A month had passed. After much prodding, T'Chorel had agreed to delay his resignation until the next Council meeting which he had just left early despite the change in the post-meeting routine. N'Tar had looked the other way while P'Ku said a prayer to his goddess. N'Tar had even let B'Luki say the pledge to the flag of T'M. T'Chorel still didn't care. He was done with politics, at least for a little while, he said and laughed to himself.

The new bridge over the Red River had been completed and that is where F'Ve found T'Chorel staring at the star-studded night sky.

"So have you decided yet," she asked, stepping up beside him and slipping her hand in his.

"We could move in together," T'Chorel said, "but I have a counter-proposal."

"Sounds promising."

"I'm still, officially, a diplomat for the UA. I spoke to Kareneter. He said he wouldn't object if I used my position to invoke the emergency reactivation clause and make him rejoin the UA Navy as my personal pilot. He'd be in the Diplomatic Corps, good pay, low risk. I thought that you and I and he could go see some of these other worlds out there. That is, if you're still curious."

"Could we stop at Sentra/3 first?"

"Sure. And one more thing . . ."

"Yes."

"Once we are in interstellar space, Kareneter has the authority to conduct marriage ceremonies--" T'Chorel started.

"Are you asking . . ." F'Ve interrupted.

"Yes," T'Chorel said, pulling her into his arms, "I'm asking. F'Ve, will you marry me?"

"Yes," F'Ve kissed him, "yes," she kissed him again, "yes."

This time the kiss lasted much, much longer.

THE END

A United Allegiance Tale
© Copyright 2003-2008 Michael J. Ahlers