00010

Early Sunday morning-

The McCleers readied for worship services at the church their host had recommended, the Chapel of Hope.

Nina, not having robots to serve her back on Earth, felt a bit awkward around X-9 when she stepped out of the shower, and there he stood, holding her towel out for her. And he continued to flutter about, constantly asking if he may be of help while she tried to dress in privacy.

"I don't like him about, either, in case he wants to go back and report to his master whatever we say," George McCleer empathized. "But since it is so hard to get rid of this determined robot, just ignore him. It is, after all, just a robot."

"I know. Yet somehow they seem almost human," Nina said. "X-9, do you ever wish you were human?"

"Never, Ma'm."

She asked, "Well, then, what do robots wish for? What is a typical robot hope, a robot desire? Do you have any wants at all?"

Her husband chuckled. "Nina, he- it's a robot. Don't waste your time chatting with it, or trying to understand it and be its friend."

"Hush, George! Do you want to hurt his feelings? What are you saying? He may be a robot, and admittedly a pest, but he is still important. He thinks. He is almost a person! X-9, don't let Mr. McCleer's careless comments offend you."

"No offense taken, Ma'm," X-9 assured her. "Robots don't get insulted. We don't have much in the way of a sense of ego. And we also have very few wishes, or none at all even, save the desire to serve humanity. We don't usually chat, we don't make friends. We co-operate in teams for certain projects, but we don't form friendships. We neither need nor desire to have friendship."

"There, you see?" said George McCleer. "Straight from the robot’s mouth. Now, hurry up so we can make it to church on time. Xavier and his niece are already set to go and are waiting for us."

"Okay, okay." She slipped on the dress. "This doesn't make me look fat, does it?"

X-9 began, "Actually, Mrs. McCleer-"

Quickly and tactfully George McCleer cut off the mechanical being. "No, hon, you look great in that dress."

George whispered to the robot, "Not another word, if you know what's good for you."

Once Nina selected a dress, they joined the Brights. Xavier Bright introduced them to his niece Sheila, who didn't say much except polite greetings. Sheila confessed she only vaguely remembered them from their occasional visits to her Mother during her childhood, when Sheila and her mother had lived on the Earth.

Nina McCleer remarked, "You look as pretty as your Mom. She and I had been close during our college years. I even met your Uncle Xavier through her."

Security Leader Clyden, in case the Governor might need him, accompanied the Brights and the McCleers on their way to the chapel, and Agent Samm chauffeured. The robots stayed behind at the house.

The chapel, located in the tightly packed residential quarters, matched its surroundings. A squeezed-looking structure the height of two stories, it was constructed of those awful splotched rocks which were found in plenty all over the wilderness outside Sparkle City and at one time had been quarried from the nearby heights. Some argument over what color to paint the chapel never got resolved, thus the chapel, never painted, became just another ugly building on the street, even uglier than most.

George McCleer commented on the fact that there was very little to show that the chapel was a house of worship.

Gov. Xavier Bright explained, "The chapel is used by different faiths. In order not to offend anybody, we don't adorn the outside of the chapel with any symbols of any kind."

Nina frowned. "So how does anyone know if it is a Hindu service or a Christian service or anything else?"

Sheila Bright, who had been silent up to this point, suggested, "One can just read the schedule for what time each faith has its service. It's posted on the outside bulletin board."

"Wouldn't it be better for each belief system to have its own temple?" suggested George McCleer.

“Why?" asked the Governor. "Let this House of Worship be shared by everybody. After all, one way to God is as good as another. Half the worshipers who come don't really care what religion is on schedule, as long as they come to some service. I've heard of some attending a Buddhist ceremony one visit, and the next time a Catholic Mass. And they felt just as close to God at either one. Doesn't that make sense?"

"No," George McCleer contradicted. "If Jesus says He is the only Way to the Father, how can that be the same as any other way? And if another religion claims it is the only way, how can it be that the other so-called ways then are just as good, if they don't follow the same way that claims to be the only way?"

"You think too much and take things too literally, George,” Xavier Bright said. "Besides, we don't have that much room in the residential zone for extra buildings that we don't need."

Sec. Ldr. Clyden and his Security Agent remained outside with the limo, guarding it in the parking place reserved for the Governor, while the others headed inside the chapel. Once in, the McCleers noted there were no pictures or icons or anything. The only thing that gave away the fact that it was supposed to be a Christian service this morning was that the lectern had a banner hanging off it depicting a cross. This banner could conveniently be rolled up and taken away so that the next religious ceremony to be held in this building could use the same lectern with its own banner.

