[First Part]


The doctor had a moment of dejà vu as he pushed his fingers against the bridge of his nose, closed his eyes, and stifled a heavy sigh. His audience was not being sympathetic, or even humane, in response to his presentation on the new humanoids of Sintas. Scientists of all branches, politicians of all settled planets, big names and executives of the major companies, and a handful of the most famous captains of the massive worldships. Some few were being quiet and looking mournful; some fewer were speaking up in support of the Sintans.

"Dr. Garban!" a woman's voice snapped, compelling him to open his eyes and view the holographic stage. Projectors across half a dozen worlds and a score of spacecraft were working in tandem, with barely a second's delay between transmissions. "Explain to us why these former colonists are so overwrought by their newly-affirmed lack of humanity when I have seen hundreds of newsclips and vids of the entire population embracing alien-like fads, tattoing their skin extensively, not keeping their hair under control, even returning to a more primitive style of combat when we have provided the best teekaydee instructors to--"

The doctor's eyes flicked to the read-out on his podium. The speaker was a Miss Anett Kiopf, a strong conservative on Terra. "Miss Kiopf," he interrupted in a level but slightly tired voice, as though she wearied him with her foolishness, "please be gracious enough to stop referring to them so negatively. The Sintans still are colonists, and they do not lack humanity; the genetic variants they possess do not alter their psychological development or the major patterns of their psyche. They are barely different enough to fail to reproduce with people of other worlds; that is the defining point at which the scientific community no longer considers them homo sapiens sapiens."

"But--" she tried.

He didn't let her overwhelm him. The audience had quieted in order to hear his soft-spoken words, and he wouldn't lose this chance. "The Sintans, like the Anarians, like the colonists of our other incredible and diverse worlds, comprise a culture. This culture was built off the core values and habits of the original colonists and it grew in the environment of Sintas, a hostile and dangerous place filled with beauty and natural wonder. Some young adults took to tracking how many times they'd escaped death by inking their arms; the practice spread and it became distinctly Sintan, and so embraced by more and more people as a way to identify themselves with each other, banded against their own world... and also as a way to link themselves more closely to their new home. It is a complex psychological development, just like the other 'fads' of which you spoke. Each colony world goes through drastic extremes in culture and behavior; it is part of the adaptive process in learning how to live again.

"If anything, Miss Kiopf, the Sintans' brazen cultural practices are proof that they do not lack humanity any more than the rest of our colonists."

There was applause for the first time in the conference, and Dr. Garban allowed himself a small, kind smile at the acclaim. Not everyone had clapped, of course, and the Terran woman sat down in an angry huff, muting her microphone and muttering to someone near her projector... but it was progress. These hundred-and-some people facing him would control how the colonists, the Terrans, the spacers, and even the Sintans reacted to the race-wide announcement. And if he could convince them that it was simply a matter of scientific interest and not a matter that needed a moral crusade, he could count himself a good man.

A man's hard voice broke through the fading applause. "Dr. Garban. Tell us of any dangers and concerns that other worlders or even spacers might need to know, both culturally and physically. What are the consequences, precisely, of this discovery?"

The doctor's gaze slid to his read-out again. Julis Reve, High Captain of the worldship Amurye. He looked up to face his audience again, solemn. "We have done extensive tests for the past two years, researching this entire concept. In our research, we confirmed that there is no biological danger that isn't inherent for -any- human on -any- world. There is no hidden disease in Sintan veins that would kill an off-worlder with a touch. There are no dangers at all, as a matter of fact, that are specific to Sintan and non-Sintan interaction."

The High Captain's image nodded, face carved into a serious look as though it were stone. "Then, what are the consequences?"

Dr. Garban allowed himself to smile a little, sadly. "This matter is largely an interest to the scientific community alone. We have never before been presented with such an example of adaptive evolution. The consequences outside of that interest can include irrational fear of Sintans by non-Sintans, widespread depression on Sintas if non-Sintans alienate and belittle them, and some companies needlessly withdrawing their assets and spacecraft from Sintan use."

Capt. Reve was unimpressed, but one thick eyebrow rose a millimeter. "You are saying, then, Doctor, that there is no cause for alarm, segregation, or even any practical change in relations with the Sintans?"

"You are correct, High Captain." Dr. Garban nodded. There was murmuring and muted microphones for several minutes, during which he stayed quiet and expressionless.

The Speaker for the worldships was the first to voice the unanimous decision of his party. "The High Captains will change nothing in reaction to this scientific discovery," he said with a broad smile. There was a round of nodding and short affirmations from the various spacers, and the doctor let himself exhale. If nothing else, it meant that trade with and transport to and from Sintas would not be restricted.

A few Speakers for corporations added their decisions to stay unchanged in regards to Sintas; a few others postponed their decisions until after their specialists could take an in-depth look at the Sintan medical reports and investigation. The politicians of each world said their piece personally, acting as Speakers for their planet, and though the Terran woman was harsh, even she promised no acts of hostility towards the non-humans.

Dr. Garban bowed his head. Disaster had been averted.

From the right wing of the doctor's stage, Charah took her hand from her heart and breathed a little easier.