A Planet In The Middle Of Nowhere Book 1

by DRK

Albert hurried with a shake for the tourist who sat in a stool at the small food stand at the beach. Kelli cautioned him, "Easy, Al, don't go spilling it in your haste to serve the customer."

  "Okay, boss," he answered, slowing down to a safer pace.

  The next customer who arrived turned out to be Osmo. They greeted each other warmly and Albert asked, "What will you have, sir?"

  Osmo laughed at the “sir”. "I will have a veggie energy drink. How's the new job? It doesn't look like anything we talked about doing for a living back in school."

  "It's only temporary," Albert assured him. He introduced Osmo to Kelli. "She is a good friend, who also likes to help the citizens when she can. She got me this job."

  "Where's your other half? I presume she's either doing volunteer duty again or getting ready for her trip back to Earth."

  "Jane's saying good-bye to the patients at the hospital," Albert said. "And later tonight, a few of us are having a going-away dinner for her. It will be a tight squeeze, heheh, in my new, small apartment where we'll have the dinner. But we have to send her off in style. Hopefully, she won't take too long taking care of her business on Earth, so she can get back here."

  "Hey, maybe tonight I can come here after you get off work and you can show me your new 'palace'."

  "Yeah, come meet me tonight, and I will be happy to show you my palace. It might not be the same as Hope Hotel, but I don't feel right living anymore at the hotel as a guest of... well, you know. But, actually, palace isn't quite the way I describe my new place."

  "Hey!" Kelli protested. "It's a nice neighborhood. Hardly anybody gets murdered there!"

  Albert and Osmo laughed, until they saw she was dead serious. Albert offered, "If you want to then come to the dinner, Osmo, I can tell them to set up another chair of honor, since you, also, are scheduled to leave tomorrow."

  Osmo answered, "Well, now, that's another thing-"

  But Albert drifted off into his own thoughts, not listening. He sighed. "I already miss her."

  Osmo nodded sympathetically. "Don't worry, at least you won't have to miss me. I'm staying here, too- like you are."

  Albert set down his beverage. "You're kidding. Right? You aren't kidding! I am very surprised to hear that, Osmo. What is the occasion? You miss me that much?"

  "Yeah, right, that's the reason- I start my new job tomorrow, and so I won't be able to go with you to the rocketport to see off Jane. I know it will be a terrible disappointment for Jane. Well, I won't technically be starting the job, yet, but only the training."

  Curious, Albert asked, "So what's the new job? Tell me already, buddy!"

  Osmo, with pride, told him, "You are looking at the newest member of Gov. Bright's security team. I shall be a Security Agent!"

  Hearing such news, Kelli gasped and she dropped the dessert she was carrying for the first customer.

  The news caught Albert by surprise as well, and he didn't like it. "What?! Why, Osmo, why?” Albert suddenly remembered to keep his voice hushed, but he continued, clearly upset. “I told you before that Gov. Bright is not a good man. And you can't trust him. The more I had thought about it after we discussed it before, the surer I became that I am right, and that he is... well, oppressive, to say the least."

  "Whoa, just a minute, now," Osmo cut him off. "He can't be as bad as all that. Did you see the wonderful memorial he maintains for my mom?"

  "Yes, Jane and I saw it when we first got here. I asked you if you wanted to come with us, but you weren't ready. Remember? I admit he has some good points. Most people do. But he- you know how those he doesn't like keep vanishing."

  Osmo scowled. "Look, Al, nobody's perfect. You know that. Isn't that part of the Four Spiritual Laws you tell me about? So, give the governor a break. Besides, you know better than to believe all this gossip that blames everything bad on Gov. Bright. He keeps the citizens safe, and now, I will be helping him. Anyway, I will be headquartered nearby at the Security Agency building, in their living quarters, at least for now. I think I can learn a lot from the governor. Do you see how nice Sheila is? Do you think if he were so terrible, she would be such a good woman?"

  Kelli tried not to gape, and she forced herself to keep quiet and take care of the new customers.

  Albert, meanwhile, shook his head in dismay. "Oh, Osmo, I don't know if Sheila even knows how bad her uncle can be. Of course, he won't let her see his bad side, if he can help it."

  Osmo argued, "But she does see his good side, and all the good he does, and she tells me about it. He does his best to see that everyone is provided for. He and Sec. Ldr. Clyden and the Security Agents keep law and order on this planet. Can't you see, Gov. Bright is good for the World of Hope."

  Kelli still kept silent, but she listened, and with heaviness of heart for Albert's confused friend.

  Albert persisted, concerned for Osmo. "I honestly don't think he can be trusted, Osmo. I think he's a bit too much of a pragmatist. He also seems a bit edgy, if you know what I mean. I met him at the hospital, and he put on a pleasant smile, but I could feel it was not the truth. I concede, under him there is order, but the law I am not so certain about. Think, my friend, before you take this job."

  Annoyed, Osmo growled, "I did think. And then I said yes to the job. What do you think, that I just accepted it without considering the matter? As for the governor being untrustworthy, well, he's not the one who hides in the dark. Look at the house church that you mention from time to time. Keeping everything secret, staying in the shadows. Why? What do you have to hide? Very seldom does anyone go public about being in that house church. I know you guys are not up to anything bad, but if I wanted to, I could make false accusations the way you guys do about Sheila's uncle."

  Kelli finally spoke up. Well, anyway, she spoke in a loud but discrete whisper. "Mr. Martin, the reason the house church stays out of the way is because the governor, for some reason, persecutes the house church. I think it rattles him that some obey a higher authority than him. Already the church lost Billy Bob. And some others besides him."

  Osmo chucked his hands up in the air. He pushed aside his drink. "Oh, I figure, ma'm, you must also be in that church, huh? Well,frankly, you two don't know what you're talking about. I can't believe what I am hearing. Maybe this Billy Bob just got mugged and his body dumped somewhere- Sorry to be so graphic about it, but you know that stuff like that happens, no matter where one is at, whether here or on Earth. And I can't believe I am hearing such concerns and suspicions from you, Albert, what with only gossip to back up the accusations. It seems to me like we see things too differently these days. It doesn't seem like we are able to get past the governor. You're not the Albert I once knew."

  "Agreed. And you are no longer the Osmo that went to school with me."

  Osmo nodded. "True. I am learning to become a man who now accepts the responsibilities and realities of life. I suggest you think about doing the same."

  "Which is exactly what I am doing," Albert countered.

  Neither spoke for a minute. Osmo took his drink and finished it. He set the empty glass aside. "Well, if that's all you have to say about my new job, I guess I will be heading back to my rooms at the hotel. I must pack things so I can move to the new place tomorrow after training. And I will leave you guys now, because I need a good night's rest, so I can give my best effort to this training tomorrow morning, so I can learn how to be a good Security Agent to keep the people of Hope safe. See you around, Al."

  "Okay. Take care, then," Albert replied.

  Albert and Kelli watched Osmo go. Albert sighed. He turned to Kelli. "I don't suppose he will be coming back after my shift is done, to see my new apartment."

  "I suppose not, Al," she said.

  In Training