"Astrea?"

Astrea Starr looked up from the eighteenth century text she had been examining. "Oh. Yes, Mr. Findlay?"

"If you can spare a moment, please?"

Astrea nervously followed him down one the back halls of the National Museum of American History. She had just returned to work that morning - was she about to be fired anyway?

She was even more shocked to see that Ruth MacCorkindale was already sitting in Mr. Findlay's office. Oh, this wasn't good. The Cork had had it in for her ever since she got here - and now it looked like she was finally going to get her wish.

Astrea couldn't really blame Mr. Findlay or Ruth for her firing. It was all -

Hey, who was the guy in the dark suit?

"Ladies," beamed Mr. Findlay.

Wait. Mr. Findlay... beamed?

"As I am sure you recall, last year I had to insert reprimands into your files, for carelessness with a certain item."

Ruth bit her lip. It was no use arguing about that now.

"I believe I owe you two an apology."

With that, he whisked his jacket off of his desk to reveal a device composed of seven concentric circles of crystal.

The women's jaws dropped.

"Ohmigod!" Ruth exclaimed. "Where - ?"

"The FBI just delivered it, about half an hour ago," Findlay said pleasantly. "It seems that they found it the remains of a camp in Shenandoah National Park - "

"Wha-a-at?" Ruth cried.

Findlay held up his hand. "The camp was used by the Steel Nation. I'm sure you've heard that Americana fought them to prevent their destroying some major Washington landmarks..."

"And killing the Supreme Court, Congress," Ruth said bitterly. "That Americana's a godsend."

Uh, thanks, Ruth, Astrea smiled to herself. Okay, so Ruth wasn't all that bad...

"There's a bit more to the story, I'm afraid. Astrea, you remember Earl Grayson?"

"Uh, yessir!" Oh, she was going to have to play this one out. Careful, Astrea...

"I'm afraid that our friend Professor Grayson was found dead among the fallen Steel Nation."

"Oh!" Astrea hoped that her gasp sounded right!

"And that this... item... was found near his body."

"Oh my... wasn't he... didn't he have a key to - "

Findlay nodded wearily. "Yes, Ruth, he did have access to the item. Apparently he stole it from the museum."

He looked at Astrea and said gently, "The FBI is continuing to investigate just what Earl was doing out there with the Steel Nation. He had been shot, so-o-o it is possible he just was in the wrong place... though what he was doing with the wheel is total conjecture at this point."

For a moment no one said a word.

Findlay was tempted to tell them of Earl's earlier transgressions, then wisely let it slide.

"The FBI brought it by for identification," he nodded as the man in black quickly wrapped it up again. "When we get it back, I'd like the two of you to investigate it further... "

"Astrea can do that."

Astrea looked at Ruth in obvious surprise.

Ruth shrugged. "Your expertise," she smiled slightly.

Ruth? Smiled?!

"As I mentioned, I owe the both of you an apology. Earl Grayson was obviously trusted by you - by us - and he abused that trust. I cannot erase the reprimands but I have placed explanations in your files. And I would very much like to take you, and your husband/husband to be, out for a nice dinner. Say-y-y, next Thursday?"

Astrea hesitantly raised her hand. "Could... we make it Friday, or Wednesday? I kind of have dinner plans already."

"Oh, with your fiancee?"

Astrea smiled. "Not exactly."

Schanna Vaughn sat behind a table in the school cafeteria, pouring iced teas and Kool-Aids into paper cups.

She looked a little younger than her ten years, even more so because tonight she was in full Girl Scout uniform - well, at least, those parts of the uniform her parents could afford.

She looked around at the other booths, serving pizza and spaghetti and demonstrating knots and such, and sighed.

"I'm sure she's very busy, Schanna," a young woman said gently.

"Maybe she didn't want to come to such a small town," said a fellow Scout as she walked by. "Altoona's barely on the map."

"It's okay, Miss Walker. I know she would have come if she could."

She poured out a few more Kool-Aids.

"Pardon me, do you have any sugar for the iced tea - "

The girl looked up... and gasped.

"Schanna."

The woman quickly put a finger to her lips. "Want to enjoy your festival," she said, grinning.

