The image on the view screen played silently on a constant loop. It had been replayed so many times all in the room knew the message by rote.

The man speaking on screen was young probably 18 to 19 years of age. His appearance was disheveled, uniform tatty, face dirty, and bleeding. He’d been in quite a fight or perhaps been dolled up to appear to have been in a scrap.

A member of the rebellion, his words…

Fighting for freedom against tyranny, again, his words…

Whatever else he had to say, was unknown. A series of explosions had sounded; then the sound accompanying the image failed. Moments later the link was severed.

“I remain firm, we should not intervene. This could well just be a trap,” Said the representative of the Halfling people. “Let those on Earth take care of themselves.”

“Would it not be prudent, to at least send unmanned probes to investigate the matter?” Parcrya asked.

“It is not your place to speak!” Baroun barked. “As chief of the military your job is to take orders, not give suggestions.”

Parcrya fell silent, but fuming as evidenced by her stormy expression.

“It would be wise to see the happenings with a potential enemy.” The leader of the Speck high council added from the view screen.

“And if they prove to be belligerent toward us? Asked Baroun, “You Specks going to fire your lasers, maybe singe the hairs of their arms?”

This had gone on long enough… Kyla cleared her throat, the action silencing those in the room.

“You lot have been arguing for hours, and still I hear no course of action.”

“Empress, I remind you that you are out or order, only those of us elected to position may speak.”

Kyla looked down at Baroun with no small amount of disdain. Attempting to keep her temper in check, she chose not to voice her displeasure, but rather display it by tapping one of her fingers on her desk, jostling the little Prime Minister.

“I should like to hear what the Empress has to say on the matter,” The Colossi member of the cabinet spoke. “She has much experience in military matters.”

“That will not be necessary,” Baroun grasped his chair in an attempt to keep from toppling over, due to the vibrations from the incessant tapping on by the Empress. “I have heard your viewpoints and I alone will make the decision.”

“Dismissed,” Baroun ordered imperiously.

While the others took their leave, Kyla did not.

“You may go.”

Such defiance from one so small… mused the darker part of Kyla, intolerable.

“You do not order me.” She said with a low dangerous tone.

“You still act as if you had some power… Empress,” sneered Baroun.

“Speaking of power, you’ve found a taste for it I see. It’s very common; I’ve seen it many times.”

“No longer shall the smaller peoples cower before you Collosi, you are no longer masters, but equals, you obey the laws we pass.

“Speaking of law…” Kyla chose to stand, slowly rising up to her full frightening height. Of all the inhabitants on this world she happened to be the biggest, not even the largest of the Collosi approached her current height of 200 feet.

“By law, I hereby take control of the second moon.”

Baroun was speechless for a moment, before flushing in anger. “Absolutely not! You cannot—!”

“I am well within my rights,” Kyla quirked an eyebrow. “Under the law,” She finished smugly.

“I know where you are going with this! The Parliament has decreed the moon open for mining, the specks were voted down.”

Kyla could hold back no longer, she slammed her fist upon the desk. Little Baroun was tossed up into the air; landing on his feet, he staggered, stumbling right off the top of the desk.

“Your cronies in the Parliament voted down the specks because of their investments in the very mining companies now approved to harvest ore from the planet!” she bellowed.

Kyla rounded the desk, to loom over the mini. Baroun shivered looking at his reflection in the shined surface of the Empress’ boots, and then his gaze slowly traveled far upward to meet her face.

Gaining some degree of confidence, Baroun stood, raising a hand, one finger moved to point up at the towering behemoth. “You just do this at the specks urging! They wish to colonize the planet in defiance of Parliament.”

“Yes… I am Empress over all our peoples, not a select few.” Replied Kyla, while shifting her boot slightly, spooking the little man into jumping backward.

“I can have Parliament strip you of your title.”

Kyla placed hands on hips, “Do so and watch your precious democracy collapse as many will choose to follow me.”

Baroun knew his bluff had been just been called. Many looked to the Empress as the one who helped them through the tough times when the colony was new. They may well follow her into a revolution against his government.

“Very well Empress---“

“Speak up Baroun, you are very small and I quite large, it is difficult for me to hear you.” Inwardly, she smiled seeing his angry reaction.

“The law you invoke states you must spend time in the territory you chose to govern…” Even at her height Kyla could see the arrogance upon his face. “…may you enjoy your time on a planet where everything is mini sized, where you cannot see the people you desire to protect. One errant step from you and perhaps, thousands or even millions of specks die. I’d hate to see charges of… murder… filed against you.”

“Were I you, I’d worry less about that moon and the specks, and more about that message from Earth.” Kyla turned to leave, stepping a bit heavier than usual, to be sure to rattle Baroun all the more.

When she had gone, Baroun sighed while looking way up. His shuttle was on the desktop. He’d better start climbing.

**
“It sounds as if these people need our help.” Amarice said soft.

Pulled out of thought, Parcrya looked down at her mini love sitting upon her knee. Amarice had a gift in being able to cut though arguments with simple logic. To her, those on Earth asked for help, therefore help should be given.

“Many do not think the as you do.”

For long moments the two of them sat silent.

“You must do what you think is best of course…”

But what is best? Thought Parcrya. Moments later a grin began to form upon her face, a devious glint shining in her eyes.

