Page 21
Whitney smiled with satisfaction. �We�ve graduated. The alien space port is no more.�
Brent stared at her with a look of surprise. �The space port?� he asked curiously. He then smiled and laughed. �Must�ve been an impressive sight. Guess I should be glad you�re even alive.�
Whitney stared at him with confusion. �Not exactly the reaction I was anticipating,� she muttered. �So--when does my ship leave?�
Brent raked his fingers through his hair tiredly then tilted his head and looked at her. �What ship?�
�The ship leaving for Altora Two,� she replied simply. �You�d threatened--�
�An empty threat--you�d be killed almost certainly,� he informed her. �You�re not a criminal.�
�Didn�t you just call me a terrorist?� she asked.
�You are,� he stated. �But I�d rather deal with you myself than send you to some space station where torture is a daily activity. I�d rather torture you myself--at least I�m merciful.�
She studied him a long moment. She didn�t understand what had just happened. A tiny smile crossed her face. �You�re condoning my actions last night.�
He glared at her. �I�m not--�
Her smile brightened considerably. �Yes, you are!� She laughed. �You�re glad a blew up the space port, admit it.�
Brent stared at her. A tiny smile crossed his face. �Okay--I�m glad you blew up the space port.�
Whitney laughed.
Brent�s look became serious. �But you�re still my responsibility while your father�s away. I won�t sit back and allow you to risk your life. If anything happens to you, I�m no the one to take the blame--do you understand?�
Whitney jumped off of the bed excitedly. �Yes, I understand. I just can�t get killed.�
Brent frowned. �I know I didn�t say that.�
Whitney wandered through the basement later that afternoon. The gym within the basement had mats covering the floors and walls. There were punching bags, weapons, and unusual devices to the back of the room. Brent punched and kicked at a large hanging bag attached to the floor and ceiling. He kicked it harshly several times with loud grunts. Whitney paused in the doorway and smiled while watching him. She didn�t think there was an aggressive bone in his body. Brent punched the bag several times before noticing her. He stopped and turned to face her. Whitney straightened and entered the room.
Brent approached a towel draped over one of the weapons on the wall. He wipes his forehead and neck.
�Nothing to blow up today?� he asked curiously.
Whitney continued to smile despite his comment. �Very interesting--�
Brent eyed her and tilted his head. �What�s interesting?�
�You can fight,� she replied simply.
�I�ve had some practice,� he said. �Why�s that so interesting? Did you think businessmen couldn�t defend themselves?�
�No, it�s interesting because it would appear as if you could�ve held your own a little better last night.� She smiled teasingly. �Unfair of you to hold back on me.�
�If I would�ve fought any harder, I could�ve hurt you seriously--or even the other way around. Your father asked me to protect you--not beat you near death.�
Whitney approached him with an unpredictable look in her eyes. Brent watched her with a look of uncertainty. She knew he didn�t trust her.
�I think you�d underestimated my fighting ability as well,� she informed him. �You seemed to take quite a beating yourself.�
�I suppose I had underestimated you,� he replied. �I was expecting a kick boxer.�
Whitney smiled slyly. She walked around Brent just to make him uncomfortable. He looked behind him and watched her without turning his head. Whitney paused before him. They stared into each other�s eyes. Whitney kicked to his side. Brent blocked the kick with his arm. He was startled, although he appeared to be expecting something. Whitney playfully smiled and threw a punch. Brent blocked her fist with his arm. Whitney eyed the tattoo on his right hand.
�What�s that symbol?� she asked curiously.
�Sandis R�dmar,� he replied simply.
Her eyes narrowed. �Sandis R�dmar? Isn�t that interplanetary?�
Brent smiled slightly. �Yes, I�m an alien of a different color. Give you more reason to hate me?�
Whitney smiled warmly. �I�ve nothing against Sandis R�dmar. A little barbaric but not intolerable.� She laughed. �It gives you character.�
Whitney once more kicked at his side. Brent blocked the kick and returned with a counter kick. Whitney jumped backwards and blocked his foot. She laughed. They began to fight one another playfully and with little force behind their actions. They attempted to outdo one another in combat. Their play fighting lasted several minutes. Whitney threw a punch. Brent grabbed her wrist, bent it behind her back, and pulled her against him. Their eyes met. Both were breathing heavily. Whitney smiled and allowed a tiny laugh to escape.
�That�s a new move,� she remarked and searched his eyes. It made her slightly uncomfortable to be against him.
Neither moved for a long moment. Brent�s released her wrist and slipped his hand into hers. Their fingers intertwined. He continued to stare into her eyes, possibly contemplating her next move. Whitney touched his cheek with her free, left hand. Brent hesitated then slowly lowered his mouth to hers. Whitney hid her smile and lifted her mouth to meet his. Before they kiss, a steady, annoying beep sounds loudly. They jump apart. Whitney looked around with concern. Brent appeared worried. He grabbed her hand and pulled her from the room.
Brent hurried to the lounge window and looked outside. Whitney glances outside as well. Ella rushed into the lounge. An alien craft remains just outside the gates to the estate. Two alien guards stand before the gate, but they don�t enter. Brent moved away from the window. Ella paced the room nervously. Brent�s guards entered the lounge. Both were breathing heavily. Brent approaches them and mutters something to them. They hurry from the room.
�What are we going to do?� Ella asked nervously.
�Have Hubert let them in,� Brent told her firmly.
