Tranquility Down

Part Nine

by G. Lawrence

In this sequel to Tranquility in Darkness, we find Grey, Kris, and their allies struggling to establish the Lunar Republic as a legitimate nation. This old-style science fiction story is being presented in 11 parts.

Recap: Hiding on a California farm following the crash of his spaceship, Grey had helped the farmers and made an agreement with a local gangster. Now Kris has finally learned where Grey is from her sister. All characters are over 18 years old. All rights reserved.

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Chapter 9

FOND REUNIONS

Kris let the science elevator drop rapidly from the communications center past the research deck to the community level, growing more excited with each passing minute. When the doors opened, she dashed through the elevator lobby, up the promenade past startled shoppers, and bounced toward the administration section, initially heading for the Governor's Quarters. At the last minute, she remembered Roger had recently taken up new quarters and diverged into the VIP section.

"Roger, I've found him," Kris announced, bursting into the luxury suite without ringing the bell. The living room was empty, and without thinking, she ran into the bedroom.

"Roger! Where are you? I found... Oh, fuck," Kris said, stopping dead in her tracks.

In the bed, scrambling to pull up the sheets, Roger and Tey looked at her in red-faced embarrassment, but no more embarrassment than Kris felt.

"God, I'm sorry guys, I didn't know," Kris said, beating a hasty retreat. Rather than make the awkward situation any worse, she quickly exited the suite and bounced back toward the Governor's Quarters.

"Guess our secret is out," Roger said, releasing the sheet when they heard the outside door slide shut.

"Kris isn't a gossip, but she was all worked up about something," Tey said, reaching for her uniform laying on the floor. "Shall we go see what it's all about?"

"Ten more minutes," Roger said, pulling her back into his arms. "If my guess is right, this might be the last quiet moment we have together for quite a while."

"You've heard from Grey?" Tey asked.

"Not directly," Roger said, his voice lowering to a whisper. "He contacted the Security Computer. Everything's okay. He was planning to visit Doctor Fairfield yesterday, and with luck, we should be seeing him sometime next week."

"We?" Tey said. "Next week? Where?"

"That depends on you, dear," Roger said. "I need to talk to my father about how this is going to play out, and he's not going to like it. That means taking a trip to Denver. I'd like you to come with me. As my fiancée."

"Roger, is this a proposal?" Tey asked in surprise.

"Yes, Tey, I'm in love with you. I have been from the first moment we met," Roger revealed. "Is there any chance?"

"I don't know, it's all rather sudden," Tey hesitated. "How would I tell my parents that I might be engaged to an infamous pirate?"

"A pirate would kidnap you and force you into marriage," Roger said with a grin. "But now that you've suggested it..."

He grabbed her, rolled her down underneath him, and caressed her in his most passionate, buccaneer way.

"All right," Tey said, playfully struggling against his amorous intent.

"All right? Does that mean what I hope it means?" Roger asked, pausing in mid-seduction.

"Yes, my love, I'll marry you," Tey said, finding Roger so stunned she was able to roll him over and get on top. She kissed him softly, then somewhat roughly, and slapped his chest. "Now get dressed, matey, Kris might need our help. You can always rape me later."

"I'm the luckiest guy in the world, you know that, don't you?" Roger said, helping Tey find her clothes.

"You'd better believe it," she said, flashing her bottom before pulling up her pants.

"Life Support, I know where Grey is," Kris said as she sprinted into the monitor room.

"How did you find out?" the Life Support Computer asked, coming online slowly following a difficult maintenance run.

"How did I find out? What do you mean, how did I find out?" she asked.

"Sorry, the question should have been, how did you find him?" Life Support corrected.

"No, that's not what you meant at all! You've known where Grey's been all along, haven't you?" she said.

"That's not technically true," Life Support started to explain.

"Don't give me that bullshit, you goddamn fucking son of a bitch," Kris shouted, thumping the side of the control console with her foot. "I'm going to kick your ass! Come out of there! Come out of there right now!"

"Kris, what is going on?" Nicholas asked, entering from the outside hallway with Tamera close behind.

"Grey's in California," Kris said. "Been there the whole damn time, and Life Support knew. It knew and didn't say anything. Get me a blaster, I going to shoot this goddamn piece of..."

"Kris, get a hold of yourself," Nicholas said, taking her gently by the shoulders. "We will figure out what this is all about, but blasting the computer will not help."

"Really, Captain Fairfield, I never realized you exhibited such high spirits," the Life Support Computer said. "No wonder Grey finds you challenging. Are you like this in bed?"

"That's it! You're dead! You are a dead machine! Let me go, Nick," Kris yelled, kicking the console with both feet as Nicholas sought to restrain her.

"Nick's right, we can't blast the computer," Tamera agreed. "Let's unplug it."

"My systems can't be unplugged, Miss Kantanee, unless you're tired of having heat and oxygen," Life Support responded.

"It will be worth it," Tamera replied, stepping up to the central monitor screen.

"Okay, that is enough," Nicholas said. "What is this about Grey being on Earth?"

