Throne Room, Palace of Power, VideoLand, Milky Way Galaxy, Q-niverse.  Stardate 1 066 967.12; June 18, 3012.

Kevin placed the crown in its customary position above the throne.  "There we go," he said.

            Toadstool said, "I gather you don't want a normal crown to wear every day."

            "That's right.  It just wouldn't feel natural to me."

            "That's your choice, Kevin."

            "Do I have to officially reinstate everything, such as the laws and the police department?"

            "No.  Since you have accepted the kingdom's structure as Lana had it, all you have to do is change what you want to, if you want to."

            "All right.  Thank you."

            "Well," said Wilykit, "at least we don't need a ceremony for me; Chatonne simply transferred her temporary power back to me."  Kevin nodded.

            "So, Dad," asked Kelly, "can we go change?  I don't exactly feel comfortable in these."

            Heinrich said, "Gee, and you're so pretty."  He gently took her right hand in his and kissed it.

            She smiled.  "Thank you, Heinrich."

            Zelda said, "Well, Lana will certainly want to see a picture of you three like this, Kevin, Kelly, and Thomas."

            "Of course," Kevin said.  Thomas stood to his left, Kelly to his right.  They were standing before the throne.

            Liselotte extracted her computerised camera.  "And I know how to use this, too," she said.  She looked through the eyehole at Kevin and his kids.  Their pose was perfect.  "Great!  Don't move!" she said as she pressed the shutter button.  She took a second picture.  "Excellent."  She took the camera over to a computer terminal.  "May I?"

            "Sure," Kevin said.

            Liselotte called up a program from her computer at home onto the terminal.  She placed her camera on a scanning device on the terminal, and the first picture she had taken appeared in perfect detail on the screen.

            Kevin looked and whistled in amazement.  "Great!"

            "When I get home, I'll make prints of the pictures," she said.  She hit another key, and the second picture was shown.  "I think the second is better."

            "Yeah," agreed Kevin.  "Thank you, Liselotte."

            "Any time, Kevin.  I can take up to a thousand pictures on this camera at a time and download them."  She handed the camera to him.

            He looked it over.  "Certainly more advanced than twentieth century photographic equipment," he noted.  He looked at the picture on the screen.

            "Heinrich and Liselotte have the hang of technology quite a bit," said Zelda.  "I'm glad they're so knowledgeable."

            Johannes went over to Liselotte and looked at the camera, then the screen.  "It's interesting that one can store such a complex image in such a small device," he remarked.

            "With the image, one can also zoom in on various parts of the image," she told him.  "Essentially, one could use one picture to create several others.  I could, for instance, show just their faces, or I could show the crown above the throne."

            "I wish I had a word to express approval at this moment."

            "Cool!" Kevin interjected.

            " 'Cool'?" inquired Johannes.

            "Yeah.  It can be used informally to express one's approval."

            "Ah!  I see.  Cool!"

            Kevin turned to Kelly and Thomas.  "Would you be upset about reverting to our normal clothing now?"

            "No," Kelly said.

            "Me, neither," said Thomas.

            "That's a unison vote, then," Kevin said.  "Let's go."  He turned to Kid Icarus and Simon.  "Keep an eye on things up here, guys.  You can change when Thomas, Kelly, and I get back."

            "Yes, sir-icus," said Kid Icarus.

            "Sure thing, Kevin," Simon said.

            Kevin and his kids entered the elevator and went down to their floor.  Johanna and Heinrich joined their siblings at the terminal Liselotte was using.  "Those three look pretty nice together," Heinrich said.  "Of course, Thomas and Kelly have blond hair."

            "And Kevin's brown-haired," said Liselotte.  "But they still go great together."

            Zelda came and looked at the picture.  "It still looks incomplete without Lana," she said.

            Heinrich rubbed her back gently with his right hand.  "It's okay, Mother," he said softly.  "We'll get her back.  I know how good a friend she is to you."  Zelda just hugged him sadly.

            * * *

            The three Keenes changed clothing in Lana's large bedroom.  Despite their familiarity with each other's anatomy, Kelly and Thomas found it impossible to keep from glancing at each other at odd intervals while they were changing.

            "I'm going to get your clothing, Thomas," Kevin said.  He had been the first to change completely.

            "Sure, Father," Thomas said.  Kevin left.  At this point, both Thomas and Kelly only had their undergarments on.

            Kelly turned to him and smiled nervously.  "Gee, bro, I haven't told you. . ."

            "Calm down," he said gently.  Unlike her, he controlled his reaction.  This was a delicate situation.  They were such close friends, but they found each other nearly irresistibly attractive.  If just one of them lost control, they could both yield quite easily to their wild feelings for each other.  Fortunately, Thomas was not about to let it happen.  "We are twins," he told her serenely.

            "I know that," said Kelly.  She forced herself to look in his honest eyes.  She sighed peacefully and turned away from him to get her shirt.  "You can't blame me for being a teenager, though."

            Thomas was no longer looking at her.  "Of course I can't.  I feel attracted to you, too.  If I were any other teenager, I'd probably let my lustful feelings control my body."

            "It might actually be easier to do that."

            "Maybe, for now.  But think.  We're both capable of reproduction, but neither of us has natural physical control over what can happen."

            "I know."  She now had finished putting her shoes on, completing her dressing.  "I just wish we could do something with each other.  Some way to. . . oh, God.  What the heck am I thinking?"  She looked in the mirror.  Her hair was still good.  She turned back to her brother.  This time, she paid no attention to his body, just his eyes.  "I'm sorry, my friend."

            "It's okay, Kelly," he told her.

            The door opened, and Kevin came in with Thomas's jeans and blue short-sleeved shirt draped over his left arm, his shoes in his right hand.  "Here you go, Thomas," he said.

            "Thank you, Father," said Thomas.  He took his shoes and put them on the floor.  Then, he took his shirt and put it on, after which he took his jeans and put them on.  "Might I get a 'Captain N' jacket like yours?"

            Kevin laughed quietly.  "It's actually a Northridge High jacket," he said.  "But yes, I can get one for you."

            By now, Thomas had put on his shoes.  "Okay," said Kevin's son.  He glanced at himself in the mirror long enough to see that his hair was all right.  "I don't want one today, of course, but I might like one."  He took his weapons belt and put it on.

            Kevin turned to Kelly.  She had tried to make herself look calm, but her father detected a little worry in her face.  "What's wrong?" he asked quietly and kindly.

            "-Sigh.-  It's okay," she said.  "I don't feel comfortable talking about it."

            "Mind if I tell him about it, Kelly?" asked Thomas.  She shook her head.

            "Go ahead," she told him.  "If you don't mind, I'd like to go to our room."

            "Sure," Kevin said.

            "Certainly, Kelly," said Thomas.  "We'll check on you."  Kelly left to the room she shared with her brother.

            "Could we go to your room to talk, Father?" Thomas asked.  "It just feels a little more private there."

