Page 40 (1/2)

40 - Starkey

Mason Starkey knows nothing of Janson Rheinschild, the terror generation, or the Heartland War If he did, he wouldn’t care The only teen uprising he has any interest in will involve the Stork Club

His motives are a complex weave of self-interest and altruis as they all know he’s the one who’s done it Credit where credit is due, and honor to the trickster whose illusions finally beco for a silent coup, but is prepared for anything It will either be gracious, and Connor will see the wisdo aside for a more able leaderor he’ll be steauilt if it comes to that After all, Connor, in spite of all his pretenses of fairness, still refuses to rescue storks fros

"We save the kids we’re ," Connor told hier families and more complicated situations" It was the saiven him, but as far as Starkey is concerned, that’s no excuse at all

"So you’re happy just letting them be unwound?"

"No! But there’s only so much we can do!"

"So little, you mean"

Connor lost his temper then, which he doesup harvest ca to be won! It will just make them come down harder on every Unwind, every AWOL"

Starkey wanted to take his argu storks go unsaved, but instead, Starkey backed down

"I’et passionate when it co," Connor told him, "when you keep it in perspective"

He could have slareed, and left--secure in the knowledge that someday soon Connor would be faced with an entirely new perspective

- - -

While Connor has a history lesson with Hayden in the Co kids siic he could do in his sleep It’s Stork Hour Seven to eight p under the Rec Jet It’s a perfect ti hiet out of his co slop--and although he doesn’t actually do the dishing, supervision can be a bitch

Drake, the farives thelares back and makes a mental note When he takes over, the new Holy of Whollies will bebeans, or cleaning chicken crap Many things will change when Starkey takes over, and God help anyone who’s not in his good graces

"You gonna get off your ass and playher cue at hie your masculinity?"

"Watch it, Bam," Starkey warns He will not play her, because he knows she’ll win First rule of co proposition He loses when he plays Connor, of course, but that’s different It’s intentional, and he makes sure the other storks know it

Farther down the main aisle, Connor comes down the stairs of the ComBom with Hayden

"What do you think that’s all about?" Bam asks

Starkey keeps his opinion to himself

"I think they’re hot for each other," says one of the other storks

Starkey turns to hi out Connor’s butt, Paulie"

"That ain’t true!" But by the way Paulie goes red, it’s clear that it is

Finally Starkey stands up to get a better look at the situation Connor and Hayden say their good-byes Hayden heads toward the latrine, and Connor goes back to his own little jet

"He’s been having private s with Trace, too," Ba any secrets with you, has he?"

Starkey hides his fury at being left out of whatever Connor is plotting "He ular fatted cow," Bahter"

"I will not have you bad- our coround "You’re such a freakin’ hypocrite" Then she goes back to playing pool against kids who never beat her

Starkey, however, has no need to bad- is for those without a plan of action--and tonight Starkey has soift for Connor It coot hined to the ComBom, and who happens to be a loyal Stork Club member Of course, no one but Starkey knows that fact "Jeeves" is one of tell-positioned "sleeper agents," whose allegiance is to hiift Jeeves has provided! Starkey’s been saving it for just the righthis balance back--is the perfect tiift is in his ar out from under him

41 - Connor

Connor sits alone in his jet, staring into space, trying to process everything he’s just learned We can’t stop unwinding, the Admiral once told him The best we can hope to do is save asthose old news reports, Connor is starting to feel thatMaybe there is a way to end unwinding If only he can figure out how to truly learn fro the dark specter of history late into the evening, when Starkey shows up at his jet Connor opens the hatch for him "What’s up? Is there a problem?"

"You’ll have to tell matically "Can I come in?"