Alex soared above the palace courtyard. Below, a whoop of joy rose from the revolutionaries below as they waved their swords and guns, cheering for their leader. Alex flew lazy circles over the ruins of the palace courtyard, holding Kuni's lifeless body aloft with her sword.

The surging crowd erupted into a raucous cheer as more revolutionaries poured into the front courtyard. Warriors in the jubilant crowd leaped up and down, yelling and clapping their hands. Alex's heart quickened when she saw Rile, Cale, and Gabe, but they were too far away to reach her. Suddenly, many hands were on her, lifting her off the ground and carrying her into the palace. The roar of the crowd bounced off the walls and filled the air.

So much for psychology. They love a winner, mammal or reptile, it seems.

Alex's eyes darted around the throne room, taking in its grandeur—ornate tapestries hung from the walls, gilded candelabras illuminated the space, and long red carpets ran between the columns. But Alex didn't see a single Anolis male in attendance.

I guess the females have no intention of sharing their victory celebration.

She could hear Rile voicing his discontent from some distance. The new Kuni, wearing a bronze crown with sharp spikes, glanced at one of her guards before giving a nod. And then Alex saw the brothers file in. Someone pushed Alex forward in front of the throne.

"I thank you for your help. I know what you wish as a reward. Gabe is yours," the new Kuni said.

Gabe, Cale, and Rile's faces blazed with anger as they shouted in unison.

Alex's mouth quirked up slightly at the corners. "You boys thought you were fighting for truth, justice, and the American way - wrong. Same system, different Kuni. I can see Deela didn't explain the finer points of the revolution to you."

Rile stepped forward, his fists clenched and eyes aflame. "We chose you so changes could be made!" He pointed an accusing finger at the imposing figure wearing the crown.

A beatific smile lit up her face. "They will be, my loyal subjects, I am a most benevolent ruler." She touched the crown tenderly as she spoke.

"Then free all the Anolis males," Alex said.

Alex's words rang out in the tense silence of the chamber, and the Kuni and revolutionaries broke into uproarious laughter. To Alex, it sounded like a death knell, while the Gila mercenaries scowled and low growls rumbled in their chests. The Anolis females stopped laughing abruptly at the sound.

"I will make sure the males are treated better by their females."

"A dictator by any other name," Cale cut across her words.

The female sentries raised their spears towards them, eliciting another round of menacing growls from the Gilas.

"One mate for my help?" Alex brushed imaginary dust from her shoulder. "Benevolent? Stingy is more the word."

The new Kuni, visibly displeased, gave a sharp intake of breath and tightened her grip on the arms of the throne. "What do you want?"

"Cale, Gabe, and the whole palace harem," Alex answered casually. "Oh, and Rile is already mine."

The Kuni's face grew ashen with disbelief. "The whole harem?" she repeated incredulously.

Alex spread her arms wide and smiled. "The whole harem. I have affection for them. They sheltered me overnight until I could challenge Amal, the old Kuni, for Rile." She paused, her gaze steady on the new Kuni who was gripping the armrests of her throne with white knuckles. Alex said slowly, "You should remember that Rile supplied your revolutionaries with vital information for you to gain the throne." The Kuni glared at her, and Alex held her gaze without flinching. "You want me out of your affairs," she said.

I'm not above using threats, either.

"You are a clever bargainer, mammal."

Alex stood her ground, the intensity of her gaze on the Kuni making the air between them almost crackle with electricity. Hers lips pressed into a thin line as he spoke. "A few males for an entire empire? Not hardly. A cheap price. What do you say?"

The Kuni chuckled and gave a dismissive wave towards Deela. "You amuse me. They are yours. Not a word, Deela."

The spears were lowered and the tension in the room ebbed.

Alex faced the brothers, her expression unreadable. "Have a nice life," she said before turning to go. Just before leaving, she cast an icy glance over her shoulder and spoke again. "Next time, pick your girlfriends more carefully."

The new Kuni stepped forward, confusion creasing her forehead. "What are you doing?"

"I can't remember the term for it. I'm setting them free. I can do that, right? Without some other female claiming them?"

I remember the term. I want the new Kuni to say it.

"Yes, but the emancipation is uncommon," the new Kuni said, tapping her claws on her sword hilt.

Alex shrugged and said with calculated indifference, "Oh, that's the word. I'm emancipating all of them, whole palace harem as well as Rile, Cale, and Gabe. I've already proclaimed I will kill anyone who enslaves one of my emancipated males, whether he's willing or not. My kind finds it more fun to choose each other for mates rather than winning one by force."

