All That Glitters Ch. 61

"Liramor-31 will arrive in system in early March while Pallanders Six will arrive at the end of March. At that time, the passenger service on both runs will start making a profit for the owners.

"Just so you know, the Sprawl II Class uses the entire third deck for cargo so there will now be a twice daily cargo run from Liramor Prime and Terra for our Concourse. That should please everyone," Fayad finished.

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

Hanalei was speaking with High Gurn Praatra Mutt Korld with Martte Garnal and Mylat Alafka in attendance. They were discussing issues with the second level of the Good Governance Programme which was designed for those who would be the mayors of large cities.

"I am not sure if the first level or the second level is more appropriate for new Gurn," Hanalei was saying.

"I would think that would depend on the size of the Mutt Line in question," Alafka put her two hundredth credits in, getting nods of agreement from Garnal. Both of them had nearly completed the first course of the programme, that which was aimed at the mayors of villages and small towns.

"However, the programme will need to be tweaked extensively for Asocans as many of the points of the human programme have no counterpart to Asocan politics," Garnal added.

"That is also true for the Byandi," Alafka admitted. "But I am amazed at how much I have learned about governing just from this portion of the programme, especially so the parts on ethics."

"How far along are you in the second portion, Hanalei?" Praatra demanded.

"I have completed almost two-thirds of the programme but that is because the Political Department of Malton University is taking notice of the purpose of the three of us attending the programme. We are getting nearly one-on-one instruction and that allows us to move at a much faster pace," Hanalei explained.

"What is the next level of the programme?" Praatra asked.

"From here we go to State Governor level, then Regional Governor, Continental Governor, then Planetary Governor/President. That would be the equivalent of the Raddon," Hanalei informed her. "I would see the Beerlendl achieve one level higher as they must understand the possible ramifications of their decisions within the higher context of their specific Beerlen. Ergo, Beerlen for a lower Mutt Line must be able to understand what happens one level above them. The exception being the Planetary Beerlendl.

"How long does it take to go through the programme?" Praatra wanted to know.

"The programmes are designed as a three month study but they are also designed to be built on as you progress through the level of duties. So, if you go into politics at a higher level, then you have to complete the programme up to the point you are at. You are then expected to take the next level forward but you are given time to do that.

"Most humans in the programme have already completed the programme they need by the time the move up to the next level," Hanalei stated.

"So, dependant on your level, it could be more than a year of study if you suddenly become a Planetary Beerlendl or a Raddon?" Praatra asked.

"Yes but that would be a very rare occurrence as most people progress through the political levels on a measured scale. Even if you are chosen to be promoted to a certain position by the Asoc, you will still have some lower position that gives the Asoc an idea of what you are capable of. You would only have to catch up with what you are missing," Hanalei indicated.

"Would the university be willing to send people to train us?" Praatra demanded.

"Of course they would. I would suggest, thought, that the first people trained by them should be your own professors so they could then teach your people. They know better than humans what would be necessary for Asocans," Hanalei told them.

"That makes sense to me, though I would think that there would be a large amount of students for the first few courses in the programme," Garnal conjectured.

"Understandable," Praatra replied. "And I would think that much of this would be available as an online programme?"

"Yes, because of the duties that most politicians face, they would not have the time to conduct classes in the programme, though certain classes would be required attending," Hanalei answered.

"Under normal circumstances, politicians would only be given so much power until they finished the appropriate level of the programme. Once that is completed., they then would be allowed to act independently but within the framework of the local laws," she finished.

"Can you send me the first part of the human programme?" Praatra asked getting a smile from Hanalei.

"I can also send you the modifications that I have made vis-à-vis the Asocan requirements," Hanalei stated.

"I would like to see that after I have made my own evaluations. It would be interesting to compare our individual insights.

That got a nod from Hanalei.

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

At the end of January, Hanalei was surprised to get a message from Sylvie Triand as it was not one of her regular call times. She threw the image to the main monitor.

"Hello, Sylvie, to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?" Hanalei asked.

"Hi, Hanalei," Sylvie replied with a huge smile. "I have an invitation to a viewing for you and your family."