The McCleers didn't get much out of the service. Gov. Xavier Bright, it seemed, didn't pay attention to the sermon.

Sheila Bright looked at the abridged Bibles that were handed out, which had had many edits done to them. She lost interest and set it on an empty seat.

Sheila saw her new friends, Albert Zoeniga and Jane Ashton, sitting off to the side. She waved to them. 

George McCleer saw them also and recognized them from the flight. He couldn't tell what they thought of the sermon. Most of the other people- and there weren't very many- seemed either unhappy with the affair, or indifferent.

The sermon, What We Can Do to Please God, was delivered by a very unimportant looking fellow, George McCleer thought. Oh, oh, George told himself, that is just plain wrong to judge like that. How many of the apostles appeared to human eyes to be unimportant people? Maybe in that jar of clay a dynamo for God would deliver an electrifying message.

Sadly, that proved not to be the case. First the preacher read the text from Titus 3:1, and other texts of that kind (and which none of these kinds of passages had been edited from the approved Bible), and then he expounded how imperative it was for people to obey their leaders, especially the Governor and his Security Agents, and the Leaders of Earth. This co-operation with their leaders and authorities was guaranteed to bring peace amongst themselves and others. Indeed, it was just the thing that pleased God. How can one have order if one stands against the leaders? How can society function? Etc., etc. The crux of the sermon was, Obey. Obey the government, whose leaders know better than the average person.

Nina McCleer whispered to George, "The state-approved church is even more lifeless here than a lot of our churches back on Earth.”

Afterward, the attendees lined up to shake the preacher’s hand before exiting. George McCleer’s turn came and as he reached the minister, George "forgot" to shake the pastor's hand. Instead, he complained about the sermon.

“What happened to that stuff about Jesus, how he died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead?”

“Oh, we still teach that!" the minister protested. "Only, well, not so much, only around Easter and maybe around Christmas. But we don't like to fixate on sin. That's such a negative doctrine. We must get with the times if we are to bring in any worshipers to the House of God. And besides, a sermon like the one I just delivered is always a blessing to the people. After all, we all have to obey our leaders, don't we?"

George McCleer, unimpressed, shook his head and walked out the door. Xavier Bright, next in line, annoyed with George, followed right behind, not stopping to talk with the preacher. 

TheGovernor asked, "What is your problem, George? Isn't it a good thing to teach a little respect for those in authority?"

"Yes," George McCleer agreed, "but I must have missed it when the preacher was talking about respecting the Supreme Authority. You cannot substitute a man or the state for God, no matter how wonderful the man is, even if he is you, Xavier."

Observing all this from where she stood in the line, Sheila Bright told herself, Uh oh. I bet that went over like a lead balloon with Uncle Xavier. She didn't know Mr. McCleer, but she knew what irritated her uncle. And she wondered what that was all about- the Earther's cockiness. There seemed to be bad blood between the two men.

As they went out to the car, Security Leader Clyden had his back to them, talking on his cellular.

“Oh, that's great, Sweetie. You may not think it is, but now that the rocket has some kind of trouble and is grounded, you can spend more time with me, since you won't be able to get back to Earth until the Dart is fixed, or another rocket is sent for you. See, it pays to go to church, love- My prayers have been answered!"

Sec. Ldr. Clyden suddenly heard the footsteps of the approaching Governor. He quickly said bye and Agent Samm rushed to open the door for the Governor and his guests.

Gov. Xavier Bright noted, "You were talking with your friend over Security Agency cell phones. I trust it was a security matter."

"Sorry, sir, it was an emergency," answered Sec. Ldr. Clyden.

"Yes, it sounded like one. I am glad to see you are on top of all things security-wise."

"Thank you, Gov. Xavier. I appreciate the compliment."

Sec. Ldr. Clyden wondered, Now what's eating him? Is he riled up over that McCleer fellow again?

(c) 2011

00009

Mita Morgan brooded in her small room. She fretted over the way her vacation was going so far. She didn't mind the small hotel unit- although practically a flophouse, this hotel, it was the only affordable one. She knew Osmo Martin’s place at the Hope Hotel must be a lot larger, and with better lavatory facilities. At least, she felt certain, he did not share a bathroom with others- and some of those people of questionable habits and dispositions.

Osmo Martin’s father had money, hers didn't. Furthermore, according to what she heard through the grapevine, the Governor paid the expenses of Osmo and his friends... which obviously she wasn’t... not yet.

Moneyheld no special awe for her. However, she recognized its need to meet her basic necessities. She worried she wasted what money she had- money she really couldn't afford to waste- on this trip, which appeared headed for destination: disappointment.

