Chapter 91 The pet and its mistress

The competition took place in the megacity of Asia. The arena alone was a juggernaut. He had reserved VIP seats for Nad and Ned, so in that sense it was a private bay. He flew in, was picked up and taken to the stadium. A quick chat with the organizers, then off to the changing room to change. He put on his old gi and was amazed that it still fitted him. 

There was a rustling behind him and he turned around. The empress plus a servant stood in the room. At first glance, it was the same as the first time they met. 

She looked around in irritation, then at him. 

"Hm." was all she said.

" This is a changing room, have competition."

" Competition? You? I don't want to say it, but they've got nothing on you. You're going to have to compete against the abnormals."

Luke grinned.

"They just don't know that. So, what brings you here?" 

"Oh, I wanted some more of that fruit."

"I'll bring it back later. How good is your cover?"

She looked at him.

"Good. If one of your species comes in, we'll look like one of you to them. But only to your species. "

"Fine. So. I've rented a VIP visiting room here, you can watch the competition there, they'll supply food and drink too. " 

" No, I'll stick around, I know you."

Luke sighed, pulled out a set of chips, plugged them both in, programmed something in and hit the change button. She looked at his hands, unimpressed. 

"You do realize that our bracelets can undo this?"

" Sure. Think of it more in terms of the other aliens not recognizing you here. "

" Hmm. Okay." 

The door opened and an employee came in. He looked at Luke in confusion. From his point of view, the empress was a brunette and the servant was a redhead.

"Uh... Actually, visitors aren't allowed..."

"It's okay, it's an investor of mine."

The employee looked at him questioningly.

"So, what's up?"

" Eh... his first fight is starting. "

" Well then ..." 

He left the cabin, the empress and the servant followed him. They entered the stadium, which they had transformed into an arena. All the stands were filled with cheering spectators.

"Didn't you say tournament?" came from the empress.

"Yes, the little ones have been in the last few days, I'm in the psycho department."

"Hmph." came the reply.

In the arena, an announcer fired up the crowd. As Luke opponent strutted into the arena, the crowd cheered. 

"Do you even have a plan to fight them?" asked the Empress.

Luke grinned.

" Sure, you'll see. "

" Hmf." it came again. 

His name was called and he walked slowly into the arena. The crowd had gone quiet. He came to the center, where he was expected. 

" I'll make you cold ex title holder!" Came from his opponent. 

" Since it's the extreme heavyweight division, it's up to you. Whether your opponent stays alive or dies!" Came from the referee.

Luke nodded, checked his gi and got into position. 

His opponent was Ratfat Slender Guy, the signal sounded and he hissed at him like a snake. Luke let him attack because he wanted to see what was coming. He struck once and his opponent went down screaming, grabbing at his limply hanging arm and legs in panic. The referee blew his whistle and the fight was over. Luke wanted to leave again. 

"It's not over yet."

He looked at him questioningly.

"Everyone who fights here is only here because they want to fight you." 

Luke sighed. 

" Next."

He fought for a few hours, he counted 239 people , from ex-soldiers to psychos, contract killers, to fanatical martial artists, gangsters and even a few ex-operators from other companies.

Luke stood in the bloodstained arena and waited.

Then the ground shook and a hulking opponent came in, he was muscle-bound, he had injected drugs into his body while still running.

"Who's that?"

The referee looked at the giant with concern.

"Experiment 99." And he was gone. 

Luke shrugged his shoulders. Experiment 99 snorted like a bull and ran towards Luke, roaring. 

Luke wanted to know how strong it was and allowed himself to be attacked. He didn't reveal that he had gotten genetic information from everyone. He swept over him, looking for weak spots. 

Kicked him in the knees so that the weight knocked him to the ground. He pulled himself one way with his arms, Luke grinned, broke his arms, he didn't budge and was declared the winner. 

As he was about to head for the exit, the mountain reared up, roared animalistically and charged at him. 

It was no longer in the mood, grabbed him by the head, slowed his movement immediately and ripped his head off. The body still tried to move. He pushed the body, it fell over and threw its head to the referee. Then he went to the exit where the empress was waiting.

"You took your time, you're not usually so slow at this sort of thing."

"True, but show is show Teh..." 