“Amarice, how would you like to take a vacation?”

The mini blinked, stunned at this turn “A vacation?”

“Yes,” Parcrya smiled, “I hear the forest moon is lovely this time of year.”
**
“Damn, him! Damn that man!” Kyla’s hand closed, crushing the little tree held within, “That insufferable Mini slug!” Pieces of tree were then flung to land hundreds of feet away.

Sienna decided it best to keep quiet and allow Kyla to rage until the anger within burned out. It had been like this since this morning. She knew Kyla to be furious at Baroun, her anger was in full control. It was a tad frightening. Kyla was much bigger and stronger than she was, but still Sienna remained resolute.

It was Sienna how suggested they return to the moon, Kyla could rage and bellow all she wished without causing rumors to circulate in the manor house and beyond. Sienna had learned long ago that ears were everywhere.

“Did I accept loss of power for this?” Kyla paced, “To be told off by a worthless Mini?!”

“Are you upset at what he did, or by the fact that he is a mini and you a Colossi?”
Sienna did not look away even under the weight of Kyla’s withering glare.

With a huff, Kyla sat, slumping down against the hillside, crushing trees under her as she did.

“Both…” she said soft.

Sienna so loved her wife, Kyla was always brutally honest, even when doing such was painful.
Scooting closer, She wrapped her arms round her larger love. “You’ve done great things Kyla, made sure the Specks can live upon this planet and stopped Baroun’s plans to enrich himself and his friends by taking bribes for mining contracts.

“True…” grumbled Kyla, “But only for a time, eventually the Parliament will act, ending my governance.

“We are most grateful Empress.”

Kyla startled. “How long have you been there?” she asked grumpily.

“Huh?” Sienna was confused, believing Kyla was speaking to her.

“The specks are back in my ear again.” Kyla sighed. “Look, you people can’t just pop in any time ---”

“Many apologies Empress, we have no other way for you to know we are here.”

Kyla wanted to argue but couldn’t, the specks were too small to see.

“What are they saying?!” Sienna was vexed by not knowing what was transpiring. “How come the little ones never land in my ear?”

“They are thanking me.” Kyla said matter of fact.

“Look… Don’t thank me yet, this isn’t over, Baroun and his cronies will soon override my proclamation.

“We are sorry, that we voted to so severely limit your powers, Empress.”

“Don’t be,” Kyla looked down at her hands, “It was for the best too much power in the hands of any individual is dangerous, especially someone like me.”

“Be that as it may, we still see you as our greatest protector and we are prepared to give you our full support should you need it.”

“Oooh!” Sienna cried. “I can hear them now! Wait how are you doing that? I thought you were in Kyla’s ear.”

Kyla smirked at her wife. “More than one ship, love.” She explained.

“We shall begin moving people and building materials to the far side of the moon well away from you.”

“I wish we could have found a way for you to grow.” Sienna lamented.

“So do we, but we must all do the best we can with what we have. Farewell for now Empress.”

“I must say, I do appreciate the irony.” Sienna spoke after a time.

“Irony?” Kyla looked up.

“Yes, you were once so dismissive of the specks.” Sienna stood to saunter over to her wife. Kneeling she pushed Kyla’s legs apart, then settled between them, “Now you are their most ardent supporter.”

“Yeah, some irony.”

The dark anger within had dissipated Sienna could tell it by Kyla’s voice. The fire of anger had burned itself out, her wife was tired, worn; she needed a bit of rest.

“I brought stuff to make some more s’mores.” Sienna said with hope shinning in her tone.

Kyla shook her head and chuckled.
**
“Do you really think the Empress will go for this?”

“Only way to know is to ask, love.” Parcrya looked down at Amarice, seated in her usual spot upon her shoulder.”

“It must be wonderful being so tall…” Amarice was thinking aloud.

“Why do you say that?” Crya asked.

“You move to fast, able to cover so much ground with each step…. And…” Amarice continued, before Crya could speak. “And you can see so very far!”

“True, but I also, don’t fit into places like you can… And!” Parcrya mimicked Amarice stopping the mini from speaking and causing her to laugh. And it takes much more resources to keep me going compared to you.”

“You’re the most beautiful person in the whole universe!”

If anyone else had said that Parcrya would have burst into laughter. But Amarice had said it and that made all the difference.

“Do you think the Empress will mind us dropping in?” Amarice asked, unaware how much her simple statement had affected Parcrya.

“If…um…if she did, we’d know by now.” Parcrya sniffed a little, then gained control of her bearing. Gods! Amarice was wonderful!

“She must have heard the ship, and it’s not like I can hide amongst the trees.”
Amarice giggled, true her love loomed over the entire landscape.

“Is that their campfire?”

“Yep, C’mon.”

“Where else would I go?” asked Amarice. “I’m sitting by your neck.”

“Figure of speech, love.” Parcrya laughed.
**
“I like s’mores!” Declared Amarice.

Sienna smiled, watching as Cyra took the tinest bit from her s’more and give it to Amarice.
“What you have planned, could be considered treason, Kyla shifted a bit. “Just the fact that you are meeting me here could give Baroun cause to dismiss you.”

“Is it not worth it?” asked Amarice. “To go see what help we can give those on Earth?”

Sienna padded Kyla’s knee, then looked back and into the blue eyes of her love, “Very worth it.”