Galactic Marshal II
by
Hilltopper

CHAPTER 13

“Wow, that’s great! What did the aliens say?”

“They have agreed to meet with myself and my mate; no one else.”

“OK, but I didn’t know you had hooked up with anyone.”

“Jonnie, they are talking about Gina.”

“Oh, Shit!”

“I told you once that they are very big on appearances. I am afraid we must do it their way.”

I looked down at my food.

“I’ve lost my appetite. I guess I’m going to have to report this to the council.”

I looked up at Karen.

“I better fess up about you being here as well.”

I sighed.

“Mary is not going to like this one bit.”

“I’m sorry, Jonnie. I wish there was another way.”

I nodded.

“Yeah, we didn’t leave on the best of terms. OK, I’ll get back to you as quick as I can.”

I contacted Carol and told her I needed to speak to the council concerning new information about the aliens. She set up a meeting for 9 tomorrow morning. I then went back to see George. He was awake but a little groggy. He looked up as I entered and turned away. Linda shrugged sadly.

“Hi, George. I don’t blame you for being mad at me. This is all my fault.”

He just grunted.

“I’m working on getting this straightened out, don’t give up!”

He ignored me this time. Linda motioned for me to go out with her.

“Don’t feel bad, Jonnie. It’s natural for her to feel bitter.”

“I know but it still hurts. I’m going back down to the planet this afternoon. But I should be back late tomorrow. Do you mind checking on George for me?”

She smiled.

“I will be here until I’m no longer needed. Don’t worry.”

I hugged her.

“Thank you for being such a good friend.”

I left and made arrangements to shuttle down. Mary met me when I landed.

“I didn’t expect you back so soon but I’m sure glad.”

We kissed and got into the hovercraft. After getting home, I sat down and motioned her to do the same.

“Karen has tentatively set up a meeting with the aliens. I have an appointment with the council in the morning to tell them about it.”

Mary nodded and frowned.

“They aren’t going to be thrilled to find out Karen is here, are they?”

“I know but I guess I must face the music. This seems the best chance we have to solve this situation.”

“True, do you want me to go with you?”

“I better do it alone. It could get ugly.”

“Oh, it will! Who do you think they will send to meet the aliens?”

“Well, the aliens will only meet with Karen and I. “

“Hmm, it makes sense but I don’t like it. I don’t trust Karen at all even if she is your sister.”

“She is our only contact with the aliens so we really have no choice. Besides, she is a different person now.”

“So you say. Enough of this, I hear Raylan. Go take care of him and I will fix some food.”

“Right”

We spent the rest of the evening enjoying each others company, it felt good to be home but trouble was on the horizon. After a good night sleep and a wonderful breakfast with my family, I headed to my council meeting.

“Welcome, Jonnie. I understand you have some news about The Alliance.”

“Yes ma’am. They have told Karen Singleton that they are willing to meet with her and myself.”

“Karen? How did you hear from her?”

“Uh, she came back with us to the moon. She was instrumental in the rescue.”

“Are you saying that Karen has been on the moon without you informing us?”

“Yes, but ---“

“I can’t believe this! We are not sending a mission out on her say so. Go back to the moon, arrest Karen, and continue preparing our defenses. That is all!”

I was escorted out of the chambers. I knew they would be upset but this really shocked me. What Karen had told me flashed back. I guess I had misread the council. We were on our own just like Karen said. I went back to the house. Mary was feeding Raylan.

“How did it go?”

“Don’t ask! I have to go back up ASAP.”

She sighed.

“What are you going to do?”

I shrugged.

“I don’t know. As far as the council is concerned, the meeting with The Alliance
is off. Plus, they told me to arrest Karen.”

Mary raised her eyebrows.

“I’m not too surprised considering what Karen did here. Did you think all would be forgiven?”

“No. but there is more at stake here. Karen is our link to the aliens. I am not going to sit back and wait for them to come to us.”