She raised her finger.

" I dare you. What's next?"

"Hmm, the award ceremony." 

She groaned.

He changed his clothes and was led into the ceremonial hall. There she had started handing out certificates and medals to the first to third place winners. It took an hour, he only got an envelope with money. " 

The Empress was still following him, Ned and Nad joined him.

"Uh, that was good, who's that?" asked Ned, pointing to his companion. 

" Huh? " He looked at the empress. 

" Ah, a celebrity."

"A celebrity who wears clothes like that."

" Tz..." came from the empress. 

" Well, I have money. I'll buy you dinner."

He zapped everyone into his house. Ordered pizza. The empress looked around.

" Well, at least it's not pathetic. "

"Wait a minute." 

He zapped to the fruit market, picked up three boxes of apples and zapped back again. The Empress had changed back into her original form and made herself comfortable on the sofa, Nad and Ned looked at him, somewhat irritated. 

"Why is the empress here?" 

"Apples," he placed the boxes in front of her. She took one, ate it and smiled. 

" Aha!" 

The servant picked up the boxes and beamed away. 

"I'll stay for the pizza," came from the empress. 

Luke nodded and lit a cigarette.

"So, what are you doing here on the planet again?" 

"Laying bricks."

" Building blocks ... ah you got yourself the guide. " She continued eating the apple. She looked at Ned and Nad.

" Don't be like that, I'm not officially here and it's not like you've never seen me in person. You were always there at the meetings with your mother anyway."

They nodded. 

"And what do you have for entertainment?"

"Well, we have television and access to the net."

She looked at them both.

" Don't you have that on the moon too?"

Nad sat up.

"Only partly. The network is limited to the Alliance and so is the television."

The empress smiled.

"But!" Nad tapped the table, the menu appeared, she clicked on Television and the channel guide popped up. 

"Oh, you really have a lot to choose from." 

She clicked on her planet's. 

Luke went to the door as the delivery guy came, grabbed the pizzas and sides and carried them in. 

Set down and looked to the three of them.

"So, Teheen?"

She growled, Luke grinned, carried three pizzas to them, gave Ned and Nad one each that they liked, and handed Teheen one overloaded with cheese and meat. She took the package and looked at it skeptically.

He fetched more Coke and gave them each one.

" Try one. "

Teheen looked at Ned, who was nibbling on his pizza, and sighed.

"You're always pulling me into bizarre things." 

She took a slice of pizza and bit into it, chewing and looking amazed.

Luke left her, went to the pizza and took a slice himself. Tyreen joined him, engrossed in the guide.

"What does this word here mean," she pointed to one.

"For the dignity of..." 

"She took notes, picked up a pizza box and left. 

"How did you actually decode the table?" Teheen asked with her mouth full. 

"I stole the gene code."

" Uh-huh. " She continued eating happily. She managed two pizzas, grabbed a box and a Coke.

"For the road."

Luke added a couple chocolade bars. 

She gave him a kiss and left. 

"I told you, when it comes to food..." He finished his piece. 

"You never told me you knew her, Luke," Ned said.

" Ah, never cared, I'm more like a pet to Teheen."

" So harem fuck meat."

" No, pet. I can move around freely."

"If you say so."

A few days later Ted and Leo came over for a barbecue.

Luke had a nice relaxing couple of weeks, except for the fact that the Empress kept showing up. Unofficially, as always after her. Which with her meant hanging out, showing off her pure nature and eating. 

It started with him waking up to a throbbing on his forehead and her standing in front of him. He raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Is there a reason you don't sleep in a bed like the others?"

Luke yawned and nodded.

"My mattress broke when an escape pod crashed into my ship."

"Your macho ship is spotless, though."

Luke grinned.

"The one before that. Had a living unit in it."

The Empress raised an eyebrow.

" Buy it? "

"Come to think of it ..." He stood up and shuffled into the kitchen, searching through the cupboards.

"Hhmm ... I did have coffee ..." 

He lit a cigarette.

"Hhmm, can I try Leo..." 

He staggered into the garage, the jeep was gone. He groaned.

The empress followed him.

"Is your morning ritual always like this?"

He looked at her.

