{"id":407,"date":"2013-08-13T00:00:06","date_gmt":"2013-08-13T04:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/?p=407"},"modified":"2013-08-12T20:32:48","modified_gmt":"2013-08-13T00:32:48","slug":"twenty-eight-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/?p=407","title":{"rendered":"Twenty-eight (part 1)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

We see the world in ways we wish to see it until some great calamity opens our eyes to the truth behind the illusion.<\/h3>\n

— attributed to Erich Quizibian<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u00a017 Decem, 5249 PD<\/strong><\/p>\n

Winston stood at the edge of the rocky beach, staring out at the shallow bay.\u00a0 The sun was rising, painting the sky pink and gold, sunlight sparkling on the water.\u00a0 The sight was almost enough to take his breath away.\u00a0 It was hard to find vistas like this back home.<\/p>\n

If I needed one shred of proof that these people are doing something right, it\u2019s staring me right in the face right now.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cEnjoying the view?\u201d<\/p>\n

Winston stiffened slightly and turned toward Brendan Cho\u2019s voice.\u00a0 His brows knit slightly as he studied the pilot, garbed in his undress uniform, as if he was on his way to the base and stumbled upon Winston purely by accident.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s probably what he wants it to look like, anyway.<\/i>\u00a0 Winston nodded slowly.\u00a0 \u201cI haven\u2019t seen anything like it back home.\u00a0 It\u2019s beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan nodded slowly, wandering down the path and onto the gravel that ended where the sand of the beach began.\u00a0 \u201cLindsay and I used to come down here when we were teenagers to watch the sun come up.\u201d\u00a0 A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.\u00a0 \u201cWe weren\u2019t like most teenagers.\u00a0 She could never sleep because of the nightmares, I couldn\u2019t sleep because I\u2019d never been allowed to sleep past 0430 since I was eight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou two grew up together, then?\u201d\u00a0 Winston crossed his arms against the chill coming off the water.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m surprised.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy\u2019s that?\u201d\u00a0 Brendan asked as he drew abreast of him, staring out at the water with an almost wistful expression.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just didn\u2019t think you\u2019d been here for that long.\u00a0 Not long enough to grow up with her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were teenagers together,\u201d Brendan said quietly.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t say we\u2019d grown up together.\u00a0 You did.\u201d\u00a0 He jerked his chin toward the water.\u00a0 \u201cI crashed there.\u00a0 I was piloting a Corp dropship and we came down hard, cartwheeled through the bay until we stopped in the shallows.\u00a0 That was the first time I ever stabbed myself in the implant.\u201d<\/p>\n

Winston blinked at him.\u00a0 \u201cYou what?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan shrugged slightly.\u00a0 \u201cIt was either that or die.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t really a choice.\u201d\u00a0 His gaze grew distant for a moment.\u00a0 \u201cI was the only one that survived.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t have if Lindsay hadn\u2019t kept Alana from killing me off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Winston whistled low.\u00a0 That\u2019s certainly not what I expected.<\/i><\/p>\n

Brendan shrugged again.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s life,\u201d he said softly.\u00a0 \u201cA series of events that you can\u2019t predict until they happen.\u201d\u00a0 He looked at Winston.\u00a0 \u201cDid you ever imagine you\u2019d end up here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot in my wildest dreams,\u201d Winston said.\u00a0 \u201cJust meeting Frederick Rose alone\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI never would have imagined that he could somehow be alive and in hiding out there.\u00a0 I guess I shouldn\u2019t be surprised by it, but I am.\u201d\u00a0 He studied the pilot sidelong.\u00a0 \u201cShouldn\u2019t you be reporting for duty?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m already on duty,\u201d Brendan said with a faint, wry smile.\u00a0 \u201cEzra hasn\u2019t cleared me for flight status and my students are going up on practice runs today.\u00a0 One of my colleagues is leading the squadron, which frees me up for special duties.\u201d<\/p>\n

The plot thickens.<\/i>\u00a0 \u201cLike shadowing me,\u201d Winston guessed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe the term \u2018babysit\u2019 came up in the briefing.\u201d\u00a0 His grin broadened out and Winston couldn\u2019t help but laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy am I not surprised?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause someone with your skillset shouldn\u2019t be,\u201d Brendan said.\u00a0 \u201cAnd even if you are, you shouldn\u2019t admit to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell put,\u201d Winston said, still staring at the water.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re correct in that assessment, I\u2019m afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is as it is,\u201d Brendan said.\u00a0 \u201cWas there anything in particular you wanted to see?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean other than more evidence regarding what happened at the Whispers?\u201d\u00a0 Winston smiled humorlessly.\u00a0 His meeting with the Marshals and representatives of the Council had raised more questions than it had answered.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not sure what to tell you, Commander.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll see what there is to see at the Whispers soon enough,\u201d he said, shoving his hands into his pockets.\u00a0 \u201cThe footage and everything else.\u00a0 There\u2019s rumblings of sending investigators of our own.\u201d\u00a0 His gaze slanted toward Winston.\u00a0 \u201cWe want to know who killed it, too, Inspector.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause you\u2019re probably the real target.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan inclined his head.\u00a0 \u201cYou said it.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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