The Ancient One sat down, took one of the pieces of meat wrapped in pastry and began to nibble on it. The flavor was somewhere between beef and chicken. "What do you want, captain?" The Ancient One asked.
The captain looked thoughtful. "We have heard something that disturbs us," he began, "that you intend to adopt a female child to use as some kind of shield to protect others from your power, and after you use this child for awhile, you intend to return her to her own people. We do not understand! Why will you not keep her?"
"I've explained to you," The Ancient One asnwered, "that there are two groups among my people. There were those that fought for The Lord God of Haven, and those that rebelled against him. I am one of those that rebelled. The young woman whose services I am trying to obtain fought for The Lord God. We get along but she could never work for my people. She would only serve in this situation because she would be protecting her people, keeping them from harm. A great deal of affection will probably rise between us, but eventually she will have to be returned to the people that she came to serve because it would not be right for me to keep her from them. That is simply the way it is. The two groups coexist and work together but this young woman could never serve my people. Why are you so interested in this, captain?"
As The Ancient One took another pastry the captain spoke. "My emperor, surely you must understand that the moment you take this young woman into your house and declare that she is your child she becomes the heir to your estate, as far as we are concerned, the future ruler of this world. She becomes a Your Highness, an heir. If this happens it cannot be changed. If she goes back to these other people she will still be your rightful heir, even if you have children. She would be considered the first born and heir because she was the first child to enter your home. This is unchangeable. This is unquestionable. We would ask so there would be no question of succession, that if she goes back to these other people she keeps your name. And she must be treated with all dignity and respect. She will be of royal blood. She cannot merely be some man's bed warmer and housekeeper, and the vessel for carrying his children. After your death she would be the ruler of this world, and her children would succeed her. Imperial Law demands this. Surely you can see our concern! We would have to protect her Imperial rights."
The Ancient One sighed. "I definitely see the way you look at things, but I must tell you under no circumstances are you to interfere in this situation! This is something we have to settle amongst ourselves, something that we have to work out. As long as you cause me no trouble I don't care about this Imperial nonsense, as long as you're helpful we'll play along with it. But endanger my children in any way, and I will deal with you! Because of certain circumstances I've been giving you a little leeway. But I will try to fulfill your wishes. If the young lady does come to us and enters our house and should take our name, I will ask her to keep it. Though there is a possibility that if she marries she might take her husband's name."
"That would be acceptable!" the captain sighed. "Not exactlly what we would like, but acceptable! Now, if she was to have your child before she left you, where she is not truly a blood relation, that would certainly clear the lines of succession! So there would be no question of who the future heir would be. Is there any possibility of this?"
"None!" The Ancient One asnwered. "None, whatsoever! I warn you again, captain, stay out of this matter! Do not contact these people. Do not get involved!"
The captain sighed again. I do not know if I can keep that order," he moaned, "but if we do contact these people we will contact them as natives of this world interested in your cause and offering them assistance to fulfill your wishes. We will not let them know we are extra terrestrials. I must ask you again, will you please take some assistance?"
"And I must answer again, no!" The Ancient One snapped. "Delicious lunch! Express my thanks to the cook. I really must get back now. Listen to me captain," The Ancient One repeated as he stood and the women came forward to take his robe, "do not get mixed up in this issue. We desperately need this young woman! So don't make things difficult for us! You don't want to make me angry!"
The captain nodded. "I understand your Imperial commands!" he snapped. "I will do my best to fulfill them. But we neither want this Imperial line to vanish, for these people to disappear."
"Neither do I!" The Ancient One answered. He turned quickly and went out the door, then switched back to his own body. He was surprised! The telepath had kept up very well. He wasn't behind at all. Somebody immediately hollered for something and he quickly went to get it. But he muttered to himself "Keep out of this, captain, I mean it! Keep out of this!"

THE END