Author's notes: A missing scenelet from "Martian Invasion". Prompt #1457, "trembling hands", from the lj community, all_unwritten. This drabble counted up as 100 words. Thanks to Susanmartha for feedback.
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His daughter finished her work and moved back across the catwalk. He lingered. Something … there was something he must do. But what?
He scanned the cockpit, his eyes focusing on a single switch. Buried commands pressed hard, demanding he reach for it. He stretched, old bones creaking, but he could not touch it.
Outside, his daughter called, "Father? Are you coming?"
"One moment, Tin-Tin."
He climbed laboriously from his perch. A scrap of conscience flickered, silently shouting, This is wrong! Traitorous hands trembling, he turned off the camera detector.
The compulsion lifted. He blinked and relaxed, his betrayal instantly forgotten.
