For the curious, I actually wrote out something Leon could have said to keep K-11-2 on the job...but it didn't sound like something Leon would actually say.

Retirement

"Hey man, that was good work last night." Leon said, nodding to K-11-2. "You pulled it off. Three combat boomers and we still had a perfect deployment, no injuries, no deaths, clean takedown. You barely even scratched the buildings."

K-11-2 smiled, but it was not the smile Leon had been expecting. Most people thought being a legend in their own time was at least marginally cool, and K-11-2's work on the night of the fire and tonight had made him a departmental legend and gotten him noticed by the press too. But K-11-2's smile was melancholy. "I'm thinking about resigning, McNichol, with the K-12S coming in."

Leon stared for a moment, not sure what to do. "Why?"

"Because the K-12S is coming in. It's heavier and the jets aren't as powerful, so it's less mobile. The guns are shorter-barreled, meaning you have to be closer to the target for accurate fire. I've been asking for, demanding, more responsive and more mobile armored troopers since I started this job. The Chief ignored every report I ever wrote. The K-12S still isn't tough enough to stand up to the worst stuff that gets thrown at us, and the fusion ability doesn't matter if we don't get close." K-11-2 was still less animated than normal, even angry. A bad sign, Leon knew. The man wouldn't have been the first ADP officer to simply burn out. "The first K-12S deployment will kill the whole team, because they couldn't jump the hell out of the way when they got charged by a Fifty-Five. It doesn't have to fuze with them, those bastards can tear you limb from limb. To say nothing of what happens when they get lased in the face."

If he goes now... Best to just say it. Leon wasn't a subtle man and he didn't do subtle well. "If you leave, the armored trooper unit will fold. Total morale collapse. Total disciplinary collapse. After the fire and pulling off seven Fifty-Five kills on a basic ammo load, plus you pulling off the perfect deployment last night...do you have any idea what a disaster area this place is going to end up as when you quit it protest? You're a lot of people's hero around here, man."

There was a definite note of sadness in K-11-2's voice, but also sardonic humor. "If I die, they fall apart harder. And I'm dead." His tone softened. "McNichol, I'm still alive because I'm very good at seeing the danger coming and getting out of the way. That's it. I wasn't smarter or faster or luckier than any of the folks we've lost. What I did have was sharper eyes and more paranoia, to see the danger coming and get out of the way." A shrug, almost helpless. "There's danger coming. I'm getting out the way."

The four K-12S over in the corner were being painted when K-11-2 came in. He was tempted to give them a long, hard glare, but it wasn't like the new armored troopers would notice so he didn't bother. Instead he made his way over to his suit.

They hadn't repainted it yet since the fire, too busy assembling the replacements. Only the left knee gleamed with ADP blue since they'd had to replace it. Most of the rest showed various degrees of scorching. He rested a hand against a patch of darkened blue on the breastplate. You're a good suit. I know the new ones are more advanced and everyone thinks they're better, but you're a good suit, and you've done more than they ever will with less help. You saved a lot of lives, including mine. Thank you. He owed the suit that much, at least.

"They're going to put her out front." One of the techs. "They were all scheduled to be scrapped, at first, but we talked them into saving yours. Monument, you know? Something to show people we're on the side of the angels." Something that was getting increasingly necessary, unfortunately. They didn't need the press crapping on them too. "We're going to put a plaque on it. Service record."

K-11-2 looked up at the tech. Alica, he thought. "Don't. Names. Everyone who died in a K-11. And paint the names of the people we saved on the suit."

Alica nodded. "You got it, boss." Boss. Funny how they'd started calling him that. McNichol was right about one thing: here in the armored trooper areas, he was regarded as a hero, and if he resigned or retired in protest, there would be hell to pay. It was funny. He hadn't ever really thought about how much power he actually wielded in the ADP now on account of both his administrative control of the armored troopers and his service record. Somehow he'd become a key part of the institution without noticing, simply by surviving the last couple of years.

Like Leon and Daley. Everyone thought he was bulletproof because nobody had put a bullet in him yet. But K-11-2 held no illusions about his being bulletproof in reality. He'd seen too many people wearing identical armor die for that.

For the first time since his hiring, he left ADP headquarters and he wasn't wearing a uniform. Daley was there on the steps too, and they exchanged a friendly nod as they went their separate ways. Both would have been surprised to know the other was sad to see them go. Daley hadn't talked much to K-11-2 and K-11-2 hadn't talked much to Daley over their time in the ADP, but they both considered the other to be an effective operator and a good man.

Only for K-11-2 to meet up with someone on the sidewalk almost at once. "Miss Kate Madigan."

If Kate Madigan was annoyed to be addressed so directly, she did not show it. "Officer. A moment of your time?"

"If I were still an officer this would be highly irregular. And you know I'm not. What can I do for you, Miss Madigan?" K-11-2 asked.

If the man was intimidated at all by the presence of her two boomer bodyguards, and K-11-2 certainly had enough experience with such things to recognize them as disguised boomers rather than human bodyguards, he didn't show it. Madigan mentally shrugged. She'd always liked them cool, as going to pieces and rage could both be equally useless. "I have a job offer for you. Direct from the Chairman of Genom."

His eyes should have widened. He should have showed some sign of surprise. Instead he looked tired. "Entailing?"

"A director-level position at Genom. You would be a special consultant on the design and testing of combat boomers and military equipment designed to combat them." She tilted her head slightly to one side. "Your particular experience would be quite valuable. And you would be compensated accordingly."

K-11-2 had assumed a classic parade rest position, hands behind him, and appeared to be listening with only mild interest. Madigan was somewhat annoyed now. She was offering him an impressive leap in pay and benefits, the chance to play with very impressive toys. Many people would kill to be a Genom director. Some, herself included, actually had.

"Miss Madigan, your offer is most generous and intriguing, but I must respectfully decline. Please convey my deepest regrets to the Chairman." He did address her with a formality and respect she felt was...sufficient. "I sincerely doubt that in my current state I would be much use to you, Miss Madigan."

Kate Madigan tilted her head slightly. "Perhaps a small consulting fee, for a written report?"

K-11-2 shook his head. "I will save you the money. One of the first rules of combat is that anything which is caught in the open by a competent opponent will die. This rule is so dangerous because there will be times where there is no alternative but to go into the open. There is nothing wrong with your company's products, Miss Madigan. The nature of combat is such that you cannot be effective without taking risks. My gift was for being there when others did."

"He refused. He cited his psychological state and said he was out of the job market for a minimum of six months." Kate Madigan was actually quite tense. It had been a long time since someone had told Quincy "no" when he asked something of them, even at a distance. She was not sure how the Chairman would react.

Qunicy smiled. "A pity. He would have been most helpful."

"Shall I arrange other persuasion, sir?" Madigan asked. Genom controlled many things.

"No." Quincy shook his head. "Have the media interface types draft a press release. Genom deplores the loss of such a fine officer to the ADP, and regrets that he felt it necessary to resign in protest of the decisions of his superiors. Emphasize his skill and be sure to paint the ADP's leadership in the worst light possible. Ensure that we make it clear we appreciate the work he has done protecting the citizens of this fine city, many of whom are our employees after all."

One way or another, Genom always found a way to profit.