Tales From the Hunter Legacy Universe 1: Jane's Christmas by Timothy Ellis Page B

wasn’t
having it though, not this time.
    I opened my mouth, but she beat me to it.
    "Priority email coming in."
    It was from Miriam. I threw her to the wall
as well. It was a full 3d hollo.
    I paused it as soon as it started.
    For some reason she was naked.
    I looked at Jane.
    "Now what did you do?"
    "Who, Moi?"
    I debated asking her to leave, but then,
she could view the email any time she wished anyway, and probably already had.
And if she left, I might lose the chance to get a straight answer out of her.
    I code locked the door so I wouldn’t be
interrupted, and restarted the vid.
    The hollo realigned itself, and extended
out, as the naked Miriam walked up close to me, and seemed to reach out of the
hollo and kiss me. She turned and walked back to where she started. I became
aware of blood pumping around my body.
    "Merry Christmas Jon!" she said
with a huge smile on her face, and her arms held wide. "I didn’t know you
practiced Christmas until your present arrived. At home, we still celebrate for
Christmas day, but it’s a 'Happy Holidays' thing, not a religious thing. I
haven't actually been home for Christmas in several years now, and somehow, the
ASF never seems to be able to manage to deliver gifts either way on time. So to
have Jane turn up a little while ago, on the day, with a gift from you, was
awesomely special. Doubly so when I found it was a computer with the original
Wing Commander and X3 programs on it. Jon, I was impatiently waiting for you to
return so I could take some leave and accompany you home, because I wanted to
play those games on your old computer. Now? Well, I'm still looking forward to
seeing your home, but now I have something to keep me occupied through the
boredom of planet blockade duty."
    "This," she indicated her body in
a very suggestive way, "is waiting for you to return. I've not forgotten
you Jonathon Hunter. I try hard not to think about you with someone else, but
damnit Jon, there better not be someone else in your spa the next time I see
you!"
    For a moment she looked like a fierce naked
Amazon warrior. All she needed was a spear. Or maybe a Staff weapon. Her face
softened back into a smile.
    "On your way back, come this way. I'll
have your present waiting for you. Greer sends his Christmas wishes as well. Merry
Christmas Jon!"
    The vid faded. I sat there, somewhat short
of breath.
    I looked at Jane, and opened my mouth to
ask her again.
    She gave me the conspiratorial eye brow
lift, as yet another email highlighted itself on my pad. I threw the new vid to
the wall, wondering who it was this time.
    "Merry Christmas Jon."
    It was David Tollin.
    "I know we don’t do Christmas as such,
but I thought I’d give you a heads up. There's a message from a Keeper
following, which was time locked for Christmas day. Not for December 25 th ,
for Christmas day. I've no idea what it says. It's being forwarded on with this
message. The station AI's are making preparations for parties this afternoon,
which I assume is your doing. I'm sending this off to you now, before we get
too involved with the day to come, as I expect, you will. I'm not sure where
you are, but wherever it is, have a good one. David out."
    "What did you do Jane?"
    "Do?"
    "Station parties of my doing?"
    "I've no idea what you're talking
about."
    The pad highlighted a new email. I absently
threw it to the wall, but it refused to play.
    "It's encrypted Jon, give me a
sec."
    I waited while nothing became fuzz, and
finally a man I didn’t know.
    "My Lord Duke. I am a Keeper of
Prophesy. Attached to this message is another. Please excuse them, they know
nothing other than you failed to return. We will meet in good time, and I will
have answers for your questions. We have our roles to play, and I know you are
where you need to be, doing what must be done. But at the time of recording
these messages, very little is clear to those who have just lost you, and must
await your return."
    He looked sternly at me, as if seeing