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Gosh, thanks! "You’ll ether Who can help get these old boats out of storage?"
"Larsen can point you in the right direction A couple of uards are rated to fly theot an agent in Anchor Station," Alex said as Russell turned to leave "She can help you get set up"
"Name?"
"Natalie Arin "I like the way you think, Alex"
Without warning, the poent out, plunging the roo, then I’ve got a vermin problem to deal with"
Beyond the curtain, they heard the ency power kicked in, bringing a soft green glow to the room
Chapter Thirty-six
Darwin, Australia
10FEB2283
Skyler aith a shudder He jerked upright, tense and confused
The ht fresh pain to his cracked rib He padded the area with his fingertips and, though it was still unpleasant, he thought the worst had finally passed If he moved with care, he could live with it
Pru noodle soup waited on the carpet by the door A stick of incense burned in a s the roo," Pru was I out?"
"Sixteen hours, if you can believe it The rain has passed"
"Sixteen? Hell"
"You woke once," Pruain"
Skyler sat up and grunted He leaned against the wall and flexed the stiffness fros He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and scratched at the stubble on his face "Did you salvage anything frorin "They didn’t quite wipeyou need?"
"How about a new plane and the crew to rin half-faded "Fresh out, I’ave you?"
The grin disappeared entirely "Blackfield took it"
"I’ll settle for a razor," Skyler said, scratching at the stubble on his neck
"You’re in luck"
"That’s a start then"
Pruan to slurp froainst the wall once more He closed his eyes for athe clay bowl to hisin hot noodles with a pair of orn chopsticks "For reat ramen heist you and Skadz pulled off … as that?"
Skyler held up three fingers
"Three years ago," Prumble went on, "is never to be topped"
"That’s why it’s called ‘Top Raroaned at the la orked for is gone," Skyler said To his own ear, his voice sounded distant and hoarse
"I ahed "Retire, I suspect Buy this place if I can Or barter my way into a rooftop coratitude, don’t we? That finger you brought back? It matched, by the way They were very pleased Yes, I could call upon them ‘Don’t worry, I won’t eathis massive belly
Skyler studied his old friend "No thirst for revenge?"
The bigover the past, and that doesn’t agree with me You could join me in retirement, you know"
"Someday, maybe Turns out I still have a job to do"
"Oh? Do tell"
Skyler explained the enerator He also recounted the tale of his escape fro in Gunn How the subhumans had chased hi, a basement that turned out to be a veterinary clinic, a stroke of incredible luck amid such terrible events He’d passed out there, awoken hours later, and paused only long enough to bandage his wounds Lastly, Skyler told of thehis discovery of a long-abandoned police van, parked in front of a wealthy enclave, in which van he’d found a few precious clips of ammunition that fit his weapon Pru only a few questions
Skyler’s hunger finally won out and he picked up his bowl The roo rumors around here," Prumble said "Blackfield elected to the Orbital Council, Platz resigning in protest"
Skyler paused, ood could come fro Neil Platz had chosen, about leaders and fighters, cao quietly," Skyler said
"It’s said that Nightcliff is sending climbers full of troops up the ladder"
"I saw them, on the way here Looked like a strand of pearls"
Pru to do, Skyler?"
"I need a way into Nightcliff Platz said the entrance to this generator is below the old mansion"
"Seems like a fool’s errand," Prumble said "No offense"
"None taken"
"And after that? You have no way to deliver his"
Skyler leaned forward He set the eet to orbit, then Back to Gateway, at least I can send him his bloody information, then find out what happened to the crew If necessary, offer hed "Nothing so aed "I’ve got nothing left here Can’t i that I left my people behind up there"
"The Aura is more important," Prumble said "You did what you had to do"
"And with such success," Skyler said "The idea was to save the ship Made a fine ain, my leadership shines"