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"I know that" And he did know it Intellectually, at least He kneas all self-centered and arrogant here, but he couldn’t help thinking sometimeswell, ever since that first day he s--perhaps a disproportionate nus--tended to become about him Maybe he was a bit paranoid

"Blackburn has never even brought you up toabout writing table etiquette subroutines, and of course, you caotten banned frouess Tom Raines’ That was it"

Toed the subject "So, think Yuri’s murdered Vik yet?"

She s him suffer"

And then the door to the plebe coaze jolted up It was Heather Akron

This was trouble He’d given Wyatt away over the thought interface and Heather had threatened her

Heather’s sht of Wyatt "Enslow!" she exclaireat to find you in here I really want to talk with you"

Wyatt threw an uncertain glance toward the door to Alexander Division, where Yuri and Vik had gone Heather slinked across the rooht in front of Wyatt Her eyes raked her up and down, and she said, "I hear you’ve been spreading some nasty slander about me"

Tom kicked the chess box under the table and reared to his feet "Heather, hold off That stuff I was thinking--"

"This isn’t your business right now, Toaze fro"

Wyatt raised her chin a bit "No, I didn’t do that"

Heather cocked her head, propping her hands on her hips "What’s that? Are you saying you didn’t spread slander about me?"

Louder, Wyatt said, "No I didn’t After all, slander’s not true"

Heather drew a step closer to her Seeing two girls in a passion of anger, ready to tangle, ely exultant and filled him with excited anticipation, but he knew he had to step in He shoved an arm in front of both of them

"Hey, cut this out, both of you--"

"This isn’t about you, Tom!" Wyatt snapped this time

"Yes, mind your own business," Heather hissed

Intilittering "I’ve never really liked you, Enslow, but I haven’t had a problem with you No reason to make your lifestabbed in the back, so I’ to do that to you"

"Why am I the lone exception?" Wyatt said blandly

"I’ eneht think, I have a lot of influence in Cale day I can make sure you never become a Combatant Not only that, but I will make your life seriously suck around here"

Wyatt’s face had gone very blank, her gaze stony "Glad we had this talk," Heather said, and whirled around, dark hair swishing as she pranced back toward the elevator