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Skull stared at Commander Forman across the table. “How’s that mystery meat, ma’am?”
“No better and no worse than Navy chow. What can I do for you, Warrant Officer Denham?” She took a bite of the putative object of his inquiry.
“Call me Skull if you like, ma’am. Wondering how you feel about the program.”
Forman stared at his shaved head above those deep, dark orbits. “I heard them call you that. It fits your look. But I’ve been debriefed by the psychiatrists twice already this week, and I’m getting a bit tired of it. I’m beginning to think that’s the only reason they wanted me here, to see how an Eden would react to the concept of nanobots and all they can do.”
“I bet you’re right. Oh, not the only reason, but one of them. But the Demon Plague One vaccine worked on you; how do you feel about that?”
“Stop it, Skull,” she snapped. “What do you really want?”
He looked down at his iced tea, swirling it around in his glass for a moment before lifting his eyes back to hers. “I’m not sure. I can’t figure out why they let someone who helped Edens escape get so close to a project like this.”
She sat back, aghast. “There are none so blind as those who will not see. Listen to yourself – I could ask you the exact same question. As I understand it, we both fought the Unionists in our own way. I am not questioning your loyalty; do me the courtesy of the same.”
His mouth twitched upward. “Fair enough. We both fought the fascists before, so we were on the same side...and maybe we still are. I just wanted to make sure you knew it too. Ma’am.” With that he got up and walked casually away.
She stared after him, nonplussed. He led me by the nose into that little quip. But why? What other side is there?