" Well, sometimes I forget I have roommates. Then I have to teleport."

She looked at him in silence. The doorbell rang, Luke groaned and dragged himself outside. Bill was standing outside the door.

"Darling! I'll bring you the stuff I don't need anymore." 

He really had to think, let Bill in with his car. He drove up to the house, jumped out and started unloading boxes. 

The Empress stood next to Luke, watched the scene and tapped him on the cheek.

"You're ignoring me."

" Sure, so. What's honoring me with your visit?"

"I need to lay low for a few days."

He looked at her.

" You? Sure, you have so many villas and resorts."

" Yes. And my family knows them all, and since I don't want to go to my sister's wedding."

" So you'll come later and say you were there?"

"Well, I have to get something religious, I can use that as an excuse."

"Say no?"

She rolled her eyes.

Bill stopped in front of them both.

"There, now you've got some stuff to give to the stranded people in your pad."

He looked at the Empress, who was standing there in her alien form.

" I just remembered Luke, you were going to bring me a fashion catalog."

The Empress looked at Luke and then at him.

" He's a fashion czar."

" I see, a tailor ..."

Bill looked at her in horror.

 Luke went to a box, opened it, took out a pair of sports shorts, a T-shirt and sneakers and held them out to her.

She looked at the clothes.

"And what am I supposed to do with these? "

"Put them on, if you're going to shirk your family and go into hiding, you need to look like the locals. "

She raised an eyebrow.

" But not like that! "

Luke pointed at the boxes.

"Then why don't you look for yourself? "

Her color changed and she went grumbling to the boxes and began to search inside.

Bill looked at him.

"Luke darling ..."

He took a drag on his cigarette and looked at him.

"Don't worry, tailor is a high word, she usually just says fabric butcher or fashion butcher."

He rummaged in his nanopocket and pulled out an exotic, shimmering catalog, which he held out to him. Bill took it like a shrine. He opened it and leafed through the pages.

The empress came in with stacks of clothes, took Luke's sneakers. 

"Why are you giving him a catalog he can't read? "

" Bill, don't you understand? " 

Bill studied a few pictures.

" I'm surprised that so many of the same techniques are used. "

 The Empress hurried in, I changed my clothes. 

Bill looked at Luke.

" So many beautiful things, do you think I have a chance?"

Luke blew out a cloud.

" Bill, you've outfitted three aliens and now number four. Believe me, she's the biggest clothes snob I know next to you. "

" Yeah, but there are so many different body shapes..."

He took a drag on his cigarette.

" Hhmm ..." 

Bill flipped through the catalog.

"Why is that in our language?"

Luke grinned.

"I translated it."

" And how do you know the language? "

"I learned it, Bill."

" And for what?"

Luke rolled his eyes.

" Hhmm, the main reason was to avoid being ripped off. Then to get food and pick up chicks."

"Reminds me Kia was at my place a couple days ago, picked up some outdated fashion stuff."

Luke stubbed out his cigarette.

"Said your place burned down and all the stuff is gone."

"Ha, that's a good one. She burned the place down. "

" Really? Hhhmm ." 

Luke looked at him.

"Bill, if she still came and has no more money because I took it from her . Does she have a fix?"

"Now that you mention it, she did mention something like that. She said you were just telling lies on TV."

" Well, when the system was hacked and our marriage was killed, I cut off her access to my account. Where she had been helping herself generously for the last few years and Ai confirmed this to me. "

The Empress has returned in her everyday look and human form. 

" I better not get blown off my feet again! "

Luke grinned, Bill looked at him questioningly.

"I gave her the dresses from the auction. "

Bill looked at him in horror.

"They were old clothes, Luke, for women half as small and thin ..."

She looked at him, then at Luke.

"Did he know that?" She grabbed Luke by the T-shirt.

Bill thought about it.

"When it comes to fashion, he's unteachable. "

She looked at Luke.

"You knew it, didn't you?" 

Luke grinned. She grumbled.

"Quick question. how do you know each other?"

She looked at him, lifting Luke's hand where the emergency bracelet was, the stabilizing bracelet, and one more.

"I enslaved him and had to use an artifact from the archives because he destroyed old bracelets. "

 Points to the bracelet, which shimmers like crystal.