It was her. Oh, my gosh! She... seemed a little smaller in person, though.

"Yes, ma'am," the child whispered, handing her the sugars.

"Good girl," she whispered back, grinning.

Astrea sauntered over to the table with the baked goods. Oh, she needed this! She was thankful the mayor's office had forwarded the request; she'd have to do something about getting her mail, she supposed.

She went on to each of the tables, sampling the food, learning about protecting yourself from mosquitoes and poison ivy, and gazing at the impressive quilts the girls had made.

She actually circled back and bought another oatmeal-raisin; they were good cookies.

Then it was time for the assembly.

Beaming adults and fidgeting children filled five rows of tables, turning their chairs toward the stage.

There were thank yous for the parents, for the school for letting them meet there, for the town's parade committee. There was a reminder that permission slips for the canoe trip were due in a week, and an announcement that all the recipes the girls used tonight were available for a five dollar donation at the table in back of the cafeteria.

Then Schanna walked up to the microphone, carrying a plaque.

"Good evening.

"Every fall Troop 193 chooses to honor a woman who provides inspiration for us, our own Shining Star."

She barely noticed a woman slipping out of the cafeteria... and what sounded like thunder outside.

"This year we have chosen a woman who represents the good part of our country. Instead of making a lot of money she uses her great power to help other people. She doesn't look down on people, and always tries to do the right thing. Even when some other way might be easier."

As she had for the past three years, Miss Walker prepared to step forward and announce the plaque would be mailed to the winner.

"Would Americana please come forward and accept this award."

There was some consternation in the audience, and even Miss Walker's face went blank. Did she just say -

Then the small crowd sat in shocked silence as a smiling young woman in shining red, white and blue walked casually up the center aisle.

Before they could gather their wits, she bypassed the side stairs by suddenly lifting into the air and casually floating up to the stage.

"Ohmigod!"

Pure pandemonium swept through the audience like a lightning bolt. Children and parents alike jumped to their feet and clapped and cheered, and so many cameras and cell phones flashed that for a moment the cafeteria seemed to be strobed.

Americana just smiled and accepted the award from the awestruck Schanna. She was a bit bothered by the cell phones, but she figured she'd be gone before any news outlet could get a camera crew out here; central Pennsylvania was pretty isolated.

"Thank you, Schanna, and thank all of you Scouts for this award," she began.

She had to pause a few moments to let the cheering die down. "And thank you all for that rousing reception."

"Shining Star," she read from the plaque. "Well, that's kind of appropriate, I guess."

The audience laughed.

"I appreciate this award more than you can know. To be named an inspiration by you young ladies is high honor indeed. What really strikes me is that, well, you hit on exactly what I'm trying to do. To help people, all people, as best as I am able.

"You'd be surprised," she said, raising an eyebrow, "how many people miss that entirely.

"My powers enable me to help folks in different and pretty flashy ways, but you too can make a difference.More of a difference, actually.

"You see, there's a right and a wrong in this world, and I don't think it's very hard to know the difference. I don't need to tell you that every time you hold open a door for someone or pick up some trash, you make the world a little bit brighter place. You're Girl Scouts, and everyday you change the world.

"I'm happy - no, overjoyed - that you girls see that I'm still trying. That you are a lot smarter than I was, at your age.

"And that you didn't once mention the fights."

Laughter.

"I do tend to get into a lot of fights. Not the best way to resolve problems, OK? Last. Resort."

More laughter.

"Again, I want to thank you young ladies for showing faith in me," she looked around at the excited Scouts. "I promise to always try to be worthy of that trust.

"Thank you - and 'deraperp eb'!"

There was a pause as it registered on the girls that she knew the Girl Scout password - she was one of us!

The room erupted into pandemonium as, the moment she stepped from the microphone, she was surrounded by a swarm of little girls.

She took her time, and smiled, and said hello, and signed autographs, for every last one of them. She even walked over to where one of the shy Brownies was sitting - after all, she had been a little shy, herself, at that age.

She even donated five dollars for a copy of the recipe booklet the girls had used this evening.

They were good cookies.