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"I know I could have despised her as ine"

Thorne nodded, and Kai was relieved he didn’t say so obnoxious as the podship slipped into a bank of clouds The light around thehten as they entered the first layers of Earth’s atmosphere The friction made the ship tremble and beads of water slicked back off the vie, but it wasn’t long before they’d broken through The Pacific Ocean sparkled beneath them

"I suppose this is all pretty weird for you too," said Kai "A wanted cri a kidnapped political leader back to the country you first escaped fro any ransoenerous…"

"I’m not"

Thorne scowled

"Well, maybe a little You’re set to serve tiht? The Commonwealth, America, and Australia?"

"Don’t re would mean we could have a little consistency in our judicial systems, but, no, you commit crimes in three different countries and everyone wants to help dole out the punish himself one last chance to reconsider He’d only had the idea a few days ago, and his ould be gold once he said it aloud He didn’t want to set an unfair precedent as his country’s leader, but at the sa e just because it felt right?

"Iin a deep breath, "but, Carswell Thorne, I pardon all of your criainst the Eastern Commonwealth"

Thorne whipped his focus toward Kai The podship surged forward and Kai gasped, grabbing hold of his harness

"Whoops, sorry" Thorne leveled the ship’s nose and resuht "That was a, uh … an air … doldru you can consider your time served, for the Commonwealth, at least If we both survive this, when it’s all over, I’llabout the other countries, though, other than put in a good word for you And to be honest, they’ll probably think I’ fro froht Great Can I get this in writing?"

"No," said Kai, watching the podship controls as Thorne had his attention pinned on hiain "And the deal is only valid if we both survive"

"Mutual survival Not a proble, Thorne checked their course and ht instruments as Japan appeared on the horizon

"Also, I have one condition You have to return everything you stole"

Thorne’s grin started to fizzle, but he locked his hands around the console and brightened again "Dream dolls and some surplus uniforms? Done"

"And?"

"And … and that’s pretty much it Aces, you "

Kai cleared his throat "And the ship You have to give back the ship"

Thorne’s knuckles whitened "But … she’s s to the American Republic If you want a ship of your own, then you’re going to have to work for it and buy one like everybody else"

"Hey, Mr Born-into-Royalty, what do you know about it?" But Thorne’s defensiveness faded as quickly as it had corumpy sulk "Besides, I did work for it Thievery isn’t easy, you know"

"You’re not really arguing with me about this, are you?"

Thorne clenched his eyes shut, and every hed and opened theh a lot together I may have stolen her at first, but now it does feel like she belongs toto you And you can’t expect the rest of your creant to stay on in a stolen ship"