Tara's world is shattered when Diplomat Pone Ti's enemy targets her to distract him.

I went to my story, and in the comments, there his comment was....again. Ugh! Hello,Amazing Author! I am inspired to extend your words' imagination to unlimited people. We can work together to come up with creative--

Who does this scammer think I am? If I had the money to advertise, I'd use my account on D2D or someplace with reach, not some--who is this fella, anyway?

I clicked on his username, @bigamazon2, and looked. A blank profile with a creation date of September 18. Really? He doesn't even write here, he just preys on people! So I went back to the message and reported him.

The next day I saw his username again. Mama came past the dining room table and stroked my long waves. Held a lock of brown hair with a frown. "Today might be a bandana day for you. Have you got time for a bath, Tara?"

Oh, right. I'll deal with this scammer later. Closed my laptop. "I'll be quick!"

"You know, you should take time for a proper shutdown. I'll do it!"

I ran to my bedroom to get my clothes ready. Oh, no! She'll see my story! But, she'll know why I'm late to supper so much. It's not all research at our neighborhood library.

Finally, I got finished and stepped out of the bathroom in my jeans and pumpkin top. But, I'll probably be keeping my blue jacket on all day, at least until my hair dries. I'll be cold.

Mama met me. One hand pulled at her silver curls. Hardly any brown there these days. It was brown and straight before Daddy's accident. We share blue eyes, though. Mama's only 35. People used to think she was my sister. "You didn't sign any contracts with that bigamazon guy, did you?"

I laughed. "I reported him! He won't be bothering me again!"

"Hah! That's my smart girl! Better hurry or you'll miss breakfast!" She hugged me. So grateful she wasn't in Daddy's car last summer.

This rush-rush life is killing me! I walked fast to Midtown High, then wolfed my waffle and juice. Great. Now my tummy hurts. Just had to check my webnovel before school, didn't I? It's been up 2 weeks and only 45 reads.

But, class surprised me! The intercom crackled, "This morning SETI found aliens! Teachers, since we are living history today, choose a UN feed appropriate to your subject. All the committees are talking about the new treaty with Earth."

My homeroom teacher, Mrs. Sheilds, rolled her eyes. Probably worried about her lesson plan for English Lit. She's having us read five classics this year. Five. Mama said, "You should be glad she's new because she has enthusiasm!" Mama, did you have to read 5 classics in one lousy English class? She teaches like we're Ph.D. candidates or something!

At least the bell rang before she could rant long. 1st Period PE, after we dressed out, Coach Wellingham made us walk around the gym while he got the UN's Security Council Meeting up. Our sound system carried well, even over the squeaks of our gym shoes.

"We have a report that two alien ships landed in Tullahoma, Tennessee. Our people in Washington, DC are very concerned, Chairman. When will someone speak to us about this incident?"

The Chairman waved to an official in a white uniform. His diagonal sash had pins that sparkled in the light. Earth doesn't have anything like that short of rhinestones! These had different kinds of sparkles for each pin! And the man had orange skin and twin, flat fingers! A very round face and dark curls to his collar. He gave a bow with one leg far behind, like a ballet dancer. "Mr. Chairman, I am Goes, First Prince Of MarKu. Ry'nao, Emperor Of The Seven, is very concerned. We have diplomats visiting with your NASA officials and they are at these locations now. Ry'nao will speak to you at 9 am this morning with details. We know there is a slaver facility in this solar system. When we examined these ships, they are disposable ships, made for one use. Many of us seek the people who were in them. There are only two, and I think they are nae a threat to people of Earth. Both are injured."

"Slavers? In our solar system? Why would they target us?"

He frowned. A young man. "Slavers go where they can find resources and people to mine them. We scanned your solar system. There are several worlds that could host slavers, that have Tessite, a very valuable mineral. Several moons of Jupiter and Saturn have substantial amounts. Earth, unfortunately, has many wilderness areas where slavers could take people, and no one would know of it.

"The Alliance, and the Unified, forbids anyone from taking inhabitants of any world, member or not. We are here to offer you the same protections we enjoy, but only if you join one or both of our trade networks. There is nae cost to Earth to join us. There is nae penalty if you decline. If you decline now, you will have the opportunity to change your mind, and a diplomat will stay on Earth to provide contact." He motioned to another orange-skinned man. "Here is Aubus, Diplomat Of Veheirea Gtu Pei. As one of the authors of the Alliance Treaty you read now, and a contributor to the Unified Treaty we also are discussing for the vote on the 31st, he agreed to stay for 2 years, and you may choose his successor.

