The questions kept coming from the audience for Jahrae and Ronnie; such was the audience’s fascination with the events of the last four months.

There were questions about Arrhazon, questions concerning the children, questions on what llhaesa might know that made her a target, questions about the conduct of the US government, even fluff questions about their hairstyles and clothing.

With Jahrae and Ronnie’s appearance, word quickly spread around the world, and more people tuned in to Jamila’s programme every minute. There was little doubt the afternoon broadcast was fated to be the highest rated programme ever on television. Even after completion, it would likely dominate news and talk for days or even weeks thereafter.

The incredible events clashed with the great expressed interest in showing today for the programme. Celebrities who gave intent of showing for the broadcast were pre-empted by the arrival of Jahrae and Ronnie, but none seemed to mind. Over the next ninety minutes, celebrity after celebrity took to the auditorium and standing room only space, lining the aisles along the walls to the left and right of the auditorium.

People would whisper when they spotted another, the celebrity’s name making the rounds of the audience,  most of who would glance over in curiosity, and quickly refocus forward toward the stage and the answers given by Jahrae and Ronnie to the questions from the audience.

Jamila acknowledged a tall but slender man as next to ask a question. He worked his way past those in his row, each of whom stood and allowed his passage to the aisle to ask his question. “Hi, I am Sloane from Cambridge, United Kingdom. Jahrae, I would imagine your days here would be hectic, travelling from country to country. How will you balance your ambassadorial duties with family life?”

Jahrae had thought on this a good deal, but the question was still annoying. She tried to frame her response in a friendly manner, but suspected her annoyance showed through. “I suppose it is expected that women who hold such positions will be asked to explain how it is they can do this work and yet be a loving parent and partner, but the answer to that exists with each one of us who already goes about working and raising a family, no matter our gender.

We expect women to be accountable to answer the question, but men seem to get a free pass. My wife is a musician, a dedicated pianist – it is unlikely one would find one better. She practices at least six hours each day, and then goes about other elements of her craft – writing, managing some elements of her business, answering mail, that sort of thing.

As her partner, I know firsthand that llhaesa is a dynamite family oriented person, and is quite adept at successfully managing the myriad of elements of her life.

While I will not presume to claim such success before ever undertaking my work, I imagine it will pretty much work that way for me, at least in terms of managing work and family.

“Good afternoon! My name is Eric Mercer, a physics student at Northwestern University. Your home is fifty light years from this planet. You mentioned earlier that it took you a bit less than fourteen weeks to traverse this incredible distance.

Our science teaches that nothing can move faster than the speed of light. How did you manage to cross this distance in such a short time?”

“I am no physicist, Eric,” Jahrae began. “I do know that we do not travel through normal space, where you are correct, the speed of light rules. We circumvent this by travelling through what I can only hesitatingly translate as ‘bi-space,’ where the usual rules do not apply.”

“Eleanor from Denver here. Hello to all of you onstage; thank you for doing this programme and fielding our questions! Ronnie, what was your thinking when you first learned of your husband’s loss?”

Ronnie thought back to the day she drove north to find Tim, and ultimately found llhaesa. “The first day was very scary; I had little idea about what unfolded. I recall walking the streets in a frantic way, trying to find some clue as to his whereabouts. After that, things happened so fast there was no time to worry.

I know people wonder if I miss Tim, and the answer to that is Tim is still here, only better.”

“Susan from Chicago, and I would like to ask Jahrae if she thinks our government will arrest and detain her as well.”

Jahrae wondered that very thing, and feared they just might. “I cannot answer the question, for I ask it myself, Susan.”

A voice called down from the back and top of the auditorium, behind the last row of the audience, and just in front of one of the now closed entrances. Two ushers stood to either side of the doors with their arms folded, waiting to assist the next patron. “The answer to that question is an unequivocal ‘no!’ There will no longer be detentions because we fear diversity or simply desire what we believe is useful information that another possesses.”

The speaker, calling out in an impressively projecting and clear voice, slowly made her way down the aisle toward the stage, and as the audience near where she descended realised who spoke, who was right there next to them as she passed, they gasped – and then the buzzing of excited, whispering, voices ratcheted higher.

Reaching the front of the audience, she made her way to the left of the stage and climbed the four steps up to meet the other guests.

Jamila was waiting at the top of the stairs. “Madame President! I am stunned – I would guess we are all stunned – and thrilled to see you here. You have some explaining to do!”

A standing ovation launched into by the audience drowned out the last of Jamila’s words,  the audience wildly cheering at seeing the President was all right. After that initial shock of her presence wore off, they realised what her recovery meant in terms of the reason everyone gathered here today.

President Ellenwood laughed, knowing how on the mark Jamila’s comment was. “Yes, I do believe I have a lot of explaining to do, but we will get to that in due time, Jamila. First, I would like to meet each of your guests.”

Jamila led Alicia to the gathered guests, all of whom now stood and awaited their turn to say hello. The President made her way across the gauntlet of well-wishers, but when she reached Ronnie and Jahrae, both fell into her willing, prolonged, and heartfelt embrace.

