Friday, July 20th
White House, Washington D.C.
>Blue Light<
Appearing in the Oval Office exactly at seven p.m. eastern time on Friday, Wyatt wore a light white sport coat over his Hawaiian shirt and black slacks. Romeo and Juliet, ever alert, dutifully guarded his flanks. President Bennett stood across the room facing them dressed in a stylish grey pant suit next to her daughter, Leslie, who wore a short, black cocktail dress that had lots of unapproved-of-by-her-mother cleavage. Secret Service agent John Thumper stood in the rear, suspiciously eyeing their guests. President Bennett walked to her desk. Opening a drawer, she motioned to John.
The secret service agent grumbled, and he walked to the desk, where he laid two firearms in the drawer along with a stunner and handcuffs. When he pulled out his cell phone, Wyatt stopped him.
“That you can keep,” said Wyatt. “I’m sure you’re going to need it to make periodic phone calls.”
Slightly relieved, the agent grumbled a little less.
Trotting across the room, Romeo and Juliet sat and cocked their heads curiously up at President Mallory Bennett. The president leaned down and scratched them behind their ears.
“And who do we have here?” said Mallory in baby talk.
Juliet turned to Romeo. “She certainly speaks differently in person,” said Juliet. “On TV, she sounds a lot more authoritative.”
President Bennett stopped scratching and in shock, straightened up.
“Maybe that’s her indoor voice?” suggested Romeo, studying the president closely.
Juliet nodded her head in agreement.
“Is that your indoor voice, Madame President?” asked Romeo. “We need to know for security purposes.”
Wyatt quickly intervened. “Madame President, let me formally introduce you to my family’s personal security team, Romeo and Juliet. When we arrive at La Belle Aurore, they will be coordinating and running security inside and around the house along with your chief of security, John Thumper, who I assume is this big guy in back of you.”
Wyatt held out his hand, and John shook.
President Bennett introduced her daughter, Leslie.
“I smell pheromones,” whispered Juliet into Romeo’s ear.
Romeo had already observed how Leslie watched Wyatt’s every move and nodded his head in agreement.
However, a few moments later, when they were introduced to John Thumper, he gave Romeo and Juliet a look they didn’t like.
“He doesn’t want to work with us,” said Romeo.
“I didn’t say that!” exclaimed the irritated secret service agent.
Wyatt quickly intervened again. “Romeo and Juliet are highly skilled at reading body and facial language, John. They are also able to smell things that would absolutely amaze you.”
President Bennett turned to the secret service agent. “John will work with Romeo and Juliet,” said President Bennett authoritatively. “Won’t you, John?”
Grumbling John Thumper reluctantly nodded his head in agreement.
When the introductions were finished, Wyatt sent Romeo and Juliet on ahead to prepare the way.
>Blue Light<
President Bennett watched Romeo and Juliet leave and remembered something she wanted to ask. “Before we go, may I ask you something?”
Wyatt stopped. “Sure. What’s on your mind Madame President?”
“I was wondering,” said President Bennett. “During the Inauguration earlier this year, my husband and I walked the length of Pennsylvania Avenue in the parade. Just before we arrived at the reviewing stand, there were four small flashes of blue light in the air in front of us. It didn’t show up on television, but I’m sure I saw them. I know they were there. Was that you and your friends?”
“We can’t actually hide the blue light shift between dimensions yet,” said Wyatt, “but our security team, of which Romeo and Juliet are key members, can erase the image from communications equipment.”
“What was it about?” asked the president.
“A wack-job supporter of your wack-job opponent in the election, who was unappreciative of you winning the election,” replied Wyatt. “We made sure his malicious discontent did not spread to you or your family. Those blue flashes were bullets,” said Wyatt. “If you’d like we can give them to you as a souvenir.”
“What happened to the shooter?” asked Leslie.
“He suddenly found himself in a North Euphorean Nuclear facility.” Wyatt chuckled. “Let’s just say the North Euphoreans were unappreciative of his not having an invitation, and the rifle he had in his hands didn’t help his case.”
The president studied Wyatt carefully. “Why’d you interfere?”
“Most importantly, it was the right thing to do. But it was also in our interest,” responded Wyatt. “We knew you would be reasonable to work with. This meeting wouldn’t be taking place if your narcissistic, misogynic moron of an opponent had won. Assholes and fools don’t make it past our front door.”
Wyatt studied the three people facing him. “So, if everyone is ready to go, please touch my jacket.”
As the four made the transfer Wyatt noted in those in-between blue-light micro-seconds that Leslie’s touch seemed more of a light…massage.
La Belle Aurore
Otter Rock, Oregon
>Blue Light<
“BEAR!”
Two hundred and forty pounds of muscular secret service agent suddenly threw the president and her daughter violently kawump onto the floor behind him. Reaching for his gun Agent Thumper found only an empty holster. The desperate agent picked up a nearby chair and shook it fearlessly like a circus lion tamer between himself and Erin.
“Back! Back!” he screamed. “I say—get back!”
Erin rolled on the floor, so amused on the other side of the living room that snot shot out of her nose.
Terrified, confused, and dumbfounded, John continued waving the chair in front of him while he stared intently at Erin.
“What’s going on? Why is that bear here?” shouted the frantic secret service agent.
“Stand down, John,” ordered Wyatt as he and Konrad kneeled onto the floor and helped the president and Leslie to their feet. “Erin’s a sentient being and a member of our family. She’s here to say hello and greet the president. Now maybe you can understand why we stipulated no guns.”
John refused to lower the chair.
“Erin says you have such a funny look on your face,” said Wyatt.
“John, was it really necessary to throw me to the floor?” asked President Bennett testily as she dusted herself off and stretched out the kinks.
“But,” stammered John still trying to shield them, “there’s a Grizzly bear across the room!”
Erin disappeared, and the bewildered agent slowly set the chair on the floor. Wyatt patted Agent Thumper on the back. “Erin says she’ll come back later when you’re a little more open to new things,” said Wyatt. “However, Erin does like you John. She says you make her laugh.”
Growling, Agent Thumper turned towards Wyatt. “And just how the hell would you know what that stupid damned bear thinks?”
Wyatt’s wings involuntarily appeared and with an angry whoosh they extended as he glared at John. Leaning into Thumper’s face, Wyatt pointed to his forehead. “Erin and I have a very, very special relationship, and you, secret service agent, need to check your two-dimensional attitude at the door in our house and stop your name-calling. No one here is in any danger!”
Leslie unconsciously stroked her cleavage as she gazed open-mouthed at Wyatt’s expansive white plumage.
President Bennett had seen and heard enough, and grumpily interrupted. “John, go check the house security and leave us to our dinner!”
She took Wyatt’s arm. “How about you put your feathers away and introduce Leslie and I to the rest of your family?”
Wyatt smiled and disappeared his wings. As John helplessly watched the president walk away, he felt a tug on the cuff of his trousers. When he looked down, Romeo and Juliet were sitting on the floor next to him.
“Ready to go on a house tour?” asked Juliet with a big toothy grin.
John grumbled.