Nancy stepped out of the hot shower and wrapped a towel around her dripping-wet body. She glanced in the full-length mirror and what she saw pleased her. She was a little too thin from seldom taking the time to eat a real meal, but her curves remained intact. Her face was clear and bright, without makeup to accentuate it. With just a touch of lip gloss and mascara, she would be considered stunning. Any style of clothing looked great on her, making it easy to dress for success every day. It was a good thing she didn't need extensive workouts to remain this way. She didn't have the time for them, nor did she care a whole lot about her figure. Dieting and exercise never crossed her mind. She had more important things to deal with.

Today would be a good example of those more important details. Her communicator had buzzed before sunrise. Hoping it was an answer from Alexis, she had grabbed it from the side table and in a sleepy voice asked, "Are you going to help?"

"Of course,” a male voice stated. "I was hoping you would too."

"Oh, hi, Rick. I thought you were someone else. Why are you calling? It's not even light out yet."

"Sorry, Sleeping Beauty,” Rick had replied. "There's an emergency city council meeting this morning. They want as many of the volunteers from the recovery center as they can get to speak on behalf of alien rights. I figured you would want to add your voice to the crowd. I'm sure there will be plenty who oppose our point of view, and you're really great at shutting them down."

Wide awake now, Nancy answered, "You know I'll be there. It's better than joining in a protest that ends up in a riot. Give me the time and place, and I'll meet you."

"Ten a.m, in the convention center. They decided the council chambers were too small for this. However, only a limited number of people on both sides will be allowed to speak. If you want to be one of them, you need to get there and sign up as soon as possible. I'm going now, so hurry."

Nancy showered and dressed in record time. She was determined to be one of the speakers. Knowing the council could be judgmental about a person's attire, she dug through her closet for a more business type of look. She found a simple green, sleeveless dress and black jacket. With black heels and a gold necklace, she looked very professional. She pulled her hair back in a loose bun at the nape of her neck, leaving a few tendrils to soften her face. She dashed to the kitchen and prepared a breakfast tray for her mother while she ate a granola bar and drank coffee.

Her mother was awake and reading a book. Setting the tray beside her on the bed, Nancy explained about the council meeting. Her mother replied, "You give them all something to think about. I know that if anyone can reach their hearts, it will be you. You look lovely and very competent dressed like that. Put in a few good words for me as well."

The sun was coming up as Nancy stepped into the transport station. Less than five minutes later, she was at the convention center. People and aliens were coming from every direction. She practically ran in order to reach the sign in booth ahead of the crowd. She ended up as number fifty on the list. Only one hundred would be allowed to speak out. They were given five minutes apiece to state their case. It was still going to be a very long day. Nancy was supposed to go on a date tonight, but she might not make it, especially since she would need to check on her mother.

The meeting was called to order, and the crowd was asked to remain peaceful and calm during the proceedings. Anyone who acted inappropriately would be escorted out or arrested if they became too rowdy. The speaker announced, "We want to address the concerns of our population on the issue of the influx of so many aliens. We need to hear positive solutions to the problem. The council has some ideas of their own, and we also have visitors from other states who will explain how they are handling the situation. First, we will hear from an East Coast representative."

A tall, very thin man with gray hair and a mustache was given a microphone. He stared at the mixture of humans and aliens with disdain. "I see that you still allow the aliens to have a voice in city matters. We have found it more effective and efficient to keep the choices in human hands. Some of the states on our coast, mine included, have chosen to use martial law to stop the riots. We have imposed curfews and set aside areas for the aliens to reside and work. Those who are not integrated as citizens cannot leave the designated areas without authorization. If they do, it is grounds for imprisonment. The aliens we have found in the labs are put into isolation. We don't want to spread their illnesses to our people. Human rights are respected, but we do not acknowledge the rights of the aliens who are not integrated as citizens. They should have no voice."

Anger rumbled through the crowd. Many had to be held back from storming the stage. Voices called for the man's death. Nancy's own anger made her tremble. This man was speaking as if they were back in a different century when people from countries here on Earth were considered to be alien and had no rights in America. It might as well be the stone ages. She had thought humans were past such prejudice and stupidity.

The council leader ushered the speaker off the stage. He was surrounded by police in riot gear and taken from the building. Without his guardians, he would have been vulnerable to attack. The city councilman said, "I know he ruffled a few feathers among you, but we must respect all opinions on the subject. We have no plans to follow the East Coast's example in this matter. We usually clash with their choices, yet we must continue to respect it or lose the peace we have come to enjoy as our right."

