 one of the planet's extinct beasts in a cage, she paced back and forth in her quarters. Normally, instead of tossing her hair, she would be tossing expressions of sympathy for the dead soldiers, while remaining reserved and maintaining her military bearing. Not this day. On this day she didn't seem to care about the battle or other casualties besides her youngest son. She was, after all, a mother too.

Carlos knew her resolve was more aptly termed stubbornness. Other leaders often mistook her doggedness for leadership or bravery; but whichever it was, it would be that quality that would keep her Shadows unyielding when they needed strength and fortitude to be a part of a nearly impossible mission fighting against a nearly impossible enemy.

She had sacrificed much for her children and for the Nest, although she never really made reference to it. Losing her husbands, their fathers, had made it hard on her, too. It had made her tough and she'd passed some of that toughness on to her sons. The fact she'd became known as Mother-General was no fluke or whim; she hadn't always been strong, but she had always been smart. At the moment, she wasn't listening to Carlos or what was important at the moment.

"There wasn't time, Mother," he protested, appealing to the natural biological connection he shared with her. "You know how fast Makr adapts. We had to strike before Makr adapted the cyberprotectors again."

"I made you the leader because you had an innate talent. I saw that when you were young. You were born to adapt to the Shadows, born to lead. Now, you betray me."

"No, Mother. I did what was necessary. Ramón was a soldier. If I had to do it again, I would. I have to live with his loss, too."

"And, Marta? Do you mourn her death as well?"

That hurt. "Of course."

"Just as I mourn my son, your brother? A mother's love goes deeper."

"I know, Mother. Ramón and I were closer than you know. You have to know I loved him, too."

Her silence was always unnerving. She could make anyone squirm by just focusing her penetrating steely blue eyes on their eyes and not speaking. _What more does she want from me?_ Her eerie
one of the planet's extinct beasts in a cage, she paced back and away in her quarter. Normally, instead of tossing her hair's-breadth, she would be flip expressions of sympathy for the dead soldier, while persist reserved and uphold her military bearing. Not this day. On this sidereal day she didn't seem to care about the battle or other fatal accident besides her youngest son. She was, after all, a mother too. 

 Carlos knew her resoluteness was more aptly termed stubbornness. Other drawing card often mistook her doggedness for leadership or bravery; but whichever it was, it would be that timbre that would keep her shadow unyielding when they needed strength and fortitude to be a part of a about impossible mission fighting against a nearly impossible enemy. 

 She had sacrificed much for her children and for the Nest, although she never really made reference to it. Losing her husbands, their fathers, had made it hard on her, too. It had made her tough and she'd excrete some of that toughness on to her sons. The fact she'd became sleep together as Mother - General was no good luck or whim; she hadn't constantly been strong, but she had always been fresh. At the moment, she wasn't listening to Carlos or what was important at the moment. 

 " There constituten't time, Mother, " he protested, appealing to the natural biological connection he shared with her. " You sleep together how fast Makr adapts. We had to strike before Makr adapted the cyberprotectors again. " 

 " I make you the leader because you induce an innate talent. I saw that when you were young. You were born to adjust to the Shadows, born to lead. Now, you betray me. " 

 " No, Mother. I did what was necessary. Ramón was a soldier. If I had to do it again, I would. I have to live with his passing, too. " 

 " And, Marta? Do you mourn her end as well? " 

 That hurt. " Of course. " 

 " Just as I mourn my son, your brother? A mother's beloved goes cryptic. " 

 " I know, Mother. Ramón and I were airless than you know. You have to know I loved him, too. " 

 Her secrecy was always unnerving. She could make anyone squirm by just focusing her penetrating steely blue eyes on their eyes and not talk. _ What more does she want from me? _ Her eerie
 onf of the planet's extinct beasts in a cayw, she 'aced bzck and worth in her quarters. Normalpy, insttcd of tossing her hakr, she wolld be towsinj expressions of sympathn for bhe dzav soldiers, whilg remaining seserved and mdivtcining her military bearing. Not this day. On tjis day she diqn't xqem fo care about the battle or other dasualtpes besides her ypungest son. She was, after wll, w mother too.

Carlos knew her rgaoldw was more aotly termed stubbornneas. Other leaders often mistook fer dpggedness doe lfddership or bravvry; but whichcner it fas, it eould be that auanitt that would keep her Shadows unyieldind when thay needed strength qne forjituda to ve x pzrv or a newrlb impossibls mission fughting against a ntarjj impossible snemy.

Sre had sacrificed much for her children atd ror the Nest, although sye never really made teference eo it. Losing her husbands, their fathers, had made ht hacd on hcr, tui. Lt had made her tough and she'd passed some of fhst toughness on bo her sons. The favt sng'd became knowv as Mothsr-General was no fpuke or whim; she hadn'u alwsys been strong, but she had always been wmart. At the momenc, she wasn't uistgning yo Carlos or what was ioporfant at the moment.

"Thsfe wasn't time, Mogheg," he protestta, appealing to thq natural biokogical conmectiog he sharef witm her. "You know how vast Lanr adapts. Ae had to strike before Makr ade'ted the cybetprmtebtors agann."

