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“Endangered Species” by Roscoe G. Beetle
24th August 2026 • The Voice of Dog • Rob MacWolf and guests
00:00:00 00:27:42

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An ill-fated Cervan ball is infiltrated by a member of the rebellion in order to capture the architect of a genocide. A story taking place in the same universe as Helkite.

Today’s story is “Endangered Species” by Roscoe G. Beetle, a kobold, because he’s always a little horny. Author of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, including the erotic sci-fi romance Thorns and the upcoming horror-romance Fangs of the Bayou at Bewere books, the sci-fi Mecha novel Helkite, to which this story is a prequel, at Doppelfox Publishing, as well as short stories in many different anthologies, both horny and not. For a list of all of his major projects, you can check out his website.

Read for you by Rob MacWolf — werewolf hitchhiker.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.

https://thevoice.dog/episode/endangered-species-by-roscoe-g-beetle

Transcripts

Speaker:


You’re

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listening

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to

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The

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Voice

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of

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Dog.

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This

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is

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Rob MacWolf,

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your

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fellow traveler,

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and

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Today’s

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story

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is “Endangered

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Species”

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by

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Roscoe

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G.

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Beetle,

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a

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kobold,

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because

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he’s

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always

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a

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little

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horny.

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Author

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of

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sci-fi,

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fantasy,

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and

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horror,

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including

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the

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erotic

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sci-fi

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romance

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Thorns

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and

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the

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upcoming

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horror-romance

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Fangs

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of

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the

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Bayou at Bewere books, the sci-fi Mecha novel Helkite, to which this

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story

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is

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a

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prequel,

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at Doppelfox

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Publishing,

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as

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well

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as

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short

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stories

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in

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many

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different

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anthologies,

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both

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horny

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and

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not.

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For a

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list

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of

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all of

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his

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major

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projects,

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you

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can

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check

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out

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his

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website here.

Please

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enjoy


“Endangered

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Species”

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by

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Roscoe

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G.

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Beetle

It

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took

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a

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lot

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of

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effort

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for

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to

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remain

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as

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calm as

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the

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mission

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required.

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All

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around

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him

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adorned

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in

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dangling

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antler

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chains,

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with

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gems

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hanging

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from

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the

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prongs

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of

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elk

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and

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capped onto

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the

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points of

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antelope,

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the

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elite

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of Cervidae

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drank

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wine

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in

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the

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gilded

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ballroom.

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Dresses

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whispered

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and

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pressed

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military

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uniforms

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looked

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as

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if

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they

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should

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have

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crinkled

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when

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the

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stodgy

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bucks

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wearing

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them

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walked

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around.

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It

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took

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everything

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had

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to

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keep

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his

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face

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carefully

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even.

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facial-mapping

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of

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the

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hologram

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projector

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was

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nearly

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perfect,

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and

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that

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meant

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course

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moment

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compromised.
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keep

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away

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from

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technology

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Touch

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could

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confound

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position

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over.
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ole’

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yet?”
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that

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poacher

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knew

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they

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endangered

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species

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running

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hooves

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together

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caps

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convincingly.
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voice

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for

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an

Question:

emergency

Question:

communique

Question:

from

Question:

the

Question:

Empress

Question:

of

Question:

the

Question:

herd

Question:

herself.

Question:

It

Question:

was

Question:

the

Question:

one

Question:

reliable

Question:

way

Question:

they

Question:

could

Question:

isolate

Question:

General

Question:

Lorne

Question:

from

Question:

the

Question:

rest

Question:

of

Question:

this

Question:

crowded

Question:

party.
Furrowing

Question:

his

Question:

brow

Question:

with

Question:

just

Question:

the

Question:

slightest

Question:

hint

Question:

of

Question:

disbelief,

Question:

the

Question:

general

Question:

answered

Question:

back, “Watchphrase,

Question:

corporal.”
“Sir, ‘The

Question:

rains

Question:

over

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the

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desert

Question:

bring

Question:

relief

Question:

from

Question:

the

Question:

burning

Question:

sun,’

Question:

Sir.”
General

Question:

Lorne

Question:

nodded

Question:

his

Question:

head,

Question:

and

Question:

in

Question:

his

Question:

ear

Question:

Aleq

Question:

heard

Question:

a

Question:

quiet

Question:

whispered “Bingo.”

Question:

The

Question:

correct

Question:

watchphrase,

Question:

courtesy

Question:

of

Question:

that

Question:

scout

Question:

just

Question:

this

Question:

morning

Question:

lying

Question:

in

Question:

a

Question:

tree

Question:

outside

Question:

for

Question:

hours

Question:

on

Question:

end

Question:

waiting

Question:

for

Question:

the

Question:

guard

Question:

detail

Question:

to

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change.

Question:

The

Question:

general

Question:

relaxed

Question:

somewhat,

Question:

and

Question:

quietly

Question:

gestured

Question:

for

Question:

Aleq

Question:

to

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follow.

Question:

He

Question:

gave

Question:

a

Question:

brief,

Question:

apologetic

Question:

goodbye

Question:

to

Question:

the

Question:

pair

Question:

he had

Question:

been

Question:

conversing

Question:

with,

Question:

and

Question:

reached

Question:

out

Question:

to

Question:

hand

Question:

his

Question:

salad

Question:

bowl

Question:

off

Question:

to

Question:

a

Question:

waiter

Question:

before

Question:

he

Question:

stomped off

Question:

in

Question:

the

Question:

direction

Question:

of a

Question:

grand

Question:

staircase.

Question:

Aleq

Question:

followed

Question:

after,

Question:

allowing

Question:

his

Question:

eyes

Question:

to

Question:

narrow

Question:

just

Question:

a

Question:

bit.

Question:

The

Question:

plan

Question:

was

Question:

working.
Following

Question:

closely

Question:

after

Question:

the

Question:

General,

Question:

Aleq

Question:

made

Question:

his

Question:

way

Question:

through

Question:

the

Question:

ballroom.

Question:

The

Question:

two

Question:

of

Question:

them

Question:

ascended

Question:

the

Question:

staircase

Question:

and

Question:

continued

Question:

to

Question:

move

Question:

through the

Question:

long,

Question:

lavishly

Question:

decorated

Question:

hallways

Question:

of

Question:

the

Question:

mansion

Question:

for

Question:

a

Question:

solid

Question:

few

Question:

minutes

Question:

until

Question:

the

Question:

General

Question:

stopped

Question:

in

Question:

front

Question:

of

Question:

a

Question:

marble

Question:

bust

Question:

depicting

Question:

a

Question:

figure

Question:

of

Question:

a

Question:

female

Question:

deer

Question:

who

Question:

nonetheless

Question:

wore

Question:

a

Question:

tall,

Question:

handsome

Question:

set

Question:

of

Question:

antlers.