"Curious. No wonder your kind never came to power."

"We did, just not here. With your leave, majesty," Alex said as she tilted her head in mock submission.

As she walked out of the palace, Alex found her friends on her heels.

"Nice speech. Capt. Kirk, right? The Gamesters of Triskelion?" Cale asked.

"I think that was the episode. Kirk got on his soapbox so many times, I get them mixed up. Good thing these reptiles never came up with Star Trek or they would have been on to me." She gave Cale's waist an affectionate squeeze, offering him a smile.

"Told you watching all those old episodes would come in handy," Cale said.

"I got you hooked on Star Trek, remember?" Alex smiled at him.

Rile stepped closer to Alex and lightly tucked his arm around his waist, his strong frame pressing into her. "How did you know they had no intention of changing the system?" He asked. "Why didn't you tell Zilik? Or me?"

Alex shifted away slightly. "I didn't know at first, plus I needed Zilik's help. And yours. But as I talked with the revolutionaries, I began to suspect something was amiss. What gave me away was when I mentioned I wanted all of you and the harem as a reward. They didn't say 'They'll be free to do as they like', oh no, they said 'No problem'." Her lips tightened in frustration. "Capiche?"

Rile nodded slowly, a mix of anger and disappointment on his face. "All too well," he said darkly. "I'm angry at how this has turned out. Let's overthrow that new Kuni."

Gabe, Cale, and Alex groaned.

"Please, Rile, one revolution a week," Alex said.

"They gave us up so easily." Cale sounded hurt.

Alex turned to him in disbelief and drew him in for a comforting hug. "You call that easy? I had to overthrow an entire government to get you back. If it makes you feel better, the females also told me that if I took you all, I would spend the rest of my life fighting challenges to keep you. That's why I released you. It's not that I wouldn't enjoy having three personal slaves." She winked at them. "I'm too tired to fight all the time. Let's go around back. I want to make sure the harem is safe and sound."

To her annoyance, several warriors of the new Kuni followed them. Alex glared at them over her shoulder and tapped the hilt of her Guardian sword. They ignored her.

By back entrance, the males in the palace harem crowded around her, talking, asking questions, and her smug demeanor melted.

Her voice was soft as she said, "You're all free now, but your country is still in shambles. This new Kuni isn't going to be any better than the old one."

"Look, Alex," several voices urged in unison and the males parted to reveal a slow-moving figure.

Alex gasped, recognizing Trac. Her friend stood with an arm encased in a massive sling that covered his chest. "Trac! You're alive," Alex exclaimed as he rushed to him. "I thought you were dead!"

"I may be small but I'm tough," Trac said, wincing slightly with every step. "You'll appreciate that."

"She'll appreciate all of us," Kress added. "We all belong to you now."

"No, you're free. I emancipated you and even made the new Kuni say it out loud. I reminded them I'll kill anyone who takes one of my emancipated males, willing or not." Alex looked over at the new guards, who dashed into the palace. "But how do we get y'all out of here?" Alex's accent slipped through over her distress that she hadn't thought of this important detail.

"We haven't been hiding in the chamber all this time. We've arranged help," Kress said. "We don't rely solely on females."

Alex dramatically placed her hand over her heart. "Ouch." Then she grinned. 'I'm glad you don't."

A single white horse with a rider in an iron breastplate galloped into view, followed by several massive carriages. The rider pulled back on the reins and brought the horse to a stop before Trac and Alex.

The rider leaned forward, and Alex gasped. "Zilik?" she exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"We don't trust this new Kuni." A voice came from the front carriage. "I've been appointed Council member for the new Kuni, whether she likes it or not."

"Razz? But how?" Alex ran over to the carriage. "I don't want you here. It's too dangerous."

Razz stuck his head out, and instinctively she held her hands up to him. He squeezed through the window and jumped into her arms. Startled, Alex staggered back a step, but held him close. Razz practically wrapped himself around her and laid his head on her shoulder.

"They must accept me to remain on the Council. If they do not, our intelligence tells us that this territory is ripe for invasion by certain hostile species. A civil war weakens a country and leaves it vulnerable. Only countries on the Council have the luxury of its protection. This new Kuni should be much more eager to stay on the Council than the old one," Razz's voice was thick with conviction.

"Congratulations, advisor. I can guess who arranged that." She looked at Zilik, who shrugged innocently. "It's also too dangerous for you to be here, Zilik. What did I tell you about changing the world from the Council table, not the front lines?" Alex scolded and shook her index finger at them. "Both of you back to InterSpec City."