Why did Osmo let other girl cling all over him? And why were his eyes blind to all of Mita's assets? What was wrong with Mita, anyway, or maybe the question was, what was wrong with Osmo. Did he fear an intelligent, honest, down-to-earth woman? Someone who believed in commitment, in making her man happy? Maybe he feared her because she was such a responsible person. And a strong person. Maybe strong women made him uneasy.

She fluffed her pillow, little good that it did; no way Mita Morgan was going to sleep tonight! She had to figure out what to do. This Sheila Bright might be more shapely and prettier than Mita, but in the end, Osmo Martin would realize Mita is the keeper! She had to figure out how to make him realize this.

Mita Morgan wasn't the only one unable to sleep.

At the Governor's House, in the guest suite, as X-9 patiently awaited for any commands while standing outside the door, in the bedroom, George McCleer tossed and turned on the bed. Finally, he sat up and turned on the bedside lamp.

“Hon, I really need some sleep," Nina begged.

"Can't help it, Nina. That Xavier burns me up. Who does he think he is, practically hitting on my wife right in front of my face?!"

She tried to calm him down, rubbing his shoulders. "Oh, now, George, you know how our old friend Xavier is. There's nothing new there. That's just the way he is. He always was, always will be. Don't take him too seriously."

"True, he always was a big conceited nitwit who thought nothing of sweet-talking another man's woman," George McCleer acknowledged. "I guess that's too bad. He's still the same, he never matured. No, he isn't the same. His ego is even larger than before, something I never thought possible. Or did I say that already?”

“Several times, in fact,” said Nina.

“If I weren't here on official business, I'd smack him upside the head! Oh, and just for the record, he wasn't our friend; he was your friend."

Nina hugged her husband. "Ah ah, dear, I thought you wanted to visit church here tomorrow. You aren't going with all that violence in your heart, are you?”

He grunted. "Well, isn't there such a thing as righteous indignation?"

"Why, George, I do believe you are jealous!"

"Huh? Of Xavier? You've got to be kidding me."

"Well," Nina confessed,"it is flattering, the attention he gives me. And he didn't lose any of his charms, that's for sure-"

"All right, knock it off." George cut her off from anymore talk with a giant kiss, making any more conversation impossible. Instead of resisting, she answered back with her own kiss, and outside the door, X-9, even though only a robot, but with good hearing, realized Mr. and Mrs. McCleer wouldn't be needing any help from him tonight.

Meanwhile, Xavier Bright, still in the dining room on the ground floor, never even tried to sleep this night. The hour was late, but instead of rest, he sat and thought and pondered.

Sheila interrupted his musings when she got back from her time with Osmo Martin and his friends.

"Oh, Uncle, I must report good news to you," she announced.

He gave her his full attention, shoving aside those other matters in his mind. He asked expectantly. "What is it? Don't tell me he already asked you to marry him? Then I know Gunther Martin will make sure we on the planet Hope finally have everything we really need."

"Oh, you!" she giggled. "Not yet, but I am sure he must be in love with me by now. But seriously, he does like me, I am sure." She kept the part about the kiss to herself.

Xavier Bright nodded. "He'd be a fool if he didn’t! Sheila, I appreciate you doing all you can for our world. I know you try very hard to help me, as had your mother. She helped me run this place like clockwork. You have been a much appreciated help for me, indeed, but I don't know if anyone can ever replace Selina. I hope you take no offense when I tell you this. I wish I found someone so qualified to be my vice-governor.- Incidentally, while you are a very big help, you're too young, I want you to know, for that job, just in case you were hoping for the spot."

She wrinkled up her face. "As if I want to settle down into such a boring job already at my age! I can't be tied down yet- too much to do, too much fun to have, you know, Uncle.”

“I do know," he said. "I was once young. I remember the joy of youth. I also remember the frustrations... But that's another story."

Sheila asked, "What about Security Leader Clyden? He seems to be very helpful and always at your service."

"I thought you didn't like him."

"I don't," she said. "We don't mix very well at all. But he seems to respect you, and to be always conscious of how he can make your administration look good with the citizens, or at least, he seeks to make sure the citizens also respect you, as much as he does. If you will have an easier time, making him your second-in-command, Uncle, then I am all for it, as long as it takes some of the strain off you. Pardon my saying so, but it looks like you should follow the example of the tourists, and take a break for yourself sometimes."

