174 The Hero Awakens (3)

"Why-- are you doing this?" the official kneeling in front of Lucius struggled to ask.

Lucius moved his head to look at the official, and for a moment an image of one of the military bigwigs back on earth superimposed with his.

"Because I've dealt with people like you before. You waste time arguing over everything, and in the end, the people I'm supposed to protect end up dead," Lucius replied, spite filling his voice as he stared at the official with hatred.

There were a few dozen cycles in the mindscape where he had gotten back into the military. Each time his entire platoon would die because of the carelessness of the old men who called the shots.

"Besides, I'm not going to let you use me as you will. You think I'm too dumb to realize that you guys only saved me so that I would become your little plaything?" Lucius asked, looking up to stare at Shaviki.

"So you saw right through me?" Shaviki asked the polite look on his face instantly disappearing as he said this.