"Guilty as charged," he replied cheerfully. He gestured grandly towards the gleaming carriages parked in front of them. "Now let's leave. I have transport for your whole harem to Chameleon City." His face lit up with a mischievous grin, and he winked at Alex.

"All right, all right, that's a better choice, smart aleck." She bent her knees so Razz could slide down from her back while trying to cling onto her neck for as long as possible. Alex playfully bumped her shoulder against Zilik's but took a couple of steps back, not wanting him to get the wrong idea.

"You'll need a lot of Freedom Collars," Zilik said as he waved at the crowd of Anolis palace males.

Alex's breath caught in her throat. "I can't ask you to pay for all those."

Her sword hummed with intensity, vibrating and rattling against her thigh. The small stones beside them jumped around like tiny rubber balls. Razz knelt and held his hand palm up so that some of the nuggets bounced into it. The opals shimmered in a range of hues, from deep blues to fiery oranges, vibrant reds to lush greens, all interweaving and swirling together in intricate patterns. Zilik stooped and cupped a handful of stones. These were star sapphires - an array of shades from blue-grey to rose pink, and spring green - each one marked with a six-rayed star.

"These star sapphires will more than pay for the collars," he announced.

Razz stood and held out the gems to Alex. "These opals are for the collars themselves."

Alex poked at the jewels but didn't pick any up. "I really wish there was another name for them than collars."

"Give the Anolis males time to adjust," Zilik said in a kind tone. "They'll think of something."

Trac interrupted. "Look what I've brought."

He opened a pouch that had been sewn into his arm sling. Alex peered in and saw four tiny forms.

"The babies!" Alex squealed and then flushed with embarrassment that she had sounded like a schoolgirl. Color flooded her cheeks when Zilik chuckled softly at her giddy response and she responded by sticking her tongue out at him.

Trac scooped out two of them and handed them to Alex. "These are Razz's. You should give them to him."

Alex couldn't help but let out a quiet gasp at their newborn beauty, but thought it odd, what with Razz standing right next to her. She chalked it up to the female dominated society the males had suffered under. She handed over his babies, bubbling, "Look! Look! Your babies! I held them as they hatched! Aren't they beautiful?"

Alerted by Alex's curious behavior, Rile, Gabe, and Cale walked over. Razz took the babies and nuzzled them. For the first time, Alex felt sorry that they couldn't cry. Tears of joy seemed appropriate right now.

Razz's voice quivered with emotion as he whispered, "Alex, thank you," repeatedly. His gaze remained transfixed on his children; they clung tightly to him while he stroked their heads and kissed their tiny muzzles.

"Don't thank me. Trac is the one who brought them out," Alex said, her eyes glistening with tears.

"Only with your help, Alex," Trac added, looking at Alex with admiration.

Gently running his finger over one baby's back, he whispered in awe, "What cute little ones."

Meanwhile, Rile examined the area suspiciously, sharp eyes and tensed shoulders hinting at his hidden apprehension. Gabe remained still, offering no reaction to the sight of the infants.

Alex beamed with pride as she looked between the two babes, and exclaimed, "These are Razz and Trac's babies. Aren't they adorable?"

The babies gurgled and trilled in delight at Cale's attentions, clearly delighted by their latest audience.

Razz inhaled deeply and regarded Alex with a look of intent. "Alex, pick one," he said with an air of finality.

Alex picked up a baby in wonderment, cradling it so gently that one might have thought she'd held one before. "Pick a name? I suppose it would be selfish to ask you to name one Alex," she mused out loud.

Razz's expression softened in amusement. "Not a name. Pick a baby. It will be yours," he said in a low voice, gesturing towards the baby in her arms. He leaned forward slightly to get a better look at her face. "That is the female. Do you wish to keep her?"

Alex's giddiness stopped cold as Razz's words sank in. All she could do was stare at him in shock, with the baby nestled securely in her arms.

"You saved my life and freed us all. But I realize there is one thing you cannot provide to your sleep-mate, Gabe, so I am giving it to you. Although you should choose Rile," Razz said, voice soft and low with sincerity.

Gabe's face was like a thundercloud; his fists clenched, and his posture stiffened, the muscles in his jaw flexing angrily.

"Now you know that selecting Cla over Alex was a terrible decision; with a child, you can have all the joys of parenthood with Alex," he continued, keeping his gaze steady on Gabe.

"Who said I want a child?" he barked, anger radiating from him like an inferno.

