Reggie was still unconscious when Jennifer, Kelly and the Reginadde Ambassador arrived, but there were more doctors. Doctors that Jennifer knew. The Ambassador floor must have been open because four of their elite team that were based close to the Ambassadors were there. The only one not there was the Reginadde doctor because he'd been killed.

"Ah. You made it," Shinara said to the Reginadde Ambassador.

"I seemed to have been slightly delayed," he responded, taking a seat next to his daughter. He turned to her and said, "The very best doctors are looking after her."

They all turned as one to look at the doctors. Shinara took the lead. "The initial doctor's assessment is correct. The implant is loose and is causing brain interference. I find this strange as the doctor who fitted it was usually meticulous. We have two options. We can put it back in securely or we can look at removing it."

"I didn't think it was possible?" Reggie's father said.

"A way has never been found. That doesn't make it impossible. It shouldn't have come away like it has either. Some of the fine hairs that link it to the brain are detached. Before we operate, I'd like to see if we can find out what dislodged it."

Jennifer felt torn. She didn't want Reggie's parents to think that she'd caused her daughter to collapse. Yet if the imager did cause it to dislodge and a repeat would help her get rid of the implant, then wouldn't that be good? She asked her device to extract the memories from Reggie appearing that morning to when she collapsed and send a copy to Shinara.

Receiving a copy of someone's thoughts is disconcerting for those that have never experienced it, but Shinara continued her normal routine. There was no pausing or sitting down. Jennifer had enough trouble in calling someone while doing something else, let alone analysing a mental video from a different species. It made Jennifer wonder if she'd viewed it.

"We are still waiting for information from the Reginadde doctors on their home world," one of the other doctors said. "She is sedated. She is comfortable. She isn't going to get brain damage if we wait. The implant was a violation on what she wanted. If there is a way to remove it, we should see if we can. That would be the more ethical solution."

"I'd like to see where she collapsed," Shinara said. "Jennifer, since you two run the shop together, can you show me?"

"I better get back to my training. I'm hoping to take my test soon," Kelly said. Then she turned to Reggie's parents and asked, "Are you okay if I come back later to see your daughter?"

"You are always welcome," Reggie's father said.

Kelly and Hope gave the Reginadde sign of goodbye and disappeared.

"Are all humans that polite?" Reggie's mother asked.

"The ones worth knowing are," the Reginadde Ambassador responded.

"Shall we go?" Jennifer said to Shinara. "I'll show you the shop. I might even be able to make an outfit for you."

"Just don't make anything like those scrubs your hospital doctors wear. They're so boring."

As they walked, Shinara asked, "Since it is just the two of us, is the rumour true that you went for a walk into the middle of the wilderness, and still managed to find someone who had a prophecy about you?"

"I'd say it was a vision, rather than a prophecy."

"I'm really going to have to get you into my lab. I'd like to see if I can work out what gene you have that seems to make you attract prophecies and visions."

They both laughed and Jennifer felt better. Shinara was not only a very good doctor, but she was also wonderful at putting people at ease.

Once they got to the shop, Shinara went through what happened, step by step. She then took a few things out of her bag and placed them on the floor underneath the area.

"Can you initiate a scan on those?" Shinara asked.

Jennifer gave a small shrug and did as she'd been asked. The image shown on her screen gave no clue to what Shinara was trying to achieve.

"What do they do?" Jennifer asked, when the scan was completed.

"Electromagnetic radiation can have a serious impact on some species. Having a device that captures that detail can often be revealing."

"And the other three devices?"

Shinara smiled. "They are all linked, recording the frequencies and patterns. The type of equipment you have is never straightforward."

"So, what now? You take them back to your lab and analyse them?"

"I could, but I want a more direct test. Not only can it record what it sees, it can also simulate. I should be able to put this over your friend's head and see if there are any reactions. She will be monitored while we do this to make sure there aren't any adverse reactions."

"I wouldn't want to melt her brain," Jennifer responded.

For a brief moment, Shinara looked worried and then she relaxed. "Is that one of your sayings?"

