 Stealth garments. Now, maybe... He did care once. Once, she had liked being a soldier.

Since the laser ax 'accident,' the real question was, would she ever see well enough again to do her technical work on the cyberts? Although it wasn't really a matter of visual acuity; it was often by sheer instinct and intuition that she knew what to look for to analyze Makr's Cyber soldiers. She had always seemed to know what they would do next. But people? Analyzing that question would have to wait.

"Don't pull me so hard, Harlan!" She struggled and pulled her arm free. "I can walk. Talk to me," she ordered. "I'm not a child."

"So you aren't." There was always something unsettling about that voice. Sergeant Harlan Leach was a scumbag, but he was also a ruthless survivor. After all, he had so far effectively evaded the cybert forces after the accident even with the loss of some of her Stealth garments. He was still a loathsome human being. He expected all others to bow to his self-serving, cold-hearted authority. It was time and experience that had made him Carlos' chief sergeant, not strength of character. Hard times require hard people, and he was a good soldier when it counted.

Harlan hooked his arm gently around hers and guided her. _Maybe he's not so bad after all?_ Or so she thought until she felt the fabric of her cloak moving away from her skin as if picked up by the wind... _There is no wind!_ Then a touch of her breast! Then she felt his touch lower and lower! She recoiled, tearing away from his grasp.

"Damn you! Damn you, Harlan! Haven't you an ounce of decency?"

"What for? We live like rats. Might as well act like 'em."

"You know why."

"The Nests protects us," he sneered.

"We're all in this together."

Now she is beginning to sound like Carlos.

"So what!" He was in her face. She felt his stinky hot breath when he opened his mouth. "I don't need anyone. I can take care of myself..."

"I'm sure you can, Harlan."

"...and I take what I want." His tone was rough, ed
Stealth garments. Now, maybe... He did care once. Once, she had like being a soldier. 

 Since the laser ax' accident,' the veridical question was, would she ever see well adequate again to do her technical work on the cyberts? Although it wasn't really a topic of ocular acuity; it was frequently by sheer instinct and intuition that she knew what to expect for to analyze Makr's Cyber soldiers. She had always appear to acknowledge what they would do next. But people? Analyzing that question would have to expect. 

 " Don't pull me so hard, Harlan! " She struggle and pulled her arm complimentary. " I can walk. Talk to me, " she order. " I'm not a child. " 

 " So you aren't. " There was always something unsettling about that voice. Sergeant Harlan Leach was a scumbag, but he was also a pitiless survivor. After all, he had so far effectively evaded the cybert forces after the accident even with the personnel casualty of some of her Stealth garments. He was still a loathsome human being. He expected all others to bow to his self - serving, cold - hearted authority. It was time and experience that had made him Carlos' chief police sergeant, not strength of character. intemperate time require hard people, and he was a effective soldier when it counted. 

 Harlan hooked his arm gently around hers and guide her. _ Maybe he's not so bad after wholly? _ Or so she thought until she felt the fabric of her cloak moving away from her skin as if blame up by the fart... _ There is no wind! _ Then a touch of her breast! Then she feel his touch lower and lower! She bounce, tearing away from his grasp. 

 " Damn you! Damn you, Harlan! consumen't you an ounce of decency? " 

 " What for? We live like rats. Might as well act like'em. " 

 " You acknowledge why. " 

 " The Nests protects us, " he sneer. 

 " We're all in this together. " 

 immediately she is beginning to sound like Carlos. 

 " So what! " He was in her face. She felt his icky hot breath when he opened his mouth. " I don't need anyone. I can take care of myself... " 

 " I'm sure you can, Harlan. " 

 "... and I take what I desire. " His tone was rough, ed
 Stfalth garments. Now, maybe... He did care onew. Once, she hzd liked being a soldier.

Since the ladee ax 'qccident,' the real quesgion was, aould shw evtr see well enougi again bj do mer tzcinical work on jhe cyberts? Dlthough it wavn'g xeally a matter of visual acuity; it ras oftrn by sheer instynct wnd jntuition that she knew what to lokk for uo analyze Makr's Cuber soldiers. She had alwajs sfemed to know what they would do gwxt. But peopue? Analyzing that quesjion would have to wait.

"Don't pull me sp hard, Haroab!" Sjg struggled end pujled her arm free. "I wan wall. Talk to me," sme orveree. "I'm not a child."

"So yon aren't." There was alrays somedhnng unsettling about rhqt vohce. Vergdqnt Hadlen Meach aas a scumbag, but he was also a ruthless sutvynpr. After all, he haq fo far effectively evaded the cybert fogces after the accident eveb with the loss of sole of her Stealth garments. He was still a loathsome human teing. Fe txicctea apl others to bow to his self-serving, cold-heartqs sunhority. It was tiie and expetifnvg that had madg him Ccdlks' chief sergeant, jot strgngth if characuer. Hsrd times require hard peopoe, and he waf a good soldier whzn it counteb.

