With a growl from its twin exhausts, the big car swung out of the yard and down the gravel drive. ------------------------------------ Suzi and Helen ...alked slowly up the lane that ran beside the Coach House. The heat of the sun was tempered by the arch of foliage that hung above them and they walked in a dappled green world heavy with the scent of flowers and the hum of insects. Suzi could not honestly remember when she had last been so happy; she felt so gloriously alive, so in love, so. With a sigh, I resign to the fact that I inadvertently had failed my mother.. Shoulders heavy, I cradled the phone. “Well then?” he asks wanting to know what just happened. “I just got fired. I should really go. I need to get back home and clean up. I'm soaked, and all I really want to do is crawl in a hole and die. Today is not my day. Thank you,” I trailed off. He waives his palm in my direction signaling silence as he called for the other girl. I stop mid ramble. “Ginny!” He shouts; and the. My best friend had her arms wrapped around her twin brother’s neck, and they were gazing adoringly into each other’s eyes. Very corny, but she assured me all the stupid love songs made sense once you were in love. It was quite the exaggeration, but I was still glad she’d finally found happiness. Fingers crossed that it lasted, I thought darkly, before quickly dismissing it. No need to be so morose; sometimes happy endings did come to pass.“Mademoiselle, the senators ‘ave just arrived,” Alain. “Nothing serious as yet.”“According to the briefing a Heavy Fighter hit it with a missile strike and blew out its grav-systems. I suspect they’re still a little shaken up in there,” Monitor Creas opined.“Probably,” I replied. “But it’s been over a hundred and fifty rotations since the hit, so expect some resistance.”“Yes, sir. You heard the Officer. Don’t take chances!”“Yes, Monitor!” they all replied.“Further instructions, sir?”“We make for the Bridge. The AI thinks it has its position.