"Yeah. I just talked to Valerie. He was there last night, in her house at the institute," Kris said.

"This does sound strange," Nicholas pondered.

The sound of footsteps from outside were heard coming in their direction. A moment later, Roger and Tey entered looking hastily dressed.

"What's happened?" Roger asked. "We can hear shouting all the way down the hall."

"We just found out..." Kris started to say.

"Captain Fairfield has received a communication from Doctor Fairfield," the Life Support Computer interrupted in a much louder tone than usual. "She has learned that Grey is in California and that his whereabouts have been kept secret."

Roger looked at the green signature patterns jumping across the monitor screen, waiting to see if the computer was going to elaborate. It didn't. Roger saw Kris was upset, which he easily understood, and Tamera was angry. Nicholas appeared fairly composed.

"I'm sure there's a good explanation, Kris," Roger said, checking for the Life Support Computer's reaction. "Let's all calm down and review the records."

"I don't think that warhead going off was an accident," Tamera said. "Now that we know what happened, I think this is one of the machine's tricks. It crashed him down on purpose."

"Perhaps," Roger said. "But if this is some sort of secret mission, maybe Grey had a good reason not to tell anybody."

"You think Grey knew he was going to Earth?" Kris asked.

"Let's not jump to conclusions," Roger suggested.

"I bet he did," Kris said, reflecting on the situation. "And I bet Life Support wasn't the only one who knew about it."

Roger kept his expression neutral and was relieved when Kris turned back to the monitor station. Tey was still holding her breath.

"Security Computer," Kris summoned.

"Better get ready to grab her again," Roger whispered to Nicholas.

Nicholas looked at Roger and suddenly realized the crusty veteran knew more than he was saying but quietly decided not to stir up any more trouble. Instead, Nicholas put two hands on Kris's shoulders and sought to keep her calm. The black signature patterns of the Security Computer swirled into the central flux.

"Captain Fairfield, repairs on New Ranger are complete," the Security Computer announced. "Defense is clearing a launch window for you and the Northern Alliance High Command has provided an entry code. You depart at 1900 hours."

"Launch window? But how did you know?" Kris asked, taken completely by surprise.

"Events are proceeding according to schedule," Security said. "Haven't you been reviewing your blue file?"

"Blue file? What blue file? What kind of crap are you trying to pull?" Kris said.

"Operation Vacation. The Governor's plan to--" The Security Computer paused. "I'm sorry, Captain, but your companions are not cleared for this information. No further explanations are possible."

The black signature patterns went to standby. Kris sat down in the command chair.

"There is no blue file," Kris said, her voice steady.

"Agreed, but there should have been," the Security Computer confessed, the tone genuinely regretful. "But there is an Operation Vacation. The Governor only recently discovered you've not been informed. That's why he visited your sister and had the message delivered. You have my sincere apologies for not telling you sooner, and I suggest you kick the Governor's butt because this is all his fault."

Kris almost smiled. Tamera didn't.

"We have been worried sick," Tamera said. "Especially Kris. There is no excuse."

"There is a very good excuse," the Security Computer said, the tone turning serious. "The Governor needed to slip into Earth's atmosphere as part of the meteor shower. Any effort to help him, any attempt to communicate, would have revealed his location to the Northern Alliance. This is a covert operation, Lieutenant Kantanee, with the Governor's life at stake. If you resent that every precaution has been taken to protect him, that's too bad."

"I should have said that," the Life Support Computer lamented.

"Your programming is too narrow," Security said. "If you hadn't discovered the plan by accident, you'd know no more than the rest of them."

"But it was my plan!" Life Support said.

"That's what Grey wanted you to think," Security replied gleefully.

"You guys fight later," Kris interrupted, getting up from the chair. "Am I really scheduled to ship out in three hours?"

"Yes, Kris," Security said. "You'll be landing at Point Mugu."

"Then I've got plans to make," Kris said.

____________

Late the next day, shuttlecraft New Ranger once owned by Laureen McKinsey received final clearance from NA High Command to enter Northern Alliance air space. The shuttle dropped swiftly over the Pacific Ocean and glided to a landing at the Point Mugu launch facility, now operated by the Malibu Institute of Space Technology. The shuttle's sole occupant popped open the side hatch and jumped to the tarmac.

"Kris! Kris!" Valerie shouted, rushing past the ground crew to embrace her little sister with Michael close behind. "Gosh, Kris, you look great."

"Mighty tasty, babe," Michael agreed, giving her a hug.

Behind them, an aggressive press corps was being kept at bay by the M.I.S.T. security forces, reporters shouting questions as dozens of cameras recorded her arrival.

Caught off-guard by the sudden weight of Earth's stiffer gravity, Kris gained her sea legs and smiled despite herself. She had not been a happy person before the New Ranger Expedition a year before, and Valerie could sense her sister was worried about the former depression reasserting itself.

"Don't worry, everything's fine," Valerie assured her, giving Kris another hug.

"Good to see you guys," Kris responded, knowing anything she said would be picked up by the news coverage. "I'm looking forward to seeing some old friends, too."

