The play finished and applause filled the auditorium. This was a surprise for Reggie. She'd experienced clapping at the wedding she'd attended. When Hayfield had played the concert, the room was mostly non-human, and they didn't understand clapping and had shown their appreciation in other ways. Now over a thousand people were cheering the actors. The sound was loud and it shocked her.

"Are you okay?" Jennifer asked, concerned when Reggie put her head down.

"The noise was just a surprise," Reggie said, giving a small smile. "Now I see the play in a totally different way. Thank you for bringing me."

The actor who played Hamlet came on the stage to take a bow, and as he appeared, the crowd went wild. Reggie tentatively joined in.

When the actors had all been applauded, the audience got ready to leave. The three of them did the same.

Jennifer said, "Reggie, just so you are aware, some people have decided to protest at you being here. I've no idea what their grievance is."

"What do we do?" Reggie responded anxiously.

Theo said simply, "We put on our coats, put up our hoods to protect ourselves from the rain, and walk past them as if nothing happened. The rest of the audience will be leaving too, and we will be buried in with them."

"There probably is a back door," Jennifer said, "but that would be what they want. They want to frighten you."

"I am frightened," Reggie responded.

"So am I," Theo said. "However, if we go now, we have a much better chance than if we wait and talk about it. They hope you will cower. Show them Reginaddes are made of stronger stuff."

Reggie nodded and stood. Part of her training on her home world kicking in. "Let's go then. Thank goodness I'm not an Alphonian or Frotanian. They wouldn't be able to sneak out like this."

In the corridor, there were others coming out from other doors. Reggie hadn't put up her hood and she was noticed. Nobody seemed to judge.

"I hope you enjoyed it," a woman said as they made their way down the stairs.

"It was fantastic," Reggie responded, her English improving each time she spoke. "Words can carry such powerful thoughts."

"Indeed," a man accompanying the woman said. "Do they have stories like that where you come from?"

"We have tales, but not such tragedy. A friend quoted from this play. I read it and my friend Jennifer arranged for me to see it."

It seemed surreally normal. Two strangers meeting after a play, discussing how they felt. If it wasn't for the sight of an alien, nobody would have turned to look.

When they got to the entrance lobby, a few shouts could be heard. Jennifer's heart rate picked up. She'd hoped the warning was a mistake, but it did sound like a protest.

Reggie put up her hood, and walking with the others, stepped into the rain. Jennifer noticed there were a few police officers, making sure things stayed peaceful. There were only a dozen protesters, but what they were screaming about wasn't clear. There was no press, which surprised Jennifer.

"Barbarian," a few of the theatre group called out to the protestors. Jennifer shuddered at the memory that evoked. Georgina Harries had used the phrase to describe the action of Earth First. For her words to still be invoked ten years later showed how powerful they'd been. The United Kingdom had lost a great orator in the political arena, but the world had gained a great representative on the Rohastin Council.

"We're all going to the hopperport," one of the other people from the show stated.

That wasn't unusual as most people seeing a play would have been from out of town. A group of about twenty of them walked parallel to the river and across the bridge. Not once did the protestors look their way. Apart from one. Jennifer recognised him. Andy, one of the senior investigators. During the march, Reggie was always nestled into the centre.

It was a purely spontaneous reaction, which made it feel more emotional. A group of people, who they'd never met before, and probably never would again, had decided to help someone. And that someone wasn't human. Humanity was such an emotional species. It was too easy to love or hate.

As they left the protestors behind, the protective bubble never wavered. They walked on, all of them chatting about the play, life, space racers, football. Different conversations ebbing and flowing in a chorus of love and support.

When they approached the hopperport, it was a different story. There were more protestors and more police. Protestors were looking for someone on their own, or a small group. They didn't think anybody would willingly consort with an alien.

"Thank you," Jennifer said, as they got through the crowd and into the hopperport.

"Nobody deserves treatment like that. I hope you get your friend to come to Earth again."

