Грань будущего

           Weadvancedtomeetthem.

           Fourstubbylegsandatail.NomatterhowmanytimesIsawaMimic,I’dneverbeabletothinkofanythingbutadeadandbloatedfrog.Tolookatthem,therewasnotellingtheserverfromitsclients,butRitaandIknewthedifference.

           Theyateearthandshatoutpoison,leavingbehindalifelesswasteland.Thealienintelligencethathadcreatedthemhadmasteredspacetravelandlearnedtosendinformationthroughtime.Nowtheyweretakingourworldandturningitintoafacsimileoftheirown,everylasttree,flower,insect,animal,andhumanbedamned.

           Thistimewehadtodestroytheserver.Nomoremistakes.Ifwedidn’t,thisbattlemightneverend.IputalltheinertiaIdaredbehindmyaxe-acleanhitontheantenna."Gotit!"

           Theattackcamefrombehind.

           MybodyreactedbeforeIhadtimetothink.Onthebattlefield,Ileftmyconsciousmindoutofthebusinessofrunningmybody.Thecool,impartialcalculationsofmysubliminaloperatingsystemwerefarmoreprecisethanIcouldeverbe.

           Theconcreteatmyfeetsplitintwo,sendinggraydustshootingintotheairasthoughthegroundhadexploded.Myrightlegrolledtomaintainbalance.Istillcouldn’tseewhatwasattackingme.Therewasnotimetoswingmymassivebattleaxeintoplay.

           Myarmsandlegsmovedtokeeppacewithmyshiftingcenterofgravity.Shudderscoursedthroughmynerves,strainingtoprovidethenecessaryevasiveresponseintime.Ifmyspinehadbeenhardwiredtothearmorplatingonmyback,itwouldhavebeenclatteringupastorm.