Aurie and Jimmy wrap up their conversation in the bath. He reminds her of her violent nature and that seems to steady her; she sets about plotting something.

So. That gives us two “Chekov’s Guns:” whoever arrived overnight and what actions Aurelia’s mother, Henge, might be able to do in an emergency. I’ll start blowing things up on Wednesday. This short story is already at 3,000 words and I don’t want it to get out of hand.

Enjoy my content? Buy me a beer!

“Then ameliorate it.  Double the number of drones and have them linger where you saw the explosion.  Add paramedics to the perimeter; hell, add them into the crowd.” He turned the water off.  “More:  make sure the local hospitals and other facilities are fully staffed and ready for the worst.  This is something of a national holiday tomorrow, but staff gets called back in for odd reasons all the time.”

She said nothing.  Jimmy sighed.

“When you told me about your vision just before meeting me, you said you were looking up at me, naked, with the ceiling of my bedroom behind me, right?” She nodded.  “And, just once, I think, you said they are always static images.  So why are you still out of sorts?”

“Yes, my love, they are static, a bit like a snapshot.  But there is some feeling there; I remember feeling how much I liked you, even before meeting you,” she replied.

“And now you’re going to tell me you felt something when you saw the explosion?”

A nod.

“There…there was something happening to me or around me.  Was I scared?  No.” Aurie shuddered.  “I will be terrified.”

She stood, the water dripping off of her.  Stepping out of the bath on her slightly longer leg, she waited with a towel for him before taking one for herself.

“It is SOP for there to be an initial blast, then, once the first responders are there, a second,” she said, drying her purple-black shoulder-length hair.  “I…I cannot be paralyzed by fear or trying to understand all the myriad ways this could unfold.  So, it shall be as you say:  I’ll reinforce both security and medical response.”

Her eyes flared gold just a bit and Jimmy knew she was doing that right then.  Towel aside, she took her husband’s hand.

“We’ll be together in bed tonight, but I cannot sleep.  I have much work to do.”

***

Burns was surprised that he actually fell asleep.  Looking left, his wife, now empress, was propped up on a few pillows, staring straight ahead, her eyes still bright.

“Trying to cover all the bases?” he asked, sitting up and kissing her cheek.  It might not have been appropriate for what would happen later in the day, but that hour would take care of itself.

“Two friends arrived some hours ago,” Hartmann replied, light fading as she focused on her husband.  “I am so glad I married a clever man.”

He’d thought of his next question just as he was waking up.  Uncomfortable, he slid his feet to the ground and looked away from her.

“Aurie?”

“Yes?” She sensed his tension.

“Do you think you’ll die today?”

“I don’t know,” she replied with complete honesty, watching his back heave.  “Is the image from a split-second before I’m hit with shrapnel?  If so, the upside there is that Fussy died four-and-a-half times and is still here with us.  And, of course, I’ve my so-called ‘secret weapon’!”

“What?” He turned back to face her.  “What is that?  Your father Gary, the doctor?”

“He might help, but that’s not what I meant,” she smiled to lean forward with a brief kiss.  “I meant Mama.”

“And,” she said, standing and finally with her smile back, “those friends?  I want an ace up my sleeve that no one, not even Fussy, is aware of.”

Jimmy stood and put a robe on.  “I remember the morning after we met.  You were very violent, Aurie.”

“I’m aware.  I think denying my own nature is the most foolish thing I could do.” Another smile.  “So I won’t.  Let’s shower and get something to eat.  It’s only a few hours to the public ceremony.”

“Yes, dear.”

“Eeee!  It still gets me when you say that!”