The ambassador hurried to join them. “You areboth looking well. How are you feeling? Captain Quito, I hope youare not going to spit on me.”
“Spit?” Rem asked, then he burst intolaughter. “And I thought I was bad. All I did was threatento kill everyone. You spit on them?”
“One nurse, one time,” Zia said, eyeingHumber with pretend annoyance. “You’re in such a good mood,Ambassador. Does this mean you’ve been off making love to yourwife?”
“Of course I did. Twice in fact.”
Zia groaned, remembering too late thatMalarans were blunt about sex compared to Earthlings.
Refusing to seem naïve, she shrugged andsaid, “Well, good. Now maybe you can take Captain Stone off myhands. I know he’s dying to see an army of sixty mechs, all linedup in rows. And I’d like to go to the hotel and unpack. So? Do youfeel like playing tour guide?”
“I’m not going anywhere without you,” Remobjected. “We’ll both go to the hotel.”
“My three bodyguards will be with me. I’ll befine.”
“And my government is supplying four extraguards,” Humber interjected. “Zia will be perfectly safe everymoment she is on my planet.”
“Sorry,” Rem told him, arching an eyebrowslightly. “I’m not letting her out of my sight. I have orders toprotect her, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Zia could just imagine Commander Logan givingsuch an order, so she scowled and said, “Fine, then we’llall go look at the mechs.”
“You are anxious to see them for yourself?”Humber’s huge green eyes twinkled. “I have heard that once a personwears the helmet and experiences synergy, they are never the sameagain.”
She rolled her eyes at the concept. “Okay, Iconfess. I’ve given up shopping and partying. All I care about nowis piloting.”
Rem and Humber laughed, then she continued.“Seriously, Ambassador, what’s the plan? The Alluvans are probablywatching, right? We want them to think I’m Pilot Girl, don’twe?”
“Yes. In fact, you are invited to dinetomorrow night with the minister of Malara to discuss strategy. Itwill be well publicized, and with luck, will unnerve ourenemy.”
“Mech strategy,” Rem murmured.“Unbelievable.”
“You will be there too, Captain Stone. Andthereafter, you and Zia will spend every day at the practicefields, where you will appear to train with our pilots. That is theplan. But if you wish an early glimpse, I can arrange for ahovercraft to take us to the fields right now.”
Young Dr. Annur had returned to the room andasked with a smile, “Are you stealing my patients, Mr.Ambassador?”
“They want to see an army of mechs,” Humberexplained, and the two Malarans started chuckling as though Humberhad just made a hilarious joke.
“Must be lost in the translation,” Ziamurmured to Rem.
Annur smiled. “You two may go, but the othersare not ready. They have showered and dressed, but we are stillmonitoring them. It will be another hour at least before they aresteady on their feet.”
“We don’t need them. I can protect Zia,” Remassured him.
“With the help of four brave Malaransoldiers,” Humber reminded him sharply.
“Right! Sorry, sir. I didn’t mean anydisrespect. I appreciate their help.”
“Shall we go, then?” Humber asked.
“Wait.” Zia glanced toward the secondrecovery room. “I don’t want to hurt their feelings. Can I talk tothem for a minute, Dr. Annur?”
“Of course. Come with me.”
* * * *
Rem followed Zia and watched from the doorwayas she approached the three bodyguards, who were sitting on thesides of their beds with monitoring devices attached to their arms.Even so, they all stood up and saluted crisply when Ziaappeared.
She greeted each of them by name, her tonewarm with respect. “I didn’t get a chance to thank you forvolunteering to protect me. I feel so much better knowing you’rehere. Otherwise, I’d be on the next transport back to Earth,believe me.”
The men beamed with pride, and Rem nodded inapproval. Despite Zia’s claims that she wasn’t a politician, shehad a definite flair for making people feel good. And for knowinginstinctively what they needed to hear—the hallmark of any greatleader.
“I know you guys are still recovering, but Ihave some extra assignments for you. Commander Logan probably toldyou your only job is to guard me, but I’m not that easy.” Sheflashed a playful smile. “I need you to teach me too. I’ve neverheld a blast gun or laser rifle. I wouldn’t know what to do if aVekzor attacked me. I can’t even salute! I’m counting on you threeto help me with all that. Which means you need to go to the hoteland rest. And check it out, so we’re sure it’s safe. I’m going on aquick hovercraft tour of the base with Ambassador Humber andCaptain Stone—”
“We need to go too, then,” Lieutenant Haradaprotested.
“Then who will check out the hotel? I can’tjust wander in there without being sure it’s safe, can I?Ambassador Humber is sending four Malaran guards on the hovercraftin your place. Four Malarans for the three of you—that sounds okay,doesn’t it?” She smiled again, this time with a hint of apology. “Iknow I’m asking a lot for your first day, but I really need you tosecure the hotel. And I’ll need those saluting lessons soon, too.Until then, you’ll have to settle for this.” She gave them each akiss on the cheek, then backed up and smiled at them again. “Dowhat Dr. Annur says, please? When I go to sleep tonight, I want allthree of you rested and on guard. Please?”
Rem could see that the three guys weremesmerized—not to mention madly in love. It was unbelievable. Shewas ditching them, but making them feel great about it.
He needed to learn a lesson from this, andnot let his guard down around her, no matter how sweet and sincereshe seemed.
She left her new converts and strode pastRem, giving him a frown that told him she hadn’t realized he waswatching. It also told him she hadn’t really forgiven him formouthing off at the press conference, which concerned him. If hewas going to protect her, he needed her absolute trust. Apparently,he had lost that, and would have to regain it somehow.
As he trailed her and Humber to the roofwhere the hovercraft