"We confirmed with General Larson that you'd be visiting the Black Sash games. He understands why Grey can't come down, too. International relations being what they are," Michael said.

A runner carrying a squad of soldiers picked them up and sped to the transport facility where a hopper was waiting for them. A quick flight brought them to a landing circle near the institute's administration building. They had hardly disembarked from the hopper before a rush of students and faculty surrounded them.

"What's life on the moon like?" one asked.

"What's the Governor like? Is he as cute as he looks in the vid?" another inquired.

"We've heard Tranquility is taking recruits. Can I apply?" a gangling young man wondered.

"Captain Fairfield's had a long flight," Michael said, instructing the staff to make a path. "We'll have a reception Sunday on the West Lawn. Until then, all security procedures are in place."

The crowd moaned in disappointment as Kris was hustled into a runner, arriving at the President's Residence a few minutes later.

"We can talk here without being spied on, dear," Valerie said, helping Kris take off her flight uniform.

"Where is he?" Kris asked with a frown. "What the hell's going on?"

"You're sure getting high strung," Michael teased. Kris punched him in the arm. Hard.

"Hey, that hurt," he complained.

"Grey's escape pod crashed just east of here," Valerie said, putting a robe around Kris's shoulders and sitting her on the couch. "It would have been dangerous to communicate sooner, so he took an alias and waited until it was safe."

"For a month? What's he been doing?" Kris asked.

"Working on a farm," Valerie explained.

"Among other things," Michael added.

"I want to talk to him. Now," Kris insisted.

"Relax, honey. Take a bath and get something to eat," Valerie replied just as firmly.

"May as well. We don't have any direct communication with him," Michael said. "Too much risk the call would be traced. But we know where he's staying. Hardly more than forty minutes from here."

"I can..." Kris began.

"You can lead the Council's agents right to him," Michael said impatiently. "You're one of the most famous women in the world. How are you going to travel around without thousands of people knowing it?"

Kris sat back on the couch to reflect, taking a moment to stare out the window toward the crashing surf she couldn't quite see. Mike was right, she decided. She may have a safe conduct, but Grey certainly did not. And it wouldn't be the first time the Council chose to make their problems quietly go away. Valerie took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

"We'll work something out," Valerie said, flipping back her shoulder length hair.

Kris looked at her sister's long yellow tresses and fondled her own dark hair, now much longer than she'd worn it in the past.

"The administration department can find me an alias, too," Kris said. "And it will work even better with a redesign. A blonde redesign."

The next morning, a nondescript runner drove up an old road guided by the electronic guidance control. Kris looked out the window at the open fields, feeling like she was seeing them for the first time. How different living on the moon is, she thought. How green and beautiful this world is.

She passed several ranches and farms before finding the Farmer's house on a low hill surrounded by tall trees. The vehicle slowed as she studied the fields even harder, quietly praying her information was accurate. But the fields were big, broken by creeks, wind breaks and irrigation channels. Not like Tranquility's biosphere where the entire crop room could be taken in at a glance. Then she noticed movement and ordered the runner to stop by the side of the road.

The field was damp from the morning dew. Near the edge, where a line of trees ran along a lovely little creek, a slim blond man was attacking rows of irrigation pipes with a hand tool. The work was hard, and even in the cool of the fresh morning, the shirtless farm hand was working up a sweat.

Kris started to walk around the edge of the field to avoid the muddy furrows, then lost patience and cut straight across, running the last hundred meters. The worker paused in his efforts and looked up, interested but not alarmed to see a strange blonde-haired woman coming his direction.

"Grey? Is it you?" Kris shouted.

She leaped the last few feet into his arms, knocking them both down into the damp soil, and smothered his face with kisses, the weeks of anxiety dissolving in relief. Initially on top, Kris was rolled over on her back and kissed just as ardently. Then the farm hand sat up with a quizzical smile.

"And who do I have the honor of addressing?" Grey asked.

"Who? It's me! Kris. Kris Fairfield," she protested. It took her a moment to realize he was joking.

"I'm so glad you're okay," she said.

"You appear different," Grey observed. "You smell different, too. Have you changed something?"

"Changed something? Grey, I'm blonde. Bleached blonde. And wearing make-up, which I almost never do, and I'm wearing this silly dress that Valerie gave me, which makes my boobs look bigger than rocket balls."

"You're energy level is unnaturally high," Grey commented. "Have you been experiencing anxiety?"

"You bet your life I've been experiencing anxiety," Kris confessed. "My lover and best friend disappears in outer space after one of his usual stupid death-defying stunts. He's gone for weeks, presumably stranded or dead someplace, and the whole time he's living an hour from my own cottage growing a bunch of strawberries."

"I missed strawberry season," Grey said. "We're getting ready to plant tomatoes now."

"I should kick your ass for this. Big time. I've never been so worried in my whole life."

"You have my heartfelt apology," Grey sympathized. "I thought you would be briefed once the cover story was no longer effective. Security only told me a few days ago the plan had failed."

"Did Life Support really know you were here the whole time?" Kris asked.

