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A thought suddenly struck him, and he turned back to Harper.

"How much are you being paid for this?" He asked.

Harper looked back at him for a few seconds, then shrugged. "I've lost count of the total fees owed. Probably a fair amount. Why do you ask?"

Victus made an indifferent gesture with his left talons. "I've just never met a mercenary who lost track of the money he was owed. Not for one second. Come to think of it, I haven't encountered a mercenary who'd take such a damn fool risk as this. No amount of pay should be worth this."

"You're calling me a fool?" Harper asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Something similar." Victus countered. "I think, despite what you may think to the contrary, that there's a nobler spirit in you than most see. Perhaps you're better than you yourself think. Perhaps the money doesn't satisfy you. I think that within you, you're real goal was to continue serving as best you could. The money was just a rational excuse you gave yourself. What you really wanted was what all true soldiers crave. A chance to make a difference."

Harper actually had the hide to laugh. "That's a good, Lieutenant. Jack Harper, unselfish soldier. General Williams should get a kick out of that one."

"Yes, from what I've gathered the two of you have a somewhat frosty relationship." Victus said. "Perhaps that bothers you as well. You crave his good opinion, yet can never quite seem to hold onto it."

"Friend, the only thing I want from General Williams is for his family connections to get me a whole chest full of medals and the Parliament saying I'm a hero." Harper's cheery grin was falser than usual. Victus knew he had found his mark.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7160279/41/