"You know it's not, though," countered Angus. "I know you see it too—you've told the boy often enough that he can be great if he wants to be.”

"That's just it, isn't it? It has to be if he wants it. You should know by now you can't make Arcturus do anything he doesn't want to. The more you try and force him down a path, the more he'll resist you."

"Willful," said Angus again, though his tone was mellow this time.

"Just as you were," pointed out Katherine. "Until you met me."

Angus took a drink of wine and leaned down lo kiss her. "Then let's just hope that the women in his life are as wise and calming as you."

Katherine smiled at him, and Angus Mengsk knew he was the luckiest man alive.

The assembly hall had been transformed.

On every other day, it was an austere, cold place of announcements, the news of sports results, and dull speeches, but now it was a place of festivities. Hundreds of students filled the hall, drinking, dancing, and reveling in the sheer fun of the day. Of course, the only topic of conversation was Steegman's arrest and Arcturus's part in his downfall.

Music pounded from the stage, colorful lights flashed from the ceiling, streamers trailed from every wall, and even the portraits had been hung with fake beards and noses.

The ball's theme was aliens from another world, and a floating banner of light shone with the words: "Class of ‘78! They Came From the Stars!"

Papier-mache creatures of all descriptions hung from the roof beams on wires, reared from punch bowls, or emerged from lovingly detailed lairs set against the walls.

The students' imaginations had run riot and the past week had seen a frenzy of creation in the art classes. A carnival of grotesque creatures filled the assembly hall: giant lizards, bulbous floating jellyfish with multiple eyes, snakelike creatures with whipping tails and tentacles for mouths. At the edge of the stage, sharklike creatures mingled with hairy, multilegged spiders with long necks and terrifying mandibles.

Arcturus knew the subject of alien life had been an obsession with mankind ever since it had first looked up into the night sky In fear and wonder. Thus the abject failure of the Confederacy's science and exploration vessels to find any sign of surviving intelligent alien life was a source of constant frustration to those who believed that the human race was not alone in the galaxy.

Of course, a few explorers were said to have unearthed ancient ruins they claimed were the remnants of alien civilizations, but most people believed these to be elaborate hoaxes. Then there were the big insect creatures on Umoja, which had been domesticated by the people of that world, but they hardly counted as intelligent life.

Even the band was dressed in alien costumes, made up with latex prosthetics to look like fearsome creatures with gnarled foreheads, long hair, and jagged, spiky armor. The effect was more comic than frightening—something Arcturus suspected was half the point.

He normally detested such events, but had to admit he was enjoying himself immensely.

Perhaps he was still on a high from this afternoon's unmasking of Steegman's crimes. After all, it had been deeply satisfying to see the odious little man led away, and he had made sure the principal knew exactly who'd uncovered his crimes and destroyed his life.

It might also have been due to the attractive girl on his arm, for Juliana Pasteur was without fear of contradiction, the most beautiful creature in the room.

But, if he was honest, Arcturus knew it was none of these things—it was the acclaim accorded him by his fellow students and the near worship in which he was now held. His former status of pariah had been forgotten now that Steegman was gone, and Arcturus suddenly occupied a position more akin to a war hero.

It was quite intoxicating.

"Arcturus?" said Juliana as the volume of the music dropped.

"Hmmm?" he said.

"You looked miles away," she said, offering him a glass of punch.

"Sorry," he said with a winning smile, accepting the glass as he returned his attention to the beautiful girl standing next to him.

Juliana Pasteur wore an ankle-length gown of ivory silk with a velveteen bodice that hugged her budding figure and which accentuated her delicate features. Blonde hair spilled around her bare shoulders in golden ringlets and a fine silver necklace set with an Umojan sapphire hung down her neck.

He took a sip of the punch and raised an eyebrow. "There's alcohol in this."

Juliana nodded. "I saw some students emptying some bottles in earlier, but I don't think anyone's going to mind. Not after today."

"No," Arcturus grinned. "I suppose not."

Juliana took his hand and smiled at him. Over the months they had corresponded, he had reveled in the power he seemed to have over her, but with her here next to him, he now fully appreciated the reality of what he had done.

Everything in Juliana's body language told Arcturus that she had fallen for him, which was ridiculous given the few times they had actually met. Truth be told, he didn't know quite what to do with that, for, while he liked her and found her engaging company, he certainly didn't reciprocate the strength of her feelings.

"Dance with me," said Juliana as the band struck up the opening bars of a song with a more relaxed tempo that saw couples all over the room make their way to the dance floor. With no chaperones present, the students of Styrling Academy weren't about to waste this opportunity for some dancing that involved full body contact.

"Dance?" said Arcturus. "I don't think that—"

Juliana took his drink from him before he could protest, then put her own down as well.

"That wasn't a request," she said, leading him onto the dance floor.

Arcturus followed her, nervous at the prospect of making a fool of himself, but pleased at the attention he and Juliana were garnering. Arcturus had to admit they made an attractive couple. Juliana in her ivory gown and he in his exquisitely cut tuxedo and golden cummerbund.

The idea of kissing her leapt to the forefront of his mind and suddenly the idea of dancing close to Juliana didn't seem nearly so bad.

She turned to face him, holding up her arms. "You do dance, don't you?"

"Not for a long time,” he admitted, taking her left hand and placing his right hand on her hip. "My mother made me take lessons when I was young, in preparation for my entrance into soclely. I always haled them."

"Don't worry," promised Juliana, moving his hand lo her backside. "You'll be fine.”

"I fear I may not be the dancer you hope for.”

"Trust me, Arcturus, it'll all come back."

"Well, don't say I didn't warn you if I trample those expensive shoes."

Juliana smiled, and they began to move in time with the music. Arcturus thought he'd forgotten the steps of those long-ago lessons, but, sure enough, after his first faltering steps, he began to move with the music instead of against it. He and Juliana flowed naturally into the rhythm of their shared movement, and he felt like he'd just stepped out of dance class.

A series of dancers spun past them, the girls offering compliments to Juliana on her outfit and the boys hearty congratulations to Arcturus for having Steegman sent down.

"They really like you here," said Juliana, looking up at him. "You must be sad to leave."

Arcturus laughed and shook his head. "Not even a little bit," he said.

"Really? I think I'm going to be sad when I leave the Umoja Institute next year."

"That's because you are well liked and don't have a troublesome, embarrassing father."

"Well, since you're so glad to get out of school, what are you going to do with yourself?"

Arcturus didn't answer at first, wondering how much he should tell her of his plans for the future, for she clearly wanted to be part of them.