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Major didn't bother to go to work the next day. He told himself he was focusing on Jordan's care, but really he didn't know how he was going to face Chase Graves after what had happened. He couldn't stop seeing Captain Seattle's face in his mind's eye, and he was afraid of what he might do if he he went back to Fillmore Graves in this frame of mind.

He wasn't too surprised that no one called to ask where he was. He imagined Chase Graves didn't much want to see him, either.

He was surprised, however, when there was a knock at the door and he found Hobbs standing on the other side. Pretty much the last person he'd expected Fillmore Graves to send for him. "This is—"

"Unexpected?"

"I was looking for a stronger word." After a moment's deliberating, Major decided to let the man in and hear whatever he had come to say. He stepped to the side, gesturing for Hobbs to enter. "Come in."

Hobbs looked around him before he came in, and Major wondered why. Was he ashamed to be seen with a man whose squad had screwed up so badly? He followed Hobbs into the living room, taking the chair while Hobbs sat on the couch. They looked at each other for a moment before Hobbs shifted so that he was perched on the edge of the couch, leaning toward Major. "Listen," he began, "what happened to those soldiers in your unit last night … Chase crossed the line. I'm sorry."

Major looked at him in surprise. That wasn't at all what he had expected to hear.

Hobbs went on, "All of this … violence, this unrest— We're losing the few friends we have in Washington. Our allies need a sign that we're righting the ship." He looked Major directly in the eye. "We need new leadership."

So Hobbs wanted to take over Fillmore Graves. Major thought maybe a few days ago he might have cared enough to be surprised, but he really couldn't muster up the energy right now. "Well, if you want literally the worst job in America … I'll support you." He liked Chase Graves, always had, but Chase was deep down the rabbit hole now. Something needed to be done.

To Major's surprise, Hobbs looked away, clearing his throat. "No. Um … Fillmore Graves has never been led by a pencil-pusher," he admitted. "A soldier leads Fillmore Graves."

Major wondered what Vivian Stoll would have said to that. Although he suspected she always saw herself as more soldier than pencil pusher, so likely she would have agreed.

"A soldier respected by the men and women who make up our fighting force," Hobbs continued. He paused, then took the plunge he had come for. "A soldier like you."

Major frowned. "That's … nice of you to say, sir, but I'm hardly qualified."

"Think about it, Major. The troops like you. They would follow you."

Getting to his feet, Major shook his head. "I don't know. Granted, Chase is out of control. If we're going to survive as a species, as a force capable of keeping the peace, he's gotta go, but … I don't think I'm the man for the job."

Hobbs rose, as well. "Just give it some thought. We need a change—before it's too late for all of us."

Mulling the conversation over, Major went into the kitchen to make Jordan's lunch, and carried it up to her on a tray.

She sat up in bed, wincing a little. "Who was it?"

"Captain Hobbs."

"What did that whiny kiss-ass want?" She frowned at the tray. "Soup?"

"Suffer," Major snapped back. This was hardly a five-star restaurant, and she was lucky to be alive, much less be brought her lunch in bed. His bed, at that. As Jordan made a face and picked up her spoon, he added, "He wants to overthrow Chase and install me as the new commander."

Jordan smiled in surprise. "I meant, what did that brilliant strategist and white knight of the rebellion want?"

"Put the thought out of your mind."

"You'd have the backing of the soldiers. You're the guy who could do it."

Major was surprised how little he wanted the job. No one knew better than he did what a toll it had taken on Chase Graves, what a shell of the man he used to be the commander had become. No, Major really didn't want that headache—although he couldn't rid himself of the nagging thought that maybe it was his duty to take it. "I don't want it," he said.

"You see the latest tweet from the Fillmore Graves account?"

"Hm-mm."

"Chase is going to execute some human smuggler unless Renegade surrenders. Good luck on that," Jordan continued, oblivious to the sudden chill that had turned Major's bones to ice. "Like Renegade's just going to walk in and say 'here I am, let's get to head smashing'."

Little did she know that that was just what Renegade would do.