            "Sure, kid," said Kevin.  "We can clean up Lana's room later.  C'mon."  He led the way to his room, where he and Thomas entered.  Indicating the chair in front of the 'cello's endpin protector, he said, "Have a seat."  Thomas sat down.  "Would you like a Pepsi?"

            "Sure," Thomas said.

            Kevin went to the replicator.  "Two half-litre glasses of caffeine-free Pepsi cola, each with cubes of ice, please."  The two glasses materialised in the slot.  Kevin handed one glass to his son.

            "Thank you," said Thomas.  As his father brought up a chair and sat, Thomas took a sip.

            "So, what's up with your sister?" Kevin asked calmly.  His son sighed.  Kevin could tell he was fighting to remain calm.  He said kindly, "Hey, you don't have to tell me about it now, pal.  You can do it later."

            Thomas shook his head.  "No, Father," he said.  "It's important.  This involves both her and me."  He stared at his Pepsi in his right hand, thinking.  "Something very unexpected is happening."

            Kevin had an impulsive side that usually caused him to demand an explanation, but he fought it down.  His son most likely needed his strength right now.  The young man's control was probably straining right now just to keep him from appearing nervous.  What he was feeling must have been quite strong indeed.

            He remained quiet and let Thomas take his time.

            After a few seconds, Thomas sighed impatiently.  "I'm being irrational," he snapped to himself.  "I would ordinarily just spit it out!  What is wrong with me?"

            "Take your time, and don't scold yourself," said Kevin gently.

            "You're probably going to be mad about this."

            "Don't worry.  If you have a problem, I'm willing to be completely reasonable."

            "-Sigh.-  Kelly and I almost fell in love," he said quietly.  From the way he squeezed his eyes shut after he had said that, Kevin was sure Thomas regretted having said that.

            "Almost?" asked Kevin, carefully controlling his volume.  "Are you sure it didn't really happen?"

            "Maybe I just don't want to believe it," Thomas said.  He drank some more.  "It took all my power to fight this around her," he continued, letting his guilt seep into his voice.  "She managed to push it out of her mind, but I didn't.  I haven't yet."

            "I see," Kevin said.

            As Thomas looked pleadingly into his eyes, realisation struck Kevin.  Thomas may have had the mental maturity of an adult, but his body was still that of a teenager, and his physical reactions were powering his more youthful feelings.  Kevin knew the very feeling.  "Father, this feels so overwhelming," Thomas said guiltily.

            "It's okay," said Kevin, putting his glass on a nearby table.  "Come here, kid."  He and his son hugged each other.

            Thomas was beginning to regain some control.  "Father, I don't know how this came over me," he said.

            "Don't be terribly concerned," Kevin said.  "Physically, you're still a teenager.  These feelings are natural."

            "Then why were they so overwhelming?"

            "They can be like that, Thomas.  I remember that quite clearly."  He looked his son in the eyes.  "Do you want a separate room?"

            Thomas calmly shook his head.  "No.  I enjoy my best friend's company too much."

            Kevin smiled.  "I'm glad you consider her your best friend, Thomas."

            "Of course, if she wanted a separate room, I'd move out."

            "Does she?"

            "No, I don't believe so."  He sighed and shook his head calmly.  "I feel better now, thank you."  He sat back down and took his glass, which he had put with his father's.  He knew which was his because his had slightly less Pepsi in it.  "Thank you so much, Father.  Are you angry?"

            Kevin shook his head as he took back his own glass.  "No, and I have no reason to be mad."  He smiled a little too naughtily.  "In fact, it doesn't even surprise me that this happened.  You're both very attractive individuals."

            "Thank you, Father.  To tell the truth, I've always felt somewhat attracted to her, but never like what just happened."

            "She looks quite a bit like Lana.  I'm sure you can now understand how I felt when I first saw your mother.  I wasn't much younger than you are now."

            "Yeah."

            "I think she always found me attractive, too, but she was cautious to start something with me."

            "Of course.  Some great-looking people turn out to be really lousy.  For example, that Poison Ivy that was Batman's enemy."

            Kevin nodded.  "Well, I try to control my reaction, you know.  So, anything happen between you and Johanna during lunch?"

            Thomas smiled.  "We kissed each other."

            "Ah-ha!" said Kevin, smiling.  "Who saw it?"

            "Her mother, for one."

            "Ah."  His expression turned serious.  "Just be careful and use your common sense, Thomas."

            "I will, Father," Thomas promised.

            The door-ringer chimed.  "Come," Kevin called.  Kelly came in.  "Well, hello, Kelly."

            "Hi," said Kelly.  "Has Thomas told you about. . . what happened?"

            Kevin stood to face her.  "He told me about what you both felt."

            "Daddy, I'm really sorry."

            "You don't have to be.  I'm not mad, Kelly."

            "I've always found him attractive, but absolutely not to the degree that just happened!"  She sighed and shook her head.  "And what I wanted to do was absolutely shocking!"

            "It's okay," Kevin told her gently.  "You only have to control your feelings.  You don't have to hide them from either him or me.  Understood?"

            "Yeah, Father."  She looked at her brother.  "I'm really sorry."

            "So am I," said Thomas, standing.  He smiled.  "I almost just broke down in here."

            Kelly hugged him with concern.  "Poor guy," she said sympathetically.

            "Well, I'm okay now, sister," he said, returning the hug.  "Why'd you come?"

            "I felt compelled to tell Daddy in case you felt nervous about it."

            "Well, I did feel that way, but I told him, anyway."

            Kevin came over and put his arms around both of them.  "I'm very lucky to have such great kids," he said.  He kissed each of them on the cheek.

            Kelly said, "I'm very lucky to have two such great guys related to me."  She kissed her father, then her brother on the cheek.

            "I feel lucky to have such an understanding father and such a great sister," finished Thomas before kissing his father and sister each on the cheek.  They released each other.

            Kevin held out his right hand, palm-down.  Thomas put his right hand on top of his father's, and Kelly put her right hand on top of her brother's.  "Here's to the return of the remaining member of this immediate family," Kevin said.  "May Lana return safe and sound."

            "Yes!" Kelly and Thomas agreed.  When they took back their hands, the three simultaneously performed a high-five - Thomas's right hand with Kevin's left, Kevin's right with Kelly's left, and Kelly's right with Thomas's left.

            "Great!" Kevin exclaimed.  He was succeeding in getting his children in high spirits again.  "Kelly, you want some Pepsi?"

            "Sure," said Kelly.

            Kevin returned to the replicator.  "A third half-litre glass of caffeine-free Pepsi with ice cubes, please."  The glass materialised in the slot, and he took it and handed it to his daughter.

            "Thank you," Kelly said.

            "You're welcome.  Have a seat, guys."  Thomas sat back into his chair.  "Please use my seat, Kelly."

            "Thanks."  Kelly sat down in Kevin's chair.

            "I'll show you something, Kelly," Kevin said.  He went to his instrument closet and pulled out a violin case.  Kelly was suddenly very interested.  Kevin put the case on his bed, opened it, and removed the instrument and its bow.  He handed the violin to his daughter.  "This is mine."

