Queens Byzzy, Ranna, and Anjelica were ushered into the luxurious offices of Director Majorryn, the headmistress of the Queen of The Universe program.


"Queens, our sincerest congratulations. This is a rare feat accomplished by few." Director Majorryn motioned for the ladies to have a seat.


"Shortly, our retiring Queen will be joining us via holographic etherlink. As you know, she is quite elderly now and has a difficult time traveling. Her senses are still sharp as ever though, and she was the one who gave the final sign-off on each of you." The Director was smiling broadly.


"We will then go over all of the formalities and the contractual agreements. This is an intense process and you will be here for a while."


Byzzy rolled her eyes. She had better things to do, like meet up with the handsome Nordic soldier she had been entangling with over the last few months.


Ranna was anxious to get down to business.


Anjelica just sat there, prim and proper, waiting for the next steps.


"But first things first!" The Director stood and walked to the office door, where she motioned for her assistant to enter.


The assistant, Mayzee Jay, entered, carrying a receptacle that was almost as big as she.


"Ladies, once we go over these forms, your currency accounts will be filled with the prize currency." The Director got very excited at the term 'prize currency.'


"It's more than I make in a lifetime," she said to Mayzee Jay, who just smiled and said, "Yes, Director."


Anjelica shifted in her seat.


Everyone looked promptly over to see if she was showing any emotion. Æraistrelens had no need for currency, and such was seen as being rather unevolved.


"Director Majorynn, please see that my, um, currency gets donated to the galactic charity fund. I will have no need for it." Anjelica smiled gently.


"Well, that's the thing, Queen Anjelica. You will be needing it." The Director smiled even bigger.


Just then, the familiar incoming etherlink hologram chimes sounded as Queen Sylvestrina filtered into the room in an ethereal light.


Everyone stood, then dropped to their knees, their heads bowed reverently.


"Queens, please allow yourselves to be seated. I appreciate the respect but we are one and the same, now." The aging Queen spoke with kindness. "You too, Director Majorynn and darling assistant."


Everyone took their seats.


"As you know, there has been some unrest in some of the more juvenile planet systems in the outer realms of the Universe," the Queen spoke as an infoscreen appeared to her side.


An image of a small but bright galaxy appeared on the screen.


"This is why the Program and I have decided to do things a little differently this time. Queens, does anyone know what galaxy this is?" She pointed to the outer spirals of the galaxy on the screen.


The Queens looked at each other, to see if anyone knew what this was.


Anjelica slowly raised her hand.


"Queen Anjelica, do you know?"


"Yes. I believe that is Via Lactea," Anjelica answered.


"You are correct, Your Majesty, that is Via Lactea." Queen Sylvestrina looked pleased.


"Excuse me, Your Highness," Byzzy's hand went up. "What exactly is Via Lactea, or where, rather?"


"That is a wonderful question, Queen Byzantynæ! Thank you for asking. Director Majorynn, would you care to answer this one?"


"Yes, Majesty," the Director stood. "Via Lactea is an outlying galaxy. You have been there, as the Pleiades is right there." She pointed to a small star cluster.


"I have? I guess I never paid any attention," Byzzy felt herself blushing.


"The Pleiadians are lovely," Ranna interjected. "It will be nice to visit. That is what you're saying, right, Your Majesty?"


"Not exactly." The elder Queen moved her fingers to expand the image further.


"You will be going here, instead," she continued to enlarge as a small blue world began to come into view.


"Wait!" Anjelica stood.


Everyone gasped. Anjelica never showed that kind of reaction.


"Is that...Terra?" She asked, her voice wavering.


"Yes, Queen Anjelica, only it's more commonly known as Earth. At least in the parts you all will be going to." The Queen smiled slyly.


"Why is this so shocking? Why is the Æraistrelen shocked?" Byzzy was getting nervous now.


"I'll answer this one, Majesty, or actually, Mayzee Jay will," the Director spoke.


Mayzee Jay stood and cleared her throat.


"I was abducted, or rather rescued from Earth some time back...I still can't, um, quantify the time differential here, but I was thirteen Earth years old. If I had to guess, I'd be about twenty now. But the place was getting bad then, and well, from what we can tell, it's even worse now."


"Oh, I get it!" Ranna stood. "You want us to go in and clean it up!"


"Not exactly," this was from the elder Queen once more. "We want you to go there and just, blend in. Adapt. Survive." She smiled gallantly.


"You can leave any time you like, but..." Director Majorynn spoke up. "The last one standing wins."


Neither Byzzy nor Anjelica cared too much for the Queen title, but their families and galaxies depended on them to try with all they had.


Ranna beamed proudly, all but claiming the title right then and there.


"Your currency is being converted into Earth money even as we speak, and trust me, you are going to need every dime." Mayzee Jay spoke again. "It's hella expensive there."