All That Glitters Ch. 61

Dalman's right hand man, James Leary, did not like what he was seeing and hearing. The greater part of the people in the bleachers were not as responsive to Dalman's message as he would have liked. He was beginning to worry.

Dalman kept up his rant and was building a head of steam getting ready to unleash his people against the aliens. He shouted his final phrase, a message to unleash his people; "Get thee hence foul demons!"

His people shouted out their glee and pulled bats, sticks and metal rods hidden by their bodies and began to move down toward the floor of the venue when Junelliya lifted her hand and snapped her finger. The fifty plus members of Dalman's church suddenly froze in place, more than one of them tumbling to the ground. One of the most eager, who was practically running down the hillside to be the first to strike one of the aliens, fell over and rolled helplessly down the small hill to wind up perched on his left heal and right elbow, rocking back and forth beneath Junelliya's feet, his head the only thing he was able to move.

"You bad man," the voice of Ikekiya rang out in the sudden silence. "You no Christian people."

Dalman found himself as helpless as the others, however, he still had that which was his greatest weapon in his mind, his voice. He gave the little child a withering look as he spoke out against her comment. "We are Christians fighting for the rights of humans!" he called out.

"NO!" Zarreniya said emphatically. "You no Christians. Christian book say: Love thy neighbor. You no have love, You. No. Christian!"

The crowd around them cheered at the little girls comment, people calling out how the innocent noted the obvious.

"You wrong when you say they want to steal planet. We be children, children not want planet," Ikekiya said, turning to the children on the floor of the venue to call out loudly..."What do children want?"

As one the children shouted back: "WE WANT TO MOVE!"

Unexpectedly, they heard a lone voice call out, "HELLO CHILDREN!"

The children looked up into the bleachers and saw a lone woman waving at them as she made her way down to the floor.

The children recognized her immediately even though they had never met her in person, "MISS BARBARA!!"

As she stepped down on the floor, Barbara Coleman was swarmed by the children who all wanted to reach out and touch her. She looked up at Galine working the sound equipment on the stage and tapped her comp, getting a nod and a thumbs-up signal back. She opened her comp and flicked it to Galina's station and called out to the children to 'get into line!'

A moment later, she was standing on the raised stage and looking down at them. "Are we ready to move?" she asked, getting a resounding 'YES!!' from all the children on the floor, human and non-human alike.

Galina opened the music suite that she had been given and set it playing as Miss Barbara began to move, giving a broad counter-clockwise circle of her arm to indicate that the children should march around in a circle in that direction.

Knowing what to do, the children cheered loudly and began to follow the instructions from their favorite celebrity. For the next half hour, Miss Barbara had them all moving. She got them into lines to do line dancing, and had them swaying their hips, swinging their arms, and lifting legs in different patterns. Children from in the seats all ran down to join those on the floor, who showed them what to do while the adults looked on with obvious delight, the actions on the floor refuting the comments of the Right Reverand Dalman from the Church of the People.

Miss Barbara even included the Maha-Rrin children in their float chairs, getting them to follow behind the more able bodied as they moved around the floor. Some of those children stood up and, using their chairs as support, attempted to copy the others, much to the delight and very positive support of the crowd.

At one point, Barbara jumped down on the floor and started a conga line, hundreds of children strung out behind her, the float chairs intermixed with them, the amused children laughing with glee at the new dance step.

Those with parents in the audience ran up and pulled them down to the floor to join the conga line. The conga line of mixed human and non-human children and adults wound around the vast open area between the stage and the seats on the hillside as people laughed and cheered. The last few minutes of the session had become a true family affair.

As that music came to and end, Miss Barbara had wound the head of the line into the center of the pack of children. As the music stopped she jumped up and down and cheered for the children, who did the same, all of them more than excited to finally have met their idol. The parents, too, were reaching in to shake Miss Barbara's hand or just to touch her.

The 'Event in the Park', as it became known, had finally propelled Barbara Coleman into superstardom. She would forever be grateful for accepting the task of instruction to the children of the Piscium family.

