to react to that.
It's not an invasion. At least it was never intended to be. Pietr was quiet, the shame coursing through his mind at the thought of what he had done. I never meant it to go this wrong.
The images in his head weren't nice: the fear in the eyes of the people being harvested, the feeling of losing yet another human to insanity when someone couldn't cope with the operation. Matt shuddered.
Pietr hesitated when he felt Matt's reaction to his thoughts. Then he appeared to make a decision.
There weren't that many casualties, Matt. I know the media published each and every one of them and a couple that weren't ours at all. We've only had three fatalities and four people who escaped before we could help them accept their abilities. There are others who've got problems, but we're treating them, and they will make it.
Matt frowned. But there were thousands who were harvested.
Pietr shook his head. No. I know some people got that impression, but it was only a few hundred. I'm not trying to diminish my role in this, but I want you to know how it really was.
No way. I'm sure it's a lot more than that. Matt couldn't believe this, but at the same time, he could feel that Pietr was telling the truth.
I know. That's what fear does to people. And I'm deeply sorry about that.
But I was fucking terrified!
Pietr cringed mentally. I know. And I'm not saying that your fear wasn't substantiated; I'm just saying that you were scared.
And not thinking clearly. Did I really get it that wrong? Matt put into words what Pietr was reluctant to say.
Pietr shrugged, unwilling to concede that the extent of the Himiko threat might have been exaggerated by Matt's imagination. Maybe a bit, at least in your understanding of the extent of the harvesting. Again: that's what fear does to people. It's our fault entirely.
But to get back to my job: Yes, I was in charge of the recruiting. Pietr seemed determined to get everything about his own role out in the open now.
I planned the recruiting before we came here, and I was in charge of implementing and maintaining the procedures when we got here. It's all my responsibility. The feeling as Pietr pulled back, preparing for Matt to shout at him, be disgusted with him, leave him, sent a surge of compassion through Matt.
He straddled his mate and put his good arm around Pietr while taking his mate's hand with the other. I'm still here, and I'm not going anywhere.
I know you can't, but this isn't what you deserve. You wouldn't have chosen me if you knew. The shame in Pietr's mind was overwhelming.
Shh. You probably wouldn't have chosen a human with a bad temper, either, but we're kind of stuck with each other now. In spite of everything, they were still bonded, and Matt was desperate to chase away the despair in his mate's mind.
You're stuck with a life you never wanted, with a mate you never wanted. I... Some call me a murderer.
You're not! Matt tightened his hold on Pietr, intent on comforting his mate. Did you want it to be this way? Did you want humans to go insane, to have them hate you like this?
No! This is nothing like what I wanted, but humans and Himika need to get to an understanding, and the... he wouldn't let me change anything.
The Assessor?
The shock in Pietr's mind almost numbed Matt.
I'm sorry, but it's not that hard to figure out. He is your leader, after all.
How do you know that?
This was one of those things that Matt had to think about. I just know. Pietr hadn't told him, it was just... there.
Pietr was still surprised, but he continued his explanation.
He's very eager to obtain his goal.
Which is what?
It's... I don't know anymore. There was worry and trepidation in Pietr's mind, and it was clear to Matt that this was something he hadn't wanted to admit even to himself. In the beginning, it was the official mission statement. But now, I don't know.
What is the official mission statement?
You don't know? Pietr's mind was filled with incredulity. God, we've
It's not an invasion. At least it was never intended to be. Pietr was quiet, the shame coursing through his mind at the thought of what he had done. I never meant it to go this wrong.
The images in his head weren't nice: the fear in the eyes of the people being harvested, the feeling of losing yet another human to insanity when someone couldn't cope with the operation. Matt shuddered.
Pietr hesitated when he felt Matt's reaction to his thoughts. Then he appeared to make a decision.
There weren't that many casualties, Matt. I know the media published each and every one of them and a couple that weren't ours at all. We've only had three fatalities and four people who escaped before we could help them accept their abilities. There are others who've got problems, but we're treating them, and they will make it.
Matt frowned. But there were thousands who were harvested.
Pietr shook his head. No. I know some people got that impression, but it was only a few hundred. I'm not trying to diminish my role in this, but I want you to know how it really was.
No way. I'm sure it's a lot more than that. Matt couldn't believe this, but at the same time, he could feel that Pietr was telling the truth.
I know. That's what fear does to people. And I'm deeply sorry about that.
But I was fucking terrified!
Pietr cringed mentally. I know. And I'm not saying that your fear wasn't substantiated; I'm just saying that you were scared.
And not thinking clearly. Did I really get it that wrong? Matt put into words what Pietr was reluctant to say.
Pietr shrugged, unwilling to concede that the extent of the Himiko threat might have been exaggerated by Matt's imagination. Maybe a bit, at least in your understanding of the extent of the harvesting. Again: that's what fear does to people. It's our fault entirely.
But to get back to my job: Yes, I was in charge of the recruiting. Pietr seemed determined to get everything about his own role out in the open now.
I planned the recruiting before we came here, and I was in charge of implementing and maintaining the procedures when we got here. It's all my responsibility. The feeling as Pietr pulled back, preparing for Matt to shout at him, be disgusted with him, leave him, sent a surge of compassion through Matt.
He straddled his mate and put his good arm around Pietr while taking his mate's hand with the other. I'm still here, and I'm not going anywhere.
I know you can't, but this isn't what you deserve. You wouldn't have chosen me if you knew. The shame in Pietr's mind was overwhelming.
Shh. You probably wouldn't have chosen a human with a bad temper, either, but we're kind of stuck with each other now. In spite of everything, they were still bonded, and Matt was desperate to chase away the despair in his mate's mind.
You're stuck with a life you never wanted, with a mate you never wanted. I... Some call me a murderer.
You're not! Matt tightened his hold on Pietr, intent on comforting his mate. Did you want it to be this way? Did you want humans to go insane, to have them hate you like this?
No! This is nothing like what I wanted, but humans and Himika need to get to an understanding, and the... he wouldn't let me change anything.
The Assessor?
The shock in Pietr's mind almost numbed Matt.
I'm sorry, but it's not that hard to figure out. He is your leader, after all.
How do you know that?
This was one of those things that Matt had to think about. I just know. Pietr hadn't told him, it was just... there.
Pietr was still surprised, but he continued his explanation.
He's very eager to obtain his goal.
Which is what?
It's... I don't know anymore. There was worry and trepidation in Pietr's mind, and it was clear to Matt that this was something he hadn't wanted to admit even to himself. In the beginning, it was the official mission statement. But now, I don't know.
What is the official mission statement?
You don't know? Pietr's mind was filled with incredulity. God, we've
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