?" 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