"Security and Defense know more than Life Support," Grey revealed, leaving Roger out of the explanation. "Didn't they brief you on the mission?"

"Those goddamn piece of crap machines," Kris growled. "No wonder you've never trusted them. The whole time you've been gone, Life Support has been pulling one trick after another, and Security's hardly been much better. And Defense hasn't done anything, just rules over everyone like a god."

"It's comforting to hear nothing's changed back home," Grey smiled.

"When we get back, we've got to pull the plug on Life Support once and for all. Do you know what we've been going through?"

"Negative. I've spoken with Security a few times, but always about my situation here. I just assumed that between you, Nick, and the planning committee, that Tranquility could take care of itself."

Kris felt her face turn red and dropped her eyes.

"Everything is satisfactory, isn't it?" Grey asked.

"We had a few problems," Kris admitted.

"What problems? The reactor? The recycling system? Don't say the repair coordinator went off-line again."

"No, nothing like that. Well, that stuff, too, but we got by," Kris said. "With you gone, people started disagreeing on how to do things. You know, policies, procedures. Priorities. Started breaking down into cliques and groups. For a while... well, we finally managed to pull everybody together."

"How did you do that?" Grey asked.

"Life Support reminded us that... Damn! Life Support. It was all a test. A test to see if Tranquility could survive without you."

"I've warned you that system can be deceiving," Grey said, finding it hard not to smile.

"I never dreamed it would try something like this."

"Were there injuries?"

"No. A fight or two, but nothing more serious than that," Kris answered.

"If the exercise proved worthwhile, perhaps it's for the best. You know this is a subject that has concerned me since the battle with the seekers."

"Yeah, I know. Just not one I like to think about."

"And if this scheme of Computer's didn't result in casualties, then it isn't as bad as some," Grey continued with a sigh.

Kris saw the flash of painful memory in his eyes, recalling again how different his life had been from anyone else's.

"Kiss me, moon man," she whispered in a sultry voice, putting her hands on his shoulders and pulling him close. It was a long kiss, and well worth the extended voyage.

"You're looking mighty good," Kris finally said. "Well, maybe not the hair, but you've got a nice tan. Strong, too. No problems with the heavier gravity?"

"No, Medical's extra conditioning has proved beneficial. I don't remember ever feeling so healthy."

"Fresh air and blue skies can have that effect. Now that I'm not so worried, I'm enjoying the morning, too. Do you have to work the whole day? Wouldn't want to get you fired."

"Fired?" Grey asked. "Burned?"

Kris laughed. "No, as in terminated from your employment."

"Just as well, the renumeration isn't high," Grey said, realizing she was being factitious.

"How much are you making?" she asked.

"Room and board," Grey said.

"Room and board? That's outrageous. It's illegal," Kris protested.

"It's superior to being incarcerated," Grey smiled.

"Jeez, I plain forgot what you must be going through," Kris apologized. "Working in the fields all day. Hiding out. Afraid to show your face. Has it been frightening?"

"Not exactly," Grey said.

They looked across the field to see half a dozen people heading in their direction. Kris was concerned at first, but then she saw children with them. Grey stood to put on his shirt and helped Kris to her feet. In a moment, they were surrounded.

"Ben," Walter Edelson said, out of breath from running. "We were up at the house looking for you. Thought you should know about a strange vehicle heading this direction. Maybe a reporter or another of those government surveyors."

"We know how you like your privacy," Peter Edelson added as the group looked at Kris with distrust.

"Thank you, everything is fine," Grey assured them.

"Are we interrupting anything?" Peter asked.

"No, this is my friend--" Grey started to explain.

"Marsha. Marsha Kline," Kris said, shaking Pete's hand.

"Is she visiting from the Aleutians, too?" Walter asked.

"No, she's just visiting," Grey said.

The farmers relaxed and pressed closer, especially the children, one taking Grey's hand.

"I was thinking about that idea you had, about staggering our harvesting schedules," Peter mentioned.

"Labor divided by market demand," Trammel Jones elaborated.

"Yeah, right. Just how does that work, exactly?" Peter asked.

"And Pete and I were wondering if you'd like to hit town with us this weekend?" Walter said. "That is, if your friend doesn't mind. Or she can come with us. I have a date with Joanna, and you... well, you know some people there, too."

"Will you help us with our science experiment again?" little Melissa Jones asked, her eyes big and brown. "We got a hundred percent on the last one, and Mom said it's not cheating to ask you questions."

Surprised to find herself ignored, Kris stepped back to appraise the crowd, shocked to see the unfeigned admiration of the farmers. These people don't even know that Ben Brown is really Grey Waters, she thought. Yet she'd never have guessed from the eager expressions.

She looked at Grey who, despite being customarily shy, appeared to relate well, answering questions with patience. She had never seen him in a situation like this before, nor even imagined he could do it.

After fifteen minutes, Grey agreed to meet with several farmers over dinner at the Jones place and the crowd slowly dispersed, several asking Grey if he needed help only to be assured that all was under control. A few looked at Kris with curiosity, but not recognition. It was her relationship with Ben they seemed to be wondering about, and Kris discovered that it was she, not Grey, who was now the outsider.

