Somewhere Classified, Haifa, Israel, Monday
Peter wasn't sure how much of his life he'd spent on helicopters at this point. It had to be a lot; his spine no longer contorted itself into strange pretzel shapes while it was pressed against the uncomfortable seat inside. It had to be permanently pretzel shaped now, instead. The battle scars of a Hegemon, he thought, and snorted to himself.
He let go of a deep sigh as the chopper jolted with the force of landing. Felix Starman had been a wise choice in ally: agreed with most of Peter's aims, could get him into Africa to speak to a Caliph again. Or, well, technically the Middle East, he supposed. Anyway, he couldn't say he was sorry to be doing it without Petra at his side this time.
One of his men opened the door. He made sure he was the first to step outside, as a show of goodwill.
Alai approached him immediately. "Salaam," he said.
"And in you, too, let there be peace," said Peter.
"You look more like Ender than the public photographs show."
"I have them retouched by computer to make me look older and smarter," said Peter. He'd done up quite the collection of retorts by now. Ender's jeesh was predictable in their annoying habit of comparing them.
Alai grinned. "It was nice of you to give us a ride."
"When Felix told me the sad story of that lonely pedestrian in the Empty Quarter, I couldn't pass up the chance to help."
"I thought it would be Bean," said Alai.
"It's a whole bunch of men trained by Bean," said Peter. "But Bean himself is on another errand. In Rwanda, as it happens."
"So that's happening now?" asked Alai.
"Oh, no," said Peter. "We won't make a move until we see how your little adventure turns out."
"Then let's go," said Alai.
Peter glanced over his shoulder towards his escort.
[[ open to the girl if she wishes, otherwise i'll go in and edit this with more later. taken and adapted from osc's shadow of the giant. ]]
He let go of a deep sigh as the chopper jolted with the force of landing. Felix Starman had been a wise choice in ally: agreed with most of Peter's aims, could get him into Africa to speak to a Caliph again. Or, well, technically the Middle East, he supposed. Anyway, he couldn't say he was sorry to be doing it without Petra at his side this time.
One of his men opened the door. He made sure he was the first to step outside, as a show of goodwill.
Alai approached him immediately. "Salaam," he said.
"And in you, too, let there be peace," said Peter.
"You look more like Ender than the public photographs show."
"I have them retouched by computer to make me look older and smarter," said Peter. He'd done up quite the collection of retorts by now. Ender's jeesh was predictable in their annoying habit of comparing them.
Alai grinned. "It was nice of you to give us a ride."
"When Felix told me the sad story of that lonely pedestrian in the Empty Quarter, I couldn't pass up the chance to help."
"I thought it would be Bean," said Alai.
"It's a whole bunch of men trained by Bean," said Peter. "But Bean himself is on another errand. In Rwanda, as it happens."
"So that's happening now?" asked Alai.
"Oh, no," said Peter. "We won't make a move until we see how your little adventure turns out."
"Then let's go," said Alai.
Peter glanced over his shoulder towards his escort.
[[ open to the girl if she wishes, otherwise i'll go in and edit this with more later. taken and adapted from osc's shadow of the giant. ]]