Xavier, touched by her concern, replied, "You indeed are your mother's daughter. That's very noble of you to say such a thing. Maybe Sec. Ldr. Clyden is somebody worth considering... There is no problem which he is unwilling to help me solve. However, honestly, can you see him in such a high office? Look how professional he looks in his current position." The last sentence he said with mockery.

"He is very loyal. I am happy you have someone like that working for you, Uncle. A great man like you deserves loyal followers."

He reflected on her words. "Thank you, Sheila. Now, I must once more ask a favor of you. Tomorrow I must go to church with the McCleers. You don't remember them, but they are somewhat religious. I don't have the luxury of time for that. And it's not really something I care to find time for. But tomorrow I will at least make zan appearance with them. It looks good. I would appreciate it if you join me."

"Of course, if you want me to come. I will stop over at the hotel in the morning before service and let Osmo know. We will just put off our visit to the beach until the afternoon."

"Why stop over at his hotel? They have phones at the Hope Hotel."

"No, I think I will stop over, Uncle, if it is okay with you."

Xavier Bright raised an eyebrow at that. He nodded his consent, saying nothing.

Early Sunday morning.

Mita Morgan hopped out of bed, a plan in her mind. She quickly dressed and made a small breakfast, which she then proceeded to pack into a traveling bag.

Well, I thought about it all night, Osmo, and I finally realize that you in fact do like a lively, assertive woman- like that niece of Gov. Bright. Well, meet the new Mita. I will no longer hide in the shadows. Watch out, sweetie, it's hunting season!

Mita Morgan took a cab to Osmo Martin’s hotel. She knew the hotel and even the room. She was good at learning what she wanted to know; sometimes it was as simple as merely listening and paying attention. She had heard Osmo and Albert discussing their rooms while she sat at the Tourist Trap with them the previous night, and one of them had mentioned the room numbers, so she knew where to go.

As the elevator carried her up to the fourth floor, Mita began to have second thoughts. What if she got the wrong room? What if Osmo had already left to meet her competition? What if- no, stop it, girl! Such fretting and worrying didn’t help at all- She was a woman of action now- No more admiring from a distance!

Mita located D28 and marched right up to the door. Without a moment's hesitation, she held the bag of breakfast in one hand and rapped on the door with the other. She held her breath in excitement as she heard someone moving toward the door. As it opened, Mita Morgan blurted out, "Surprise! I made you breakfast!"

"Why, um, thank you, Mita." Sheila Bright had been the one to answer the door. "Osmo, look, your friend is here-"

Mita gasped, speechless.

Osmo Martin forced a welcoming smile on his face. "Oh, hi, Mita, that was very nice of you. Thanks. Come on in-”

“Um, um, no, I can't stay," Mita Morgan sputtered, her cheeks on fire. "I, uh, just dropped off breakfast because um, Jane and I are planning a breakfast of our own, and we didn't want you to go hungry-"

"What?" Osmo, bewildered, asked, "You mean she and Albert didn't go to chuch today? I thought we were supposed to meet afterward at the beach-"

Mita, wishing she could be back on Earth in her comfortable bed right about now, with much fluster answered, "Um, well, what about that- I can't stay, late for an appointment, gotta go-" and she did and was gone.

Sheila Bright shook her head, then shrugged. "What was that all about?"

Confused, Osmo Martin also shrugged. "I have no idea. I never could figure out that Mita.”

(c) 2011 drk

00008

As before, Albert Zoeniga and Jane Ashton took the back seats of the truck, but this time Sheila Bright drove, since Osmo had left the Tourist Trap in a somewhat tipsy condition.

Mita Morgan had left the nightclub ahead of them to return to her own hotel in a somewhat seedy part of town. She thought it wise to get back there before someone broke into her room and rifled through her things.

Osmo Martin and his friends stayed at the posh Hope Hotel. Like many of the buildings of Sparkle City, it had been built from the splotchy stones, but then it had been treated to make the rock building blocks resemble marble from Earth.

Instead of the visitors going to their rooms and calling it a night, Sheila Bright suggested they all 

go to the roof of the twelve-story hotel and enjoy the view of the cityscape in the bright light of the two moons. Albert and Jane liked the idea.

"Just keep away from the edge," Jane cautioned Osmo. "Your balance seems to be a bit off tonight."

"Oh? I must have an inner ear infection..."

Albert Zoeniga for the moment ignored the city below. "Those two moons are something to see! Very bright- Combined, they are brighter than Earth's moon, that's for sure. Does anybody live on either of them? Are there cities like Sparkle or anything?"

