The grenade caught `em both easy, brightenin` the alley like the mother sun. Wind and grit snapped past me, yankin` my hair this way and that, but I moved right out inta the blast, takin` a deep breath of roasted meat and metal. Gods I was hungry.

　　The baked ground cracked beneath my boots, but I paid it no never mind. I wanted to see my work! My first target—a long-legged beauty—had gotten away, and everyone else had been blown clear to pieces. I was hopin` one of these boys was tough enough to stay more togetha.

　　I found the dip of the blast and sauntered down the edge. The smoke was thick and fulla tricks, but I found `em, sure enough. I stepped over the first body and straddled it like a lunar looly, hair droopin` at my sides.

　　"Wooeee, friend, but ya look a mess!"

　　The body was cracked and torn, ragged bits of armor fizzlin` as its mirror cells tried to make matches and failed.

　　I clucked my tongue.

　　"Ya had some toys, fella." I reached down to touch the phantom plate only to singe my fingers. "Sweet Core, man, but you are hot!"Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

　　I tugged on a thermal glove before goin` explorin` again, rollin` the corpse round until I found three knives strapped to its back. When I picked `em up they started hummin`—least the first one did, the other two blew out quick, so I tossed them. I flipped my new steel pokey from hand to hand, likin` the way it felt.

　　"Why thank ya, friend." I gave the charred body a lopsided grin. "Looks like old Keb owes ya a favor. Ya just name it and it`s yours." The corpse only sizzled in response, and I laughed. "Have it your way."

　　The smoke broke, and what was lefta the screamer leapt at me, yellin`, spittin`, dyin`. My pistol gave it two new eyes and a nose just for fun. The beastie fell back, and I holstered my gun.

　　"Now what do ya think you`re doin`?"

　　I stepped over Mr. Bashful and round to the animal. The thing was still managin` to croak and gasp, floppin` round like it had somewhere to be.

　　Damned if I didn`t snort in admiration.

　　"Ya may be one ugly critter, but by Core ya keep on comin`." The three holes I made in its face looked at me, and its mouth opened to make one last gasp. Then I heard a clang and looked down to see my new knife layin` on the ground. Even stranger, my fingers and legs felt prickly numb, and my throat burned awful fierce. That`s when I realized that there was a line of somethin` sharp and sticky in my neck, and then I was fallin` but not movin` and—

　　shzzzzzt