"This is so bizarre," Kris said when they were alone again. "This is my planet. I'm the hero here. And yet everyone likes you. What have you been up to?"

"No more than usual."

"That usually means big trouble. Can you take a break? We've got a lot to talk about."

They walked across the field, over a low hill and up to the barn, Kris signaling for the runner to follow and park at the top of the driveway. Entering the barn through the rear door, Kris saw how clean the facility was, the tools precisely organized, the equipment in carefully arranged rows. It had Grey written all over it.

"My room's over here," Grey said, pointing to the side door.

Kris noticed the room was also very clean with lovely lace curtains, a quilted bed cover, and dozens of small amenities to make it more comfortable. An out-of-date monitor sat on an oak bureau.

"I could have rigged the antenna to receive the new web, but the reception might have been traced by the authorities," Grey said. "And the local news is very entertaining."

Grey disappeared into the bathroom, soaked a towel in the sink, and came back rinsing off the morning sweat. Kris had to admire the extra muscle development, his chest and arms stronger than she'd ever seen.

"These are the same reporters who were calling you a blood thirsty murderer only a few months ago," Kris said without sharing his opinion.

"That's the part I find the most amusing," Grey said. "Even though they portray me in a negative manner, few of the people I've met seem to believe it."

"Thank God for that," Kris said.

"I must admit, that fake bio vid Mister Davis and Life Support produced has made this entire mission easier. My initial anger was wrong, and if I overreacted, I apologize," Grey said with sheepish sincerity.

"Damn it, when are you going to accept that the vid is not fake," Kris said in frustration. "It was taken directly from Tranquility's records."

"No one could be as fearless and unselfish as the person in that vid," Grey disagreed. "I've never been eager for battle, and I'm always afraid when it can't be avoided. And I watch out for my own interests."

"Right, like when you went back into the Loop for Catarina even though the odds were hopeless. And when you stayed in the kill zone to draw in that forth seeker. And the time you rescued Ted by..."

"All of the incidents you cite are exaggerations," Grey insisted.

"Sure they are," Kris smiled, knowing she'd never get him to admit otherwise. "I've been told you might be looking for a ride home. New Ranger rode down like a bucking bronco, but Mike says Silent Wind should be ready in another week."

"The timing will be good," Grey replied. "Another few days and this mission will reach its conclusion."

"Maybe you should come back to M.I.S.T.? You'll be safe there," Kris suggested.

"We can't allow your sibling to be involved in this," Grey disagreed. "Many humans want her to be a candidate for Doctor McKinsey's senate seat. Her leadership is badly needed. We must not give the Council an excuse to preempt her chances."

Grey finished with the towel and put on a fresh shirt that had been carefully embroidered by hand.

"A gift?" she asked, admiring the craft work.

"One of many," Grey said, trying not to make it sound like a nuisance.

He seated her on the bed, looked out the door to make sure they were alone, and took a seat next to her, his expression serious.

"Kris..." he started to say.

"Yes?" she finally asked when he didn't continue.

"I'm concerned you won't like this," Grey hinted.

"I haven't liked a lot of this, so you may as well tell me and get it over with," she insisted, taking his hand to provide reassurance.

"The reason I'm not staying at M.I.S.T. is because the Council's agents can't pursue me there," he said. "My whole plan depends on their agents finding me on equal ground."

Kris didn't know what to stay. She let Grey's hand go, then took it back, studying his expression without success.

"Okay, you've completely lost me," she admitted.

"It's been clear since the invasion that the Congress-In-Council views recapturing the moon as vital to their public relations," Grey said. "Eliminating me has been the key to their strategy. As long as they hold to this policy, Tranquility won't get the supplies we need or the cooperation that's vital to our long-term defense."

Grey stood up to look out the window, finding it difficult to look Kris in the face.

"The mining operation was a ploy from the beginning," he said. "I activated the warhead's timer to make the detonation look like an assassination attempt. The blast was calculated to send X40 into Earth's path where I planned to deflect it at the last minute, enhancing the heroic image the bio vid had already created."

Grey paused to let Kris comprehend what he was telling her.

"I've lingered in this area to show the local residents that I'm not the demon their media portrays," he eventually continued. "And I installed a new global web so this message will spread to other regions. Within the next few days, the Council will send covert agents to assassinate me. When I expose these agents, and my actual identity becomes known, the Council's leadership will be severely compromised. At that point, they'll be forced to negotiate in good faith."

"Is this something Life Support thought up?" Kris asked, finding the whole business too convoluted for belief. "Running down X40 was still dangerous. What if you'd been killed?"

"I'm not pretending it wasn't dangerous, but the risk factors were carefully considered. Had something unfortunate happened, Major Vandebrown was empowered to continue negotiations."

"Roger knows, too? And never told me?" Kris said.

Grey took a deep breath, his face grim.

"This will be unpleasant, but I'm going to say it. I hope it won't damage our relationship, but sometimes honesty is necessary."

