Dressed in flowing rose red robes, Kith appears from behind the lilacs and stands to receive Twig, Jim, Janzur, and Hippocrates. Each is dressed in full formal dress uniform appropriate to his station, looking particularly spotless. Then Linnet walks down the aisle in the newly-unveiled Girl Scout formal dress uniform, followed by attendants Sophia and Sharra (also in their respective formal dress uniforms) and finally Lady of Honor Katya, in an emerald-green gown with a Scout-symbol brooch on one shoulder and an Order of the Emerald brooch on the other. They each carry pale, wonderful-smelling bouquets tied with jewel-toned ribbons (purple, red, blue, and green, respectively).
Mirris arrives in an ankle-length gown of white silk, with off-white organza drapery across her bodice and off her shoulders, and a white capelet falling from her shoulders that swirls as she turns. All the ladies wear small white flowers in their hair, although Mirris' are woven into a half-circlet from which a short lace veil falls in back.
As the music fades, Kith announces: "Today Mirris-Heart and Hippocrates will join their lives together; we have come to witness and to celebrate this event. On behalf of Hippocrates and Mirris-Heart, I welcome you all to this ceremony."
Hippocrates and Mirris reach out and take each other's hands, apparently without looking. Kith then signals to Jim, who reads from the Starwayist Book of Rebirth:
"If you search the Void and the Firmament, in the fullness of time you will find all things. The crucible of stars constantly reforges the stuff of life into new forms. Look for new wonders everywhere you go.
"Be a student of all your yesterdays, but never their prisoner: what you cannot let go of will surely devour you. And be vigilant over all your tomorrows, but never their tyrant: try to encompass them, and you will surely destroy them.
"Who and what you are comes of the thing that you are about to do. If the moment does not provide, then do not despair: for it is the destiny of all men to be ceaselessly transported from Light into Darkness, and thence into Light again."
"Look ever forward in search of the Light, and it shall not fail to guide you through all that comes to pass."
Kith steps forward and addresses Mirris and Hippocrates. "As you face the world together, there will be those who remark on your differences. But are those differences nearly so deep as the similarities between you? Both of you are good and moral people. Each of you has undergone profound self-examination and emerged, changed but undaunted, with a strengthened sense of self and purpose. Each of you knows what it means to choose a path for yourself from the many ahead of you. As you walk that path together, may you gain strength and wisdom from each other and may your love and your lives act as a beacon to those around you."
Sharra then steps forward to read from the Juridicist Proceeding on Devotion:
"The Man spoke to the Light, saying, 'I have looked upon perfection, and perceived a paragon who is exemplary in every way, and most pleasing to all my desires. This is the One whose Forever I wish to share.' And the Light replied to him: 'You have come upon the Mirage of Devotion, but if you follow it, it will always recede before you.' And the Man did not listen, but pursued this illusion, to his despair.
"Then the Man said to the Light: 'I have come to understand who needs me most, and cherishes all that I am made of, in whose esteem I am the highest of all. Here is the One whose Days I would attend.' And the Light answered him: 'You see before you the Shadow of Devotion, and though it will not retreat from you, neither will it gain dimension and solidity.' Again the Man did not listen, but pursued this shade, which grew ever lesser as he approached it.
"At last the Man traveled the Worlds to search for wisdom, and after many zed he said to the Light, 'I have found Joy, and Faith, and Empathy, all wreathed in glorious Imperfection and infinite Promise. With the One who carries all of these things, uncertain as they are, I wish to create the Future.' And the Light exulted with him, saying, 'You have arrived at the Substance of Devotion; and if you cherish, guard, and honor that One who you have found, then nothing can ever come between you.'"
Kith then asks Hippocrates and Mirris to plight their troth before the gathered company, and leads them in their vows, starting with Hippocrates:
"I, Hippocrates, promise myself to you, Mirris-Heart, sharing joy and sorrow, standing together in trial and triumph, staying true through all that yet shall be. I shall love, honor, and cherish you, now and forevermore."
As Mirris repeats the same vows, her voice catches at first but then steadies as she finishes.
Mirris turns to Katya, and a ring floats from Katya's hand to Mirris, who takes it and slips it onto Hippocrates' finger, saying: "May this ring be a sign of our love and fidelity, for as you are mine, so am I yours." Janzur hands Hippocrates a ring, which Hippocrates then gives Mirris with the same vow.
Kith then places her hands on Hippocrates' and Mirris' joined hands, and pronounces that inasmuch as they have exchanged vows to join their lives together, they are now Husband and Wife. Some kissing ensues, followed by a lively recessional, also set to an ancient score.
A reception follows in the hedge mazes and secret gardens of Mendel, filled with butterflies and laughter. Cake and champagne are freely available, as are refreshment tables and plenty of informal spaces for sitting and relaxing. Wandering caterers make sure everyone has their fill of tasty treats, including plenty of chocolate confections. There is plenty of dancing, and both Janzur and Katya are invited to address the gathering.
[Janzur's speech may be added later.]
Katya's 'speech,' of course, is sent directly, with Mirris providing translation for the AIs present:
<clock with hands going backwards><hippocrates-bot>
<a bonsai evergreen tree inside a glass bottle, molded to the shape
of the container. as we watch, the tree grows (becoming more densely
packed inside the bottle). cracks start to appear in the bottle. then
a few needles start to poke out through the cracks. the cracks widen
gently as the tree grows through them. at last the glass splits into
several large pieces and falls away. the tree continues to grow; it's
still visibly bottle-shaped, but taller now, and with several branches
stretching outwards.>
<clock with hands going backwards><mirris>
<a small, tangled thornbush, with some leaves, split down the
middle; the split is blackened as though burned. as we watch, some
new leaves and shoots appear on the bush and begin to grow. the
leaves become denser and brighter green, the branches stretch out and
up, and the blasted middle bit is sprinkled with small pale green
leaves. some new branches form an arch over the middle. pink and
white rose blossoms bud, then open along the branches.>
<mirris looks in a full length mirror. her reflection is dressed in one of her self-designed outfits with a little shoulder-cape; she wears a necklace and a flower in her hair. the cape is held on by a pin at each shoulder: one is the hippocrates tri-color-swirly, the other is the emerald knights shield-and-clasped-hands. in the mirror, linnet, in scout uniform, stands beside mirris; mirris's hand is on her shoulder.>
<hippocrates-bot looks in a mirror. his reflection is dressed in the uniform from bellarion, and pinned at his breast are the tri-color-swirly and the shield-and-clasped-hands. around him like a semi-solid aura is the silhouette of spaceship-hippocrates. he holds in one hand a map of the linked worlds>
<mirris and hippocrates-bot (dressed as in the mirrors) take each other's hands. the camera pulls back, and we see behind them the evergreen and the rosebush. the sun shines brightly on them. the evergreen and the rosebush are partially entwined together, leaning towards each other. as they grow, the part where they touch becomes more entwined, sending branches upwards, roses mixed with dark green needles.>
Mirris and Hippocrates manage to track down and thank everyone for coming, and after everyone has left they stay on Mendel station for a couple of days afterward, assuming the universe stays emergency-free for a cycle or two....