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"And you are lying," Michael said caled even as Helen smiled

"Not this time," she said with a fond chuckle "You will be accelerated, but it’s not right yet You’re correct that your desire to work bests Peri being manipulated into it, but we need a field test to ensure that the safety measures we’ve implemented are adequate Peri is easier to control if there are issues That’s why she is first, not you"

It soundedfrom her, and Michael sat back, his expression e to believe That the safety measures she mentioned were to control drafters, not ensure their continued health, was not worth bringing to Michael’s attention

"We need to monitor Peri, see where we need to adjust the formula It’s too chancy with her in the wild the way she is The way to make the acceleration viable and permanent is in her, but we need her alive to find out how to do that Do you understand, Michael? We need her sacrifice to tell us how to ers, head cocked "Rich people are good at lying"

Bill was horrified, but Helen laughed in appreciation "True, but I’ht to askyou would be ashe hadn’t said that Michael was deathly afraid of being scrubbed, days or months of memories artificially removed to better manipulate him--so much so that he refused to juer

Michael’s thin s them all to rise "Leave her to us, Michael," she said as they returned inside, and the stabilizing air pressures blew her niece’s artwork to the floor "Peri is serving a function to benefit you, and until that task is over, she is to remain alive"

Michael’s face showed the first hints of belief, and Bill began to relax

"You are very good," Helen praised as she exalittery haze "One of a kind as Bill has proer to act, unafraid of possible ill consequences, strong enough to see yourself through Perhaps even et the job done, but you are splashy Do you understand?"

"You want me to be more bland?" he questioned in disbelief

"I want you to stop thinking you know all the options" Picture in hand, Helen went to the corkboard easel standing in the middle of the room More artwork decorated it, and she searched for a thu ti careful," she said as she stuck it in the place of ht and sparkly, attractive to the point of distraction, but the goal was to make a mee is, it doesn’t fulfill the goal and it won’t go into littery mess "She has talent, for a six-year-old"

Michael was scowling again, but it vanished when Helen turned