One way or another, Gray's constitution was toast.

And without the constitution, the aliens would go back to...

The Prendarians would go back to...

Hell, they'd go back to being the only ones in power. Just like before.

The Earthers would have nothing. Nothing but sanctioned occupations, nothing but cheap bones thrown to them by their Prendarian rulers. New freedom fighters would come along, Earthers who resented the aliens. They'd keep the resistance alive, keep fighting for the cause.

More fighting. More petty sabotage, feebly throwing tiny pebbles at Goliath.

God, just the thought made her weary.

Maybe... Maybe Gray was right after all. Maybe they could find a way to work with the Prendarians.

No. You couldn't work with people you didn't trust.

Gray put a hand to his ear. One of his assistants must be speaking. Hento, perhaps.

She trusted Hento. Maybe even Reema. They weren't monsters. They didn't treat her like a lower form of life. No, Hento and Reema were good people. Honest people. People who sincerely wanted Earthers to have a voice in their own government.

Gray came to her side and sat down in the empty chair next to her. Though he smiled, the small worry lines between his brows were deep. He wanted this constitution so much. And he argued for this new provision, simply because it was important to her.

No, not only for her. He fought for the provision -- for the constitution -- because he thought it was the best thing for everyone. Because he believed in it.

And she believed in him.

Without even trying, he'd convinced her to believe in him. To believe in his vision. Where was the amoral collaborator, the traitor, the target she'd hated from day one? She'd been wrong about him. Wrong about everything. If the constitution failed, she'd never forgive herself.

Damn it, Gray had turned her world upside down.

She wanted to take his hand, to reassure him. But she couldn't, not with so many of the delegates glaring up at the podium. Gray watched them, looking like his usual calm self, but a muscle tightened in his jaw.

She leaned closer to him. "Gray, you have to back off. They won't agree to either of your new provisions."

His mouth curved in that cocky smile. "Yes, they will. They are merely surprised by the changes."

If only she could believe him. God help her, she wanted him to succeed. She wanted this constitution to pass. And not just because she was crazy about him.

Whoa. She really was crazy about him. A collaborator. No, not a collaborator. A man who stood up for what he believed in. Who put his own career on the line to see the right thing done.

A man who'd give ten thousand credits to a whore, just because she needed them.

There had to be a way for her to help him, for a change.

She shifted in her seat to speak close to his ear. "Maybe you can take the new provisions out, just to get the initial constitution passed. Then add them in later."

He took her hand. "The battle is far from over, Daria. I have until tomorrow to convince the delegates to vote in favor."

"Tomorrow?"

He nodded. "Tomorrow afternoon. The sooner we vote, the better. I will not have the delegates believe that they can squabble about the constitution endlessly. Earth needs an integrated government now."

Shit. She had to get to Spider today. Find a way to stop whatever the hell he had planned. If the vote was tomorrow, Spider would act soon.

Gray put his hand to his ear for a second. "Hento is calling for me, Daria. I must leave to speak with him. Will you join me?"

Yeah, he probably needed to speak to Hento big time. Get some more ammunition for his arguments with the delegates. But this gave her the perfect chance to talk to Spider. Maybe she could at least find out what he was up to and warn Gray.

"I'll stay here."

"As you will."

He leaned closer, as if to kiss her. In front of all these people? She pulled away quickly.

He chuckled. "You shall repay me for that missed opportunity later, sweet--"

No wonder he cut the endearment short, after the way she'd freaked out on him last night.

She smiled as if nothing was wrong. "As you will," she echoed.

She watched him move through the crowd, stopping to say a few words here, to shake a few hands there. When he finally escaped through the blast-shielded doors to his preparation room, she turned her gaze to the crowd of delegates.

One thing about the Prendarians -- since most of them were fair-haired, skipping over them was easy. She found Spider quickly. He was standing with only one other delegate, a small gray-haired woman. Maybe she could separate them. Get Spider alone.

She stepped off the stage and made her way slowly up to the tier Spider was on. No, not Spider -- Henry. She had to think of him as Henry now.

His gaze caught hers when she was still more than twenty feet away. He turned back to the woman, said a few words, and shook her hand. Then he turned and walked toward Daria.

Good, he wanted to speak to her, too. This should be easy.

He nodded at her. "Come with me."

"All right."

He led her down a few tiers and off to the right, into a small anteroom. The room was small and empty, just a few comfortable chairs and a small side table set with clean glasses and an elegant, old-fashioned pitcher of water.

She sat in one of the chairs. Henry shut the door, then sat next to her and smiled. "Well, well. What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?"

Be cagey. She could almost hear Tank's voice. Tank. Would he ever forgive her if he found out she'd changed sides? No time to worry about that now. Guilt could come later. "The same thing you are, I imagine."

He raised his eyebrows. "I doubt that. I'm a respected delegate, and you..."

Don't answer, Tank would say. Let him keep talking. "I'm... what?"

"You're fucking William Gray."

Hmm. Maybe Tank hadn't told Henry about the kidnapping mission. Don't give him information he doesn't already have. "So?"

"So maybe you're playing a better game than I ever gave you credit for."

Now turn it back on him. "Look who's talking. This is quite a game you have going, Henry."

"I'm surprised to see you. I thought everyone in your group was identified."

