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"Shut up!" Brian barked, and she started when he poked her
"I haven’t said anything," Peri protested "Why don’t you go poke Taf? She’s the one on’t shut up"
"You still maintain your actions were for the benefit of the alliance?" Fran said as Taf was pulled to the bar where Howard tried to mollify her Fran’s attitude was so fa was clicking
"I do" Silas shifted on the couch so he could see Peri It put hiuy h and went to adjust it
"Fro for asylu to eradicate My actions and those of the people withreturned to Opti--where she would be scrubbed and remade into what they wanted Our actions were never intended to betray the alliance but to prevent a mistake that would set us back another three years It’s tiree," the woman said with so much bile and frustration, a sudden doubt erased Peri’s confidence So "But let’s finish with you first You ran with her, Denier After you were instructed to bring her back in You refused to disclose where she was until we could do nothing How do you explain that?"
Silas’s expression was peeved "You were hell-bent on giving her back to Opti I never agreed to that"
Fran took a step closer, als She doesn’t have e need to bring Opti down, and I don’t think she ever will"
Peri’s lips pressed Clearing her throat, she said loudly, "I do I si it out"
"On the couch …," the tech guy bitched "Say it in front of the camera on the couch The rabby fingers here to let go of oing to take those glasses of yours and shove theuy back to his station "You’ll have a chance to state your case shortly, Ms Reed Please refrain from comment until then"
"I should be allowed the opportunity to regain my memory before an inquiry," Peri said loudly, and the woman narrowed her eyes "That’s what this is, isn’t it?"
"If there are enough credible witnesses, your recalling your actions won’t factor in," she said, then turned to Silas "Nothing has been changed by what you have said You’ll join Howard in protective custody until such time as we can be certain of your loyalties"
"My loyalty is to the alliance," Silas exclaient had come forward at Fran’s directive and pulled him to his feet The screen on the tech’s temporary desk showed only an empty couch, but the chat roout clenched as they forced Silas to sit at the bar beside Howard and Taf Her past uilty and untrustworthy, and her association with Silas wasn’t helping
"Your actions show that your loyalty is to yourself," Fran said, gesturing for security to bring Peri forward to take Silas’s place
"Thinking for oneself does not imply disloyalty," Silas said, but it was likely no one outside the roo us the information we needed," he added as Brianbefore you justifying her actions She should be in conference with you to bring Opti down!"
Pulse fast, Peri scrambled for a way to make this work for her Clearly Silas hadn’t told them about the chemical tracker Opti was likely on their way, to find out where she’d gone if nothing else And Opti was co just over the horizon like a suh," Fran hissed "Get her on cah, and she spun, ar out with a pal and clutching his face Peri froze, cuffed hands in the air as safeties clicked off, but Howard only laughed
"Soet Brian a towel," Fran directed tiredly "Can we move forward, please?"
"Peri, this isn’t hoanted to do this"
It was Silas, and Peri’s expression blanked Soht before her world fell apart the first ti to run and keep running But she wouldn’t leave without Silas He’d brought her back, given her soainst hiht, but she kne that felt The alliance and Opti could tear theot Brian behind the bar with a pack of ice The new agent at her side was esture for her to continue, putting a sway in her hips as she made her way to sit in front of the cah it was obvious everyone kneho she was
"Peri Reed," she said as she settled herself into the white cushions and the technician adjusted the camera
"You’re here to account for your crian, careful not to get her face on caainst huhts of every citizen If found guilty, you’ll be taken from here and permanently stripped of your ability to draft"