She knew the comfort she felt meant she was in bed, but she didn't know where. There wasn't a bed more comfortable than the ones on the Rohastin Station. That is the type of technology people on Earth would love to get.

The pain had gone and she felt relaxed. Tentatively she opened her eyes and saw Theo sat next to her bed.

"Hi," he said sounding relieved.

"Hey. Are Reggie and the Reginadde Ambassador okay?"

"They're fine. A few scrapes but they are physically fine. I'll tell you more later. First, I need to update you on you."

"They didn't use nanites, did they?" Jennifer asked, holding her breath.

"No. It was on your file, and Reggie told the doctor that turned up that you'd stated it. She said it was the last thing you said before passing out. The doctors treated you without nanites, though they did state it would be easier if you had them. They have a human doctor on staff, but he isn't a trauma surgeon. Your medical file mentioned a specialist you'd seen before, and they were able to hop across."

Her thoughts about who that might be were quickly dispelled when she heard a voice say, "Hello again Jennifer."

She looked across. "Dr Mike?"

"Ah, you remember me. That makes life easier. What an amazing hospital this is."

"Hey, patient here," Jennifer said with a small laugh. "No geeking out on all the non-human tech."

"You were much more compliant when you had that concussion. Anyway, you suffered severe trauma and blood loss. By the time I arrived, you were in here. The doctors had repaired your artery and had an infusion to keep you stable."

"What's my prognosis?"

"You were shot," Dr Mike said, deadpan.

"I think I felt that. How bad is it? Am I going to have a really ugly scar I can gloat about for years to come?"

"Oi, behave," Theo ordered, giving Jennifer a friendly tap. "Let the doctor explain."

"Sorry. Carry on."

Dr Mike rolled his eyes. "You are stabilised. They are replicating some of your tissue. You have some type of protective force-field over the wound to stop infections. Think of it like an invisible plaster. I will be back tomorrow to work with them on your final repair."

"I watched my friend have brain surgery," Jennifer stated. "The fact each room is capable of operating in with protective bubbles is quite a rush, isn't it?"

"You watched brain surgery?" Dr Mike asked, sounding incredulous. "In a room like this? Not in a theatre?"

"No. In a room like this. I didn't do anything apart from being a witness to something being removed. If you think my surgery was fantastic, it was nothing. So, when am I out of here?"

"Your local doctor will be round soon. I'm going home and will be back sometime tomorrow to assist with your reconstruction."

Jennifer laughed. "You make it sound like you are rebuilding me. Jennifer North, the six-million-dollar woman."

"I don't know where they find people like you. Your company seems to thrive on people who can't keep themselves safe. It keeps me busy. Relax and heal. I will see you tomorrow."

When he was gone, Jennifer asked Theo, "Who knows?"

"Kelly and Hope. Rupert. The Council. HQ."

"The scientists weren't here, were they?"

Theo shook his head. "No."

Jennifer exhaled in relief. "Then hopefully my parents won't know."

Theo laughed. "It's at times like this that I'm glad my Dad is unlikely to ever come here."

"Never say never," responded Jennifer. "Anyway, Theo North, you need to get back to work. I am safe and not going anywhere. Come and see me when you have finished for the day."

"Don't you want me here?" Theo asked, a bit hurt.

Quietly she said, "Yes. But you can't tell me what happened with the Reginadde Ambassador if you aren't there to find out. If things carry on like this, we might have to cancel our Christmas break."

Theo looked at Jennifer carefully. She was seeing something he wasn't. That wasn't unusual but telling him here wouldn't be a good move.

He kissed her goodbye. "I'll see you later."

Jennifer lay there. Alone. At least in a hospital on Earth there might be a TV to watch, or a radio to listen to. She could ask the device to show her one of the station broadcasts via the device, but she didn't feel up to listening to one of the species native languages.

The appearance of Kelly and Hope cheered her up.

"What were you thinking of?" Kelly said, giving Jennifer a hug.

Jennifer shrugged. "It's good to see you both. Had a good day?"

"Better than yours." Kelly then informed her, "Hope did a session spotting as two in the entry league did their practice runs."

Hope said, "I've got a few more to do, but they say that when Kelly gets a seat, I will be ready. Seems they are pushing for a human entrant."

Jennifer thought aloud, "Could you just start your own team? Or are there restrictions on the number of teams?"

Kelly's eyes opened wide. "I've no idea what running a team would take. I doubt I'd be able to do it and race."

"I'm not saying you should. It was just a thought about how to get you going. There are plenty of people that could run a team. It isn't like motor racing on Earth where they sort their own vehicles. Space Racers are all identical. Teams have their own so they can paint them and put on identifying decals."

"Now you mention it, all the teams seem to be species specific," Kelly thought out loud. "Okay, Hope and I will research it."

Hope spoke up. "A team has a contract with the Space Racer Foundation. It commits the team to run in each race and to commit to certain rules. A Space Racer who signs up to a team has obligations passed through the team."

