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.” She sighed, pausing before continuing, and cocked her head in a way that suggested reluctance to say what followed.“But Jav isn’t so bad.He was only doing what anyone else with the means to fight back would have done.And now that he’s calmed down, not tearing through Wheeler’s troops anymore, he seems like a decent person.Someone you in particular would like and appreciate.”Tia met Kalkin’s eyes and was more than pleased to see acceptance, even encouragement, there.“You’ve of course reported to the Emperor what you’ve found in Jav,” Kalkin said.She nodded.“Perhaps not just a coincidence then that the jump relays are several months ahead of schedule.”“Perhaps not.”“He did look happy,” Kalkin said.“Right?”“Okay.I’d like you to promise me something.”“Anything,” she said eagerly, drawing close.“I want you to promise me that from now on you’ll be honest with me, that you won’t hide anything from me, and that you won’t try to use your power on me without my consent.”“I promise! I will always try to be strong for you, and I will never betray you.” She looked away, and caressed his hand splayed upon the bead to support him.“But, I know that I’m weak.If the Emperor ever gives me a direct order that puts us at odds, I don’t know what I’ll do.”He took up her hand in both of his.“That’s fair enough.Honesty always wins out over guile with me, Tia.“Let’s take things slow this time,” he said.She straightened as if an electric current had surged through her spine, her eyes wide.It took a moment for her to absorb the import of his words, but finally a wide smile spread across her face.She threw her arms around him and pinned him to the bed beneath her.• • •“Please approach the target each time as you might in a combat situation, Specialist Kapler,” Gilf Scanlan said.“We’ll go over all the gross movements first, then cover options for the extremities.”“Yes, sir,” Raus said moving to the practice dummy, which was similar in stature to himself.Raus was stripped to his undershorts and connected to countless wires, all of which led to a computer tended by Scanlan.He bent low and gripped the dummy’s torso while placing his right leg behind the dummy’s.“This is going to be a much more complex program than Rommel’s, Specialist Holson,” Scanlan said.“I can imagine,” Jav said.“Since they’re not just swinging a heavy blade around, his troops’ actions will need to be much more fluid and responsive.”“Exactly.I should have known that you would understand the intricacies and variables involved in combat.My apologies.”“None are required, Director Scanlan.There’s plenty of what you do that I don’t begin to understand.”Raus continued to attack the dummy, moving through each technique to its conclusion.His silent opponent was remarkably resilient, having his “bones” broken again and again.When Raus was finished, Scanlan had recorded a total of 732 distinct movements.The computer took 30 minutes to compile the data and then transferred it back through the wires to imprint upon the Resurrection Bolts.“So, that’s it?” Raus said.“That’s it,” Scanlan replied.“Dusty old skeletons are one thing, but corpses are another matter.No offense, Specialist Kapler, but I would prefer to run the final tests outside.”Raus shrugged.“Okay and none taken.”“Then shall we?” Scanlan said.“Let’s,” Jav said smiling.“Might I put some clothes on first?” Raus said.• • •They took a jump ship and landed about a kilometer beyond the Root Palace walls, following Raus’s recommendation.It wasn’t quite a graveyard, at least not by design, but there were bodies on the ground and sticks driven into the earth as makeshift grave markers.“Specialist Holson had a focus,” Scanlan said, “the pole sword used to record Salavar Grummel’s techniques, but you have no such object.All is a matter of will, though.When summoning, simply concentrate upon a lieutenant and he will be born.” Scanlan was dressed in a heavy suit with reinforced struts to support him under the increased gravity.He waved awkwardly at the ground, indicating for Raus to begin.“Simple enough,” Raus said.He surveyed his surroundings, took a breath, and bowed his head.The ground stirred before him.A clawed hand pierced the crumbling earth, and opened the way.A gasping corse rose up, pulled itself free of the dirt, found its unsteady legs, then knelt before Raus.“Maaasssssterr,” it said.Its voice was throaty, wet, and sounded racked with pain.“Stand,” Raus said.It did.Raus hesitated, not sure what to do next.“Go on, ask him,” Jav said.Raus looked from Jav to Scanlan.Scanlan nodded.“What’s your name?” Raus said.“Kaauuuuplerrrr.”Raus looked at Scanlan again.“He’s not much of a talker, is he?”Scanlan shrugged.“There could be any number of reasons for that.It could simply be due to the corpse’s condition.Though, come to think of it,” he said turning away, thinking out loud, “Rommel has no organs for speech and yet he speaks perfectly.Hmmm.“Set him a test, Specialist Kapler.”“What kind of test?”“Raise five or six more and have them demonstrate your Sarsan wrestling.”Raus bowed his head again
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