"Go ahead," Kris gulped.

"I didn't tell you or the others about this mission because I can't rely on your discretion. You would have interfered, attempted to mitigate the danger, maybe even prevented the initiatives from being carried out. The stakes are too high for that. One life, even mine, isn't worth the price of failure. Roger was told what he needed to know. Nothing more. And I swore him to secrecy. Because our family affiliation is so important to him, I used that bond to insure his cooperation. Roger knows that if he betrayed my confidence, I would never have trusted him again."

"I guess I understand how you feel," Kris said, not sure whether to cry or shout. "I don't agree. Not one bit. But the way we've been trying to protect you these last few months... okay, maybe you're right about some of it. But I need you to trust me, Grey. Please, promise me we'll never have a problem like this again."

"Being here has taught me many things," Grey answered. "The most important is how much I've missed you, but I must see this mission through to the end."

"How can I help?" Kris asked.

"When the Council's agents arrive, I don't want anyone else involved. I'm well-armed, have tactical scanners, and high ground support. The farmers don't. As soon as the attempt is made, we'll escape in Silent Wind and open new negotiations. I have generous terms for the Council so I don't think they'll be in a position to turn me down. I'm even willing to surrender Tranquility's sovereignty if that's what it takes."

"Surrender the Lunar Republic? Everything you've fought for?" Kris said, totally shocked.

"I'm fighting for the future of this planet. I value the Lunar Republic, but it's only a tool. Whatever sacrifice proves necessary will be made. Perhaps it would be best not to mention that part to the computers, though. We might have a rebellion on our hands."

"Are you sure you can handle these agents?"

Grey took out his transmitter and activated the signal.

"Overlord," he summoned.

"Acknowledged, Traveler," the Security Computer said.

"Activity zone report," Grey requested.

"Except for Angry Woman and Sailor, no unusual ground activity," Security said. "Linkage now providing twenty-four hour coverage."

"Angry Woman?" Kris asked.

"That's your code name," Grey said.

"Looks like I've got two plugs to pull when we get home," Kris said loudly enough for Security to monitor.

"Just following orders," Security justified before quickly signing off.

"Who is Sailor?" she asked.

"I've engaged the services of an enforcer to guard the Farmer family," Grey said. "He'll be staying at the house until this is over."

"All these Machiavellian schemes, they make me dizzy," Kris complained. "Are you sure this is going to work?"

"It's hard to be sure of anything where humans are concerned, but if nothing else, I've had a very pleasant holiday," he said with a smile.

"Well, I haven't," Kris said. "I had to get up early, drove at half my usual speed to avoid getting a citation, and now I'm wearing these awful clothes which got all dirty. At the very least, I think you owe me a shower and breakfast."

"Not an unreasonable request," Grey agreed.

He pulled off his muddy pants, put them in a hamper near the door as Marsus required, and helped Kris out of her outfit before accessing the small shower.

"I see you didn't change all of your hair color," Grey observed, feeling excited by the one female he genuinely found attractive.

"I see you didn't, either," Kris smiled. "Hasn't anyone seen through your disguise?"

"A few. Simon Gott, the enforcer I met, recognized my combat style, as did the nephew of a local criminal leader. An astrophysics student figured it out, and John Farmer learned when we visited Doctor Fairfield," Grey said. "A few of the small humans may also suspect."

"Small humans?"

"Children. John's son is more observant than I initially allocated him credit for."

"Kids can be smarter than adults about some things," Kris said, grabbing the soap and scrubbing down before starting on Grey. "I saw this morning that the children like you. The adults, too."

"How unusual," Grey said.

"Oh, don't get me wrong. I like you, too," Kris smiled. She ran her soapy hands across his most sensitive areas to emphasize her point, then kissed him before pushing him back under the spray.

"Was that a pile of hay I saw in the corner?" Kris asked as they were toweling off.

"Mostly hay, but similar species as well," Grey explained.

"Close enough," Kris decided, taking him by the hand through the barn into the corner. "I've always wondered what they meant by a roll in the hay, and now that I've got myself a real farm boy, I'm going to find out."

"Better let me bring in the quilt," Grey warned.

"Why?" Kris said, jumping into the spiny grass. And then she jumped back out again just as quickly, rubbing her butt.

"Ouch! That's hurts," she protested. "What idiot would roll around naked in that stuff?"

Grey went to get the quilt.

____________

Marsus abruptly burst into the kitchen, her face red and breath short.

"What's wrong, Mar?" John asked, coming from the kitchen table where he'd been reviewing the planting schedules.

"I went out... I... Ben's laundry," she said, trying to get her wind back. "In the barn."

"Trouble?" John said, reaching for the shotgun mounted above the kitchen door.

"No, not that," Marsus said, waving the gun back up. "Ben was in the hay. With a girl. They were..., well, you know. John, you won't believe this, but I think the girl is Captain Kris Fairfield, the war hero."

John showed surprise at first, then chuckled. "Sit down, I guess I need to explain sooner than he wanted me to," he decided.

