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“I need you toon out there is thein the system, and we don’t knohat it is If we eive the inner planets soround Ashford and Pa are good people, but they’re Belters They don’t have the sa with Earth forces that you and I do”
“You think they’re going to start soht thing, but he’ll react like a Belter and be surprised when other people don’t”
“Ashford has only ever done a right thing because he’s afraid of being e vacuureed “I’ you out there because I trust you toyou command”
“How about a raise?”
“Not that either,” Fred said
“Well, heck,” Bull said “All the responsibility and none of the power? How can I turn down an offer like that?”
“No joking We’re screwing you over, and the reasons are all optics and political bullshit But I need you to take it”
“So I’ll take it,” Bull said
For aof the air recycler Bull turned back to the task of putting his life in a footlocker again Somewhere far above him, hidden by tons of steel and ceramic, raw stone and vacuum, Behemoth waited
Chapter Three: Melba
W
hen she walked into the ga house, Melba felt eyes on her The rooaold Most of them were themed around sex or violence, or both Press a button, spend your n and offensive objects inside themselves while you waited to see whether you’d won Slot machines, poker, real-time lotteries The men who played them exuded an atible hatred of wo,” an immensely fat man said from behind the counter “Don’t knohere you think you co place Maybe best you walk back out”
“I have an appointment,” she said “Travin”
The fat looarity meant to unease her It did, but she didn’t let it show
“Travin in the back, you want hi At the far end of the rooauntlet of leers and threat, a red metal door
All of her instincts came fro now Froh to walk, she’d been trained in self-defense, but it had all been anti-kidnapping How to attract the attention of the authorities, how to deescalate situations with her captors There had been other work, of course Physical training had been part of it, but the goal had always been to break away To run To find help