CincyKris

I appreciate the response, and it assuages my fears that the extreme treatment of the last Arexian was a plot device. I still think the soldiers got what they deserved. Did they really think a being as powerful as Castle would just quietly back down from a heavily armed, aggressive military unit. Should be have been happy to be "incapacitated" and taken to who knows what torture? Not to mention the fact that he still believed he was living in his 1000-year-old dream world. The fault in the bloodshed is not with Castle, but with the captors. I resent Black for his outrage to the terrible result of a terribly executed terrible plan. You have created a protagonist I care about! I'm looking forward to finding out where (or when?) Castle and Sergey went to when they vanished.

My first reaction to the gory events are that it was unavoidable and predictable given the circumstances. Why are they treating this VIP like a hostage and prisoner? Why weren't the first moments after awakening filled with explanations, food, and rest? In what universe would an advanced society treat someone this important so terribly and so stupidly? It makes no sense. What advantages would treatment like this get them? I'm not sure if this is a criticism of the characters motivations or of the author. I will be patient, as I have been for all the preceding chapters, but I hope there will some sort of reasonable explanation for their inexplicable behavior, other than a convenient plot device. That being said, we learned a lot more about Castle, his abilities, and his history.

In an earlier chapter we were told that the settler's supply ship imploded and the other two settler ships left. A computer virus was installed before they left earth. The approaching ship must be from wherever the other settlers ended up. They were apparently able to mine ore to hold onto or rebuild their technology. Did they destroy another planet?

Dirk (and his bear) didn't just lose their mate, it appears that Dirk is the one to pull the trigger! I don't know how he will fully recover from that. Hopefully the assumed outcome will not happen, those shifty authors are known for that kind of behavior.

I saw the chapter a little differently than the earlier comment. Bouncer's actions seemed more play than aggression to me. I only read about Ases being bipedal, not having three legs. I don't think he is ignorant of space travel, I got the impression that the up/down comment was an old debate they argued many times during their time together. A smart move to bring a bit of their shared last to their present situation. Essell is certainly going to try to figure out if his mother influenced Ases. It is the last line I am puzzling over Not even to add days we no longer had on a task we no longer needed to do.

I just went back and looked at the last chapter, I was thinking of Bill, who runs the website!

No one else has voiced my guess yet. Bob saw more than a cat in the well, maybe he went in after it to stop someone else from seeing the body? Maurice witnessed something but has been terrified to talk about it for almost 50 years. That info is still there, folks with dementia lose short term memory, not long term. Also, maybe the love interest is George? Do we know how old he is?

I love the idea of a simple wedding at the pack meeting. And with Vincent's travel abilities, the honeymoon has no limits. As for the traitorous cop, I hope the FBI telepath is better than him!

Tears for me too! The entire conversation between Eric and Andy had me teary and on the edge of my seat. Eric has come so far from that first meeting, and so has Andy. The mention of the infamous "chicken curry incident" had me laughing. Great chapter!

I wonder if Yevgeny will resurface in a few decades when CJ takes office? What about that hangar with the old cars? Will that show up again?

Anyone who has read Boss Nanny (and that really should be everyone!) knows how this relationship ends up, but it is wonderful to be involved with the birth of Jay & Loe. Great job!

I’m so proud of Essell! He has come so far from the self-entitled (from mom) and self-absorbed (from dad) training from his parents. He is finally his own man! And I guarantee that Bouncer knew what was going on. I can’t wait till Essell figures that out!

He has some very interesting dreams! I should go back and read some earlier chapters, but I’ll be lazy and ask. Were Trevor and Jenny the couple that left and supposedly sent postcards from their travels? Also, I wonder if that was really Cliff or just thoughts of his earlier conversation with his aunt.

You should have given us a warning to have Kleenex handy and to read this alone! Beautiful chapter. I'm looking forward to Ned's next journey.

I think I'm going to have to read this again before I can properly comment. One thing that sticks with me is that the ambassador's status seems to shift. From annoying bureaucrat, to fearful subjugate to Sergey, to ultimate decision maker.

Great chapter, I liked the camaraderie with Spike. Stephen keeps getting put in his place, you'd think he's figured out he won't win against CJ, but he keeps needing more lessons. I don't think the CIA trusts Domorogov farther than they can throw him, but hopefully CJ will get some effective info out of him.

Yes!!! My money is on mom as to the one who notified Sonez. Broadcast that signal! Hopefully he gets his ship taken away. If they want there skimmer back, they can retrieve it, Essell doesn't need it anymore.

I hadn’t ridden in a couple of months, as it was approaching Winter, when I left home, and even a lot of Autumn can get quite cold,” I replied. I'm confused, I thought that Carson was on summer break, and it was winter in Australia?

No lie, I had a boss a couple of decades ago named "Dick Burns", and yes, he went by Dick! Got to think junior high was tough on him. Also, how would you have liked being the one that slid down after Garrett! There is no such thing as too much lube!

Any hint on when I'll get my Aido-potato fix?

I didn't suspect the Frank - Andy connection until the mention of looking up records on the internet. Nice twist.

I'm still intrigued by Andy the most.

I'm the first part of this story, I assumed that Andy ceased to exist. In the last few chapters, I felt that Andy also existed in the future. Otherwise, how did he all the sudden create "the equation" and speak with his father telepathically? I'm not sure how Dawson and Andy for in together.

This was an uncomfortable chapter to read. I have always felt Charles to be revolting and do not really like Wang. I admit that I feel the whole Chris-Wang part of this story to be the least believable. I can't see this Chris, the same one that have up Paul for his girlfriend and unborn son, as so easily giving up his toddler son to be with someone he knows is in love with a pedophile spy!

Foreshadowing!