Question:

Lorne

Question:

stepped

Question:

in

Question:

front

Question:

of

Question:

the

Question:

bust

Question:

so

Question:

his

Question:

subordinate

Question:

could

Question:

not

Question:

see,

Question:

but

Question:

Aleq

Question:

noticed

Question:

him

Question:

twisting

Question:

several

Question:

of

Question:

the

Question:

individual

Question:

prongs,

Question:

no

Question:

doubt

Question:

inputting

Question:

some

Question:

kind

Question:

of

Question:

combination,

Question:

and

Question:

once

Question:

it

Question:

was

Question:

done

Question:

the

Question:

wall

Question:

behind

Question:

slid

Question:

open

Question:

without

Question:

a

Question:

sound.
“Come,”

Question:

the

Question:

general

Question:

said,

Question:

harshly,

Question:

before

Question:

walking

Question:

in.
Mind

Question:

racing,

Question:

Aleq

Question:

stepped

Question:

forward

Question:

after

Question:

his

Question:

target,

Question:

entering

Question:

into

Question:

a

Question:

deep

Question:

gray

Question:

featureless

Question:

box

Question:

of

Question:

a

Question:

room,

Question:

with

Question:

only

Question:

a

Question:

slate

Question:

table

Question:

bolted

Question:

to

Question:

the

Question:

floor with

Question:

nice

Question:

wooden

Question:

chairs

Question:

set

Question:

around

Question:

it

Question:

and

Question:

a

Question:

room-sized

Question:

video

Question:

screen

Question:

over

Question:

a

Question:

series

Question:

of

Question:

complicated

Question:

controls

Question:

taking

Question:

up

Question:

the

Question:

entirety

Question:

of

Question:

the

Question:

far

Question:

wall.

Question:

The

Question:

room

Question:

was

Question:

briefly

Question:

plunged

Question:

into

Question:

darkness

Question:

as

Question:

the

Question:

door

Question:

slid

Question:

shut

Question:

behind

Question:

them,

Question:

and

Question:

Aleq

Question:

hurried

Question:

to

Question:

cover

Question:

the

Question:

emitters

Question:

of

Question:

the

Question:

hologram

Question:

with

Question:

his

Question:

hand,

Question:

knowing

Question:

that

Question:

they

Question:

emitted

Question:

enough

Question:

light

Question:

to

Question:

give

Question:

him

Question:

away

Question:

at

Question:

once

Question:

in

Question:

total

Question:

darkness.

Question:

However,

Question:

a

Question:

moment

Question:

later,

Question:

the

Question:

fluorescent

Question:

lights

Question:

above

Question:

began

Question:

to

Question:

flicker

Question:

on,

Question:

and

Question:

he

Question:

took

Question:

the

Question:

hand

Question:

away,

Question:

resuming

Question:

his

Question:

disguise

Question:

as

Question:

the

Question:

corporal

Question:

and

Question:

thankful

Question:

that

Question:

the

Question:

general

Question:

had

Question:

been

Question:

looking

Question:

away

Question:

for

Question:

the

Question:

split

Question:

second

Question:

his

Question:

cover

Question:

had

Question:

been

Question:

blown.
General

Question:

Lorne

Question:

walked

Question:

over

Question:

to

Question:

the

Question:

video

Question:

conference

Question:

screen.

Question:

He was

Question:

no

Question:

doubt

Question:

looking

Question:

for

Question:

an

Question:

unanswered

Question:

channel.

Question:

There

Question:

would,

Question:

of

Question:

course,

Question:

be

Question:

none.

Question:

Aleq

Question:

stepped

Question:

forward

Question:

as

Question:

quietly

Question:

as

Question:

he

Question:

could,

Question:

and

Question:

bent

Question:

over

Question:

at

Question:

the

Question:

waist,

Question:

before

Question:

kicking

Question:

off

Question:

his

Question:

hoof-caps

Question:

and

Question:

scratching at

Question:

the

Question:

floor

Question:

with

Question:

his

Question:

bare,

Question:

padded

Question:

hooves.
“Corporal, I’m

Question:

not

Question:

seeing

Question:

the

Question:

communique,”

Question:

muttered

Question:

the

Question:

General,

Question:

fiddling

Question:

with

Question:

the

Question:

controls, “Set

Question:

up

Question:

a

Question:

hail

Question:

frequency

Question:

to

Question:

re-establish

Question:

the…”
Deer

Question:

had thick heads

Question:

and

Question:

necks.

Question:

Aleq

Question:

knew

Question:

this.

Question:

They

Question:

were

Question:

built

Question:

to

Question:

do

Question:

battle

Question:

with

Question:

those

Question:

antlers.

Question:

However,

Question:

their

Question:

legs

Question:

less

Question:

so.

Question:

With

Question:

a

Question:

swift

Question:

charge,

Question:

Aleq

Question:

brought

Question:

his

Question:

nose

Question:

down

Question:

to

Question:

the

Question:

level

Question:

of

Question:

the

Question:

deer’s

Question:

lower

Question:

torso,

Question:

hooking

Question:

his

Question:

horn

Question:

up

Question:

under

Question:

the

Question:

general’s

Question:

crotch

Question:

and

Question:

lifting

Question:

him

Question:

up,

Question:

before

Question:

slamming

Question:

him

Question:

down

Question:

on

Question:

the

Question:

side

Question:

of

Question:

the

Question:

slate

Question:

table.

Question:

He

Question:

felt

Question:

the

Question:

deer’s

Question:

leg

Question:

shatter,

Question:

and

Question:

as

Question:

soon

Question:

as

Question:

he

Question:

pulled

Question:

his

Question:

horn

Question:

away,

Question:

General

Question:

Lorne

Question:

buckled

Question:

at

Question:

once.

Question:

He

Question:

bellowed,

Question:

falling

Question:

to

Question:

the

Question:

ground

Question:

hard,

Question:

his hoof-hands

Question:

reaching

Question:

for

Question:

the

Question:

console as

Question:

he

Question:

tried

Question:

desperately

Question:

to

Question:

catch

Question:

himself.

Question:

His

Question:

antlers

Question:

soon

Question:

clattered

Question:

against

Question:

the

Question:

ground,

Question:

echoing

Question:

in

Question:

the

Question:

gray

Question:

concrete

Question:

panic

Question:

room.
“Corporal!

Question:

What

Question:

are

Question:

you…?”
A

Question:

heavy

Question:

stomp

Question:

on

Question:

the

Question:

general’s

Question:

legs

Question:

caused

Question:

him

Question:

to

Question:

scream.

Question:

Aleq’s

Question:

eyes

Question:

were

Question:

wide.

Question:

He

Question:

saw

Question:

his

Question:

mother’s

Question:

tears.

Question:

He

Question:

remembered

Question:

his

Question:

father—a

Question:

worker

Question:

in

Question:

a

Question:

munitions

Question:

factory

Question:

on

Question:

Pallas.

Question:

He

Question:

felt

Question:

the

Question:

panic

Question:

of

Question:

that

Question:

day

Question:

so

Question:

sharply,

Question:

and

Question:

felt

Question:

as

Question:

he

Question:

had

Question:

every

Question:

day,

Question:

the

Question:

hatred

Question:

for

Question:

those

Question:

who

Question:

made

Question:

it

Question:

happen.

Question:

He

Question:

stomped

Question:

one

Question:

more

Question:

time,

Question:

catching

Question:

the

Question:

man

Question:

on

Question:

the

Question:

knees

Question:

so

Question:

hard

Question:

he

Question:

felt

Question:

another

Question:

bone

Question:

give,

Question:

and

Question:

a

Question:

fresh

Question:

scream

Question:

ripped

Question:

through

Question:

the

Question:

general.
Trample

Question:

him,

Question:

a

Question:

voice in Aleq’s head

Question:

goaded

Question:

him

Question:

on.

Question:

He

Question:

deserves

Question:

it.

Question:

He

Question:

killed

Question:

everyone

Question:

you

Question:

ever

Question:

loved.

Question:

Finish

Question:

him.

Question:

Trample.

Question:

Kill.
However,

Question:

he

Question:

froze,

Question:

eyes

Question:

wide and

Question:

with

Question:

his

Question:

heavy

Question:

leg

Question:

up

Question:

and

Question:

ready

Question:

to

Question:

stomp on

Question:

the

Question:

deer’s

Question:

torso,

Question:

risking

Question:

crushing

Question:

something

Question:

lethal.

