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place. Dragon will brief you, but in general we get the missions that nobody else dares tackle. Dragon's on an op right now, along with Valkyrie. They're overdue. If they don't show, you can help with the funeral arrangements." Snow Leopard was breathing hard. I could tell he was upset.
    "How are you doing, One?" I asked. "What's it like, being Chief Ops? It's a big career move, right?"
    Snow Leopard sighed, and brought one hand to his brow. "I sit here in perfect safety, surrounded by d-screens and printouts, and listen to my troopers die. This is not for me, gang. I may be joining you soon." Beta One had been the perfect squad leader, the ultimate warrior, leading from the front, always.
    "One, don't be foolish," I ventured. "You don't want to…"
    "You of all people have got no right to dispense advise about not being foolish, Thinker. How's your family? Moontouch and the kid? Were they happy about your leaving?"
    "No, they…"
    "Get outta my sight! You shouldn't be here! You're going to die for nothing!" Snow Leopard glared at me, his pink eyes almost spitting sparks. Priestess and I got up cautiously and retreated to the door as Snow Leopard sat there, pale and furious.
    "Thinker! Priestess!" We paused at the door. "Be careful out there," One added quietly. "Dragon will keep you alive, if anyone can. He's the best we've got. You stick close to Dragon, you'll be all right. My exec will show you your quarters. We'll have lunch later—maybe tomorrow."
    "Thank you, One," I said with great relief. I had been really upset, seeing One so angry with me. I respected him more than anyone else in the galaxy.
    As the door to Snow Leopard's cube slid shut behind us, a tall young girl stood before us in the outer office, blocking our way—a gangling, awkward colt of a girl with a mop of curly red hair and a pale face full of freckles.
    She threw herself into my arms with a gasp, flinging her bony arms around me convulsively.
    "Twister!" I choked. "Beta Thirteen!" I tore her away from me to look into her childish face. She was beaming and misty-eyed.
    "Twister!" Priestess shouted. They embraced, and Twister was sniffling like a baby.
    "Can you take it out in the hall, please?" One's aide requested. "You'll have me crying next."
    ***
    "Your bunks will be in here somewhere," Twister said, ducking her head to avoid an open wall bed. There wasn't a lot of room on a Fleetcom cruiser, and the Recon troopers were housed in a long narrow chamber near engineering, lined with bunks that folded down out of the walls. It was dark and silent and incredibly cluttered. Nobody was home. Only a few faint emergency lights illuminated the gloomy scene. Open bunks hung down everywhere, draped with clothing and disorderly bedding. The deck was littered with boots and nitex bags and dropboxes and loose gear. A knee-high console of personal lockers ran along the narrow aisle. Dead socks and girls' undies lay next to half-finished foodpaks and empty dox cups. Silent d-screens and mute music systems were scattered everywhere. I almost stumbled over a case of contac grenades. Hard-core sex holos and printouts covered every empty space on the walls—naked males and females, coupling in every conceivable position. There seemed to be a lot of girl-on-girl scenes. It smelled like a gym.
    "Don't these people ever bathe?" I asked. I regretted it as soon as I said it. How the hell could I forget, so soon?
    "Only when they have time," Twister said. "They're pretty busy. We let them do what they want. We treat them right."
    "Good. Well, where do we bunk?"
    "I don't know. Choose any place. You can discuss it with them after they come back."
    "Say, Twister—what's all this fem stuff?" I gestured at the holos.
    "Oh, that's Val and her gang. They're a little strange, but—well, you know Valkyrie."
    Yes, I thought—I certainly know Valkyrie.
    "Well, you must be tired," Twister said. "I'd better get back to One. He really depends on me. Welcome to Recon, guys. It's