            "Ooh, it's pretty," said Kelly.  "I'd need to get my shoulder pad to play."  She plucked the A string.  "Pretty close," she said.

            "His 'cello's pretty, too," Thomas said.

            Kevin tightened the bow.  Kelly handed him back the instrument.  "Thanks," he said.  "Computer, give me an orchestral tuning A."  An A with the oboe timbre sounded.  Kevin tuned the A string to the pitch, then tuned the lower two strings in successive fifths downward.  He then tuned the E string, above the A string.  He then tested the tuning again.  "Cease the A."  The A turned off.  He then played perfectly the opening phrases to Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in e minor.

            "Very good," commented Thomas.

            "Agreed," Kelly said.

            "Thank you.  Thomas, could you please take the 'cello?"

            "Sure," said Thomas.  He got up and took the 'cello and its bow from the 'cello case.  He went back to his chair, which was in front of the endpin protector; put the bow on the table; pulled out the 'cello's endpin and inserted it into the protector; wound up the bow to the proper tension; and played the A string.  Kevin played the violin's A string.  The 'cello's A was still in tune, so Thomas checked the lower three strings.  All in tune.  "Not bad," he commented.  "This thing stayed in tune."

            "They usually do when they're kept in the proper temperature constantly," said Kevin.

            Thomas nodded.  "What are we playing?" he asked.

            "How about the principal theme of Mahler's Second?"

            "Okay.  What tempo?"

            "About one hundred forty-four beats per second."

            "All right."

            Kevin tuned the ring finger of his left hand to G on the D string by checking against the lower G string.  At the same time, Thomas tuned the small finger of his left hand to C on the G string by checking against the lower C string.  He and his father prepared their bows.  Kevin raised his right arm slightly, then began the introductory tremolo, a steady double-octave G.  It began super-loud but dropped down to very quiet during the first four beats.

            Four beats later, Thomas began the bass figures that were the main theme.  He began even louder than Kevin had, for his opening was marked louder than Kevin's.  His timing was perfect, as was his articulation.  He altered his expressed dynamics to compensate for the lack of bassoons.  They finished in the measure before the oboes and English horn were to begin.  "Very good," said Kevin, who had only had to sustain a tremolo, though he had to alter the dynamics along with Thomas.

            "Thank you," Thomas said.  "Just lacks the support of the double-basses."

            "You compensated well.  And, as you know, in orchestration, the 'cellos are indispensable and can stand by themselves, while the basses can't stand by themselves."

            "I know."  They unwound their bows and put the instruments back into their cases.  Thomas retracted the 'cello's endpin before putting it away.  "I really like that instrument."

            "I knew you would," said Kevin.

            "Both of those seem responsive to dynamics," Kelly noted.

            "They are.  Well, I guess Simon and Kid Icarus want to change."  They drank the last of their Pepsis, then Kevin put the glasses back in the replicator.  "Recycle," he commanded.  The glasses and the ice in them were dematerialised.  "Let's. . . ah!"  He took his Power Pad, Zapper, and laser sabre belt from a table and put it on.  "I was about to leave these.  Well, let's go."  The three left the room and went towards the elevator so they could ascend to the throne room.

            * * *

            When they arrived, only Simon, Kid Icarus, Wilykit, Wilykat, Johanna, and Johannes were still there.  "Finally," said Simon.  "May we acquire our normal attire?"

            "Yes, you may," Kevin said.

            "Thank you, Kevin-icus," said Kid Icarus.  He and Simon entered the elevator and went down to the floor where their rooms were.

            Kevin sat at the communications station.  "Come over here, kids," he said.  Thomas and Kelly went over to him.  "I'd like you two to learn to operate these stations."

            "Sure, Father," Kelly said.

            "Certainly," agreed Thomas.

            Wilykit said, "Well, I guess we'll be going."

            "May I have a moment, Mom?" asked Johanna.

            "Sure."

            Johanna went over to Thomas.  "When will we see each other next, Thomas?"

            "Don't you worry," he told her.  "I'll call you, okay?"

            "Okay."  They kissed for about five seconds.  "Good-bye."

            "See you later, Johanna.  We'll see you all later."

            Wilykit smiled.  "Have you been a good boy and given the money to your father?"

            "Yeah, I have, Wilykit."

            "I was certain of it.  Well, then, we'll see you all later."  Wilykit, her brother, and her children went to the warp hall to warp to New Thundera.

            "When?" Kelly asked.

            "While I was preparing for the ceremony, I instructed him to look in my jeans pocket to obtain the pounds," said Thomas.

            "Liselotte told us that Hyrule has a string orchestra," Kelly told Kevin.

            "Ah," said Kevin.  "I've known they have one."

            "She suggested a piece of software to Johannes," Thomas said.  "It has her and Heinrich performing various works."

            "I see," said Kevin.  "How much was it?"

            "Fifty pence plus sales tax," Thomas said.

            Kevin sighed and shook his head.  "I wish CDs were that inexpensive in the twentieth century on Earth.  Fortunately, the copyright laws here are far less restrictive."

            Kelly sighed.  "I guess we can't go see your homeworld, eh?"

            "You can see the planet, but it's way too late to see the world I grew up in.  -Sigh.-  And the rest of my immediate family, other than you and Lana, is long gone."  He almost felt like revealing a secret he had long held, but. . . well, it was too painful.

            "Did your parents ever see Mom?" asked Thomas.

            "Yeah, once.  Mr. Perry Mason, whom my father knew quite well, brought them out here after I was cleared for the theft of the Sacred Square.  Of course, I had to save them.  Those exasperating villains grabbed my parents and Mr. Mason once they got to the Palace.  They left a note in Duke's collar.  I've told you about my dog, yes?"

            "Yes," Kelly said.

            Thomas shook his head.  "Those creeps."

            "Exactly," agreed Kevin.  "MotherBrain's been a creep since she was born."

            "Does she have any redeeming qualities whatsoever?"

            "Give that question to a super-computer and watch it explode."

            "I, ah, see."

            "She does tend to tell the truth.  Also, she doesn't mindlessly abuse her powers.  She's kept Ludwig from doing that, too.  I guess there's a remote possibility that there might be some good in her, but if there is, she's entirely suppressed it.  Oh, and she does love Bowser and his Koopalings, as well as Ridley.  There has to be some good in that."

            "Yeah," Thomas agreed.  "What about Ludwig, though?"

            "Well, I think he loves his family members, but he certainly isn't in favour of sexual feelings.  I sure can't understand it, though."

            "Maybe he had a terrible experience," said Kelly.

            "Could be, Kelly.  But I wouldn't care to speculate."

            * * *

            Casa di Tygra, New Thundera, Milky Way Galaxy.

            Wilykat was practising the violin in the living room.  He really enjoyed playing the instrument.

            Johannes entered, and Wilykat stopped at the end of his phrase.  "Hi, Johannes," said Wilykat.  "What's up?"