"In fact, each one has a moonbase," Sheila said, "in case of ever any kind of emergency with a rocket traveling the space tunnel, those manning the bases can get there quickly to help, if the moons orbits are close to the wormhole when it happens. Also, a rocket needing repairs can land there at a base.” Proudly, she added, "It was Uncle Xavier's idea to put the moonbases there."

Osmo Martin squinted, peering into the night sky. "Hey, I think I can see the flashing blue beacon showing where the wormhole tunnel is out in space! Or is it the booze?"

"Yup. Some days or nights the beacon can be seen from here. But say, you are not looking at the city-It is just as pretty from our view. Don't you agree? My Uncle helped the city develop into the jewel it is today."

Wobbling in front of Sheila Bright, Osmo stared into her eyes. "Yes, I agree. You certainly are pretty from here. What a beautiful view!”

She patted his shoulder good-naturedly. "Okay, Os, so you've told me a couple of times already tonight. Perhaps you should not drink so much next time, okay? Then I will know whether it is really you talking or just the alcohol."

Osmo shrugged, a little embarrassed.

Jane found that exchange interesting. She discretely whispered to Albert, “Perhaps Sheila wasn't quite as plastic as I had first figured.”

Albert said, "It's good the World of Hope doesn't enforce any legal age drinking laws, or we'd all be in trouble tonight."

Sheila Bright changed the subject. "See that big high hill over there in the distance? There's where the Governor's House sits. It's lit up, as usual. My Uncle likes to keep it looking good, and he likes to have the lights on, so he can always see how good it looks, and so other people can see it as well and be proud of it. And they should be, because it is very beautiful. I must take you there and show you the place some time soon."

"Count me in for it," said Jane Ashton. "Up that way, in the opposite direction- that place with all those lights, more even then your Uncle’s place. That must be the rocketport, am I right? It looks even bigger from this perspective than when we were right there in it when we landed!”

“Why yes, it is over almost the whole northern end of our town, Jane. It has to be that big, because a lot of freighters use the port when they come to haul our fuel ore. In back of and to the side of the rocketport are our farms. They provide a bit of goods to send to Earth, such as crops and some of the hybrid animals we breed that come from the first batch of those hybrids that escaped when the Peace Lab had crashlanded down here and- -Oh!"

The young girl from Hope stopped herself, realizing what she was talking about so casually in the very presence of the son of the brave, lost Dr. Hope Martin. "I'm sorry, Osmo. I- I forgot myself- But, um, you might be happy to know that Uncle Xavier saw to it that a breathtaking park had been set up to honor your mother, and it’s not very far from this hotel. I was going to tell you about it tomorrow, so that we can visit it-"

Osmo Martin shook his head. "No, thanks, Sheila. I don't need to go."

"You don't want to see-"

Albert Zoeniga, familiar with Osmo's reaction to this subject, suggested to Sheila, "It's wise to drop that matter with Osmo.”

Puzzled, she nodded, not understanding. "If you say so... I guess he must have his reasons..."

She waved her hand over the city in the direction of the west, toward some nearby wilderness mountains. "Anyway, over in this direction, spread along the tourist section of town, we have some more parks, a library, a college, a stadium, and- this is the best part- quite a few shopping malls for the Earthers- and the rest of us who like to go shopping."

"No hospitals?" asked Jane.

“Of course we have hospitals- well, at least one. That's more on the east side, toward the Sea of Fun. It's on the same side of town, but more in town, however- as is my Uncle’s place south of here but toward the east. I shop on the east side of town, too, but not as much. The east side is also a bit of a tourist zone, but it is mixed with the older business and commercial zones, and even the residential zones. Most people live in the heart of Sparkle, in the middle, and the tourist and business places surround the peoples' houses. Ahem, I might add, I often help Uncle Xavier with the town planning of the zones. I go over the permit requests for him, recommending what to give final approval to or to reject, that sort of thing.”

"Nice," said Jane.

Albert Zoeniga asked, "So where are the good churches located? I had had it drilled into me as a little kid to attend every week, and, well, I still have the habit. I want to go tomorrow. Wanna come, Os?"

Osmo Martin ignored him.

Sheila Bright gave directions for how to get to the official state chapel. "Um, I go to church, too. Once in awhile. With my Uncle. The services can be very, um, inspiring.”

“That's good to hear," Jane Ashton remarked.

But Sheila Bright quickly got off that talk about attending church. "So, you can see how big our city is, and how we manage to provide for our citizens. And we also make a better life possible for all those on Earth, by mining our fuel ore for them, and by sharing our food with them. Yet Earth shows its appreciation by depriving us of the basics that we need, that we ask for, forcing my Uncle to figure out ways to use the shoddy, shorted amounts of things they do send to us, to the best advantage for all of us on Hope.”