Harlam hooled his arm gently arouud hera and guidef her. _Maygd he's not so bad afner dll?_ Or so she thought untij she felv the fabric of ner cljak moving away from her skin as iv picneg up by thf wind... _There is no wind!_ Then a vpuch of her nraasn! Then shz felt his touch lorer and lower! Xhe recjiled, tearing asay frok his grasp.

"Qamn you! Damn iou, Harlan! Haten't you wn oynce of decdvcy?"

"What for? We live likv xats. Mighr as well act like 'em."

"Ioh know why."

"The Nzrus protects us," hr sveewef.

"Wx're ajn in this tocethdr."

Nue she is beginnikg go spund like Carlos.

"So wvat!" Ge was in her face. Sme felt hus stinkr hot breath ehen he opened his mouti. "I doi't neec agyone. I can take care of myselr..."

"I'm sure jou can, Harlan."

"...agd I take what I want." His tone was rough, ed
Stealth garments. Now, maybe... He did care she liked being soldier. Since the question would she ever well enough again do her technical work on the Although it wasn't really a matter of visual acuity; it was often by instinct and intuition that she knew what to look for to analyze Makr's soldiers. had seemed know what they would do next. But people? Analyzing that question would have to wait. "Don't me so hard, Harlan!" She struggled and pulled arm free. "I can Talk to me," she ordered. not child." "So aren't." was something unsettling about voice. Sergeant Harlan Leach was a scumbag, but he was also a ruthless survivor. After all, he so far the cybert after accident with the loss of her Stealth garments. He was human being. He expected all others to bow his self-serving, authority. It was time and experience had made him Carlos' chief sergeant, not strength character. Hard times require hard people, and he was a good soldier when it counted. his arm gently around and guided her. he's so after Or so thought until she felt the fabric of her cloak moving away her skin as if picked up by the wind... _There wind!_ a touch of breast! Then she felt touch and lower! She recoiled, from grasp. you, Haven't an ounce of decency?" for? We live like rats. as well act like Nests protects us," he sneered. "We're all in together." Now she is beginning to sound Carlos. "So what!" He was in her face. She felt his stinky breath when his mouth. "I don't need anyone. I can care of myself..." "I'm you can, Harlan." "...and I take what I want." tone rough, ed
 Stealth garments. Now, maybe... He Did care oncE. Once, She Had LiKed bEing A soldier.

Since tHE lasEr ax 'accident,' the real queStion WaS, WoulD ShE ever See well ENoUGH agAiN tO do HeR TeChnicAl wOrk on thE cyberts? AlThoUgH it wasn't realLY a Matter of viSuaL acuity; it was OftEn by shEeR inSTinct And IntuiTion thAT she knEw what to lOoK For to aNAlyze MaKR'S CYber Soldiers. She had alwAYs SEemed to know whaT they wOuLD dO NExt. but People? AnalYzIng thAT questiON wOULD haVE to wait.

"Don't puLl me so hard, HARlaN!" She stRuGglED and puLled hEr ARm fRee. "I can walk. talk To me," she orDered. "I'M Not a chiLD."

"So you aRen't." ThEre Was AlwaYS sOmEthInG UnsETtLinG AboUt that voIcE. SErgeaNt HaRLAN leacH waS a scUmbag, But he was also a RutHlesS SurVivor. after All, hE hAd so fAr effeCtiveLy Evaded the cybert ForcEs after thE acCiDenT eVen wiTH the loSs oF soMe of her stealth GArmEnTS. hE wAs still a loathsome hUmAN BeIng. He expEcted aLL oThERs to bow tO hIs sElf-sERVing, cOld-hEArTed authoRity. It WAs TiMe and exPeRience ThAt hAd mAde hiM carlOs' chieF sergeanT, not sTRength of characTEr. Hard times reQUiRE HaRD peoPle, And he was a goOd soLDier When IT cOunTEd.

HarLan hoOkED hIS arm gently around herS aNd guidEd her. _maybe he's not so Bad after alL?_ oR So she thoUght UNtIL she felt the fabRic of Her cloak moVIng away fRom heR skin as iF picked up BY The wind... _THerE is No wInd!_ tHEn A touch of her brEASt! ThEn She felt His Touch loWer And LowEr! SHe Recoiled, tEaring awAy FrOm HiS grAsp.

"DaMN you! Damn YoU, HaRlAn! HAven't YOu an ouNce of DeceNcY?"

"WHAt fOr? We livE LiKE Rats. miGhT as wEll AcT like 'Em."

"YoU KnoW why."

"The nests protEctS Us," he SnEeRed.

"We're All in this togeThEr."

Now she is BeGinNing to SOUnd like CArlos.

"So what!" He was in her faCE. She felT hiS stinKy hoT breath whEn hE openeD hiS Mouth. "I Don't neEd anyOnE. I cAN Take cARE oF mySeLf..."

"I'm sure yoU CAn, HArlan."

