00052

When no one at the Governor's House saw Nina McCleer for a day or two, Gov. Xavier Bright visited the  guest suite to be certain she was okay. The robot X-9 told the Governor she had gone out but so far she never returned. The robot kept her secret. Xavier Bright saw that most of her stuff was still in the rooms. He wondered if something had happened to her while she was away.

“Did she say specifically where she went?" asked Gov. Bright.

X-9 answered, "I think Mrs. McCleer felt she didn't need to tell me about her comings and goings."

"Of course not," Gov. Bright snapped. "You're just a robot, for crying out loud!"

"Yes, Sir."

An hour later, Gov. Bright found out from the Security Leader that one of the guards, assigned to the Security Team in charge of the mansion's grounds during the night of the party, had observed Mrs. McCleer leaving the estate after dark. She only carried a small overnight bag, and since the guard already knew her, he let her go without stopping her, prioritizing instead keeping his eyes on those attending Sheila Bright’s party.

Uncertain of what had become of Nina, Xavier Bright pondered his suspicions during dinner. He barely paid the others any attention.

X-9 attended to Sheila Bright during the meal, serving her with his butler skills. Sheila Bright became the robot’s new assignment now, since Nina McCleer’s leaving. It really was not a new job for X-9; in the past, he had also watched over her, before she got her driver's license and seldom stayed at the mansion then.

In those days of Sheila Bright’s early years , she had wandered all about Sparkle City- and beyond, contrary to her mother's admonitions. She had kept X-9 very, very busy, trying to keep safe the Governor’s niece.

And now, once again, X-9 focused his attention on her.

Sheila Bright had invited Osmo Martin to dinner tonight, and, for a change, he was able to come. Amazingly, he had some free time from Security duties.

Mita Morgan sat at the dining table, too, but without Security Leader Tretl Clyden. He was once more occupied with matters other than dining, as usual these days.

Sheila Bright savored the moment of being together with Osmo Martin. "Since you joined the Security Agents, I don't get to see you nearly enough nowadays.”

“I know. It's the downside of growing up and taking a job."

Mita Morgan said, "I know what you are feeling, Sheila. Since Tretl began training Osmo, and now is trying to smash this drug ring masquerading as an illegal church, he and I see less and less of each other each day. On the plus side, I get a lot of time to do a lot of shopping lately. Like at the purse and shoe sale going on at the Hope Mall; but it's a bit too pricey there, since it's a problem sometimes to get decent stuff shipped from Earth to here.”

“My father is looking into that,” said Osmo Martin. “He's working on convincing the Committee that the World of Hope needs more, and better-grade, supplies."

“And cheaper, also, I hope,” said Sheila Bright.

Usually Xavier Bright jumped in the conversation at an opportunity like that, to complain regarding the lack of goods from Earth. However, this time he seemed to not hear. Instead, he asked his niece, “Sheila, do you know anything about where Mrs. McCleer could be? I know sometimes you two talked. Did she tell you anything about her plans?"

"No, Uncle, nothing. Do you suppose anything has happened to her?"

Osmo Martin said, "I think Mrs. McCleer is upset because she wants closure, she wants to be able to give Mr. McCleer a proper funeral. What if her grief is too much-” He didn't finish his thought. “I hope she doens't do anything foolish.”

"Yes, so do I," Xavier Bright said. "But I don't think we need to worry about that scenario. No, Security Leader Clyden and I have another idea."

“Like what, Uncle?” Sheila asked.

“In time, in time it will come out," Xavier Bright answered. "No doubt sooner rather than later."

A beep from his cell phone interrupted him. He took the call. "Yes, Sec. Ldr. Clyden? What? Don't play games, just tell me what is on the screen! What?! Okay, I am heading to the rec hall now to see it with my own eyes!"

Gov. Bright put his cell communicator back in his pocket. "Okay, if you want to know where Mrs. McCleer went, follow me. I will show you. Sec. Ldr. Clyden has verified our suspicions are correct.”

The three young adults followed Xavier Bright into the recreation hall, curious over the matter.

Gov. Xavier Bright turned on the big screen and growled at what picture flashed onto the screen.

Sheila Bright gasped.

There, on a live newscast, protestors flocked to the freight-loading zone of the rocketport.

Protestors! On the World of Hope!

Different angles and closeups intercut with the panning shots of those demonstrators disrupting the work that should be going on at the freighter rockets. Some of the people held signs. One of them even thought to bring a banner that read John 3:16. A chorus of chants could be heard. "Where are our loved ones? Where are our loved ones?"

Somebody spoke through a bullhorn, leading the chant. A close shot revealed it to be Nina McCleer!

Gov. Bright snarled, "I guess we don't have to wonder if she will do anything foolish, do we, Osmo?"

"No, Sir."

On the screen, Nina raised a hand to quiet the chanting. Then, she called out to the gathering tourists and bystanders at the rocketport who came to see what this commotion was all about, and why these people blocked the workers from loading the freight rockets.

Nina McCleer said, "What we want, what we ask from Gov. Bright, is simple enough. We want our loved ones sent back to us from the mines! Return them to us! Return them to us! My George doesn't want to dig fuel ore anymore, against his will. He's done nothing to deserve such treatment! Bring him back to me! We want our loved ones home again!”

Gov. Xavier Bright glared. His cheeks began to redden.

"What's Mrs. McCleer talking about?" asked Mita Morgan.

Nina McCleer continued onscreen, “We tried to reason with the Governor, but he would not hear us. So now, we want to get the attention of the world- both worlds, in fact- to tell them what is going on here on the World of Hope-"

Upset and angry, Sheila Bright asked, "Uncle Xavier, what is she talking about? Why is she doing this?! Why is she talking as if she believes you are doing criminal things? Why is she embarrassing us? How could she do this, after all you've done for her! You even let stay in the suite for as long as she needed after Mr. McCleer's accident!"

Xavier Bright looked both mad and hurt. "I don't know, Sheila, I just don't know how she can betray us in this way."

Sheila Bright saw some of the rocketport guards hurrying across the landing fields toward the unauthorized gathering. According to the news reporter covering the story, it appeared the protestors deliberately held up the loading of the fuel ore onto the freighter by blocking the access to the cargo hatches.

Sheila gasped as she watched the faces of the other protestors- Not only Mrs. McCleer betrayed her Uncle's kindness. She saw Albert Zoeniga and Jane Ashton were in the gang of trouble-makers!

"Look at them, Osmo, look at your friends! Some friends- They, too, are slapping Uncle in the face after he had hosted them at the Hope Hotel!" She cried out, "Osmo, what are you waiting for? You should get on your uniform and get over there. Help the guards arrest those backstabbers! Here are my keys, take my truck!”

Dumbfounded, Osmo Martin took the keys. Gov. Bright prodded him, "She's right, Osmo, you better get moving. And be tactful when you take the crinminals into custody- Look at all the eyes witnessing the event."

Osmo Martin rushed out the door, heading over to his quarters at the Security Agency building for his Security Agent outfit. In a matter of two minutes, he hopped into Sheila's truck and peeled out. He sighed to himself, Oh, Al, Jane, if only you had listened to my advice!

(c) drk 2012