It took some time to reopen the flight of doors. The innermost was wrecked, bent out of order, the second barely scratched. Beyond the corridor loomed dark – and empty.
'R' looked up. "Missed me, beautiful?"
The shadows just above his head unfolded. The giant creature carefully arranged its limbs around the figure it threatened to squash and dropped into its usual crouch before him. The diamond-shaped head inclined in greeting, it seemed to carefully take in its partner's sight.
A dozen minor cuts and other injuries. The armour and disguise all stripped away. The heavy gun slung casually over his shoulder.
The gun casually over his shoulder.
The neckshield once again produced the clipboard.
MISSED ME, BEAUTIFUL? the writing echoed. Then the first word was erased and replaced by TRUST.
'R' quirked an eyebrow. "Not again?"
A claw reached tentatively for his torso, trailing a line over his body that would have gutted him had it been spiteful.
YOU TRUST MY WORDS? NOT HIS?
"Was he right?" 'R' sounded more exasperated than distrustful.
NO
"Must be a telepath thing," the man murmured, "always expecting people to take things at face value."
Louder – as if it made a difference for the beast – he said, "Take advice from someone who knows them: never trust a merc! Not as far as you can throw them – and that goes especially for you!"