As Marsus sat, John got them each a cup of coffee from the warmer and sat next to her.

"I was going to tell you yesterday, but I wasn't sure if he would stay and I didn't want to scare him off," John explained. "It was thoughtless of me, and I'm sorry. Forgive me?"

"Forgive you for what? What does this have to do with Ben?"

"His name isn't Ben. It's Grey Waters."

"Oh, my. Then that really is Kris Fairfield in the barn?"

"I don't know. Probably."

"Oh, no, I shouldn't have used those old sheets on Ben's bed," Marsus regretted. "What will she think? I'd better get the good linen from the closet."

John laughed. "If they're in the straw, it's not because they don't like your sheets, Mar."

"We must have them in for breakfast," Marsus said. "Ben Brown, really Grey Waters. What do you think of that?"

"You seem to have half expected it," John guessed.

"Now that you mention it, I'm not surprised," Marsus said. "Ben's too talented to be wandering around aimlessly. Knows how to do too many things. Works for free. Faces down gangsters. I suspected he had some sort of amazing secret, though maybe not this amazing."

"We'll have to keep his secret," John cautioned. "It might be bad if the authorities find him here."

"Does anyone else know?" Marsus asked.

"Valerie Fairfield and Mike Zopek. That's where we spent Monday night, in Malibu."

"Val and Mike? You met Val and Mike and didn't tell me?" Marsus exclaimed. "Oh, Farmer John Farmer, now you are in trouble."

"We're invited back another time," John was quick to say. "The whole family. Tour of the campus. Picnic on the beach. Autographed football."

"Well, okay, you won't have to sleep on the couch this time," Marsus relented. "But you had better watch your step, sir."

"How about a roll in the hay later?" John grinned.

"Don't press your luck," Marsus answered with a half-smile.

____________

"That was a nice breakfast. Thank you, Marsus," Kris said, finishing her juice.

"You're welcome, Kris. Least we can do after all your fella has done for us," Marsus replied.

"I hope we weren't indiscreet," Kris apologized with a blush.

"After such a hard separation, we understand. And it's good to know Ben has some vices. He's always so quiet and polite."

"Quiet, anyway," Kris half agreed.

"More eggs, Captain?" John asked. "Bet you don't get many fresh eggs on the moon."

"Scrambled, and yes, you're right. Not fresh, anyway. Why is that, Ben?" Kris asked.

"We have no chickens," Grey answered, still reluctant to eat the fresh eggs but trying his best. "We've made arrangements to purchase twelve dozen hens and several roosters. If all goes well, they'll be shipped up next month."

"Really? Anything else?" Kris asked.

"The list is fairly extensive," Grey said, being vague enough that Kris knew to change the subject. "Marsus, while seeking supplies at the local market I discovered your account is overdrawn. The proprietor was reluctant to fill my requests."

"We'll bring it up to date eventually," Marsus said defensively.

"To avoid such an inconvenience in the future, I have transferred funds into your account," Grey mentioned. "Please use whatever surplus you need. We can arrange repayment in the fall when the crops come in."

"Thank you, Ben. That will make things easier," Marsus said. "How much is in the account?"

"Twenty thousand credits," Grey informed.

Marsus lost control of the plate she was holding and quickly grabbed it before it hit the floor.

"Land sakes, you sure keep folks on their toes," Marsus whispered, turning back to the sink so no one would see her eyes get misty.

"Will you be leaving soon?" John asked.

"Our shuttle should be ready by the end of the week," Kris replied. "It means I won't be around for the Black Sash Tournaments, but I won't really relax until my friend is safe again."

"How many times have you won championships?" John asked.

"Only once," Kris smiled. "I won a golden sash in '65, during my junior year at Annapolis, and got my black sash in '66, just before shipping out on the Independence."

"Were the games as dangerous back then?" Marsus asked, returning with more biscuits.

"About the same," Kris said. "A team of four against live fire opposition. Dead man switch, of course, so if someone gets in trouble the match can be stopped."

"What type of training have you had?" John asked Grey. "In that bio, it looks like you started training as a child."

"I was five," Grey said, forcing down a bite of eggs with relief. "I began live fire training at age nine. No dead man switch, though. It would have impeded my development."

"Nine? You mean nineteen?" Marsus said.

"No, he doesn't," Kris confirmed.

Marsus looked at Grey, wondering what sort of child could face such danger without traumatic consequences.

"My survival depended on perfect combat skills. And still does," Grey said without bragging. "It's a function of my responsibilities."

"You must have a high rating?" John asked.

"I have no rating, nor do I want one," Grey said more sharply than he intended. "It's not a sport for me. When I fail, people die. I don't like to fail. Excuse me."

Grey stood up, grabbed a biscuit, and went out the door to the barn.

"I didn't mean to hurt his feelings," John said.

"You didn't," Kris assured him, accepting another batch of eggs. "He's very proud of his skills, even if he doesn't say so. Grey... Ben doesn't like displaying plain old-fashioned human pride in his accomplishments. Everything to him is another step forward. Another challenge."

"That's a hard way to live. Must be hard for you, too," Marsus said.

