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Zin knehat the light was She knew she had died, and knew there was nothing she could do about that Going straight into that light would be the easiest thing to do But she couldn't stop thinking about her family, tormented by herforward, and found herself lingering at the threshold between the here and hereafter Then she did so of such incredible audacity, the very universe was both insulted and iht, grabbed the tiniest bit of it in her fist, and pulled her hand back again, taking a fraction of the light with her Then she turned and ran fro Everlost

What she didn't knoas that taking a bit of eternity in her hand would give her a very special power

Like hts, the details of her life on earth became hazy, but she did remember the war For more than a hundred and fifty years she served her part Collecting weapons gave her a sense of purpose--and woe be to any Afterlight who tried to tell her the as over--for then what purpose would her existence serve? In spite of her uniforirl, for she never had a desire to be a boy, only to be treated as one She still cursed the fact that the hat would not corow--and she hated that they called her "Zach the Ripper" Like the uniform, however, it served a purpose for her, so she lived with it

That is, until the day the Chocolate Ogre ca away

Zinnia fell to her knees inat all All those years of collecting, and noas there for her? Kudzu nuzzled up to her, trying to comfort her, but she would not be co " She would have reached into the fudge-faced kid right then, and ripped hi more than chocolate

Nick chose to keep his distance He knew any chance for an easy alliance with the Ripper was gonebut that didn't mean there couldn't be a reluctant alliance, if he played this right "Coh for the Ripper to hear "We ca She couldn't be any use in the war"

"That's right," snapped the Ripper "Get lost!"

Nick turned to go then did a little mental countdown Onetwothree

"What war?" asked the Ripper

Nick grinned--it was like waiting for thunder after lightning He turned back to her and looked her over, shaking his head "Not the one you're fighting"

The Ripper looked away, her face betraying an odd mixture of shame and fury There was a definite sense of craziness in her, but perhaps that could be dealt with Perhaps it could be refined and directed

Johnnie-O pulled Nick aside, and spoke to hi about her," Johnnie-O whispered

"That's just because she ripped you"

"What if she does it again?"

"I'll make sure she won't"

All the while, Zin kept watching the about

Nick went back over to her "After careful consideration," Nick said, "we've decided you're army material"

She looked at Nick warily "What's e of tactical field operations" Nick had made it up on the spot, of course, but it sounded sufficiently iet to rip weapons?"

"You'll rip what your superior officers tell you to rip, or you can go back up in that spaceship and launch yourself into orbit for all I care"

The Ripper scowled at him, but her scowl faded She turned and looked up at the shuttle "I tried that once, but it didn't work," she said "I think they launch it from somewhere else Someplace that ain't in Everlost yet"

She considered the massive ship for a ots to call you 'sir'?"

"Yes," Nick said, figuring it eneral, you will address me as sir This is Mr Johnnie-O He's a sir too"

"I'm Zinnia," said the Ripper, "but people call me Zin"

Johnnie-O folded his arms "I won't shake her hand"

Zin curled her lip in disgust "I wouldn't shake your hand anyway Your hands are ugly"

In response Johnnie-O ot between them before it could escalate "Your first order is to rip so," said Johnnie-O Disgusted, he put his hand to his head, maybe to make sure that his brain was still there

"Iworld," Nick said

Zin chuckled "I thought you'd ask me to do sumpin' hard"

She looked around, then saw a tattered tissue tu-world wind Casually she reached out with her right hand With a faint shi world, she grabbed the tissue in h the hole into Everlost The portal into the living world closed al-cadabra!"