Diamond Star
nephew like any other aunt. And here was Del, casually asking about the governing body of their people, a topic every leader from here to the Trader Empire would like to hear her discuss.
    Dehya apparently had the same thought. She smiled fondly. "My answer would surely entertain everyone listening to us."
    Del flushed. "Oh. Yeah. Sorry."
    "Don't apologize," she said. "I'm just glad you're all right." She glanced at her console. "Roca's on. I'm going to switch you." Looking back up, she said, "Be well."
    His expression softened. "You too, Aunt Dehya."
    The screen turned blue, then cleared to show one of the most famous faces in three empires. She looked like a holo-movie goddess. Even knowing she was over a century in age, Mac couldn't believe she was more than twenty. A glorious mane of golden hair poured over her shoulders and arms, and shimmered like real gold. Her huge eyes were also gold, glistening and radiant. If Del had a few glints to his eyelashes, this woman's sparkled like glitter.
    "Del!" Her smile lit up the screen, and Mac almost missed her next words, he was so flustered. Women that beautiful shouldn't exist; they made it impossible to think. Except then she scowled, and for a moment she looked just like Del.
    "What the blazes is this about you staying on Earth?" she said.
    "I'm glad to see you, too, Mother," Del said sourly.
    "I'm delighted to see you, honey. But if ASC is pressuring you to stay there, we will deal with them." She leaned forward. "You don't have to do this."
    "No one is pressuring me," Del said. "I met some people. Musicians. Like me. I want to see more."
    "Oh, Del." Roca sighed. "You're wasting that magnificent voice of yours."
    He clenched the console. "I don't consider it a waste."
    "I can't imagine what Earth could offer that you couldn't do better here."
    "I won't know unless I check it out."
    Roca gave him a dour look. "I heard the music those soldiers of theirs listened to. You can do better than that. Much better."
    Del stiffened. "Maybe I don't want to do 'better' than that. I liked what they listened to."
    "It's not safe for you to stay on Earth."
    "Why the hell not?"
    "Do you have any bodyguards?"
    "As a matter of fact, I do," Del growled. "A Marine who pretends he's not a Marine."
    "And how is that different from ASC holding you in custody?" Roca demanded. "Can't you see this is a trick by General McLane?"
    "No, Mother. I'm just too stupid to imagine anyone would ever trick me."
    Her golden cheeks flushed red. "Don't take that tone with me, young man."
    "Then quit treating me like a child."
    Roca's voice went too quiet. "I remember your telling me something like that before you went to Metropoli."
    Del looked ready to hit someone. "Yes, I died on Metropoli. I made a stupid, stupid mistake. And you'll hold it over me forever, won't you?"
    "Do you have any idea what the lifestyle is like in these 'music scenes'?" Behind the anger in her voice, her strain showed. "I don't want to pick you up in a coffin."
    "Damn it, I can't live my entire life afraid to breathe. Why can't you believe I've learned from my mistakes?" Del clenched the edge of the console. "I'm staying here. I'm going to enjoy their music and see this woman. If I choose not to come home, it's my business."
    "Woman?" Roca said, sitting up straighter. "What woman?"
    Del flushed. "Just, um, somebody I met."
    "Don't you ever slow down?"
    "What's that supposed to mean?"
    "Sometimes . . . discretion is better."
    "Why don't you just say it?" Del thumped the console. "Your son is a whore."
    "Del, stop it! Don't talk about yourself like that."
    "Why not? Isn't it what Devon Majda called me?"
    "She most certainly did not. She would never speak that way about a Ruby prince." Roca regarded him steadily. "You would never have agreed to that arranged marriage anyway." She rubbed her eyes, then dropped her arm. "Del, that was years ago."
    "Not to me."
    "So now you have another girl."
    "Woman."
    "What's her name? Her family? Does she

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