Earth was a beautiful sight from orbit, glowing blue like a precious sapphire gem. It was dizzying at first, to be so high, realizing that the ridged brown and green patches were towering mountains, and scorching deserts. The scattered clouds reminded Lily of a painter's wispy brush strokes across the homeworld's broad surface.

She and Clarence delighted in the novelty of weightlessness. They laughed and played, as they drifted around the cabin.

It was more disorienting for Daddy, with his blind side. Eventually he adapted, and could move about with care.

After a flight of several hours, the shuttle docked at an orbital station owned by Blane Industries.

The airlock whirled open, and four security officers in rust-brown uniforms greeted them. The company's logo was displayed proudly across the bay door, a stylized sphere with a silver arc slicing around it. Blane Industries oversaw several divisions and services, but the majority of its business was in off-world mining.

They were escorted to a private boardroom. A long conference table of rare, costly wood stretched down the center. The outside wall was transparent, a tinted viewing window spanning the length and height of the room. It provided an expansive panorama of the dock they'd just arrived from, and the tranquil planet below.

A slim young man stood before it, silhouetted against the filtered sunlight. Hands folded behind his back, he watched the freighters and trade shuttles coming and going. He was young, appearing about twenty. His dark hair was oiled sleek, with a finger wave at the front. Sideburns tapered to needle-like points along the angles of his jaw. He wore a full-length coat over his suit, the upright collar spanning into a pleated geometric design down the lapels. His acute brown eyes swept over them, observing without lingering.

"Greetings," he said. "I'm Silas, Mr. Blane's eldest son. Please, have a seat. You all must be exhausted, after your harrowing journey."

"Thank you," said Ben. "We wouldn't have succeeded without your father's aid."

Silas lifted his chin, his voice smooth and accommodating. "Blane Industries has always supported your cause, Mr. Keene. There were many hurdles to overcome, in persuading the colonial officials, but we can discuss this later. My father had urgent business on the Vestal Coil. We'll meet him there this evening. In the meantime, please make yourselves at home."

Several shiny domestic robots entered, bearing platters of fruit, cheese, bread, steaming pots of tea, and chilled carafes of water.

They partook of the appetizers graciously.

"I've prepared private cabins for you," Silas said. "We have four hours until departure, and you may refresh yourselves as you like. I assume you won't mind sharing with your children, Mr. Fairpoole?"

Daddy bowed his head and smiled. "Not at all. Thank you, sir."

Everyone departed to their rooms soon after.

Fru Haeveka called to Lily in the corridor. "I have something for you. I almost forgot." She reached into her pack.

"Tell me it's not another bomb," Lily said.

Fru Haeveka laughed, and presented the snowglobe Daddy had made.

Lily gasped. "You rescued it from the dorm. Thank you so much."

"You're most welcome." Fru Haeveka laid a strong hand on her shoulder. "It's been an honor to work with you, Korenzdit. Call on me anytime."

Lily headed back to her cabin, and heard nervous laughter.

Ben and Delia were entwined, leaning against the entrance to her cabin. Delia moaned softly, clutching at the stiff black fabric of his medic uniform. "You have your own room, darling. This is a rather awkward..." She was interrupted by his kisses. "...time, and place."

"I've waited more than four years," he said. "Nothing can keep me from you."

Fumbling, she reached for the access panel beside the door. It opened, and they nearly fell through.

Ben immediately closed it behind them.

Lily giggled. She was glad everyone could relax, after the hardship they'd endured.

It was wonderful to enjoy time with her family again.

Daddy was in the lavatory, taking a mist bath.

She curled onto the bed beside Clarence.

He grinned as he flipped through channels on the holovision. "This is great. I like it in space already."

"I'm just glad that we're together," she said, and kissed his cheek.

A few hours later, they regrouped at the dock, and boarded the Blane family's luxurious private shuttle. Like the company's station, the ship was outfitted with expensive artificial gravity generators, making it more comfortable.

Lily and Clarence watched Earth through a window. They played a game to pass time, trying to guess geographical features.

Silas approached them with a curious expression. "It's rather humbling, to see all of the homeworld through one window," he said. "It reminds me how small things actually are, and how fallible. The Kaezer owns all of it, now."

Clarence scoffed. "Not if we can help it."

"Such spirit," Silas said. "Do tell, as I've always wondered. Was the Kaezer really that uncivilized?"

"I'm not sure what you mean, sir."

"His society is highly ordered," Lily said. "And the laws are well-defined and enforced, if that's what you mean by civilized. But you have to sacrifice most of your freedom."

