Chapter 14: Late Night

"So, how are we going to handle tomorrow?" Lucy demanded, sitting in her cabin with Mike, TK, Yuki, a couple of aides, and from Spica II, Aiko Yamada, her foreign minister Kurt Meier, and a couple of their aides. The hour was late and all were more than ready for bed.

Mike considered their situation. "First, we don't want other nations' press here during the negotiations. That means that tomorrow, only their own planetary press will be allowed on the island." He turned to Aiko Yamada and Kurt Meier. "I'm sorry, but if this gets any press coverage before the negotiations are finished, this will get back and cause all kinds of controversy. It's best if we deal with that once the deal is a fait accompli and both sides are ready to sign." He turned back to Lucy. "You're still enough of a news story; let's run with that. If Meier-san or Yamada-sama can escort you to a few of the tourist hot-spots for the cameras, that will keep many of them busy and preoccupied while TK and I concentrate on the peace talks."

Lucy winced at the talk of being before the cameras. She might be sort-of used to being in the nude, having been sky-clad for the better part of the last 18 hours, but she was still self-conscious about having her posterior recorded for posterity.

"One member of the press has expressed interest in interviewing my family, for a human interest angle. I'll have to talk with them about that, but Kurt, if you could set up something like that for the rest of the press — let's keep them busy, busy busy, so they don't clue in to what's happening here until we're ready for another photo op." Kurt nodded approvingly.

"Can I borrow the services of Yuki?" Kurt asked. "She's very organized and quite imaginative."

"Certainly, Kurt." Mike nodded to Yuki. "No objections?"

"No, we've worked together before. It makes sense." Yuki shot a friendly smile at Kurt.

"Great!" yelled an enthusiastic Kurt. "Now, I suggest you three-" he pointed at Mike, Lucy and Aiko "-get a great night's sleep. You're going to be busy tomorrow. We'll handle the details!"

"First, I have to clear the interview with my wife," Mike said as he remembered the conversation with Dorothy. What time was it, anyway?

"It's two o'clock in the morning!" Oh, Mike realized. Well, it could be worse.

"An interview with who?!? Dorothy Chandler? Chandler the HANDLER!?!" Yep, definitely could be worse. In fact, it just got worse. "Are you insane?"

"Please, honey, normally I wouldn't be asking -"

"Don't you 'honey' me!" The kids were obviously in bed, so she was keeping her voice down, but he could tell she was upset.

"-but she asked, politely, and, well, there's another reason."

"What's the other reason?"

"I can't tell you all the details, but we need her off the island tomorrow. And the other reporters as well, so we're using the President as photo-op bait. Lucy's not exactly delighted about it, but she's doing her part."

That took Maggie aback.

"Look, this is Dot's idea, so it's better than coming from me. Just sit the kids, your mom and yourself down on the couch, answer some questions, have some tea, make nice with her. You know the drill; you've been through it before."

"Never nude I haven't. My friends at home will see. So will Micah's and Millie's."

"Your friends at home were told where we're stationed?" Mike queried.

"Well ... yes..."

"And the kids' friends?"

"Well ... yes..."

"And this has been on every TV broadcast throughout the Solar System, hasn't it?"

"Well ... yes..."

"So..."

"So... ?"

"So they know. It won't come as any big surprise to any of them, will it?"

It was too late, she couldn't summon the logic required to counter the argument. Maggie agreed to do the interview, and exasperated, went to bed.

Exhausted, Mike did the same. He briefly missed the sensation of having her warm body beside him before sleep overcame his sense of separation.