Chris Alan (with his Guardian floating in Rest Mode following) and his small party were guided from the airlock to their quarters. The guard who led them did so in silence. In fact, silence was all around them on much of the walk, which made Chris Alan feel edgy. He looked over to Autumn holding baby Crystal and Tina fussing over them both, making faces so Crystal would laugh; the baby broke the dreaded silence with giggles.

Chris Alan took serious note as they walked into the main social area, which was filled with shops and what he also noticed were the “decorations”. Pictures of Edwin with his face crossed out with an “X” were all over the walls. Anti-Edwin posters were everywhere, many saying “Die, Shadow Master!” or “No more Bitterroot!” Dolls looking like Edwin were being burned and destroyed in very creative ways. Representatives of species based on archetypes of all kinds were flowing through the space station; they reminded Chris Alan of vultures gathering for the death of a particularly large and hapless victim.

“This is madness!” Chris Alan exclaimed.

“How would you react if your entire planet got destroyed and you had to flee and the life you knew ended?” Christina retorted vehemently.

“You know very well how I’d react. How I’ve reacted to Edwin’s schemes, and those of others too, are a matter of public record.” Chris Alan ran his right hand through his hair, a sign that both Christina and Autumn recognized as a sign of considerable agitation. “I would be upset, angry even; and I’d be seeking justice. But this is pure bitterness! They’re allowing their emotions to overcome them.”

“Try to understand, Chris Alan,” said Autumn more reasonably. “These people were helpless when Edwin uprooted their lives. Now they see a chance to help in payback. Many are just here as witnesses; some are on the jury.”

“Let’s not forget, shall we,” Chris Alan replied, “that I fought against Edwin to keep from blowing up another world elsewhere, and won. I know exactly where these visitors are coming from; I saw what Edwin’s goons did to that particular world first. I also know firsthand what Edwin promised to do to countless worlds if I didn’t stop him: torture their inhabitants, simply because I’m committing the unpardonable sin of existing. And let’s not forget the file on the Five Stars and what Edwin tried to pull in that little scenario. If anybody has a right to be angry at Edwin, I do.” Chris Alan sighed.

“And yet you’re not allowing your own anger to sink in enough for some reason,” said Tina.