" He can't take it off, even if he cuts off his arm, it goes to another part of his body. "

" enslaved ... " 

" Sure, the holo thing, in the house, showed me his file from here. "

She looked at Luke.

" You never said you were a soldier."

" I thought the trade alliance had it in."

She smiled.

" No. They only documented you when you were working for the corporation."

Bill continued to flip through the catalog.

She looked at him.

"Tailor," Bill looked at her, wanting to say something. She reached for the catalog, flipping through it purposefully and holding pages out to him.

"Tell me what you think of this."

Bill looked at the page.

" Well, here they call it the slut look. Only the cheapest of the cheap wear this." 

He took his gold, gem-studded phone out of his pocket and called Galerie.

"I'm looking for offspring or fashion trends, here are the sluts."

Luke ignored them both, dragged the boxes away, laid the Empress's discarded clothes neatly on a chair. Changed his mind, threw them on the bed in the last empty room. Liz had told him they had left the master bedroom free for him. 

He went out again, the two of them were still talking and an idea came to him. 

" Bill, what do you think, you could take Teheen on a little tour. "

She looked at him grimly.

" Don't be like that, Bill knows the best clothes stores on the island and on the mainland. Apart from the shikimiki society. "

She stepped closer.

"And why can't you?" She tapped her finger on his chest.

"Well, I have to fill up the empty fridge, get replacement cars, and then get coffee. Which would just be boring for you."

She looked at him searchingly.

"Luke so gladly, that sounds good. But I have an appointment, so I can't."

Luke cursed inwardly. Teheen grinned. 

"Well, then," he looked at her.

" Come along bored or hang out here and watch TV." 

"Where's the catch?"

"The fridge is empty." 

Bill said goodbye and hurried off, Luke took Teheen's hand and teleported to the nearest used car lot. A gravel parking lot full of old cars. 

Teheen looked around.

"Do they all look like this?"

" Well ... I don't need anything new or expensive. Just something that runs."

She raised an eyebrow.

" I'm not saying anything, you have money. "

Luke walked through the rows of cars, Teheen followed him and inspected the vehicles.

He stopped in front of a faded blue Toyota Land Cruiser 80. 

"Oh, that's a beauty."

Teheen looked at the car doubtfully. An employee came rushing over, looking pretty banged up. 

"I didn't see how they got through the gate..."

Luke looked at him.

"I want to buy this, register it and get license plates, can I do that with you?"

" Yes, but then it will be more expensive and most people only want cheap..."

Luke grinned, put his arm around Teheen and pulled her close. She looked at him.

"Why don't you buy one of these..." 

" I want the Toyota, can I see the engine?" 

" Sure. But it's a shelf warmer. Because it's so old." 

Luke got to work, opened the hood and checked the engine.

"Oh, I see they've modernized the car."

"Yes. I hope it attracts people. The old one wouldn't get through the checks. Not here on the island, anyway." 

He lay down on the floor and looked under the car, then inside.

Got up again.

"I like it. I'll take it."

"Are you sure? Your wife seems to have something against it."

Teheen looked skeptically at the car.

"Oh, she'll have changed her mind by the time she's inside at the latest. "

"Okay. Please wait a moment, I'll get the tablet with the contract and the signs."

He left. Teheen came to him.

" So what do you want with this thing?"

" I told you, I need a car."

She rubbed her nose.

" And since you didn't answer me. How about one that suits your station?"

Luke grinned. 

" Well, from that perspective, I'm nothing special here on the planet."

She raised an eyebrow.

" Sure, as far as I know you have more money in your bank account than the richest person here on the planet. "

"Is..."

She raised her fingers.

"Don't give me that native account, I know from Nad that even I can pay with my account here. Your swank ship on the moon alone is worth more than the moon station. Then your corporate shares, then the companies you've invested in. " 

" And how do you know that?" 

" Our Ai is more modern than yours."

The merchant came back with the tablet. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Luke.

" Are you really sure? I can also show you luxury cars."

" Like I said, I want the Toyota. "

The purchase went through quickly. He got in, started the engine and Teheen sat in the passenger seat. Drove out of the yard and accelerated down the road. Stopped, skidding, at the nearest supermarket. Got out, pushed a shopping cart inside. Teenager followed him. 