Dalman and his people were stuck watching as all the children had fun together under the direction of Miss Barbara. Dalman seethed as he watched, unable in his paralyzed state to affect anything below him on the floor as people were ignoring his shouts and profanities. The police arrived and Junelliya released Dalman's group one by one, the audience around them cheering as each was cuffed and hauled away.

Galina came down to speak with Junelliya. "The Orchestra will take a few minutes to set up, can you provide some music in the mean time?" she asked.

"I am afraid that I must remain here while the police are taking away these people. Otherwise I will have to release them all at once and the police do not have the numbers to deal with them. Why not let the children play for the Mylatrin?" Junelliya suggested. "I think that this crowd would appreciate if they sang in Byandi.

************

From five hundred light years away, the court of the Mylatrin grinned savagely at the situation that the members of the Church of the People had found themselves in.

"That was spectacular to watch," the Mylatrin told her daughter Alafka. "Such an unexpected but very welcome birthday gift to see one of those kinds dealt with so efficiently."

She watched as the children had met and been instructed by Miss Barbara. While the Mylatrin had heard of the young human, she had never actually witnessed her performances before.

Now, the Piscium children were setting up on stage on either side of Artra. "Is that Arttra?" someone in her court asked. Seeka, who was a guest of the Mylatrin, confirmed that it was.

************

The children finished setting up and addressed the crowd. "Hello. This is called a Cattass. It is from the Byandi. This person is our instructor, she is Mainiss Arttra, the best Cattass player from Mylatinyl. We sing a song by Seeka, our friend. It called 'Castada sa Mylatina' which mean 'Mylatin's Heavenly Castle'."

Artra lead the small group of three playing the song on the Cattass as it was normally played, by a single person. The children then joined in using their knowledge of harmony that they had recently learned from their music lessons by Clemente Armando, to add to the piece. On the next bar, the children then added their tiny voices to the song.

This piece was normally done by a single singer, with no harmonies as it was a song of loss and reunion when a loved one went to Mylatin's house and met again their lost love. But when the children added harmonies to the song, it made it sound even more beautiful and melancholy.

People on both sides of the wide gulf of interstellar space were surprised by the rich harmony of this piece especially as it was coming from just two children.

************

"Seeka, what have they done with your song?" the Mylatrin asked of her favourite singer.

"I do not know, My Liege, however, I like it. May I?" she asked of the Mylatrin, who gave her a brilliant smile in answer. Seeka stepped into the view of the camera...

************

Seeka stepped forward until she filled the screens at the venue. Just before the children began the next verse, she took up a long note to enter the verse ahead of them, taking it from the children. Her rich, mature, voice, filled the space left by the children as she sang alone for several moments. At a part of the song that leant itself naturally to the addition of other singers, the children came in with their harmonies to compliment Seeka. Seeka smiled as the children added their voices.

As Seeka came to the refrain, her voice and that of the children were added to by many of the Byandi in the crowded venue. As the refrain continued, more Byandi voices were added, giving the song an unexpected richness that it truly deserved. More Byandi, young and old alike, added their voices, a first for Seeka as this song had always been a solo singer's piece.

Seeka began the last verse of the song, this time the children singing with her throughout. As they came to the refrain, which would be sung twice, all of the Byandi in the venue added their voices.

***********

In the Castada ne Mylatin, Mylatrin Adriné stepped up beside Seeka and sang the refrain along with her. Her voice was soon added by the voices of those in her Court. Seeka had always sung the second refrain as a voice thrown out to be returned by another. This time, she began the verse with those in the court, the second line of which was completed and returned by those on Liramor Prime. When the song ended, there wasn't a sound on either end of the connection, and then a roar of approval beginning on Liramor Prime reached to those in the Court.

"Ikekiya, Zarreniya, this has always been my favourite song," Mylatrin Adriné told them after several minutes of applause. "Now it is doubly so because of what you have done to it.

"I think this will be my second favourite birthday ever," she said with a smile.

"Second favourite, Mother?" Alafka asked.

Adriné smiled at her daughter. "My first favourite was the birthday I discovered I was pregnant with you, Alafka."

That got a bi 'AWE' and a cheer from the crowd.

