by DRK
As part of the grand tour around the World of Hope, Xavier showed off the Sparkle City hospital, telling to George and Nina how, despite the tight-fisted ways Earth dealt with them, the governor saw to it that everybody had access to healthcare, and that the hospitals were all kept in good shape and running. He said he could not help but brag about how well the citizens' health was taken care of.
Security Leader Clyden accompanied Gov. Bright, keeping himself there by his side, but unnoticed.
The party walked down the corridor, led by the Administrator personally. As they rounded a corner, a young man came around from the other way carrying a tray of food. The young man collided with Nina.
"Oof!" The young man nearly spilled the tray. "Sorry, ma'm, I didn't see you coming around the corner." He also apologized to the Administrator. Then, he recognized the governor. "Gov. Bright!"
"Accidents happen," Gov. Bright said magnanimously.
Nina stared at the man with the tray. "Excuse me, but you look familiar... Weren't you on our flight, the Space Dart? I think you came with that Osmo Martin character."
His ID tag on his shirt pocket read Albert Z. , VOLUNTEER."Yes, ma'm. And, um, Gov. Bright, it is appropriate for me to take this opportunity to thank you personally for inviting us and paying for our tabs-"
"You're welcome, Mr. Zoeniga. It's nice to know my kindness is appreciated. I had expected to meet you for awhile now, but not here. This is a surprise. My niece was supposed to bring Mr. Martin's friends to dinner at the Governor's House, but, apparently she would rather take you young people out to nightclubs and such. Well, I guess to young people, that might be a bit more fun than a dinner with Sheila's uncle. But tell me, why are you here carrying a tray and working at the hospital, if you are supposed to be on vacation?"
"Well..." Albert wanted to be tactful. He did not want to accuse the governor, especially to his face, of anything. What if Osmo were right, and the governor was doing his best? He said, "I am simply helping out a little. I had heard that things are not as well as they could be, so I thought I would do what I can to help make things better for the sick folks here at the hospital."
"That's very noble of you," George said. He turned to Xavier Bright. “I thought you said the hospital ran very well, in spite of being allegedly short on supplies.”
"Yes, and it is true. But, do you see, George?" Xavier said. "Even this young man from Earth, on vacation here, confirms what I say. We need supplies, so that tourists such as Mr. Zoeniga, instead of carrying trays about the hospital, can be at the beach or skiing up north at a resort, and enjoying his vacation time." He tried to turn about Albert Zoeniga's obvious contradiction of the boasts he had just made to the McCleers, but it still galled him to look so foolish like this. “When will Earth send the supplies we need?!”
George nodded. "So you have been saying, Xavier."
Albert excused himself and continued on with the tray.
The governor watched the annoying do-gooder walk down the hall. "A nice young fellow," he said.
"I suppose so, Gov. Xavier," Sec. Ldr. Clyden replied.
The Administrator agreed. "Thanks to a few volunteers, we can keep spirits up with out patients and keep them fed in a timely manner.” A cross look from the governor made it clear the Administrator had better not go down this path. He quickly changed the subject. “Gov. Bright, I want you to see the new holo-viewer, so you can appreciate the results of your wrangling with Earth to get us one. And I also want to thank you for getting it- we are so thankful, since we really needed one here at Sparkle Hospital. Thanks to you, sir, we are all in good health."
Xavier smiled. "I want our citizens to be well taken care of during their stay here at our Sparkle Hospital."
"Yes, sir," the Administrator enthused. "Now diagnosing will be so much easier. We can see whether things are all right in the body where before we could only guess-"
As they walked along, Xavier put on his most charming smile and suggested, "Maybe we should use it on your heart, Nina, to see what's wrong, and find out how it is that you can prefer George's lifetime companionship to someone who is so much more fun?"
George snarled, "And maybe we can use it on your brain and see what is wrong with you, Xavier."
Xavier looked hurt. "Oh, George, what's this? Why get all excited suddenly? You know I am only kidding. I have been kidding all this time that you and your lovely wife have been my guests. Why now do you suddenly develop a thin skin, and become rude and sarcastic?"
The Administrator gaped. He never expected this kind of reaction to news about the holo-viewer.
"Oh, knock it off," George answered, his hands turning into fists as he tried to remain calm.
Sec. Ldr. Clyden became alert, in case he would have to intervene between George and Xavier.
George continued his rant. "I think you should finally accept the fact that, well, let's face it, my wife didn't really find you to be someone she would want to marry and spend her life with. Can you blame her? You always think you are right, that everything must be your way. You are such an ego-maniac, it is pathetic. I actually feel sorry for you."
For a brief moment, Xavier appeared stunned by the reaction. Then his face took on a look of friendly sincerity. "Oh, George, if I have offended and angered you, I apologize deeply. I am sorry if you took my light-hearted banter the wrong way."
Nina couldn't believe her husband. So, ever since they got here, while George was trying not to get upset with Xavier during this past week, inside he must have been really angry about his former room-mate, and finally- finally he had had enough. She put her loving arms around George. "Oh, hon, don't become so mad. I know he really annoys you so much, but try to keep your cool. Tomorrow, after visiting the mines, you can write up your report, and we can go back home."