“It is so good to meet both of you,” the president began, her eyes looking intently into first Jahrae and then Ronnie’s eyes, her own eyes reflect delight at meeting them. “It is good to meet you for a billion different reasons. Ronnie, I am proud of what you have done over the last several months; you are an inspiration to all of your fellow citizens! I am not at all certain most could face the issues you faced, and instead of being overwhelmed, you rose to the occasion and grew as a person. In so doing, you well represented all of us.

Jahrae, please accept my apology for the reprehensible conduct of my government over the last few months. It is unconscionable that llhaesa faced detention, torture, and an inquisition, all because she actually gives a shit about the well-being of people, as well as because of how intelligent she happens to be. Some thought they could prey upon her for personal gain, be it money or power.

What unfolded is unacceptable; immediate steps will be taken to deal with those who did these things to llhaesa.”

“Madame President, you were in a coma; you are not responsible for what happened!” Ronnie sincerely offered.

“Yes, perhaps that is true in one way, but in another way, I am responsible now; and expect change is coming in my administration quite shortly – within days, I would guess.”

Jamila seized this opportunity to jump in. “How about the Vice President? Will anything happen to him?”

“Vice President Green should have his resignation on my desk by morning. Failing that, I will move to have Congress institute impeachment proceedings.”

Jamila looked at the President with sort of a ‘whoa’ expression upon her face, and she could tell the President meant every word of her statement. She had to assume Green watched, and Jamila wondered what he must be thinking in the moment.

Jahrae spoke next. “You came in to the studio unannounced, much as we did. Does this mean you left the hospital in a stealth manner? If so, how did you manage this?”

Alicia laughed, but she did not wish to share publicly how they accomplished this deception, at least not yet. She winked at Jahrae to clue her in, and fashioned her public statement by saying, “Well, we had a good plan, and an able staff to carry it out. Thank you, Barbara Millwood and Marcia Paang, both of whom performed in an exemplary manner ever since my injury. Well, they did before as well, but they can claim glory now, whereas several others fell flat. When left to adhere to the policies of this administration, when left to see to the best interest of the people, they shined, they shined.

By the way, Barbara did nothing wrong, and she is in fact Attorney General of this nation. I imagine some people might not be thrilled with that prospect about now, but Barbara has my complete backing to pursue whatever course her department deems appropriate in light of these transgressions.”

“How long have you been out of a coma?” Beth Loren asked the President, wondering how long it takes to go from being out for months to functional again.

“I have been awake now for a little less than two weeks, Beth. Initially I fell in and out of sleep, and slept a good deal of each day, but over time the sleeping diminished.

The hard part was pretending to be comatose yet try and glean as much information as possible about what was going on in the halls of government.”

Jamila followed this up with, “Why the pretend coma? Why not resume duties as soon as you were able?”

“Good question, Jamila, but we wished to smoke out the poor and inappropriate conduct, and this gave us an opportunity to see who worked for and against those who desire a more enlightened and responsive government. From what I can see, the plan worked well.”

“Have you resumed office as yet?” Ellie Moran wondered.

“Formally, no. Informally, yes. It is just a matter of a few technicalities, which we will quickly see to when I arrive in Washington.

It amazes me that so many questions come my way. After all, the real subject at hand is helping llhaesa, and I am thrilled to see the people of this country – and those of the world – rally in support of llhaesa. I will add to that Jahrae and Ronnie, how they are family, how Jahrae crossed half the universe to find her love.

I think of what some say about same sex marriage, I hear your stories Jahrae, and well, you are a shining light blazing and ready to take to our world. You and your incredible partner will accomplish things no one in multiple millennia has managed to do, and it starts right here. You have my full support, and I am certain the people will join me in that support!”

Jahrae smiled as the audience cheered the President’s words, and silently thought she could hardly wait to chat with the President privately. Still, llhaesa’s well-being was foremost on the agenda, and Jahrae trusted once back in Washington, that order would come first on the list of things to do.

Six people now stood on the stage; the seventh and eighth climbed the stairs toward the group, and Jamila called out to the audience, “ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Barbara Millwood and Marcia Paang!”

Once again, greetings dominated the stage, and again hugs fell upon Ronnie and Jahrae, with Jahrae meeting Barbara for the first time.

Ronnie suddenly realised that the whole world probably watched; these were the movers and shakers in this moment – and yet there were only women on stage. “Goodbye and good riddance glass ceiling!” she thought, echoing a sentiment that would make llhaesa proud.

Ronnie’s thoughts diverted elsewhere as a piano began to play behind the second stage curtain. Standing right next to Jahrae, Ronnie could not help but notice how Jahrae froze as the first notes registered.

Jahrae well knew those notes, the exact musical phrase. They were distinctive, and they attached to one of the funniest events in her memory. A chill worked its way up her back and intensified, while her mind was now off, her being quickly switching to primal instinct. As with the first time, this would prove a moment she would never forget.

Jahrae was not alone in never forgetting. The world that watched the incredible scene unfold would have what they witnessed imprinted on their minds, on their souls; and in the coming years, they would quite willingly watch countless films and documentaries’ reprising what was about to happen upon this stage.