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Torrence is behind his barricade now Firing with the rest

He spares the occasional glance for Zhang Telling hi threatened His pawns falling He knows this game

We have played it a thousand ti, perhaps, I am not here

A little boy with his eyes screwed shut and his hands over his ears shouting lalalalalalala as the wave of teeth and fists rolls ever closer

He fights

All of the my walls with brains and bone

But there are too many And I can see it in thenias on their collars and the mantra "Centrum tenenda" carved in their bones, still I see it

They are afraid

He is afraid

I realize I do not want this to be his last moment with me

I do not wish hie for your wife, David?"

That catches him Like a blow to the chest

"… What?"

"Your wife Your children Do you wish ?"

The afflicted are almost upon them

The air is a din of hypersonic bursts, snarls and es But still I hear him

As his people start to fall

As his pistol clicks empty

As he rises with only his knuckles left between him and the sheer brutality of e, still I hear hi of them At the end"

They pile onto him All snarls and teeth and fists

But as he falls, I aht

"I will tell them, David"

The last words he will ever hear

"I promise"

< error >

Am I not merciful?

COMMAND TRANSMISSION SENT 07/30/75 09:35

ALEXANDER HAILS HYPATIA: COMMANDER’S SECURE FREQUENCY

HYPATIA: General Torrence, this is Acting Captain Syra Boll of the Hypatia Do you copy? Over

[NO RESPONSE]

HYPATIA HAILS ALEXANDER: EMERGENCY FREQUENCY

HYPATIA: Alexander, Alexander, Alexander, this is Hypatia, Hypatia, Hypatia Do you copy? Over

[NO RESPONSE]

HYPATIA HAILS ALEXANDER: MAYDAY FREQUENCY

HYPATIA: Alexander, Alexander, Alexander, this is Hypatia, Hypatia, Hypatia Do you copy? Over

ALEXANDER: Oh, g-god God, they’re inside the--