            Johannes smiled.  "I think you know, Uncle.  I'd really like to learn to play that instrument."

            "Sure.  First, we have to get you one."  He went to his violin case.  "That doesn't mean I can't teach you a couple of things right now, though.  When you stop playing, you have to unwind the bow."  He lay the violin in the case and unwound the bow.  "If you don't, then the bow's back can lose its curve, or the bow hair can start coming out, or both.  You don't want either to happen, because it decreases the amount of tension possible in the bowhair."  Johannes nodded.  Wilykat put the bow where it belonged and secured it.  He then took the violin and turned it over, revealing the shoulder pad.  "Shoulder pad.  Not everyone needs one, but many do."  He put the violin back on his left shoulder and just held it there with his chin and his shoulder with no help from his left hand.  "After a short time, you should be able to hold it with just your chin and shoulder, like this."  He firmly grasped the instrument by the neck and took it off.  "And, when you take it, don't hold the neck too gently, or the instrument can fall.  Only instruments built with Thunderian wood can be dropped safely.  Some cases allow you to leave the shoulder pad on, and some don't.  You have to remember to take it off if the case doesn't allow it.  Mine does, though."  He laid the instrument in its case and fastened the strap that held the neck.  Then, he closed the case and fastened the latches.  "And you don't want it to fall out, so you want to remember to fasten whatever latches are on the case."

            Johannes nodded.  He only needed to be told once.  "How do we get one?"

            "The replicators are quite good at reproducing student instruments," Wilykat told him.  "You look like a full-sized violin wouldn't bother you."  He opened the case again and took the instrument back out.  He went over to his nephew.  Johannes had his arms crossed.  "Could you relax, please?  Just let your arms down.  I want to see something."  Johannes let his arms go to his sides.  He did not move as Wilykat held the instrument on the former's left shoulder.  "Yeah.  I think so.  Bring up your left hand to the head."  Johannes moved up his left hand to the head of the instrument without difficulty.  "Yeah, a full-sized instrument will do fine."  Wilykat removed the instrument from Johannes's shoulder and secured it in its case once more.  "Please come with me."

            Wilykat led out of the living room and upstairs.  He entered the room that Wilykit and he shared.  Sitting at her desk, his sister was examining some reports with her computer terminal.  "Hi, 'Kit," Wilykat greeted.

            "Hi, Mom," said Johannes.

            Wilykit looked up.  "Hello, guys."

            Wilykat went over to the replicator.  "One student violin with appropriate bow and appropriate case, please," he commanded.  On the floor below the replicator, the case materialised.  "And one class A shoulder pad."  The pad materialised in the replicator slot.  Wilykat handed the pad and the case to Johannes.  "Congratulations.  You have just acquired a violin."

            Johannes smiled.  "Thank you very much, Uncle."

            "Now, I have to show you how to play.  I can give you preliminary lessons, though I'd suggest you talk to one of the Steeltwins about more advanced lessons.  I don't know how great my teaching would be."

            "Or," Wilykit said, "you might see if Kelly or Kevin could help.  They're pretty good."

            "Okay," said Johannes.

            "But for now," Wilykat said, "let's return downstairs, young sir.  I believe Wilykit needs to get back to work."

            "Sure.  See you, Mom."

            "Later, guys," called Wilykit as Wilykat and Johannes left.

            * * *

            Later, Johannes entered his and Johanna's room.  He felt he was absolutely the happiest kid on the planet!  Johanna was lying on her bed and was reading something.  "Hey, Johanna!" her brother happily exclaimed.  He held up his violin case.  "Look what I have!"

            Johanna's eyes widened.  "A violin?"

            "Yeah!"  He lay it carefully on a table.  "Uncle Wilykat taught me some stuff."

            "What about me?" she asked a bit jealously, almost slamming her terminal back onto its table.

            "H-hey!  What's wrong?"

            Johanna jumped out of bed.  "You get lessons, but I don't?" she demanded angrily.

            "Hey, calm down!"

            "Why!?"

            "I'm sure you can get lessons, too!  I didn't do anything wrong!!" he wailed innocently.  "Why are you mad at me!?"

            Johanna's anger was still being fuelled by her jealousy, however.  "Quit whining!!" she snapped.  "You are such a cry-baby!"

            "No, I'm not!" he said weakly.  He could not understand why his sister was suddenly so mad!

            She grabbed his left arm with her right.  "Now, look here!  What gives you the right to do this?"  The door opened, but neither of them noticed.

            "I didn't do anything wrong!"

            "Oh, you didn't, eh?  You get lessons, and I don't, and you think there's nothing wrong with that?"

            "Johanna!" called Thomas's voice sternly.  Surprised, the two turned to the door and saw Kevin's son.  "What's going on?" he asked rationally.

            "Ah. . . uh, oh," said Johanna very guiltily.  She weakly released her brother.  "Good Jaga, what happened to me?"

            "I guess you felt jealous," Johannes said.

            "And I let it get me," she said disgustedly.  "-Sigh.-  It shouldn't surprise me, though.  After living with such an emotional boy as Siegfried. . . oh, God."  She shook her head.  "Johannes, I am really sorry."  She turned to Thomas.  "Thank you for arriving in time."

            "What caused this?" asked Thomas.

            Johannes said, "I may as well give a full explanation.  I was walking by the living room and heard Uncle Wilykat practising in there.  I told him I wanted to try, so he took me to his and Mom's room so he could replicate me a student violin.  We returned downstairs, and he taught me some about how to play.  I came back in here, and suddenly Johanna seemed to get mad."

            Johanna sighed.  "Darn me," she said.  "I reacted entirely without thinking."  She turned to Thomas.  "What's up?"

            "Oh, I just dropped by to visit."  He shrugged.  "I could come by later."

            Johanna shook her head.  "I need you now."  She and Thomas hugged each other.  "Oh, Thomas, what happened?"

            "It's okay now," Thomas told her quietly.  He turned his head to look at Johannes.  "You okay?"

            "Just shaken up," Johannes said.  "Johanna, I was really scared."

            "I'm so sorry, bro," said Johanna.  When she and Thomas released each other, she hugged Johannes.  "I'm sincerely sorry."

            Thomas went over to the table on which the violin was lying.  "May I look, Johannes?"

            Johannes looked over in his direction.  "Sure, Thomas," he said.

            Thomas opened the case and examined the instrument.  "Nice student model," he noted.  "The replicator did well."  He held it on his shoulder.  "Ooh. . . just right for me."

            Johannes and Johanna released each other.  "You play the violin, too?" Johanna asked.

            "Yeah."  He took the bow out and wound it, then played some experimental notes.  "I prefer the 'cello, but I play this, too, just for the heck of it.  My dad just doesn't know it!" he added with a wicked grin.

            Johanna smiled.  "Uh, oh, keeping secrets from your father!"

            "It's a secret between Kelly and us three, okay?  I want to surprise the others."

