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EPILOGUE

Martin Spencer decided it was certainly a far less stressful return than their last one. The flight was long and grueling, but no worries about reception. The plane landed, taxied, they debarked with the other troops. They cleared Customs with barely a pause, the agents glancing at their orders and saying, “Welcome home, troops,” and waving them all through.

They gathered together, and Caswell said, “And in a month we come back and do this again. I really don’t get why they keep wanting to use us, if temporal jumps are such an issue.”

Sheridan repeated what they’d been told. “They said the factors of the individuals were easier to account for than distance through time.”

“Sure, I get that. But use their own people they trust?”

“Unless they don’t want to risk them? Dunno, they use Cryder and Arnet, but no one else.”

“Yeah, it could be some political or cultural thing. And they can be whirling assholes.”

Raven looked wistful. “I do wonder what it takes to stay in their location,” she said. He understood she meant their time.

“I wonder if we dare ask, or if they’ll suggest it.”

Caswell pointed. “Our domestic flights are pending.” She turned. “Good luck to you, Dr. Raven. I learned a lot. Thank you.” She hugged the scientist hard and quick, then turned to Martin.

“And you take care, Sergeant Spencer. Ping me if you need to talk.”

He might actually take her up on that. She was part younger sister, part detached counselor, and he knew he could trust her absolutely. She had a better grasp of his background than Dr. Fairley. “I will. Thanks for all you’ve done for everyone.”

They shook hands all around, shouldered bags, and he headed for his flight as they did for theirs.

And apparently it wasn’t their last trip.



END


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Framed