The next hopper was for Manchester, which was an international port and, most importantly, there was room. So, all three of them joined the queue for it. Protestors were watching for people heading to London, as that is where they had come in.

Now they were inside, and out of the rain, Reggie lowered her hood. When a protestor spotted her, they didn't scream because they were confused. The alien was with humans, chatting away. It didn't make any sense. This was an alien, so why weren't the people she was with screaming in panic?

Manchester Arndale hopperport was just as big as London Victoria and was just as festive. Being an important building, it was heated, so they loosened their coats as they walked towards the international terminal.

"It seems a bit quieter here," Theo remarked to nobody in particular.

"Don't jinx it," Jennifer responded.

Reggie looked perplexed at that, but Jennifer didn't enlighten her. Superstitions were a step too far after a day like today.

A few people looked as they walked through the terminal, but there were no protestors. Nobody was shouting. As they passed a small shop, Reggie said, "I should get something for my parents and grandfather."

Bemused, Jennifer and Theo went in with her. She got a box of mince pies and a box of chocolates. The shopkeeper looked surprised but scanned the items. There was no money to pay. Food was free, just like it was on the Rohastin Station.

"Enjoy," the shopkeeper managed to say as she handed the items back to Reggie.

"Thank you," Reggie responded surprising the shopkeeper. "Happy Christmas."

"You too," she said faintly, but Reggie was already on the way to exit Earth in the formal manner.

"This has been a wonderful experience," Reggie said as they waited for the request hopper to the Rohastin Station.

Jennifer hugged her. "We had fun too. And now you know a bit more about Earth and how humans can be kind as well as unkind."

"But don't think it is just you they are upset about," Theo said. "Some people can get upset because of the religion someone follows, or the colour of their skin, or even what gender they are. Humans are a lot more tolerant than we once were, but there are some that don't seem to like anybody who isn't their twin."

When they got off the hopper at the Rohastin Station it was late. It was fortuitous that the station and UK had been in such good time alignment for this event to occur. But if it wasn't, Jennifer would have just chosen a different location. Shakespeare was often performed in several countries around the world. But seeing Shakespeare in Stratford was probably one of the better places to go. Either that or The Globe in London.

"After today's trip, it all seems a bit quiet," Reggie said, clutching her gifts in her hands. "Thank you for that experience. I hope you got as much out of it as I did."

Jennifer looked at Theo, who nodded. "Yes, we got a lot out of it too. See you in the morning."

Reggie was right, thought Jennifer as they made their way to their apartment. It always seemed quieter here. And what was Andy doing in that crowd? Were they intruding on an investigation?

"I think I need to do a report," Jennifer said when they got to their apartment. They were too worked up for bed.

"Oh?"

"There was an investigator in the crowd. You've probably never met him. He was one of the two on the plane that spotted my Mum after her kidnapping. Stacy's husband."

Theo frowned. "I thought that was two female pilots ... ah, sorry. It's been a long day."

"Oh, did you hear that Hope has started talking with the doctors about completing her transition?"

"No. I know she wanted to wait and have it done here. I suppose she is comfortable enough with them that she's started that conversation. I hope it makes her feel complete."

* * *

The next day, life returned to normal. Jennifer went to the shop, and Theo to work with the Rohastin Council. It all seemed mundane after the previous evening's excursion. Reggie appeared not long after Jennifer. She was carrying the box of mince pies.

"My parents were very pleased with the chocolates," Reggie said. "Human chocolate seems to be a big hit. Perhaps we should keep a small stock for instant purchase."

"You might be right," Jennifer said. "Do you think we should have a display or just keep them in the back?"

"Keep in the back. If we have a display, people won't come in and ask about it. You would get less gossip then."

Jennifer smiled. It had been one of the first times that Reggie had suggested something to help her do her real job better. On the other hand, listening had become part of Reggie's world too. "Thank you."

Things didn't stay quiet for long. Midmorning the Reginadde Ambassador arrived at the shop. To Jennifer's surprise, he had two other Reginaddes with him. Both waited outside the shop door.

