Captain Dokka Tkarro paused to straighten his jacket and gruffed, "I hate full dress uniform. Damned collar's killing me." Lieutenant Dakk chortled, "At least you got promoted, sir!" He would have said more, but the gate swung open. A Servix robot said, "Please enter, gentlemen, Princess Safira will see you know." They walked across the courtyard to Safira. She wore black and gold silks and stood with a smile on her face, watching her daughter playing air-racer. She glanced over at the men coming toward her and said sternly, "Chally! Stop it! Guests!" The men bowed deeply to the princesses, and Safira gave a slight bow to them. Captain Dokka smiled at the little girl as she fidgeted around. He said, "So this must be your daughter, Challoq Tu'Vulloq! I'm pleased to meet you!" The little girl looked up at him and smiled engagingly, asking smartly,"Who is YOU, fuzzy-face man?" Safira grabbed her daughter's arm and snapped,"Manners, you little heathen! Forgive her. Children will be children, after all." Dokka went down on one knee to be on eye-level with the dark-skinned little girl. She was just eight years olds, but seemed both younger and older. A fierce, untameable intellect burned in her laughing eyes. He had heard that voice before. The little girl cocked her head and looked at him. She smiled while her mother held her arm and asked,"Did you bring me something? I like cookies and candy!" Lieutenant Dakk said, "No harm done, M'lady! I'm more concerned about the harm that OTHER's might do, Now that your mother, the Queen, has passed on." Dokka stood up so suddenly, that the princess started. He said sadly, "So she is the result of your Majite Aooda? I met a young woman who sounds very like your daughter. I cannot help but think they might be related." Dakk looked blank as Princess Safira darkened in anger. " 'Majite Aooda'? Forgive my lack of upbringing, but I don't recognize the term." Princess Safira said coldly, "Majite Aooda means 'secret marriage to an enemy'. It's an ancient Pejite term. When a princess of royal blood takes a man to give her child to one who is a threat to her kingdom, so some kind of peace can be accommodated, she commits Majite Aooda." She looked over at Dakk, "That is why I wear black. That is why I can never inherit the throne of Nova Paradisio. I chose NOT to marry my brother, who I detest. Now he will get the throne, and the city will fall on dark times." Dokka sighed. "That explains it all, now. THAT is why you had us return, EVEN though we were exposed to the virus that Aldus Panchetta has engineered to free the Scavs, and Trow and others! Is THAT IT?" Dakk was way out of his league and said, "Dokka! What are you...?" Dokka said carefully,"In five days, representatives from all the surviving flying cities will be here. They will carry the virus back to the other cities. Within the month, riots will break out and human rule will end. SO, YOUR HIGHNESS--if you can't rule this city, you'd see IT BURN?!" Safira shook her head. "No." She cleared her throat, "I'm following a last request from both my mother, and my husband. It is my responsibility, now." Dokka glared at Princess Safira and asked in a hiss,"Are you sure this is his last wish? Aldus Panchetta's" Safira glared. Her look had pain and anger in it. The Princess' guardian android, named Malbess, walked over to them and said,, "Milady. It time for the funeral. We should go now. Capitan Dokka, please do not mention that name around the Royal Family again." Dokka nodded with a sick feeling, looking down at the little girl. The two princesses turn and left, followed by the beautiful android woman. Dakk sighed, "Well...that went well." The two of them fell in behind the Royal Party. --TO BE CONTINUED!-- Media is Poser 7, Wings3d for coats,props and such.