Грань будущего

           Itplungeddeepintotheearth,piercingthebedrockbeforeitdetonated. Thesandywhitegroundbulgedlikeanovercookedpancake; itssurfacecrackedandsentdarkersoilthecolorofmaplesyrupspewingintotheair. Ahailofmudsplatteredonmyarmor. Rita’sbattleaxeglintedinthelight. 

           Thesmokecleared. 

           Icouldseeawrithingmassinthecenteroftheenormouscraterleftbytheexplosion: theenemy. Redpointsoflightsprangtolifeonmyradarscreen,somanythateverypointwastouchinganother. 

           IthoughtIsawRitanod. Shesprangforward,flittingacrossthebattlefield. Heraxeroseandfell. Eachtimeitshone,thehuskofaMimicsoared. Thesandthatpouredfromtheirwoundsspiraledonthewhirlwindstracedbyherblade. Shecutthemdownwiththeeaseofalasercuttingbutter. Hermovementstookherinacirclearoundme,protectingme. RitaandIhadundergonethesametraining,butshewaslikeajuggernautwhileIlayontheground,astupidtoythathadrundownitsbatteries. Noonehadforcedmetobehere. Ihaddraggedmyselftothiswastelandofabattlefield,andIwasn’tdoingadamnbitofgoodforanyone. BetterI’dgottenpluggedalongsideYonabaru. AtleastthenIwouldn’thaveputanothersoldierinharm’swaytryingtoprotectme. 

           Idecidednottodiewiththreeroundsleftinmypiledriver. 

           Iliftedaleg. Iputahandononeknee. 

           Istood. 

           Iscreamed. Iforcedmyselftokeepgoing. 

           TheredJacketturnedtome. 

           Iheardsomenoiseovermyheadphones,butIcouldn’ttellwhatshewastryingtosay.