Грань будущего

           Theprecisemomentshewouldswing,thenextstepshewouldtake-myoperatingsystemhadrecordeditall.Iknewwhathernextmovewouldbe.That’swhyRita’sswingonlygrazedme,andmyswingtoreopenherJacket.

           AholegapedinRita’scrimsonarmor.

           "Rita!"

           Herbattleaxetrembledinherhands.Rita’sJacketwasdoingitsbesttofiltertheunintendedcommandstriggeredbytheconvulsionsinhermuscles.Theaxe’stungstencarbidehandleclatterednoisilyagainsthergauntlets.Blood,oil,andsomeunidentifiablefluidsoozedfromthenewlyopenedsplitinherarmor.Thescenewaseerilyfamiliartome,andIfeltarenewedsenseofterror.Sheextendedherarmandfumbledforthejackonmyshoulderplate.Acontactcomm.Rita’svoicewasclearinmyhelmet.

           "Youwin,KeijiKiriya."ThecrimsonJacketleanedhardagainstme.Rita’svoicewasdryandlacedwithpain.

           "Rita-why?"

           "I’veknownforalongtime.EversinceIfirstgottheMimicsignal.Thebattlealwaysends."

           "What?Idon’t-"

           "You’retheonewhomakesitoutofthisloop."Ritacoughed,amechanicalsputteringsoundthroughthelink.

           Ifinallyunderstood.WhenImetRitayesterday,shehaddecidedthatshewasgoingtodie.Ididn’trecognizeitforwhatitwasatthetime.IthoughtI’daccidentallytrippedsomesortofflag.Ishouldhavebeentryingtofindawaytosaveher,butIletthedayslipthroughmyfingers.

           "I’msorry,Rita.I-Ididn’tknow."

           "Don’tapologize.Youwon"