Free Solbidyum Wars Saga 6: Defeat of the Tottalax by Dale C. Musser Page B

and I had not eaten a bite because of all that had transpired.  I could have gone to the DUSTEN , but Kala and the twins were on the NEW ORLEANS, and that’s where I wanted to be.  When I entered our suite, I was immediately greeted by “DADDY!” and two scraggly-looking twins came rushing me.  I noticed Kala talking with Jenira on a settee in the corner, and toys were scattered around the room.  A vid screen on the wall was playing the news events of the day with the Senate prison visit taking up most of the air time.
    “Tib,” Kala said as I swept the twins up and gave them each a kiss, “I see you had quite the time at the Lunar prison today.”
    “Yes, but it could not have worked out better, and all because of Senator Sipollie.  If he hadn’t insisted on pushing everything, people in the Federation might not realize how dangerous the Brotherhood prisoners are.  Now they know, and I don’t think many planets will want them released any time soon.”
    “You took a mighty big risk to prove that,” Kala said.
    “Perhaps, but I think it was worth it.”
    “Have you eaten?” Kala asked.
    “Not a bite all day, and I am starved.  Can you contact Piesew and get him to order up a big fubalo steak with some vegetables and a really good wine,” I said as I set the twins back down on the floor.
    “I’ll do better than that,” Kala replied, “I’ll order dinner for all of us.  None of us have eaten this evening.  Jenira, you will be staying for dinner, won’t you?”  I noticed Jenira looked somewhat sheepishly about before answering yes, and I had a hunch what she really wanted was to sneak off to see Padaran.  Then an idea struck me, “Kala, why don’t we invite Padaran to dine with us?  I have some things I wanted to talk to him about but never got the chance today with everything that happened.”  Kala looked at me blankly for a moment, and then I saw the light in her eyes, and she grinned and said, “Of course, let me contact him and see if he can make it.”  Immediately I saw Jenira’s face light up, and I knew I had scored on that one.  Now all I needed to do was to think up something to talk to Padaran about.
    As it turned out it wasn’t necessary, as Padaran was full of questions about the events in the prison earlier that day.  Even though he was talking to me, I noticed he and Jenira glancing at each other quite often, and hints of smiles on their lips when they caught the other’s eye.  They were seated opposite each other at the small dining table and several times during the meal I felt my leg bumped as a foot from one side of the table traveled under it in apparent search for a foot on the other side.  At one point during the meal I noticed Kala staring at me, and when she saw I was looking at her, she turned her eyes back and forth between Jenira and Padaran and gave a knowing grin.
    Both the twins had eaten earlier and were playing in their room while we ate; several times one of them would bring something out to show to Jenira.  It was obvious the twins liked Jenira a lot, and they were always seeking her approval for things they were doing.  Lunnie mostly wanted to show Jenira one of her dolls, or to have her help put some clothing on one, while Reidecor would be building something with his toy blocks and wanting Jenira to see it.  At one-point Lunnie came running to me with one of her dolls; she had managed to pull the arm off, and she handed it to me saying, “Daddy, fix it!”  Fortunately, most of their toys just snapped together, so it wasn’t hard to do.
    I had a difficult time restraining myself while eating.  I was so hungry by the time the food arrived, I wanted to stuff it in my mouth as fast as I could.  For a moment, I was reminded of Cantolla, who when she was served food she really enjoyed, forgot all decorum and ate it almost savagely while making all sorts of near animal-like sounds.  I had to laugh for a minute as I found myself fighting the