Knowing the eating habits of his housemates, which resembled those of a starving herd of cattle, he loaded up the trolley. Teheen stopped in front of the magazines and games. Her eyes fell on a handheld. Luke thought it was the latest generation. 

"What's that?" she asked. 

" You can play games on it."

" I see..." 

Luke sighed, grabbed a pack, with accessories and collection pack, threw in cart and pulled it along. He paid, loaded everything into the trunk, unpacked the handheld and got behind the wheel. Teheen sat next to him. 

"How far can you read my language? "

"Well, the main language, yes ..." 

" Good " He pressed the handheld into her hand. It buzzed and beeped. Asked for an account. 

" And now what?" 

" You create a user account."

She clicked through pretty quickly.

Luke groaned inwardly. She called herself EthernelRedQueen and had created a picture of a middle finger with a crown.

"That thing wants stuff."

" That's why " he pulled out additional card. The device scanned it, gave a positive signal. Teheen looked at him.

" What do you mean I have premium now?"

" I took the big package, you have all the games on it. You can watch videos online, chat and so on. The money now is starting credit, when it's empty you have to do something yourself. "

" I see, and what do you mean by games?" 

Luke sighed, clicked on the icon and the overview appeared. 

" There's a lot in there about the last few generations, even the games from the early days. " 

She clicked through the lists.

Luke stepped on the gas and drove on, hearing the sound of the games console next to him. 

His destination was Leo's plantation, which was more of a greenhouse. He pulled into the parking lot, got out and went into the small store in front. Teheen was still engrossed in a game in the car. 

The store was chill, with Leo hanging out at the counter, staring at her cell phone.

"Yo leo!" she flinched, looked at him, beaming.

"Luke!"

He came up to her and she hugged him.

"You look really good, I need a coffee. Do you have any?"

"You came here for coffee?" 

" Sure, you drank gallons of it at school ..." 

Leo laughed.

" Yes, we have some."

" Then I need some."

" And who's in the car?" 

Luke looked outside, he could see Teheen looking down, transfixed.

"A friend of mine is avoiding her little sister's wedding. Goes into hiding for a few days, comes back and lies to her family. "

" I see, and why is she looking down like that? Does she have a quirk or something?"

"Well, she's playing."

Leo looked at him scrutinizingly. 

"Well, take a look around, I'll go to the back and get some coffee bags from storage."

"Thanks." 

Leo disappeared and Luke looked around, finding fruit and vegetables. He picked up a basket and filled it. He crouched down to take a closer look at the fruit in a crate.

The doorbell rang and people came in. He ignored them. 

"Where's Leo..." he heard Kia's voice. 

"Probably on his cell phone again," came Lina's voice. 

"Leo?!" came loudly from Kia.

"Don't shout like that!" came back from Ted.

"Isn't Leo normally here?" 

He heard Ted's typical grunt.

"She's in storage right now, so what do you two want?" 

" Just the usual."

Ted grunted. Luke heard footsteps. 

"I can't believe she started with him again," came from Kia.

"Why is that? I think she's cute. Ted's really changed."

" Yeah, he's put on weight."

" Kia, don't be mean. They've both worked really hard. Therapists and stuff..." 

Luke heard a contemptuous snort. 

" So what now, you said you had a plan to get him back. " 

" Right, still have to wait for the lawyer to get back to me and about the house insurance."

" You can't be that blank, Kia." 

Luke found some fruit he was interested in and put it in the basket. He got up and went to the counter The two didn't look at him. He put the basket on the counter. Ted came up behind him and looked at Luke questioningly. 

He grinned and put his finger over his mouth. Ted grumbled, stopping at Lina and Kia.

"Here's the usual bag of coffee light."

"Why do you always put so little in there?" she asked.

" You can get regular from the supermarket, that'll be 200 points. " 

Luke found something on a shelf and walked over with his back to them.

The beeping of the payment machine sounded. 

" Say Ted, whose junk car is that out there? "

" Not mine, why?" 

" Because the license plates are expired and it's junk. " came from Kia.

"Do you need anything else? Gotta help Leo with the coffee bag. "

"Coffee bag? " 

Ted left. 

