The aircraft began to climb, streaking into the pink Martian sky, the hillsides and the valleys dwindling quickly below them, the altimeter blurring w...th altitude it rarely showed."Nothing yet," Matt said, terrified as he watched them pass through a thousand meters and continue upward. Even if they did manage to not get shot down they had just burned up a good portion of their precious fuel climbing up here. The chances of making it back to the base were looking slimmer and slimmer."They're out. I stopped eating to listen. "No, please. Keep eating." she said, making motioned for me to continue. I ate the soup, dunked the bread, and listened to her talk about how much she loved her daughter, and how glad she was that Cassie and I had met. As I ate, I watched her squirm in the chair."Sara, what's up? You're squirming like one of the twins. Do you have to go to the bathroom?" I said, trying to add a bit of levity to the atmosphere."I heard you" she whispered."Heard me?" I replied,. ’ ‘Same here’. I laugh and smile at you. Our eyes are still locked. I feel your small frame in my grip, feeling how delicate you are. You begin to realize how big I am, your arms barely fitting around me, but I can sense that it doesn’t matter to you what I look like, you have already seen my soul. I reach my hand up and rest it against your cheek, cupping it, then brushing my fingers back through your hair. You close your eyes in pleasure and you take a deep breath through open lips, soft and. The worst thing is, some sheep get so brainwashed that they pick up their shit and go out looking for other weak-minded people to give it to! It’s no wonder the world stinks!There’s no use wasting time on sheep. Concentrate on the people that do actually think for themselves ... survival of the smartest!”Liyana had a big smile on her face, “The way you explained your reasoning, is exactly why I think you’ll make a remarkable leader! You accept criticism, but don’t let it bother you, you.