Грань будущего

           Andnowthisgood-for-nothingworldwasgoingtopushmeacrossthesamebloodstained,smoke-filledbattlefield.Butyouneverhatedtheworldforwhatitdidtoyou.

           SoIwouldn’tlettheworldlose.ItcoulddropmeintoafieldofMimicswithnothingbutatungstencarbideaxeandadyingJacketandI’dfightmywayout.I’dmarchwaist-deepinbloodthroughmoremassacresthanallthevetsintheUDFhadseencombined,andI’demergeunscathed.I’dtrainuntilIknewtheprecisenanosecondtopullthetrigger,theexactmomenttotakeeverystep.Iwouldn’tletajavelinsomuchasscratchthepaintonmyJacket.

           WhileIliveandbreathe,humanitywillneverfall.Ipromiseyou.Itmaytakeadozenyears,butIwillwinthiswarforyou.Evenifyouwon’tbeheretoseeit.YouweretheonlypersonIwantedtoprotect,andyouweregone.

           HottearsthreatenedtofallfrommyeyesasIlookedoutthroughthecrackedglassatthesky,butIwouldn’tcry.NotforthefriendsIwouldloseinthebattlesahead.ThefriendsIwouldn’tbeabletosave.Iwon’tcryforyouuntilthewarisfinallyover.

           ThroughthewarpedwindowIsawthesky,crystalblue,seemingtostretchforever.Aclouddriftedlazilyalong.Iturnedtofacethewindow,andlikeabone-dryspongesoakingupwater,mybodyabsorbedtheclearboundlesssky.

           Youhatedbeingalone,butyoukeptyourdistancefromthebarracks,sleptandwokeinsolitude,becauseitwastoohardtofacethefriendsyouknewweregoingtodie