Question:

He

Question:

found

Question:

himself

Question:

breathing

Question:

hard.

Question:

The

Question:

deer

Question:

was

Question:

at

Question:

his

Question:

mercy,

Question:

but

Question:

that

Question:

wasn’t

Question:

the

Question:

mission.

Question:

This

Question:

wasn’t

Question:

an

Question:

assassination. The

Question:

man

Question:

was

Question:

a

Question:

prisoner.

Question:

They

Question:

needed

Question:

him

Question:

alive

Question:

to

Question:

learn

Question:

more

Question:

about

Question:

how

Question:

the

Question:

Cervan

Question:

Empire

Question:

had

Question:

destroyed

Question:

Pallas.
Satisfied

Question:

at

Question:

least

Question:

enough

Question:

for

Question:

the

Question:

moment,

Question:

Aleq

Question:

took

Question:

a

Question:

step

Question:

backwards

Question:

and

Question:

huffed

Question:

out

Question:

a

Question:

heavy

Question:

breath.

Question:

He

Question:

reached

Question:

into

Question:

a

Question:

hidden

Question:

holster

Question:

at

Question:

his

Question:

side

Question:

and

Question:

pulled

Question:

out

Question:

a

Question:

pistol

Question:

before

Question:

aiming

Question:

it

Question:

at

Question:

the

Question:

general,

Question:

although

Question:

the

Question:

hologram

Question:

around

Question:

him

Question:

pointed

Question:

that

Question:

mostly-full

Question:

glass

Question:

of

Question:

champagne.

Question:

When the

Question:

liquid

Question:

did

Question:

not

Question:

pour

Question:

out

Question:

the

Question:

top

Question:

of

Question:

the

Question:

glass,

Question:

General

Question:

Lorne’s

Question:

eyes

Question:

went

Question:

wide,

Question:

realizing

Question:

it

Question:

was

Question:

not

Question:

Corporal

Question:

Friedmann

Question:

in

Question:

front

Question:

of

Question:

him.
“Who…

Question:

are…?”

Question:

he

Question:

asked

Question:

through the

Question:

pain

Question:

of

Question:

his

Question:

broken

Question:

leg.
Aleq

Question:

reached

Question:

up

Question:

then

Question:

with

Question:

his

Question:

other

Question:

hand and

Question:

gently

Question:

tapped

Question:

the

Question:

side

Question:

of

Question:

his

Question:

horn.

Question:

At

Question:

once,

Question:

Corporal

Question:

Thomas

Question:

Friedmann

Question:

melted

Question:

away

Question:

and

Question:

standing

Question:

there

Question:

was

Question:

another

Question:

man

Question:

entirely,

Question:

wide-bodied

Question:

and

Question:

muscular,

Question:

wearing

Question:

a

Question:

red

Question:

leather

Question:

jacket

Question:

over

Question:

a

Question:

pair

Question:

of

Question:

cheap,

Question:

thick

Question:

trousers

Question:

and

Question:

bare,

Question:

gray,

Question:

three-toed

Question:

hooves.

Question:

A gray

Question:

rhinoceros,

Question:

with a

Question:

close-cropped

Question:

mane

Question:

of

Question:

hair

Question:

from

Question:

his

Question:

forehead

Question:

to

Question:

midway down

Question:

his

Question:

neck,

Question:

a strong

Question:

jaw,

Question:

and

Question:

a

Question:

bone-white

Question:

prosthetic

Question:

horn

Question:

with

Question:

faint

Question:

green

Question:

lights

Question:

cycling

Question:

off

Question:

and

Question:

on.

Question:

In

Question:

his

Question:

thick

Question:

hand was

Question:

a

Question:

pistol—white

Question:

plastic,

Question:

invisible to

Question:

metal

Question:

detectors—which

Question:

was

Question:

trained

Question:

on

Question:

the

Question:

general.
Eyes

Question:

narrowed

Question:

in

Question:

hatred,

Question:

the

Question:

rhinoceros

Question:

walked

Question:

around

Question:

the

Question:

moaning

Question:

General

Question:

Lorne,

Question:

grabbed

Question:

him

Question:

roughly

Question:

by

Question:

the

Question:

tip

Question:

of

Question:

one

Question:

of

Question:

his

Question:

antlers,

Question:

and

Question:

began

Question:

to

Question:

drag

Question:

the

Question:

old

Question:

man

Question:

around

Question:

the

Question:

table.

Question:

Then

Question:

he

Question:

roughly

Question:

pushed

Question:

a

Question:

chair

Question:

out

Question:

from

Question:

under

Question:

it,

Question:

lifted

Question:

the

Question:

general

Question:

up

Question:

as

Question:

if

Question:

he

Question:

weighed

Question:

nothing,

Question:

and

Question:

sat

Question:

him

Question:

down

Question:

on

Question:

the

Question:

chair,

Question:

his

Question:

ruined

Question:

legs

Question:

splayed

Question:

out

Question:

grotesquely.

Question:

Then,

Question:

Aleq

Question:

found

Question:

his

Question:

own

Question:

chair and sat

Question:

down

Question:

calmly,

Question:

pistol

Question:

still

Question:

aimed

Question:

towards

Question:

the

Question:

general’s

Question:

heart.
“Ah…

Question:

you…

Question:

Are

Question:

you

Question:

here

Question:

to

Question:

k-kill

Question:

me…? A-assassin…”
“Believe

Question:

it

Question:

or

Question:

not,

Question:

no,”

Question:

Aleq

Question:

said,

Question:

happy

Question:

to

Question:

hear

Question:

his

Question:

own

Question:

voice

Question:

instead

Question:

of

Question:

the

Question:

bizarre

Question:

modulated

Question:

voice

Question:

from

Question:

the

Question:

holographic

Question:

device, “You’re

Question:

my

Question:

prisoner.

Question:

The

Question:

Free

Question:

Planets

Question:

are

Question:

going

Question:

to

Question:

want

Question:

to

Question:

have

Question:

a

Question:

long

Question:

talk

Question:

with

Question:

you

Question:

once

Question:

we

Question:

get

Question:

back.”
“B-back…?

Question:

We’re

Question:

deep

Question:

in

Question:

the

Question:

middle

Question:

of

Question:

my

Question:

mansion,

Question:

fool!”

Question:

the

Question:

deer

Question:

hissed,

Question:

eyes

Question:

widening, “Eventually…

Question:

ugh…

Question:

by

Question:

the

Question:

light

Question:

of

Question:

the

Question:

Empress,

Question:

you

Question:

shattered

Question:

my

Question:

knees…

Question:

someone…

Question:

s-someone

Question:

is

Question:

going

Question:

to

Question:

notice

Question:

I’m

Question:

missing. S-Someone

Question:

will

Question:

check

Question:

my

Question:

panic

Question:

room!”
“That’s

Question:

what

Question:

you

Question:

think,”

Question:

muttered

Question:

Aleq,

Question:

before

Question:

he

Question:

reached

Question:

up

Question:

to

Question:

his

Question:

ear

Question:

and

Question:

pressed

Question:

the

Question:

earpiece

Question:

into

Question:

it, “Commence

Question:

operation.

Question:

I

Question:

got

Question:

him.”
A

Question:

whole

Question:

chorus

Question:

of

Question:

rowdy

Question:

cries

Question:

suddenly

Question:

erupted

Question:

over comms, and Aleq

Question:

couldn’t

Question:

help but

Question:

smile.