“You can’t go against the council’s orders. Just calm down and continue planning. There is no sense in jumping the gun.”

I realized there was no point in arguing with Mary. I just nodded.

“You’re right, let’s eat lunch and then I’ll head back to the shuttle port.”

We had a nice lunch and I bonded with Raylan a while. After he was put to bed for his nap, I hugged Mary.

“I hate to rush off again.”

She smiled.

“I know but I have to get to work as well. We will be together when this is over.”

She drove me to the shuttle port, we kissed, and I boarded the shuttle to the moon base. On the ride up, I thought back to Carol’s words. There is no way I’m going to arrest Karen. She is our only hope and Georges. When I reached the base, I headed straight to Coop’s office.

“Hey, Coop, we have a problem.”

“You didn’t get the reaction you wanted from the council I take it.”

“They wouldn’t even listen. As soon as they found out about Karen being here, that is all they could think about. I’m supposed to arrest her; plus, remain here at the base.”

He nodded.

“Karen told me about The Alliance offer of a meeting. Knowing you, I guess we are going anyway.”

“Coop, I have gotten you in enough trouble as it is.”

He laughed.

“Since I met you, I have had nothing but trouble. When do we leave?”

I smiled.

“I’m going to go see Karen and give her a heads up. Just to be safe, get the ship ready to launch. We may have to leave quickly.”

“You can count on me.”

“Thanks Coop.”

I left and went to Karen’s room.

“By the look on your face, I guess the council meeting was a bust.”

I laughed.

“Worse than that, you are now under arrest.”

She held out her hands.

“OK, cuff me.”

“Get serious! We are going to have to move fast.”

“Alright, let’s go talk to George and Linda.”

When we arrived at George’s room, Linda was there. We explained the situation. George brightened when we told him about Karen’s injuries.

“If there is any chance, I want to take it. I will not live like this. Take me with you.”

I looked over at Linda. She nodded.

“I’m staying with Georgia. If she goes, I do too.”

“OK, let’s all get to the ship. The council can’t stop us once we launch.”

I looked at each of them.

“You know that we will be fugitives as soon as we do this.”

Karen looked at me.

“I already am.”

George just shrugged.

“So what?”

We got George into a wheel chair and we went to Coop’s office. He smirked as we entered.

“So, the gangs all here. Come on, the ship’s almost ready.”

We went into the hanger and boarded the space craft.

“I’ve scheduled this for a test flight so there won’t be any trouble launching.”

We all buckled in and waited while Coop went through the check list. We launched with no problem.

“Before we head for Prowhiness, I better check in with Sam at the marshal service. I owe him an explanation before the council calls.”

I got hold of Sam and told him to expect a yelp from the Fledoran council.

“OK, I trust your judgment. If this will both fix George and ease the Alliance threat, I say go for it.”

“Thanks Sam.”

I next called Mary.

“Jonnie, please tell me you are not doing something stupid.”

“Uh, well, Karen, Linda, George, Coop and I are on our way to Prowhiness. I can’t leave this alone. I’ve informed the marshal service.”

“You idiot! What about the council?”

“I’m not telling them.”

She shook her head.

“I can’t believe you. You’re not the person I married. OK, I’ll inform the council. Good bye!”

She disconnected. I sat there for a minute staring at the screen. Karen came up behind me.

“Things will work out. Just do what you have to do.”

I nodded but had a large lump in the pit of my stomach. I glanced over at Coop.

“I guess we’re committed now. Take us to Prowhiness.”

“OK, I’ll set things up. Get everyone into hibernation.”

Karen and I lifted George into a pod. He smiled.

“Thanks for doing this, John.”

“Hey, I got you into this. It’s up to me to get it fixed.”

He nodded and I closed the lid. The rest of us entered our pods. I didn’t know what to expect when we arrived. It was up to Karen to arrange things. I hope The Alliance isn’t too mad at us. The next thing I know, my pod popped open. Karen was looking down at me with a big smirk.

“Get your glad rags on, we have a date!”