"We can nae give you one man to stay for more than 2 years, for the post would kill him."

The audience got noisy. He'd die? That's horrible! He's risking his life to be here?

"Why are slavers here? Aren't there other worlds in our galaxy slavers can go to?" A member of the committee sat down.

Goes sighed, and several people startled! Why? "There are many. But Earthans resemble Elshars, like Siasch, Equal Partner Of Samar Thaae, who rules a world in Alb Star System, near you."

This man looked like us, except for blue eyes that turned black. He bowed from the waist. "I am Elshar Mashai. Elshars were one of the three founders of the Alliance. We have tens of thousands of worlds that are Elshar colonies. Some are here in your galaxy, which you call Milky Way but we call The First. It is the largest of the thirteen galaxies that hold our trading partners. Your people resemble us, so slavers think they can use you. You are much more fragile than they know, so surely this slaver colony is not profitable. This only increases your danger from them.

"My world's mission is to defeat slavers. The Alliance allows slavery under certain circumstances, but slaves must be allowed to earn freedom. You had indentured servants in your recent past. But, I will not rest until I convince our leadership that any slavery is wrong and can slip past the eyes of Ih Esta, our Alliance part which enforces legal trade. Ih Esta is too small to watch the entire Alliance!" He bowed again, and sat.

People got a lot noisier, and the Chairman had to bang his gavel. "Earth's security is our greatest concern, of all the committees in this building. You heard Prince Goes' testimony of our danger, and Equal Partner Siasch operates many mines such as the one that is on a moon or moons in our Solar System.

"You heard what they offer us if we agree to Provisional Membership in the Alliance Trade Network. I make the motion that we vote on whether to accept this level of membership today, so we can have their protections. Elshar slavers could be on Earth, right now, blending in with us! Do I have a second for this vote?"

"Hear, hear! I will second!" Another member stood and flicked his wrist twice. A dignified man.

"Very well. Please use your terminals to vote. Every committee will vote and give their opinion on Provisional Membership, which carries no obligation to the Alliance Treaty vote on Monday. Every vote must be unanimous, so I ask, do any of you object? Before we vote, let us hear from anyone who wants to protest this issue."

No one spoke. All of these men and women looked nervous. I guess I might be nervous, for a lot of reasons.

Then they voted, and that was unanimous. The screen showed all the other committees. I didn't know the UN had that many! As I watched it scroll, several that were grayed out glowed green. Holograms! Boy, would I love tech like that!

Finally Goes raised his twin-fingered hands. "I see that the Provisional vote is unanimous. I am happy to share our progs with you." He gracefully waved his hand and screens lit up. Another wave and a hologram floated with graphs and text in 6 languages. "As you see, this is the control screen. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, you may set this as you wish. All of you may follow me and select as you wish, and an average will appear on the Secretary-General's screen as a guide to all of your opinions, but his setting will actually control the prog."

He went into detail about what every setting did. I didn't understand a lot of it. People nodded as if they heard something different. But some of this, I heard in my mind, so is that telepathy?

Yes, a voice said. You hear my telepathy, Miss Tara. I am Pone Ti, Diplomat Of Sei Han. I heard your fear, and wish to comfort you.

Me? That scammer, I can just report him. But what if there are telepathic scammers, too? I shuddered.

Maiden, if I frighten you, I shall leave your mind! His voice had a waver in it, as if he really cared. I'm just a stranger. Why should he care if he scares me or not? But, I didn't want to hurt his feelings. He's a diplomat. They try to stop wars and help people in foreign countries, like my uncle who lost his passport in Mexico on a business trip. He went to the US Embassy and they helped him. All of the staff were very concerned, he said. They were strangers, too.

I realized this man was hovering nearby in my mind, waiting for me to tell him to get lost. You can stay.

He kind of faded into existence, just a bit. I wish nae to frighten you, Tara—I mean, Miss Tara. Should I call you Miss Payson?

Tara, if that's proper. I never had anyone call me Miss Tara except in the doctor's office.

Ejis nae! Had you unwell? His blue eyes blinked at me.

I didn't want to talk about my gastroenterologist or female problems or worst of all, my therapist. Daddy listened to me. Mama just got me a therapist and refused to go with me. She had to sit in the waiting room to sign papers, but I had to do all the uncomfortable stuff alone.

