Cam/Camilla was a rather daring idea. A character who was a shape-shifter in one respect – she/he could change sex from male to female instantly. As a female, she would be a femme fatale who men adored who was instantly attracted to Chrístõ. Chrístõ would resist her charms as far as possible, but eventually allow himself to be carried away a little. Her species is gendermorph and she is Ambassador of Haollstrom IV – in the Gamma quadrant. She has the power to attract both sexes with her pheromones, and is clearly sexually liberated, but Chrístõ refuses to go further than a gentlemanly kiss with her. He is in love with Julia, after all.

His shock when he discovers the truth about Cam/Camilla surprised a great many readers who knew Chrístõ as a fair-minded man who understood about different cultures. Several readers commented about it. He came across as VERY homophobic as he recoiled from the teasing advances of Cam in his business suit. But the point is that Chrístõ has led a relatively sheltered life as far as sex is concerned. That was made clear in Pelia’s people, of course. His upbringing did not prepare him for gender-swapping races and he didn’t know how to deal with Cam. He has a learning experience here. He lets his issues with Cam upset him going into his first real diplomatic meeting, and finds himself unable to cope in the ‘grown up world’ that his father takes in his stride. He blames Cam and imagines that it was a deliberate plot to  make him look foolish. Which, of course it was not. He is behaving out of character, of course, and needs to get his act together.

The crisis in which Julia is kidnapped forces a reconciliation with Cam, who offers him assistance in going after the kidnappers in several practical ways. In particular, he reminds Chrístõ that, as an ambassador, he cannot just raid the diplomatic ship where Julia has been taken, and nor can he. But Chrístõ, temporarily resigned from the diplomatic corps, and Cam as Camilla – Cam for business and Camilla for pleasure – go ahead. They save Julia, of course, and become friends into the bargain. And Chrístõ shares a friendly kiss with both him and her at the end without worrying about it. He has learnt his lesson.