Salute To The General

Very quickly, Nathan was able to meet with Zion in an isolated interrogation room.

Zion's hair had shockingly turned white overnight, which gave him the bespectacled man the appearance of a grizzled elder.

That aside, Zion's attire remained prim and proper, and he was both physically unharmed and mentally alert. His silvery mane, though, made him resemble more of a wizened scholar than an important official.

Zion was extremely surprised to see

Nathan. "What are you doing here, Chief Cross?"

"I've come to visit you because Mr. Windsor is concerned that you may be subjected to mistreatment, as do myself," said Nathan in his deep inflection.

That drew a bitter smile from Zion even as his eyes welled up. "Previously, I was told that you are a forthright and upstanding man, but I was skeptical about that. To think that you're the only one dropping in to see me now that I'm in trouble!"

Nathan had not much to say about that and only turned to regard Braydon, Colin, and the others to the side solemnly. "Step outside, all of you. I'd like to have a word with Mr. Lucas. Also, have all the surveillance equipment inside of this room turned off." Braydon expressed no objections and filed out alongside Colin, the Elite Eight, and whoever else was there.

said that you'd confessed to the charges of unlawful conduct?" "That's right. There is truth to the accusations that

really break the law? How much were

to answer. Instead, he asked, "Do you

really still in the mood

fished out a pack of cigarettes and offered a stick to

pack, in Nathan's possession. "This cheap stuff? Shouldn't you be smoking something else better than this,

ones as well. Sometimes, I may continue smoking the exclusives at home if I don't manage to finish the ones that I am issued.

that point, Nathan frowned and asked, "Do

no," Zion

that supposed to mean?"

puff before he continued, "I was under the impression that someone in your position surely has habits similar to myself, settling for nothing but the best when it comes to your vices. Even if you're that hard up,

cigarettes are what soldiers will smoke when they are on leave, and besides, I don't think there's any correlation between quality and affordability. In the service, the ordinary soldiers

replied, "Then, we're

me all sorts of stuff after the job is done. Cigars, alcohol, and money; you name it. I'd always say no to the money,