everything again, I said. The syndics of all the BMs are meeting to patch things together.
Sean did not react.
Nobodys told us how you were hurt, Felicia said. We looked at her, astonished at this untruth. Ochoa had checked into all the security reports, including those filed by university guards, and pieced together the story.
The charges, Sean said, hesitating not a moment, and I thought, Whatever Felicia is up to, hell tell the truth and why expect him not to?
The charges went off prematurely, before I had a chance to get out of the way. I set the charges alone. Of course.
Of course, Oliver said.
Charles stayed in the rear, hands folded before him like a small boy at a funeral.
Blew me out of my skinseal. I kept my helmet on, oddly enough. Exposed my guts. Everything boiled. I remember quite a lot, strangely. Watching my blood boil. Somebody had the presence of mind to throw a patch over me. It wrapped me up and slowed me down and they pulled me into the infirmary about an hour later. I dont remember much after that.
Jesus, Felicia said, in exactly the same tone she had used for the public defender in the waiting room.
We did it to them, didnt we? Got the ball rolling, Sean said.
Actually Oliver began, but Felicia, with a tender expression, broke in.
We did it, she said. Oliver raised his eyebrows.
Im going to be okay. About half of me will need replacing. I dont know whos paying for it. My family, I suppose. Ive been thinking.
Yeah? Felicia said.
I know what set the charge off, Sean said. Somebody broke the timer before I planted it. Id like one or all of you to find out who.
Nobody spoke for a moment. You think somebody did it deliberately? I asked.
Sean nodded. We checked the equipment a hundred times and everything worked.
Who would have done something like that? Oliver asked, horrified.
Somebody, Sean said. Keep the students together. This isnt over yet. He turned to face me, suddenly focusing. Take a message to Gretyl. Tell her she was a goddamned fool and I love her madly. He bit into the words goddamned fool as if they were a savory cake that gave him great satisfaction. I had never seen such a join of pain and bitter pride.
I nodded.
Tell her she and I will take the reins again and guide this mess home right. Tell her just that.
Guide the mess home right, I repeated, still under his spell.
We have a larger purpose, Sean said. We have to break this planet out of its goddamned business-as-usual, corrupt, bow-down-to-the-Triple, struggle-along mentality. We can do that. We can make our own party. Its a beginning. His eyes fixed on each of us in turn, as if to brand us. Felicia held out her splayed fingers and Sean lifted his free arm to awkwardly press his hand against hers. Oliver did the same. Charles stood back; too much for him. I was about to raise my hand and match Seans. But Sean saw my hesitation, my change of expression when Charles stepped back, and he dropped his hand before I could decide.
Heart and mind, heart and mind, Sean said softly. You are Casseia, right? Casseia Majumdar?
Yes.
How did your family fare in all this?
I dont know, I said.
Theyre fixed to prosper. The Gobacks will do well in the next government. It was funny, Connor thinking we were Gobacks. Are you a Goback, Casseia?
I shook my head, throat tight. His tone was so stiff and distant, so reproving.
Show it to me, Casseia. Heart and mind.
I dont think you have any right to question my loyalty because of my family, I said.
Seans gaze went cold. If youre not dedicated, you could turn on us just like whoever broke the timer.
Gretyl handled the charge, Charles said. Nobody else touched it. Certainly not Casseia.
We all slept, didnt we? Sean said. But its irrelevant, really. That parts over.
He closed his eyes and licked his lips. A cup came up from the wallmount arbeiter and a stream of liquid poured into his mouth. He sucked it up with the expertise of days in the hospital.
What do you mean? Felicia asked in
Sean did not react.
Nobodys told us how you were hurt, Felicia said. We looked at her, astonished at this untruth. Ochoa had checked into all the security reports, including those filed by university guards, and pieced together the story.
The charges, Sean said, hesitating not a moment, and I thought, Whatever Felicia is up to, hell tell the truth and why expect him not to?
The charges went off prematurely, before I had a chance to get out of the way. I set the charges alone. Of course.
Of course, Oliver said.
Charles stayed in the rear, hands folded before him like a small boy at a funeral.
Blew me out of my skinseal. I kept my helmet on, oddly enough. Exposed my guts. Everything boiled. I remember quite a lot, strangely. Watching my blood boil. Somebody had the presence of mind to throw a patch over me. It wrapped me up and slowed me down and they pulled me into the infirmary about an hour later. I dont remember much after that.
Jesus, Felicia said, in exactly the same tone she had used for the public defender in the waiting room.
We did it to them, didnt we? Got the ball rolling, Sean said.
Actually Oliver began, but Felicia, with a tender expression, broke in.
We did it, she said. Oliver raised his eyebrows.
Im going to be okay. About half of me will need replacing. I dont know whos paying for it. My family, I suppose. Ive been thinking.
Yeah? Felicia said.
I know what set the charge off, Sean said. Somebody broke the timer before I planted it. Id like one or all of you to find out who.
Nobody spoke for a moment. You think somebody did it deliberately? I asked.
Sean nodded. We checked the equipment a hundred times and everything worked.
Who would have done something like that? Oliver asked, horrified.
Somebody, Sean said. Keep the students together. This isnt over yet. He turned to face me, suddenly focusing. Take a message to Gretyl. Tell her she was a goddamned fool and I love her madly. He bit into the words goddamned fool as if they were a savory cake that gave him great satisfaction. I had never seen such a join of pain and bitter pride.
I nodded.
Tell her she and I will take the reins again and guide this mess home right. Tell her just that.
Guide the mess home right, I repeated, still under his spell.
We have a larger purpose, Sean said. We have to break this planet out of its goddamned business-as-usual, corrupt, bow-down-to-the-Triple, struggle-along mentality. We can do that. We can make our own party. Its a beginning. His eyes fixed on each of us in turn, as if to brand us. Felicia held out her splayed fingers and Sean lifted his free arm to awkwardly press his hand against hers. Oliver did the same. Charles stood back; too much for him. I was about to raise my hand and match Seans. But Sean saw my hesitation, my change of expression when Charles stepped back, and he dropped his hand before I could decide.
Heart and mind, heart and mind, Sean said softly. You are Casseia, right? Casseia Majumdar?
Yes.
How did your family fare in all this?
I dont know, I said.
Theyre fixed to prosper. The Gobacks will do well in the next government. It was funny, Connor thinking we were Gobacks. Are you a Goback, Casseia?
I shook my head, throat tight. His tone was so stiff and distant, so reproving.
Show it to me, Casseia. Heart and mind.
I dont think you have any right to question my loyalty because of my family, I said.
Seans gaze went cold. If youre not dedicated, you could turn on us just like whoever broke the timer.
Gretyl handled the charge, Charles said. Nobody else touched it. Certainly not Casseia.
We all slept, didnt we? Sean said. But its irrelevant, really. That parts over.
He closed his eyes and licked his lips. A cup came up from the wallmount arbeiter and a stream of liquid poured into his mouth. He sucked it up with the expertise of days in the hospital.
What do you mean? Felicia asked in
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