"Second. This girl has no will of her own, and I'm all but pushing her around half the time."
"I definitely didn't get that from her. I think she just happens to agree with you more often than not." Trent was categorically striking down his every complaint.
"Third. We're talking about stealing her from OutLink."
"Can't take what shouldn't be owned," Tent pointed out. "People fall into that category."
"Fourth," Sin said softly.
"You might have something there," Trent teased. "But are youreallydeceiving her? Have you told her she's disgusting? Have you presented yourself as anything but a priest?"
"No." Sin took another long drink. "Trent? She's the temptation I may not resist."
"I know." He patted Sin's shoulder. "She may also be the answer to our prayers. You ever think about that?"
Sin chuckled. "She's already offered to help. And if you want to press it, you can add the fifth. She's intoxicating when she stops trying to be a damned Ingénue."
"And fear of the sixth," Trent agreed, referencing the restriction on sex. "So, should Davis turn in his wings?"
"No."
Trent nodded. "But you know he's breaking the sixth, kinda over and over. So you hold yourself to a different standard?"
There was nothing to be said to that. Any comment he made would only weaken his stance. Sin closed his eyes and prayed softly, his face upturned. "God," he begged, "don't tempt me to stray. I have served You for sixteen years without fail, but this is too much. I am only human."
"Amen," Trent said beside him. "But Sin? Who made the precepts?"
"They're the will of God."
"Yeah. But who made them?"
"Praetor Joseph the fourth." Sinclair rubbed at his face. "Why?"
"How did he know they were the will of God?"
"You questioning your faith?"
"No," Trent promised. "I'm questioning yours."
"My faith is fine."
"Your faith inwhat?" Trent asked. "You're always the first to forgive and the last to fail. Why do you think God gave us these urges? Why would He make us like this if it wasn't in His plan?"
"Doctrine says it's the pull of evil." Sin shrugged that off. "I never went with the whole devil idea. Hard for me to believe in a being strong enough to bend God's will."
"Right. So why did God make us like this?"
Sin let out a dry chuckle. "Doesn't matter. Everyone knows I'm spending day after day with her. You know as well as I do that if I slip up, even in the slightest, I'll be moved to Centurion. I'll be stripped of my wings."
"Only God can truly take your wings. You also have the Fallen behind you," Trent assured him. "Sin, I'm about to make a grievous sin against the church."
"We all are."
"Just listen. The Legion isn't a damned government - we're a holy institution. We don't force worship on others. We give them a place to do it. We don't beat down the weak; we spare them from the rod and lash." Trent took a long deep breath. "We need to make the Legion a place where we are many, not just subjects of one. We need tofixwhatever is breaking in our church, and fast. That girl can help."
"A religious revolution?"
Trent nodded. "Yeah." He patted his friend's shoulder, and chuckled. "And there's only one man I know who has a hope in hell of hearing the word of God. You. So you need to figure this shit out before everything starts falling apart."
