My day on Luna 3133. The day before the Lunar holiday of Christmas.

I've been out of the hospital for a Lunar month. I'm still creaking around in a motorized tail-friendly wheelchair - like Yaeyeia, I'm now a wheeled creature. I'm still on "oxygen", although they have adjusted the formulation to be more specific to Uralian biology, so it doesn't make me cough as much.

At the Embassy, Kitty has been my "nurse" - she sits on my on my wheelchair with her tail wrapped around my ankles. She makes sure I get my exercise by nagging me into getting her food or refilling her water fountain or cleaning her litterbox. Playing with her is hard... I can't run after her rolly-ball when she bats it under the desk.

Wan and Juan take turns making sure I am OK. Juan now has a "girlfriend," a confusing Lunar term that does not merely mean a friend who is a girl. She comes with him on one of his check-ins. She is a microbiology student at New Harvard University and is fun to talk to, even though I know NOTHING about microbiology.

This is my first week back to attending the folk dancing at (what is left of) the Smedley Center. That is, we are dancing in the parking lot since the building is in ruins; some clearing and sorting is going on, but no rebuilding. As I roll in, I hear scattered applause which becomes more general as more and more dancers are welcoming me back. It is so touching - obviously THESE humans aren't anti-exo!

Actually, the Anti-Aliens (now the Pro-Humans) had stopped coming to folk dancing early in their movement. We hadn't noticed their absence at the time. Since the dances we do are all from various countries on Earth, ONLY Earth, THAT couldn't have been what offended them. It had to be that they were avoiding US - the exo attendees. Or, perhaps, they sensed the other Lunars were not sympathetic to their mission.

And now we are all here, except for the Gilgot, who have not yet arrived. But many of us will not be dancing just yet; many are still recovering from injuries received during the bombing of the Center. We will just watch.

Only Ambassador Johnson avoided injuries. He is dancing just fine. I have extremely negative feelings toward him. Is this all his fault? Were some Lunars already anti-exo, or did he plant that in their heads as the (perfectly understandable) reason for their anger and frustration that life was not happening as they had hoped? Would there even BE an Anti-Alien (Pro-Human) movement without him? Remembering that he did this, at least in part, to get himself elected Executive Ambassador.

A sudden roar erupts from one side of the parking lot. It is the Gilgot delegation just arriving. AND AMBASSADOR HERESH IS WITH THEM! It is a true miracle. He is on a low wheeled wagon-like device. He raises a paw to wave to the cheering crowd. The paw becomes a raised fist, and the crowd goes wild.

It is so good to see him back again! And such an inspiration!

Yaeyeia and Kevin wheel over beside me. We are all wheeled creatures now!

"Good to see you out again!" Yaeyeia tells me.

"Good to be out," I mumble. It is challenging to talk with the oxygen mask on - they haven't yet come up with a good engineering for my facial configuration. But... breathing is a NICE thing. I'm glad to be able to do it, even if it makes speaking difficult.

Kevin is getting very good with his wheelchair. He rolls out to join a dance.

"I see most of your leaves have grown back."

"Yes, I'm not feeling quite so defoliated," she says. "But I'm still missing many of my stems. They will take longer to be replaced."

The Delitrian Ambassador limps over to join us. Being so tall, his more serious injuries were mostly to his head and shoulders (which are mostly hidden under gauze and plaster inside his protective suit.) He greets us, then says: "We need to have a meeting."

"All the exos?" Yaeyeia asks.

"Yes, just us. Would the basement be available?"

He is referring to the large basement room under the Uralian Embassy.

"Any time," I mumble.

He doesn't understand me.

"She says: any time," translates Yaeyeia. "When?"

"Tomorrow?" he asks.

I nod.

He limps off to tell the others.

"I wonder what's up?" Yaeyeia ponders.

A new dance starts, and re-foliated Yaeyeia rolls out to join the group. Her wheels, at least, are the ones she has always used, so dancing is not-so-different from what she is used to.

In spite of hours of physical therapy, I still find my new wheels to be challenging. They do not always move the way I expect (or want) them to. Kitty's tail has occasionally been the unfortunate victim of my lack of skill. Joining the dancing would be dangerous to other dancers. The Prime Directive of folk dancing is: Don't Step On Anybody Else; I suspect rolling over anybody else would be included in that prohibition.

Still, I successfully manage to roll over to Ambassador Heresh without damaging anyone. My Ambassador-Guardian is with him. She seems well on the way to recovery. I greet them (indistinctly). They seem to understand.

"Do you know why G'vorlyanik wants to meet?" Ambassador Heresh asks.

