May 31st, 2010 | 
Author: Travellogue, Day 12
Journal Entry 194 / 0916
"Nickolai?"
Dave voice percolated slowly through his sleep-laden brain. He groaned for a moment, then turned over and said, "What is it, Dave?"
"I hate to disturb you, but Ken is at the door."
"What? Mph. Let him in." He rose from the bed, noting that Furry was still fast asleep, grabbed a robe and floated up through the grav tube.
"Morning," Shardik said. Nickolai waved, tired. "You look tired."
"I overslept," Nickolai admitted, painfully. He walked into the kitchen and grabbed a pitcher of orange juice, fumbling for a glass. While he was pouring, Shardik sat down opposite the bar and said, "I'd like to talk to you."
"Sure thing."
"I'm sure Furry told you last night about the offer I made." Nickolai nodded. "I mean it. You're welcome, too. No questions asked, no expectations."
"I have to go home," Nickolai said.
"I know," Shardik replied. "I kinda figured you would say that. So here's my next offer. When you return, you walk the Hall. And you stay the same. No change, unless you want to change."
"Huh?"
"I'm changing the Hall. You walk the Hall, you're a resident of Pendor. It's that simple. You and Furry don't have to move to an outcolony or anything like that. You don't get changed by the Hall, except you become a Pendorian design."
"What do you mean?"
"You talked to Skii about Pendorian nanobiology. That gets substituted for Saman Transfer. And that goes for anybody, Humans, Katkin, Rats, llerkendi. So far. They're the only ones this deal is good for."
"What about my Right of Replacement?"
"It becomes null and void. Your reproductive ability will go down a lot, because Pendorians don't breed nearly as fast as Terrans do."
"My reproductive ability is zero," Nickolai pointed out.
"Well, yes," Shardik replied. "So I guess it's a benefit. I was talking about in comparison to orignal Homo Sapiens. You still get full reproductive control, of course."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Because I've been away from Terra too long," Shardik admitted. "There's never been, as far as I know, an interstellar empire based on respect. I think we could make one. You've proven it, Nickolai... you want to be part of it."
"I'm not so sure I want to be 'part of it'," Nickolai said. "All I know is, I've found things in it worth living for, and that makes me
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