With no call to action, the Legion slept.

[Gan]

Mora arrived at the landing pad well past midnight. Samir stood beside me with one of his lab technicians, and also Liz with one of her aides. We all shielded our eyes from the fan gusts as the flyer landed and the powered down.

Pushing back dark hair, Mora gave me that quirky smile as she came up to me, and not pausing at all, pressed her lips directly to mine while wrapping arms around my neck. I did not resist in the slightest, instead drawing her body against mine. The kiss lingered on, lighting a fire within me.

I continued to hold her after breaking off the kiss. "Nice. But you know, people might think we are in some sort of relationship."

"I hope you don't mind," Mora cooed.

I pulled her head to my shoulder and stroked her hair. "Not at all."

Samir gawked, eyes widened.. Apparently, this was a revelation to him. Liz just smirked.

Mora pulled out of the hug and turned toward Samir. "I took some samples of plants and soil while the blight was active and put them in cryo-stasis. I hope you can find something." She pointed a thumb at the flyer. "They're in the back. Oh, and go full bio-hazard protocol with these."

Mora stepped over to Liz as Samir and his assistant retrieved the sample cylinders. "Liz, there were multiple casualties. I didn't get a count because the crowd was getting agitated enough that I needed to get out. And some of them were armed. One woman made a point to tell me they will want answers from you."

Liz wrinkled her forehead as she pulled out her com-viewer and showed me a picture. "This woman?"

"Yes, that's her."

"Chairman Brinne Kern. She is the designated rep of the Freedom Alliance group." Liz turned to her aide. "See if you can locate her. I will want to meet with her as soon as possible — we need to head this off."

As the aide walked away, Liz hugged Mora. "I'm glad you're okay. You seem to have a way of finding trouble. Now you two get to bed." She winked.

Soon, we nestled under the covers.. Mora cooed as she snuggled into my arms. "Did you mean what you said earlier today?"

I grinned. "You mean about space pong? Oww!" I rubbed my arm where she hit me.

"You know what I am referring to," she responded, jerking back.

"Oh, the falling in love part?" I squeezed her tighter. "Yeah. I love you. Like a whole lot."

"Mmm. Good."

We slept well, wrapped within each other's arms. The crisis of this world be damned, but this night we had our own bit of paradise.

*****

Mora knocked on the door as I peeked inside the Governor's office. "Liz, you wanted to see us?"

"Yes. Come in. Take a seat."

She stood up from behind her desk and came around to sit beside us at a small round table. I noticed the gesture — away from her position of power, she spoke to us as friends. I liked this governor even more.

Liz put her hands together and leaned forward. "I am going to need your help, both of you. This afternoon I will meet with the leader of the Freedom Alliance. Conspiracy theories are rampant, and they fear the government is involved with the blight. I would like you both to be there to help explain what we do know about it. The two of you would be more credible as scientist and engineer than I would as governor."

I nodded when Mora glanced my way. She replied. "We would be happy to help. Here in your office?"

Liz shook her head. "No. We will go to them."

I was confused. "On their turf? Doesn't that give them an advantage?"

She leaned back. "Not so much in this case. Since evacuating, they really do not have a turf, per se. I offered my office for the meeting, but knew she would not take it. The Freedom Alliance is inherently suspicious of central control, so the less we appear like big government, the better."

"Who else is going?" I asked.

"Just us. Again, less like big government. Our limited presence will undercut Brinne in front of her people."

Mora tightened her lips and said, "Liz, they have weapons."

"Yes, I know. Lots of them. I am unsure if they know this, but we are far outgunned. The original planners did not anticipate this. But if she tries to press this advantage, I have a surprise."

*****

The meeting took place in the open air just outside of Central City. A grassy field became a conference room with several gray plastic tables placed end-to-end. Rocky hills sprinkled with clumps of brush and grasses flanked one side, and to the other, by a cluster of small domed buildings that now housed the Freedom Alliance people. Off in the distance, the space elevator cable stretched high into the sky.

Brinne Kern sat on one side, with tightly braided sandy blonde hair that pulled on her face, giving her a fierce look. Seated to her left and right sat a dozen of her advisors. A good portion of the remaining four hundred people stood or sat in the grass, forming a large disorganized semi-circle behind them. But on both flanks, several men stood with arms crossed, conspicuously displaying holstered guns at their waists. Brinne obviously wanted to display strength and unity.

All eyes were on us as we exited the hovercar. A young woman in the crowd ran over to Brinne and whispered in her ear as she pointed towards Mora.

Liz turned to Mora and whispered, "Who is that?"

"I remember her. The blight trapped her and a young child, so I picked them up with my flyer."

Brinne stood as Liz approached her. She nodded, but did not extend a hand. "Governor Quay, are you expecting more to join you?"

Liz stopped at the table with Mora and me on both sides a step back. "Oh no. This is more than enough. I am not one for bloated government."

Brinne frowned as Liz stood across the table from her with Mora and me to her right. The large number of folding chairs on our side showed that they expected a much bigger contingent. Now, Brinne's side looked more like the big government.

Liz spoke. "Brinne, this is Mora Torr, a botanist, and Gan Finn, an engineer. I believe you may have met Mora yesterday?"