"Obviously. I just find it fascinating." His smile tilted, one eye narrowing as he studied her. He seemed a brooding young man, his mind always searching, and planning ahead.

He made her nervous.

"Wow!" Clarence broke the tension with his excitement. "What's that?"

"Your new home," Silas said. "Welcome to the Vestal Coil."

Lily never imagined it would be so big. A rotating cylinder, about twenty-five miles long, with three layers of rings twisting around.

Silas explained that there were seven hundred square miles of habitat inside, and over a million residents. It originated with the central torus, the largest and most crowded. Over the past few decades, there was an unforeseen population spike, and construction of the coil ensued. It wrapped about the axis in a spiral pattern, sparkling with countless lights.

"Let's get to our seats," Silas said. "We'll debark in a few minutes."

"He acts nice," Clarence whispered. "But I don't like him."

"Neither do I." Lily shrugged, and decided not to dwell on it. She was eager to see what the colony was like. Most people praised the quality of life here in space, and she had high expectations.

The shuttle drifted through a wide docking bay entrance. Thrusters rumbled, slowing their approach. The craft swayed as they landed, and the engines cooled with a piercing drone.

They accompanied Silas and his security escort onto an internal transport ship.

Enormous mirrors along the central axis reflected sunlight into all of the tiered levels. There was a constant, focused glow upon fields, streams, and rivers. It felt like flying through a tunnel as wide as Harmony Valley, and reminded Lily somewhat of her lost home.

They landed atop a high building, a cylindrical spire that glowed in the sun. Its central tower stood about thirty stories, with six smaller ones rising along the sides. They blossomed into white and silver terraces at the base, and the contrasting colors formed arched curls and chevron patterns across the ground.

It was disorienting when she looked up, accustomed to seeing sky, and saw instead the opposite side of the ring. Houses surrounded a wide, sun-kissed lake, where clouds and stars should be. A sweet floral scent filled the air. Birds glided upon the balmy wind. An ideal afternoon, in every way. She took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. There was a rhythm here. It was new, and mysterious, and she was determined to find it.

"Follow me," Silas said. A display enhancement blinked alongside the round shaded lenses of his glasses. Ridged patterns of chrome splintered around the frames, an aesthetically pleasing way to access data. He flicked one gloved finger, and the private entrance before them opened.

Lily realized he must have more than one device embedded in his stylish attire.

They rode a lift down three levels, and passed through a busy, chattering office. An ornately carved pair of wooden doors waited at the far end.

Beyond lay a lush conservatory. Sunlight showered through the glass ceiling, caressing the exotic garden within. They followed a path tiled in oblong cuts of beveled stone, winding around a fountain. A triumphant bronze statue of a nude girl reached toward heaven, holding aloft a flaming torch.

It was a shame that such beauty existed for only a few to enjoy. Below on Earth, people struggled to survive, crushed beneath the fist of the Kaezer. Above, the citizens lived in extravagance, surrounded by soft, warm light and laughing water.

The atrium centered in a vine-laden plaza of white marble, encircled by lustrous brass columns. Three men and a woman sat before a round stone table. All were focused on the face of a young woman, dressed in a trooper's uniform, hovering in the blue and silver image before them.

Silas stopped. "Wait here, for just a moment."

They all paused, listening.

"This is a violation of our treaty," the Pruessian woman on hologram said. "With your latest insult, as well as the aid you've sent to our enemies, Hir Kaezer is considering war with the colonies. This is your first warning."

The hologram faded.

Silas tapped the side of his glasses. "Alert, Father. We've arrived."

There came the pleasant, ascending chime of a wristcom. A genteel, silver-haired gentleman in a distinguished suit looked up. He saw their bewildered group of refugees, waiting at the trellised gate, and beckoned. "Please come in, friends," he said. "We've been expecting you."

"It's wonderful to meet all of you," said the woman. "I'm Johanna Stonecipher. This is Mr. Shahiro, Mr. Everton, and Mr. Blane. If you were privy to that little message from Hir Kaezer, then you know we have much to discuss."

Mr. Blane explained that he was the head of an independent coalition, about thirty colonies allied with the resistance. This included the water rebels on Earth, as well as groups like the Fist of Heaven.

The leaders of the free world had fled to space after Black Sky Day, and the four people assembled here were among the most powerful that remained.

Mr. Shahiro was in charge of the off-world trade commission, overseeing all enterprise on the orbital colonies, Luna, and Mars. He was a shrewd looking man in a dark gray business suit, resting his chin on two steepled fingertips as he observed them.