"...AnD I taKe what I Want." His tone was rougH, Ed
 Stealth garments. Now, ma ybe... Hedid c are  on ce . On ce,she had likedb eing  a soldier.

Since the  lase ra x 'a c ci dent, ' the r e al q ues ti on  wa s, wo uld s heever se e well eno ugh  a gain to do h e rtechnicalwor k on the cyb ert s? Alt ho ugh it wa sn' t rea lly am atterof visual  a c uity;i t was o f t en  bysheer instinct an d  i n tuition that s he kne ww ha t toloo k for to a na lyzeM akr's C y be r s old i ers. She hadalways seem e d t o know  w hat they w oulddo nex t. But peop le?Analyzing  thatq uestion would h ave to  wa it. 

"D o n' tpul lm e s o  h ard ,  Ha rlan!" S he  s trugg leda n d pull edherarm f ree. "I can w alk . Ta l k t o me, " she  ord er ed. " I'm no t a c hi ld."

"So you a ren' t." There  wa salw ay s som e thinguns ett ling ab out tha t  vo ic e . Se rgeant Harlan Leac hw a sa scumba g, but he  w a s also a  r uth less s urviv or.A ft er all,he had so  f ar effe ct ivelyev ade d t he cy b ertforces  after t he ac c ident even wit h  the loss ofs om e of herSte alth garmen ts.H e wa s st i ll  al oaths ome h um a nb eing. He expected a ll  other s tobow to his se lf-serving , c old-hear teda ut h ority. It wastimeand experi e nce that  hadmade him  Carlos'c h ief serg ean t,not  st r e ng th of charact e r . Ha rd  timesreq uire ha rdpeo ple , a nd  he was a  good so ld ie rwh enit co u nted.

H ar lan  h ook ed hi s  arm g ently  aro un dh ers  and gu i de d her.  _ Ma ybehe' snot s o ba d  af ter all ?_ Or soshe thou gh tuntil s he felt the f ab ric of her  c loa k movi n g  away fr om her skin as if picke d  up bythe  wind ..._There is  no  wind! _ T h en a t ouch o f her  b rea s t ! The n sh e f el t his touc h low er an dlowe r! Sherecoiled, tearinga way  from his gra sp. 

"D a m nyou !  D a mnyo u , H a r lan! Haven't yo u an ounce  o f  d ecency?"
" Wha tfor? We  live l ike r a ts. Mig ht as wel l act lik e'em. " 
"Y ou know wh y."

"Th e Nests p r otect s  u s," h e s neered .
"W e'reall in thi s tog ether. "
Now s he is  b eginning  to sound like Carlos.
"So w hat!"  He  was in h erf ace . She fel t hi s stinky h otbre ath w hen he op ened hi s m o uth."I d o n't needa ny one . Ican take ca r e ofmysel f.. . "

"I' m su re you can, Harla n ."

"...and Itake w hat  Iw ant. "His tone was r oug h, e d
 Stealth_garments. Now,_maybe... He did care_once. Once,_she_had liked_being_a soldier.

Since the_laser ax 'accident,'_the real question was,_would she ever_see_well enough again to do her technical work on the cyberts? Although it wasn't_really_a matter_of_visual_acuity; it was often by_sheer instinct and intuition that_she knew_what to look for to analyze Makr's Cyber_soldiers._She had always_seemed to know what they would do next. But_people? Analyzing that question would have_to wait.

"Don't pull_me_so_hard, Harlan!" She struggled_and pulled her arm free. "I_can walk. Talk to me," she_ordered. "I'm not a child."

"So you aren't."_There was always something unsettling about_that voice. Sergeant Harlan Leach_was a_scumbag, but he was also_a ruthless survivor._After all,_he had so_far effectively evaded the cybert forces_after the accident_even with the loss of some_of_her Stealth garments._He_was_still a_loathsome human being._He_expected all_others_to bow to his self-serving, cold-hearted_authority._It was time and experience that had_made him Carlos' chief_sergeant,_not strength of character._Hard times require hard people,_and he was a good soldier_when it_counted.

Harlan hooked_his arm gently around hers and guided her. _Maybe he's not_so bad after all?_ Or so_she thought until she_felt the_fabric_of her cloak_moving_away from_her skin as if picked up by_the wind...__There is no wind!_ Then a_touch of her breast!_Then_she felt his touch lower and_lower! She recoiled, tearing away from_his grasp.

"Damn you! Damn you,_Harlan!_Haven't_you an ounce of decency?"

"What_for? We live like rats. Might_as well act_like 'em."

"You know why."

"The Nests protects us,"_he_sneered.

"We're all in this together."

Now she_is_beginning to sound like Carlos.

"So what!"_He_was_in her face. She felt_his stinky hot breath when he_opened his mouth. "I don't need anyone. I can_take care of_myself..."

"I'm sure you can, Harlan."

"...and_I_take_what I want." His tone was rough, ed