"Grandfather," she said excitedly when she saw him.

In some ways she seemed to have a closer relationship with him than she did with her parents.

"I hear your trip had a bit of excitement," he responded.

"The play was very exciting," Reggie responded, in a very untypical Reginadde fashion. "And I got something for you. It is something they eat for a festival called Christmas. They call them mince pies."

Reggie rummaged under the counter and produced a box and handed it to him.

"Thank you," he said with a smile. "Now you said you went to see a human play. What type of play?"

"It was a play by Shakespeare called Hamlet."

"Ah. I read that when I was learning about humans. A very interesting play. Why that one?"

"Hope muttered a quote from it after the rescue and destruction of the science vessel. Jennifer mentioned it was from that play, so I read it. Jennifer thought me seeing more of Earth culture might make me better at my jobs. Fewer misunderstandings."

The Ambassador nodded. "A worthy enterprise. Out of interest, what was the quote? There are several famous ones from that play."

In English, Reggie said, "There is something rotten in the state of Denmark."

He clutched his hands together in front of him. Sticking with her English, he said, "Do you think Hope was right?"

Reggie glanced nervously at the two men. One was looking in, and the other at the shoppers passing by. "You think so, don't you?"

"Yes. Normal protocol would be that one of the men would have come into the shop. They didn't. I think they are afraid that the shop scanner will hurt them. They arrived overnight. One of the Signatories stated they were horrified that someone attempted to murder me and assigned these two to watch over my safety. It is strange, as which Signatory has never been disclosed."

"They're on a leash," Jennifer uttered, speaking for the first time.

"An interesting way to put it," the Ambassador said. "But yes. I think so. I'm going to step into the back of your shop for a few ticks. Can you watch to see how much they panic?"

The two bodyguards had been more interested in stopping others coming in and were only checking the shop intermittently. When they noticed the Ambassador wasn't there, there was a momentary panic. Unfortunately, the forcefield that kept the sound and smell from the shops and cafés from leaking into the concourse worked the other way too. They couldn't hear what the two bodyguards said, but they could see a small argument had developed.

Jennifer called that they'd noticed and were arguing, presumably about who was going to go in. She thought it was funny they thought her shop was dangerous. The Ambassador came out and went to the door. They were too busy arguing that they didn't notice him at the threshold where both inside and outside would hear him.

"You two are useless," he informed the two guards. "Go home. What good are you if you cower? A maraeek could do a better job than you."

"Ouch," Reggie said, moving to calm her grandfather down. "The Ambassador is really upset."

Jennifer asked, "What's a maraeek?"

"A small animal that scurries along the floor. A bit like a human spider but not poisonous. It is probably one of the most innocuous creatures on our home world."

The Ambassador said firmly. "You can't tell me who sent you. You claim to not even know. For all I know you are two new assassins trying to do the job the last one failed at. You have no provenance in my eyes. If you are still on the station in the next thirty ticks, I will ask Reginadde officers to come and arrest you."

The Ambassador turned to come back into the shop.

"Gun!" screamed Jennifer, seeing one of the bodyguards raising his weapon.

Reggie had seen it too and had grabbed her grandfather, pulling him back into the shop. The shop forcefield blocked sound and smell, but it didn't stop laser weapons. Jennifer rushed to put herself between the Ambassador and the shot, and a laser hit her on her upper back.

Jennifer's back blazed with pain, but she gritted her teeth. Now wasn't the time. She needed to be focused. She could feel the blood seeping out. She mentally opened the connection to her Device, "Station, security bots required."

The answer was immediate. "Security bots already on the way. Floor is sealed. Corridor is secured. Medical assistance alerted."

"Connect me to Theo ... Code Sierra One. I repeat Sierra One."

Jennifer's final view was the second bodyguard killing the shooter and then killing himself. "No nanites," she called, hoping Reggie or the Ambassador would understand. The pain became too much, and she slipped into oblivion.