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“But they’re crazy mass murderers”

“Yes,” Fred said “And we don’t knoho they are Dawes does I don’t”

“Wait a minute,” Holden said “Hold on Are you about to propose that you trade Sakai to this Dawes guy so that you can feed the na rocks on Earth to Avasarala? How e sides in one career?”

“I never changed sides,” Fred said “The sides keep changing around me I was always the one anted order Peace Justice, even What happened at Anderson Station opened s I hadn’t seen Or had chosen not to see Now this…”

“It’s done the saain”

“I don’t knohat it’s done That’s what I’ to decide There have always been radicals within the OPA The Voltaire Collective Marco Inaros Cassandra Lec But they were on the ht we could control them Keep them in line, or if not always that, use their excesses to make the mainstream places like Ceres and Tycho seee I don’t know if the best thing is to declare against them or stand beside them and try to control the fall” He shook his head

“Your friend Dawes seems to be in bed with them already”

“His loyalty’s to the Belt When the best thing was to find a way to be respected as an equal by the inner planets, that hat he ai ti for the people who had the least voice Then the proto beside the radicals givesas nore me I can throw in on whichever side I think it will do the -term”

“That sounds like post hoc realpolitik rationalizing bullshit,” Holden said And then a moment later, “Sir”

“It is,” Fred said “But it’s what I’ve got to ith If I co with Avasarala, will you accept the job?”

“If we finish checking all of Sakai’s work and you bring your own crew, sure Or, better, we go pick up otten to”

“And if I hire you to take me and the prisoner to Pallas?”

“Then you can go fuck yourself”

Fred chuckled and stood up, checking his sidearm “I do always enjoy our little chats, Captain Take the day off I’ll get back to you when I’ve made a decision Either way”

“Where are you going now?”