Junelliya smiled at the comment from Adriné. She turned on Dalman, who was now ready to be taken away.

"This is what you would have taken away from the people of Liramor Prime by your attempted attack earlier," she said in a scathing manner to Dalman. "My daughter is correct; you have no love in your heart. As such, you are not fit to be the leader of your congregation, the priest of your church, nor any leader of Christian faithful.

"Good-bye Mr. Dalman. I hope our paths never cross again."

Dalman was furious. "You will regret this you witch! You and your children!" he shouted at Junelliya. Dalman vowed that he would have his revenge against those who supported the aliens, especially the Piscium family. He was quickly whisked away.

On the stage, the children stood and bowed to Arttra. Ikekiya addressed the crowd once more. "Mainiss is title for one who has mastered an art. Arttra is Mainiss of Cattass. Please give big hand for Mainiss Arttra."

Arttra stood and took a bow. She sat and gave a very brief explanation about the Cattass and how it was played, showing how you got four notes per string by pressing down or pulling up. She then began to play her chosen instrument, wowing the crowd.

The people of Liramor Prime did not know the Cattass but they knew a true master of the instrument when they heard one. Arttra ran through the capabilities of the Cattass in spectacular fashion often surprising the listeners who gave a roar of approval once she finished.

By now, the orchestra was ready. The conductor came and shook the hands of Arttra and the children, thanking them for their efforts in the evenings concert.

The remainder of the evening was pleasantly filled with music and the conductor even had Junelliya come to the stage. She did not play her signature piece but, like Arttra, she did show off her virtuosity with her chosen instrument. All-in-all, the crowd left the venue having thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

Crew Quarters, Sierra Deck, Liramor-23, The Piscium System

Satrina Kalenka finally arrived on Liramor-23 on the 27^th of December. She met up with Gregory Dorman at the New Year's celebrations and they became a 'hot' item. It was a ruse that allowed them to plan their attack together.

With Dorman's knowledge of the geography of the platform, they both decided the best place to complete the assassination would be in the Food Court, as Raymond often frequented the food stalls there whenever he was on the station. They began to make plans for how they would set up the attack and how they would escape.

Because assassins often had to take their targets down at close quarters, they didn't always survive the attack, never mind escape. But this pair were determined to complete the mission first, then escape in the aftermath.

The pair looked at several scenarios that would give them the best opportunity to get away. They finalized on one, creating chaos. It had worked frequently in the past for other assassins and thieves, helping them escape their situation. They thought it had the best chance of allowing them to complete the mission and get away unscathed.

By the end of the first week of January 2488, they were ready. Now they just had to allow for luck to present their best opportunity to take down the target. It would be a long wait for that chance but assassins were known for their patience...

L-1894 The Piscium Apartment, Liramor-23, 109 Piscium System

It was the second week of January at the Piscium apartment, with Liea, Raymond, Kim, and Gillaya, in attendance at supper. They had just received news of The House of Ur Trading Company's latest success.

"Well, it looks like Caye-Ur has done it again. She has more than tripled her expected profits from her latest voyage," Liea commented. "That will mean larger dividends for us." The last was said with a pleasant smile.

"That mean we get more money?" Zarreniya asked hopefully.

"I believe so, Zarry," Liea stated. "However, you would have to ask Caye about that.

"OK, she here now, we ask," Zarreniya explained, looking at the door to the apartment. To no one's surprise, the door chime sounded. Zarreniya flicked her hand and the door quietly whisked open. "Hi, Aunty Caye!"

"Hi Zarreniya! Where is Ikekiya?" Caye asked.

"She resting on couch. We have big day and older people need sleep," Zarreniya said with a smile that garnered giggles from the adults.

"Be good to your sister, Zarreniya," Hanalei admonished but with a smile showing on her face.

"Liea say you have good trip?" Zarreniya asked.

"Yep, very good trip, and yes, that means you get bigger dividends from The House of Ur for your stake on this trip." That brought a smile to Zarreniya.

"We give back to you for next trip," Zarreniya informed them getting a smile from Caye-Ur.