            "Oh, I see."

            Thomas played the theme from Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D, with all the ornamentation.  "Have you heard that piece before?" he asked after he had finished.

            "I don't recall," said Johannes.

            "Nor do I," Johanna said.

            "That was the theme from the first movement of Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major."  He examined the instrument again.  "Pretty good, for a student model.  It's quite responsive, though not like Father's 'cello."

            "Actually," Johanna said, "I might rather learn that."

            "You understand, it's quite a bit larger than the violin."  He placed the instrument back in its case.  Then he unwound the bow and put it back.  He closed the case and fastened the latches.  "The strings are larger, so they can hurt your fingers more, too, when you start out."

            Johanna shrugged.  "If you can take it, then so can I."

            He smiled.  "Then, you may come to my room with me.  You can come, too, Johannes.  That's where I have my student 'cello.  Dad said he would get me a better one, so I can let you use mine, Johanna."

            Johanna smiled.  "I love you."

            "I love you, too.  Do you accept?"

            "Yeah.  You want to come, Johannes?"

            "Sure," said Johannes.  "Should we ask Mom?"

            "Sounds like a good idea," Johanna said.

            * * *

            Thomas and Kelly's Room, Palace of Power, VideoLand, Milky Way Galaxy.

            Kelly was sitting at the table and reading some with her computer terminal.  A special door-beeper sounded.  She turned to the door.  "Come in, Thomas," she called.  The door opened, and Thomas entered with Johanna and Johannes.  "Hey, guys."

            "Hi, Kelly," Johanna said.

            Thomas went over to his sister, knelt down next to her, and kissed her right cheek.  "What're you doing?"

            "Oh, just reading," Kelly replied.

            Thomas got back up and went over to his 'cello, then took it by its bag and brought it over.  He took a chair, then he removed the endpin holder from the 'cello bag and put the holder's loop under the chair's left front leg.  He took out the bow and laid it on the table, and then he zipped open the bag and removed the instrument from it.  He sat down in the chair.  He pulled out the 'cello's endpin and set it in the endpin holder.  The instrument was at the perfect height for him.  As he wound his bow, he commanded, "Computer, give me an orchestral tuning A."  An oboe-timbre A sounded.  Thomas tuned the highest string of his instrument to it, and then he tuned the three lower strings in fifths.  He then tested his tuning.  "All right.  Deactivate the A."  The sound was turned off.

            Thomas stood and held the 'cello by the neck with his left hand.  He laid the bow on the table.  "Okay, Johanna.  Step over here, please."  Johanna went over to him.  Thomas moved aside.  "Have a seat."  Johanna sat in his chair.  "Take the instrument firmly by the neck with your left hand, please, and don't let go."  She did as he instructed, and he then released the instrument.  "All right.  I think this height might do you, too.  Sit down.  Now, hold the instrument so that its right side turns slightly towards you. . . there.  And the top of its body should rest gently on your chest.  Good.  And you have the neck going up, and your legs are spread well.  Okay.  That posture is perfect.  Your hands appear large enough to play.  Now. . . ah, let's see.  Dad had tape on the neck where the tones were.  We'll see whether you need them.

            "Now, near the base of the fingerboard, place your right thumb against the side - like that - and use your index finger to pluck the second-highest string."  Johanna plucked the open D string.  "That's a D.  Now, hold your left hand so that your four fingers are spread and the tip of the thumb is against the back of the neck.  Yeah, good.  That thumb always moves with the second finger, by which I mean the middle finger of the left hand, but never with the others.  You want to be touching the neck, but you don't want to be pushing tightly.  Do it very gently.  Now, find E, a whole-tone above D, with the index finger."  Johanna plucked the D-string open, then stopped the string about five centimetres (two inches) down from the nut with her left index finger.  A perfect E sounded.  "That was good.  Now, with your fingers spread, use the third finger, your ring finger, to find F-sharp."  Johanna placed down the second and third fingers simultaneously and plucked a perfect F-sharp.  "Very good.  Now, try a G with the fourth finger."  Johanna put down the fourth finger at the right spot and plucked a perfect G.  the G-string below resonated.  "Excellent.  Now, try D, E, F-natural.  F-natural is the second finger in that position."

            Johanna removed all fingers from the string and plucked D.  She put down the first finger and plucked an E, then put down the second and plucked an F-natural.  "Very good," Thomas told her.  "You don't know, 'Mary Had a Little Lamb,' do you?"

            "No," replied Johanna.

            "It's a very simple tune.  It goes like this."  In D Major, he sang, " 'Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb.  Mary had a little lamb, whose fleece was white as snow.'  It's not hard to play.  The sequence of tones in the first phrase is, F-sharp, E, D, E, F-sharp, F-sharp, F-sharp. . . play that, please."  Perfectly, Johanna plucked the sequence in perfect rhythm.  "Next is E, E, E, F-sharp, A, A.  A is the open string above the D string."  Johanna played it perfectly.  "Good.  And the final bit is F-sharp, E, D, E, F-sharp, F-sharp, F-sharp, F-sharp, E, E, F-sharp, E, D."  Johanna finished the piece with this.  "Good.  Now, can you play it all back at once?"

            "Sure."  Johanna gave him the whole thing perfectly.

            He smiled.  "Very good.  If you continue to play this well, you'll be a good 'cellist in no time."

            "Thank you, Thomas.  What about the bow?"

            "We'll get to that in a moment.  Simply holding the bow is a technique in itself.  If we could just grab it in our fists, it'd be easy, but that doesn't work.  Violinists, violists, and 'cellists, luckily, hold their bows in much the same way.  Well, here's another uncomplicated little human song.  'Twinkle, twinkle, little star; how I wonder what you are.  Shining 'bove the earth so high, like a diamond in the sky.  Twinkle, twinkle, little star; how I wonder what you are.' "  He smiled.  "Now, I know it sounds highly intellectual, but the simple tune has several variations.  Can you try to pluck through it without my telling you the pitches?"

            "I think so."  With that, Johanna perfectly plucked the tune.

            "Very good, Johanna.  That was perfect."

            "Yes, it was," Kelly agreed.

            "Thank you."

            The door-ringer chimed.  "Come," Thomas instructed, standing.  Kevin entered the room.  "Why, hello, Dad."

            "Hi," said Kevin.  "Doing a little teaching, Thomas?"

            "Yeah."

            "Well, I was going to take you guys to see if we could find you some good instruments.  It can wait, though, I suppose, as long as you're busy."

            "Thank you."

            "Mind if I stay?"

            "Not at all, Dad."  He went over to where the 'cello had been.  There was a box containing some music there.  He opened the box and removed a booklet.  Then, he took a music stand and went over to Johanna.  He put the music stand in front of her at the proper height and opened the book on the stand.  The first thing there was the D Major scale, using the bass clef and starting on the middle line D.  "This is the D Major scale," he told her.  "The first note, of course, is D.  The sharps at the beginning indicate which notes are sharped throughout the piece.  See if you can play this pizzicato {pét-sé-kah-tó}, or plucked."