Sylvie flicked something on her comp to Hanalei who felt her comp ping and rumble. She opened the folder and saw something very surprising.

"OH!! Drane had her clutch!" Hanalei shouted, surprising everyone in the apartment. They all came running into the living room area to see what was up.

"Yep." Sylvie said simply. "As per tradition, the first five days after the birth are private for the family to bond together. After which, it is customary to bring extended family and close friends for a 'Viewing' of the clutch. They are known as the 'Twellery' and are very special to the couple.

"The list is not that long and is quite impressive. It includes the President and his First Lady, the Asoc and Asost, Fiona Marsh, Capt. Émilia Pétillante, Grace Holloway, Grand Dragon Senior Ambassador Alvoie Mutt Semt and Dragon Junior Ambassador Utan Mutt Beng, High Gurn Teega Mutt Shumett, High Gurn Bellden Mutt Hoylle, the Piscium Family under Gurn Piscium, the parents of the young couple, and myself and my husband Trevor. These people, with the exception of the two High Gurn and their parents, were all instrumental in getting the pair into the Denders Resort swamp.

"The Asoc will be bringing those from AsocAR while I believe that the Ambassadors plan to make use of the new Terra-Piscium Passenger Service. That just leaves you and Fiona to arrange transportation for but both of you have your own ships.

"The event is scheduled for the Third of February," Sylvie informed her.

The family was very excited to have the chance to go to Denders for a couple of days, especially at this time of the year.

Denders Resort, South-West Coast of North America, Terra, The Sol System

The family had a new home away from home as Hanalei had ordered and paid for a new private villa just for them at the resort. The villa was slightly larger then the one they had used previously and had not only a Grand Piano but the same mini-grand that the children used on Liramor-23, a Zufran 1238 piano which allowed the children to sit at it and use the pedals where they would not be able to do so on the full-sized piano.

The villa had a large Master Suite and six smaller suites for guests or staff. It also came with the services of a full-time maid and butler to tend to their needs. The children were happy to be back at Denders, especially in February when the temperature was much cooler but still warm. It made for a much better environment for them.

After a couple of days at the resort, Hanalei was contemplating changing the time of the Summer Summits but, truth be told, it was the height of tourist season for humans at Denders and that would restrict people from getting reservations at this time of the year.

Because of the specific accommodations built for each of the races of the Greater Community, there was also a healthy number of Interspecies members at the resort with the Harradi and Byandi enjoying the temperature much better than in high summer.

All-in-all, this meant that Denders numbers would be good going forward. Hanalei was happy with that, even if it meant the high heat and humidity of the summer months for the Summits.

Hanalei heard the piano and looked over to see the children on the little piano practicing their scales. She smiled at their dedication. Some of the staff from Denders had helped bring in the other musical instruments, including the children's Cattass, guitars, their Ukeleles, and Junelliya's Luttrell. The villa would be filled with music for the few days they would be here.

"Hello?" someone called out from the open door and the children screamed out in surprise. "Aunty Aghavni!" They ran to her to envelope her legs in hugs causing her to laugh.

"Well, hello to you two as well. Did I hear you practicing when I came in?" she asked.

"Yes, will you play with us, Aunty Aghavni? You can have your own piano," Zarreniya informed her. She looked over and saw the two piano's sitting beside each other and smiled.

"Why not? What shall we play?" she asked as she moved to the instrument.

The children had built up their repertoire since she had last heard them play, which surprised her. She let the children lead as they were a little slower than she was used to but that wasn't a surprise because of their age and their basic piano level, which was still early in their music development. Still, the children were remarkably good for having studied the piano less than six months. It probably wouldn't be long until they moved up to the intermediate level and be capable of keeping up with her on most pieces. She was actually looking forward to that. She wondered how much they might change by the next Summit.

After some time playing, the maid brought in a tea service and sweet pastries for all. The children gave her big hugs and lots of thanks for the treats, which the maid just loved.

"Hello?" a male voice called out from the door. "I heard music...is this the House of Piscium?"