"You did, Gabe," Rile informed him without sympathy. Then he leaned over to Razz and whispered, "Thanks a lot for that one."

"I am sorry, but Alex will always come first. She should have whatever she most wants, including a baby," Razz said with remorse. "I did tell that her she should pick you."

Alex reluctantly passed the swaddled bundle to Razz, who cradled it close. Her hands trembled, and her face softened in awe. "That is the most unselfish thing anyone has ever offered me, so please don't be offended but I can't accept this gift," she said in a choked voice. "Females of my species have been trying to use babies to gain attention since time immemorial - without luck. Besides, I won't condemn her to be the daughter of a freak—all her life."

Gabe gritted his teeth until he spat out, "I didn't 'choose' Cla! I was helping this revolution!"

The silence that followed spoke volumes; no one believed him.

The Kuni's face contorted with rage and her fists balled up at her sides. She stormed out of the palace, her regal robes billowing behind her as she made her way to the courtyard, trailed by her guards. "I hadn't counted on this mammal being able to take the entire palace harem!" she fumed in a low tone to the female warrior on her right.

"Perhaps it is time for you to introduce your new advisor to the Council," Zilik suggested coldly.

The Kuni shook with fury and all traces of regal composure vanished from her expression. "What? This is an outrage!" she shouted, making every warrior in the palace jump to attention.

Razz pulled his children close to his chest, instinctively trying to shield them. Alex stepped forward and interposed herself between the Kuni and Razz, unsheathing her sword with a sharp ring. Her feet moved her into a balanced stance as she held the blade before her in guard position. Alex activated one hand to emit sparks of light that illuminated her face in an ominous glow. She made sure the light show was only enough to add emphasis to the situation, careful not to waste any energy.

"In no way," Zilik said calmly. "The Council has agreed upon this governing contract upon for decades. Are you disregarding it?"

"Two minutes in power and already manipulating some scheme with Zilik?" Alex whispered to Razz.

Razz flashed a triumphant grin. "We would not want to waste time. Thank you for defending me and my children."

"No one is taking you back to a lifetime of slavery, Razz," Alex whispered, her gaze fixed on the Kuni. She felt exhaustion tugging at her mind and body, reminding her that she needed to conserve her energy. Clenching her hand into a fist, she shut off the power coursing through it.

I need to save it.

"While I will be forever grateful to you, now it is my turn 'to do the saving' as you say. I will save my fellow males," Razz's voice was strong and determined, and Alex knew it wouldn't be wise to challenge him.

The Kuni had been about to object, but stopped as an aide silently passed her a message. She cleared her throat and stood tall. She composed her expression as she replied in a steady voice, "The advisor is chosen by the population's representatives."

Razz's expression didn't change as he uttered the words, but there was a glimmer in his eye. "Since you failed to pick one by the deadline, those that were present for the vote in InterSpec City chose one. I am their choice."

Alex couldn't help but smile at the genius of having Razz voted in by the dissidents smuggled into InterSpec City while the war raged outside its walls.

Now keeping Razz alive to fulfill his duties: that's another problem. One I wouldn't mind solving by staying here until I die. Yes, that would do nicely. Do I have a choice in assignments?

"I see. So be it, for now." The Kuni gazed coolly at Zilik and Razz before giving an almost imperceptible nod to her attendant. The female aide scurried forward, followed by several muscular guards, their voices low and resolute as they exited.

The males around Alex were now in high spirits, clapping each other on the back and whistling with celebration. Alex remained transfixed, watching the Kuni's retreating figure until it had vanished from sight.

"Now I have a base of support," Razz told her over the crowd.

"It's not that many," Alex replied, pushing closer to him.

"More than you think. I wish to grow it as males escape their slavery," he teased, gesturing to the swirling masses around them. "You are doing well for a monogamous species," he teased.

Alex's cheeks burned crimson as she spoke in a prim, clipped tone to Razz. "I emancipated every male. I don't have a single sleep-mate."

Razz nodded his head significantly at Rile. "You only have to ask."

"Razz." Alex was scandalized. "Rile ... is ... well ... I mean... he's not the monogamous type." She nervously played with her sword hilt before finally returning it to its scabbard, pushing away memories of their last kiss and embrace.

""Maybe with the right sleep-mate, he would be. Do not look shocked. Think about it and then act. You are good at acting." He gave Alex a knowing look before turning away and shouting orders to load up the carriages with all the freed males.

***

A/N

Dedicated to my faithful Wayfarers partner