G'vorlyanik is the Delitrian Ambassador.

"No idea," I mumble.

"It's been awhile since we've had a meeting," my Ambassador-Guardian observes.

"62 days," asserts Ambassador Heresh. "Not since the bombing."

"This could be the first opportunity - that we have all been - mobile - able to come," she suggests. It is Ambassador Heresh and me that she is referring to... we were stuck in the hospital for a VERY long time...

"And what is so important that we must meet as soon as we can?" he demands.

We think for a bit.

"More bombs?" I gargle.

"More bombs..." he sighs.

"More bombs..." she says, shaking her head.

The minor members of the Gilgot delegation are trying to get into their usual dance-night fight. With their injuries, they are making a poor showing. But it's nice that they are making the effort. It (almost) feels normal.

It is nice to get to see everyone again, and this group of Lunars, I feel comfortable, is actually welcoming to exos.

The non-wounded are complaining that it is painful to dance on the stone parking lot - our old floor in Smedley was wooden and much kinder to feet, ankles, knees, and hips. The wounded, mostly in wheelchairs, are improving at dancing on wheels.

At the end of the evening, there is a final dance, always the same dance, but to a variety of music. The crowd drags me and Ambassador Heresh into the circle. I can almost believe the Lunars are the welcoming species I always thought they were.

***

We have gathered in the basement of the Uralian Embassy. Wan and Juan have moved the ping-pong and pool tables to the side and brought down as much exo-friendly seating as we own. Ambassador Heresh is placed carefully in the one Gilgot angular seat that we have. We really need to invest in more of those - there are so many members of the Gilgot delegation!

When the greeting chatter dies down a bit, Ambassador G'vorlyanik stands to open the meeting. The top of the helmet of his positive-pressure protective suit is about a half inch below the ceiling of our basement. I have an inappropriate thought: if he stood on his toes (which he wouldn't - he's too dignified) he would bang his head. He has a dignified, deep, strong voice highly suited to calling meetings to order.

"Esteemed colleagues, it is good that we can again gather together as a group, a COMMUNITY. Two months ago, it seemed unlikely we would ever be able to do this again. Now, thankfully, WE all survive, although our Lunar colleagues cannot say the same. We can now pool our expertise to ensure we never again are placed in such a situation."

The Ambassadors are nodding. Several glance at Ambassador Heresh in his angular chair and nod or smile encouragingly.

"But, how can we ENSURE that never happens again?" blurts out Woh, the Junior (VERY Junior) Ambassador from Oeyiah. "THEY'RE the ones planting bombs - not us!"

Yaeyeia's leaves are ruffling indignantly. It is not proper protocol for ANY Ambassador to interrupt the Opening Speaker - it is tradition to wait until the Speaker asks for comments.

But, Delitrians are unshakable. The Ambassador merely nods and says, "Of course. That IS the point. How can we ensure our safety? I would welcome any comments." He sits on his (very high-seated) chair. Since there is only ONE Delitrian Ambassador, we only need one of those.

"Have Gilgot guards on every meeting site!" asserts Yaeyeia. "All Embassies now have Gilgot guards - the Lunars should have them, too!"

General positive murmuring and nods.

"But how can WE make the LUNARS use the guards?" the Junior Polaran Ambassador asks.

My Ambassador-Guardian states, "We have been approached by the Lunar Government to start supplying guards to the Smedley Center and the Administrative Law Enforcement Building. This should begin early next week."

The Delitrian Ambassador rises. "An excellent suggestion. I'm sure we will all welcome this additional security. Any other comments?" He sits again.

"Informants?" suggests one of the Gilgot delegation. The Gilgot frequently use spies to augment their information supply.

"Does anyone have any links to the Pro-Human League that might provide information?" the Junior Polaran Ambassador asks. The Polarans, unexpectedly, suffered severely during the bombing. While they look like sapient balloons, they are actually more like sapient balls of putty. When flattened under the falling stone ceiling and walls, they had to be carefully reformed into their normal spherical shape. Luckily the Polarans are the best medics in the Galaxy, and one of them was stationed at the Luna City Hospital learning Human Physiology. That medic was able to help the two Ambassadors regain their normal appearance.

"The Pro-Human League wouldn't talk to us - ALIENS!" one of the Junior Gilgots snarls.

We all think for a bit.

I have an inspiration. "Administrative Law Enforcement may have someone planted in the group," I suggest.

Because of the oxygen mask, Yaeyeia has to translate my comment for some of the members.

"Would the Lunars share that information with us?" asks the (re-spherified) Junior Polaran Ambassador.

I ponder this. "Maybe. We'd have to ask."

