“I think we’re gonna have a problem with you being in this class.” “Professor Collins, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to blurt out in class ...ike that. I…” He cut me off by placing his lips on mine, in a soft kiss. He pulls back and looks at my face, trying to read my expression. “Mimi?” he calls my name. A feeling of pure bliss has over taken me. I look up at him and into his eyes. He leans in and kisses me again, this time his tongue parts my lips and searches my mouth. Our tongues entwine as. In the morning he’d awakened alone and confused, thinking he’d dreamt the whole incident. But the nightmare was true. My love had lain with another and then Paulina threatened to kill herself. I didn’t know she was also so very smitten with him. She cried and cried until my mother and I feared for her mental health. Daniel, the honorable man that he is married her today in a small gathering at the magistrates office. She begged me to be witness after begging for my forgiveness. How could I not.. "But before he takes you with him," he paused again, "he shall cut off your clitoris, in front of me."Manu blanched on hearing this. What kind of a choice was that?Aisha, on the other hand, although pale, did not seem as disturbed."I shall go with Manu sir, if you permit it."Both men looked at her, although only Manu seemed surprised at her choice.She followed him to the basement. The Sheik would join them in a few minutes."Why?"Aisha smiled, "You are a good man Manu, I couldn't ask for a. Their reactors are kicking out immense heat. Not the most practical orbital defense system, but I wouldn’t want to be in the aperture of those mirrors all the same. Personally, I don’t think they’d be able to burn through the hull of a hive ship at any significant range, even if they concentrated their beams. I don’t know how effective they’d be at holding off a Bug invasion. There’s radioactivity too, likely nuclear weapons. Those might be more effective, but their use is obviously limited..