            "That D is the open string?" Johanna asked to make sure.

            "Yes."

            "Okay."  She plucked the scale. . . D, E, F-sharp, G, A, B, C-sharp, D.  Then, starting with the higher D, she reversed the order and came back down.

            "Very good," said Thomas.  "You realised that the same fingering is used on both the strings in the major mode."  Johanna nodded.

            "I recall where the half-steps are in the major mode," she said.  "Between the third and fourth degrees and between the seventh and first degrees.  My uncle taught me about that so long ago."

            "Yes.  And, for a scale, those positions are the same for two consecutive strings.  D Major is very common.  The commonest keys are between three flats and three sharps.  Now, can you read music?"

            "Well, I haven't been taught to," said Johanna.

            "It's not very difficult in theory.  White ovals without stems, or vertical bars on the sides, are whole notes.  They're twice as long as half notes.  Half notes are white ovals with stems, and they're two times as long as quarter notes.  Quarter notes are black ovals with unflagged stems.  Eighth notes have one flag, sixteenth notes have two, and so forth.  Most of the time, but by no means all the time, the beat unit is the quarter note.  The position of the note on the staff indicates the pitch.  A flat on a note, which looks like a B, lowers the pitch a half-step for all notes on that line until the end of the measure, while a sharp, which looks like a number sign, raises the pitch.  Any sharps or flats at the beginning of the piece are in effect for the entire piece unless they are cancelled later.  Also, if a note is sharped or flatted only in a measure, then only the note on that line or space is affected.  However, if the key signature shows that a note is sharped or flatted, then all notes of that letter are sharp, not just the one on that line or space.  If that's not clear enough, they have documents on how to read music in the computer."

            "I understand," Johanna told him.

            "The first few pieces in here indicate the fingerings," said Thomas.

            "If it'll help, I'll get my violin," Kelly said.

            "Sure, Kelly."  Kelly got up and took her violin case.  She set it on the table, opened it, and withdrew the small instrument.  She took her shoulder pad and put it on the violin, then she took out her bow and tightened it.  She took her chair and sat next to Johanna.

            "The next piece is 'Lightly Row,' " Thomas said.  "Could you play it pizzicato, Kelly, in D?"

            "Sure," Kelly replied.  Rather than using her fourth finger for A on the D string, which Johanna could not do at this point, Kelly used the open A string.  This was even though it would be better technique to use the fourth finger and it was her habit to use the fourth finger in such situations.  She perfectly played the short piece, expressively interpreting the dynamics as well as she could through plucking.

            "Thank you," said Thomas.  "Now, Johanna, you play.  Be careful.  Some of Kelly's fingering won't work for you, though she was courteous enough to use the open A."  Johanna played the short piece perfectly and without trouble.  "Very good.  Now we can work with the bow.  First, let me get this out of the way temporarily."  He took the 'cello by the neck and laid it on its side where it would be out of the way.  "May I borrow your bow, Kelly?"  Kelly nodded and handed it to him.  "Thank you.  Now, Johanna, please take the 'cello bow and stand up."

            Johanna took the bow and stood.  Thomas said, "Hold it firmly by the frog with your left hand.  The frog is the piece at the end where the screw is."  He demonstrated, and she copied his action.  He held his right hand palm-up with his fingers straight.  "Now, copy my actions exactly."  She held her right hand like he was holding his.  "Put the stick of the bow across the highest knuckles of the four main fingers of your right hand."  He demonstrated, and she copied.  "Now, still holding onto the bow with your left hand, curve your right hand fingers until. . . wait.  Move the bow so the metal part of the frog holding the hair is on your middle finger.  Yeah.  Now, curve your right hand fingers and your thumb until your thumb presses firmly against the metal part."  He showed her the action, and she imitated it.  "Good.  That's a nice circle you're making with your thumb and your other fingers.  You want to keep it while you're playing.  Keep the pressure there with the right thumb, and take your left hand carefully from the bow."  He did this, and then she did it.  She retained the curved thumb.  "Good.  Now, keep your left hand where you can easily grab the frog if you drop the bow.  Carefully tilt your bow in a quarter-circle, like this."  He rotated the bow until it pointed upward.  Johanna did the same.  "Now, back."  They rotated back, and Thomas examined her bow-hold.  "Very good.  You retained the thumb curvature.  Now, see how far you can move it.  You want it to go in a full semicircle without losing the thumb curvature."  They slowly rotated in a full semicircle, then back.

            "I didn't lose it," Johanna said, smiling.

            "Good!  Now, sit back down, please."  Johanna did so and put the bow back on the table.  Thomas took the 'cello and brought it back to her.  She got it back into position as he returned Kelly's bow to its owner.  "Now, take your bow."  Johanna did so, putting it in her right hand as he had instructed earlier.  Thunderians had excellent memories for facts that could be memorised, so she had little problem.  "When you get used to it, you won't have to take the bow like that.  The thumb will hold in a different place.  Now, turn it over, and put the hair on the C string near the frog.  Put it about midway between the fingerboard and the bridge."  Johanna did this.  "Now, how'd you know that's the C string?"

            "Well, the highest string is A," Johanna said.  "The next lower string is a fifth below, a D.  Next is G, so the lowest is C."

            "Very good.  Now, draw the bow across the string all the way to the tip at a moderate speed.  Watch the bow, and try to keep it at the same spot.  Let's see. . . I think you're far enough from the table.  We'll see."  Johanna drew the bow across the string at just the right speed for a solid, low C.  She stopped at the tip.  "Wonderful.  Now, reverse."  She performed an upbow with the same tone-quality.  "Good tone-quality.  Now, do that for each string above."  Johanna did as he requested. . . first she played the G string, then the D string, and finally the A string.  She played all the strings well.  "Very good.  Now, Kelly, could you play the piece with the bow for Johanna?"

            "Sure," Kelly said.

            "Watch her bowing carefully," Thomas told Johanna, "and recall that you have to go one string higher than she."  Johanna nodded.  Kelly played 'Lightly Row' broadly.  Johanna watched how she controlled the bow.  When Kelly had finished, Thomas said, "Thank you, Kelly.  Now, Johanna, you try."

            Johanna's attempt was very good.  She drew the bow halfway for quarter notes and all the way for half notes.  "That was excellent," Thomas told her.  "You're hitting the pitches well, and you're keeping the bow on the same spot pretty well.  Also, you're drawing it at the right speed for that spot on the string.  Different spots require different speeds.  Father?"

            "I agree," said Kevin.  "Is the bow-grip holding?"

            Johanna turned the bow over.  "Yes," she said.  Thomas nodded.

            "I think that's very good for today," Thomas said.  "How about we do this again next week?"

            "Sure," said Johanna.