"Mr. Pwesident!" the children screamed and ran to the door go get hugs from him and his First Lady.

"I knew if I followed the music, I would find you," the President quipped. The adults all rose and gave the President and his first lady a bow, which he quickly told them to stop. "I am in your home, so please let us drop the formality here."

"Why are you here today, Sir?" Fayad asked.

"I came to greet the Asoc and her entourage, who should be on the ground shortly," the President explained. He and the First Lady sat down for some tea which flustered the maid to no end.

It was a half hour later that they heard from outside; *Yalta Ernish!* (Hello the house) To which Hanalei called back *Breta ne >Ka!* (Translates directly as Come and Stay but more indirectly as Come in and stay awhile).

Hanalei and the children rose and approached the front of the villa just as the Asoc >Catal Mutt Herrtt, and the Asost <Korme Mutt Goult, came through the open door.

*Welcome to our humble abode, Asoc,* Hanalei said in Asocan with a bow while using the hand signal for an adult of lower station to that of an adult of higher station.

Both the Asoc and Asost smiled. "You are getting much better in Asocan, Gurn Piscium," the Asoc said happily to Hanalei,. "Palda Ikekiya, Palda Sharreniya, it is good to see the two of you again." (because of their mouthparts, Asocans can not imitate the 'Z' sound so Zarreniya comes out as Sharreniya to them). The pair received hugs from the three.

The children also greeted the Asoc and Asost *Hurl< ana Asoc. Hurl< ana Asost,* (Welcome Asoc, Welcome Asost) they said in unison in Asocan while giving the lift of the head and hand gesture that indicated a child addressing an adult.

The children looked around the pair for Varren but didn't see her. "Where is Varren?" a disappointed Ikekiya asked.

"We left her on AsocAr to do her duties as Martte in our place. There is nothing scheduled and she has Treäk> to support her. If anything serious arises, we will be contacted. It is good for her to do this even at her young age," the Asost informed them.

The Asoc was next greeted by Fayad and Junelliya. "Welcome back to Denders, Asoc. We hope this stay will be much more pleasant for you than your last," Fayad said referring to the disaster that was Belgedra that started at the end of the Second Denders Summit.

"War Dragon Fayad Piscium, your political tact could use a little refinement even if the sentiment is true," the Asoc smiled.

"Palda Junelliya, it is good to see you in person again. I am pleased to hear that Palda Ikekiya has been noted as a prophet," she hugged both Fayad and Junelliya and the Cats landed on her shoulder to greet her as well.

She next greeted the President and his First Lady, "Wilford, the last time we saw each other, I had pulled a fast one on you and your mate. I make no apology for that action," she said with a smile, referring to how she manipulated the President into an Asocan/Human mating ceremony while they were at the mini-summit on AsocAR.

They all sat around in the living room with the Asoc sitting on her tail beside the couch with the First Lady beside her on her right and the President beside the First Lady.

Zarreniya was sitting in the First Lady's lap while Ikekiya sat with the President while the adults all talked. Zarreniya started saying; 'Buh-da buh-dum. Buh-da buh-dum." She suddenly sat up and looked at the First Lady, surprise showing on her little face. Ikekiya reached over and touched Angelique's stomach while her little sister touched Ikekiya's hand. They both gave big smiles to Angelique.

"OH!" Ikekiya squealed. "You have little girl and little boy...no, NO! Boy come later, in two years," both children stood up on either side of and gave Angelique fierce hugs, kissing her cheeks.

Angelique looked around, then looked at her husband.

"We have just discovered that Angelique is pregnant," the President stated. "We did not know the sex of the child."

"If Ikekiya says it is a little girl and that you will have a little boy later, you can be assured that it will be so," the Asoc stated firmly. "Congratulations, Angelique, Wilford. You should share this with Drane Mutt Hoylle tomorrow during your viewing. She will be thrilled to hear of it. We, of course, will not say anything until the official media announcement."

All the ladies exploded at that pronouncement, coming forward to hug Angelique and the President and to pass on their congratulations. All-in-all, it was a special day at Denders.

