“I have seen The Spirit here," Asper continued watching Kein intently as he held Kaley. "The strength the men have has returned in full. It scares me: their power and defiance."

My Husbands noted the same thing I did. Asper wanted to treat the men Like children. Their determination to make their own decisions scared her. She wanted to make the choices for "her" men.

“The rebellion is educated," Damien interjected. "We are not simple men from the compounds doing as we please with no thought. None of us here make choices without understanding the consequences of our actions."

Tosu agreed with him as she gave Asper a patient Look.

“The men are educated and intelligent," Tosu stated. "Yes, they are injured and some die, but they are happy and constructive. We Lost a great deal treating them as we did. They were right about the ore, Asper, you know they still are. It should not be sold off this world.”

Asper sat heavily on an unoccupied slab beside us.

“Free men," she said looking around, “I never thought I would see them for myself. I never imagined I would support them, but I do. What they have created here is precious and saved our world. The beliefs, though, will be difficult...We have obligations and contracts-" she started to say, but stopped and sighed instead.

“Many alien nations will attack us if we refuse to provide the ore," she said plainly.

This woman had been the Leader of the slaving women and here she sat, discussing politics with a family of men. It was unheard of and I was shocked, but Damien's family wasn't.

One at a time. That's what the men were seeing happening. The women saw the truth one at a time. The rebellion knew they just needed to be patient and it would happen peacefully.

The men had been right, frustrating as it was. The women had to walk freely in the camps and see the men. Then their minds would change.

Damien found the conversation with Asper, our new ally, thought provoking, but something cooled his interest. This type of problem should go through the proper channels. Asper didn't seem like the kind of woman who spoke casually, but she obviously didn't understand our organization. The Great Spirit connected the men, but there was a chain of command everyone followed.

"We have strong Administrators," he said to the woman, as he waved over some young men.

“Your concerns are valid and should be addressed by our leaders. These men can take you to them."

Asper watched us closely for a moment before standing. "Will you accompany me, Tosu?" she asked turning to our friend. "I find your counsel has been helpful and the company would be appreciated, much has changed."

't is a new Pateria," Tosu stated as she rose slowly. "And I am alone in it," Asper said with some sadness.

After a life spent in the company of strong Sisters, I imagined the large woman must feel abandoned. I pitied her situation.

“We are both alone,” Tosu said smiling, “better to be alone together, perhaps?"

They would be strong together and I knew that. It made me feel better that neither woman would continue on without family.

Not surprisingly Hannah and Ra had tagged along with the group heading to Administration. They wanted to be part of the larger planning and the logistics. I suspected the more interest they showed the more often they would be rewarded with responsibility.

It would have been interesting to Damien to be part of Asper's conversation, but he had other plans, ones that would take us far from here. We couldn't be Locked into a set of jobs that Limited our travel. It wasn't what the family wanted.

Kein cradled Kaley and smiled like a kid in a candy store. She slept in his arms peacefully. Our daughter felt secure under his watchful eye.