Page 132 (1/2)

"If you need to get out at any point, you get out," I said "But aside froe? Yeah, noto stop co for us So it ends, or we end, and either way, I won’t bla"

"Thank you," said Alaric quietly

"So what are we doing?" asked Becks "What’s the plan? Does anybody have a plan? Or did we just get on a plane with this guy and cross the country because, hey, at this point it was the only stupid thing we hadn’t done?"

"Rick was involved with the progra us to Rick Rick wouldn’t have done this if he didn’t think it was absolutely necessary"

"Wow, you ht back at huge financial and ethical cost just because they miss them?" asked Alaric dryly

There was a pause, all four of us looking at each other wide-eyed Then we all burst out laughing Becks leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees as she shook with laughter Alaric sank back in his seat George leaned sideways, her shoulder pressing into my hip, and tried to cover herher soda

Becks was the first to get herself back under control Straightening up, she wiped her eyes and grinned at Alaric "Glad to see you’re feeling up to being an assle again, Kwong," she said

Alaric half saluted "Just doing my part for Assholes Anonymous of America"

"Somebody has to," I said I sat down in Dr Shoji’s abandoned seat, tossing the last turkey sandwich to Alaric before taking a sip of round running"

"Do we ever do anything else?" asked Becks

"No," said George

I toasted her with ain as she stood and made her way back to the kitchenette Alaric started unwrapping his sandwich I s e bite We needed to keep our strength up I had the distinct feeling that not only would we be hitting the ground running, ere probably never going to slon again Our lives--all our lives--had beentie’s case Well, this was the last cal to enjoy it while it lasted

I’ve always lived ia Carolyn Mason, b 2016, in the final year of the Rising, d 2040, during the Ryn, always lived her life by one simple commandment: Tell the truth Whenever possible, whatever it requires, tell the truth This blog was for opinions and personal thoughts, because those, too, are a part of the truth No one is truly objective, no matter how hard we try, and unless people knehere her biases were, they couldn’t knohen to read around theia Mason died to tell the truth It’s not her fault soia Mason I am not anyone else I am a chimera, built of science and stolen DNA and a dead woman’s memories I as you need to know, because otherwise, you won’t be able to read around theia Mason