The Observer sneered. “Amusing as this reunion has been, you have already outstayed your welcome. J-47632! I said elim—”
I didn’t let him finish.
I did what must be, for you, the unthinkable. I killed Observer Elmshar. I won’t even claim now that he deserved to die. But it was clear he was conspiring with those who would have killed everyone I knew without hesitation. They were willing to kill everyone you know as well. I couldn’t let that happen. Even so, I think of what I did as a terrible necessity.
But it wasn’t even close to the worst thing that I did. That came later.
Kyrshaw pulled his gun around and leveled it at me. I didn’t respond. I simply lowered my SMR. He glanced at the remains of The Observer slumped over his desk, then lowered his own gun with a sigh.
“I suppose it ha
