Veranda Incognita, Home of the Waverlys

[Ophiuchi]

Reggie quietly slipped out the rear entrance of the Veranda, half a bottle of "20 Cientes" Reposado in his hand, and stared at the surgically flat plateau to the north, once a craggy peak towering a good kilometer above the Veranda.

Not quite staggering, but swaying slightly, he covered the 3 kilometers to the base of the plateau, marvelling again at the precision and power of the alien technology that had reduced the mountain, and the villa at the peak, to a perfectly flat, obsidian surface in a matter of seconds.

He climbed the short stairway to the low plateau, remembering the vast amount of soil brought in to act as a base for the new "Uli Rouge" plantation, which he now owned. Another kilometer's walk brought him to the center of the plateau, the deLuna Memorial.

He sat on one of the benches surrounding the central plaza, looking at the pure white sand brought from Honshu, and the three towering crystals, memorials to the three lives snuffed out here, along with the mountain. He took another deep swig of the Reposado, and addressed the center, tallest crystal.

"Hello, Fiona my dear. How are you and the girls doing?"

.....

"Excellent. Yes, I'm doing well. Extremely happy. You'd like Moira, and she loves this old carcass deeply, for some reason."

.....

"Hmm? Oh, indeed, you two are not alike at all. She is not a diplomat, nor cultured, nor much for fine dresses or fancy balls. She is feisty, like you; but I would not like to get on her bad side, for fear of losing appendages. But, perhaps she is more fitted for my own temperament, Fiona."

.....

"Thank you Madam. I am glad you approve. I am in good hands, once again."

.....

"No, there has been no further sign of any further "Artifices", or their Creators. Apparently losing one moon-sized vessel, along with your... demise.. has caused them to cease looking in our direction.. Yes, I am most glad about that as well, my dear.

.....

"Jealousy? I don't think so. Moira knows about you, and about our history. She need only look at this Memorial to know what you and your beautiful daughters meant to me. But, life must go on. It is my great fortune to have found an understanding and loving person to share that life, eh?"

.....

"Well, you and I.. it just wasn't in the cards, it seems, Fi. But I'll be just fine. Isn't it time you ladies moved on as well? You'll always be in my heart. One for the road?"

Reggie took one more swig from the bottle, and placed it gently at the base of the central crystal. He touched the Monument briefly, turned, and walked briskly away.

---

<span style="color:#339999">Reg Waverly * Moira &quot;Kentigearan&quot; Waverly * Fnordette Sophie Noir</span>



<span style="color:#66CCCC">Sophie's on the Square * Veranda Incognita</span>