Nancy listened as each individual took their five minutes to express an opinion. Some made sense, others just wanted to complain. Like in years long past, humans were afraid that the aliens were taking jobs and resources away from them. Aliens argued that they were given less respect and pay at jobs than their human counterparts. A few were worried about the sick being found in the labs. Were they being treated or just thrown out like garbage?

Nancy's turn finally came, and she was more than willing to answer that question. She stood tall and calmly spoke, "The aliens from the labs here in California are being cared for as we would our own families. I've worked in a recovery center myself. Those needing extra medical care have been sent to local hospitals and are responding well to treatment. All others have been given temporary housing, with food from their own planets. They don't want these riots, so why do we? All they asked for is a choice, which we are giving them. They can choose to integrate into Earth's society or go home. They don't ask for special treatment, but they do expect to be treated with the same courtesy we give each other. I don't think that's too much to ask. Once upon a time, we looked at other nationalities on Earth as aliens. We discovered how dividing this world in such a manner cost us the lives of many. I, for one, don't want to go back to that time. We should be far more intelligent than that. These individuals are from different planets instead of other countries. So what? They still have the same needs, such as nutrition, homes, and jobs. They hurt and bleed. They think and have desires. Most have families. If we see them as lesser beings than us, we should be ashamed. Close the labs, punish the scientists in a court of law, heal the sick, and treat them the way we would want to be treated if we ended up on one of their planets. No one's after your jobs. If anything, the aliens are bringing in more job opportunities with their new ideas and technologies. Riots and fights among ourselves won't fix a thing. We need compassion and respect for humans and aliens. Look to other planets for an example of inequality. Milisaria has a human queen. She is treated with dignity and honor. Are we less evolved than they are? Think about it."

The crowd erupted in applause. Nancy had hit a lot of nerves with that last statement. She stepped away from the microphone and slipped to the back of the crowd. Exhausted from the nervous energy she had expended, she could only half listen to the last few speakers

The meeting lasted until evening was falling. She was starving by the end, having only eaten the granola bar for breakfast. The crowd had thinned out after her speech. Many who had already spoken left to appease their hunger and thirst. Their anger had dissipated somewhat. Nancy had stuck around to see if the speeches had made a difference. She couldn't be sure, but at the very least there had been no riots. Many of the throng recognized her as she walked out of the convention center. They congratulated her for having an open mind and a positive attitude. Hers was the only speech that had given any type of suggestion for a resolution to the issue. A reporter stopped her and asked, "Do you truly believe everything you said today?"

Nancy was quick to reply, "Absolutely. I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it."

"Were you always this adamant about alien rights?"

Nancy squirmed a little, but admitted, "No. There was a time when I was young and misinformed. My ideals grew as I did. It's hard to see another's perspective from the eyes of a teenager. They only see what is important in their own tiny world rather than the larger picture. They can be forgiven for their selfishness and misguided attitude. We, as adults, cannot." She walked away before the reporter could continue questioning her.

Relieved to find an empty chair in a small outdoor cafe, Nancy ordered a glass of iced tea. She commanded her communicator to call home. Her mother's voice was enough to soothe her distraught nerves. "Nancy, I'm so glad you finally called. The news showed excerpts from the meeting, and they ran your entire speech. I'm so proud of you! You did an excellent job."

Nancy replied, "Thank you, mom. You told me to give them something to think about. I tried. There might be an interview on later if you're interested. A reporter caught me before I could get away. I'll be home soon. Is there anything you need me to pick up?"

"I thought you had a date, so I made myself leftovers from last night. I don't need anything."

"I'm going to cancel the date,” Nancy answered. "Maybe I'll get myself something from a food vendor and bring it home. I'm so tired and hungry."

Her mother retorted, "Don't you dare cancel your date. Everything here is fine and dandy. You deserve to have a good meal at a nice restaurant after what you've been through the last few days. It will lift your spirits. Besides, I want you to find a good husband, and you can't do that sitting here with me. Your workmates are nice, but most of them are already taken. I like Rick. He's a great guy. However, he's not husband material. Go out tonight and enjoy yourself. I want all the details when you get home."

"Fine, I'll go if you insist. I don't think it will be as wonderful as your imagination, but I could use some downtime and a great meal. A little liquor won't hurt either. I promise to tell you everything. I'll even wake you up if you fall asleep." Nancy closed the communicator and sipped her tea. With a half hour to kill before she had to meet her date, she slipped off the heels and rubbed her sore feet. She had gotten used to wearing flats and tennis shoes in her line of work. She sat back and contemplated her speech. Had she said the right thing? Would her words diffuse some of the anger? Was Alexis still tapping into the news feeds? If so, would she be proud of her little sister? Nancy had always longed for her approval. If she came home to help, they might even be able to work as a team.