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Gov. Xavier Bright ran the World of Hope from his office at his residence on the outskirts of Sparkle City, not that there wasn’t also a good deal of his time spent in matters of state all about the city and beyond, such as now, waiting to greet the representative sent from Earth. Bored, he wondered when the Space Dart would arrive. He sat in his reserved, canopied greeter box set up adjacent to the landing field. With him sat a shapely young girl, but in her late adolescence, really. The two servant robots stood by the side.

Security Leader Clyden returned to the greeter box. "I see them coming down, Gov. Xavier." Clyden pointed to the short,descending rocket that was still far above the clouds.

"You have very good eyes, Security Leader Clyden," Xavier remarked. He turned to the young woman. "Okay, Sheila, get ready to charm our important guests who have come here to enjoy our wonderful world.”

"Yes, Uncle," she answered. "I will see that Mr. Martin and his friends find all the fun spots and have a great time."

Capt. Shatner brought the rocket low and slowed it as they neared the landing pad. He managed to land the Dart on its belly with barely a thump.

“Thank you for flying Dart Rockets. Please take your carry-ons and disembark with care in an orderly fashion."

Inside the passengers' cabin, Gazelle instructed everybody how to leave in a civil and courteous procedure, row by row. "And after you go through customs and register, you can rent a robot to help you with your luggage. Taxis are waiting outside the processing areas. Enjoy your stay-"

"Sure will", Osmo Martin told her, brushing impulsively past the flight attendant and to the head of the line.

“Hey, wait for us!" Albert Zoeniga called after his friend.

"Jerk," muttered Jane.

"Jerk," muttered Gazelle.

Jerk, George McCleer thought.

Everybody's jealous of you, my sweet Osmo, Mita Morgan thought to herself.

Osmo Martin quickly found his luggage while it was being unloaded from the back end of the Space Dart by robots and people. Soon Albert and Jane joined him. Osmo was raring to go. However, it took Jane some time to retrieve her suitcase.

"Shlotz, look at those lines at the customs booths," Osmo complained. "I had hoped to get there at the head of the lines!"

"Too bad, I had such a hard time finding my luggage," Jane Ashton said. "And I looked as fast as I could, so as not to inconvenience your highness."

Osmo Martin squinted at her suspiciously. "I am pretty sure I've seen you move a lot faster than that before."

The Governor's niece Sheila came over with one of the robots to meet the young people from Earth. "Ah, Mr. Martin- Greetings from the World of Hope! We are honored to have you and your friends with us- and most especially you, considering your parents' history with our planet."

He smiled at her. "And I am honored to meet such a pretty girl!"

She smiled back. "I am Sheila Bright.  My Uncle, the Governor, has asked me to find you and your friends and to show you around our pleasing city."

"Sounds good to me!” he answered.

“Ahem-“ Osmo's companion introduced himself. "I am Albert Zoeniga; I'm Osmo's best friend. And this lovely lady is Jane Ashton."

Jane huffed. "A nice touch, calling me the lovely lady, Albert, but I already saw your eyes pop out your head when you met Miss Bright."

"Call me Sheila, please."

Osmo assured her, "You give me your number and I will call you- Of that you can be sure. And we’ll be right with you, Sheila, as soon as we register.”

She shook her head. "Oh, don't waste your time. That stuff isn't for us. B-12, get their bags and follow us." The robot complied and she led them over to meet Gov. Bright.

Mita Morgan, meanwhile, looked on, seething at the new competition. She finally found her things and struggled with her luggage. She hoped to find an affordable robot to hire, to help her with her bags.

Gov. Xavier Bright cordially greeted Osmo Martin and his companions. “I think very highly of your father, Osmo," said Gov. Bright. "He, like your mother, is one of the great ones who helped found this planet. It is an honor to have you with us. Welcome to the World of Hope, and to Sparkle City."

"Thank you, Gov. Bright," replied Osmo. "That's very gracious, and true, what you said about Dad. He is one of the great ones!”

The Governor asked Sheila to help his guests from Earth to find their hotel and settle in for a spell. He wished them a fun time.

After Sheila Bright led Osmo Martin and his friends to a very nice pickup truck- her beloved truck. The robot B-12 carried their things for them.

Xavier Bright watched them go. “Nice kids.”

“Yes, I am sure," agreed Tretl Clyden the Security Leader.  "I will take X-9 and find the McCleers now, Gov. Xavier.”

"Good. I see them standing over there in the long lines signing in, wondering why we haven't yet come to meet them. I trust I made them wait long enough to make my point, that I don't think Mr. McCleer's visit for a supposed assessment and help is as important and worth my time as the Earth Leaders seem to think. The only thing important about George McCleer’s visit, I think, is that Mrs. McCleer is accompanying him."

The Security Leader said nothing. He crossed the field and went over toward the McCleers.

Meanwhile, the flight crew now disembarked. As stewardess Gazelle passed by the strutting Security Leader, Clyden winked at her but continued on his way. She winked back but didn't change course, either, heading for check-in. Wow, she silently noted, today Tretl is actually wearing a Security Agent uniform.

Sec. Ldr. Clyden overheard Mrs. McCleer as she was pointing at one of the many posters of the Governor hanging on the rocketport fence. "All those posters! More posters than he has Security Agents patrolling the rocketport. And see, George, Xavier is as handsome as ever! It's like he didn't change a bit."

Mr. McCleer replied, "Yes, that's what I'm afraid of."

Sec. Ldr. Clyden greeted George and Nina, shaking hands and explaining who he was, although they already knew him from stories George McCleer had heard in his job.

“X-9, get their things," Sec. Ldr. Clyden ordered.

"Yes, Sir," answered the robot. It picked up the heavy suitcases and didn't seem to mind or notice how heavy they were.

“Your very strong for your size, X-9,” Mrs. McCleer told the robot.

“Yes, Ma’m.”

Sec. Ldr. Clyden went on ahead of them, going over to the Governor, in the greeter box, who welcomed the McCleers when they caught up with Tretl Clyden.

“Ah, George, Nina, I trust your trip was uneventful. Good to see you two again." He shook George McCleer’s hand, and gave Nina a warm hug. "Nina, it's really good to see you again."

George McCleer stared but said nothing as the Governor affectionately embraced Nina a bit too much affectionately. Obviously Xavier Bright still fondly remembered Nina. How annoying. So annoying, it had made George McCleer forget how annoyed he had been because of Xavier Bright’s delay in meeting them as soon as they had left the rocket- a deliberate slight that was not lost on George McCleer.

Gov. Xavier Bright  suddenly released Nina McCleer and turned to George. The Governor bottom-lined the situation. "George, your Leaders on Earth said they were sending you to assess how well things are running here. What that really means is, you are to critique my performance. Fine. Before you can send in a report that's worth anything, I will show you what a challenge it is to run this planet. I must honestly admit, and I am sure you will agree, also, once you see what I must do, that not many people are half as qualified as I am to keep this place functioning smoothly. I do what I have to do, to get the job done. If Earth wants its precious fuel ore, they had better not try getting rid of me. But let's not talk about that stuff now. Why mar the wonderful dinner the chefs have prepared for us. Let us go now to the Governor’s House.”

Yup, it's true, George mused, silently agreeing with Nina's observation when she had seen the Governor’s poster. Xavier hasn't changed much over the years. Unfortunately. George sighed to himself. I can see this will be a pleasant stay. Xavier sounds as if he will be as co-operative as ever. And, if he were to know my true objective- Well, it is good he does not know, that's all! Or Xavier will be impossible to deal with!

(c) 2011 drk