"You've already researched it?" Kelly asked, surprised. "When did you do that?"

"While you've been practicing. I wanted to make sure I knew what we were getting into, so when you got a seat, I would know. If we do this, it will become our life. If there was a race or an obligation, it would impact our ability to react to other needs. Like when Reggie was in hospital and someone was trying to kill the Reginadde Ambassador the first time."

"Create a report," Jennifer said. "Outline the impact. It sounds like you would have identical obligations no matter if you were in a new team or an existing, so they probably already know, but it is good to not assume. Our basic role is to listen. We've reacted because we could. The ability to listen in that area might be more important than reacting to threats. Finally, what do you two want? That is just as important."

"Can we get back to you?" Kelly asked, after a few moments of thought.

Jennifer saw the look of turmoil in both Kelly's and Hope's eyes. "That is for your discussion you will have back at HQ, not with me. I will support whatever you want."

Kelly and Hope held hands. For a pair that had been out of school for such a short time, it was a decision that would be difficult to contemplate. Jennifer wanted to help, but she didn't feel she should. She didn't want to seem to be interfering with a choice they had to make themselves.

"So, how was the play?" Hope asked.

"The play was great. The journey home was less fun."

"I heard something about protests by Earth First? How bad was it?"

"It was nothing like ten years ago. Thank goodness. Reggie did well. I hope it didn't put her off. She needs to know more about humans, so her reports don't paint a misconceived picture. I've read too much of our history where a training exercise got interpreted as build up to war and nearly started a conflict. How someone misread or misunderstood something and nearly started a war. Look in recent times how that general tried to launch nuclear missiles because he thought he was defending his country."

"Some species are still nervous about humans," Hope agreed. "It took a while for some on the tour to open up to me and Kelly. Some think humans are too young to be roaming the galaxy, and we don't understand space enough to fly a racer."

Jennifer laughed. Kelly had proved the second item wrong in a big way.

"Will you take her to Earth again?" Hope asked.

"Probably. Or you and Kelly could. She needs to see other countries. China, America, Japan, New Ethiopia are some of the big cultural and technological powerhouses. Also, seeing the World Government Headquarters now they are open."

"I couldn't go there," Kelly said quietly.

"I know," Jennifer said, putting her hand on Kelly's shoulder. "I know what that's like all too well."

Then with her voice breaking, Jennifer said, "I broke my vow."

"What do you mean?" Kelly asked, surprised at her friend's sudden change.

"When you two were on the rescue ship, I ended up going into a science meeting. My Ma was in there."

"Oh Jen," Kelly said, jumping onto the small bed to be closer to Jennifer.

"Then someone read my profile and called me Jennifer North. I thought my Ma was going to have kittens. Theo switched to English and said we weren't married and we're waiting for four years. It calmed things down. I didn't want to break the rules, but our worlds keep colliding."

"I had something from my Dad," Kelly said. "It was strange. He said he hadn't realised the nature of my job and didn't want to seem to be interfering. I feel better, but also sad too. His constant badgering showed he cared."

"He still cares," Hope said. "Somehow he's got wind of what you do. You reported it as a concern so they could monitor."

Jennifer was about to fess-up but now held her tongue. She didn't know what to say.

Kelly felt Jennifer stiffen. "What did you do?"

"You know when I had to go back and brief to get the rescue ship organised, Tina was in the meeting. I mentioned how much pressure you were under. Her sister was going to see your parents, and Tina said she would ask her to give you space. I've no idea what my Mum said."

Kelly sat there for a moment and then hugged Jennifer. "Thank you. You do look out for us, don't you?"

"No more than you look out for us, and Hope and Theo look out for us."

Reggie might work in the shop, and be their friend, but even Jennifer was unsure if Reggie had their backs. Also, if there was a conflict between the needs of Earth and the needs of the Reginadde, would they have hers? Jennifer then berated herself. Needs of humans. They had more than one planet and in her mind Earth/Humans was the same thing. It wasn't.

"Why isn't anybody checking on you?" Kelly asked, as she climbed off the bed.

"They do. Dr Mike was here earlier. He's gone back home and will be back tomorrow. I've no nanites, so they can't monitor me fully remote. I have a few temporary sensors, but that is about it."

"I was talking to them about my transition," Hope said. "Seeing if they could do what they did for your Ma."

"And?"

"The virus bit is fine, but the process was kept safe by the nanites. The doctor couldn't understand my reticence about the nanites. I asked if there were temporary ones, or ones that didn't constantly report. He didn't think so but said he would talk with the doctors that created the gender procedure to see if there is anything that can be done."

"I met them at Jennifer's parents wedding," Kelly said. "Don't give up hope."

"I've not. It's my name. I'll forever have hope. Hope by name. Hope by nature."