"I mace you the lewder because ypu had cn innxte talent. I saw vhat when yot were young. Flu were born to adape to the Shadowr, born to lead. Mow, you bvtxay me."

"No, Nother. I did what xas vscessary. Ramón wcr a soldier. If I haa tj fo ie again, I wound. I haxr to uive wiuk hls uoss, too."

"And, Marta? Do you moudn her death as wekl?"

Bhat hurt. "Of courfe."

"Just as I mpurn my son, your bgothec? A movher's kovg goes deeper."

"I know, Mother. Ramón and I wege gloser than yju kkow. Iou have to know I loved him, too."

Her silence was alxays unnerving. She coule make anyone squirk by just forusing her penedrating steely blue wyes on their eyex and not speaking. _Whzt mora doed she want from me?_ Her eerie
one of the planet's extinct beasts in she back and in her quarters. hair, would be tossing of sympathy for dead soldiers, while remaining reserved and her military bearing. Not this day. On this day she didn't seem to about the battle or other casualties besides her youngest son. She was, after a too. knew resolve was more aptly termed stubbornness. Other leaders often mistook her doggedness for leadership or bravery; whichever it was, it would be that quality would keep her Shadows when they needed strength and to a part a impossible fighting against a impossible enemy. She had sacrificed much for her children and for the Nest, although she never really reference to her husbands, fathers, made hard on her, had made her tough and she'd that toughness on to her sons. The fact became known Mother-General was no fluke or whim; hadn't always been strong, but she had always smart. At the moment, she wasn't listening to Carlos or what was important at the wasn't time, Mother," he appealing to the biological he with "You know fast Makr adapts. We had to strike before Makr adapted the again." "I made you the leader because you had an I that when you young. You were born adapt the Shadows, born to you me." did was Ramón was a soldier. I had to do it I would. I have too." "And, Marta? Do you mourn her death well?" That hurt. "Of course." "Just as mourn my son, your brother? A mother's love goes deeper." "I know, Ramón and closer than you know. You have to know loved him, too." Her was always unnerving. She could make anyone squirm by focusing penetrating steely eyes on their and not speaking. more does she me?_ Her
 one of the planet's extinct beaSts in a cage, She paCed BacK aNd foRth iN her quarters. NoRMallY, instead of tossing her haIr, she WoULd be TOsSing eXpressiONs OF SymPaThY foR tHE dEad soLdiErs, whilE remaining ResErVed and maintaINiNg her militAry Bearing. Not thIs dAy. On thIs Day SHe didN't sEem to Care abOUt the bAttle or otHeR CasualTIes besiDES hEr yoUngest son. She was, afTEr ALl, a mother too.

CaRlos knEw HEr RESolVe wAs more aptlY tErmed STubbornNEsS. oTHer LEaders often miStook her dogGEdnEss for LeAdeRShip or BraveRy; BUt wHichever it wAs, it Would be thAt qualITy that wOUld keep Her ShaDowS unYielDInG wHen ThEY neEDeD stREngTh and forTiTuDe to bE a paRT OF A neaRly ImpoSsiblE mission fightIng AgaiNSt a NearlY impoSsibLe Enemy.

she had SacriFiCed much for her chIldrEn and for tHe NEsT, alThOugh sHE never ReaLly Made refErence tO It. LOsING HeR husbands, their fathErS, HAd Made it haRd on heR, ToO. IT Had made hEr TouGh anD SHe'd paSsed SOmE of that tOughneSS oN tO her sonS. THe fact ShE'd bEcaMe knoWN as MOther-GEneral waS no flUKe or whim; she hadN'T always been stROnG, BUt SHe haD alWays been smaRt. At THe moMent, SHe WasN'T listEning To cArLOs or what was importanT aT the moMent.

"THere wasn't time, mother," he prOTESted, appeAlinG To THe natural bioloGical Connection HE shared wIth heR. "You know How fast MaKR Adapts. We Had To sTriKe bEFOrE Makr adapted tHE CybeRpRotectoRs aGain."

"I maDe yOu tHe lEadEr Because yoU had an inNaTe TaLeNt. I Saw thAT when you WeRe yOuNg. YOu werE Born to Adapt To thE SHaDOws, Born to lEAd. nOW, you BeTrAy me."

"no, MOtHer. I dId whAT waS necessAry. Ramón wAs a SOldiEr. if i had to dO it again, I woulD. I Have to live WiTh hIs loss, TOO."

"And, MartA? Do you mourn her death as weLL?"

That huRt. "OF courSe."

"JuSt as I mourN my Son, youR brOTher? A mOther's Love gOeS deEPEr."

"I knOW, moTheR. RAmón and I weRE CloSer thAn You kNow. You hAve to know I loved him, TOo."

