Joseph Seward was greeted by embassy security as he stepped out of the helicopter. Blue helmeted peacekeepers watched as he was scanned and frisked, his steel-lined briefcase securely attached to his wrist with a tracking clamp. Satisfied, they let him through the gates underneath the calm, gray Canadian sky-actually the Republique de Quebecois, but neutral territory with the only foreign embassy on its soil where he and his Canadian counterpart could meet without too much scrutiny or suspicion.

He saw her as he entered the main hall. She was about his height, dark-haired, with olive skin, her Five Nations heritage showing in her eyes.

"Monsieur Seward," she said with a raised hand. "Welcome to Quebec. I am Alicia Monroe, of the Nations Confederation."

Seward bowed. "Madam Representative. Thank you for seeing me on behalf of the New England Commonwealth. Formerly of the United States," he added wryly.

Monroe's mood lightened. "Well, now that's out of the way, I guess we should join the other guests." She looked at the other diplomats, all of them either European or Eurasian Union. They were the only North Americans in attendance save for the staff and servants.

"How was your stay in Mexico?" Monroe asked as they mingled.

"Still pretty much the same. A confederation with no real government. But at least they're not fighting each other anymore." Unlike America, he thought, where Texas was threatening to invade Oklahoma and Florida was doing the same with Bermuda, despite the presence of the Royal Navy. Meanwhile, Minnesota and Michigan were clamoring for membership in the Canadian Union, following in Alaska's footsteps. "But we're really here as neutral mediators. That's one thing Quebec and New England have in common-we don't like getting involved in other people's fights."

Alicia nodded. "We prefer to listen, not argue?unlike some of our friends/" She gestured at the German and French guests, who were already having a quiet but heated discussion with the Russian and Turkish ones.

Despite this, the formal introductions and the opening statements went smoothly. Then the Canadian PM took the stage to a round of scattered applause.

"Distinguished guests," she began. "In these troubled times, it is always heartening to be able to have a gathering like this. In the tradition of past gatherings, I welcome you on behalf of our nation. Now, if you'll accept the glasses our staff has provide you with, we can begin the annual celebration."

Joseph and Alicia lowered their glasses over their eyes. They could still see each other through neural links, but the setting had changed. They were both wearing nineteenth century clothing, as were the others around them, and the room had changed, to a setting that resembled a French or perhaps Czarist Russian court. A ballroom dance began as waltz music came from an unseen orchestra. Joseph and Alicia took their turns with the other guests, and it felt real enough, even though he knew that none of them were really dancing. They must have looked quite comical in the real world, standing still in dance poses.

The dance halted. One of the German guests seemed to be taking offense to a Russian dancing with his former partner. A British and Chinese delegate tried to intervene, but the Russian and the German refused to back down.

"You've insulted me!" the German said. "I demand satisfaction!"

"What are they doing?" Alicia asked with concern. "This isn't part of the program, is it?"

"Immersion," Seward whispered back. "Total VR. Nineteenth century rules and manners."

"But they're not really going to fight, are they?"

Even as she asked, the German and Russian drew dueling pistols as the other guests quickly backed away. They fired at each other, soundlessly, but their falls looked real as the program abruptly ended.

The room returned to reality. The former duelists were still standing, blinking in shock. The Canadian PM was watching from her podium with clear disapproval.

"That felt real," the German said.

"I died," the Russian added. "We both did."

"Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize," The PM said. "This was not part of this evening's program. Security, please have these two?gentlemen?removed so that we may continue the rest of our evening."

The delegates didn't object as they were taken away. Afterwards, at the buffet, Seward said, "They must have brought their own AIs with them, to spy on each other. The duel was real in their minds, but they didn't actually kill each other."

"It was a distraction," Alicia agreed. "They were after each other's secrets. Hopefully neither one of them got anything. This is still neutral territory."

Seward looked at the rest of the guests, who had returned to mingling. "I hope the rest of them remember that," he said.

Alicia looked at him. "Perhaps we could discuss our mutual neutrality in private later."

Joseph smiled. "I'd like that," he replied. "It's always nice to have common ground."

THE END