"Sort of. I'm sure there is nothing you would do that would melt her brain. But it is also true, melting her brain isn't desired, no matter what."

"This is a longshot," Shinara said, as they got back to Reggie. "I need to set some monitors up. We will then run the test. See if this has any impact."

"It won't hurt her, will it?" Reggie's mother said.

"She is already unconscious," Shinara replied. "We are carefully monitoring her to make sure she doesn't wake up while we do this."

Instructions must have been given by her implant, as technicians started coming in with extra equipment. When Reggie was hooked up to it, nothing happened until Shinara had personally checked everything.

"I'm ready to do this," Shinara said to Reggie's parents.

"Is there anything we can do?"

"You know your daughter the best. If you think she is suffering, tell me. She shouldn't, but parents are always the best people to look out for their children."

Instead of the image of her brain being shown directly to Shinara, it was shown as a full colour three-dimensional hologram so they could all see. Jennifer marvelled at how the structure of the brain was so different to hers. It was the first time she'd seen a different type of brain. It looked so intricate and delicate. Full of different colours. And sitting next to it was this black blob, looking like an evil invader, with thin wires going into the swirls and arches of her brain.

Jennifer felt repulsed by it but couldn't say anything. Reggie's parents needed calm strength.

"We are going to go with the strength the logs indicated when we captured the data. We have a sedation line in, so she shouldn't wake."

Reggie slept on, like an alien sleeping beauty. She never flinched as the duplicated imaging waves were sent. The top of her brain, though, changed colour slightly. The wires held fast for three ticks and as the simulation ended, more wires came unattached.

"Well, look at that," a voice said from the back, and they turned to see the Reginadde Ambassador. "Yet again, the impossible has been shown to be possible because other species do things differently."

There were still a few wires attached, but the majority now were floating freely, like hair blowing in the wind. After Shinara was confident that Reggie had recovered, they repeated the process and the last few wires disconnected.

"I need you to leave while I operate to remove it," Shinara demanded.

"Can I observe?" Jennifer asked, as the others left.

Shinara looked across. "Have you watched an operation before?"

"On Earth. I trust you, but I need to be able to say to Reggie that I saw it with my own eyes."

"I know, but operations here are rare and very different to that on Earth. I was lucky to see a few when we treated your Ma after her kidnapping."

"You don't just extract it, like you do blood samples?" Jennifer said, surprised.

"No. There is too much risk working so closely to the brain."

She passed two small objects to Jennifer. "Place one each side of your nose. Like I am."

Jennifer looked and replicated what Shinara had done. Whatever they were, they attached snugly to her skin.

"On Earth, you would have put on a surgical mask. This does the same thing. It creates a small forcefield around you. It stops your breath impacting our patient or any microbes that are on your clothes. I'm ordering the room airtight. There are filters in each hospital room. We will be operating inside a bubble with no dust."

Shinara placed four similar objects on Reggie's head where she was going to operate. "The surgery area is in its own bubble giving the protection of a sealed room, the operating bubble and the surgical bubble."

The operation was quicker than Jennifer expected. There wasn't a single knife used. A small laser removed the bone in the designated area, and Shinara used another tool to grab the implant. She placed it in a small box marked evidence, which instantly sealed. The bone removed for access was placed back, and some type of artificial bone welded around it, fusing her real bone back in place. Tissue and skin were reapplied and the operation was over.

When they stepped out of the surgical bubble, there wasn't a sign that she'd been operated on.

"We have nothing like this on Earth," Jennifer said, as she removed the two shield generators.

"We've already shown this technique to some of your surgeons. It's all Rohastin shareable technology. I'm sure it will start to be used when they're ready. A skilled surgeon using their current techniques is still better than a skilled surgeon using an unfamiliar technique. As it is taught in medical school and existing surgeons upskill, it will probably be seen more. We share, not mandate."

"Thank you for your help with Reggie. I'm saddened that the Reginadde doctor did that. I know he saved Georgina's life and helped with my Ma."

"I've known him for many cycles. I doubt he did it willingly. Now he is dead and can't tell anybody who ordered him to do it."

