00049

Albert Zoeniga pulled out the rickety chair for Jane, who sat in it and he gently pushed her chair in to the table. And on the table sat his specially prepared meal of roast buffalo and mashed potatoes, raised on the World of Hope. "Oh, you went all out, making dinner tonight, Albert! It must be something special indeed that you have planned.”

Albert set two glasses down upon the small table, along with a bottle of Hope's finest champagne. Soft, romantic music played in the background. "It is a special occasion."

Jane Ashton had a good idea what to expect. She grinned. "I can't wait to find out what it is. It's not the anniversary of that award you got last year in soccer, is it?" She took a bite of his mashed potatoes.

"Ha, ha, yup, that's it," he chuckled. He sat across from her at the table. "You'll find out.”

“Albert, those mashed potatoes are wonderful! I didn't know you could cook."

"Well, I got pointers from Kelli during the slow parts of the shift at work today."

"Ah, that explains your sudden culinary skills."

He reached over and held her hand. "I hope you find everything here to your liking- and not just the food, either."

She waved her free hand in a broad sweep of the air, taking in the whole of his small studio apartment. "Albert, what's not to like? You took a miserable dump and made it shine, the way you organized and arranged things."

The landline phone rang. Albert Zoeniga pretended he didn't hear it. "Thanks, Jane. You know I have good taste, and not just in apartment decorating."

She tried the roast buffalo. "Yes, you certainly do. You certainly picked a delicious cut of bison for tonight. Very good taste."

"Actually, that was the only one they had at the market today," Albert Zoeniga sheepishly revealed. "The butcher told me that there was a bit of a shortage, since they sent so much of the bison to Earth and the rest was bought up for some planning committee for the upcoming Sparkle City Day festivities."

"Well, yeah, okay, but technically you still chose that cut. Al, aren't you going to answer the phone? I mean, half the people of Hope aren't even lucky enough to get one with their apartment, and here you got one, and you pay it no mind."

"It can wait. Eventually, whoever it is will hang up. I forgot to turn it off, so as not to be interrupted.”

“It just might be important," Jane Ashton teased.

"Too late, they hung up. Besides, it can't be as important as what I have to say. Probably, Kelli wants to give me an update on Brother Simon's trip to Earth. But that can wait until tomorrow. Tonight, it's my time with my dearest Jane."

Jane Ashton, all aglow, enjoyed being pampered and the center of Albert's attention. "Oh, you! You always did show me such consideration. So tell me, what's so special about tonight, that you won't let anybody spoil it?”

Albert Zoeniga reached into a pocket and pulled out a small, velvet covered box. He set it on the table and took both her hands in his. "Jane, we have known each other for a long time. We have been dating for almost as long. When you were going to return to Earth, to finish up business, I had this unsettling feeling that I may never see you-"

A loud knock on the door startled Jane. She rolled up her eyes. Albert muttered, "Oh, for crying out loud! First the phone, now the door-“

Jane Ashton shrugged. "I guess you forgot to hang out the 'Do Not Disturb' sign."

He squeezed her hands and then let go. "To be continued," he told her unromantically. He went to the door. Without opening it, he called, "Go away; whatever it is, it can wait. Come back tomorrow."

The knocking became mild pounding. Osmo Martin’s voice called back, "Al, let me in. This is important!"

Jane and Albert sighed. Jane shook her head. "Of course- it's Osmo at the door, just when we are in the middle of something big."

Much annoyance in his voice, Albert  Zoeniga wanted to know, as he yanked open the door, "What, Osmo, what is so important?"

Jane Ashton was the first to notice the uniform Osmo wore. "What's with that getup? It's not Halloween already, is it?"

Osmo Martin said, "I had my first mission tonight. Didn't you guys hear? I am sure some bystanders saw it from their homes. I would think someone would have already told you about it. I came to warn you two and talk some sense into your heads."

He came in and shut the door behind.

Albert Zoeniga asked, puzzled, "What are you talking about? We didn't hear anything. We didn't want to be interrupted, so we kept off the radio and refused to answer the phone. In fact, we're right in the middle of something special, Osmo."

Osmo Martin glanced at the set table, the champagne, the small jewelry box. "Oh. Sorry. But this is more important-”

“Excuse me?" challenged Jane. "I don't think so."

"Hon, let's hear what he has to say. Osmo looks very serious."

Osmo Martin informed Albert and Jane what had happened to the Grametzes earlier that night. Jane and Albert were shocked.

Concerned for his pals, Osmo said, "My advice to you, as a friend, is to leave that illegal house church group, while you still can, before you're caught up with them!”

“What? Osmo, you know we can't do that. We think God wants Albert and me at that church," Jane Ashton answered.

"You see, Osmo?!" asked Albert Zoeniga. "I told you- I told you when you first accepted that job with the Governor, that taking that job was a bad idea. Now you are helping them to raid the homes of good people! If I were you, I’d take off that uniform and burn it!”

And Jane Ashton said, "What made you want to come to warn us, anyway, Osmo? Aren't you being disloyal to the great and powerful Oz, I mean, Gov. Bright?”

Osmo Martin fretted, "You don't understand. These friends of yours are dealing in illegal drugs! They apprehended Bro. Simon when he got to Earth because of drugs, and now we also got the Grametzes!"

Albert Zoeniga found the story incredible. So did Jane. She insisted, "Osmo, that's ridiculous! There's no chance either the Grametzes or Bro. Simon are involved with drugs! Totally a lie and unbelievable!"

"You better believe it, if you know what's good for you. I saw it with my own eyes tonight, at the raid. I saw them find the drugs. Why do you think I came to warn you? Your friends are deceiving you. Get out of there before you get caught with them. I took a risk coming here immediately after the raid. I should be heading back to Sheila's birthday party, but I had to warn you. Lucky for me, the lighting on this block leaves much to be desired. It wouldn't be good, if someone spotted me, in my new Security Agent uniform, coming over here. It wouldn't be good for either me or you."

Albert Zoeniga tried to convince his friend. "Osmo, they don't do drugs! If drugs were found, they were planted on them. Gov. Bright can't stand that we obey a Higher Authority than he. He is stooping very low, to fabricate such evidence. He is a tyrant, Osmo. This proves it."

Osmo Martin refused to accept that. "Gov. Bright is a good man, Albert. And I saw them find the drugs at the Grametzes. Do you think they can so easily fool me?"

"Sad to say, yes," Jane Ashton replied. "It is you who should get away from YOUR new friends, Osmo. Leave the Governor's service; don"t stay working for a dictator.”

Osmo Martin threw up his hands in the air, frustrated. "I see we see this trouble that's coming two different ways. Too bad. Well, I did what I could, at least. I gave you fair warning. I should be heading back to the party before people start wondering what’s keeping me. Oh, and, incidentally, if the evidence actually is fake, then I think the suspect would be the Security Leader. But Gov. Bright is a good judge of character. I think he wouldn't put someone in that position as his Security chief, if he was a bad man and Gov. Bright couldn't trust him. Would he?"

"Oh, Osmo, I hope and pray you see the light one day about the Governor," Jane Ashton told him.”

“Hmm. I do hope one of us- or two, Jane and Al- does get enlightened about what's going on, before it is too late," Osmo Martin said. "I must be going now. You two be careful."

"Okay. You take care, too, Osmo."

Before their friend left, Albert said a quick prayer, for God's blessing and mercy and protection for all of them. Osmo Martin stayed until Al finished his prayer. He figured he could use all the prayers for his safety that he could get, considering his new duties, and in hunting down the people from the house church, who might possibly be dangerous.

(c) drk 2012