High Steaks

?" Peg aske

g?" He asked. What was

ues, also dressed in the beige and brown uniforms of state building security. He went right up to Peg, giving the Governor a nod, sending

said in a nearly trembling voice. "A

g a hand firmly on one of his

place surrounded. We saw 'em movin' out back thro

assuringly. "Just stay calm and w

ment. Clearly Phil was in this job for the pe

e else in the b

ma

sur

went outside to watch the show. The reception lady, my security de

rom the look of things, only about five of them had weapons – and that

do we

e, confidently and inspirationally as she could m

before breathing

looking hopeful, "Is there any other way

irection of the front door on the far s

" She breathed. "We

me from the situation room doorway and the lobby. Already tense, Peg automatically drew her sidearm and turned to face the potential threat – which tur

overnor Landry demanded.

l in amazement. "Beck the Ba

anna of all time – but why he had just appeared out of thin air, looking puzzled and holding a half-e

you get back? Weren't you on Mars?" She said in quick order. Then, after the reality of things set i

ing Agency with Cindy-Mei, where they were entertained by Johnathan Scrooby for what seemed like several d

ifferent Cindy-Mei Winter from the one standing across the room from him – were sitting in Mei's apartment in Mars City, sipping coffee, oblivious to current events back home on Deanna – and chatting to their friend Johnathan Sc

tions at once. Trying to explain a second-hand version of Johnathan Scrooby's ten minute lectur

ded, then after a pau

ea

half-empty mug of c

nd stared at it like he'd never seen it be

en Scrooby time-shifted them out of Mei's apartment earlier. No, later! Damn – he was never going to get