The battleship food was worse that the stuff on the Hispania. I stared at the grey glob hanging off the end of my fork. It was meant to taste like organic meat from Malta, but after many years in storage, it ended up tasting like a cardamined pet. I checked the time. Not long till launch. I finished the food, somehow, and relaxed on the chair, waiting for Robin to arrive. When he did arrive, Brian was with him.

For the first time in a while, I had a dream. A pleasant dream. I dreamt of being back with Ellis and patrolling New York, just like the old times. It turned out to be a nightmare until I realised that I had woken up. I looked at my watch, and mentally noted in my brain the time of 4:29. I lay on the scratchy bunk, looking up at the ceiling. I would never get back to sleep now. Instead, I settled for deep thought.