The Senior Polaran Ambassador rises. "I nominate Ambassador Ptsgbw of Uralia to act as our liaison with the Lunar Administrative Law Enforcement in this matter." His pronunciation of my name is perfect.

"Any opposed?"

Just me, but I don't say anything. I don't want to do it, but I do sort of have an "in" with Law Enforcement: Lt. Forbes. It makes sense that I make this contact.

It's too bad the Setow, who apparently keep an eye or an ear on everything happening among sapients in the Galaxy don't provide information like this...

Yaeyeia raises her flag to indicate she again wants to speak. "Is there any technology that can scan for bombs, chemical weapons, biologics, anything that could harm us? In real-time?"

Everyone looks towards the Xx. They raise their flag. Kevin, who is nearest, rolls over to read what they are writing:

"There is no single scanner that can detect all harmful technologies. But several scanners could be integrated into a single unit that could provide real-time information."

The Senior Polaran again rises. "I move that we immediately contract with the Xx to develop and manufacture this technology."

"Any opposed?"

Of course not.

Yaeyeia's flag goes up again. "I'm hoping this technology would be available for each of our Embassies, but also in a portable form that could move with us through the Cities?"

Ambassador Heresh raises a paw. "Perhaps we could share this technology with the Lunars so they could protect all of their sites?"

The Xx are going to make a fortune on this. Not that they NEED another fortune...

No one is opposed to these amendments.

There is a discussion about payment for these units - the Xx are just as good at business as the Gilgot - maybe even better.

The meeting ends. Officially. But, we haven't seen each other - JUST each other - for quite a while. Wan and Juan are soon accepting a delivery from the FastFood.

***

I am in the Administrative Law Enforcement Building, which, although nearby, luckily, was not badly damaged during the Smedley Center bombing. The Administrative Law Enforcement Building is still standing with only minor exterior damage from flying debris.

Lt. Forbes is looking at me with a steely yet humorous eye. It sounds impossible, but I swear that is the impression I was getting. With an infant daughter, he also looks sleep-deprived.

"You really think we would tell you if we had informants in the Pro-Human League?" he snarls, but it is sort of a humorous, sarcastic snarl.

"Well, no, but I'm hoping you would tell us if you heard that any further "incidents" were planned."

"We will communicate any necessary information that would not compromise our position."

In other words, we'll tell you the bare minimum as long as it won't compromise Lunar informants or Lunar strategy.

Such a concession...!

I decide to go for the high ground. "We have contracted with the Xx to develop sensor units to detect threats. WE," even if not YOU, "will share this technology when it is available."

He is almost-grinning. "We will welcome that technology."

"I doubt humans could easily develop such technology." I'm feeling snarky.

He nods seriously. "I doubt it, too," and yawns.

***

A month later, I am accepting delivery of seven new Gilgot-friendly sloping-seats and two Polaran-friendly chairs with anti-rolling seat cushions. The order actually was quite difficult to get - the Smedley Center was also trying to order replacements to their alien-friendly seating, theirs having all been destroyed in the bombing. I eventually have to order mine through the Xx - while I prefer to "buy local," the Lunar manufacturers are too swamped.

I miss Clmntr - she used to handle things like this - and so much better than I do.

But it will be nice to have comfortable seating for everyone, since our basement has become the unofficial Smedley Center, at least for the Exos.

My com is brring. Mrnpk and Jrčtr, our Representatives at the Galactic Government are calling to tell me the Government is welcoming a new planet: Bzt. We've known about Bzt for years: it is a planet with over a million different insect species, mostly sapient. But only now are they finally sending a delegation to the Galactic Government. It has taken this long for them to determine the composition their delegation so that all of their species can be represented.

Yaeyeia's planet Oeyiah had a similar problem: how to represent hundreds of thousands of sapient plant species. But the Oeyians have a hierarchy: the trees are on top, and the oldest living trees are the top of the top. So Oeyiah is represented at the Galactic Government by a delegate similar to one of Earth's bristlecone pines. Of course, trees do not travel off of Oeyiah, so they attend via com, like the Aquatics.

The Bzt are also hierarchical, but only within each species. Each species has an Ultimate, but there is no hierarchy between their species. Hence, the difficulty. To solve the problem, they have grouped their species into eight similar "orders" and their delegation consists of eight elected Galactic Ultimates, one from each order. Because their species tend to be short-lived, many actually come with several "backups."

We are not anticipating that a Bzt Embassy will be established on Luna any time soon, but the Lunar Government has extended an invitation to them to attend meetings via com. They haven't yet responded. We'll have to discuss an exo-invitation at our next meeting. Our next meeting WITH COMFORTABLE FURNITURE!

