Грань будущего
Chapter 1
Iwasinthevalleyoftheshadowofdeath,notwofuckingwaysaboutit,butIhadRitaatmyside.
IlearnedtosurvivebymimickingRita’sskillwiththeaxe,andintheprocess,I’dcometoknowhereverymove-whichfootshe’dtakethenextstepwith,whichMimicshe’dstrikefirstwhensurrounded.Iknewwhenshewouldswingheraxe,andwhenshewouldrun.Allthatandmorewashardcodedintomyoperatingsystem.
Ritasidesteppeddangerandmovedthroughtheenemyranks,carvingapathofperfectlyexecuteddestruction.Theonlythingssheleftstandingweretargetsshecouldn’tbebotheredtokill.Iwasonlytoohappytomopupafterher.We’dnevertrainedtogether,butwemovedliketwins,veteransofcountlessbattlesateachother’sside.
FourMimicscameforRitaatonce-badodds,evenfortheValkyrie.Shewasstilloffbalancefromherlastswing.Withmyfreehand,Igaveheragentlenudge.Forasplitsecondshewasstartled,butitdidn’ttakeherlongtounderstandwhatI’ddone.
Shereallywasamaster.Inlessthanfiveminutes,she’dlearnedtoworkintandemwithme.WhensherealizedIcoulduseafreearmorlegtoknockherclearofanattack,sheturnedandfacedthenextenemyheadon,withoutanyintentofdodging.AMimicforelegcamewithinahand’sbreadthofherfaceandshedidn’tevenflinch.
Weworkedasasingleunit.Wetorethroughtheenemywithfrighteningpower,alwayskeepingtheother’sJacketinthecornerofoureyes.Wedidn’tneedwordsorgestures.
