02/13/2025 Snippet, PICKMAN’S MODELS.

This is actually getting somewhere!

Tobias contemplated Reithner. She looked like Hell, especially around the eyes, but what did that even mean anymore? “This is the deal I’ll offer,” he told the cleaver-man. “It’s the same deal some of the others get. We put you and your people in deep sleep, and when we make it back to Earth we’ll leave you somewhere that’s not where we are. If you try to find us later, we’ll kill you. I’ve never negotiated on this, and I’m not doing that today.”

“Yes, the Lieutenant has told us about how stubborn you are. She also told us that you talk to an imaginary computer in your head.” The cleaver-man smirked. “Would you believe that I found this a reassurance? You must be clever, if your countrymen are willing to ignore your madness.  And you are ruthless, clearly. I do admire how you told your men to flee if necessary, and warn your faction. I did not expect you to be so clear-headed about it.”

“By now my men are back at Heinlein Base,” Tobias told him. “You won’t be able to surprise them. They’ll fight.”

“Then it is a good thing we will not be fighting them, then.”