“My removal has been his primary goal since he discovered the truth of my relationship to Obelus.” His amber eyes flashed, and he returned his attention to Enola. “With no definite stance from the American government as to our personhood, Esperas’s understanding is that we have every right to deal with our own. He most certainly can, and he would.”

She hadn’t even considered how Esperas might take the news that Obelus was still alive; disrespectful as it was, it made sense for Ampersand to hide Obelus from Cora (in his alien brain, he’d see it as what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her). But Esperas already loathed him for keeping his relationship to Obelus a secret, endangering the lives of the entire Fremda group and resulting in the loss of their only other Similar. What would he do with the revelation that Ampersand had been keeping another massive Obelus-related secret? She didn’t know the details of their respective destructive capabilities, but she did know that if it came down to a brute force showdown between Brako and Ampersand, Ampersand would lose.

“Dear one, as you have observed, Esperas has little interest in remaining on this planet with your civilization. Esperas would have little trouble persuading his Similar to have me killed with the right incentive.” He looked at Enola. “I cannot imagine a better incentive than this.”

“If Esperas attacked you, or killed you, there’s no way the government would allow them to stay without—”

“Esperas understands the legal situation, and he understands that there is nothing stopping him from exacting his own justice. If Esperas finds out that I have kept Obelus alive, if he sees Enola’s condition at all, that will be all the justification he needs to have us killed, and his subordinates will cheer him for it. If you tell your militarists about this, you are consigning us both to death.”

(2/1/2008 7:58 PM PST) Paris: Did you

make it past (he police blockade?

(2/1/2008 9:41 PM PST) Paris: The

suspense is killing me. I’m trying to

stay awake by watching Conan but I

have the go to work in the morning

and I’m fading fast

(2/1/2008 9:55 PM PST) Paris: ok I’m

turning in, pis let me know what ET

looks like ttyl

(2/2/2008 4:45 DM PST) Paris: kaveh are

you okay? Please answer me

(2/2/2008 4:47 AM PST) Paris: Please

please answer me, im legit scared,

tried to call you on your main and your

burner and they’re both going straight

to voice mail. What do i do? Do i call

the police? You aren’t supposed to

be up there …

(2/2/2008 5:04 AM PST) Paris: Kaveh

please call me!!!

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