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In a panic, Podginus waves to the cheese plate

"Sottocenere, e It’s an Italian i, a dash of coriander and, a sprinkling of cloves, and a playful but mysterious bit of cinnamon and fennel coated onto the rind I’m sure you’ll find it to your--"

"I did not come here for cheese"

"No No Of course not" He looks around nervously "If I in walking Podginus hurries to keep up "Ragnar" I nod to the titan, who pulls a small datapad from his pocket Took Pebble less than an hour to teach him to use it

"Your output of helium-3 has decreased by fourteen percent over the last quarter Your projections show an expected shortfall of 13,500 kilos for the current fiscal quarter Praetor Androinus doesn’t knohat to do He looks back and forth between me, the Obsidian, and the datapad He stammers a response "I--I--we have had issues with the populace Grafitti, illegal pamphlets" He addresses me "You knoere the nucleus of the Persephone nar taps him heavily on the shoulder

"Praetor Androhtot what I was--"

"You wereexcuses? How dare you!" He squares his shoulders "There’s a current of rebellion running through Mars Not a mine has been untouched by dissent My s Sabotage And not just froinus turns to , feet struggling to keep up with our long strides

"My liege, I’ve gone above and beyond in following the properdissent as laid out in section three, subsection A of the Departement I have docked their rations, cracked down on enforceht- them into liaisons of homosexuality I have even introduced the reco Rebellion Over the past six years I’ve introduced Plague and Cure, Rebellion and Suppression, Natural Disaster, Pitviper Migration, and even considered the Extraplanetary Governly for me to stop "No man would have done better than I"

"Your position is not in jeopardy," I say

He shudders with relief Suddenly his head snaps back "You wouldn’t …" He leans forward "You’re considering Quarantine! Aren’t you?"

"Why shouldn’t I quarantine this mine?" I continue on down the corridor till we reach the landing pad where my ship waits There, I stop "As you said, its populace has failed to respond favorably to strategies endorsed by the Departy and the Board of Quality Control Why not puas and replace the unruly Reds with clans frorabsthe fat e, don’t do it" Tears sparkle in his greedy, panicked eyes "My mine’s profits may have decreased, but it is still viable, still functional A model of hoeather a stor hiood miners The best in all the world That is why they’re wild But they’ve calmed now I’ve increased their rations of alcohol and increased phero like rabbits I’ve also had my Gamma plants tamper with theirup They’ll walk on pins and needles, fearing they won’t make quota Then we’ll fix the machines, and they’ll be filled with fresh purpose I can even tell thein in ten years, and that Earth has begun sending irants There are still so many options before we must accede to Quarantine"

I watch thedown, lifeless as a wet shirt on a hanger Is this all for his own vanity or does he really care for Reds? This was a test to see Now I can’t tell He e way Another monster from my past made human by Society’s lash

"Your mine is safe, for now Maintain your workforce Increase rations, beginning tonight I want happy workers and flush coffers In my ship you will find provisions Food and libations Throw the Reds a feast"

"My liege … a feast? Why?"

"Because I said so"

I sit alone in the viewing roolass beneathdance around the gallows to "The Ballad of Old Man Hickory" The tables are filled with foods these Reds have never tasted, drinks they’ve never downed And though they laugh, though they dance, I cannot find any joy myself They live in horror, but it’s one they know It’s one they can find refuge froe left when the Sons of Ares reveal the great lie? It will shatter their way of life They will be lost in the greatness of the worlds And they’ll be polluted by thenize nearly all of therown Girls I once kissed, noith children Nieces Nephews Even my brother, Kieran I wipe the tears froirl into a dance after kissing her cheek I’ll never be like that boy again My innocence is lost And Reds will never acceptthe hero I’m a necessary evil I have no place here, but I cannot leave There are things thatto create a cult?" she asks froainst the h-collared Politico uniform open informally at the neck

"I suppose I should co the backcountry Grays"

"Good"