Kaanig Altair could tell by the look on his best friend’s face that not everything had gone as they had hoped. He knew, after some discussion with Jeiel, what changes had been made to rectify the problem on Ulstra at the mining plant. But he became all too soon aware that something else had happened between Jeiel and Jenny that appeared to have made matters worse for them. He hated to ask Jeiel about it, so he decided to wait and see what transpired.

“Your father and his friend are coming for our evening repast,” Dammen told Jenny, hoping perhaps she might give some insight into the new problem.

“My...