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“Yes,” Avasarala said, “because literally every UN naval officer asn’t dishonorably discharged is suddenly unavailable For fuck’s sake, Holden, I have crates of anti-herpes drugs that are itimately UN Navy than you are”
The old woust Holden’s scoas hter, but Alex had to admit it was a little funny Even if just to himself Bobbie was the one to step in
“What exactly are you looking for from us?”
“I want your presence and cooperation at the debriefing, for one thing But more importantly, I need to knohat you know What you’ve found We have to figure out how a third-rate gang leader ed to beat us at every turn —”
“He didn’t,” Nao arches, a security escort at her side In the shadowless light, she looked weirdly delicate Her skin was peeling and sheof someone prepared for pain to come at any moment But her sclera had faded from the blood-and-bone color to an ivory yellow that actually looked healthier, and her voice had lost the slushiness at its edges A weight lifted from Alex’s heart
“The prisoner, ma’am,” the security escort said
“Yes, thank you, I noticed that,” Avasarala said, then turned her attention to Naomi “What do you mean he didn’t?”
“Look at everything he tried to do and failed He didn’t kill Fred Johnson He didn’t kill Prime Minister Smith He didn’t take Tycho Station or destroy it The Rocinante’s in one piece He didn’t keep hold ofIf he loses, it just disappears”
“And the protomolecule sample that he stole?”
Naomi blinked, seemed to lose focus for aabout that”
“Would he have?”
Naomi sat in the chair beside Holden He took her hand, and she allowed it, but her attention was on Avasarala Alex wasn’t sure why that bothered hi wasn’t an invitation for the two of them to work out their relationship status And still, if she’d been just a little less guarded with him…
“Yes,” Nao” The intimacy of that one piece of infor Holden’s face was calm Unreadable
“Good,” Avasarala said, a sharpness in her voice “That’s very good to know” She considered Nao better You heard so?”
“Enough of it,” Naomi said