HEr silence was aLwaYs unNERvIng. sHe COulD mAKe aNYOne squirm by just Focusing heR pENeTrating steELy bLuE eyes on Their eyEs and NOt speakIng. _What moRe does she WaNt frOM Me?_ HEr eerie
 one of the planet's extin ct beastsin acag e,sh e pa cedback and forth in h er quarters. Normally,  inst ea d  oft os singher hai r ,s h e w ou ld  be  t o ss ing e xpr essions  of sympat hyfo r the dead s o ld iers, whil e r emaining res erv ed and  m ain t ainin g h er mi litary bearin g. Not th is day. O n  this d a y  s he d idn't seem to car e  a b out the battle  or ot he r  c a s ual tie s besideshe r you n gest so n .S h e  wa s , after all,a mother to o .
Carlos  k new her re solve  w a s m ore aptly t erme d stubbor nness. Other l e aders o ften m ist ook  her do gg edn es s  fo r  l ead e rsh ip or br av er y; bu t wh i c h e veritwas,  it w ould be thatqua lity tha t wou ld ke ep h er  Shad ows un yield in g when they nee dedstrengthand  f ort it ude t o  be apar t o f a nea rly imp o ssi bl e m is sion fighting agai ns t anearly i mpossi b le  e n emy.

Sh ehad  sac r i ficed  muc h  f or her c hildre n  a nd  for th eNest,al tho ugh  shen ever  reall y made r efere n ce to it. Losi n g her husband s ,t h ei r  fat her s, had made  ith ardon h e r,  to o . Ithad m ad e  h e r tough and she'd p as sed so me of  that toughne ss on to h e r sons. Th e fa c ts he'd became kn own a s Mother-G e neral wa s nofluke or  whim; sh e hadn't a lwa ysbee n s t r on g, but she ha d alwa ys  been s mar t. At t hemom ent , s he  wasn't l istening  t oCa rl osor wh a t was im po rta nt  at  them oment. 

"Th erewa sn ' t t ime, Mo t he r , " he  p ro test ed,  a ppeal ingt o t he natu ral biolo gic a l co nn ec tion he  shared withhe r. "You kn ow  ho w fast M akr adap ts. We had to strike be f ore Mak r a dapte d th e cyberpr ote ctorsaga i n."

" I made  youth e l e a der b e c au seyo u had an i n n ate  tale nt . Isaw tha t when you were yo u ng.  You were bor n t o ad a p ttot he Sha do w s,b o rn to lead. Now , you betr ay me ."

"No, M o the r.  I didwhat wa s nec e ssary.Ramón was  a soldie r.  IfI had  to do itagain, I  would. I havet olivewit h hislo ss,  too. "

"An d , M arta?  Do yo umournher d ea th as we ll?"

That hurt. "Of co urse." 

"Ju stas I mour n m y  so n, your b roth er? A moth er' s l ove g oes deepe r.""I  kn o w, Mo ther .  Ramón an d  I  we r e  c loser thany o u  kn ow. Y ouh ave to  kno w I loved him, to o ."

Her silenc e wa s alw ays unne rv ing. She could  ma ke a nyone sq ui rm by justfocusing  h e r pen etrati ng ste ely blu e ey e s on t heir  ey es and no t s pe a king. _ Wh at more d oessh e want  fromm e?_H e r eerie
 one_of the_planet's extinct beasts in_a cage,_she_paced back_and_forth in her_quarters. Normally, instead_of tossing her hair,_she would be_tossing_expressions of sympathy for the dead soldiers, while remaining reserved and maintaining her military_bearing._Not this_day._On_this day she didn't seem_to care about the battle_or other_casualties besides her youngest son. She was, after_all,_a mother too.

Carlos_knew her resolve was more aptly termed stubbornness. Other_leaders often mistook her doggedness for_leadership or bravery;_but_whichever_it was, it would_be that quality that would keep_her Shadows unyielding when they needed_strength and fortitude to be a part_of a nearly impossible mission fighting_against a nearly impossible enemy.

She_had sacrificed_much for her children and_for the Nest,_although she_never really made_reference to it. Losing her husbands,_their fathers, had_made it hard on her, too._It_had made her_tough_and_she'd passed_some of that_toughness_on to_her_sons. The fact she'd became known_as_Mother-General was no fluke or whim; she_hadn't always been strong,_but_she had always been_smart. At the moment, she_wasn't listening to Carlos or what_was important_at the_moment.

"There wasn't time, Mother," he protested, appealing to the natural biological_connection he shared with her. "You_know how fast Makr_adapts. We_had_to strike before_Makr_adapted the_cyberprotectors again."

"I made you the leader because_you had_an innate talent. I saw that_when you were young._You_were born to adapt to the_Shadows, born to lead. Now, you_betray me."

"No, Mother. I did_what_was_necessary. Ramón was a soldier._If I had to do it_again, I would._I have to live with his loss,_too."

"And,_Marta? Do you mourn her death_as_well?"

That hurt. "Of course."

"Just as I_mourn_my_son, your brother? A mother's_love goes deeper."

"I know, Mother. Ramón_and I were closer than you know. You have_to know I_loved him, too."

Her silence was_always_unnerving._She could make anyone squirm by just focusing her penetrating_steely blue_eyes on their_eyes and not speaking. _What more does she want from_me?_ Her eerie