Mr. Everton, a refined older gentleman, wore a military uniform of gray wool. Bands of polished brown leather crossed his chest and waist, with the stripes of an officer from the old regime pinned to his coat.

Ms. Stonecipher represented the scientific community. She was a highly respected engineer and researcher, whom Delia had often praised. Her brown hair was pulled into a tight knot at the back of her head, and she fidgeted with the long string of dyed pearls attached to her eyeglasses.

"Water is the most contentious issue among the colonies," Ms. Stonecipher said. "My teams are studying the source of the contamination with all urgency. What we've uncovered, is that it's a synthetic strain of bacteria. It was apparently released with malicious intent, as a bio-weapon. Our goal is to find a safe cleansing process, so that we can unite under one promise."

Mr. Blane adjusted his rusted silk tie. "The contamination was likely not of the Kaezer's design. The technology to create a bio-weapon originates here, as all of the engineering companies operate off-world. This points the finger at us, and gives the Kaezer an advantage. We've searched for the culprit who created the bacteria, but all of our traces have been fruitless."

"We'll catch the villain eventually," Mr. Everton said. "At any rate, the Honeysett freighter you all escaped on will be valuable to our cause. We now have proof that certain companies are violating the regulations of the trade commission."

Mr. Blane struck a fist against the table. "Families like Swann, Honeysett, Jaster, and Keene are corrupt, and seek only their own profit. The Kaezer has threatened us, as well. I'll tell you what I think, my friends. If they want a war, that's what we'll give them."

There was rousing applause from his cohorts, and several others.

Only one word stood out to Lily, and it made her cringe—war.

"Be assured that my comrades and I will fight with you, no matter the cost," Mr Everton said.

"And likewise, the trade commission supports you," said Mr. Shahiro. "We'll apprehend and prosecute all who have defied the treaty."

Richard Blane thanked everyone. "My wife, and youngest son, Castor, have founded a charity to supply and encourage the water rebels toward revolt," he said, and gave Silas a peculiar smile. "The War is ongoing. It will consume all of us, above and below, unless we stamp out its root. It has choked and twisted its way through Pruessia for two generations. You all share first-hand knowledge of the conditions below, in the ration camps. I plan to fund a media campaign across all of the worlds, and I'd be honored if you contribute."

An agreement was sealed that day. It was like a spark upon a bed of dry twigs. The scattered and undecided colonies were as volatile as tinder, waiting for something to set them ablaze.

Mr. Blane and his three companions formed an official council shortly after, and drafted a Declaration of Universal Rights. In his media drive, Mr. Blane referred to the collective of the worlds as the Family of Earth.

Lily and her family related their stories on various talk shows and news programs. Soon, Richard Blane had a resounding cry of support.

The revolution spread to every corner of Earth, within the Pruessian homeland, as well as through the ration camps.

It took two strenuous years, but the War finally came to an end, and a prosperous new society emerged.

After the Kaezer fell, a new government arose, and called itself the Administration. Richard Blane was elected the first Executive Officer, in a landslide victory. All of the worlds joined under one standard. Peace returned, for the first time in nearly fifty years.

Stonecipher discovered a way to purify the water. It still had to be rationed to the citizens, as it was a long and expensive process. Nevertheless, everyone welcomed the mandatory currency chip system, as it was a vast improvement over the previous situation.

Delia, Hir Zilejager, Hir Volbergh, and Daddy joined Stonecipher's robotics institution.

Ben took a job as a medic, and married Delia in an elegant ceremony soon after.

Fru Haeveka went to work for the Administration, as part of their intelligence agency.

Lily and Clarence enrolled in school, and adjusted to their new lives.

Daddy took them for a visit to Plumgrove, about a month after the War ended.

Not many of the original buildings remained. A few houses still stood, with some of the orchards, and surprisingly, the old clock tower above town hall was unscathed.

Lily felt a sense of contentment here. In most ways, Harmony Valley was still her home.

No one could accurately identify the remains found after the bombing. Consequently, the locals had buried all in a mass grave, and erected a stone memorial.

Lily still wore Mama's wedding band around her neck. It had always been with her, and had kept her strong, through all of the danger and pain. For some inexplicable reason, she felt it was right to leave it at the site. She dug a small hole at the base of the commemorative stone with her fingers, and buried the ring in the soft, still earth.

They returned to the Vestal Coil, solemn during the shuttle flight.

Clarence seemed happy to be back. He loved the colony, and the comfort it offered.

But Lily couldn't deny that Plumgrove still called to her. She missed the Lookout, the limitless blue sky, and the chilled kiss of snow against her cheeks in winter.

It seemed Daddy did, too.