The Administrator still could only stare at them, shocked to hear anyone talk to Gov. Bright like that.
"Yes, George," said Xavier. "Listen to your wife. But don't worry. If I upset you so much, I won't joke you anymore about Nina,"
Xavier then said, "Sec. Ldr. Clyden has come with me today to the hospital because he wants to look in on a sick friend. If you will excuse me, I wish to join him in wishing his friend well. I hope you understand. We can all meet later in the lobby. You will be sure to show Mr. and Mrs. McCleer all there is to see at the hospital, won't you, Dr. Evans?"
"What? Oh, yes, sir, yes I will."
"Thank you, Dr. Evans." Xavier turned and walked back down the hall, Clyden keeping up with his crisp pace, leaving the puzzled Administrator and the McCleers behind.
The governor and the security chief entered an elevator and Xavier pressed any button. "I hope your friend is doing fine, Sec. Ldr. Clyden."
"Thank you for your concern, sir. What's this really about?"
Xavier pressed the STOP button and halted their descent. "I am impressed with that Albert Zoeniga's altruism. And his frankness about the shortfalls of care here at our hospital on Hope, from an outsider's eyes, is refreshing."
“Oh?”
Alone with Clyden in the stopped elevator, obviously with no intention of looking in on Gazelle, Xavier spoke his mind. "I think that Albert Zoeniga wore out his welcome."
Clyden nodded. "Okay."
"No, it isn't okay. He is my guest. And so is his friend, Osmo Martin."
"I know that, Gov. Xavier. What is the point you are trying to make?"
"Now is not the time to upset the apple cart. Let us keep Osmo happy. I suppose I shall have to put up with that annoying Mr. Zoeniga, in order to keep Osmo happy. Maybe then his influential father will also be happy. Maybe I can get from the Leaders on Earth what our world needs. That's one thing. That will then make me happy. Of course, I am not sure I can expect much from them, but nevertheless, it is worth trying. But, Sec. Ldr. Clyden, since I am on the subject of Osmo Martin, I wonder if you can tell me about that incident that happened at the Tourist Trap."
"I am sure Sheila has told you all about it already."
"
Yes, but I wanted to hear your version, if you don't mind. Did you find those people yet? You must be livid, seeing how one of those thugs injured your young lady friend so badly, that she is in a coma and cannot return to Earth just yet because the rocket trip might make matters worse."
Clyden assured him he spared no effort in trying to locate the rowdies. "I don't know who they are, not yet, but we will get them, that's a certainty. It appears they conspired against that Martin kid for some reason, and one of them lured him outside the nightclub, where they jumped him. Or they tried to, but I stepped in, and so did your niece and that Albert that is a volunteer here. We made short work of them. Too bad for Gazelle, though. I had told her to wait inside the Tourist Trap."
"But you don't have any idea who they were, or why they attacked him?"
Clyden shrugged, his face showing how puzzled the matter made him. "Perhaps they figured he'd have something worth stealing, so they wanted to mug him, since he's a cocky rich kid and they don't like that. Maybe they are some of those complainers here on Hope, always finding fault with our world, and so they think that if Mr. Gunther Martin on Earth gets upset because of something happening to his boy, that Gunther Martin will then do things to make things even harder for our government. And that would be how they can get back at your government, sir. Stupid people. Don't they know that it will just be harder on all of us then, especially them, if Earth gets mad and holds back even more supplies?”
Xavier narrowed his eyes, trying to read his security man. "That is a most... interesting theory. But I am amazed that such a large group has been able to completely hide itself from your investigative abilities. Ordinarily you would have them tracked down by now, and either locked up or in the mines."
"Yes, it is a mystery what has become of them, Gov. Xavier."
"Well, can I ask you a favor in regards to that matter, Sec. Ldr. Clyden?"
"Of course, sir."
"Can you take extra special caution and care to see that nothing like that ever happens again to Osmo Martin while he is on our planet? I rather am fond of him, and he is seeing a lot of Sheila, and she likes him, in her own way. So can you be sure no more conspiracies happen, that no more thugs try to harm him?"
Clyden wanted to tell Xavier how annoying he found Osmo. Instead, he promised he would do his best to see that nothing happened to Osmo, since it meant so much to the governor.
"I am sure you will," the governor said. "One more thing. Can you please meet the McCleers in the lobby after you visit your friend, and see that they have a way back to the Governor's House?”
"You're not coming with to the lobby?"
"Sec. Ldr. Clyden, I cannot spend all my time showing the McCleers around the city. My time is too valuable. I have other matters to attend to."
Xavier restarted the elevator and got off on the ground floor, leaving Clyden still inside.
The security leader tried to remember what floor Gazelle was on. He pressed another button and, as the elevator took him back up, he mused to himself, This thing with the governor and George McCleer seems to be coming to a head. I think it is safe to say that McCleer crossed the line today. Gov. Xavier won't let him get away with chastising him in front of the Administrator. It is bad public relations if he lets the matter pass, and people will lose respect for the governor.
Saying Good-bye
