[Naked Crook]

Meanwhile: Down in the Firebase Mediterranean CIC, Spender finally heard Reynold's voice come through the comm system. Spender grinned, as he began to speak. Spender: Captain Reynolds...I am going to assume that you have a good idea of who this is...and I am going to assume that you have been looking forward to this conversation for some time now...expecting it...anticipating it... Spender paused. Spender: I regret that we have not been formally introduced sooner. My name is Constantine Spender...and as you know...I speak for The Trust. Spender paused. Spender: I would like a status report as to how things are going up there. What, I wonder, is the UNSC and ONI up to? What can you tell me? Meanwhile: Just outside the King Raven on the ventral side of the ship, the spare slip space drive core sat adrift, slowly drifting away from the ship that had ejected it only minutes earlier. As the core floated in the void of space, a Vulture slowly closed in on the device, moving slowly as it attempted to synchronize its rotation and speed with the slip space core. HAWK: The slip space core is dead ahead. I am locked in, and I am matching trajectory, speed, and rotation. Once we are synchronized, we should be able to grab it with the magnetic tether. Nighthawk didn't respond. He simply sat in the pilot's seat, slouching in his seat, as if he was not even paying attention. Nighthawk had allowed HAWK to take the controls on this, as he had very little interest in having anything to do with the recovery of this device. HAWK: Nighthawk? Nighthawk scoffed. Nighthawk: What...? HAWK: The slip space core is dead ahead. I am locked in, and I am matching trajectory, speed, and rotation. Once we are synchronized, we should be able to grab it with the magnetic tether. Nighthawk: I heard you the first time. Just...fucking do what you have to do. Nighthawk waved his hand at the AI that was projected on the dashboard of his Vulture. As he did this, he spun the chair around, and looked off. HAWK: Acknowledged... Nighthawk was deep in thought. He was bothered by the fact that Jennifer had so blatantly turned against him the moment she had discovered that he was ready to run with what HAWK had suggested as a contingency plan for Vanguard. Nighthawk couldn't blame her. He had to be honest with himself about that. She had every right to be upset about that decision, but, it was the way she had said it that had him so disturbed. Anaconda, on the other hand, was sitting in the rear compartment of the Vulture. He was busy sharpening his combat knife, not really paying much attention to what was going on around him. However, he was observant enough to notice Nighthawk's current demeanor. Anaconda: You know...it would not have hurt so much had she not have known who you were. Nighthawk shifted his head, and looked at Anaconda. Anaconda: She was talking to you, not Nighthawk. That is why it hurts. You feel betrayed by your mate. Nighthawk: Sorta...yeah... Anaconda: That is why you need to distance yourself from your Human allies. When you are Nighthawk, they are not your friends. Yet, you treat them like such. Do you think I treat Dangerus with respect when I am running around, looking like this? Pfft...no. Dangerus is one of my most trusted friends...but I would not think twice before killing him or turning violent against him if I needed to. You never learned how to distance yourself. It seems to be a pattern you are doomed to repeat. Now, it has actually damaged you, personally. Nighthawk: It is tough to distance yourself sometimes. It is not always that easy. Nighthawk paused. Nighthawk: I feel like everything we had...sorta just went up in smoke. That's what gets me. Anaconda: Can't you simply find a new female? There seem to be plenty of them, from what I have seen. Nighthawk: For Humans...it is more than spot-mount-finish. There is a very personal connection that has to be built up, over time. It is something that is based on things like trust, mutual affection, etc etc etc. It is so easy for that house of cards to fall into a big pile of...debris... Anaconda: Then start over...rebuild it... Nighthawk: What? Anaconda: Start over... Nighthawk: Yeah, what do you mean? Anaconda: Humans value honesty...start with that. If I recall correctly...you began courting this female under false pretenses. She had no idea who you were. She had no idea you were Nighthawk... Anaconda shrugged. Anaconda: Start with that...then go to spot-mount-finish... Nighthawk: Your saying I should fix it...start over...be honest with her... Anaconda grunted, and nodded. Nighthawk: It is not a bad idea... Nighthawk paused when he heard something impact the hull. HAWK: The drive core is now tethered. We are ready to return to The Venture Capitalist. Nighthawk looked at HAWK, and nodded. Nighthawk: Yeah, do that. Nighthawk then looked back at Anaconda. Nighthawk: That's a good idea, big guy. I think your onto something. Anaconda: Not really. Humans are just more...cowardly when it comes to their courtship. Spot-mount-finish is much faster...and it commands respect. Nighthawk: Hmmmm....