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

After breakfast the next morning, all the Twellery came to the staging area before the Denders Crèche Swamp where one of the Asocan Caregivers informed them of the procedure.

"You will each have a personal viewing in accordance with the list provided by the new parents," she told them, but the Asoc interrupted her pronouncement of the list.

"This is a family event," she stated. "While it is usual to allow for the senior most person to be the first to view, under normal circumstances it is the parents of the new couple who would be first. I would change the list to reflect this, allowing the parents of Drane Mutt Hoylle and then those of Verned Mutt Shumett before I will allow myself and the Asost to take our viewing."

The Caregiver and the parents bowed low to the Asoc and allowed the list to be so altered.

"After the family," the Caregiver continues with the modified list, "we shall have the Asoc and Asost, them the President and the First Lady, followed by the High Gurn of Mutt Hoylle and Mutt Shumett, and the Senior representatives who have been requested. We shall have LoSostoc Wren War Dragon Fiona Mutt Marsh with her retainers, the Piscium Family, and finally Sylvie and her husband Trevor.

"Before each of you is permitted into the Crèche, you will be given instruction by our senior Caregiver as to how to approach the Clutch, which will be skittish and nervous around new people. You will need to approach them cautiously. Take your lead from the new mother, who will help bring you and the clutch together for the viewing," the Caregiver ended.

The humans were all in bathing gear as this viewing allowed them into the Crèche swamp to actually greet the clutch. The Asocan parents went in, followed by the Asoc and Asost and then the President and the First Lady. They heard a shriek from the swamp and smiled as they realized that the First Lady had indeed told Drane of her good fortune. The pair came back looking excited.

"It was amazing!" they exclaimed. "The clutch is so active for being less than a week old. They have very expressive faces, though they cannot yet speak."

The children knew that an Asocan clutch would not be able to speak until almost the end of their second year, when they began venturing onto land for the first time. At this stage in their lives, the clutch looked nothing more than oversized tadpoles, being just a head and tail, though they did have expressive faces. They had the high, bony, brow ridges normal for Asocans and the high forehead behind that but their snouts were fairly short, almost non-existent. Even this early in their lives, they did have a good collection of very sharp teeth.

They would not start getting their arms and legs until the end of their first year and then would have to grow them and learn to use them before they could venture onto land and become Ultar, the second stage of young Asocan life (the third being Shamot the stage at which Asocans were allowed to enter formal schooling and were officially numbered as members of the Asocan Society). They would only become Ultar when they began to speak clearly.

The family waited as all the Asocans went into the swamp ahead of them. Then it was their turn.

The Caregiver took them along the viewing path, that which would be for the general public to view the clutch. Family members or Twellery of the family actually got to be in the Crèche waters. After today, no others would be allowed into the Crèche waters without the permission of the family.

At a low point in the walkway, the Caregiver moved to the edge of the swamp and walked into the warm waters. The family watched as the clutch came up to her and circled her. She waved a hand to the Piscium family who slid into the water.

The Clutch, sensing new people, slid away from the Caregiver and moved over to their parents. The children gave out a soft 'Oooooo' when they saw the clutch. They wanted to see the clutch up close, so sent out a feeling of wellbeing and love to the clutch, which surprised Junelliya. She knew the children were starting to increase their powers but she didn't expect them to have this much control over it.

The clutch, suddenly feeling the love and well being from the children, slowly approached them. The eyes of the four new Asocans popped up to look at the children standing in the, to them, chest deep water. The children smiled and giggled.

*Bez Palda Ikekiya Mutt Piscium,* Ikekiya said, using the hand sign for one older to one younger (both Ikekiya and Zarreniya were deemed Shamot so technically they were older to the clutch).

*Bez Palda Sharreniya Mutt Piscium,* Zarreniya told the clutch, being aware that Asocans couldn't say her name right. Most Asocans spoke the word Bez more like Beshz. Zarreniya too used the hand sign for one older to younger. *This be our parents, Gurn Piscium Hanalei Mutt Anar, Palda Junelliya Mutt Herlan, and War Dragon Fayad Mutt Piscium.*