Free END of LINE: Humanities Last Stand - part 3 by John Short Page B

She was even more beautiful than Jon remembered from that awful day at the celebration. What kind of jerk was he to be
    yelling at the Princess like that? “I apologize for my anger your Highness. I'm not used to Royalty speaking to me, never mind actually being here in
    Jonsville. If you would allow me to makeup for my outburst, I was just on my way inside to have morning-meal. Let me buy you a coffee or some of your Lexon
    tea perhaps?”
    “I would like that very much Warrior. Is it permitted for us to enter without chaperons?”
    “The only problem there might be is if someone insults you and I have to hurt them. Otherwise most folks will just feel sorry for you being seen in public
    with a freak like me.” Jon informed her. “Besides, this is a public eatery. Judging from the vehicles parked out here I don’t think we will be alone.”
    “I believe any female would be proud to be seen with you Warrior.” she told him as she stepped down from her hover craft. “I know I am.”
    “Lead on ma'am.” Jon gestured for her to take the lead as they walked over to the entry where he opened the door for her to enter before following her
    inside.
    “Good morning Jon, nice to see you home.” The waitress greeted him as she moved away from the antique cash register that had sat in the same spot ever
    since the original humans had brought it from Earth, “Who is your friend?”
    Before Jon could tell the woman that his friend was the Lexonian Crown Princess, Satrina spoke up. “I am called Satrina by my friends.”
    “Well now Jonnie-boy, if you ask me, it looks like it was worth the wait.” came a gruff voice from behind the counter. “Just take a seat anywhere folks.
    Jon the tables with the big boy chairs are still where they have always been.”
    “We'll sit out here thanks Jim.” Jon said.
    “Follow me please,” the waitress told them as she led them past other diners and over to a medium sized table. This place had plenty of diners who came in
    pairs of both large and small people. So they had different areas setup to make each of their guests comfortable. Of course Jon was the biggest guest they
    ever got and whoever this stunning female was that was with him was perhaps the smallest. Finding the right table for this couple was going to be a
    challenge. She needed to find a table with a tall chair for Jon and an even taller, yet equally comfortable stool for the tiny female. After looking around
    for just a few seconds the waitress finally found the table she was searching for and guided Jon and his Lexie friend to it. She got them seated and then
    left them with menus.
    “Are you hungry Princess?” Jon asked.
    “No Warrior, but I would very much like to have tea with you.” Satrina replied.
    “Well, I woke up hungry, so if you don't mind, I'm going to have waffles and coffee.” Jon told her.
    “So that was why you were driving so fast?” Satrina asked, but with a big grin and a teasing look in her eyes.
    “I'm not usually that reckless. I promise.” Jon offered. “Today was sort of a special occasion. I've been stuck in business meetings for the last couple of
    weeks and still have more that I need to attend. It seems that I have inherited a shipping company that has over one hundred shuttles operating in this
    system and three FTL vessels making slipway runs between all the planets in the other systems as well. There is a lot I have to learn about running a
    company that large even if it is still small by most of the other company's standards. Today I cleared my schedule and plan on spending it out on my lake.
    Just fishing and taking it easy. No training exercises, no business meetings, just me, the boat I made with my uncle and the lake.”
    “You own a lake?” Satrina asked just slightly surprised. She did not know people could own entire lakes.
    “Well, I own all of the land around the lake, so that makes the lake mine also. The house and the property have been in my family going back to