O, if only I could come to you! Nae one of my friends can leave, to bring a healer to you.

I giggled. I'm fine, really. But I couldn't loosen my hand against my tummy. Several bullies looked my way. Oops. Several walked closer. Coach was talking to one of the other teachers, a lady.

As the camera panned across the stage, I spotted Pone Ti sitting in a group on the stage. He's going to speak next!

The school secretary led a new boy in. He frowned when he saw me.

One of the bullies reached for my bottom and I dodged him. Hate these too-short PE torture uniforms. Walked faster. They kept pace and shoved another boy. He dropped back. Most of my times they got a hand near me to feel me up was here, in this embarrassing uniform.

The new boy ran for the dressing room on his side with his basket. Great. Another bully? I didn't feel up to running today.

Pone Ti stood at the microphone, but I felt his hand on my shoulder. The man you saw will come to help you. "I am Pone Ti, Diplomat Of Sei Han, and I will explain the measures we have to help Earth's poor." As I passed the big monitor that hung over the middle of the court, his eyes followed me. "Too many Earthans suffer for lack of health care. We brought aandats with us for every man, woman and child of Earth. This shall end your COVID-19 epidemic, and all diseases."

Now the monitor was behind me. Another boy ran up and shoved the others away! He grabbed my wrist and I felt bones creak! I fell, but he still had it. Oh, Pone Ti's girl! I can't get to him, but I have you.

His mind hurt! That other boy ran up and decked him! I couldn't move. His hand touched my wrist and white light shone. How did he do that? My head still hurt. Then it hit me. Kids were still running. Silence. I didn't hear the pounding and squeaking of tennis shoes. Nothing from the speech--

I looked up. "What did he do to me?" Didn't hear my own voice.

The boy waved at the one who hurt me, who was almost on his feet. He vanished in a green swirl! But another green swirling light appeared. I saw people on the other side of it, all with worried faces.

This boy picked me up as if I was a toddler, and stepped into it. People in the gym stopped what they were doing and watched me go.

I felt warmth, like bath water, then a cool breeze made me shiver. The boy ran towards a giant round bed with purple covers. Put me on a white kind of mattress with a lot of sides but sort of round with pie slices. An orange man with twin fingers like Pone Ti's bent it to hold me up. He held his hands up and said something, but I couldn't hear. Very slowly, he moved his fingers into my face. I just held still. What are they going to do to me?

Please, Tara. He is a healer. He will only touch your head. I clung to Pone Ti's mind, his voice in my head.

Okay.

The man's hands were very warm as only the corners of his fingers touched across my forehead. It felt good. I relaxed.

He frowned as he felt my head and his red-gold eyes filled. Slowly, he walked his fingers back on my head. His breath smelled spicy and sweet, not bad like one of us.

As he worked his way back to my neck, he smoothed my hair. This really felt weird, but the warmth in his hands helped my headache. I felt sleepy. My wrist still hurt.

Pone Ti, who was that?

A slaver. He heard me speaking with you. O, I am sorry!

Oh, Pone Ti's girl! I can't get to him, but I have you.

I felt sick. Are you okay, Pone Ti?

He didn't want to answer me. That wasn't intentional, for me to feel how he feels. He's still at that podium, answering questions from 15 members of that committee at a time, telepathically like he's talking to me.

This healer doesn't like that he is. He's afraid it's hurting me. But my mental fingers pulled at Pone Ti's, to keep him with me! I'm alone in my head, and I can't hear, and it's horrible! I sobbed, and felt really dumb because was it loud? Do I sound stupid?

The healer hugged me. Then he waved and yellow leaves with a blue stripe down the middle just appeared.

This healer is Pas, and he is very wise. He holds yllis leaves. If you eat them, he can make them absorb fast. You will feel mirth, but you must nae laugh. When you feel mirth, sleep. Sleep shall heal you.

That didn't make sense. He's going to give me medicine to make me sleepy, but I'll feel drunk?

Yllis makes one feel mirth, but she brings healing. You may rise well, after. I will pray for your well, Tara, with all of my heart!

I nodded and ate the three leaves. Wow! They were sweet like bubble gum! Then he touched under my chin and his mouth moved like singing.

I did feel giggly, but I just closed my eyes. My body shook like I had the chills or something. But it made me sleepy.

"Tara, are you well?"

I stretched, but this blanket in my fingers was too soft to be real. Then I remembered, I'm with those aliens! My eyes snapped open.