Kelly and Hope stayed for a long time before they went off to get some food. Once again, Jennifer was on her own, but she felt better after having that visit.

With that renewed happiness, she reviewed what had happened and if she could have done anything different. If the two Reginadde were classified as bodyguards, she understood why they were allowed weapons. As she went through it, she realised the Reginadde Ambassador had deliberately come to the store as a test of the bodyguards. Had he not thought through the consequences?

She asked her device to connect her to the station. It seemed strange to talk with what seemed to be an artificial intelligence. "This is Jennifer. Is this the station? Sorry, I'm not sure how to refer to you."

Jennifer berated herself for her clumsy introduction.

"I am the Rohastin Station. Shortening it to Station is fine. It isn't often someone enquires about me, rather than a station activity."

"Are you alive?" Jennifer asked, interested and definitely side-tracked.

"I don't know if I'm alive in your sense of the word. I don't breathe. Am I sentient? Possibly, nobody has ever said I am or not. To me, it doesn't matter. If you want to be technical, I am a collection of systems designed to run and support the inhabitants of the Rohastin Station."

"Does that include the security of the inhabitants?"

"Security of the council and all the inhabitants," the Station responded.

Jennifer thought it was interesting that the council was separated from the other inhabitants. Was their security different? That was for another day.

"Earlier, when the Reginadde Ambassador was attacked, you gave me a lot more detail than when he was attacked the previous time?"

"I did."

Jennifer sighed. She would have to be more specific. "Why?"

"Your actions have shown you are helping protect the Rohastin. You can act in ways I can't. You and your Reginadde colleague were able to protect where I couldn't."

"How has the security of the station changed over time?"

"The Rohastin is a group for peace and cooperation. The station has for a long time been a place where there is very little crime. There have been times which have been less peaceful, and there was what you would call a police force."

"Apart from multiple attacks against the Reginadde Ambassador, are there any other dangers?"

The station actually paused as if thinking about Jennifer's question. She wasn't used to computers doing that. "Yes, but not to the individuals, rather to some of the ideals of the Rohastin. At the moment, you and your group are still mostly hidden. Only the Alphonian, Reginadde and Human Ambassadors along with four senior aides are aware that you helped the first time. This was a more public attempt, but you were classified as a hurt bystander."

"Nobody would think someone would deliberately shield someone like I did. I did what I did because I could. But I can't always be there to protect the Ambassador."

The station didn't respond. Human AI had come a long way, but this was something else. An AI that not only seemed to be part of the station, but also there to protect the Rohastin.

The doctors had told her to rest, so she closed her eyes. She didn't feel up to more of a discussion like that until she had more strength.

Jennifer was having a nice dream when she heard a whisper telling her to wake up. It seemed so wrong with what she'd been dreaming that it jarred her awake. Feeling confused, her eyes focused in-time to see the Reginadde Ambassador approaching her door.

"Hello," he said, coming in. "How are you doing?"

Jennifer sat up straighter. "I'm healing. What about you?"

"I'm a lot better than you. I'm not dead or in hospital. I have you and my granddaughter to thank. I suspected they were up to no good, but I didn't expect them to be so indiscreet."

"What are they saying back home?"

The Reginadde Ambassador responded sadly. "They say something drove one of them mad. The second one shot him to protect me and then shot himself just in case he was driven mad the same. They are both heroes working in a dangerous environment."

Jennifer looked at him with a steady gaze. "Ambassador, sorry if this is blunt. This situation can't continue. An attempt on the Ambassador floor is one thing. Shooting in the mall puts everyone's life at risk."

"We know. The Rohastin Council met. For the safety of the station, I am to remain on the Ambassador floor until the situation is resolved. I asked for permission to visit you to thank you."

Jennifer sighed. That was harsh of the council. It was like he was in protective custody. "Are there any clues to who is behind this?"

"No. My government has not had a grab for power for many generations. We've worked in harmony. The checks were removed a long time ago so it could run more efficiently. Most of the Signatories are still in denial."

"Are Reggie and her parents permitted to visit you?"

"Of course. Family of Ambassadors are always permitted onto that floor. Everybody else has to be permitted."

Jennifer frowned. She was sure she'd been on that floor without having to ask permission.

The Reginadde Ambassador saw her confusion. "Your permission has been there since you were a child and first visited with your parents. The council have never revoked it. All permissions are reviewed on a bi-cycle basis. The Oracle has always insisted you stay on the list. Kelly, Hope and Theo were added five cycles ago."

Jennifer shuddered. Five cycles ago, she was at school. She hadn't even been invited to the Beta Team.

"I feel I've got no free will," she muttered, looking at the bed covers rather than the Ambassador.

"You have free will. There are many branches in time. You have made the decisions in life where everything has come together that made it possible for you to save my life. I've overstayed the time here. I don't want Vers'am to have to send someone to get me."

"I'll visit," promised Jennifer, looking up. "I hope you get your freedom soon."