Cenerea, 3rd planet from the star Letria. Regalius, The Homeland, Central Region,

Just Outside Of The Capitol City, The Univ-Trans Facility,

Forty and Three Quarter Cenerean Years Ago

"Honorable Homeland official, bathed in your shadow just as the lovely moons dance in the light of Cenerea, do we have your permission to commit to this union, for the good of the Homeland?"

"For the good of the Homeland!" shouted the crowd surrounding the three people in a semicircle.

Connor winked at the kneeling Harold. "Yes, citizen, I approve of this union and I happily pronounce you husband and wife. Rise Harold and Wendy Bouri, rise as one soul in service to the Homeland!"

The audience of scientists and HDF personnel standing on the lawn of the Univ-Trans facility roared to life with cheers and whistles as the couple rose from where they knelt at the Chancellor's feet and turned toward each other.

The former hacker pulled Wendy to him and lifted the silvery veil from her face to kiss her. He paused as he noticed the tears running from the edges of her eyes. "What's the matter, Wendy?" he asked curiously.

"I'm sorry Harold, it's just that I'm so happy. I never thought that after all this..." Wendy's voice trailed off and she smiled.

Harold lifted his hands to his wife's cheeks and swept the tears away. "I know, babe." He kissed her and then hugged her tightly, glancing up at Letria in gratitude. "Hey, let's get out of here. I was told by a certain someone that we have a very large wedding surprise waiting for us down at the lab," he whispered in her ear.

Wendy tilted her head. "Surprise?"

"I don't know exactly what it is, but..." Harold stopped as he felt a hand grip his shoulder. He turned to look into the smiling face of Connor Santum.

"Harold, old buddy, would you and Wendy, um, Mrs. Bouri, please follow me?"

"Yessir," Harold replied as he and Wendy looked at each other in confusion.

"Now, you are saying that just to be a smartass," Connor said.

Harold grinned. "I try."

The trio walked through the adoring crowd, shaking hands and exchanging smiles with the wedding guests.

"Such a perfect day for a wedding," the Chancellor said. "You know for your gift I was going to set this entire thing up at the Arcturan mansion..."

Harold cringed. "I know, sir. It's just Univ-Trans is where we met and it's where we work."

Connor laughed. "...and practically live, I understand." The most-feared man in the Homeland opened the facility's front door for the pair of scientists to pass through. Once inside, he located a nearby table in the lobby and removed a glossy, white chair from beneath its equally shiny surface. He indicated for Wendy to take the offered seat.

"Thank you, Chancellor," she replied.

Connor nodded and repeated the activity for Harold. He then strode around to the other side of the table and seated himself. "Now, speaking of living arrangements, it seems that something rather serendipitous has happened. Just this morning, I received documents regarding some rather large Homeland HDF housing project that was recently completed and needed my signature to finalize. No matter how many times I tried to sign off on it, the document would not accept my approval...and then I noticed why. There was an alert notice telling me that if I wanted to close the doc that all homes had to be assigned. It seems there was still this one, lonely little home at, what was it? I think 114 Darvon Street and it was unassigned to anyone. Well, naturally, I thought of you two and about how I was going to show up empty-handed without a wedding present..."

Wendy began to cry once more. "I don't know what to say, Connor..."

"Oh, Scientist General, there is nothing to say." The Chancellor smiled widely as he opened his silken, white coat and reached inside with his right hand. He retrieved a small, clear data pad and placed it gently on the table. "It's all yours," he said as he placed two fingers on the electronic device and slid it toward Harold and Wendy.

Harold extended a hand across the table. "Thank you, Connor! This means a lot!"

The Homeland's dictator accepted the gesture with a nod. "I know it's not a mansion, my friends, but it beats your tiny apartments." The man lightly drummed the table's surface with his fingers, observing the cheerful couple exchanging excited glances at each other and the data device. "Well, I must be off; I have an appointment with the T'choulian ambassador." The Chancellor rose from his seat and turned to leave. "...you sure you didn't set this up, Harold?"

"Sir?" Harold asked turning his gaze from Wendy toward Connor.

Connor laughed observing the very real, perplexed expression on Harold's face. "Nevermind. Why don't you two go and christen all the rooms in that house a few times. I don't want to see either of you around here for a week."

Wendy blushed.

The Chancellor snickered and shook his head as he exited through the alumiglass door. "Have fun, you two!"

"I bet you this was Geneticus' handiwork," Harold whispered as the door closed. "It told me it had a surprise for us."

Wendy clapped her hands together. "Alright, let's go talk to the A.I. and see what that fool has done now."

...

Cenerea, 3rd planet from the star Letria. Regalius, The Homeland, Central Region,

The Capitol City, Chancellor's Capitol Building, Chancellor Santum's Office,

Forty-One Cenerean Years Ago

"The Chancellor will see you now, Mr. Bouri," the pretty receptionist said, her large bosom resting on the edge of her desk as she leaned over it to call the waiting scientist.

"Those look fun," Harold thought as he walked by.

Harold found Connor standing by the window sipping a drink and staring out over the city. "How are you today, sir?" Harold asked.

"Stop with the 'sir' formalities, Harold. You do that every time," Connor said with a grin.

"I'm sorry, sir...dammit. Connor. It's a habit."

"I know, my friend." The Chancellor walked over to his large desk and sat on the edge. He lifted his drink before him. "You want one?"

"Nah, thanks though. I got to work tonight and that Arcturan stuff you drink, it's pretty damn potent."

"Kinda like those women," Connor added.

