Celestial Love by Juli Blood Page A

deal with everyone in a fair and open manner and not let my personal frustrations interfere with my work.  Thank You Holy One for hearing and answering my prayer.  In the name of The Way, may Your will be done.  Amen.”
    Throwing on her robe, she rushed back into he r room to get dressed.  Linda was still there trying to fit everything into one small suitcase.  As she dressed, Kalea paused for just a second and focused her thoughts to whisper good morning to Bryan.  When he didn't answer she figured was he still sleeping.
    "Linda , did they specify exactly what had gone wrong with the water filtration system?" Kalea asked.
    "No, they just said that it stopped functioning completely and that everything they tried wasn’t fixing it.  It was even suggested that we bring an entire new system down as a replacement," Linda answered.
    "That's nearly impossible!  Do they think we just have extras lying around?" Kalea questioned as she threw up her arms in exasperation.  "Each of those systems are specially designed and built for each specific Sea City.  They're not interchangeable because of the varying depths and sizes of each site.  Who made such a crazy suggestion anyway?"
    Linda shrugged her shoulders as she answered, "I think it must have been one of the security force officers.  With all their training and military skills they seem to know nothing about the Sea Cities that they were sent to police."
    "Well, if the workers hadn't rioted, destroyed property and almost killed themselves, we wouldn't have needed to send down the security force,” Kalea replied.
    "I know,” Linda said as she exited the bathroom w ith toiletries to be packed.  "I just hope they realize what terrible timing this is.  If they had just waited another 12 hours you may have had a chance to take off on your wedding trip or something."
    "I would offer to take Prince Bryan with me except that he has so much to do in the next two weeks.  We aren’t able to take a trip now anyway.  Though it would be easier getting to know each other here at the palace together.  Instead I’ll be halfway around the planet and I can't even remember how far under the water SC-17 is!"  Kalea said with a touch of frustration as she zipped up her black top.  Without giving it much thought she had dressed as if she was going to work out.  The colorful undershirt covered by the black long sleeved jacket with the black capris pants.
    "I think I have everything,” Linda said.  “I hope you don't have to be gone for more than a week.”  Before closing the suitcase she placed Kalea’s copy of the Ancient Writings on top.  “I know Edward was counting on your being able to help with translation this week.  I know the AVIDs are starting to help but they leave much to be desired."
    "Yes, well, he will just have to make do.  Oh, who else is on the SC-17 team?" Princess Kalea asked.
    "There is no team,” Linda answered.  “The security force says you're the only one they can trust.  They refuse to allow anyone else into the city , which seems very strange to me.  They seem to believe that whoever sabotaged the water filtration system did it with help from the outside.  So they won’t allow anyone in except you because anyone else could be working with the saboteurs.  I, however, think you should insist on your own personal security.  Something about all this just doesn't seem right.  Who knows what could really be going on down there? This could all be a ruse or worse, some type of trap."
    Princess Kalea pondered these ideas as she double checked everything that Linda had packed, as was her custom.  Trying to look at the situation from every possible angle , she tried to determine how viable the threat against her might be.  If they wanted to get her somewhere where they could control her, the sea city would seem to be a good idea.  The sea cities were very defendable and very isolated but few realized just how involved she had been in the