base was quieter, the a
lective metal. At the end of the hall, standing outside a set of
corated with rows of medals. His skin was a deep bronze, and a jagged, pale scar-a burn mark f
miral Fletc
at Cassandra, and the hardened, brutal lines of his face ins
dator that had suddenly realized it was
eading, and spoke in a low, rumbling voice. His hands, which look
s expression neutral.
ner," Jefferson translated. "
ed a small, hes
acknowledgment, but he quickly spoke again
cker of annoyance crossed his
d, his AI still struggling to build complex sent
rowned. "Th
kly. "But... he insists. Offers... his per
a stoppe
sed the words. P
military commander. He was staring at her with an intensity that
read flooded her mind. The alien overlords.
floor. A cold sweat broke o
s me in
She took a step back, putting more dista
half-step forward, raising a hand as if to stop
, cutting off whatever Jeffe
her fingernails into her biceps. She glared at Fletch
e his 'generosity,' but I am not moving into a strange man's b
to Fletcher's devastated one. He realized immediately that a massive cultural transl
n their native tongue. His tone w
error of the First Fle
taring at his boots. He looked exactly like a massive, abused do
radiating from
onfusion. Why is he acting like that? I just refused t
r-the-top protection, the manic doctor, the
her mind. What if it's not just him
was watching her carefully
her heart rate picking up again. O
rson, her voice tight and col
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