"Petra, you think you aren't going to see me again. But I'm pretty sure you are."
"Do you realize how it scares me that you're only pretty sure?"
"I could die of appendicitis in the plane on the way to Ribeirao. I'm never more than pretty sure of anything."
"Except that I love you."
"Except that we love each other."
Bean's flight was the normal misery of hours in a confi
ned space. But at least he was flying west, so the jet lag wasn't as debilitating. He thought he might just go directly in as soon as he arrived, but thought better of it. He needed to think clearly. To be able to improvise and act quickly on impulse. He needed to sleep.
Peter was waiting for him at the doorway of the airplane. Being Hegemon gives you a few privileges denied to other people in airports.
Peter led him down the stairs instead of out the jetway, and they got in a car that drove them directly to the hotel that had been set up as the IF command post. IF soldiers were at every entrance, and Peter assured him there were sharpshooters in every surrounding building, and in this one, too.
"So," said Peter, when they were alone in Bean's room, "what's the plan?"
"You sound as if you think I have one," said Bean.
"Not even a goal?"
"Oh, I have two goals," said Bean. "I promised Petra right after he stole our embryos that I'd get them back for her, and that I'd kill Achilles in the process."
"And you have no idea how you'll do that."
"Some. But nothing I plan will work anyway, so I don't let myself get too attached to any of them."
"Achilles really isn't that important now," said Peter. "I mean, he's important because in essence everyone inside that compound is his hostage, but on the world stage--he's lost all his influence. Went up in smoke when he shot down that shuttle and the Chinese disavowed him."
Bean shook his head. "Do you really think, if he gets out of this alive, he won't be back at his old games? You think he won't have any takers for his medicine show?"
"I suppose there's no shortage of government people with dreams of power he can seduce them with, or fears that he can exploit."
"Peter, I'm here so he can torment me and then kill me. That's why I'm here. His purpose. His goal."
"Well, if his is the only plan, then..."
"That's right, Peter. He's the one with the plan this time. And I'm the one who can surprise him by not doing what he expects."
"All right," said Peter. "I'm in."
"What?"
"You've convinced me. I'm in."
"You're in what?"
"I'm going in the gate with you."
"No you're not."
"I'm Hegemon. I'm not standing outside while you go in and save my people."
"He'll be very happy to kill you along with me."
"You first."