The sensor reading resolved into a tiny manta-ray silhouette as it continued to sail silently away into the darkness, still surrounded by fragments of the T'kaan ship, the effects of the mighty explosion its only source of power.

"I am getting some kind of a reading," Minstrel said excitedly. "Barely."

Silence, thick and pressing, came upon the watchers.

"I've adjusted my sensors, and we are heading for her now. And, I've got definite readings of electronic activity- faint, but there."

"She's in total diagnostic mode. I bet'cha," Jaric said as he jumped and grabbed Kyle by the shoulders. Kyle smiled. "I hope so."

But it was as Jaric predicted, and now Mother joined the other survivors as Minstrel held her fast with a tractor beam.

They all joined the few who had also survived.

Chapter Forty-Eight.

The Three Kingdomsboth celebrated and mourned.

On each home world of the Three Kingdoms, cheering crowds, parades and spectacular fireworks lit up the night skies. Music and praise filled the airwaves and every communication medium. Plays were written and performed almost overnight that celebrated the bravery of the allied ships as well as the individuals who sacrificed all so that others might live.

The remaining ships from the combined fleets gathered at the Mewiis home world. Here the celebrations were edged with a solemn yet ardent fervor. For it was here that Minstrel brought its Circle Ship, hovering above the capital city of MewiisProlo, directly above the central part of the celebrations- it was here that Minstrel began to play.

The sound of Minstrel's music could be heard for hundreds of miles. Minstrel selected music from every facet of its vast repertory; the songs which echoed joy, happiness, bravery, heroism, and love.

Inside the Circle Ship, Minstrel stretched its plasma body farther and farther until it was spread so thin that it was almost completely transparent...except for a subtle shimmering that danced ethereally everywhere in the air. Now Minstrel could touch every part of the ship to make it sing out loud with power and energy until the ship actually shook and jumped while its repulsor engines strained to keep it floating in a single position in the sky.

All through the day and late into the night, everyone danced and celebrated underneath the music from the sky.

It was soon reported that if you stood within eyesight of the Circle Ship, you could actuallyfeel the music with your body even more than you could hear it with your ears-that was how pa.s.sionate Minstrel's concert became. The notes almost seemed to turn into a pure musical energy.

For seven days, the celebrations lasted around the clock. Disaster had been averted and the feelings of relief and happiness were etched in the smiling faces that danced everywhere in the streets and balconies.

No one could remember the likes of such an event before, one that everybody throughout the ThreeKingdoms shared.

On the heels of the celebrations, theTime of Sadness began.

Solemn a.s.semblies were held and broadcast. Those who had fallen were remembered again. Those who remained cried, their tears shed in love, their hearts aching with loss.

Mother, Kyle and Jaric chose to mourn with the Kraaqi; a twelve-day mourning period filled with emotion and silent contemplation. Mother mourned in her own fashion as well, and for untold hours she replayed the entire life of her lost daughter through her memory, focusing on the child's face-especially her smiles-while her laughter echoed in her speakers.

She allowed only minimal repairs during this time in order to concentrate so as to never forget her lost child. Never.

Almost without realizing it, Mother prioritized her processing on this single, sad task.

After a few hours of watching and listening to this Becky of the past, Kyle and Jaric left to go stay with Rok in his quarters. The sad memories were too much for them right now. Later, with time, they would want see and hear Mother's memories of Becky again.

But not now.

Rok took them later that day to his personal ship and the trio flew to the small but sacred Kraaqi world named Waalhalla. It was a solitary planet far removed from any other inhabited world and was thus a perfect place for warriors to renew themselves and to find solace and inner peace again, especially after tragedy. Here on Waalhalla, the trio of friends found themselves to be the only inhabitants across its entire mountainous surface.

Flora and fauna were few and far between on this cold, desolate planet. It was in its high summer now, and the snows only glistened on the highest peaks that covered every continent. Among the lower peaks, Rok, Jaric and Kyle set up camp.

They talked little. Only around the large camp fire each evening when they ate their one big meal did they converse at any length. Most days they hiked the forlorn peaks in silence, their souls filled with sadness that seemed to resonate with their forlorn surroundings. They felt their sorrow as one with Waalhalla, their melancholy heard in the sighing of the ever-blowing winds that washed the desolate peaks. They felt their grief for Becky in every barren, rock-strewn vista.

And they cried for her loss alone, unseen by the other two. But each one knew, and each respected the solitary grieving of the other.

But the time for grief comes to an end, and life goes on.

They returned after word reached them of a great a.s.sembly. As they neared the Kraaqi world of Aasgaard, their sensors picked up Minstrel's ship as well Mother nestled within a huge, orbiting complex.

The leaders of the Three Kingdoms gathered near Mother as her extensive repairs began in earnest at the Kraaqi shipyard that orbited the planet Aasgaard. Jysar was personally supervising the best Hrono Technologists, as well as the Mewiis and Kraaqi teams with their specific projects. Even with all this going on, Mother would partic.i.p.ate directly in the upcoming a.s.sembly. And, too, there were many questions that remained regarding the defeated T'kaan to which she alone held certain answers, few that there were.