"You can definitely say that, again," Harold said with a laugh.

"I'll send you a few boxes," the Chancellor said. "It's getting difficult to acquire since the workers began acting up down there."

"That'd be great, I'd appreciate it," Harold replied. "I'll just have to try to pace myself."

Connor laughed. "Good luck with that one. Anyways, since we're on the topic of addictions, what about that Wendy Powell?"

"Sir? Um, I mean, Connor?"

"You got a thing for her, right?"

Harold crossed his arms. "Yeah, she's my boss and I like her. That's true."

Connor closed his eyes, shook his head, and sighed. "Harold, you have wanted to put your network connector in her port for quite some time...did I say that right?"

Harold laughed a nervous laugh. "Close enough that I get your meaning," he answered. "I can't deny it...yeah, I've had a thing for her for the past few months. You know, since..." Harold hung his head. "I hate to say it's only gotten worse because she's been spending a lot of time with me afterhours at the lab. We end up having a few drinks and we'll talk for hours. I like hanging out with her, too. Honestly, I just think she's lonely Connor and really needs a friend. You know, someone to talk to," Harold said, lifting his eyes to catch Connor's stare.

"Good."

"Good?"

"I want, no, I need you to take it to the next level."

Harold raised an eyebrow.

Connor grinned. "Don't play stupid with me, Harold. You know you want her and I am telling you to go for it. Gil is dead." The Chancellor stood and walked over to sit next to Harold in an adjacent plastileather chair. "Look, bud, I can trust you and I really need to have someone I can count on keeping an eye on that woman and her strange A.I. The Homeland's entire well-being is under that thing's thumb...well, you know what I mean."

Harold nodded in understanding.

Connor's eyes narrowed. "You would tell me if anything, um, strange, was going on, wouldn't you?"

Harold nodded rapidly. "Oh, yes, definitely!" he exclaimed. "I haven't seen anything out of the ordinary and I'm the one doing all the network patches between the machine and Mount Smith. Trust me, I would know if something was up."

Connor seemed to relax and took another sip of his drink. "That's good, because, at some point we are going to have to separate her and the War Machine."

Harold swallowed. "Yeah, I can see where that will be an issue."

"That's why I need you to bend little miss Wendy Powell over a terminal and plug her a few times..."

"Connor, all I can say is I'll give it a go," replied Harold. "If she'll have me."

Connor patted Harold on the shoulder. "I'm sure you'll figure out a way, to, erm, tunnel your way in?"

The former hacker exhaled. "You, sir, are relentless."

The Chancellor stood and laughed. "I have my moments. Now, go on get out of here..."

Harold rose from his seat. "Yessir. Damn, I did it again!" he exclaimed. "I'll get it eventually."

"Have a safe trip, Harold," Connor said, plopping down in his plush, plastileather seat partially hidden behind his gigantic desk. He kicked his heels up onto the shiny wooden surface and crossed his legs. "Hey, Harold!"

Harold stopped midway to the door and turned. "Yes?"

"Meet me at the Arcturan Mansion at the end of the week break. I'll set you up with those Arcturan twins."

"Shit," Harold thought. "Um, okay."

"You can give me an update on the Wendy Powell situation then," Connor said. "I'll see you there."

"Can't wait!" Harold said with a wave and then quickly left the Chancellor's massive office. "Fuck! I hate that place! Well, at least I'll get to see Zena, again..."

...

Cenerea, 3rd planet from the star Letria. Regalius, The Homeland, Arcturius,

Arcturan Forest, Quadrant 6841.99-8523.21

Forty-One Cenerean Years Ago

The general quickly sat up only to tumble over to his side and land squarely on his face with a thud. "Fuck!" He instantly knew something wasn't right. He took his left hand and reached over to find his right arm was gone. Tan winced as he patted the stump protruding from his shoulder. "It doesn't hurt and it's healed. How long have I been out?" he wondered.

The general rolled onto his back and gazed up at the thatched roof above him. Letria's light flickered between the canopies of trees and streamed in through the openings of the roof, creating slivers of light that danced around the general like fairies on the filthy wooden floor. The breeze that wafted through the hut was clean and warm, a clear indicator he was in a jungle or forest of some sort. "Oh, that's right. We were attacked over the Arcturian Greater Forest..." His thoughts arrested as he heard footsteps and he shut his eyes.

"You can open them up, I know you're awake, general. I heard you movin' around in here," said a very familiar, gruff voice.

"Master Sargeant?" Tan asked, lifting his head to verify the voice's owner.

"None other, my friend," the soldier said, stepping into the primitive hut.

"How the hell did you find me, Reed?" Tan asked, curiously.

The sergeant scratched his scruffy chin. "Well, it's a little convoluted, but, your boy Connor's got a traitor on the inside and he's leaking intel to us. By the time I figured out it was you on the VTOL and not some other Homeland general it was too late, the missile was away. Luckily, you are a tough old bastard, like me."

"So, it looks like I lost my arm, huh? I swear to Letria, it just had to be my right one."

"Yeah, Tan. There wasn't much we could do way out here in the middle of nowhere. We almost lost you a couple of times. It was either the arm or you. Either way, the Doc says she'll get you fixed up once we get you back to the Central Region."

The general shook his head. "No, I can't have any Lavidian tech on me, that'll raise suspicions for sure. For now, I'll just have to make do."

The Master Sargeant nodded. "Yeah, I didn't think of that. Well, that's why you're the boss."

"So, tell me Reed, who's the leak?"

"Harold Bouri."

"Son of a bitch."