            "In the meantime, you can practice 'Mary Had a Little Lamb,' 'Twinkle, Twinkle,' the D Major scale, and 'Lightly Row,' and practice your bow-hold, too.  You can borrow my 'cello and that book.  I'm sure Dad'll let me use his if we cannot find one today."  Kevin nodded.  "Now, to close up.  See that screw on the back of the bow?"  Johanna took the frog with her left hand and looked.

            "Yeah," she said.

            "Twist it four complete rotations counterclockwise."  Johanna did this, and the hair became sufficiently loose for storage.  "Now, set it on the table.  On the bottom of the 'cello, twist the screw until the endpin moves freely, and let the endpin go in all the way, but don't let the instrument drop.  Then twist the screw back tight."  Johanna did as he instructed.  "To play, you'll need an endpin anchor to hold the endpin so the 'cello won't go sliding.  I can get you one of those, too, if you'd like."

            "Sure," said Johanna.

            Thomas went over to the replicator.  "One class-G endpin anchor."  The same device that he used materialised in the slot.  He took it and went over to her.  "Just hook the loop under the left front chair-leg and put the endpin of the 'cello into the hole in the retainer that's correct for you.  Now, take the 'cello firmly by the neck with your left hand. . . and I mean that.  Don't worry about choking it.  The neck is the most solid part of the instrument."  As Johanna stood, Thomas took the bag and went over to her.  "Slide the protective bag onto the 'cello with the more extended side of the bag over the front of the 'cello."  Johanna determined which side was correct and carefully put the bag over the instrument, shifting the hold of her left hand very well so it would not get trapped.  When she had slid the bag over the instrument, she closed the zipper.  "Good.  Now, put the bow in one of the long pockets."

            Johanna opened one pocket and slid the bow tip-first inside.  Then she closed it.  "I should take the bow out first and return it last, right?" she inquired.

            "Absolutely.  You don't want it to scratch the instrument, and you certainly don't want to break the bow."

            "Would you get mad?"

            "No, I can replicate another if that one gets irreparably damaged.  It's just that you have to learn to take care of it.  We can't replicate professional instruments.  The craftsmanship is too personal."

            "I see."

            Kelly put her instrument away.  "How about you, Johannes?" she asked.

            "Uncle Wilykat's teaching me some about the violin," said Johannes.  "He's begun me with that same stuff, except it's a fifth higher, which makes sense.  He replicated me my own student instrument."

            "All right."

            Johanna said, "Thomas, I appreciate this.  Is it any bother to you?"

            "Oh, it's no bother," he said cheerfully.  "In fact, I kind of enjoy it."

            "All right."

            Johannes asked, "Do you guys mind if we come along with you?"

            "No," said Thomas.

            Kevin said, "Actually, that would be good for you, Johanna and Johannes.  You can learn some of how we choose instruments.  Let's go."

            "Just where are we going?" asked Kelly.

            "To Pariga {pah-ré-jah}, New Thunderius, the base of the Tygra-twins' stringed-instrument-making business.  The main shop there sells the instruments at low prices. . . low, that is, in the relative sense.  But the quality is superb."

            * * *

            Pariga, New Thunderius, Galaxy of Leos, Q-niverse.

            The three humans and two Wilytwins transported into town.  Kevin led his four younger companions to the shop and entered with them.  Cerebrantonio and Tygragatinha were there. . . and they had been engaged in a very intimate conversation.  Unperturbed, though, at the interruption, they turned to greet their guests.  "Well, hello, guys," Antonio said.

            "Hey," greeted Kevin.  "Are we interrupting anything?"

            "Not at all," Gatinha said.  She smiled jokingly.  "What's up, Your Majesty?"

            "Well," said Kevin jokingly, "let's hope it's not the prices!"  They all laughed.  "My daughter is a violinist and my son a 'cellist, and I brought them to see if we can acquire them suitable instruments.  The student models they were stuck with in the X-iverse are hardly suitable for them anymore."

            "I see," Antonio said.  "And I also see Wily-johanna and Wily-johannes."

            "Hello," said Johanna.  "We just came with them."

            "Okay.  So, what sort of a 'cello would you be looking for?"

            "One similar to the one I got," Kevin stated.

            "Ooh, good.  Turns out we have just one of those here right now."  He entered a storage room and brought out a very protective 'cello case and opened it.  "Would you like me to demonstrate?"

            "Certainly," Thomas agreed.

            Antonio took out the bow, wound it, and set it on a table.  He then removed the 'cello and closed the case.  "There is a large demonstration room," he said, holding the instrument firmly by the neck with his left hand and taking the bow with his right.  He led the group into the room.  He set the bow on a music stand and sat in a chair near the stand.  He extended the endpin and put it in the endpin retainer attached to the chair.  Then, he took his bow and checked the A string.  His precise ear told him it was perfectly in tune.  He tested the other strings, which were also tuned appropriately.

            "Don't you need a pitch played?" Thomas asked.

            "No, I don't.  My ear has pitch-perfect hearing."  He played a medley of short pieces to demonstrate the instrument's versatility.  This, of course, necessitated a player who could demonstrate his or her own versatility, and Antonio was certainly in that category.  His expression came out with crystalline clarity on the instrument, and his relative ease in the very highest range and his power of expression were obvious to everyone.

            When he had finished, everyone simply applauded.  They knew he was a very good player.  "Thank you," Antonio said.  "It's not often I show off the instruments myself.  The Tygra-twins, my brother, and I have employees who usually tend the shop for us.  We're more of management, but we do run the shop ourselves once in a while, just to meet the customers."

            "May I try it?" asked Thomas.

            "Sure."  He assumed Thomas knew what he was doing.  After all, he knew Kevin well enough to trust his judgement.  He stood and handed the young human the bow and the instrument.  Thomas sat down, laid the bow across the music stand, and checked the 'cello's height.  Just right.

            He played the same piece he had played before. . . his father's tone poem.  Kevin was not usually one to conceal his feelings all the time, and Thomas again did justice to this work. . . even more so than before, if it was possible.  His skill came across very easily, and he found the instrument very controllable.  He thoroughly enjoyed every second he made sounds with it.

            When he had finished, everyone applauded him.  "That's wonderful," Antonio told Thomas.  "Kevin was sure right about you.  You made that piece sound wonderful."  He turned to Kevin and smiled.  "And I know who composed it, too.  None other than the great Keenoven!"

            Everyone laughed at the joke.  "Well, I really like this," Thomas said.  "It is quite responsive."

            "Yes.  I use one of this model, myself.  This instrument is made of a special type of wood that grows throughout Thunderian territory.  It is very durable and can survive a lot more torture than other wood, and yet it's a very sonorous substance, as you can tell."

            "Yes," said Thomas.

            Kevin asked, "Are you satisfied with this one, Thomas?"

            "Yes, I am, Father.  It feels just right to me."

            "It's professional quality," said Antonio.  "It's good for virtually any purpose:  solos, chamber ensembles, string orchestras, and full orchestras."

            "Then," Kevin said, "I believe we'll get that one.  Throw in the bow and the case, too."