"I get pissed off," Kris admitted. "But it's better than sitting around feeling sorry for myself."

Noise from outside announced the return of the children, Jaybee and Susie bursting through the kitchen door, only to stop when they saw the stranger sitting at the table.

"Hi, you're Captain Kris Fairfield, the Governor's girlfriend," Jaybee said. "Is it okay to tell people who he is now?"

"He?" John asked.

"Ben," Jaybee said.

John and Marsus looked surprised.

"What about Ben?" Marsus asked.

"Mom, Ben is Grey Waters, the Governor of the Moon," Susie announced.

"We've known for a week," Jaybee bragged.

"A week?" John sputtered. "But I only found out two days ago."

"Lord above," Marsus said. "And you never said anything?"

"We couldn't, Mom," Jaybee explained. "If the government knew he was here, they would send people to hurt him. After what happened to Mister Aslym, we had to be extra careful."

"Are you his girlfriend?" Susie asked Kris.

"Yes," Kris said, hoping it was true.

"I don't hate you," Susie said. "But you should know, I'm going to marry him when I grow up."

"I'm sure you'll make a beautiful bride," Kris smiled.

Susie lowered her eyes, too shy to continue, while John and Marsus tried not to laugh.

"We must still keep Ben's secret," John said very firmly. "Has anyone else found out?"

"I don't think so," Jaybee said. "But some of the kids are wondering why a first-degree enforcer would be picking weeds in our fields."

"A first-degree enforcer?" Kris asked.

"Yeah," Jaybee said. "They heard how he won first prize at The Landing beating those seekers, and then how he wiped out Boss O'Neil's whole mob single-handed. Everyone started saying he must be an enforcer, at least. Or maybe... you know."

"Excuse me," Kris said, leaving the kitchen abruptly and making a beeline for the barn.

"Did I say something wrong, Dad?" Jaybee asked.

"I think it's best we don't say anything about Ben's visit here," John said. "Apparently even the most innocent remark can get him in big trouble."

A moment later, there was a knock on the kitchen door. Marsus jumped up to find a huge, tough looking black man standing on the back porch carrying a large metal suitcase.

"Mrs. Farmer?" the man said.

"Yes?" Marsus answered, feeling John come up to stand behind her.

"Name's Gott. Simon Davidson Gott, enforcer first degree, twice braided and winner of the golden sash. Can you show me to my room?"

"An enforcer!" Jaybee shouted, rushing to the door only to be pulled back by John.

"What's this all about?" Marsus asked.

"I've been contracted by Mister Benjamin Brown to protect your family for the next seven days," Gott said. "And rest assured, nothing this side of hell will prevent me from fulfilling my contract."

Marsus opened the door and showed Gott to the spare bedroom.

____________

"Okay, people, we've finally got confirmation," Senator Tyman said, standing at the head of the conference table in the secure meeting room. With him was Secretary Kennedy and half a dozen party leaders. None of the military leaders were present, nor had they been invited.

"It's true, then?" Kamar asked. "He's alive, right here in the NA?"

"Southern California," Tyman said. "Hope Valley, to be exact."

"Oh, God. Not them again," Kennedy shouted. "How many times do we have to stomp those people?"

"Relax, Jake," Tyman said. "The community doesn't even know he's there. They think he's a drifter named Ben Brown. We can make him disappear and no one will be the wiser."

"Okay, now give us the bad news," Kamar said.

"Waters is getting high ground intel, and we can't jam it," Tyman reported. "Trolleni says their web can see us coming twenty kilometers away. Waters has made some friends in the valley, chased off a gang boss or something like that, and helped with their crops, so some of the farmers might be willing to hide him. Bottom line is, we'll need a brigade to dig him out, and we can't afford to send a brigade in."

"Does he know we've discovered his location?" Kamar asked.

"Of course not, our agents are more subtle than that," Tyman said.

"What's Trolleni doing? And Smyth?" Kim asked.

"Smyth told Vandebrown to put Homeland on alert, but I think that could be a mistake. We can't afford the exposure," Tyman said. "Whatever we do, it should be done with silent forces."

"We'll need plausible denial," Kim agreed.

"The guard has to be sent up north," Kamar said. "Threats from a terrorist group. Could be Alcatraz all over again."

"Deena, what the hell are you talking about?" Kennedy asked.

"We've got to get the army out of the area, but let people know a terrorist incident is expected," she explained. "Then a terrorist incident will occur, only it will happen in Hope Valley, and some poor farmer is going to be kidnapped or killed. A tragic story, but all too common."

"How do we make sure it's the right farmer?" Kim asked.

"Damn it, Jeffrey, how did you ever make it to congress?" Kamar said. "Waters is always running around rescuing people. Just have the terrorists take hostages in the town and make sure the authorities can't interfere. How hard can it be?"

"You know, that's not a bad plan," Tyman said.

"Not bad at all," Kennedy agreed. "Deena, you're a genius."

"If I wasn't smarter than you guys, I wouldn't be here," she smiled.

* * * * * *

Next up, the terrorist attack