Pone Ti held my face up. "Are you well, Tara?" His blue eyes were open impossibly wide! But I heard him with my ears! Felt rumbles.

"I think I'm okay. I was deaf!" I cried aloud! Boy, do I sound dumb when I cry!

Pone Ti held me and he cried, too. My hand touched his arm near his wrist. Yellow sparkles got on it. When I saw that, I lost where I sat, in the middle of that red-violet space ship.

Memories flashed before my eyes. That Elshar hurt Pone Ti. He had to quit being a diplomat, but he could pilot for Queen Molly. We got a house in Rainbow. Because Ti got hurt by Jermisch, that same Elshar slaver who hurt me!

I looked up when another pair of arms held both of us. Gasped. "Cevit Ion, Emperor—"

He chuckled. "Miss Peyton, you remember a future that is years from now. I am Seventh Galaxy Minister, nae Emperor. But Ti is of Sei Han, in the 8th Galaxy, so I bring Butres Nu to help you.

"I wish to offer you all of my comfort. My son, you must leave our work and allow your cloned ba to stay. He has all your skills and passed Butres' tests. Tomorrow he will do all that you planned. Will you both allow me to even your mind link?"

"Mind link? We have to get married!" Zheien usually only link when they're at the end, near death! I wiped more yellow dust off Ti's arm. They can't sweat! I was a healer and learned this stuff. But aliens didn't—Earth didn't know about 'em until 2025 and it's 2022! Is it real when it hasn't happened yet?

Ti ran hygiene. The white flash startled me.

Cevit Ion grabbed his wrist! "My son, you must nae! Earthans and Elshars may run hygiene, but it harms us!"

"Minister, my sweat bothers Tara!"

I rubbed the back of his head. His beautiful deep blue eyes filled. "Your sweat only bothers me because it means you are unwell. Please, nae run hygiene again?"

"I will nae—o!" He tensed to jump into a bow, but a green hand held his arm near mine. This man had light blue eyes.

"Nae think to bow, Ti! Miss Peyton, I am Butres Nu. Please, rest. I am here to witness your marriage."

Ti got this horrified look! "We must speak with her parents! Surely her fa shall wish me dead for this!"

I laughed. The thought of Daddy wishing anyone dead—but tears sprung in my eyes. "Daddy would be easy, but he died last summer in a car accident. Mama—let's marry first. We can explain later, and maybe we can get a preacher. We're going to Rainbow, aren't we?" I said it, then realized Rainbow wasn't there at first, when Earth got First Contact.

Butres Nu sighed, and it rumbled on me. That's what people got funny looks about when Prince Goes—I watched him. "We must go to the Alb System tonight. Because we had warning, my world, Ea~ and Goes' world, MarKu, and many other worlds such as Sei Han, are saved. Ah, here is Kermi to witness!"

Kermi, who died in my arms when I was a slave trainer in a slave rescue place! Sier's healer in Rainbow, Teris, came with him. They're yellow Zheien. Yellow ones are never healthy. He tried not to lean on Teris as he climbed on the bed. "Ti, I see sweat on you! Healer Pas, can you help him?"

Pas rubbed the back of his bald head. "There is ne help for him but to marry, Kermi. Sier comes also, with his Emily. You ne found yours?"

"She feared to come with us! O, I can nae leave Earth until—"

"There you are? Oh." The only girl skinnier than me in 12th grade. Charlotte. In those future memories, she got so depressed, she didn't show for graduation. Next I heard she committed suicide, the day she came home from a week in the mental health ward. Kermi didn't have anyone in Rainbow, though he had his brother Milton, his healer, and his fa. They all sat on the bed. But another man came with them. Kermi's other brother who died?

Emily and Sier, who was in really bad shape in Rainbow climbed on the bed. His parents had diplomats' formals. Wasn't Karir a healer? His wife died on his last mission, and that's when he couldn't be a diplomat--

Their sky blue skin paled, and Karir pulled Sier and their wives together. Maybe I was thinking too loud.

Ti held my hand and knelt. "Tara Ellie Payson, Student Of Earth, I love you! I feel shame to recite to you so quickly. Will you join with me in this Petition Of Marriage Without Courtship? By the Ancient Protocols of Zhea~ and Sei Han, I ask: Will you marry me, Tara? My love, forgive me that I ask such a quick petition—

"Yes! Pone Ti of Sei Han, oh, Diplomat of Sei Han—"

My husband sagged and his dad held him up. Waited. A groan.