“Do tell," said Osmo, listening.

"Well, as an example, Earth sent us a lot of broken down, useless robots. Earth doesn't much use them, because they don't need them. They have enough resources, so robots are just a novelty for them, anyway. These were supposed to be service robots, for things like collecting trash and stuff. But my wise Uncle converted them to other, more useful functions, like helping guard the miners, or guarding the border of town. They keep out the wild animals, although I haven't heard of many outside of town lately. And the border robots check the permits of people coming and going, visiting some of the World of Hope's wonderful resorts and such."

Then Sheila Bright  chuckled. "Of course, Uncle Xavier can't give the robots jobs that make them think too much. Everybody knows how stupid robots can be."

Jane interrupted. "And Uncle Xavier insisted on inviting Osmo and us, his pals, here, and pays our hotel expenses, to win over Osmo's support, and in turn, Osmo will tell his father about how the World of Hope needs more help, and so Mr. Martin will then use his influence with the Earth Leaders to get more supplies sent to Hope- and also to boost tourism, too."

"Yup," Sheila said. “And I am glad Uncle Xavier did bring you here. I had fun today, especially with Osmo. I like your company."

"I like your company, too." Osmo gave her a goofy smile, which in his state he thought looked sexy.

Albert said, "Anybody game for tge beach tomorrow? I'm in the mood to vanquish Osmo in another game of volleyball!”

“Hahaha! You wish! You only got lucky last time, pal," Osmo told him.

"And he got lucky the time before that, too," reminded Jane. "Hmm, and then the time before that, also. And before that, and-"

Osmo scowled. "Okay, okay, so Albert gets lucky a lot. What's your point?"

Jane told Albert, "If you are going to go to church tomorrow, then we can't set up a time to go to the beach until after the services, don't forget.- What time is church, Sheila?”

Sheila was unsure of the actual times of the church services. She gave a time, and hoped she guessed right.

They all agreed to meet at the beach afterward. Albert assumed Osmo and Sheila would already be at the beach ahead of them, since neither of those two said they planned to attend church with Albert and Jane. After deciding what time to be at the beach, Albert excused himself so he could get enough rest in order to rise up early enough tomorrow in time for church.

Albert left then, and so did Jane, each going to his or her own hotel room. Osmo and Sheila stayed up on the rooftop, enjoying the night and each other's company.

Osmo commented, "I see our hotel rooms have landline phones. That seems a bit outdated."

"Not really, Osmo. There's not much in the way of reliable cell phones here because Hope just doesn't have a decent system set up to operate them. I think some interference in the air or something that often blocks cell calls is why it was never well developed. But the Security Agents use them, and also walkies. But other than theirs, cell phones are not so good here. When the citizens can afford to, they use landlines.”

“Oh, I see."

"My Uncle has a small communications department back at the Security Agency building, to keep the agents able to talk with each other. It especially helps him when he wants to call to Earth. The department helps synchronize the satellites with the wormhole and all that stuff."

"It sounds complicated. That's the sort of challenge my father likes to work with. He thinks that's fun. Say, Sheila, I have an idea for some late-night fun..."

"Oh? Like what?”

“Believe it or not, I brought along some balloons in my luggage. The customs on Earth gave me a funny look about them, but I brought them for just such an occasion as this. They're downstairs in my rooms yet. Let's fill them with water and bomb the people from up here as they go by!"

She shook her head. "No, Osmo, let's not. Please tell me you're not serious."

"Huh? Why not?"

"You can't do that. If someone complains, Security Leader Clyden will come and get you, and lock you up for the night. You already made him plenty mad when you took his parking place. My Uncle won't approve of locking you up like that, but Mr. Clyden can use the excuse that you were being a public nuisance while intoxicated. As a rule, he doesn't like to go against Uncle Xavier, but I think in your case, tonight, while he is still hot under the collar, Sec. Ldr. Clyden would make an exception."

Osmo laughed with mirth, carried away with his plan. "I'm willing to take my chances!" He turned toward the door leading back down from the roof- and the balloons in his rooms.

Sheila Bright gently latched onto his arm, holding him back. "Please, Osmo. My Uncle invited you here. It will be a bad reflection on him. You needn't give in to every mischievous impulse you feel, you know."

He stood there, frozen in indecision, fighting the impulse. Finally, he relaxed, sighing.

“Okay, but it would have been fun."

Then, suddenly, he kissed her on the cheek. She could smell the beer on his breath. "Sorry," he again laughed, "but I couldn't resist that fun impulse, anyway!”

