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“Shut up or we’ll haul you in for running your er Watchman says

“Citizen, stopback a tinpot insult The Gray’s eye flickers with light from the optic’s projection display A kaleidoscope of faces streaainst his pupil “She’s not in the Archive,” he tells the other “Where are you froer in his DNA sampler I feel a small prick of a needle He frowns at the results

“Martian, obviously Talks like she’s got mud in her mouth,” the Gold says “Just arrest her already I want s around “Can’t you call up a camera feed?”

“Private property Not linked to the Archive, so we’d need a warrant”

“Ridiculous bureaucracy Streets have turned to scu those plebeian senatorial scarecrows and just do your jobs…”

“Citizen, please,” the older Watchman says He looks around at the Reds a if they’re Vox Populi Wrong eyes see and this turns into a riot “Are you Martian, girl?”

Breathe Breathe “Aye I’m Martian”

“You’re not in the Archive Where is your transit permit? Do you have it on your imbed ID?”

“What?”

“Do you have any ID?”

I reach quickly for my pockets, where I keep the Citadel ID Both Grays step back, their hands dropping to their sidearer one pulls his and I stare down the metal barrel, two ene-deep terror of Grays with guns racing throughpockets! Do it!”

I freeze, whole body locking up and trehtened to even pullme, validated that I’ve fulfilled some twisted fantasy of theirs “Pull your hands out! Slowly! Sl

owly!” I pullfro into their coun, a flicker of fear in his eyes The younger Gray doesn’t see the onlookers and rushes to slaainst a nearby wall He shoves s apart With a baton, he scans my body then pats netic shackles I don’t knohat to do

“No shooter or bo the older one’s trepidation “No bracelet either” He takes alos” He pauses “Eh, Stefano, look at this”

“Then she