The applause was deafening as Aella smiled and waved to the crowd. She stiffened as the platform she stood on began to move toward the main platform where the Founder and Queen Alala were waiting. She let her arms fall to her sides as a fast-paced song began to play and the lights dimmed, the holographic wall dancers appearing from behind the stage and dancing their way down to the crowd.

She glanced down as her dress lit up and her gown seemed to come alive. Her platform stopped just in front of the steps, next to Seashell's platform. She gave the younger girl a quick smile as they stepped off the platforms and onto the stairs. They reached Queen Alala's side just as Fox and Leon joined the Founder. Colored lights swooped in from the crowd and illuminated the group. The crowd began to move, leaving a wide space open in the center of the dance floor, a path leading to it from the platform.

She waited as the Founder and Queen Alala joined hands and stepped down the platform. An announcer called out their titles and names, and the crowd parted and formed a circle around the edges of the Hall, and a softer piece began to play.

Fox and Seashell joined hands and waited until the announcer called their titles and names before making their way down the steps, moving off to the right.

"You did well," Leon whispered as he stepped next to her, offering her his arm.

She smiled as she took it, looking up into his eyes. "Thanks." Together, they walked down the steps. They walked through the two rows of people, and Aella smiled at the few she let her eyes meet in the dim lights. Once they reached the open space of the dance floor, Leon led her to the left, and they watched as the Founder and Queen Alala continued until they were in the center.

The music began to play a high tempo waltz and the pair began to move in time to the music, the flowing sections of Queen Alalas skirts looking like the waves of the sea.

She turned her head as Leon bent down and whispered in her ear, "the masses do love a good show."

She gave a soft smile, bowing her head to the people across the circle who were watching her. "It does seem so."

"Excuse me," a voice called to her, and the people muttered as they moved behind her. She turned as a hand tapped her on the shoulder.

The person was smiling at her, the kaleidoscopic makeup on their face twinkling and glowing as the biolum ink dimmed in the lights. Their hair was short on one side, and curled on the other in a length to their shoulders. Their features were androgynous and they stood at least seven inches taller than her.

"May I have your second dance?"

Aella blinked twice as she looked up into the gray eyes.

"She would, Lard Kareem."

"I'll see you then," they said, bowing and rejoining the crowd.

"It is customary for children of the Founder to dance with each other, then dance with the Nobility and Quadrant Heads," Leon said. "Lard Kareem is the heir of the 1st Quadrant, and an important player in the Court. After you dance with me, you will dance with members of the Court. After that, you will be free to do as you wish."

"I understand," she said, looking toward the Founder and Alala as they finished their dance, and bowed to the crowd.

"Just follow my lead," Leon said, smiling at her.

The dance passed in a blur, and the dances with the Court members. Old men, young men, old women, young women, young adults, and children, all she met with, some she danced with, all gave her their congratulations. She was standing at the edge of the crowd, breathing slowly as she fought the uneasy sensation in her lower abdomen. Her hands were sweating as she tried not to become anxious.

There was too much noise, too many people--it was too much to take in. It was too soon. She wasn't prepared for this.

"Aella, my dear," a soft voice called to her.

She turned her head and saw the tall Queen standing next to her. The woman's hair was white as the snow outside, glowing in the low lights. Her skin was pale as well, but with a soft Mediterranean glow that peeked through. She was a product of living underneath an icy planet, far from the sun's light. All Trinity aliens were pale, mere shadows of their counterparts on Earth, and taller than most Earthers.

The Queen turned to her, and Aella looked into her dark eyes.

"I wish you strength, my dear," she said.

Aella frowned, her head tilting to the side a fraction of an inch. "Queen Alala?"

She froze as the woman reached forward and pulled her into a hug, and whispered into her ear, her breath warm.

"This court is much to take into someone not born into it. You will be safe if you listen to the voice inside of you." The Queen released her from the hug and smiled at her, stepping back.

Aella opened her mouth to answer when the Founder appeared next to them. "Aella," he said.

"Yes, Founder," she said, bowing her head to him.

"If you would like to, Inna is available to take you to your quarters. You must be tired after your journey. I thank you for attending this celebration and for your continued cooperation in meeting with the Court. Your duties are concluded as of now."

Aella smiled and nodded her head to him. "With your leave, Founder."

"Granted," he said, nodding to her. He placed his hand on Queen Alala's arm and gently led her off into the crowd.

Aella watched them disappear, then turned away from the crowd as the lights shut off and the biolum lights started to pulse in time to the music. She headed toward a door guarded by two men in black uniforms, illuminated only by white stripes on the uniform that outlined their security clearance.

One of them nodded to her and opened the door, revealing a lit hallway that led to the rest of the Capitol Complex. Inna stood just beyond it, a smile on her face.

***

Aella's smile faded as the door to her room slid shut. She leaned her head against the cool metal and sighed as she looked around the dim surroundings. The light from the city came through the tinted floor-to-ceiling glass windows on the other side of the room, giving the contents a soft electric glow.

The bed was shaped like a bowl, the black metal and glass contrasting with the white bedding. On the right side of the room, lines in the wall indicated a pull-out desk, dresser, and the entrance to a closet.

She stepped forward and made her way over to the windows, taking in the sight. The blue biodome stretched above her, glowing softly as the surface rippled with the wind outside. The sky was black and clear, the stars twinkling high above. Below the castle, in a half-moon shape, lay the rest of the Capital Complex. The bureaucratic buildings and Assembly House were to the left and right of the building.

The rest of the city held sectors dedicated to the 60 Quadrants. The Quadrant heads and their staff lived in the sector, and each one was indicative of the culture that existed within the Quadrant. The city was dark tonight, the houses and buildings dark. The reason was below her; she glanced down through the glass ceiling of the Assembly hall and saw the pulsing lights of the celebration, the colored lights of the dancers.

She turned her head to the north, beyond the biodome to a smaller dome that was lit up brightly against the deadly dark of the snow and ice. The Game Center, home to remaining players of the Alpha Game, and soon to be her home.

She moved away from the window and laid down on the bed, grunting as her dress pulled and refused to let her curl up into a tight ball. She shook her head as she laid flat and stared up at the ceiling. I don't think I can do this. She closed her eyes as drowsiness started to drift over her, and let herself fall into sleep.