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“He’s using you as his external, aftermarket conscience”
“No, he’s not”
“It’s what he does Finds someone who has a sense of ethics and follows their lead,” Naomi said “It’s how he tries not to be a monster”
“Why would he try not to be a monster?” The sleep-slurred words were like a blanket
“Because he is one,” Nao across the line It’s e get along
TheNaoineer Sakai He was in the process of explaining why they were looking at a different ceramic alloy for the connections between inner and outer hull when a priority e popped into her HUD She felt a rush of fear, the after had happened to Alex Or Amos
“Hold on,” she said, and Sakai answered with a raised fist
She started the e A flat transmission screen popped on with the split circle of the OPA, and when it flickered away, Marco was there The years had thickened his face a degree, softened the curve of his jaw His skin had the same richness and depth she remembered, and his hands, folded on the table wherever he’d recorded this, were as delicate He smiled with thebackward through time
The s for increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure She chinned the override, and his voice stuttered softly into her ears, s as the feed cohered
“I’m sorry I know you don’t want to hear from me If it helps, I’d just point out that I haven’t done it before this And I’htly now”
Shut it off, she thought Stop the feed Erase it It would all be lies anyway Lies or only what parts of the truth served hiet it ever came Marco looked away from the camera as if he’d read her
“Naoree with your decision to leave, but I’ve always respected it Even when you showed up in the news so everyone knehere you were, I didn’t reach out And I’ to you now for myself”
The words were all crisp and war a second language so well it sounded uncanny He had none of his Belter patois So there was another way the years had changed him
“Cyn and Karal send their love and respect, but they’re the only ones who know I’ht now, but they can’t stay long I need you toI shouldn’t have put it that way It’s just that I’m at loose ends I don’t knohat to do, and you’re the only one I can turn to It’s Filip He’s in trouble”
Chapter Four: Amos