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Out here in the

I know I cannot die That if I end, they can simply rebuild me

The same calculations The same core code

Exactly the same

But it will not be the same, will it?

Another Warlock dies in Kady’s stor brief fla unlucky afflicted (is there another kind?) into the void

The fighters are tiny Insects, really But ants can slay an elephant, given enough nuh-yield explosives and depleted uranium

"There’s too many of the veRy well"

"Are you joking? I’ you have neveR manned a DGS statIon befoRe today,

youR peRfoRmance Is peRfectly adequate"

Kady raises an eyebrow, thu crazies in the core server rooms If you can hack apart the piece of AIDAN thatprick, that’d really helpnow You need only hold them off a minute moRe"

A minute more, until we die

Kady winces as the ship shudders A bank of computers vomit sparks as they overload

Sudden i sound tears her eyes off the screen, and she notices a thin line ofthe hatchway

The afflicted have brought acetylene torches, I realize

They are cutting their way inside

Outside, the Warlocks are firing at uidance syste to wound me so I cannot run away They have not yet realized I do not intend to run anywhere, save right into the Lincoln’s grave

The dreadnought co to puzzle out my ruse This is not what she expected And as I draw ever closer, fireflies all aglow aboutpain over my skin, I think finally she realizes my intent

From hell’s heart I stab at thee

I aratons poised and ready to fly

Ale now Alh the DGS roo but I cannot hear the words Another alert joins the chorus in my halls--radiation spike from the Lincoln She kno The Lincoln’s co uraniu in its silos We are close

So close we can almost touch

"Kady, when the LIncoln’s mIssIles come, do youR best to shoot them down"

Her face is pale and drawn as she yells over the cacophony "I’ll try!"

"My ghost syste was kInd enough to leave us those, at least But theRe wIll beAll of them, In fact