"Never leave anything to chance," Jenius said plainly. "I now have us cloaked in an illusion, so we look quite different to everyone else … to say nothing that I was invisible just a moment ago."

"Why the secrecy, then?" Sedriil asked. "Is there something going on?"

"You tell us," Tescadji said.

"We don't know what you're talking about," Sedriil said, even more confused than before, and now slightly angered over what sounded like an implicit accusation.

"Okay then, here's the deal," Tescadji said, leaning forward, and grasping a firm hold on his drink. "We hear that your Mericlou's got the hots for an elf, some strange fellow who calls himself by the name of Aldrec?"

"Well, she'd deny it," Sedriil said with a wry grin, "but anyone could see that she likes him. Still, I don't see what that has to do with-"

"Wait a minute; I thought that our job was to promote harmony between androids and organics," Skori said in a suspicious tone. "What have you got against-"

"This isn't about her and the elf, Skori," Jenius said soothingly.

"Same ol' Skori, I see," Tescadji quipped, earning a harsh glare from Jenius.

"Then what is it about?" Sedriil asked in the same defensive tone.

"Touchy, touchy!" Tescadji said reproachfully. He glanced briefly at Jenius as if for approval of his comment. "Relax; this isn't exactly about Mericlou, or her little boyfriend. But it does have a trifle to do with her, in part. Truth be told, we're all for her relationship, even Jenius is. And as elves go, that's rare, I'll tell you that. The problem is that someone's been going around telling tall tales about them, making it public knowledge."

"Well, what's so bad about that?" Skori said. "She has the right to see anyone she wants; who cares what the public thinks?"

"Wait a minute, brother," Sedriil said, holding out a silencing hand. "I think I understand the point he's making."

"Well, I sure as hell don't," Skori snapped, stabbing his finger at himself. "This android needs input."

"Then input this," Tescadji said, and leaned forward, placing his fingers together. "It was hard enough working to help change public attitudes toward androids with humans, but with elves, it's a different thing."

"My people respect all forms of life," Jenius said, taking a cue from Tescadji, "but we are not without our own prejudices. You've all heard the stories, and have probably even seen a few human-elf couples who were ostracized for their love … and by elves."




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