Грань будущего

           Itwasdifficulttosayshedidn’tfittheroleofaJacketjockey,sinceRitaherselfhardlydid.Butthewomantheypickedforthepartwasfartooglamorousforasoldierfightingonthefrontlines.

           RitacomparedherfigurewiththatoftheMimic.Suddenly,theMimicmodelerwasn’tlookingsofaroff.

           "MindifIholdontothis?"RitapickeduptheFullMetalBitchfigurinethatborehernoresemblance.

           "What?"

           "Youwon’tmissone,willyou?"

           Shasta’sreactionwassomewherebetweenthatofasleepingcatkickedoutofitsfavoritespotinbedandafive-year-oldwhoseaunthaddeniedherthelastpieceofchocolatemacadamianuttoffeebecauseshe’dbeensavingitforherself.ThelookonherfacewouldhavesentapplicationstoMITplummetingifprospectivestudentshadknownshewasanalumnawhohadgraduatedatthetopofherclass.

           Ritareconsideredherrequest.PeoplelikeShastawhowenttohyper-competitiveupper-crustuniversitieswereprobablymorelikelythanmosttorandomlyexplodeifpushed."Sorry,badjoke.Ishouldn’tteaseyoulikethat."

           "No,I’mtheonewhoshouldapologize,"Shastasaid."It’sjustthatit’skindof,well,reallyrare.Imean,Iboughteverysinglebubbleinthemachine,andthatwastheonlyonethatcameout."

           "Don’tworry.Iwouldn’tdreamoftakingitfromyou."

           "Thanksforunderstanding.I’mreallysorry.Here,whydon’tyoutakethisoneinstead?It’ssupposedtobeprettyraretoo."

           "Whatisit?"

           "It’stheengineerassignedtoRita’ssquadinthemovie.