This was supposed to be a dead planet? No. It just looked dead, and with typical human arrogance, we'd taken that at face value. Maybe there were whole worlds underneath that black and rocky shell.

Explosives, explosives. Feels like all we ever do is blow things up. Not very Evagardian." "Or extremely Evagardian, depending on your perspective," Deilani said.

Are you even up to physical standards?" she asked, annoyed. "Whose standards?" "You're not even trying anymore." "It should be proof I'm not a bad guy," I said. "A bad guy would be in better shape. Go easy on me; I'm detoxing.

There had been a time when humans on Earth climbed rocks just like this. Like the fabled drive in the countryside, it had been a form of recreation. I smiled behind my face mask. Those people had some peculiar ideas about what was fun.