Chapter Forty-Nine.

The a.s.sembly washeld with a mixture of joy and sadness. As the leaders of the Three Kingdoms gathered into the great hall, every eye glanced up and noticed that Minstrel, too, entered. Everyone watched its shimmering plasma body flow through the doorway and then rise until it hovered just below the great, wide ceiling where it floated like a fantastic, colorful cloud.

Rok was among the leaders of the Three Kingdoms who entered together, he being newly appointed as Fifth Captain by the High Chieftains. Indeed, there were more new faces among these leaders of the Three Kingdoms than familiar ones to the crowd gathered on the main floor.

Jaric and Kyle entered almost unnoticed through a side door.

Chira, the main leader for this a.s.sembly as a.s.signed by the combined Council of the Three Kingdoms, brought the meeting to order with a quick signal from her hand. Her head-tail flicked with excitement as everyone found their seats.

As everyone grew silent, Chira signaled. The hall reverberated with three strokes from the hall's Grand Bell, one for each of the Three Kingdoms. This would now be a new tradition for the combined Kingdoms when they a.s.sembled. But there was a pause as the third stroke faded away, suddenly the huge bell rang out a fourth time- in honor of Mother and her two children, and finally a fifth time for the race of Minstrels.

Jaric and Kyle looked intently at the front of the room where the a.s.sembled leaders sat.

Jasus led the Hrono leadership with Admiral Trakam seated on his left side and Admiral Tarlog on his right. Tarlog smiled back at them, his right arm still in a medical brace as well as the left side of his aged face covered by the glow of a dermal regenerator as it slowly repaired his damaged scales and sub-skin.

Rok and newly appointed First Captain, Zara, two of the handful of remaining Kraaqi warlords that survived the T'kaan battle, sat along with the High Chieftains. Rok nodded in recognition at Jaric and Kyle, and then he rose and motioned for them to sit with him.

Jaric and Kyle made their way forward.

The gathered throngs began clapping their hands in a steady rhythm, matching the steps of the two young men. The clapping grew in volume with each step, and then the throngs rose, now clapping harder andlouder with each beat. Shouts joined the rhythm, and even the leaders of the Three Kingdoms rose to greet them as they reached the chairs on either side of Rok.

As one, Jaric, Kyle and the other leaders took their seats amid a general chorus of cheers and war whoops.

"I bring the first a.s.sembly of the United Three Kingdoms to order," Chira said with a flick of her head-tail.

Almost immediately, Tarlog rose. He nodded first at the Kraaqi leadership, and then to Chira and the Mewiis. Chira acknowledged in return, giving the right to speak.

Admiral Tarlog cleared his throat as he looked upon the gathered throngs.

"I would like, as the first gesture to this new peace among the Three Kingdoms, to announce our plans-plans of the Hrono, to build a golden statue dedicated to the courage and bravery of First Captain Rawlon and his Officer of the Fleet, Curja. And to the greatest battleship that ever sailed that galaxy, the Thunderer."

Cheers greeted his words, and even the Kraaqi warriors rose and saluted their new brethren for this great honor to their fallen First Captain. Tarlog saluted them in return and sat back down.

Before the cheers could completely subside, Fifth Captain Rok rose, a great smile upon his face. He looked slowly around the room filled with the leaders and sub-leaders of the combined Three Kingdoms.

"The Kraaqi, too, wish to honor their newfound brethren; to honor them as equals, and to honor their courage as well." Rok turned to the Chira. "We, too, wish to build a great statue, a great memorial to the Mewiis and Admiral Saris. Against impossible odds, she and her ships held the left wing of the battle line.

In the heart of our home world we will build this statue so we will remember that no matter the race, no matter the gender, bravery is found in all."

The cheers erupted again, the entire room standing for a second time in a standing ovation.

Now Chira rose.

"The Mewiis, too, shall commission a great statue, or series of statues. So we will remember forever,"

she paused, her head-tail now whipping side to side in her excitement. "The theme of these great works of art shall beFamily .. There shall be a Kraaqi family represented, and a Hrono family. There shall be a Mewiis family, and a family of Minstrels. But the center-piece of all shall be a statue of MotherShip and her children-Becky, Jaric and Kyle. Mother's family."

Jaric smiled weakly as the cheers erupted a third time. Kyle quickly wiped at his eyes, and then smiled out at the crowd. Both men now rose and bowed toward Chira in thanks.

The cheers became deafening with enthusiastic intensity. Long seconds pa.s.sed before the shouts slowly subsided as the crowds now strained to hear more.

"We, the Mewiis, have learned that families come in many forms. And even though we may look different upon the outside, inside, we are all really the same." She raised her hands to the crowds for silence. "Sometimes the females are the head, sometimes the males. Sometimes the older children must a.s.sume the lead role. And sometimes an ent.i.ty or life form different even than the children will take theyoung ones and love them as his or her own-like the MotherShip for her beloved children." Chira paused, gazing at Jaric and Kyle a moment.

"They, too, are family." Chira smiled as the cheers grew deafening again.

She waited to say more, but the cheering would not end this time. As the first minute turned into two minutes and then into three, she sat back down, realizing her words had been enough.

