BETHESDA,

2420 AA, After the Great Ascension.

"You know what Gabriel?" she suddenly exploded. 'I liked you better when you just thought that I was merely a damsel in distress!" Havillah snapped back, already weary of his sarcasm and the condescending attitude that had been hanging around him for a while.

Her patience was wearing thin after the long day she had experienced and the longer morning that had involved handling an irritating man-child who did not know better than ...