He hadn't taken her lead. Damn. "Everyone but me, I guess. It's good to see you again. I thought all of my friends were in prison."

"Only the ones who are guilty of something, I suppose."

He knew this game a lot better than she did, damn it. He wouldn't tell her a thing until she tipped her own hand. Convinced him she was on his side. She gave him a bright smile. "Look, Henry, I'm sure we have the same goal here. Let's work together."

He didn't smile back. "How do I know we have the same goal? Last I heard, you were living with a bunch of terrorists. Now you show up on the arm of William Gray."

"And last I knew, you were best friends with a terrorist ringleader."

"But look at us now. I'm a respected politician, reshaping the future of Earth. And you -why, you're fucking a collaborator. Aren't you?"

He didn't give an inch. She'd have to give him a reason that made sense. "Of course I'm sleeping with him. Can you think of a better way to find out what he's up to?"

"I suppose not."

She'd have to draw him in. Pretend to tip her own hand. "Look, Henry, I want to stop this constitution as much as you do."

He gave a barely perceptible nod. "So what's your plan?"

She waved a hand, frustrated. "I don't have a plan. Tank set us up to kidnap Gray. Then everyone got busted but me."

"So your new plan is... what, exactly? To sleep with him? Enjoy his money? Bask in the glow of his power?"

She tried to look casual and shrugged. "Well, yeah. I've been trying to think of a plan, but you know I don't have much experience. Tank was the planner. Without him, I'm lost." Time to make him feel like they were allies. Flatter him. She laid a hand on his forearm. "I know you must have a plan, Henry. I could help you."

His wolfish smile appeared. "What's in it for me?"

Asshole. She took her hand back. "You get my help. Not that you need it. Not with your experience."

He leaned closer suddenly, reached up, and cupped her cheek. Oh, God. She couldn't afford to move away. She closed her eyes. Please stop. Please.

"Maybe I don't need your help," he said. "But I'd like something else from you."

She swallowed. No. No, she couldn't do this. Not even for Gray. She pulled back, and his hand dropped. "Stop it. You're like an uncle to me."

He laughed. "An uncle? You certainly know how to hurt a man. I suppose I'm happy you didn't say grandfather. Listen, Daria, I'd be happy to have your help, but I'm not sure I can trust you."

Was he serious? "But... but you've known me for twelve years."

"Yes, but you're fucking a collaborator now. The great William Gray himself. Maybe he sent you here to find out what I'm up to."

Stay calm, Tank would have said. Use his name. "I told you, Henry. I'm only sleeping with him to try to find a way to block the passage of this constitution."

"Why should I believe you?"

Confess something small. Pretend to expose yourself. He'll think he can trust you. "That was part of Tank's original plan, you know. Sleep with Gray, get him to trust me, then slip him a drug so we could kidnap him." She took a deep breath. "He doesn't mean a thing to me."

Ah, her best acting job ever.

Henry folded his arms and said nothing.

"You know me, Spider. You know I'd do anything to get these damned aliens off of Earth. I'll even fuck a collaborator if I have to."

He was smiling now. "Why, Daria, I think you've mistaken me for someone else."

She froze. "What?""I'm obviously not the man you seem to think I am. Spider? I don't recognize that nickname."

"But... you and Tank..."

His laugh sounded fake. "Me and a terrorist? Why, I've been working to make sure this constitution becomes law. Nothing would please me more. Just ask any of the delegates."

Then why had he toyed with her? "Why?" Her voice came out a whisper.

He reached into the pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a small square object, then held it out in his palm. The receiver for a holo-recorder. Oh, shit.

The bastard smiled at her. "Because after this constitution is ratified, I plan to be elected Prefect of Earth."

He glanced to the right and nodded. "The recorder's behind that wall. You didn't notice the humming noise when it switched on. The aliens installed it for purposes of their own.

Considerate of them, wasn't it?"

"But why... why bother recording this? How can it help?"

"You really are naive, aren't you? My only real competition for Prefect is William Gray. Your fuck buddy. Although he'll probably dump you as soon as he sees this recording. Perhaps you should reconsider me as a lover. Ah, but then again, my career can't afford the tarnish of having a known terrorist in my bed, either. I'm afraid I must withdraw my offer."

She sat there, stunned. Too stunned to move. To think.

He put the receiver back in his pocket and stood. "I think this little conversation of ours will guarantee me the election, don't you? I must thank you."

She glared at him. Oh, if only looks could kill. "You won't win. Gray will beat you."

He lifted an eyebrow. "So you're loyal to the man after all. Too bad I've already stopped the recording. Too bad for you, that is."

"This recording won't help you, Spider. It's enough to put me in prison, but it won't hurt Gray."

"There you go, being naive again. As soon as I show this recording around, his reputation will be destroyed. The man brought a terrorist into secure chambers where hundreds of important delegates sat unprotected. My, my. No one will ever trust his judgment again. Not even his powerful aunt will be able to save him." He laughed. "What's the old expression? He won't be able to get elected... dog catcher."

Damn him, the bastard was right. No one would vote for Gray after they saw this recording. No one.

He walked to the door.

Daria lunged for his back. He turned and swung his fist into her chest. Stars burst in her eyes, and a vise clamped down on her lungs. She sank to her knees, gasping.