Cyllini inclined his head forward, "Mr. President. Pleasure to see you up and well."

The President laughed easily. "I've seen better days, believe me, Assistant Director Cyllini. But I actually asked for your presence today for more purpose than diplomatic exchange."

"Oh?"

"I have heard from several of my confidents that one of your agents, Agent Cyran, tracked down a serial killer who killed my father," the President spoke the line without flinching, "I wanted to commend him."

"Richard Cyran is very young. The FBI is honored to have him with us."

"Especially with his fascination with the Kzui." The President sat down in his chair, thoughtfully opening a letter. "You do remember the Kzui Prime Minister visited just a month ago. Fascinating. Of course my security was very cautious - "

"Do you think my proposal to the DOD office will pass?" Cyllini interrupted.

"The Department of Defense follows the wishes of the people," the President nodded, "Despite the fact they are a bureaucracy."

Cyllini smiled, "Do not most of us work in one, nowadays?"

"The people will want to see the Kzui become ours," the President ignored the sarcasm, "The DOD will have no choice but to pass your resolution." He suddenly stood, dropping the letter, "You will see to it you send Agent Cyran to Kzui, will not you? He was specially requested by the Kzui government. Our first exchange shouldn't be lower than their expectations."

"Of course, sir," Cyllini said. "I realize the conditions that would make his expertise best for this delicate matter." His tone was carefully conveyed to hide the incredulousness he felt. The President either did not notice or chose to ignore it.

"He will succeed, correct?" the President pressed.

"He will carry out his assignment to the best of his ability," Cyllini said smoothly.

"No promises, then?" the President asked with a knowing smile.

Cyllini hesitated. "Richard Cyran is his own man. That's the problem with this newest generation from Quantico. Independent thinkers. It will be difficult to secure his loyalties. He is . . . passionate about the Kzui's cause."

"You are his supervisor. I trust you'll see to it there is no difficulty."

Cyllini nodded crisply. "I will see to it, sir."

Excerpt 2

The artificial lights of Kzui were dimming now, letting an eerie blue glow settle across the planet. Before my very eyes, the reddish grounds turned to a glimmering purple; looking at Gary, he was purple as well from where the red dust had settled.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Gary asked softly.

Beautiful was not the first word that had sprung to mind, but I nodded anyway.

"You want to know about the legend of the Saavighmor," Gary accurately predicted.

Wincing at the powers of his mental telepathy, I reluctantly nodded, "It is all I've been able to think about ever since I've heard those words come out of Prime Minister Ejskz's mouth."

Gary sat down on the violet ground, gesturing for me to do the same. With a sigh, I lowered my lanky body over the grounds and sat, playing with a few spectacles of dust. "You know," Gary began quietly, "That you are part Kzui and part human."

I gave a hoarse laugh, "By now, how can I not know?"

Gary ignored my sarcasm, "The Saavighmor legend tells of a prophecy. A being who will be returned to us, who holds the powers of foreign lands and the strengths of the Gragian rebel who made you. This Saavighmor was to have every strength imaginable: agility, speed, strength, and cunning."

"Who, me?" I laughed shortly, "I am only obsessed with interstellar space and dinosaurs, apparently."

"You have been told it is your destiny to save the slaves and rid Kzui of the Gragians, as well as save Kzui from an outside attack," Gary said, "It is not true."

That drew me up short. "Say what?"

"They are only assuming that you will do all those things," Gary said, "The true prophecy reads that the Saavighmor will bring peace and prosperity to all on this planet, save for those with evil intents at heart." His voice dropped, "The Prime Minister believes that means you will rid him of the Gragians. The slaves believe that means you will get them their freedom."

"What does it really mean, then?"