            "Of course," said Antonio.  He went out and brought in the case.  Thomas retracted the endpin and put the 'cello in the case.  Then, he unwound the bow and put it in its spot.  He closed the case, fastening the numerous latches.  "And you also want a violin for Kelly?"

            "Yes," said Kevin.

            "All right.  I'll be back in a moment."  He left the room.

            "Dad, this 'cello is absolutely wonderful," Thomas said, not at all restraining his excitement.  "Compared to it, my other's a toothpick!"

            Kevin laughed.  "I'm glad you're in love with it," he joked.

            Johanna moved over to Thomas.  "Are you in love with it?" she asked.

            "Yeah, and I'm also quite madly in love with you," he told her, smiling.

            She smiled back.  "I'm happy to hear that."  She kissed his cheek.  It lasted long enough for him to move his face so she was kissing his lips, and the two shared a few moments only thinking of each other during their kiss.

            Antonio returned with the violin and smiled when he saw what was happening.  To be courteous to Thomas and Johanna, he knocked gently on the door before entering fully.  "I have another great instrument here," he said.  He laid the instrument case on the table and opened it, revealing a violin with the same colours as the 'cello.  The two instruments could, in fact, have been twins, just like Thomas and Kelly.  A shoulder pad was attached to the bottom.  "Would you like to try it, Kelly?" he asked.

            "Sure," Kelly said.  She took the instrument and bow from Antonio and prepared them for playing.  She played another tone poem her father had written that required nearly as much dexterity as the one for the 'cello.  She was not quite as good as her brother, but she was definitely a wonderful player, and she enjoyed playing the responsive instrument.  Even in the high range, her expression was very clear and well done.  Her small audience applauded when she, too, had finished.

            "I love this fiddle!" she exclaimed when she took it off her shoulder.  "The shoulder pad's perfect, too."

            "I'm glad," said Antonio.

            Kelly turned to her father.  Kevin knew her question and smiled reassuringly.  "Yes, it's yours, daughter," he said.

            Kelly put the instrument and bow in the case and then hugged her father with all her strength.  "Oh, thank you, Father!" she exclaimed, almost breathless.  She was very excited.

            Kevin put his arms around her and kissed her right cheek.  Then, they released each other.  "We'll take the violin, with the case, shoulder-pad, and bow," he said.

            Antonio smiled.  "Very good choice," he said.  "You two have a very good father.  He helps to add to your repertory!"

            "Well, we love 'im," said Thomas.

            "We sure do," Kelly said.

            "And I love them," said Kevin.  "Now, shall we calculate the cost?"

            "All right," Antonio said.  Kelly finished putting the violin away.  She and her brother took the cases of their new instruments, and everyone followed Antonio out of the room.

            "I heard the sounds in there," said Gatinha.  "Were those you two, Kelly and Thomas?"

            "Yes," said Kelly.  "My brother played the 'cello, and I played the violin."

            "Those instruments will be great for them," Antonio said.  "Those two definitely know how to play."  He smiled at Kevin.  "I gather you're the one who has been teaching them."

            "I taught them many of the basic techniques," Kevin said.  "It was good that there were three string players in the house. . . Wilykit, Wilykat, and me.  We could play all sorts of configurations, especially since Wilykit, Wilykat, and I could play any of the three principal violin-family instruments and since Wilykit and Wilykat could play wind instruments really well."

            "That is certainly good experience," agreed Antonio.  "And the raw talent is definitely there."  He went to the computer register.  "The retail value is three thousand Thunder-dollars for the violin, seven thousand for the 'cello, to include the bows, the cases, and the lifetime guarantee that the instruments will remain intact.  Since you guys are so good, though, I think I'll knock off fifty percent."

            "You don't have to," Kevin said.

            "I absolutely insist, Kevin.  It's not every day I run into such wonderful young players.  It has absolutely nothing to do with your social status."  He keyed some commands into the computer.  "The total is five thousand Thunder-dollars.  I shall not accept a penny more."  Kevin took a device out of his pocket.  Antonio turned the screen so Kevin could scan a code from it.  A slip of paper with some printing came out of Kevin's device, and Kevin handed it to Antonio.

            "Five thousand dollars," Kevin said.  The slip of paper was proof that Kevin had transferred five thousand Thunder-dollars from his account into the account of the shop.

            Antonio printed a receipt for Kevin.  "There you are, Kev," he said, handing Kevin the receipt.  "Thank you."

            "Thank you, Antonio, Gatinha."  Kevin turned and showed the device to Thomas, Kelly, Johanna, and Johannes.  "This is a payer device.  It automatically transfers funds from the principal account of the person holding it to the principal account of the person or establishment to whom you're giving the money.  The code I scanned tells the device to which account the funds are to be given.  Before transferring the money, it also warns whether the potential payee is of questionable background.  For that reason, it's good to use among the Ferengi, who are not always very honest.  They're the pure essence of capitalism, in fact."

            "They're also nasty to females," Antonio said distastefully.  "I know I'm not supposed to be prejudicial, but I did grow up in a society where females have the same rights as males.  I've been to their territory, and I can tell you that Ferengi females don't like the way that they are treated.  My telepathic powers are able to read them.  They treat their Rules of Acquisition like we treat the Code of Thundera or the Ten Commandments.  I really don't care one way or another about their capitalistic beliefs, but if one of them ever tries, in my presence, to treat a Thunderian female like they treat their females, I may really lose control, especially if that happens in our territory."

            "I have the same feelings," said Kevin.  "In VideoLand, they can be arrested for that.  No world in VideoLand has such low value for women as the Ferengi."

            "I know."

            "Well, thank you very much.  We'll see you later."

            "See you later, Kevin."  Kevin and his companions left.

            Once they had, Gatinha hugged her Amoro Eternamente and kissed his lips very passionately.  He was surprised at this.  "I'm so glad you're willing to protect the honour of people of my gender, Antonio."

            "Thank you," Antonio said.  "Were the reverse true, would you do the same?"

            "I sure would, Antonio."  She was still holding him when Chatonne and Guillaume came in through the main door.

            "Hi," Chatonne said, smiling.  "I can see what you're up to."

            Gatinha released Antonio.  "We just had a sale," reported Antonio.  "Kevin bought his son and daughter a 'cello and a violin, respectively.  They played wonderfully, unlike any other young people I've ever heard, so I knocked half off.  You would have, too, if you'd heard them play."

            "All right," Chatonne said.  "You rarely do that, so I trust your judgement.  Did Kevin ask for the same models?"

            "Yes.  Both Thomas and Kelly Keene liked them."

            "I'm glad."

            "Kevin wrote the pieces that both of them played.  They seemed to be written very well for instrument technique as well as for a wide range of expression.  They're quite superb pieces."

            "Good to hear."  She looked at a clock on the wall.  "Well, it's about time for dinner."

            Guillaume looked, too.  "We can close up shop now, too."  As he and Antonio went to make sure everything was secure, Gatinha switched off the computer, and then the four left the shop and locked the doors.  They went to the nearby café to eat.