The Americans had first established Planet Zon as a settlement in the year 2325. At first, it had only been a remote outpost to conduct experiments in living conditions in Deep Space. Finding themselves unable to use current technology, the early pioneers had resorted to the old ways, hence the telephone poles. Once the experiments had been completed, the planet was given over for development to alleviate the overpopulation of Planet Earth. In the first few years, only Americans had taken advantage of the situation. They soon outgrew the place and moved on to a more fertile planet.

Zon had been sold to the Chinese in the year 2412. Almost at once, the population began to boom. The first Emperor Lo-Bong had established the government and voting for cabinet members by the ballot process. The planet had prospered, and its citizens lived happy and plentiful lives. Lo-Fun had continued the rules laid out by his father and predecessor; life continued to be good.

Ever jealous of his elder brother, it wasn't long before Lo-So had begun to plot his treacherous plans to overtake the Imperial throne. Lo-Fun was assassinated, in the dead of night, while he slept comfortably and securely within the palace. No one dared publicly speculate on how it happened but there were plenty of whispers going on behind closed doors.

Wishing she had been able to see her face in the reflection of the shop window, Go-Mang reluctantly turned back to view the deserted street. Young Su-Su was kneeling at the shrine. With her head bent in sorrow, her deft little fingers attempted to rearrange the dried-out flowers that fell to dust with her touch. The soggy teddy bears didn't appear much better, they slumped forward in the posture of a small child saying his prayers. Resting her head in the little girl's lap was the kid.

Clutching her hands into tight fists then releasing them to stretch out her palms, Go-Mang repeated the gesture several times. How she wished Su-Su would finish her task and disappear from the street before the Imperial Guards noticed her. It wasn't so much the little girl that worried Go-Mang. It was the kid that was the problem. The little white goat was a forbidden pet. Su-Su knew better than to be seen with it on the street. "Hurry, hurry," the elder girl whispered as she clenched her fists once again.

Just as Go-Mang made up her mind to hustle Su-Su off the street, the Moor-Mons, Jeremiah and Daniel, appeared from another doorway. Crossing the street, they knelt beside the twelve-year-old girl as though they were going to say a prayer with the child. In a nearly imperceptible movement, the kid was concealed within Daniel's long brown hooded cloak while Jeremiah gently assisted Su-Su to her feet. Silently they brought the girl back with them and entered the building they had recently exited. There was not a moment to spare since the Imperial Guards appeared at the top of the street to make their rounds of inspection.