Translation State

Reet makes his way around the circuit. He starts sweating and knows he will have to match soon. He wishes he could match with Qven but knows that e does not want to match with him. Reet reaches the room where Ambassador Seimet floats. He confronts her and asks why she brought Mr. Nadkal and Ideni Ismor to the meeting. Seimet wanted to discredit Reet’s case by denouncing the Siblings of Hikipu as violent, conspiracy-minded extremists. She explains that Hikipi militants were using Reet to shore up support for their cause by claiming he was a Schan. She hoped they might do something violent at the meeting, though she did not expect things to go so badly. Reet tells Seimet about the blood at the end of the hallway and explains that he is trying to find Qven and Dlar. Seimet joins him when she learns that the Geck bio mech is communicating.

The mech tells Qven that eir Teacher is arguing with Translator Dlar. Istver asks Qven if e has any family; e does not. Via the mech, Dlar again tells Qven to match with the mech. It is unclear if the match will work, or if Qven will survive it. If e does, the experience will probably be very painful. Qven realizes that e would much rather match with Reet after all, but believes it is now too late. After much debate, Qven again insists that if e does match with the mech, Dlar must agree that e and Reet are human. Finally, Dlar agrees and declares them both human with Agagag as a witness. As humans, Reet and Qven are subject to human rights and laws. Qven is pleased with this result, though e is extremely reluctant to match with the mech. E is just about to start the matching process when e hears Reet’s voice from the hallway saying that he thinks he has found Dlar’s body.

Enae and Sphene try to pry up the floor to see where Dlar’s blood is going. Enae wonders why Seimet brought the Hikipi militants to the meeting in the first place. Sphene thinks Seimet is desperate to be the only one in control of the Presger Treaty and would do anything to maintain her position. Anaander Mianaai’s power is now very fragmented, and it might collapse altogether once AIs are legally considered people and become citizens of the Republic of Two Systems. Sphene manages to pry the floor up a tiny bit, and then it disappears entirely, and she and Enae fall through into the other end of the hallway. Everyone is there. Qven managed to create and open a door to let Enae and Sphene through. They all return to the committee room with Dlar’s body, and the other Dlar is able to remotely restore space to its previous shape. Gravity returns, and the room goes back to normal. Some committee members try to rule on Reet and Qven’s case immediately, but Seimet objects that neutralizing the Hikipi ship is first priority, as it is still threatening to attack the Treaty Administration Facility. Seimet is overruled, and Reet and Qven are officially declared human.

Qven desperately wants to board the Hikipi ship and have an adventure like in Pirate Exiles. Everyone insists it is too dangerous, but Qven is undeterred. Eventually, e gets permission to board with Reet as long as they both follow orders. Qven generates a door to the Hikipi ship, and everyone boards. Reet and Qven guard a hallway while trained officers try to find and arrest the Hikipi agents. An unexpected militant appears and puts a knife to Reet’s throat, cutting him. Reet tries to convince his attacker that he is a Schan by singing a Hikipi song; when that does not work, he fights back but loses consciousness.

Qven rushes to Reet’s aid, biting and stabbing his attacker. E realizes that e desperately wants to match with Reet, especially since he is currently losing blood; a match would save him. However, Qven decides it would be wrong to match with Reet while he is unconscious and instead finds a medical corrective for his neck. With Reet stabilizing, Qven starts dismembering the assailant, to the distress of the officers who soon arrive to help em.

After the incident, while Reet is in a medical facility, Qven runs into Sphene, who now has a bio mech body. Sphene tells Qven that, given eir actions on the Hikipi ship, humans will probably not accept Reet and Qven into their society, especially if they match with each other. However, they are welcome to come and live in the Republic of Two Systems.

Qven visits Reet and finds him awake. Qven feels very alone, but Reet’s parents assure em that e is now one of their children. Qven assumes that Reet does not want to match with em, but he contradicts em: He would like to match. Both of them are nervous, but they agree to go through with the process.

Enae gets medical treatment for hir injuries and then realizes that sie has many missed messages from Caphing. Sie is touched to learn that Caphing does care about hir after all. In fact, Caphing has just arrived at the Treaty Administration Facility in person, and the two greet each other warmly. Enae has been asleep for some time: Reet and Qven have matched. Pleased that hir diplomatic mission has gone well, Enae decides to return home, but visits Reet and Enae aboard Sphene before leaving. They are now one person with two bodies, both of which look a little like Reet and a little like Qven. The new Presger Translator has not yet chosen a name or pronouns. The transition has been scary, but Sphene’s Translator friend, Dlique, has been helpful. Reet-Qven is planning to move to the Republic of Two Systems, possibly to do diplomatic work. Enae gives them a packet of coffee (from Caphing) as a parting gift. Enae returns home but knows sie will probably travel again soon.