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Bosaru took a deep breath. If I were a crazed ex-dictator, which way would I go?
he said aloud.
Almost as soon as he had said it, he spotted Verot, not far ahead of him, being
hindered by the small box with the oscillator. Certainly not something to be kicked
around, that was for sure.
Verot. Stop now or I will shoot, he commanded.
Verot actually stopped and turned around. You wouldn t dare shoot, he shouted,
his voice echoing in the quickly cooling twilight. You could hit my payload here.
Actually, there was little danger, because Bosaru felt confident of his shooting
abilities. But just in case, he started to walk toward his target.
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Echoes of Passion
I could, he said. Or I could shoot you between your eyes, which would be my
choice. You re running out of options. If you get on your knees now and put your hands
on your head, I can make sure you receive leniency in your imprisonment. And I can
testify on your behalf, that you came of your own free will.
Bosaru s head ached, his leg throbbed from being dropped from the hover cab, and
his temper was growing short. Make up your mind, now, Verot. I don t have all day.
Verot was close enough now that Bosaru could see his face, even in the dimming
light.
There s another choice, Verot said, and the sudden strength in his voice made
Bosaru stop and stare.
What are you talking about?
I ve got an appointment with a very important man, Verot said. Clutching the
box, he was starting straight at Bosaru now. You can be my partner. Haven t you
wanted power? You can have it, you know. You with your blueblood Amalgamation
connections, me with my political connections. We can be the perfect team. Who would
have a word to say against me with you on my side? And you, you ll be the face of the
new Neotian, combining the Neoti and the Vozuan. With my niece, you can be the
perfect new generation of the new home world. Your father, he turned me down when I
offered him the chancellorship, back when the war was on, but I m thinking you re
more sensible than that. Your father would be happy.
My father is dead and he would come back from the Void to kill me if I joined forces with
you, Bosaru wanted to say, but he didn t. Instead, he kept walking toward Verot. His
hands he kept down at his sides, and it took a concerted effort for him to not curl his
hand into a fist. He wanted to ram the oscillator down Verot s throat, but no, that
would be wrong.
And besides, he needed the oscillator back.
Helluva bounty hunter he was. He was more concerned with the doomsday device
than he was with the bounty in front of him.
Who are you meeting with? he asked, his steps slowing as he came within a few
meters of Verot. Someone from the parliament, I m guessing.
Someone you would recognize in an instant, Verot said. Someone you ve spoken
with, someone you ve probably dined with in the past, in the days of your father.
So it was Haan-Haan. Someone who s willing to consider you as an ally, even with
a hefty price on your head. Someone who doesn t mind the stench of treachery.
The light had dimmed sufficiently that Bosaru couldn t see the expression on
Verot s face. So young, so negative. Well, that s your choice now, the ex-dictator said,
his voice creased with a sneer. You re with me or against me.
That s easy, Bosaru said immediately. I m against you. Now put the box down.
Or what?
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Eilis Flynn
Daegon, get out of the way. Just let me shoot him where he stands and then we
can all get on with our lives.
Bosaru turned. It was Imreen, leaning on one leg and hampered with a regenerating
tube on the other, but not letting that stop her from pointing a full-sized pulse blaster,
one nearly as big as she was, past him. She looked grim.
She was going to get Verot if he, Bosaru, didn t.
Step aside, she said. I want to be close enough to see his face when he finally
gets the execution he so richly deserves.
Dear niece! So good of you to come see me! Verot said, lowering his own weapon.
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