‘I would tell you not to be any more of an asshole than you can help,’ he muttered, ‘but we all know I’d be wasting my breath.’ Jason didn�...t respond. Just glared at Sam with a cold, closed expression that made it clear that his patience was drawing dangerously thin. Sighing, Sam shook his head and turned to leave. ‘Call me if you need me,’ he told Anna, before retreating down the hallway. Then, too soon, she was alone with Jason, feeling like her skin was about to burst into flames under his. The Council of Thirteen had received a Prophecy of the Invasion, and the Gathering was undertaken. As Mankind started to slaughter us from on high, The Ten Thousand were gathered. It had been millenia since we had fought a war, but I was brought into the Ten Thousand as a warrior, skilled in combat from years of training. But not before I saw my wife and son slaughtered in a strafing run by one of the small stone ships the invaders flew. Jarielle, my wife, had my son Brenael by the hand and was. . on my period and ... you weren’t here anyway. I planned to go last Monday but ... I didn’t. I got caught up with the stuff with Dr. Harkness and didn’t think of it again.”Phil found himself nodding.“I’m sure it’s OK,” he said.“It’s not!” Hailey said loudly. “Look, did you take a human sexuality course in high school?”“Sort of,” Phil replied. “I mean, I know the basics of reproduction.”Hailey gave him a brief synopsis of ovulation and fertility – as she understood them.“I’m at my peak time,. Found a new room for Melody and Agnes. I helped Agnes move their stuff with help from Tracy and other girls. It was late so I phoned for pizzas. Some of the other girls and Agnes chipped in to help pay for them. We ate in the common room. I was stared at a lot not least by Agnes.Finally, it was just the two of us. She said, “My personal Viking, it looks like you were pressed into service again. Thank you.”“You’re quite welcome though you seem well able to protect yourself. You were awesome,.