times over the last week, where Seeka had learned to play the Ukulele and practiced her song and Ciara's song in private. It had been a wonderful week but the star knew she would be back to work soon. This week, she was off to a Byandi planet that she had never been to before and the free advertisement from the Interspecies Partnership Concert meant that ticket sales had soared.

She had to admit, that her place as the number one performer of the Byandi was getting harder and harder to maintain. The up and coming newcomers were trying to knock her off her perch. They would eventually succeed, she knew, but not this year.

Ciara had discussed with her about doing a roving concert series together in Union and Byandi space. Seeka liked the idea and their promoters were working out possible planning for the series in the next entertainment year, which for the Byandi, started in six months. That was fine for Ciara as she had no commitments from that point onwards. A joint concert series would be a first for the Greater Community.

Everyone was in high spirits as they made their way over to the conference center.

Day Sixteen, Last Day of the Second Denders Summit, Gold Conference Room, Denders Resort, Terra, The Sol System

"Welcome all to the last day of the Second Denders Summit. Congratulations on the successful completion of this event. The President will be here at 0900 hrs, when we will conduct a joint media scrum for the Greater Community leadership on the events of the last sixteen days. They have been rather remarkable.

"Juanita..."

"Thank-you Sylvia. I would like to extend my personal thanks and that of Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Michelle Lourdes to all of the ministers and leaders that we worked with these last few days. While we bargained hard, we did well for each of our peoples," Juanita stated, getting applause from the group.

"Tomorrow, I will be taking up residence in the Johal Compound and will be the face of the Ministry of Interspecies Affairs for the Greater Community, having been placed under his wing as the Foreign Affairs office was partitioned. Assistant Minister Lourdes is also moving to work under Minister Ronter as Assistant Minister of Interspecies Affairs for the Greater Community.

"We look forward to working with all of you now that we can place faces to names," Juanita ended.

"Hanalei..."

"Thank-you, Juanita. Denders has had another successful summit that we can all be proud of. We have seen many amazing things and have participated in events meant, not only for business, but for family as well.

"Denders Resort remains available to all members of the Greater Community as a vacation destination resort. You are all welcome here at any time in the future," she finished, getting applause from the group.

"Sylvie..."

"Thank-you, Hanalei. Starting later this evening, your people are scheduled to begin leaving the resort. The Leadership is scheduled to leave tomorrow morning. Those who are staying in villas will be picked up at their residences and transported directly to their shuttles. All of the others are required to arrive at the departure point in the Plaza del Sol at their appointed time.

"With the number of people who will be moving in and out of here over the next two days, it is important to make your timings. Please ensure that your people understand this.

"We hope that you have enjoyed your stay at Denders," Sylvie finished.

Denders Theater, Denders Resort, Terra, The Sol System.

The media was out in force as the leadership of the Greater Community took its assigned seats on the stage. They were screaming for attention until one of the UDC staff stood up and raised her hands. The screaming suddenly ceased.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the media. I would like to point out that the leadership of the Greater Community is not used to the kinds of media scrum that we humans normally participate in. As a result, we ask that you tone down your normal levels of excitement," she said, getting some chuckling from the media.

"We will try to keep this as polite as possible. Should you decide to breach etiquette, you will be asked to leave the theater and will not have the opportunity to ask questions or record the events of the day.

"Now, I believe that the media were all assigned numbers, you will be allowed to ask two questions in numerical order. You may ask the questions of whomever you wish. I know affiliates will take advantage of this to stack your questions, that is fine. Please pay attention to the questions that have been asked and try not to duplicate them. Please, state your name and your affiliation when you ask your questions. Thank-you.

"Number one, is from the Interplanetary News Network," she said.

The gentleman from IPNN rose and asked of the Asoc; "Asoc, we saw a rather interesting spectacle the other day after you left the teen dance that the President had arranged for his daughter, Grace, and her friends. You did come across as rather scary initially. Can you explain what happened?" he asked.

"This was not just a teen dance but a dance for all ages. It was the first time that we, the leadership of the Greater Community, had the opportunity to do a family dance together with all of our family members. It was a generally happy event. I was rather pleased with things that night, until I left the venue and saw all of those people there. They spoiled my mood and I was angry at that. For that, I apologize. It was not right of me to take out my anger on those people, even if they deserved it.