B-12 loaded the catapult and let fly another glowing clay pigeon. Xavier took aim with the pistol-type blaster and zapped it into dust when it reached its flight apex. "Very good shooting, Gov. Xavier," Clyden congratulated his boss.
"It pays for a leader to keep in shape and able to defend himself," Xavier answered. "Well, look who it is!" Xavier spotted the McCleers coming across the back field past his mansion and heading over to the shooting range. "I didn't expect you to show up, George."
"Why not?"
Xavier shrugged. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe because you might have thought me uncooperative at the environment-generator this afternoon. I thought maybe I got your nose out of joint."
Nina, hanging onto her husband's arm, smiled. "Xavier, it is not the first time we've found you uncooperative. Besides, George knows I am getting tired of being cooped up in our suite."
"Oh, that's nice. George is so considerate," Xavier teased.
"Yes, I am. Besides, I had made plans with you to meet you here tonight, remember? You know I like to keep my commitments. My word is my bond."
"Okay then, I guess it's your turn," said Xavier, handing George the blaster. "As you use this, just think about how blasters could not have been developed without the technology made possible by the fuel ore that comes from our humble little world."
"Certainly."
Clyden ordered the robot to launch another bird. While George concentrated on the flying target, Xavier focused on Nina, talking cheerily with her."I am glad you came, Nina. If I can help keep your trip to our wonderful world from getting boring, by all means, let me know, and I will try to keep it exciting," the governor graciously offered, "I guess being around George all day can get a little dull."
His slight jibe annoyed George, and threw off his aim. George missed the clay pigeon by a hair. The energy blast shot past it, to dissipate harmlessly in the dusk sky.
Xavier chuckled. "Oh oh, George, I am surprised at you, I guess you've gotten rusty since college. I hope your aim isn't so rusty in everything these days."
Nina quickly replied, "I assure you, there's nothing wrong with George's aim where it counts."
Xavier tried to hide how annoyed he now became as Nina defended her husband, but his irritation managed to slip through his poker mask by way of his perturbed tone. "Well, that's good to know, Nina. George, if you ever need any help-"
George gritted his teeth, tempted to whack him..
Clyden changed the flow of conversation, getting tired of this silliness. He found it very undignified for the governor to be acting this way, like a jealous schoolboy. "Here comes Sheila. Oh great, look who she's brought with her."
Sheila led Osmo over the grass to the tiny group. Osmo looked a bit sheepish because of this afternoon's incident, but it was obvious it wouldn't keep him from having a good time.
Xavier hushed his security man. "I told Sheila to invite him. Like I said earlier, I think it is a good idea for me to get to know him better. Especially since I am footing his bill at the Hope Hotel."
After introducing the McCleers to Osmo, the governor kidded, "We are shooting only clay birds. Perhaps you will show us what you can do? I know this isn't the same as robot hunting, Mr. Martin, but I hope you can appreciate that we can't kill all our robots on foolish whims."
"Oh, um, yeah, about that- sorry..." said Osmo.
Xavier burst out in mirth. "Oh, come on, Osmo. I may call you Osmo, right? I was young once, too. Besides, I know my niece is a bad influence on an upstanding young fellow like you."
"No, sir, she influences me for good," protested Osmo. "She scolds me when I drink too much. Maybe I will cut back when we are out having a good time, I guess."
"Why, Sheila, you're mom would be proud to hear that you are an influence for good. But tell me, you two, where are the others you were going to bring? I thought you had some friends of yours who came with you on vacation."
Osmo didn't know where they were. "Maybe Albert and Jane were mad because I stood them up at the beach when we went robot hunting. When I got back tonight, they were nowhere around." Osmo chuckled. " I hope they aren't still at the beach waiting for us."
George inquired, "Don't you think now that you are a young man, you should act a bit more responsibly? I remember you acting like a spoiled kid on the rocket. If you told them to meet you at the beach-"
"Nonsense, George," Xavier contradicted. "Let me get this straight- You stood up your pals because you and Sheila had better plans, correct? Ah, that was the smart move, Osmo. Why shouldn't you break a commitment, if a better opportunity presents itself? I suppose the McCleers may not agree with me. I hope you think coming here and meeting Sheila's uncle is at least somewhat a worthwhile way to spend your time tonight,unless a better opportunity comes up. I know it is not as exciting as going robot hunting, but I hope at least Sheila didn't have to drag you here."
"Not at all, sir," Osmo answered. "I wanted to meet you. She's told me so many good things about you. If you are only half as wise as Sheila says, I hope I can learn from you. After all, you lead this planet. One day I will lead my father's business, so I should learn how to inspire people. Of course, at the moment I want to enjoy myself. I don't want to tie myself down to working for my father just yet."
Sheila said, "Osmo, I may have told you some of the great things my uncle has done, but if I am going to be able to give you an accurate picture of Uncle, I should have to tell you twice as many more wonderful things as I have."
George and Nina almost gagged. Yikes!
"Your father also is a great leader," said Xavier. "From time to time I have marginal dealings with him. Mostly, though, I only deal with the committee that tries to run this world by proxy. George, give Osmo the blaster. Let's see how good he is at hitting that thing."
Clyden grumbled to himself at how the governor behaved so cordially to Osmo, but he said nothing aloud. Osmo didn't have Clyden fooled, though. The head of security told B-12 to fire another clay target into the air.
Osmo blasted it into a million pieces. "Ya-hoo! Bull's eye!"
Sheila beamed. "Why, Osmo, I didn't know you were so handy with a blaster! You're better tonight with the pigeon than you were with the robot. I guess now when I'm with you, I can relax. I am sure I will be well-protected!"
"You have nothing to fear, as long as I am here, Sheila," pledged Osmo. "Anyone who just looks at you cross-eyed, he will answer to me!"
"Great, that's just great," Xavier cheered him on. "Isn't Osmo a great kid- oh, I mean, isn't Osmo a great man, Sec.Ldr. Clyden? Don't you think he shows signs of being a leader?"
"Yeah, he's just marvelous," Clyden answered unenthusiastically. "A regular Alexander the Great."
The governor shook Osmo's hand. "I am pleased to see my niece finds you fun to be around. It makes me happy to know if you are about, you are willing to protect her and her honor, and that you won't let anybody insult her. That is very important, to protect the woman you love. Isn't that important, George? Like if somebody disrespects her and hits on her right in your very presence-"
"It's very important," said George. "But sometimes what some people might regard as an insult from someone turns out to be merely a man speaking his unfulfilled fantasies, a man who turns out to be no serious matter at all, because the man isn't nearly as important as he thinks he is. There's a lesson for you, Mr. Martin. Probably your father already told you this. Some foolish people just aren't worth your time responding to."
Xavier found this humorous. "Oh, George, I know you don't mean that. What kind of a man would say that, unless he was a coward, or he no longer loved his woman that he was supposed to protect from dishonor and disrespect?"
"You make sense, Gov. Xavier," said Sec. Ldr. Clyden, thinking of Gazelle.
Nina said nothing, curious to see what answer her husband would give.
George told them, "A wise man doesn't have to answer every dog that barks."
"Oh, are we talking now of dogs? Haha, we must watch even the dogs, then, in case
we underestimate them, and they turn out to be wild and bite us!" Xavier jibed.
"I guess if it comes to that, then, if the dog turns out to be mad, it must be put down," sighed George. "It's a sad story that happens over and over again throughout history, and it always ends the same."
Late Night Meeting