I receive com messages from the new New Toronto and New Minneapolis Ambassadors, who are replacing their deceased predecessors after elections. I send the usual replies congratulating them on their election, welcoming them to the group, and looking forward to meeting them at our next meeting, whenever that might be.

***

The Lunar Government is now meeting in a tent on the Smedley Center parking lot. The Joint Ambassadors' Meeting (Lunars and Exos) is held there, too. We get to try out the new furniture - my new perch is fine - quite comfortable! I am helped out of my wheelchair to test it out by the new Ambassador from New Toronto. It is pleasant to be sitting on non-wheeled furniture!

The Ambassadorial Legate (Ambassador Ane Olsen of New Nuuk) speaks first, welcoming the Exo Ambassadors to the meeting, congratulating us on our recovery. She steps down.

The Executive Ambassador (Ambassador Sofia Melnyk of New Kyiv) rises and moves to the podium. She welcomes everyone, congratulates everyone on their recoveries, thanks them all for their good humor in tolerating the tent, welcomes the two new Ambassadors, and convenes a moment of silence for the deceased New Toronto and New Minneapolis Ambassadors.

Ambassador DeAndre Johnson of New Princeton seems to be smoldering in silence off to the side of the seating area. His arms are crossed and his legs stuck out straight. He doesn't move a millimeter for the moment of silence. I am (unkindly) pleased by his ire. He wanted to be Executive Ambassador so much! And the bombing was done by HIS people - but he NEVER accepts blame for ANYTHING.

Next there is a discussion about the invitation to the Bzt to send a delegation to Luna and of their polite regrets, declining to attend even via com. I wonder why not - a com meeting is not terribly intrusive on one's schedule... But, I cannot think like an insect. They must see things quite differently.

Ambassador Johnson rises, is recognized, and points out that Luna has too many bugs already, and that it would be impossible to know whether swatting an annoying insect might be killing an official delegate, inciting a Galactic war.

The Lunar Ambassadors erupt into a maelstrom of yelling.

Things here, too, seem to be getting back to normal.

***

Day 3175. I am now wheelchair-free (yay!) but still on "oxygen," although a newly-engineered breathing apparatus means my speech is no longer muffled.

To prevent smuggling of exo-sourced goods, New Princeton has closed its tunnel access.

Lunar-sourced and Lunar-manufactured goods ARE allowed in, but these must pass careful screenings to ensure no "alien-origin" components or inputs have been used. Since about 95% of Lunar water and air were originally brought in by the Gilgot, total purity from alien-origin things would be impossible to achieve, but New Princeton is ignoring this complication.

Citizens with "legitimate" reasons for entering and exiting New Princeton are forced to go through extensive governmental scrutiny before these movements are allowed. Each traveler is only allowed one small piece of luggage, and it is carefully examined by newly-established "customs inspectors" for anything - ANYTHING - that might be of alien-origin or contain alien-sourced materials and might be sold to a New Princeton citizen.

I wonder if there is a market for dirty laundry? Maybe so, if this situation continues indefinitely... Luna does not manufacture its own fabrics...

New DC and New Toronto are now, effectively, cut off from the rest of the Connected Cities because New Princeton's tunnel is their only connection. They are livid. New Portland (M) and New Toronto are starting excavation on a tunnel to connect their Cities. It will take quite a while to complete - possibly as much as 20-25 years. It is almost as far from New Portland (M) to New Toronto as it is from New LA to New Petrograd - presently the longest of the tunnels. Meanwhile, Gilgot deliveries to New Toronto have increased dramatically.

After about ten days of shrieking from the Lunar Government and the New DC and New Toronto Ambassadors, New Princeton GENEROUSLY allows them to transport through their City to attend Government meetings.

New Princeton, having many clever citizens used to dealing with arbitrary reality, investigates the possibility of constructing a walled hallway through their City connecting the tunnel access points on opposite sides.

But... should the hallway connect the access points using the shortest route, through the City center, effectively cutting the City in two... or should it hug the outer wall of the present City, a much longer route that would effectively limit future City expansion along that wall. The first solution, the shortest route, would require constructing bridges over the top of the hallway or tunnels underneath to maintain access between the two cities being formed.

They decide on the longer route, and require that the hallway have a ceiling also to ensure no one can toss elicit goods over the top to conspirators in the City. It will probably be completed in a few months. When completed, it will allow free movement through the system again.

In spite of the "hallway" plans, construction on the New Portland (M) to New Toronto tunnel continues. Obviously, these Cities expect New Princeton to remain difficult for the foreseeable future.

