Meredith tried to put aside what the man at the bar
had said. She had many things to accomplish that morning anyways that she must
focus on. She had tea in Lady Geneva’s garden where they would have an exhibit
of alien plant species, and she must run into town and get the dress she had
made for it. Her daughter Elena had decided to join the soccer team at school,
a disgracefully boyish hobby that her mother could not dissuade her from. It
had put Meredith quite out of temper.
She
bathed at eight and smoked while reading the newspaper. She was about to start
breakfast when the doorbell entered and her maid brought in a tall unusual
gentlemen.
“What
can I do for you sir?” Meredith said civilly. “I apologize for my disarray.”
“Not
a problem, kind lady. I came to discuss a woman on the run that you might help
me find.”
“A
woman on the run?”
“An
alien on the run. A criminal.”
“Why,
that is disgraceful! Do you mean to tell me that she’s on earth of all places? Running wild here? What has she done?”
“I
did not mean to startle you ma’am. I assure you we have the problem under
control.”
Meredith
hadn’t noticed it before, but recognized the man’s subtle, blank uniform, the
faint black mark of a cross on his chest.
“Do
you mean your people lost her?!” Meredith cried.
“We
did not lose her—“
“But
you don’t know where she is.”
“Not
yet. I was hoping you might be able to help us with that.”
“You
do realize it’s your duty to protect the citizens of earth from alien life
forms? They bring diseases and dangerous cultures to the planet! You have put
my daughters at risk—“
The
man with the dark red hair looked coolly at Meredith for a long moment until
the weak-willed woman grew silent until her voice trailed of to a thin squeak. “I
know it is my duty,” he said darkly. “That is why I am here.”
“I
have not seen anything of what you’re talking about in this area, no,” Meredith
said as strongly as she could. “How do you even know that she is here? The
earth is a lot bigger than you realize.”
“Coordinates.”
Meredith
scoffed, but by then the man had already turned towards the door and his long
stride had already taken him half way away.
Back
on the street again, he found himself surrounded by walking people and passing
cars and flashing lights from every window and street. He walked briskly,
almost angrily, away from Meredith’s flat and down the road. He had Home base’s
list of others who might know of any transportation happening in the city, most
a lot more intelligent and helpful then this dumpy spacy mother. He grinned as
he walked away, for he realized how his little deed probably did more good than
it seemed.
After
he had turned his back, a long face appeared in the window and watched his back
for a few seconds as he wandered away. Then the curtains were snatched close
again. Meredith found her friend and called a friend, and she stayed on the
phone for many hours on her very busy morning.
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