" Just ripping off ... "

" Boah Kia, can you downshift once in a while? Just bitching."

" Fuck you " She stomped out, slammed the door and thundered off in the car. 

Luke grabbed a couple of jars of fruit preserves and went to the counter. Lina turned around at that moment, staring at him.

"You here ... " Leo came back, with Ted lugging the coffee bag.

"What do you mean the license plates are expired?"

Lina sighed.

"So this is your car, why am I not surprised..."

He grinned.

"They're temporary license plates until you activate them in the system. " 

" Hhmm, you always learn something new. "

Leo looked between the two of them.

"Ted said Mrs. Grumble was there?" 

Lina waved him off.

"You can forget it, she didn't even notice that Luke was here in the store. I didn't either. "

Ted put the bag down and looked at the basket.

"The things too? " 

"Yep."

He pulled a cigarette out of his pocket, wanted to light it, but then put it behind his ear.

 Lina looked at him questioningly.

"Huh?"

"You've been lighting up everywhere."

" Learn it. Ever since I, the sporty guy in the ball gown, reminded him of the rules of decency and Bill agreed with him. " 

He shuddered. Ted looked at him.

"Why are you hanging out with them? "

"Working, Ted, well, and buying me stuff to piss people off. "

" Ha and why is that brunette from the martial arts tournament in the car with you? "

Leo rolled his eyes.

" Shirking her little sister's wedding, disappearing into the sticks. "

" Ha, there she is. Do you actually get any shares of the action figures from you? " 

Luke groaned, Leo grinned.

"You forgot the cartoon series and the comics and the video games, darling."

Leo dashed off.

Lina was still staring at Luke. Ted pulled the shopping basket towards him and put everything in a bag.

"What's wrong, Lina?" 

" I just wanted to know why you're not back with Kia. I mean..."

Luke thought about it.

" Hm, nothing has come from her side yet. Lina, when I started with Kia, someone gave me some advice. I followed it. And what do I get in return? Think about it for a moment. She and I got together permanently, more because of corporate issues, I got her out of the girls room in the army, into the house etc.... 35+ years of marriage, with 4 miscarriages, therapy. She was constantly cheating and spending money on anything. " 

Ted growled.

"See, Lina, I told you, she's a status bitch. "

Lina rolled her eyes. 

"Ted wasn't any better."

"True, but after I got my ass kicked, I learned and Leo gave me a second chance. "

" See, quid pro quo. Kia was mostly just interested in sex or going out with girlfriends. "

 He stretched.

" Lina, the night the robbery happened, I freaked out when my little sister came. That's how I ended up in the holding cell instead of being taken to my family. I think if I'd been taken to them, I wouldn't be standing here today, I'd be at home and everything would be fine. "

"The security guards are gone."

Luke grinned.

" No, dead. "

"And how would you know that?" 

Ted grunted.

"Lina, he killed her. Think about it. Specter the Ghost. You think he'd let the free after they hurt his little sister? Where have you been all these years Luke?"

" Oh I've been hanging out with aliens. "

" So you've been killing around there."

" Not only. I'm a registered therapeutic masseur there."

" And why?" 

"Needed money Ted and at the time I didn't have a license to fly a spaceship and they don't give everyone a pass to use their spaceships."

"Don't we have spaceships? I mean the Mars missions."

" Yes, but you need a crew of people and they are slow and not equipped for long journeys. "

Ted turns the payment terminal to Luke.

" There you go, Mr. Therapist, 2400 points." 

He paid, Leo came back, carrying a pack of action figures. Ted looked at him.

"Did you really buy that shit?"

Leo grinned.

" Luke, can you sign the box?"

" Sure. "

He put his signature on the pack, his cell phone buzzed, he looked at it, picked it up.

"What's up, George?"

" I hate to ask you more likes since you already do so much. Do you have anything against the Kikamura group in your blackmail file?" 

"Yes."

" You mean..."

Luke thought for a moment.

"I'll give you the folder and in return you tell me what my ex's chances are with the house insurance."

Sarge sighed.

