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"You don't know that. We don't know him. Second, you're assuming that if he does come home, he'll be such a cuddly kid that everybody will decide he isn't really a child-killing monster."
"We've both watched the vids of the court martial," said Peter. "Those men love Ender Wiggin. You could see it in everything they said and did. All that mattered to them was protecting him. Which is exactly how everybody used to act when Ender lived here."
"He never actually lived here," said Valentine. "We moved after he left, remember?"
Another glare. "Ender makes people want to die for him."
"Or kill him," she said with a smile.
"Ender makes adults love him."
"So we're back to the first problem."
"He wants to come home," said Peter. "He's human. Humans want to go home."
"But where is Ender's home?" asked Valentine. "He's spent more than half his life in Battle School. What does he even remember about living with us? An older brother who was constantly bullying him, threatening to kill him--"
"I'll apologize," said Peter. "I really am sorry I acted like that."
"But you can't apologize if he doesn't come home. Besides, Peter, he's a smart kid. Smarter than us--there's a reason we weren't taken into Battle School and he was. So he'll figure out exactly how you're using him. Hegemon's Council--that is such itshay. He won't stay under your thumb."
"He's been trained for war. Not for politics," said Peter.
His hint of a smile was so smug Valentine wanted to smash a baseball bat into his face a little. "It doesn't matter," said Valentine. "You can't bring him home no matter what Locke writes."
"And why is that?"
"Because you didn't create the forces that dread him and fear his return, you just exploited them. They aren't going to change their minds, not even for Locke. And also, Demosthenes won't let you."
Peter looked at her with amused contempt. "Oh, going freelance, eh?"
"I think I can scare people into keeping Ender in space better than you can make them pity him enough to bring him home."
"I thought you loved him best. I thought you wanted him home."
"I wanted him home for the past seven years, Peter," said Valentine, "and you were glad he was gone. But now--to bring him home so that he can be under the protection of the Hegemon's Council--which means under your control, since you've got the thing packed with your toadies--"
"Locke's toadies," Peter corrected her.
"I'm not helping you bring Ender home so he can be a tool to advance your career."
"So you'd make your beloved little brother stay in permanent exile in space, just to spite your nasty older brother?" asked Peter. "Wow, I'm glad I'm not the one you love."
"You nailed it, Peter," said Valentine. "I've spent all these years under your thumb. I know exactly how it feels. Ender would hate it. I know, because I hate it."
&n
bsp; "You've loved the whole thing. Being Demosthenes--you know what power feels like."
"I know what it feels like to have power flow through me and into your hands," said Valentine.
"Is that what this is about? You're suddenly power hungry?"
"Peter, you're such an idiot about the people you supposedly know best. I'm not telling you I want your power. I'm telling you that I'm getting out from under your thumb."
"Fine, I'll just write the Demosthenes essays myself."
"No you won't, because people would know something was wrong. You can't do Demosthenes."
