President Alicia Ellenwood feigned unconsciousness whenever someone other than Sylvia Washington entered her room. While she tired of the skulduggery, their world’s future depended on a decisive end to the nonsense now put forth by the Acting President.

Both felt it was not yet time to reveal Alicia’s recovery, though that time rapidly approached. Sylvia turned on a television in the room and left it on during much of the day, claiming ‘the voices might help to bring the President out of her coma.’

In reality, the television was on for the President to gain some inkling of what was going on in the country and world. When news broke the day before of the landing in Henna, Sylvia knew it was imperative Alicia follow the story.

“I need to return to office, Sylvia.” Alicia pronounced, watching the panicked statements coming from Washington insiders. Acting President Green remained silent on the incident, and that worried Alicia. “I suspect that llhaesa is now feeling the brunt of his silence,” she presciently mused.

CNN interviewed Jamila Karenga, who expressed similar outlook to Alicia, questioning what her government was doing behind the scenes with a known off worlder; one she knew was of good intent. Jamila announced plans to hold a live broadcast on the ongoing detention of llhaesa and the landing incident of Saturday, the broadcast scheduled in three days, on Wednesday, 1 October.

“As currently envisioned,” Jamila explained, “the programme will serve as a non-monetary telethon to raise awareness of llhaesa’s plight, her mistreatment, and to encourage our leaders to a more intelligent and humane course.”

Watching Jamila share her plan and its purpose, Alicia had an overwhelming urge to reach through the television and hug the talk show host. “At least someone out there is making use of reason and intelligence!” Alicia silently mused, exceedingly annoyed that reason and intelligence was obviously absent from the acting leadership.

Sylvia entered the room, and seeing Alicia awake and annoyed, inquired as to why she was annoyed. Alicia outlined Jamila’s plan and Alicia’s view of it, and then asked, “Sylvia, I wish to be out of this hospital on Wednesday morning. What is your thinking on this?”

Sylvia was cautious by nature, and she knew Alicia would go full speed once out the door, but there was little risk other than exhaustion. “I think that will be fine, that you will be fine. Shall we maintain the front of you still being comatose until then?”

“Yes, yes I think that is perfect, actually. Please meet with Marcia Paang, and fill her in. I dare not have her back here more than once prior to then. When I leave, I wish to leave undetected. Is there any way in your view this can be done, given the other staffers, and given the Secret Service outside the door?”

Sylvia pulled up a chair, her mind thinking through ways to get someone out of this room without detection, especially when that person was the President.

“Perhaps, and the worst that can happen is we are unsuccessful.”

“OK, then this is what we will attempt. Please have Marcia here Tuesday; I will give her instructions on what she is to do on Wednesday.

In the meantime, find out where they are holding Barbara, and contact the US Attorney for the Washington district, they are trustworthy. Have them initiate court action to get Barbara released. I expect she will be, and when she is, please give a message I am about to write out to Marcia to bring to Barbara…”

Barbara was actually under home detention, and the Acting President released her earlier Sunday morning, with the caveat she could not resume her duties as Attorney General.

Barbara was incensed at what unfolded, first ill treatment of llhaesa and now of her. There would be a reckoning coming, and Barbara most assuredly intended to ride that wave and sweep away every person who played a role in the mistreatment and abuse of power. If only Alicia would come out of her coma, so much would change.

Her door greeting signalled a visitor, and Barbara made her way to the foyer of her Washington townhouse, and pulled open the door. Marcia Paang stood on the stoop, smiling at seeing her friend again available for contact. Barbara invited Marcia in, and the two settled in the kitchen after Marcia accepted Barbara’s offering of coffee.

After setting the coffeemaker, they settled at the kitchen table, initially exchanging formalities, but soon enough moved to the subject of the President. “Barbara,” Marcia began, knowing she was about to stun Barbara, “Alicia is awake.”

“What!” A smile pulled over her face, thrilled with the news. “So that means Green is out!”

“Not quite.”

“Why?”

It was Marcia’s turn to smile. “Alicia is not at all happy with what has occurred while she was in a coma, and wishes to maintain the illusion of her comatose condition whilst she moves to act.

Have you heard Jamila will broadcast live, in telethon format, on Wednesday?”

This confused Barbara, not getting the association to Alicia, and her face reflected the confusion. The coffeemaker signalled its readiness, and Barbara rose, removed two mugs from her cupboard, and poured, while answering, “Yes, yes, I have, but what has that to do with Alicia?”

“I just met with Sylvia Washington, who relayed a basic plan from the President. Alicia intends to resume the presidency on Wednesday, and she wishes to do so on her terms. The plan is for her to leave the hospital surreptitiously in order that she can act decisively on llhaesa t’yaeli and the woeful treatment afforded her by Green.”

“How does Jamila factor into this?”

Marcia smiled, an almost scheming smile, and outlined the limited details she knew of the plan, and then she handed over the President’s note.

Barbara read and listened, taking to the idea, though she thought it had little chance of actual success. “I just do not see how you can get Alicia out of her room without Secret Service awareness, and I do not see how you can get llhaesa out of detention, either without all manner of bells and whistles going off to alert Green.”

“Alicia is owed more than a few favours, and she has a rather sizeable amount of cache as President, would you not agree?”

“True.”

“If a part of the plan fails here or there, she will move to secondary steps to achieve the overall goal.

Barbara, you have met llhaesa. What is your impression of her?”

Barbara answered without hesitation. “I have never met anyone quite like her, and I do not mean that because she is from off world.

This is someone with an idealistic view of the universe, a vision for a world – or worlds – where people have respect for diversity, and embrace equality passionately. She is saddened by, and despises ill treatment of anyone, despises war, the use of power for personal gain, and a host of other things.

Llhaesa is also an unabashed optimist. She will find a way to smile in the toughest of circumstances. On top of that, she is intelligent, personable, and one hell of a musician.”

“In other words, you do not view her as a threat to our world.”

“Only to those who engage in the things I mention. Do not discount her ability to effect change once let loose on the population. She has a certain presence, and the combination of her off world origin and music ability will make people stop and listen to what she has to say. With such an opportunity to be heard, you can bet llhaesa is able to take it from there and get her point of view to register with people.”

“What do you make of the landing in Henna?” Marcia was uncertain what this signified.

Barbara thought for a moment, holding back an answer for just a moment. “An educated guess is that llhaesa’s partner is here looking for her. Llhaesa suspected she was on the way.

I know the reports indicate the Salstons left with this person, and that is consistent with this being a family matter. You can expect they will ratchet up the pressure for llhaesa’s release, what with Ronnie sharing what she knows with Jahrae.”

“Jahrae?”

“Llhaesa’s wife, before she was abducted, altered and sent to exile here.

Marcia, this is a diplomatic issue, and we are in danger of creating an interstellar incident through our ignorant and reckless conduct. If we are not careful, we piss away the opportunity to take this world to a wonderful future, and have relations across a significant chunk of space with what I suspect are wonderful people – and our cousins, after all.”

“You seem confident of that view.”

“Yes, yes I am. I spent a lot of time with the Salstons, and with llhaesa. I suspect when she meets Alicia, they will become instant friends.”

“OK, then if you believe, and she believes, I trust both of you… so I believe. Let’s make this plan happen.”