That was a sobering thought, and Jennifer didn't know what to say. Instead, they worked together in clearing up from the operation.

"All she needs to do now is wake up," Jennifer said as they finished.

"It won't be long. Let's get the family in. It's always nice for them to see the patient awaken."

"You have quite a range of hidden talents," the Reginadde Ambassador said to Jennifer as he came into the room.

"Shinara did the work. I was just a witness."

"We are grateful," Reggie's father said.

A small voice from the bed distracted them. "Why am I in hospital?"

"You were ill," the Reginadde Ambassador said simply. "Shinara made you better."

"The last thing I remember was we were about to leave the shop," Reggie frowned, trying her best to drag memories into her brain.

"You collapsed. Your doctor took out your implant, but secretly he put a different one in. One you wouldn't know about."

Reggie gasped. "A Poaart?"

"Yes."

Reggie was shocked. "But they were banned because they could never be removed."

"It's gone," Jennifer reassured. "Your parents watched as it was disconnected. I watched Shinara remove it. You can have any doctor you want to perform a scan to prove to you it is gone."

"How?" Reggie asked, finding it hard to believe. It couldn't be done.

"Magic," Jennifer said, and Reggie's eyes shone. She knew Jennifer was teasing. "Now you are awake, I need to tell Kelly. I'll see you tomorrow."

And before she would change her mind and sit with her friend, she departed. She knew she had a report to make to downgrade their status from In Action to Listening.

When Theo got home, they snuggled up on the settee. He said, "That was some day."

"What happened with the Yvestigan?"

"It was a false alarm. It was the new aide to the Yvestigan Ambassador. He had a ceremonial knife. He was reminded it was only the Ambassadors that were allowed them and they had to be pre-notified."

"So not another attack?" Jennifer asked.

"It seems not. Or if it was, and he changed his mind when confronted."

"What about your position? Georgina hasn't sacked you?"

"No. It seems she and Rupert are happy with my work." He looked across at her. "Why did you leave Reggie?"

"It was too much. After the day, and then seeing her awake, it just came crashing down. I didn't want to burst into tears in front of her and her family. The family needed to be there for Reggie. I didn't want to distract from that. And you are my comfort. Where else could I be after a day like today, but in your arms."

"And I in yours. Though my day seemed a lot less exciting than yours. Any idea where the prisoners were taken?"

"No. I hope somebody does otherwise they will literally rot in a prison that everybody has forgotten about."

Theo sighed. "Who would have thought such a stable species would fall apart like this?"

"That's the issue. Because they've been stable for so long, they've forgotten what happens when it all falls apart and they have no checks and balances to stop it escalating. Someone is using the opportunity to make a play for power and so far, nobody seems to be doing anything about it."

"Play on their fear. If you don't follow my plan, we will lose our way of life. Humans see it all the time. Stroke their fear and they'll gladly follow. Who knows, they might have a better plan, but they're going about it in the wrong way."

Jennifer looked down at her lap. "I don't think anything will get better until they find out what stopped the interdimensional drive. Something they thought was an absolute is now in danger of disappearing. For us, we've not had that technology long. For them, it's like saying the sun won't rise in the morning. It's just so unthinkable."

"I have something for you," he said, untangling himself from her arms. He guided her to a box that was placed neatly next to the door to the bedroom. "Open it."

She did and gave a squeal of joy. She removed an instrument case. She knew what was inside based on the shape. With shaking hands she opened the clasps, revealing a French Horn, the gleaming metal she knew she would always keep polished. Theo had ordered it as soon as his action was over. He marked it as urgent and a hopper had brought it. He'd hidden it in the room and gone back to work.

"Oh Theo. After a day like today, this is perfect."

The next day, Reggie was in the shop with Jennifer. It was a testimonial to the medical skills of everybody that after spending the previous day unconscious and having two major operations, she was able to go to work.

"I think there are going to be some very confused people on our home world," Reggie said, as they opened the shop for the day.

"You can confuse them even further," Jennifer said, a small smile appearing.