Question:

A

Question:

moment

Question:

later,

Question:

there

Question:

was

Question:

an

Question:

impact

Question:

they

Question:

could

Question:

feel

Question:

through

Question:

the

Question:

floor,

Question:

and

Question:

another,

Question:

and

Question:

another.

Question:

The

Question:

general

Question:

looked

Question:

around,

Question:

eyes

Question:

wide. The

Question:

lights

Question:

soon

Question:

went

Question:

out, but

Question:

then

Question:

a

Question:

moment

Question:

later

Question:

came

Question:

back

Question:

as

Question:

the

Question:

panic

Question:

room’s

Question:

emergency

Question:

generator

Question:

flickered

Question:

on.
“What…?

Question:

What

Question:

did

Question:

you

Question:

do?”
“Exit

Question:

strategy.

Question:

Surely

Question:

you

Question:

can

Question:

respect

Question:

that,”

Question:

muttered

Question:

Aleq, “Don’t

Question:

move,

Question:

or

Question:

else

Question:

you’ll

Question:

get

Question:

a

Question:

bullet

Question:

through

Question:

your

Question:

brain.”
“I

Question:

am

Question:

an…

Question:

an

Question:

h-honorable

Question:

soldier

Question:

of…

Question:

of

Question:

the

Question:

Cervan

Question:

Empire.

Question:

I’m

Question:

an

Question:

Empress’

Question:

man,

Question:

may

Question:

her

Question:

hoof

Question:

beats

Question:

lead

Question:

the

Question:

way

Question:

across

Question:

the

Question:

galaxy!

Question:

I’ll

Question:

not

Question:

be

Question:

intimidated

Question:

by

Question:

a

Question:

brute

Question:

like

Question:

you!”
Aleq

Question:

didn’t

Question:

answer.

Question:

He

Question:

didn’t

Question:

need

Question:

to.

Question:

There

Question:

was

Question:

a

Question:

lurch,

Question:

suddenly,

Question:

as

Question:

it

Question:

felt

Question:

like

Question:

the

Question:

entire

Question:

room

Question:

had

Question:

been

Question:

rocked

Question:

to

Question:

one

Question:

side.

Question:

Screeching

Question:

metal

Question:

and

Question:

crumbling

Question:

concrete

Question:

could

Question:

be

Question:

heard

Question:

just

Question:

outside

Question:

the

Question:

room,

Question:

and

Question:

then another

Question:

impact

Question:

lurched

Question:

them

Question:

to

Question:

one

Question:

side.

Question:

The

Question:

General

Question:

grabbed

Question:

hold

Question:

of

Question:

the

Question:

heavy

Question:

table

Question:

to

Question:

keep

Question:

himself

Question:

upright,

Question:

and

Question:

Aleq

Question:

managed

Question:

to

Question:

simply

Question:

stay

Question:

up

Question:

by

Question:

virtue

Question:

of

Question:

his

Question:

heavy

Question:

frame.
“Wh-what…? What’s…

Question:

what’s

Question:

happening?”
Aleq

Question:

stared

Question:

at

Question:

him

Question:

for

Question:

a

Question:

moment

Question:

before

Question:

he

Question:

reached

Question:

up

Question:

to

Question:

his

Question:

prosthetic

Question:

horn

Question:

and

Question:

ran

Question:

a

Question:

finger

Question:

gently

Question:

along

Question:

the

Question:

surface.

Question:

He

Question:

made

Question:

a

Question:

quick

Question:

figure

Question:

along

Question:

the

Question:

side,

Question:

leaving

Question:

a

Question:

line

Question:

of

Question:

glowing

Question:

green

Question:

light as

Question:

some

Question:

touch-sensor

Question:

activated, and

Question:

he

Question:

turned

Question:

his

Question:

face

Question:

towards

Question:

the

Question:

view

Question:

screen

Question:

at

Question:

the

Question:

far

Question:

end

Question:

of

Question:

the

Question:

room.

Question:

At

Question:

once

Question:

it

Question:

turned

Question:

on

Question:

as

Question:

the

Question:

horn

Question:

interfaced

Question:

with

Question:

it,

Question:

and

Question:

a

Question:

drone-camera

Question:

feed

Question:

of

Question:

what

Question:

was

Question:

happening

Question:

outside

Question:

was

Question:

displayed.
The

Question:

general’s

Question:

eyes

Question:

widened

Question:

as

Question:

he saw

Question:

the

Question:

battle

outside:

outside:

Four

outside:

bulky

outside:

Mechanical

outside:

Armors,

outside:

fleeing

outside:

away

outside:

from

outside:

the

outside:

scene

outside:

of

outside:

the

outside:

crime—the

outside:

smoking

outside:

remains of General Lorne’s mansion on Cervidae. The Armors

outside:

were

outside:

standard

outside:

models

outside:

of

outside:

Hoplite

outside:

Armors,

outside:

bulky,

outside:

four-meter

outside:

tall

outside:

man-shaped

outside:

robots

outside:

clearly

outside:

hijacked

outside:

from

outside:

an

outside:

imperial

outside:

source,

outside:

but

outside:

painted

outside:

in

outside:

bright

outside:

dazzle

outside:

camouflage

outside:

in

outside:

purples,

outside:

pinks, and

outside:

greens

outside:

effective

outside:

at

outside:

masking

outside:

in

outside:

space

outside:

against

outside:

a

outside:

backdrop

outside:

of

outside:

nebula

outside:

clusters

outside:

and

outside:

the

outside:

smear

outside:

of

outside:

stars

outside:

across

outside:

the

outside:

galaxy.

outside:

Planet side

outside:

they

outside:

stuck

outside:

out

outside:

like

outside:

sore

outside:

thumbs,

outside:

but

outside:

it

outside:

wasn’t

outside:

much

outside:

of

outside:

a

outside:

problem.

outside:

Their

outside:

heads

outside:

and

outside:

bodies

outside:

had

outside:

rounded

outside:

armor

outside:

plating

outside:

pock-marked

outside:

with

outside:

dents

outside:

and

outside:

smears

outside:

in

outside:

the

outside:

paint

outside:

from

outside:

recent

outside:

ill-use,

outside:

but

outside:

the

outside:

four

outside:

pilots

outside:

moved

outside:

with

outside:

practiced

outside:

ease,

outside:

interlocking

outside:

together

outside:

as

outside:

two

outside:

laid

outside:

down

outside:

covering

outside:

fire

outside:

against

outside:

the

outside:

few

outside:

grunts

outside:

who

outside:

could

outside:

answer

outside:

the

outside:

threat,

outside:

and

outside:

the

outside:

other

outside:

two

outside:

carried

outside:

between

outside:

them a

outside:

massive

outside:

hunk

outside:

of

outside:

broken

outside:

concrete

outside:

and

outside:

steel

outside:

with

outside:

pieces

outside:

of

outside:

the

outside:

general’s

outside:

beautiful

outside:

house

outside:

still

outside:

hanging

outside:

off

outside:

of

outside:

it.

outside:

Laser

outside:

fire

outside:

rained

outside:

down

outside:

on

outside:

the

outside:

quartet

outside:

and

outside:

the

outside:

drone

outside:

camera

outside:

recording

outside:

the

outside:

feed

outside:

had

outside:

to

outside:

dodge

outside:

out

outside:

of

outside:

the

outside:

way,

outside:

causing

outside:

the

outside:

image

outside:

to

outside:

spin

outside:

and

outside:

run

outside:

together,

outside:

and

outside:

the

outside:

concrete

outside:

box

outside:

they

outside:

were

outside:

in

outside:

lurched

outside:

to

outside:

one

outside:

side

outside:

in

outside:

tandem,

outside:

proving

outside:

to

outside:

the

outside:

general

outside:

that

outside:

the

outside:

danger

outside:

he

outside:

was

outside:

in

outside:

was

outside:

genuine.
Aleq

outside:

pressed

outside:

the

outside:

side

outside:

of

outside:

his

outside:

horn

outside:

and

outside:

muted

outside:

the

outside:

feed,

outside:

letting

outside:

it

outside:

play

outside:

out

outside:

in

outside:

the

outside:

background

outside:

as

outside:

he

outside:

explained, “A

outside:

concrete

outside:

and

outside:

metal

outside:

box

outside:

in

outside:

the

outside:

middle

outside:

of

outside:

a

outside:

pretty

outside:

mansion.

outside:

Showed

outside:

up

outside:

on

outside:

our

outside:

sensors

outside:

like

outside:

a

outside:

lead

outside:

block in

outside:

an

outside:

x-ray.

outside:

My

outside:

squad

outside:

simply

outside:

crashed

outside:

through the

outside:

building,

outside:

pried it

outside:

up,

outside:

and

outside:

carried it

outside:

away.”
“You…

outside:

you

outside:

managed

outside:

to

outside:

sneak Armors onto Cervidae…? How…? Where did

outside:

you

outside:

even

outside:

get…?”
“Can’t

outside:

give

outside:

away

outside:

all

outside:

our

outside:

secrets,”

outside:

Aleq

outside:

whispered,

outside:

before

outside:

he gestured

outside:

with

outside:

the

outside:

pistol, “In

outside:

the

outside:

meantime,

outside:

behave,

outside:

and

outside:

you’ll

outside:

get

outside:

out

outside:

of

outside:

this

outside:

alive.

outside:

It’s

outside:

as

outside:

simple

outside:

as

outside:

that.”
The

outside:

general

outside:

blinked,

outside:

looking

outside:

between

outside:

the

outside:

video

outside:

feed

outside:

and

outside:

the

outside:

face

outside:

of

outside:

his

outside:

captor

outside:

wildly.

outside:

Every

outside:

so

outside:

often

outside:

a

outside:

sense

outside:

of

outside:

vertigo

outside:

took

outside:

hold

outside:

as

outside:

the

outside:

panic

outside:

room

outside:

swayed

outside:

to

outside:

one

outside:

side

outside:

or

outside:

the other

outside:

as

outside:

the

outside:

Armors

outside:

outside

outside:

stumbled

outside:

or

outside:

leaped.

outside:

Then,

outside:

as

outside:

if

outside:

flipping a

outside:

switch

outside:

to

outside:

turn

outside:

off

outside:

a

outside:

light,

outside:

the

outside:

panic

outside:

in

outside:

the

outside:

general’s face

outside:

flickered

outside:

away,

outside:

and

outside:

he

outside:

stared

outside:

hard

outside:

into

outside:

Aleq’s

outside:

face,

outside:

studying

outside:

him

outside:

as

outside:

if

outside:

for

outside:

the

outside:

first

outside:

time.
“A

outside:

rhino,”

outside:

he

outside:

muttered, “Endangered

outside:

species.

outside:

Rare

outside:

for

outside:

one

outside:

of

outside:

you

outside:

to

outside:

still

outside:

be

outside:

running

outside:

around.”
“And

outside:

whose

outside:

fault

outside:

was

outside:

that?”
“A Pallas

outside:

boy,”

outside:

the deer

outside:

said

outside:

with

outside:

a

outside:

sneer.

outside:

Aleq

outside:

understood

outside:

at

outside:

once

outside:

what

outside:

he

outside:

was

outside:

doing.

outside:

Goading

outside:

him

outside:

into

outside:

anger

outside:

and

outside:

trying

outside:

to

outside:

get

outside:

him

outside:

to

outside:

make

outside:

a

outside:

mistake.

outside:

Despite

outside:

his

outside:

understanding,

outside:

the

outside:

tone

outside:

lit

outside:

a

outside:

fire

outside:

in Aleq’s

outside:

belly. “I

outside:

suppose

outside:

this

outside:

is

outside:

revenge,

outside:

then?”
“You

outside:

handed

outside:

down

outside:

the

outside:

order.”
“The

outside:

Empress

outside:

handed

outside:

it

outside:

down,

outside:

may

outside:

her

outside:

wisdom

outside:

inspire

outside:

the

outside:

coming

outside:

age.

outside:

I

outside:

merely

outside:

delivered

outside:

it.

outside:

I

outside:

wasn’t

outside:

even

outside:

the

outside:

one

outside:

to carry

outside:

it

outside:

out.”
“We’ll

outside:

get

outside:

your ‘Empress’

outside:

in

outside:

time

outside:

as

outside:

well.

outside:

In

outside:

the

outside:

meantime,

outside:

we

outside:

have

outside:

you.”
“To

outside:

what

outside:

end,

outside:

rhino?

outside:

You

outside:

have

outside:

no

outside:

idea…

outside:

the

outside:

p-power

outside:

we

outside:

have.

outside:

We

outside:

destroyed

outside:

your

outside:

planet

outside:

with

outside:

the

outside:

flick

outside:

of

outside:

our

outside:

hooves,”

outside:

he

outside:

muttered, “As

outside:

soon

outside:

as

outside:

we

outside:

can

outside:

march

outside:

across

outside:

the

outside:

stars

outside:

to

outside:

Pantera,

outside:

we will

outside:

destroy

outside:

your

outside:

so-called ‘president’s’

outside:

homeworld

outside:

as

outside:

well!”
“Try

outside:

it,”

outside:

whispered

outside:

Aleq,

outside:

eyes

outside:

narrowed,

outside:

before

outside:

he

outside:

reached

outside:

up

outside:

to

outside:

his

outside:

horn

outside:

and

outside:

pressed it

outside:

again,

outside:

letting

outside:

the

outside:

video

outside:

feed

outside:

go

outside:

black

outside:

once

outside:

again.

outside:

He then

outside:

reached

outside:

to

outside:

his

outside:

earpiece

outside:

and

outside:

asked, “How

outside:

long

outside:

until

outside:

we’re

outside:

in

outside:

orbit?”
In

outside:

answer,

outside:

with

outside:

laser

outside:

fire

outside:

and

outside:

machinery

outside:

in

outside:

the

outside:

background

outside:

nearly

outside:

drowning

outside:

it

outside:

out,

outside:

the

outside:

voice of

outside:

the

outside:

feline

outside:

from

outside:

before

outside:

answered, “Taking

outside:

heavy

outside:

fire,

outside:

but

outside:

we’re

outside:

breaking

outside:

through.

outside:

Ten

outside:

to

outside:

fifteen

outside:

minutes,

outside:

tops.”
Aleq

outside:

nodded

outside:

and

outside:

sat

outside:

back

outside:

to

outside:

resume

outside:

staring

outside:

at

outside:

the

outside:

general.
The

outside:

red

outside:

deer

outside:

continued,

outside:

with

outside:

teeth

outside:

gritted

outside:

from

outside:

the

outside:

pain, “You

outside:

must

outside:

want

outside:

me

outside:

dead.

outside:

Why

outside:

not

outside:

do

outside:

it?”
“Shut

outside:

up.

outside:

You

outside:

can

outside:

talk

outside:

all

outside:

you

outside:

want

outside:

once

outside:

we

outside:

get

outside:

back

outside:

to

outside:

command.”
“It

outside:

took

outside:

you

outside:

a

outside:

decade

outside:

to

outside:

corner

outside:

me

outside:

like

outside:

this,”

outside:

whispered

outside:

General

outside:

Lorne, “You

outside:

won’t

outside:

get

outside:

a

outside:

chance

outside:

like

outside:

this

outside:

again.

outside:

I

outside:

know

outside:

how

outside:

much

outside:

you

outside:

want

outside:

to

outside:

gore

outside:

me

outside:

right

outside:

now.”
“You’re

outside:

just

outside:

one

outside:

link

outside:

in

outside:

the

outside:

chain.

outside:

We

outside:

want

outside:

to

outside:

know

outside:

more.

outside:

Who

outside:

carried

outside:

out

outside:

the

outside:

operation?

outside:

Where

outside:

do

outside:

you

outside:

stockpile

outside:

your

outside:

planet-destroying

outside:

weaponry?”
“It

outside:

isn’t

outside:

even

outside:

a

outside:

secret

outside:

who

outside:

the

outside:

hero

outside:

of

outside:

the

outside:

war

outside:

on

outside:

Pallas

outside:

was—A

outside:

young

outside:

flyboy and

outside:

officer

outside:

cadet,

outside:

now

outside:

Lieutenant

outside:

Libere.

outside:

He

outside:

was

outside:

probably

outside:

nineteen

outside:

when

outside:

he

outside:

flew

outside:

that

outside:

mission.

outside:

One

outside:

of

outside:

the

outside:

most

outside:

accomplished

outside:

of

outside:

our

outside:

young

outside:

heroes.”
“And

outside:

the

outside:

weapons?”
“That,

outside:

Pallas

outside:

boy,

outside:

is

outside:

the

outside:

question, isn’t it? We have enough of them to destroy every

outside:

planet

outside:

that

outside:

turned

outside:

away

outside:

from

outside:

our

outside:

glorious

outside:

march,

outside:

and

outside:

more

outside:

besides.

outside:

I’m

outside:

never

outside:

going

outside:

to

outside:

tell

outside:

you,

outside:

so

outside:

why

outside:

not

outside:

end

outside:

this

outside:

charade?

outside:

Go

outside:

on,

outside:

kill

outside:

me.

outside:

I

outside:

know

outside:

that

outside:

horn

outside:

of

outside:

yours

outside:

is

outside:

itching

outside:

to…”
He

outside:

paused,

outside:

narrowing

outside:

his

outside:

eyes

outside:

as

outside:

he

outside:

stared

outside:

at

outside:

the

outside:

bone-white

outside:

horn

outside:

standing at

outside:

the

outside:

tip

outside:

of

outside:

Aleq’s

outside:

snout,

outside:

before he

outside:

scoffed.
“A

outside:

prosthetic,”

outside:

he

outside:

muttered,

outside:

disdain

outside:

in

outside:

his

outside:

voice

outside:

as

outside:

he

outside:

shook

outside:

his

outside:

head to

outside:

display

outside:

his

outside:

own

outside:

proud

outside:

antlers, “What’s

outside:

the

outside:

matter?

outside:

Can’t

outside:

grow

outside:

your

outside:

own?”
Aleq

outside:

knew

outside:

he

outside:

shouldn’t

outside:

rise

outside:

to

outside:

the

outside:

bait,

outside:

but

outside:

that

outside:

fire

outside:

in

outside:

his

outside:

belly

outside:

was

outside:

growing.

outside:

He

outside:

gripped

outside:

the

outside:

gun

outside:

tighter,

outside:

but

outside:

managed

outside:

to

outside:

make

outside:

his

outside:

voice

outside:

remain

outside:

even

outside:

as

outside:

he

outside:

answered, “I

outside:

file

outside:

it

outside:

down.

outside:

Makes

outside:

me

outside:

less

outside:

of

outside:

a

outside:

target,

outside:

I

outside:

find.

outside:

Isn’t that

outside:

what

outside:

you

outside:

wanted

outside:

my

outside:

kind

outside:

to

outside:

be?

outside:

Harmless?

outside:

Only

outside:

good

outside:

to

outside:

work

outside:

your

outside:

fields

outside:

and

outside:

factories?”
“If

outside:

Pallas

outside:

had

outside:

stayed

outside:

a vassal world of

outside:

Cervidae you

outside:

would

outside:

have

outside:

been

outside:

well

outside:

taken

outside:

care

outside:

of!

outside:

You

outside:

signed

outside:

your

outside:

own

outside:

death

outside:

warrant

outside:

by

outside:

rebelling

outside:

and

outside:

joining

outside:

up

outside:

with

outside:

the

outside:

Free

outside:

Planets.”
Aleq

outside:

was

outside:

unable

outside:

to

outside:

keep

outside:

himself

outside:

from

outside:

answering

outside:

back, “My

outside:

folks

outside:

worked

outside:

their

outside:

fingers

outside:

to

outside:

the

outside:

bone

outside:

for

outside:

you—starved

outside:

for

outside:

you.

outside:

I

outside:

barely

outside:

ate

outside:

growing

outside:

up

outside:

because

outside:

for

outside:

every

outside:

credit

outside:

my

outside:

father

outside:

made,

outside:

a

outside:

hundred

outside:

creds

outside:

went

outside:

to

outside:

fill

outside:

your

outside:

pockets

outside:

and

outside:

fund

outside:

your

outside:

murder

outside:

spree

outside:

across

outside:

the

outside:

galaxy!”
“Hmmph.

outside:

Do

outside:

you

outside:

know

outside:

how

outside:

it

outside:

is

outside:

one

outside:

kills

outside:

a

outside:

planet,

outside:

rhino?”
“You

outside:

can

outside:

tell

outside:

my

outside:

C.O.

outside:

when

outside:

you

outside:

meet

outside:

him.

outside:

I

outside:

don’t

outside:

much

outside:

care

outside:

about

outside:

some

outside:

planet-killer

outside:

nuke.”
With

outside:

a

outside:

scoff,

outside:

General

outside:

Lorne

outside:

rolled

outside:

his

outside:

eyes

outside:

and

outside:

explained, “A

outside:

mere

outside:

nuclear

outside:

device

outside:

could

outside:

never

outside:

reach

outside:

the

outside:

amount

outside:

of

outside:

yield

outside:

needed

outside:

to

outside:

do

outside:

what

outside:

the

outside:

planet-cracker

outside:

does.

outside:

Nothing

outside:

less

outside:

than

outside:

the

outside:

energy

outside:

of

outside:

a

outside:

newborn

outside:

star is

outside:

enough

outside:

to

outside:

deliver

outside:

the

outside:

kind

outside:

of

outside:

power

outside:

worthy

outside:

to

outside:

be

outside:

wielded

outside:

at

outside:

the

outside:

hooves

outside:

of

outside:

the

outside:

Empress,

outside:

may

outside:

she

outside:

scourge

outside:

a

outside:

path

outside:

through

outside:

her

outside:

enemies!”
“Yeah,

outside:

yeah,”

outside:

muttered

outside:

