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           Shastarelaxedhergriponthemonkeywrench.

           "AnycomparisonwiththeFullMetalBi-uh,Valkyrieishighpraise."

           "Youknow,you’revery…"Hervoicetrailedoff.

           "I’mverywhat?"

           "Unusual."

           "Maybeso."

           "Justremember,it’snotaneasyweapontouse."

           "Ihavealotoftimetopractice."

           Shastasmiled."I’vemetsoldierswhothinktheycanfollowinRita’sfootstepsandfail,andI’vemetsomewhorecognizeherfortheprodigysheisandnevereventrytomatchher.Butyou’rethefirstpersonI’vemetwhorealizesthedistancebetweenthemselvesandRitaandyetispreparedtorunit."

           ThemoreIunderstoodwar,themoreIknewjustwhataprodigyRitawas.Thesecondtimethroughtheloop,whenRitajoinedusinthePTsession,I’donlystaredatherthewayIhadbecauseIwasanewrecruitwhodidn’tknowanybetter.NowthatI’dbeenthroughtheloopenoughtimestocallmyselfarealJacketjockey,thegapbetweenherandmeseemedevengreater.IfIdidn’thave,literally,aninfiniteamountoftime,Iwouldhavegivenup.

           Withamagnificentleap,Shastapluckedthesiliconchipfrommyhand."Hangon.Letmegiveyousomepapersforthataxebeforeyougo."

           "Thanks."

           Shemadetoleaveforthepapers,thenstopped."CanIaskyousomething?"

           "Shoot."

           "Whydoyouhavethenumberforty-sevenwrittenonyourhand?"

           Ididn’tknowwhattotellher.Onthespot,Icouldn’tcomeupwithasinglebelievablereasonasoldierwouldhavetowriteanumberonhishand