"Oh?"

"Write them a report. Continue your job. Show that just because you don't have an implant doesn't mean you aren't a loyal citizen."

"But they tried to kill my grandfather."

"That is why it will confuse them. Anyway, if you continue to send reports, they won't send put someone else to replace you. You then can control what you tell them, rather than having someone else tell them everything."

"That sounds wrong," Reggie said. "Either I tell them nothing, or I tell them everything. It would be dishonest if I only told them some things."

Jennifer nodded, surprised that someone who had been persuaded to join the Reginadde intelligence community was still full of their own convictions. Reggie's look on life was still mostly black and white. Jennifer sighed and wondered if her hundreds of different shades of grey was where the problems lay. Had she lost her morals?

It was quiet the next few days. Quiet in that nobody was trying to kill them or their families. The shop was never quiet. Things picked up even more when the Alphonian clothing shop decided to close. They only made clothing for Alphonians using Alphonian styles. Even with Jennifer showing that Alphonians wanted different colours and cuts, they stuck with the traditional. In the end, with very little footfall, they decided to do something else with their time.

"I got a strange response," Reggie said as the morning footfall died down.

"Oh?" Jennifer enquired.

"I did a report mentioning the doctor had put in a Poaart, and that there had been an assassination attempt on my grandfather. They responded that the Poaart is banned and would never request one be implanted. They stated implants were always inserted with the knowledge of the recipient. They want more information. I don't know what to make of it."

"Interesting. Either they had no idea, and someone else made the instruction, and intelligence are bewildered. Or they are lying. We've no way of telling. It could be the person who tried to get your grandfather removed is pulling the strings and they didn't know."

Around lunchtime, they got a call from Hope. "Kelly's going to go for it. Can you come?"

"Go for?" Jennifer asked.

"Level 5 certification. She did a trial run earlier, but the course was too busy."

The shop was empty. They might get some customers at lunchtime, but they could wait. This was their friend. "We're on our way. Are you contacting Theo?"

"Already done. He asked Rupert, who told him to get across here."

Jennifer filled in Reggie, who started shutting down the equipment. She wanted to be there as much as Jennifer did. Both Jennifer and Kelly were her closest friends, and she wasn't going to miss out on seeing Kelly reach competition level.

Thankfully, the shop entrance was on the corridor leading to the Transport Hub. In twenty ticks they were already at the Space Racer facility. It wasn't like the first time Jennifer and Kelly had been, where it was before breakfast and the place was mostly deserted. Now, it was full of activity.

As they rushed towards the entrance, where they knew Kelly and Hope would be, they could see the vast arena enclosed behind a clear wall. Beyond that, it was a vacuum, and zero gravity. Where they were, it was just a little under Earth level. They were so used to different parts of the station being configured for the comfort of those on the station that it no longer registered as wrong. They'd been here so many times that the step now naturally adjusted without having to think.

Theo caught up just as they saw Kelly and Hope. Hope waved them across.

"It's great you came," Kelly said. She then looked around to make sure nobody else was in earshot. "I just overheard something you might be interested in. I heard a Reginadde talking to one of the competitors. He wanted to know if a Space Racer could go elsewhere. A science ship went to investigate the star system that had the drive disruption. They've not been heard from. Space Racers don't have interdimensional drives, so couldn't help."

"I thought Earth was sending a ship," Jennifer said.

"Perhaps they didn't want to wait," Reggie responded. "But it's awful they didn't know that Space Racers don't contain interdimensional drives."

"It sounds like they're panicking," Hope said. "Clutching at straws."

Reggie had heard of that saying and nodded.

"It's coming up to your time," Hope said to Kelly. "Get in the zone. You have three laps."

"Good luck," the others called and stepped away to the viewing area. They didn't want to disturb Kelly's preparations.

The first set of spectator stands were full. Space Racers from the leagues had heard that an attempt had been booked and had arrived to watch. They wanted to know if that young human female they'd watched wrestle her vessel using her unique controls would make the grade.