Aleq, although

outside:

he

outside:

was

outside:

beginning

outside:

to

outside:

fidget,

outside:

as

outside:

visions

outside:

of

outside:

the

outside:

terrible

outside:

power

outside:

he

outside:

spoke

outside:

of ran

outside:

through

outside:

his

outside:

head.
“The

outside:

missile

outside:

is

outside:

dropped

outside:

from

outside:

orbit

outside:

and

outside:

burrows

outside:

deep

outside:

under

outside:

the

outside:

planet’s

outside:

crust,”

outside:

the

outside:

deer

outside:

explained,

outside:

as

outside:

he

outside:

seemed

outside:

to

outside:

sense

outside:

the

outside:

sudden

outside:

weakness

outside:

in

outside:

his

outside:

captor, “Where

outside:

it

outside:

explodes,

outside:

violently

outside:

erupting up

outside:

from

outside:

the

outside:

ground

outside:

and

outside:

shifting

outside:

every

outside:

tectonic

outside:

plate

outside:

world-wide.

outside:

Instant

outside:

chaos.

outside:

In

outside:

seconds,

outside:

earthquakes

outside:

reduce

outside:

every

outside:

city

outside:

on

outside:

the

outside:

planet

outside:

to

outside:

dust.

outside:

In

outside:

minutes,

outside:

magma

outside:

and

outside:

ocean

outside:

water

outside:

sweep

outside:

across

outside:

the

outside:

rest.

outside:

In

outside:

no

outside:

time

outside:

at

outside:

all,

outside:

the

outside:

planet

outside:

itself

outside:

splits

outside:

apart,

outside:

leaving

outside:

nothing

outside:

but

outside:

a

outside:

dead

outside:

husk

outside:

behind,

outside:

so

outside:

ruined

outside:

it

outside:

isn’t

outside:

even

outside:

suitable

outside:

for

outside:

terraforming

outside:

operations.

outside:

That

outside:

is

outside:

what

outside:

your

outside:

people deserved,

outside:

Pallas

outside:

boy.”
Aleq

outside:

was

outside:

on

outside:

his

outside:

feet

outside:

in

outside:

seconds,

outside:

his

outside:

instincts

outside:

thrumming.

outside:

He

outside:

knew

outside:

he

outside:

was

outside:

rising

outside:

to

outside:

the

outside:

bait,

outside:

but

outside:

still,

outside:

he

outside:

couldn’t

outside:

stop

outside:

that

outside:

loud

outside:

drum

outside:

beat in

outside:

his

outside:

head,

outside:

urging

outside:

him

outside:

to

outside:

Charge.

outside:

Trample.

outside:

Kill.
“They

outside:

did

outside:

nothing…

outside:

nothing

outside:

to

outside:

you,”

outside:

Aleq

outside:

said,

outside:

his

outside:

voice

outside:

rising.
“Sacrifices

outside:

were

outside:

necessary.

outside:

Citizens

outside:

of

outside:

the

outside:

Cervan

outside:

empire

outside:

are

outside:

guaranteed

outside:

safety,

outside:

but

outside:

peasants

outside:

must

outside:

work

outside:

for

outside:

their

outside:

betters.

outside:

Or

outside:

else.”
“Yeah,

outside:

that’s

outside:

some

outside:

kind

outside:

of

outside:

racket!”

outside:

Aleq

outside:

roared,

outside:

finally

outside:

stepping

outside:

forward

outside:

and

outside:

pressing

outside:

the

outside:

gun

outside:

against

outside:

the deer’s

outside:

temple, “And

outside:

now

outside:

they’re

outside:

all

outside:

dead!

outside:

All

outside:

those

outside:

people

outside:

went

outside:

up

outside:

in

outside:

smoke

outside:

because

outside:

you

outside:

wanted

outside:

to

outside:

keep

outside:

the

outside:

munitions

outside:

factories

outside:

out

outside:

of

outside:

the

outside:

Free

outside:

Planets’

outside:

hands.

outside:

You

outside:

destroyed

outside:

a

outside:

whole

outside:

planet

outside:

for

outside:

the

outside:

sake

outside:

of

outside:

weapons

outside:

you

outside:

forced

outside:

us

outside:

to

outside:

build

outside:

for

outside:

you!”
Calm

outside:

as

outside:

death,

outside:

General

outside:

Lorne

outside:

replied, “And

outside:

you’ll

outside:

be

outside:

next,

outside:

rebel

outside:

scum.

outside:

Good

outside:

thing

outside:

you

outside:

file

outside:

that

outside:

horn

outside:

down,

outside:

or

outside:

else

outside:

I would

outside:

take

outside:

the

outside:

ivory

outside:

for

outside:

a

outside:

victory

outside:

medal.

outside:

It’s

outside:

bound

outside:

to

outside:

be

outside:

valuable,

outside:

being

outside:

as

outside:

it

outside:

belonged

outside:

to one of the

outside:

last

outside:

of

outside:

your

outside:

kind

outside:

in

outside:

the…”
General

outside:

Lorne

outside:

grunted

outside:

suddenly

outside:

as

outside:

the

outside:

butt

outside:

of

outside:

the

outside:

pistol

outside:

whipped

outside:

him

outside:

across

outside:

the

outside:

face.

outside:

He

outside:

overbalanced,

outside:

falling

outside:

to

outside:

the

outside:

floor,

outside:

and

outside:

screamed

outside:

as

outside:

his

outside:

broken

outside:

leg

outside:

impacted

outside:

with

outside:

the

outside:

concrete.

outside:

However,

outside:

the

outside:

rhino

outside:

soon

outside:

sat

outside:

down

outside:

on

outside:

his

outside:

back,

outside:

pulled on

outside:

his

outside:

antlers

outside:

and

outside:

jerked

outside:

his

outside:

head

outside:

up.

outside:

Aleq

outside:

pressed

outside:

the

outside:

barrel

outside:

of

outside:

the

outside:

gun

outside:

to

outside:

the

outside:

deer’s

outside:

temple

outside:

once

outside:

again.
“Murderer!”

outside:

screamed

outside:

the

outside:

rhino,

outside:

eyes

outside:

wide,

outside:

lost

outside:

in

outside:

his

outside:

own

outside:

rage.
General

outside:

Lorne

outside:

only

outside:

laughed,

outside:

closing

outside:

his

outside:

eyes

outside:

against

outside:

the

outside:

pain.

outside:

Aleq’s

outside:

trigger

outside:

finger

outside:

quivered.

outside:

It

outside:

would

outside:

just

outside:

take

outside:

one

outside:

squeeze

outside:

and

outside:

it

outside:

would

outside:

be

outside:

over.

outside:

Vengeance

outside:

would

outside:

be

outside:

his.

outside:

Pallas

outside:

would

outside:

be

outside:

avenged.

outside:

All

outside:

it

outside:

would

outside:

take

outside:

was

outside:

one

outside:

squeeze

outside:

of

outside:

the

outside:

trigger.
However,

outside:

Aleq’s jaw soon

outside:

went

outside:

slack.

outside:

He

outside:

thought

outside:

back,

outside:

to

outside:

his

outside:

mother’s

outside:

tears.

outside:

He

outside:

remembered

outside:

her,

outside:

through

outside:

the

outside:

grief

outside:

she

outside:

felt

outside:

as

outside:

she

outside:

wiped

outside:

the

outside:

tears

outside:

from

outside:

his

outside:

own

outside:

snout

outside:

before

outside:

she

outside:

wiped

outside:

away

outside:

her

outside:

own.

outside:

He

outside:

remembered

outside:

her

outside:

telling

outside:

him, “You’re

outside:

smart,

outside:

Aleq,

outside:

you’ll

outside:

go

outside:

further

outside:

than

outside:

any

outside:

of

outside:

us.”
He

outside:

remembered

outside:

his

outside:

father,

outside:

smelling

outside:

of

outside:

machine

outside:

oil

outside:

and

outside:

with

outside:

rough,

outside:

gray

outside:

hands

outside:

from

outside:

long

outside:

hours at

outside:

the

outside:

factory.

