BEGINNING OF STORY

PREVIOUS (PART 38)

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"I don't trust you, Rico."

"And I don't trust you, Gredler, but I just want a little revenge, a little money, and then we won't ever see each other again. Anyway, I have some important information for you: Corloni aren't waiting; they're coming for you tomorrow."

"Are you certain of this?"

"Yes. We were just assaulted by the Corloni girl scout troop, but are okay. Corloni should be right now moving enough people that you should be able to detect it."

"So, Rico, what do you recommend?"

"Move your speech to tomorrow morning; you have enough pull to do it. Just say something came up so you can't stay the extra day."

"Why would I do that?"

"So we can choose the battlefield. It's better in the city so we can hide more Randatti who I assume have already come as backup. Just send my associate Dip all the information you have on the convention center and I'll have the battle plan back for you soon. I know exactly how they'll come at you and how to fight back in kind. You'll have plenty of time to review my plan before the fight begins."

"I am seeing less and less reason to be here at all."

"Running is going to make the Randatti look weak, and they aren't going to like that. You do what I tell you, and we will hit the Corloni hard and you'll get a lot of the credit. As for yourself, have an escape plan, but know that I'm going to be standing between you and them... and you know how dangerous I am."

There was some silence. "All right, Rico. I'll send you the information you need and announce the change of time of my speech. Let's see if you can deliver."

"I never fail." The day I fail is the day I die.

He hung up and I confirmed that Dip was getting the information on the convention center. "By the way," Dip told me, "I've noticed some glitches in defenses at the capital city. As you mentioned to Gredler, I suspect this has to do with movement of the syndicates’ people - both Corloni and Randatti. This change in city defenses could mean a better chance of direct extraction."

"Keep an eye on it... and let me review the battle plans before you send them to Gredler." I looked to Diane. She appeared angry about something (well, she had plenty to be angry about, but so far seemed to take most of it in stride).

"If you kept the attack at the villa, it would be away from civilians," she told me.

"My plans revolve around the convention center; civilians are your concern, not mine."

"And how am I a supposed to get everyone out of the city before you turn it into a war zone tomorrow morning?"

"You're smart; you'll figure it out." She just scowled. I was wondering if I had to worry about a mutiny. "Do you know why you're helping me right now, Diane?"

"Please tell me, Rico," she answered with annoyance.

"Because deep down you know your one world police force is no match for what's coming, and at least sticking with me you feel you might have some control over the events. What I wonder is if you have it in your pretty little head that you might somehow stop this slaughter entirely. If you can't give up that fantasy by tomorrow morning, you're not going to be able to save any lives..." It was time for my well-rehearsed threatening face. "Not even your own."

She just kept scowling, but turned her attention to driving the car. Soon I could see where she was taking me: right into downtown near where the sentient diversity conference was being held. The area was pretty at night with all the lights. I decided to enjoy the view, as it was the last night it would be there.

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