"Aye." She bowed to Mora. "And I thank ye' Mora for rescuing my daughter and grandson."

Mora responded, "I was happy to do so. I could not let the blight claim any more lives."

Liz sat down and motioned for us to do the same. "Now, let's get started. Thank you, Brinne, for agreeing to speak to me."

Brinne sat down. "Governor Quay..."

"But please call me Liz."

That was interesting. She usually preferred to be addressed as governor during official functions, but here went for first names. Not at all 'big government' like.

Brinne spoke. "We came to this world to escape the ravages of Earth and find freedom to prosper. Instead, death chased us from our new home of Freehold."

"How many were taken?"

"Eleven free souls."

Liz dipped her head. "A great tragedy. You have our deepest sympathies."

Brinne brushed off the condolence. "What be this darkness?"

"That is why Mora and Gan came with me. Mora is leading the team investigating the blight. Mora?"

Silently gulping as all eyes turned to her, Mora said, "The blight, as we call it, started soon after the Ark Hope arrived. There have been many sporadic outbreaks, each confined to a specific area, and striking without warning. You yourself witnessed its lethality."

Brinne frowned. "So, what be it then?"

"We don't know yet." Murmurs erupted around the table as Mora continued, "It does not match any pathogen we know. And there is no sign of radiation, toxin, or thermal event. The blight strikes an area and then ends as quickly as it began. Even now, the blight area at your settlement is likely safe to reenter. We continue analysis to find the true cause."

Brinne tilted her head down and glared directly at Mora. "How be it you came so soon after it struck?"

That was the crux. They distrusted us.

Mora's eyes widened at the challenge, but I jumped in, holding up a hand. "I can answer that, if I may. I was reviewing satellite images when I noticed the blight begin at your location. Mora was collecting samples from another blight site to the east near the coast when I informed her."

Mora continued. "Yes. It was important that I get some samples while the blight was active, so I came as quickly as I could. I hope they will help us with our investigation."

Liz spoke next. "Gan also told me and I ordered the evacuation. Brinne, there is no conspiracy."

Brinne's eyebrows lowered as she leaned forward. "So ye say!"

Liz leaned forward to mimic the position of her advisory and raised her voice. "Yes, I do say. And our actions confirm it. Brinne, you are free to review the logs and data as you wish."

"And yet our home be taken from us!"

Liz turned down the intensity of her voice. "Yes. Taken by the blight. We hope to restore and return it to you. Please, we ask for patience."

Brinne's face reddened as her jaw clenched. She was not buying this. In a swift move, she jumped up and drew a hidden sidearm, pointing it at Liz's head. Mora's jaw dropped, and mine did too, but Liz remained as stoic and resolved as ever. The armed men off to each side put hands on their guns, but did not draw them from the holsters.

Brinne spat, "We come to this world for freedom and will not abide having it taken from us!"

Liz slowly stood up, all the while keeping her narrowed eyes locked on to Brinne. The gun moved up as Liz did. But I noticed she pushed a button on her viewer as she rose. I grasped Mora's hand. Something was about to happen.

Liz shook her head and spoke in an even tone. "Your weapons will not bring you freedom. Only death. There is no need for violence."

Brinne smirked. "Ye' shall not stop us. We be more heavily armed."

Liz tilted her head and smiled. "I've been meaning to ask you about that, but another time. If it is to be a show of force, then I have one for you."

Brinne's smirk deepened as her eyes narrowed. "Ye be bluffin'."

A moment later, a deafening sonic boom erupted from far above as a yellow light streaked across the sky, then exploded in a bright flash above faraway hills. Brinne gasped as she turned toward the flash, as did those seated beside her. Murmurs burst from the crowd as all eyes turned. Liz was the only one who remained calm, her eyes focused solely on Brinne.

Nearly a minute later came a muffled rumbling boom. Anxious murmurs rang out from the crowd, while Mora squeezed my hand and leaned into me.

Brinne turned back toward Liz with her eyes wide while the gun wavered in her hand. Liz sat down, keeping the calm expression on her face. The unstated implications were obvious to all — we had the high ground.

Liz clasped her hands and smiled sweetly. "Now Brinne, please put away your gun and let's continue our conversation."

After that, Brinne became more amenable to negotiation. In the end, the Freedom Alliance would return to the southern settlement, which they named Freehold, when deemed safe. Mora believed that may come quickly unless another blight hit. Assistance would be provided to reestablish plants and crops. I was happy that Liz was not at all vindictive.

As we took off in the hovercar, I turned to the grinning governor. "Wow, Liz. I never, ever, want to play poker against you."

"Did you like my little show of force? I arranged with Captain Greer to drop a rock from orbit should the negotiations need a little push."

I shook my head. "It probably scared the hell out of everyone in Central City, too. But wasn't that dangerous? He could have missed."

"He assured me it would not." Liz glared at me in full governor intimidation mode. "I made a calculated risk-based decision, Gan. The threat of an armed rebellion was greater that the threat of an errant meteor."

"So, what are you going to tell the public?"

Liz tilted her head. "I'll just release a statement about a meteor fall, which is mostly the truth."

I learned something about Liz today — she was not above playing political hardball if deemed necessary. And that was scary.

Mora's expression turned solemn. "None of this will matter if we cannot stop the blight."