Free Book of the Guardian 3: The Last Mission by Ben Winston Page B

temporary."

Chapter 33
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    T he reunion at the Palace landing area was more than John or Chloe had expected. Mary literally jumped on him with a hug and a passionate kiss. When she finished with him, she did the same thing to Chloe, which made Chloe very happy, and embarrassed her at the same time. Not to be outdone, Gloria ran to Mark and planted a lip lock on him that would have the gossip columns speculating for weeks, and had the guards grinning.
    "I guess she's really glad to see us, John," Chloe said. Gloria and the King were still kissing. Beside them, her parents were starting to look a little uncomfortable, kneeling on the landing apron.
    John grinned. "Naw, I don't think she missed me at all, she kissed you longer!"
    "So why did she kiss you first then?" Chloe replied, also grinning.
    "Oh stop it, both of you!" She turned to her friend. "Gloria, if you don't stop kissing him, he won't be able to let your parents stand back up!" Mary moved back over to the Saints, and knelt with them, to greet her King.
    Mark opened his eyes and waved them back to their feet behind Gloria's back. The trio stood, but still had to wait for Gloria to break the kiss. John and Chloe moved over to the Saints and shook hands welcoming them to the Capitol.
    "How was the flight, Baily?" John asked.
    "Pretty comfortable, actually. For a courier, she's a really comfortable ship," Bailey replied.
    "Mark told me she was built with the same frame as our ship, only without all the stuff we need, like weapons," Chloe added as she kissed Lisa on the cheek.
    "Then I'm sure the Flyer is a good ship," Bailey replied. Lisa seemed to be a little tongue tied and she was staring at her surroundings like she didn't believe she was there.
    "Lisa, are you okay?" Chloe asked.
    "I just can't believe I'm standing here! I never thought I'd ever even see a core world, and here I am, about to enter the Palace of the King himself as a guest." She paused a moment. "It's just so unbelievable!"
    John chuckled. "Well, not so much if you stop to look at these two!" he hiked his thumb to the still kissing pair.
    "Yeah, she didn't even bow first," Bailey said flatly.
    "I did send for a bucket of cold water, Sir," one of the guards replied with an utterly straight face.
    "Good thinking Corporal, I fear we may need it before they do something more embarrassing," Bailey replied.
    "I think it's safe to say this is as embarrassing as they'll get. I'm sure His Majesty would never harm her; especially like that," Mary replied.
    "No, he never would, which is why this relationship is so puzzling to me," Bailey replied. "I don't object to it at all, but I do worry for them. What kind of future will they have?"
    "I can't answer that Bailey, but I can tell you that the issue is being worked on," Mary replied.
    The guards stiffened and became more alert as an air car entered the landing area and headed for them. The Corporal that spoke whispered to Mark while the rest of the guards surrounded the mostly oblivious pair with their armored bodies. John motioned Mary to stay put, and accepted the side arms the Royal Guards handed him for himself and Gloria, while he and Chloe began walking toward the approaching vehicle. As she watched, both Guardians activated their enhancements, making them look like professional body builders. John actually grew a couple of inches.
    "There! That's what Marines are supposed to look like! John never told me why he didn't," Lisa replied.
    Mary swallowed the lump in her throat. "Lisa, they just activated their combat enhancements. This is what an enhanced Marine looks like under their armor. The guards around the King and your daughter would look the same if they were not in armor. Most images of Enhanced Marines are of them with activated enhancements."
    "So, why are they activated now?" Bailey asked.
    "Sir, please keep the ladies and yourself behind us. The vehicle approaching is as yet unidentified and unexpected. Until we identify