Page 9 of I Dated a Retired Hero

“There. Nice and official, and the only one I have ever signed like that.” She checked it. “And I didn’t light the box on fire. That took a long time to master.”

He looked at it, and his eyes lit up. “Thank you. Did you ever work with Xeva?”

“Only twice. The rest of the time, I was in space.”

“You can breathe in space?” His eyes bugged out.

“No, I don’t need to breathe in space. There is enough radiation there to keep me alive. I absorb it rather easily, and when I do that, I can eat it.”

The groom got up and wandered over while Nelith continued her lunch.

“Miss Litha, may I speak with you?”

“Sure. Here or on the move?”

“Away from the crowd, please.”

“Sure, General.” She got up and nodded to the ladies she was sitting with.

They walked toward the trees, and Litha said, “So, what do you want to talk about?”

“You are Plasma, yes?”

“I was. Now, I am a textile researcher. I met Nelith when I made a compression suit for her scars.”

“But you are immune to radiation.”

“Correct. Bravo. Few put that little factoid into action.”

“We have an area that the Uraddans bombed to keep it uninhabitable, and they did a good job.”

“Right.”

“Can you go in and mitigate the radiation?”

“Sure. When?”

He didn’t seem to be expecting that.

“We are spending the week here on a honeymoon, and when we are back in Aksalla, may we talk?”

“I am planning a long sabbatical, so is there anyone else who can just point me at the site? I can go there from here.” Litha checked her com. “Hell, I can go there now.”

“You aren’t staying for the party?”

“Not really a party person.” She shrugged.

He frowned. “Why not?”

“Never really saw the point. It is wonderful that you and Nelith have found each other, though. So many folks would be wary of her slicing them up.”

“I trust her not to do that. She trusts me not to push her too far.”

“I guess that is what it comes down to. My level designation had to be on my file, and all I could get was one guy who just wanted to feel manly without having to exert himself. If I have one more fucking picnic in the park, I am going to make it into a desert.” She laughed.

He blinked. “Right. Let me see who I can contact. It is a ten-mile circumference. How long will that take?”

“Two days?”

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