" After about five seconds it sank in and Cindy screamed "Mommy is dead?" Bob said "Yes, it's true Cindy." Cindy then started crying and threw her arm... around me with her face buried against my chest. Kim rushed over and we both held Cindy while she cried her heart out. Kim and Cindy are very good friends having been both into cheerleading. Kim had graduated but has been helping out with the JV squad that Cindy is on. I got up and let Kim comfort Cindy while I went over to Bob and talked with. “What makes you think that this time is any different?”“I don’t care about interrogating you anymore,” she grumbled. “All of the temptations and promises and threats were merely an attempt to get information on Coalition tanks out of you. We can’t penetrate their armor, and we needed to know their weak points, some way to beat them. Doesn’t matter now, we’re all doomed anyway.”She lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling as she reminisced.“When I worked on the Pinwheel as a diplomat, there. In case the spree hadn't fully distracted her, I had two of woman's best friend ready to surprise her. We stop at Zales and I ask if there are any bracelets she sees. Lo and behold she asks the saleswoman to look at the 1st one that caught her eye, immediately putting it down after seeing the price. Perfect. The one I picked. Her tennis bracelet had her high on the way home seeing it shine under the sunroof. "You know it makes me horny when you make me abandon my roots and go from considering. " "M-hmm. That's what I thought. Both you and Shaasta have been carrying yourselves like brand spanking new apprentices. That is so unlike you." "Yeah," Karma interjected, "This is so out of character for either of you. What happened during your captivity?" "Well," Hansen was beaming excitedly and his eyes twinkled, "a month in a pet shop gives one plenty of quiet time to ponder life and other matters." Shaasta was standing demurely with her hands clasped behind her back; a soft blush.