Blade’s voice on the radio sounded a little too strained, a bit stretched. Pia gave a little jump. I pulled her closer to reassure her. I noted the growing desperation in the tone of the sniper’s voice. “Time is running out, elf.” It wasn’t yet light enough to move. I checked through the waterfall, then popped back inside, shaking water off the dirty makeshift head rag that covered my hair. “Is it still raining?” Pia asked. I looked at her. “Foolish question,” she acknowledged. “Elf, maybe we can still pull a deal. You’ll never make it with the cunt. She’ll hold you back.” “The deal,” I radioed in reply, “is the same as before; you give up your weapons and submit to being our prisoner. We all go aboard the pod. We all survive.” “For what? So I can be charged with killing this bunch of self-righteous cowards who were supposed to be a DRT team? Do you think I’m crazy?” “I do.” “I’m not crazy enough for that.” “You are being used by a force stronger than you, Sergeant Kilmer.”