Taken aback, she giggled. "It's getting late, Osmo. I'll walk with you down to your door, then I must get going, or Uncle Xavier will send Sec. Ldr. Clyden out looking for me. I hate when Uncle does that!"

After she left him, Osmo Martin entered his rooms, whistling happily, closing the door.

Sheila Bright continued on down to the street, to her truck, humming a cheery little tune of her own.

(c) 2011 drk

00007

Tretl Clyden headed for his parking spot just outside the Tourist Trap nightclub to meet his favorite rocket stewardess. The citizens knew this was his spot, so no one dared grab it. Sometimes, however, the tourists in rented cars mistakenly parked there, but Security Leader Clyden simply called in a tow truck and had the offending vehicle pulled. Tonight would be different, much to Clyden's ire.

As he neared his spot, he saw a truck swerve around him and beat him to the spot. Clyden fumed. 

Maintaining his composure, Clyden parked in the middle of the street and stepped out from his Security Agency vehicle. He felt sure the dope must be a tourist. He would set him straight, and the matter would be resolved. Then he recognized the truck- Sheila Bright's! She would never dare do that to him- In fact, why would she be at the nightclub, at such a young age?

Clyden shook his head. "All right, Sheila, what's-"

The driver wasn't Sheila, however. It was that Osmo Martin guy the Governor had asked her to show about the city. Of all the nerve. 

Clyden indicated with his thumb for Osmo to move the truck.

Osmo Martin smiled to Clyden and shook his head. "Nope, sorry. I got here first, and I got it fair and square!"

Sheila Bright sat by Osmo's side. In the back seats sat his companions Jane and Albert. Sheila told Osmo, "We can go somewhere else. A little walking will be good for us."

Osmo instead hopped out the truck. "It'll be better for him, Sheila. Look at his gut. C'mon, guys, let's see what kind of booze they got in this joint.”

Reluctantly, Sheila Bright got out. Osmo Martin already started for the nightclub. She looked at Clyden and shrugged, then hurried after Osmo. Albert and Jane followed them.

Very annoyed, Clyden growled. He was about to call in the tow truck, until he remembered it was Gov. Xavier's niece's truck. He returned to his own vehicle and snarled as he drove about, looking for an open spot closest to the nightclub he could find.

Once inside, Clyden found Gazelle already waiting at their regular booth at the Tourist Trap. She greeted him with a giant grin. "Hey, good-lookin'. Glad you got away from the Governor for the night. I was afraid you would have to stay overtime because of the VIPs from Earth tonight."

"I just told Gov. Xavier I wanted the night off, and he had better let me take the night off."

"Yeah... Right. I'll bet those were your exact words."

"Well, maybe not my EXACT words," admitted Clyden. "I wouldn't be so disrespectful to Gov. Xavier. I think he's a very wise man. Or, at least at one time I very much admired his brilliance. But now, well, since his niece has been his charge, and is getting on in her teen-age years, I begin to question his judgment. He seems to let her do whatever she wants. I think it's a bad reflection on his office, frankly."

"There she is, right over there," Gazelle pointed her out to him. "She is sitting with those kids. That rich man's kid with her, Osmo Martin, he's such a jerk. If you think she does what she wants- you should meet him. What a jerk. His father, I guess, is afraid of losing him, since he lost his wife, so he always gets him out of trouble.”

“I already did meet the punk. In the short time I did, he managed to make me hate him. Did he give you trouble, too, on the flight?"

"Not so much... Well, okay, some." She told him about how Osmo Martin had behaved.

"He better walk the straight and narrow while he's here on Hope, or maybe I'll toss him in a nice cell somewhere for a week," threatened Security Leader Clyden.

She smiled over that pleasant thought. "If only you could. But Gov. Bright would never allow that. It'd certainly work against his ploy to attract positive attention and tourism for Sparkle City. Besides, Osmo's papa no way would allow it." She sipped her coffee. "It's passengers like him that make me reconsider your job offer."

"Good, you should," Clyden encouraged her. "We see our share of jerks, but at least the pay is higher if you take the job. And you get to spend more time with me here, instead of you having to go back to Earth, which, of course, is reason enough to accept the offer. And you can take my position when Gov. Xavier makes me his assistant governor, the vice-governor, or whatever you wanna call the post.”

“So he plans to do that, then?"

"I am still working on him about it. He knows he needs me. I help him run the place, and I see that it runs smoothly. I do the unpleasant things for him, the dirty jobs that somebody's gotta do, to keep everything on track. Why wouldn't he come around to see things my way?"

"Ego?" suggested Gazelle.

