But those mutants weren’t sweep sanctioned. That’s why I could use the Versipath OverRide and the GhostMark to clear out the entire factory before I left.
I should’ve fired. If I hadn’t jumped us into all that hectic world-hoppin’, and just fuckin’ stood my ground and fought, we’d have won. The whole battle would’ve been over in seconds.
We’d have been on our way to find that good world.
We would still be whole right now, instead of broken.
Lover Boy registers Clara, his newly augmented eyes flaring up cyan-blue as he takes in the blood still drippin’ out her ears, eyes, nose, and mouth.
“She’s fine,” I say quickly. Which is a lie. “Shewill befine.”
He looks confused for a moment, which gives me time to log the changes. He’s shirtless, wearin’ nothin’ but a pair of black tactical pants. No shoes. Everythin’ about him has been augmented. Muscles chiseled from stone, eyes flashing blue, then yellow, then back to blue. Blond hair now white, sides shaved like a proper Sweep recruit. And under his skin I can see the lights. Not functional yet, but there.
“Who did this to you?” I ask.
He looks down at the dyin’ woman in his arms, then back up at me. “I didn’t know.”
That’s not what I asked, but I don’t ask again.
Because it’s a lie.
Hedidknow.
Whatever happened to this girl, he’s the reason she’s dyin’. He took her spark, the same way I took Clara’s.
We’re both guilty as fuck.
So I’ve got nothin’ to say to him, but a lie in return.
“Join the fuckin’ club.” I nod at the floor and he slumps down, back against the bulkhead, whisperin’ something in his girl’s ear.
I look away.
Neither of us says anythin’ as the doors close and we pull out of the station.
In their absence, I find strength.
“One day, Tyse,” Myra says, pullin’ me back to my tragic past, “you’re gonna need these mods. And then you’ll thank me.”
In their wisdom, I survive.
Thank you, Myra.