The wild, enthusiastic cheering continued unabated for many more minutes. At last the cheers subsided.

Chira stood once again.

"Our first order of business is to prepare our newfound peace," Chira said to all. "We must organize all the peoples of the Three Kingdoms as one; we must take our laws and principles and apply them equally among all. And we must respect the cherished traditions and values from each race, and learn from each race. Whatever fundamental truths that apply to life and to all, these we must learn to embrace as one."

Enthusiastic applause met her words.

Jysar now rose, after he had first whispered quickly into Jasus' ear. He held his right hand for quiet as the green hue deepened across the ridge of scales over his head. The applause gradually faded.

"Friends," he began, and then looked at the Kraaqi. "And brethren." Jysar took a deep breath, to steady himself. He continued.

"Before we go into the business of our peaceful future together, we feel it necessary to bring up the subject of the T'kaan. This is so we might answer certain outstanding questions." Jysar paused.

"Together we can review the small amount of physical evidence we have obtained, as well as the vital knowledge and scans the computer-ship we know as Mother has taken from inside their Great Horned ships." He paused again, a nervous look upon his face. "And perhaps determine if the T'kaan threat is once and for all finished."

A stunned silence filled the room.

Chira nodded, remembering her own private discussions on that very matter.

Jysar continued.

"I would like Mother to continue this line of thought, as she-the ship-has been a part of all the individual discussions so far and can more logically tie all of the individual threads together and summarize what we really know about the T'kaan."

Mother was in orbit above the planet, her hull held fast in a tight tractor beam while scores of Kraaqi, Hrono and Mewiis, all scientists, engineers, technologists and technicians, continued her extensive repairs inside the huge s.p.a.ce-borne hangar.

She had been terribly damaged as she had raced out the first hole her super-weapon had made in the T'kaan ship's hull. But even her mighty ThunderStar engines had not been able to outrun the explosion as the creature-ship died, its biological and technological systems fatally overloaded.. Still, she had outraced the heart of the explosion and that had been enough to ensure her survival.

So much of her outer hull had been damaged that it had been unanimously decided to completely replaceit with the strongest Tritanium Steel compound the Hrono had ever developed. It was very expensive, used sparingly for the choicest sections of a ship where it most needed this superior strength. But the Hrono gladly covered Mother in the best they had.

Her shields had also been completely burned out, here the Mewiis engineers gladly provided their best shield systems, so Mother's shields and hull would now be many times stronger than any ship ever to fly the universe. Now her silhouette would reflect the light of stars with a dark gray sheen, although the Hrono did add chemicals so there was still a hint of her original deep, purple.

Eight of her main batteries had been destroyed. With spare parts no longer available, the Kraaqi provided their best replacements to complement the remaining four human-made weapons. Her hybrid weapon was repairable, but the reload time could not be brought under seven minutes, no matter what fixes were tried. It would have to do.

But the greatest gift the Kraaqi bestowed were the enhancements to her navigation systems, a specialty of this great race of explorers, and the addition of anti-gravity repulsor engines so that Mother could land upon the surface of a planet without polluting its atmosphere. With these two modifications Mother could explore new worlds just like any honorable Kraaqi longship.

Minstrel had also bestowed a gift. With the help of Fixers, who performed the actual work, Minstrel directed the integration of its race's secret Stealth systems. Minstrel had received permission to bestow this gift from the Minstrel society's highest Council, deeming MotherShip aworthy life form ; the only condition being that Minstrel obtain Mother's promise not to misuse this technology.

Mother was now recognized as a friend to all Minstrels throughout the known universe.

Vast sections of Mother's power grids, circuitry and main systems were being repaired or completely refurbished by each race. She was now a true hybrid ship of strength, power, and wisdom.

In her last milliseconds of consciousness before the explosion, Mother had done everything she could in order to protect her long-term memories; both so that she-her essence- would survive, and so that the precious last memories of mankind would also survive. She had succeeded.

As her repairs continued, both the Hrono and Minstrel were simultaneously downloading those memories of humankind-never again would these ever be lost by a single calamity.

In addition, Minstrel was quickly finishingThe Symphony of Humanity in order to share it with the rest of the universe. This, too, would be downloaded to the Three Kingdoms along with the knowledgebase of humankind.

Now, through the huge speakers that hung from the wide ceiling above the a.s.semblage, Mother spoke.

"We can be sure that every T'kaan ship at the battle was destroyed. But there will no doubt have been small scout formations, or even a few larger formations, performing reconnaissance, that were not present at the battle."

"But would they not have self-destructed as the other ships did when the Great Horned ships died?"

Jasus asked.

"With our newly acquired data, I compared it with the almost total destruction of the T'kaan Third Fleet by humankind at Earth's destruction." Mother paused ten milliseconds. "Every ship in close proximitywas indeed destroyed, whether directly by the blast, or by self-destruction. However, small formations of the T'kaan Third did survive which were located great distances from that battle."

A murmuring began among the throng. Mother paused momentarily.

"Months later, as the other T'kaan fleets sent reinforcements, and especially after the new Great Horn ship arrived..."

"Or was born?" Jysar interrupted.