New Princeton is suddenly under a news blackout, so we cannot tell what is going on there. ComNews has sources there, but some of the reports are so incredible that no one actually believes them: Has New Princeton REALLY assigned their (3) police officers to a 24-hour-a-day patrol of the streets of the City to detect evidence of exo infiltration? Did they REALLY declare the Catholic Archbishop of Luna had no right to say that exos were God's creatures, too? That the Archbishop needed to "be careful" when voicing opinions on theology? Are they REALLY training snipers to assassinate the Executive Ambassador?

I wonder how the people of New Princeton feel about all of this. Is it all Ambassador Johnson's idea? Do they agree with him, or has this all been imposed on them as a mandate from on high?

I cannot believe that people there are happy. Even if they all truly want to avoid exos at all costs, they must miss the freedom they used to have. They must miss their favorite shampoo!

***

Day 3182.

New Princeton is expelling citizens who are not sufficiently xenophobic!

Apparently there is some sort of test that their citizens must pass, then an oath that must be sworn. Citizens not meeting these requirements are given the choice of being exiled in the direction of either New DC or New Chicago. Most choose New Chicago, since it is still connected to the rest of the Cities. Some families must decide whether they will split up, or whether they will all be exiled together in spite of some members' anti-exo stance.

Of course, the New Princeton Government did not bother checking with New DC or New Chicago BEFORE exiling their citizens there. New DC and Chicago were originally part of the Anti-Alien movement. Now they are clearly becoming Anti-Princeton instead.

The Lunar Government is scrambling to deal with all these complications. Ambassador Johnson is defensive. He insists New Princeton is merely executing the wishes of its citizens. He is NOT popular among the other Lunar Ambassadors.

***

My vehicle is bringing me home after an official Governmental briefing in the Smedley Center tent. New Princeton is no longer part of the Connected Cities. For fear of "Alien Contamination," citizens are not allowed to leave New Princeton. For outsiders, it is now as difficult to go there as it is to go to New Haifa - you have to have an official invitation before they will let you in. The Government wants to alert us to these new requirements. So now there are, again, 19 Connected Cities. After New Petrograd finished their tunnel, there had been 20. And, of course, New Princeton is, technically, tunnel-connected; it's just cut off, officially. Practically.

New Haifa accepts Gilgot deliveries, so they are actually MORE connected to the Galaxy than New Princeton, which wants to be completely isolated from the Galaxy.

But, while New Haifa does not have an Ambassador to the Lunar Government, Ambassador Johnson does still attend Lunar Government meetings. HE can move freely. Only the other citizens of New Princeton cannot. Perhaps he must be decontaminated before he is allowed back into New Princeton.

I wonder if the citizens of New Princeton will be allowed passes to go see the Christmas Festival of Lights in New Chicago? After all, New Chicago was part of the Movement at one time. But surely they would not be able to go to (alien-infested) Luna City to see the Halloween decorations? Or is it that they would just not WANT to go there?

I wonder if they are allowed to opt out - to relocate to another City? Or are they truly trapped? I suppose they could publically announce, "I LOVE ALIENS!" That would get them out, quick!

I wonder if that is the solution? All the anti-exo people move to a couple of cities and the WWE (We Welcome Everyone) people get the rest? But, then, according to Dr. Levine, the people in those "homogenous" cities would find SOME way to split into mutually-suspicious subgroups. Luna would end up covered by hundreds of cities with increasingly-tiny populations.

At the Uralian Embassy, our pickets are much diminished. After an increase in WWE enthusiasm after the bombing, they dwindled away and eventually gave up completely about six weeks ago. Only the two Anti-Alien protesters remain.

But, as my vehicle drives past, Frank and Thomas flag me down to tell me they can no longer support the Anti-Alien movement (they had already left the Pro-Human League) - they feel it is becoming too limiting to Humans. They are looking for another organization to encourage Humans to become more self-sufficient. They want to let me know they won't be around anymore. They look to shake my hand, notice the claws, reconsider, and wave farewell to me instead. They walk away, considerately dragging their picket signs behind them. At least I won't have to dispose of their signs.

I will sort of miss them...

An indignant and accusatory Kitty greets me at the door: Where WERE you? I went looking for you and YOU WEREN'T THERE!

At least cats do not seem to want to be more self-sufficient... and they don't care that I am an exo. I guess to a cat, the Humans are also sort of exos - at least they are not cats!

I tell her I missed her while I was gone, rub behind her ears, and add some fresh crunchies to her dish. The indignation fades...

I wish it were that easy to get Humans to like you again...

Not to mention the Feyar...