"Luke, she won't get anything. You'll get the money because you're the owner. That's what the legal department told her. So she got some kickback lawyer. Under pressure, she admitted that she spent all the money that came out of the lawsuit on VIP luxury trips and then a gift here and a gift there. John said to me, with grumbling, because you got the shares in the company from Tes, you're on the board and you're entitled to the lawyers."

"I wonder how she managed that."

Sarge sighed again.

"Simple Luke, Uther signed off and gave his consent when he was in charge. The legal department just shook their heads and said it was valid. After all these years and they're still scared of him and after the Ai, Uther is still our boss. Because he hasn't been declared dead. "

" Alright fine, so I have the Lina here with me, she was left degrees by my ex."

"Where exactly?"

" At Leo's, I went to get some coffee."

" Ok. I'll send a team over there. She should stay there. She'll be picked up."

He hung up. Luke put the cell phone away. Lina looked at him, irritated.

"My name with what? " 

Luke reached for Lina's tablet and activated it with his hand.

"Hey..." 

"Well, I've solved your stranded problem."

"Why do I hear a big but out of that?"

He grinned, logged into his data storage, pulled up one of Kikamura's folders on Lina's tablet and handed it to her.

"You're now the bearer of a folder the Defense Department needs. She will come for you."

" Excuse me?" she looked at him in shock.

"Can't you just hand yourself over to them?" 

"No. You'll stay in the system, just as an operative. While Kia is something. That means she can't talk her way out of it. "

"Hmm." 

Leo looked up from his cell phone.

"According to Kia, she's on her way to the lawyer right now."

"Well, I'll be off then. "

"Wait!" 

Leo walked around the counter, pulled Lina towards him and took a selfie. 

"I'll send her the photo when Lina gets picked up. "

"She's going to freak out, you know that."

Leo looked at Lina.

"So what? Since she has to pay for it herself, she's stingy. But living in luxury apartments, having expensive sleighs and going partying non-stop."

A jet helicopter landed outside and people from the company got out, including John. They entered the store. 

"Oh look Lina, your flight's here," Luke turned her in John's direction, who looked at him questioningly, then at Lina.

"The folder is on her tablet."

"Why?" 

"She needs a flight to the company headquarters."

" Oh, George mentioned something. Good. Come with me."

Lina looked nervous. 

John sighed.

"Lina, you come with me, you'll load up the file at headquarters. Then you report back to duty."

"Yes. But I mean. So..."

John looked at his watch.

" It's your break, which was interrupted because of a corporate assignment. " 

" And ..."

" She has minus time that she has to make up. Come on."

Lina hung her head.

" Ha! She's going crazy," came from Leo, who pocketed her cell phone with a grin. John looked at her.

"I've just sent Kia a selfie. She says Lina should stay with me in the store until she gets back from the lawyer." 

"She says that?" Leo nodded and handed John her cell phone with the message. John took a picture and sent it on with his cell phone. 

"Tell her Lina left with Luke. Come on Lina."

He left, Lina following him. 

Luke packed up his groceries. Leo smiled and pocketed his cell phone. 

He said goodbye, put his things in the car and got in. Teheen looked up.

"You were in there a long time and what's with the crazy blonde and then this just now?"

Luke started the car.

"The crazy girl was my ex-wife and that just now, just to make sure. That my ex is in trouble."

She looked at him, perplexed. 

"Ex ... oh, her. Ned said she didn't understand why you married her. So why?" 

He continued. 

"Hhmm, it was more of an arranged thing between the companies. "

"I see, and do you love her?" 

Luke paused for traffic, lighting his cigarette butt.

"She's mine. With the money she took from me, her ass is mine."

He heard an amused laugh beside him.

"What's so funny about that?" 

She grinned.

"Well, it's quite simple. You're officially a citizen of the core system and then known by I don't know how many rich people."

Luke took a drag on the cigarette. She pressed her fingertips against his cheek.

"Don't forget that you're mine. But since you're a Guardian. If your planet recognizes you, certain rules are allowed. "

Luke sped up again.

" Yes, which will take a while, with planetary leadership. "

She continued to play.

"I have time, so do you." 

" Hmm. " 

For the rest of the drive, except for the sounds of hands, it was silent in the car. He pulled onto his property, closed the gate and parked the car in the garage, which Sarge had cleaned up and removed the junk vehicles.