The controls in the racer were designed by the driver. When they got in, the area at the front would morph to the remembered settings for that racer. Kelly had been eight when she'd visited for the first time. She'd been used to games consoles, so her requested Space Racer control system was based on what she was used to. She'd never changed much from her original design. As she'd grown, she'd wanted a few things more spaced out to give her room, but that was it.

"I've made a request to home for information," Reggie said as they sat down to watch Kelly. "I've flagged it as urgent."

"And if it's true?" Theo asked.

"Let's cross that bridge when we have to," Jennifer responded, a plan already forming in her mind. If humans had been building a ship, there were only a handful of people who would know the status and two of them were her parents. Again, she was coming close to breaking the rule about not contacting her family for four years after school. It was a rule designed to protect the school, and it was something that all the pupils followed because they wanted future generations to continue to get the support that school gave.

"My device just told me Kelly's attempt was just mentioned on some sports channels," Theo announced.

"I'm so glad she isn't aware," Jennifer said, slightly amazed at all the interest. "That would be too much pressure."

A racer left and entered the route. "It's Kelly," shouted Reggie standing up as if it would help her see it better.

Kelly's ship did a triple full rotation as she performed a sharp turn and dived through the first gate starting the timer. They'd all watched the space racer league and the different level of skill each of the four professional racer levels. For this qualification, she had a set routine with specific moves to perform, and it had to be completed within a set time.

Half-way through the first lap, she missed a gate. She'd been too aggressive with upward braking. She continued using the rest of the lap to reset and get back into the groove. Jennifer looked across at the professional racers, and they'd not taken their eyes off the track. Even after the mistake, they'd not given up. They knew she had two other laps.

As she came through the last gate on the first attempt, she was within the time but had one demerit. Again, she made the triple rotation and turned into the first gate. A holo-screen had come on, which was unusual for something that wasn't being broadcast. The spectators could now see every move in full closeup. As she banked into the tunnel, the lights flashed by as her ship dropped into the 110-degree turn. The lights made it seem narrow, but three ships could comfortably race through it, side-by-side.

As she went through the gate she'd missed the previous lap, something seemed to change. Her aggressive moves seemed to settle. She was in the zone. Her moves seemed to become more fluid as she was not having to make late corrections. The professionals had noticed, as they seemed to be leaning forward almost as they were willing her on. Her craft entered the final straight and when she passed through the final gate, she'd become the first human to achieve Level 5 status.

But Kelly didn't stop. She had one lap remaining and she was going to use it. Her ship sang to her touch as she soared through the first gate. Even by the second gate she was noticeably quicker than her previous runs.

A message came through to Jennifer. It was from Dr Ruiz from Hayfield. Her second run had been broadcast across all of Earth television. Lessons at Hayfield had come to a standstill as they were all screaming for a girl that six months previously had been head-girl. She smiled and as she continued to watch, she noticed that Reggie had sat down, her head lowered. It wasn't in fear for Kelly. Jennifer recognised that her friend had a call that was coming through her device.

As the call ended, Reggie was back on her feet. Kelly came onto the final straight, heading to the last gate. The professional racers were also on their feet, as she screamed through the gate. It wasn't the fastest lap ever, but if that had been qualifying for the entry league, she would have started seventh out of thirty.

The three of them rushed to where Kelly would dock. They weren't the only ones. The league racers were there too. Kelly might have qualified, but she would still need to be picked by a team. Other racers made way for Ve'tran, the number one Alphonian racer, to the gate. It was known by the others that he'd been giving Kelly some tips, and his spotter, Po'ropkin, had been giving advice to Hope.

"Let them through," Hope called out, indicating Jennifer, Theo and Reggie. "They are Kelly's friends."

And to Jennifer's surprise, a gap appeared, and they were ushered through. A Frotanian spotted Jennifer and said, "It's one of the Trinity."

As Kelly got out of her racer, she was beaming. She was hugged by her friends and then they stepped aside for Ve'tran to offer his congratulations. With that over, she made her way towards the other races, who gave her the traditional Space Racers salute. She was being welcomed into a club that very few in the whole of the Rohastin got to be in.