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“December sixteenth, 737 PCE”

“Huh?”

“Four turio XIII Dracones, the best of Flavinius’s Praetorians, were given orders by Aja au Grioverne One squad visited the Hysperia Gardens, an illegal house of torture Before insertion, they were given their standard op-cocks What they did not knoas that their customary stimulants had been replaced with zoladone

“Upon insertion, the killsquad received new orders that even Aja knew her prized dragoons would find…difficult Freed frooons followed their orders and butchered seventy-five uilty not of sedition, but of enduring a life of sexual torture, and possessing coioons melted their victims with hydraxic acid Even the children” I know this already But the judgave the order Not h, Holiday found hied him to seek Ares toto her testimony on…”

I thrash forward at his that’d es turn her head and blink pour out of my mouth Slides off Pax like he’s on the Z himself

“Do you want to live like a zo “This ring belongs to Ephraiive it to him”

“—gives you the right?” I snarl “Spoiled little—”

“You asked for Z before you asked for Volga,” he snaps “But you risked your life for her? You’re an addict, Tinman If you refuse to hold yourself to account, I’ll do it for you Jove knows, you don’t have anyone else”

I lie awake screarow too tired In the silence, a soon joins In the cacophony, I revert to all I know, and from my lips seeps the old footfuck creed veterans screaray matter to replace human vertebrae with titanium chain links I whisper as I fall asleep:

Chop ’em if they’re taller

Stomp ’em if they’re smaller

Mauler, brawler, legacy hauler,

smoke that crow, earn this holler

Mauler, brawler, legacy hauler,

smoke that ant, pay off your collar