"You know what? FINE!" Penny stomped out of the bathroom, wearing nothing but a towel. She was still wet from her shower. "I'm not here to make you feel better about quitting your job! YOU fuckin' did that!"
Vitala sat on the bed, seething. "Penny Leighton, once again I have made sacrifices for you, and you are not appreciative!"
Penny put a thumb to her chest. "Hey, I was the one who went into space and saved your ass!"
"You cannot use that every time to win an argument!" Vitala hopped up and folded her arms, turning away from Penny.
Penny stared and seethed, then went back into the bathroom. She whipped the towel off and dried herself a bit, then threw on a robe. She marched out and looked back at Vitala. "I have to go to Grandfort, then I have a planetary tour to take."
Vitala scoffed. "Who will be falling at your feet more--the people of this planet, or the loose women of Grandfort?"
"I'm doing my job," Penny hissed. "We need to find a replacement for Oola, and Grandfort has some of the best soldiers out there."
"Yes, I am sure that is your fascination with the place," Vitala shot back.
"You know what? I want you out!" Penny folded her arms and turned away herself. She heard the automated doors to her room slide open and close again. Vitala was out.
Penny angrily threw off her robe and got herself dressed. Penny and Vitala were not getting the same romance that they had a while back. Things were strained between them, and Vitala would sometimes sleep in a spare bedroom.
Penny went down to the parlour, where Tannis was meeting with Groovi and Oola about the final preparations for the wedding banquet. They were sitting by the fine wood table, with several plates of fine cake in different flavours.
Groovi had reached over and took a pinch of a white cake, then put it in her mouth. "I believe this is too sweet."
Tannis wrote something on her tablet. "We can look at changing the recipe." She looked up from her tablet. "Oola...you're not eating the entire slice, are you?"
Oola sat there and munched on a large wedge of pink pastry. "I like cake!"
Tannis did a gentle titter. "Oh, you must be having cravings, what with the pregnancy."
Groovi sighed. "No, she always eats that much cake."
Penny came in and chuckled. "How's the cake selection going?" She stopped and gazed at a large brown slice, with glistening frosting. "
Is that chocolate?
"
Tannis glanced at the slice, then pointed to the cake. "You mean this? It is
banubu
, from the beans of the same name. It is not a popular flavour with our people, but you are free to try it."
Penny grabbed the whole slice and took a huge bite. Her face resembled sexual ecstasy. "This is better than chocolate! God, I need more of this!"
"We will have a special dessert prepared for her excellency," Tannis said as she tapped away on her tablet.
"Guys," Penny managed with a full mouth. "We're going to Grandfort for a bit. We have to settle a dispute between Lolo and Girtan."
"I thought Lolo was going to move here," said Groovi.
"She changed her mind," Penny said with a shrug. "Now she wants Girtan gone instead. I can't lose my sergeant-at-arms out there."
"The means of settling disputes is codified in such circumstances, excellency," Tannis cautioned.
"No, no duking out to the death," Penny replied. "I'm trying to drag this planet into the fifteenth century. We can think of something more civilized."
Oola licked her fingers. "That is dumb! We need proper entertainment. If there is combat, so be it!"
"Oola, I could have killed you," Penny reminded her. "I got the crown because I spared your life." She shook her head. "Anyway, we'll get packed up and head over, then we come back and have the wedding. After that, I leave you two to have your honeymoon, and I go tour the planet for the next thirty days."
"Excellency!" Oola went for another piece of cake. "Will you require my assistance?"
Penny laughed. "No, dear, you just focus on making that baby. Actually, we're going to Grandfort to pick out a replacement for you. I think one of the soldiers there can do the bodyguard thing until you're ready to come back to me."
Penny went up to get her bag packed. Vitala was sitting at Penny's writing desk, tapping away at her computer. She did not acknowledge Penny's presence. "I'm going to Grandfort," Penny announced. Vitala did not turn to look. "Wanna come?"
Vitala typed away some more. "I have work to do."
Penny sighed hard. "You know, I'm trying, Vitala. I get itβit's a little boring on a desert planet. I'm not responsible for your feeling like your life is fulfilling or anything."
Penny zipped up her luggage and gave one final stare. "Maybe some time away from each other might help us get some focus." Penny left, leaving the bags for the servants to load in the shuttle. She had that sinking feeling in her stomach, like the relationship she had invested her time and emotions into was dying.
Penny had more enthusiasm once she, Groovi, and Oola loaded into the shuttle. Oola flew, while Penny and Groovi talked about the final details of the wedding. Penny felt grounded again, and getting out to Grandfort again felt like she could properly unwind.
The shuttle landed at the pad inside Grandfort's walls. They were greeted by one of the domestic servants.
"Excellency, welcome back," the servant said. She helped the women with their bags, then noticed Oola's slightly protruded belly. "Are you with child, madam?"
Oola smiled widely. "I am!"
"Oh, that is wonderful," the servant gushed. "We do not get to see many pregnant women, as you can well imagine."
Penny was taken to her usual large bedroom, while Oola and Groovi were taken off to another room. Just as Penny was getting herself settled in, the wall communicator beeped. Penny ran over and pushed the button. "Yes?"