Page 45 of Escape Clause

“Trouble vapping again,” she replied, crossing her fingers as she delivered the tiny, temporary white lie of omission. The full story could wait for a better time. She did not wish to mar their reunion by alarming him. Headed to the penthouse from an unfamiliar spaceport, she had vapped to the wrong building. When the vaporator opened, a chanting cluster of protesters had pulled her out of the transport. She’d managed to break away and run down the street. Ithad taken a while to locate a transport not blocked by agitators.

“From now on, don’t leave without Don Juan. He will get you to the right location.” He carried her toward the bedroom.

“I won’t.” The protestors had been scary. “Are you taking me to bed?”

“Can you think of a better place, wife of mine?” He smiled.

“Nope, husband of mine.” She kissed him.

Epilogue

Two weeks later

“Hot buns!” Don Juan announced, bringing in a tray of aromatic pastries. “Eat ’em while they’re hot.” With an almost prideful flourish, the android placed a plated sticky roll in front of each of them, along with juice and a hot beverage made of ground, roasted beans imported from Terra Nova.

Was it his imagination, or had the android been getting more animated lately? If so, it was no doubt due to his wife’s influence. She’d certainly madehimmore animated. Krogan leered at her. “Nobody’s buns are as hot as yours,” he said in a low voice.

“Oh, yeah? Tell me more.” Under the table, Hope caressed his bare shin with her naked foot. He’d taken the day off, and, after a leisurely morning spent in bed, they’d gotten up for breakfast. They wore only their robes.

“Keep that up, and I’ll show you,” he replied, only half joking. It wouldn’t take much to reignite hispassion. A glance, a touch, a smile from his wife was more than enough. Oh, how he loved her. And she loved him. He’d never known such happiness. “But then we’d miss the monuments.” They’d planned to visit some of the sites he’d told her about. Although he felt capable of defending her should the need arise, Don Juan would be going, too.

The android never left Hope’s side. Protests had decreased as the agitators were taken into custody, but Stervak continued to elude capture.

She stayed home most days, but occasionally she ventured out to the cozi, accompanied by the android. Krogan did not wish to restrict her freedom, but he was always intensely relieved when she reported in that she’d gotten home safe and sound.

Instead of returning to the kitchen, Don Juan remained in the dining room, his light dim but whirling. Was he waiting for further instruction?

He bit into a roll. Buttery sweetness exploded in his mouth. “Excellent, Don Juan. Delicious.”

“Perfect! Just like the ones on Terra Nova,” Hope said.

The light atop the android’s head brightened and whirled faster. “I’m very pleased you enjoy them.” Hescurried into the kitchen. Had he been fishing for a compliment?

Krogan started to take another bite when his wrist comm chip buzzed with a series of shorts and longs. He grimaced.Not today. Not now.

“What is it?” she asked.

“An urgent communique from Blakk, my security chief.” When wasn’t it urgent? His staff didn’t bother him with the mundanities or matters they could handle themselves. He only got contacted when there was a problem. And nothing from security was ever positive.

“You’d better take it, then.”

“I promised you this day. I don’t want to ruin it.”

She covered his hand. “It’s not ruined yet. You don’t know what his message says. We have a lifetime of days. You’d better check the message.”

He tapped his wrist. A hologram of the security chief appeared in the corner of the dining room.

Hope tightened her robe about her throat. “He can’t see us, can he?”

“No. It’s not a live two-way.”

“Sorry for disturbing your day off, but I thought you’d like some good news for a change.” His securitychief broke into a big grin. “We arrested Stervak! Got him last night.”

Relief swept over him. “Yes!” Krogan punched the air with his fist.

“Yay!” Hope cheered.

“Stervak returned to the scene of the crime,” Blakk continued. “He vapped into the Stasis Pod Center, but we caught him before he could do any more damage.”

---