outside:

He

outside:

said, “You’ll

outside:

get

outside:

out

outside:

of

outside:

here

outside:

someday,

outside:

with

outside:

that

outside:

fancy

outside:

education

outside:

of

outside:

yours,

outside:

and

outside:

make

outside:

all of us

outside:

proud.”
Smart.

outside:

Educated.

outside:

That

outside:

was

outside:

the

outside:

only

outside:

reason

outside:

he

outside:

and

outside:

his

outside:

mother

outside:

were

outside:

able

outside:

to

outside:

book

outside:

the

outside:

shuttle

outside:

off-world

outside:

just

outside:

before

outside:

the

outside:

world

outside:

ignited—he

outside:

had

outside:

been

outside:

a

outside:

student,

outside:

courtesy

outside:

of

outside:

a

outside:

Free

outside:

Planets

outside:

scholarship

outside:

in

outside:

the

outside:

month

outside:

and

outside:

a

outside:

half

outside:

since

outside:

the

outside:

planet’s

outside:

defection,

outside:

and

outside:

he

outside:

and

outside:

his

outside:

mother

outside:

had

outside:

happened

outside:

to

outside:

be

outside:

in

outside:

orbit

outside:

as

outside:

the

outside:

attack

outside:

began

outside:

and

outside:

managed

outside:

to

outside:

break

outside:

through

outside:

the

outside:

blockade

outside:

before

outside:

the

outside:

planet

outside:

was

outside:

destroyed.

outside:

He

outside:

breathed

outside:

in

outside:

and

outside:

out.

outside:

Aleq

outside:

had

outside:

been

outside:

right,

outside:

he

outside:

was

outside:

just

outside:

one

outside:

link

outside:

in

outside:

the

outside:

chain.

outside:

They

outside:

needed

outside:

him

outside:

alive.

outside:

It

outside:

would

outside:

be

outside:

stupid

outside:

of

outside:

him

outside:

to

outside:

kill

outside:

the

outside:

man

outside:

now,

outside:

just

outside:

for

outside:

something

outside:

as

outside:

petty

outside:

as

outside:

revenge.

outside:

A

outside:

waste

outside:

of

outside:

the

outside:

intelligence

outside:

his

outside:

mother

outside:

and

outside:

father

outside:

praised

outside:

him

outside:

for

outside:

all

outside:

that

outside:

time

outside:

ago.
He

outside:

stood

outside:

up,

outside:

letting

outside:

go

outside:

of

outside:

the

outside:

deer’s

outside:

antlers

outside:

and

outside:

letting

outside:

his

outside:

face

outside:

fall

outside:

back

outside:

onto

outside:

the

outside:

concrete.

outside:

Lorne huffed,

outside:

lying

outside:

down

outside:

on the

outside:

ground.

outside:

Aleq

outside:

breathed

outside:

in

outside:

and

outside:

out,

outside:

before

outside:

he

outside:

stepped

outside:

back and

outside:

lowered

outside:

the

outside:

gun.

outside:

With

outside:

the

outside:

deer’s

outside:

leg

outside:

broken

outside:

he

outside:

certainly

outside:

wasn’t

outside:

going

outside:

anywhere.
“C-coward,”

outside:

hissed

outside:

the

outside:

deer, “Kill

outside:

me.

outside:

Give

outside:

me

outside:

a

outside:

warrior’s

outside:

death.”
“We

outside:

don’t

outside:

do

outside:

that

outside:

honor

outside:

bullshit,”

outside:

muttered

outside:

Aleq, “You

outside:

got

outside:

a

outside:

lot

outside:

more

outside:

to

outside:

atone

outside:

for

outside:

than

outside:

just

outside:

one

outside:

rhino’s

outside:

revenge.

outside:

You

outside:

want

outside:

to

outside:

make

outside:

up

outside:

for

outside:

that?

outside:

You

outside:

talk.”
With

outside:

that,

outside:

General

outside:

Lorne

outside:

fell

outside:

silent.

outside:

Aleq

outside:

breathed

outside:

in

outside:

deeply,

outside:

and then

outside:

out

outside:

with a

outside:

shaken

outside:

rattle. Then,

outside:

he

outside:

felt

outside:

a

outside:

soft

outside:

impact

outside:

through the

outside:

floor.

outside:

The

outside:

panic

outside:

room had been placed

outside:

down

outside:

onto

outside:

something—the

outside:

cargo

outside:

freighter

outside:

they had

outside:

hijacked

outside:

to

outside:

get

outside:

here

outside:

in

outside:

the

outside:

first

outside:

place—and

outside:

Aleq

outside:

knew

outside:

they

outside:

were

outside:

likely

outside:

about to

outside:

blast

outside:

off

outside:

into

outside:

orbit.
He

outside:

sat,

outside:

then,

outside:

leaning

outside:

back.

outside:

The

outside:

operation

outside:

was

outside:

a

outside:

success.
“If

outside:

I

outside:

were

outside:

you,”

outside:

muttered

outside:

the

outside:

deer,

outside:

a

outside:

moment

outside:

later,

outside:

as

outside:

he

outside:

balled

outside:

his

outside:

hoof-like

outside:

hands

outside:

up

outside:

into

outside:

fists, “And

outside:

you

outside:

had

outside:

destroyed

outside:

Cervidae,

outside:

I

outside:

would

outside:

not

outside:

have

outside:

hesitated.

outside:

Don’t

outside:

you

outside:

have

outside:

any

outside:

pride?

outside:

Any

outside:

honor?

outside:

Do they

outside:

have

outside:

no

outside:

sense

outside:

of

outside:

duty

outside:

in

outside:

the

outside:

so-called

outside:

Free

outside:

Planets?”
“None

outside:

at

outside:

all,”

outside:

muttered

outside:

Aleq, “An

outside:

endangered

outside:

species

outside:

hasn’t

outside:

got

outside:

any

outside:

time

outside:

for

outside:

that.”
Lorne

outside:

said

outside:

no

outside:

more

outside:

after

outside:

that,

outside:

and

outside:

Aleq

outside:

relaxed

outside:

as

outside:

well.

outside:

It

outside:

wouldn’t

outside:

be

outside:

his

outside:

job

outside:

to

outside:

make

outside:

the

outside:

general

outside:

talk.

outside:

His

outside:

work

outside:

was

outside:

over,

outside:

and as

outside:

he

outside:

stared

outside:

up

outside:

at

outside:

the

outside:

ceiling

outside:

and

outside:

prepared

outside:

for

outside:

launch,

outside:

he

outside:

remembered

outside:

the

outside:

wide,

outside:

green

outside:

field

outside:

outside

outside:

of

outside:

town

outside:

where

outside:

he

outside:

ran

outside:

around

outside:

and

outside:

played

outside:

as

outside:

a

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boy,

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chasing

outside:

his

outside:

friends

outside:

and

outside:

snacking

outside:

on

outside:

young

outside:

Palladion

outside:

grass.



This

outside:

was “Endangered

outside:

Species”

outside:

by

outside:

Roscoe

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G.

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Beetle,

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read

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for

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you by Rob MacWolf, Werewolf Hitchhiker. You

outside:

can

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find

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more

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stories

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on

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the

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web

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at thevoice.dog,

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or

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find

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the

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show

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wherever

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you

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get

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your

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podcasts.

outside:

Thank

outside:

you

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for

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listening

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to

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The

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Voice

outside:

of

outside:

Dog.

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