"Naturally he possesses a huge ego. What great leader doesn't? But he is also a politician, and sometimes, for the sake of expediency, a politician puts his ego on hold," reasoned Clyden.

She looked skeptical. "Anyway, that dirty tricks thing, that's what I don't like. That's what holds me back from taking the job. I know you have no choice. I accept that. But I don't want to be in that position, where I have no choice in the matter."

Clyden sighed. He had nothing to say to that. After a few moments of silence, he asked, "So when do you go back?"

"Tomorrow.”

“Too bad." He sighed again. "I miss you all the time."

Meanwhile over at one of the tables, Sheila Bright and Osmo Martin sat with Albert and Jane. The group laughed as Osmo related how he once took his third grade teacher's yardstick to knock down a beehive out at recess, and then he bagged it and brought the hive into the school. School had to be dismissed because of the swarm attacking the whole school, which is what he wanted, except he didn't count on himself getting all full of bee stings.

By the entrance, Mita Morgan stepped into the club and looked around for a friendly face. 

Jane noticed from their table. "Hey, there's Mita again."

"Huh?" Osmo nodded. "Oh, that's nice, Jane." And he went on with his story.

Albert called over to her, "Hey, Mita, over here. Come sit with us." He pulled up a chair for her from another table.

Mita thanked him and joined them. She listened to Osmo's story, laughing with the others, remembering the stings vividly. Inside her mind, she growled about Sheila still cloying to Osmo. How can I shake that vamp from him? She just met him and she acts like she owns him!

The band began a lively tune. "Oh, I love this song," Mita said. "Osmo, want to dance?"

"Um, I think I'll sit this one out," he politely answered.

Albert said he liked the song, too, so he yanked Mita up to dance. 

Jane warned Mita, "Albert has two left feet."

Mita tried to hide the obvious disappointment with Osmo's rejection. She had always kept her attention fixed on her one hope and desire, and he always paid her no mind at all, just as Jane had said.

Sheila Bright grabbed Osmo Martin’s arm. "I don't care what you say, you definitely are NOT sitting this one out." She dragged him out of his chair.

"Okay, okay," he laughed, letting her pull him into the middle of the crowded dance floor.

Mita Morgan stared at them, her eyes unbelieving. What am I doing wrong?

Jane Ashton watched Osmo and Sheila, and to herself pegged Sheila as a very plastic person, the way she acted, as if she always wanted a good time. And no doubt Osmo found that trait a virtue, not a vice.

Clyden observed the youths from Earth from his booth. He asked Gazelle if she wanted to dance also.

"Sure."

Osmo Martin pranced around the floor with Sheila. Clyden hopped with vigor, surprising Gazelle with his energy. He never danced like that other times. Suddenly he was dancing over by Osmo and Sheila, gyrating and shaking it, and all at once he bumped fiercely into Osmo, hard, very hard, knocking him flat on his back.

“Osmo!" gasped Sheila.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't notice you," Clyden apologized, hardly sounding sincere. He held out his hand to help Osmo Martin back on his feet. 

Osmo at first hesitated about taking the offered hand, not sure if this whole thing was really accidental or deliberate.

"Be more careful!" Sheila complained to Clyden.

He shrugged. "Accidents can happen to anyone."

"Yeah, especially around you, Sec. Ldr. Clyden," she fumed.

Gazelle stood there, taken aback. "Clyden, maybe we better get going. It's getting late, anyway."

As they exited, he told her, "That felt good, taking down the little wiseguy. Did you see how mad Sheila got? Too bad, eh? But I guess I better get used to putting up with her; when I am second-in-command-governor, though, I will make my office off-limits to Gov. Xavier's niece."

Gazelle shook her head, still shocked. "You could have hurt that boy, Clyden!”

“From that little fall? Ha! He looks to me like he can take it. Besides, what doesn't kill you only makes you grow stronger."

"I think you should have stuck with the coffee, hon. Now you aren't even making any sense,” she told him, as they walked up the street. “Hey, where's your car? Don't you usually park right there?"

In the nightclub, Mita Morgan made sure to ask Osmo if he were okay. "It was only a fall," he told her. "No problem."

Mita wondered why Osmo didn't even get mad about it. Why was he like that? And why did that other guy knock him down in the first place? It sure seemed on purpose to her. What a rude fellow! And deep down, she realized with shame she felt a small, vengeful part of her saying silently to Osmo Martin, Good for you, if you are too dumb to appreciate me, a woman who cares for you, and continue instead to hang around with that bimbo, you deserve to get knocked down!

(c) 2011 drk