With a little 'Eeep', Ikekiya suddenly woke up and looked over the couch at those sitting around the table. Zarreniya was instantly by her side and touching her sister. A bright smile blossomed on her face and she was practically dancing on her toes.

"Raymond, Aurelia have her babies," Ikekiya told them. "She name babies for you and momma."

"She named her baby after me?" Junelliya asked, surprised.

"Uh huh, but not first name," Ikekiya explained.

"I should call her," Raymond said with a smile.

"No Raymond," Ikekiya admonished. "She tired now. She call soon."

"I am always so surprised when Ikekiya makes her pronouncements," Caye said with reverence in her voice.

Sometime later, just after they had finished their meal and were sitting watching a children's show on the large 3D monitor, Raymond got the call he was expecting. He paused the show and threw the call to the monitor.

Aurelia was sitting in a bed, holding the two children in her arms as she looked out on the scene in the Piscium apartment. Raymond and Lie were sitting on the floor in front of the couch that had all of the Piscium family on it, with Kim, Gillaya, and a Pod-Drran she did not recognize standing behind it.

"How are little Raymond and Junelliea doing?" Raymond asked with a smile, surprising Aurelia.

"How did you know?" Aurelia demanded.

"Ikekiya informed us earlier," Hanalei explained, giving her daughter a hug.

"Ah yes, I had heard that she was now considered a Seeress. I guess I have proof of that fact now," Aurelia smiled back at them.

"I am pleased to announce the birth of my two children. My first born is Elizabeth Junelliea Adenomere and the expected heir of the family. That is contrary to existing traditions on Alliance worlds.

"My second born is William Raymond Adenomere. I apologize that I could not give your names as first names, however, your legacy within the Adenomere family is now assured," Aurelia told them with a pleased smile.

"Will their names not spark controversy?" Fayad asked.

"For some, yes. But, in the minds of the majority of the people of the Alliance, Raymond and Junelliya are the two most prominent of those who helped the Alliance out of a major situation and that will engender pride in the names of my two children," Aurelia promised them.

They spoke for several minutes but just before they cut the signal, Ikekiya made another prediction.

"Aurelia, you children have long life and be very famous in Alliance," she prophesied. "They make you proud."

That brought a smile to Aurelia's face as she thanked Ikekiya and closed the link.

"Are you sure, Ikekiya?" her mommy asked.

"Yes, mommy. They be good for Alliance and Union," Ikekiya informed them.

Later, after all the guests had gone, Junelliya felt a hug at her knees. She looked down to see a worried Zarreniya looking back up at her. She knelt by her daughter.

"What's wrong, Zarry?" she asked, softly brushing her hair with her hand.

"Ikeki have scarry dream again, momma, and many small parts of dream," she told her mothers as Hanalei had also knelt to hear what was going on.

"Small parts...snippets of the dream?" Hanalei asked.

"Snippets?" Zarry smiled at learning a new word. "Yes, she have snippets and sometimes all dream. We no like."

Both Hanalei and Junelliya were aware that Zarreniya was the better telepath of the pair of children. While Ikekiya would often not want to share things about her dreams with Zarreniya, she could not hide her thoughts and the images from her younger sister. While Ikekiya had developed more of her abilities to see the future, Zarreniya had developed her telepathy to the point that Ikekiya could no longer prevent her sister from seeing whatever she saw in her dreams.

That was not always a bad thing as the two could then compare aspects of the dreams Ikekiya saw. Sometimes they would just talk about the dreams in general, trying to make sense of them but there were times when Ikekiya did not want to share things with her sister.

Junelliya gave Zarreniya over to Hanalei and went to sit with Ikekiya. "Are you having dreams again, Ikekiya?" she asked. "I see that you are rather upset lately."

Ikekiya nodded. She knew she could not keep things from her parents but she often tried. She fell against her momma for a big hug.

"My bad dream come more often now, momma, and I see small parts that change. Why?" she asked, her body shaking.

"Small parts...snippets?" Junelliya asked, getting a smile from Ikekiya for the new word. "Why don't we ask someone who can answer that question?" Junelliya suggested, opening her comp. A few moments later, an image came up and she threw it to the room's main 3D monitor.