I blubbered. Some Zheien die if they can't finish the petition, just from the upset!

One hand rubbed his eyes. His skin's pearly white. He's supposed to be a rich blue-green, a very dark shade! Fa is light blue-green. He should be dark, too. Then, he startled. "Did I finish? O, I spoiled our Petition!" The anguish in his voice started me crying. Where was I?

"Poe, I want to marry you! Pone Ti, Diplomat Of Sei Han, I want to marry you! Are we married yet?" I sobbed!

"Eae, is recorded, Tara, o, nae cry! Let us go to your mea."

Mama came in and saw me in my gym outfit. Poe startled and waved a beautiful wedding gown on me. Got that tension like he was going to spring into a graceful bow, but Butres Nu startled and grabbed his shoulders. Pushed him into the leiwege with me. I held him.

Then Butres Nu, in his dignified red-violet diplomats' uniform with a green sash, bowed to Mama. "Mrs. Peyton, I am Butres Nu, 8th Galaxy Minister. I command Pone Ti, Diplomat Of Sei Han. Because he had danger, he married your daughter just now. I—"

"Your diplomat tried to explain this. It's hard for me to believe that they just had to go and elope! My daughter's about to graduate from high school, and I'm about to co-sign on her school loan! She never mentioned him, not once!"

Poe got cold in my arms! "Mama, stop! Touch his hand." I held out his tightly rolled-up hand, and a cloud of green sweat-powder rolled off it.

"I don't want to touch it—"

"I want you to feel how cold he is! You're upsetting my husband and I don't want him to die because he's too upset! Zheien die when they can't calm down!" My chest heaved and his head rocked with my chest. Gently, I supported it. His deep blue eyes watched Mama.

She touched his fist. Grabbed the blanket and tucked it around him. "I'm sorry. I guess I need to act more like your Mama, too."

Teris showed her how to use eae fae on his hand, and it warmed up enough he could unroll it.

"Thank you, Mea." Poe smiled at her.

She wiped his face with a self-warming cloth Teris put in her hand. "I'm sorry I acted like an idiot. I know what it's like—" Her voice broke, and it took her a few seconds. "—to be a widow. I wouldn't wish—" Mama looked at me and those blue eyes spilled over.

Then, we watched Kermi and his Charlotte marry. Emily and Sier married right after that. Healers ran them to their new rooms. My husband fell asleep. I was happy for Mama to stay, and my uncle with his family, Kermi's family, and Sier's. Zheien sleep in groups when they aren't well.

Butres Nu finally convinced Mama that we needed to all leave Earth together, and she talked Emily and Charlotte's families into emigration as well.

We'll live on Sei Han. Kermi's family's going to a new world Elshar Zheiea, and Sier's family are all going to Escet Vu. In Rainbow, these last 2 worlds were subcolonies, because they got taken by slavers, but Sei Han was too far away for Poe to survive the journey.

As we boarded a crowded ship, I learned that ship travel doesn't hurt Zheien any more. My husband and all his family and friends'll be safe. Teris assured me that Poe will be fine once he adjusts to his new life. He'll be doing missions, unlike his friends. His health is really good. But it'll be 4 min ports between the worlds of the Alb System. Not miserable weeks in space with horrible headaches! We'll be home every night.

Poe woke up in time for First Prince Goes Of MarKu to speak to us, just before takeoff. All my worries about school, bullies, slavers, and the dangers of Poe's work just faded away. Another diplomat let us know that slaver got justice, courtesy of Ih Esta. And that scammer? Jermisch. Who got sent to the mines. We don't have to be afraid any more.

We loved living in Rainbow, but our friends had all the medical trials. They aren't as bad off, so Poe won't be as worried about them. He missed his home so much! Now we can live there.

My husband put his arm around me and I hugged him. Now, I can finally relax.

***

I created a contest on  Penana, so I decided to write a sample entry. I ended up not being able to figure out how to get Penana to save the story, so I put it here. That's probably better anyway, in case someone thinks I'm entering my own contest. The contest is up there, and it's by vote if you want to enter. It will run for 4 weeks.

I created the cover on Canva. Penana doesn't even display a standard book cover format, so maybe it's for kids?

Penana.com is another platform for webnovels, like Wattpad and Royal Road, in case you were wondering. Have a great day! Oh, feel free to leave a star if you like it. Or a comment. I love comments!