Fuzzy Nation

by John Scalzi

Meyer shook her head. She could see where this was going. Soltan excused Chen; Holloway just about had to tear the infopanel from his grip.

Sometimes in life you’re going to win and sometimes you’re going to lose. But just because you lose doesn’t mean the other guy needs to win.

“Maybe so,” Soltan said. “But do anything like that here, and being disbarred will seem like a cakewalk in comparison. Do you understand me, Mr. Holloway?” “I give you my word I will not punch my client,” Holloway said. “Very droll, Mr. Holloway,” Soltan said. “Sit.” Everyone sat.

This exchanging cracks me up every time I read it

“This decision will bring operations on Zara Twenty-three to a standstill,” Brad Landon said. “Tens of thousands of people will be out of work. Are already out of work because of your preliminary ruling. They just don’t know it yet.” “That all depends on Mr. Holloway, doesn’t it?” Soltan said. She looked at Holloway. “I have to say I’m deeply moved by ZaraCorp’s concern for its common worker,” Holloway said. “So I’m more than happy to keep operations going at the seam. All I ask is for half the gross revenue.” Landon blanched. “Half,” he said. “Unless you think I should have more,” Holloway said.

“Jack Holloway did get that son of a bitch. Jack Holloway got you. You are the man who killed my child. Get off my planet, you son of a bitch.”

“A while ago I said to you that sometimes it feels good to do the wrong thing. Well, this time it felt good to do the right thing. I just had to lie to get there first. We’re lawyers, Mark. Lying is part of the skill set.”

“I’m not a good man, Mark,” Holloway said. “But I was the right man. And for this, that was enough.”