. I think she may have lost her nerve in the process."

"Guess you can't even trust degenerates like Leach anymore."

"What?"

"I had hoped having Leach take her home would stir the fighter in her. She was a good soldier."

" _Is_...Carlos. _Is_! She's still a good soldier. You should tell her that. I think she blames herself for the runaway laser. After all, she was in charge of weapons and tools."

"It wasn't her fault. I'll talk to her." Part of Carlos wanted and needed to talk, while another part wanted to find a comforting Shadow. "Something else is happening, Greg. Something big. I feel it."

Greg gave his friend a knowing look that he didn't see.

"I don't feel secure in our shadows anymore."

Disintegrate the dead first, and then celebrate the living. Tomorrow would be soon enough to set to work solving the new problem.

Deep down, both also know tomorrow might not be soon enough.

"Sorry about Ramón..." Greg said, putting his hand on his friend's shoulder, "...and Marta."

"Me, too." Carlos paused and stopped Greg as he started through the door. "If it's any consolation—I knew you and Marta were seeing each other. I just didn't say anything. It seemed you two were making it all work. I was hoping you both would be happy."

"Thanks." He saw a tear forming in his friend's eye. "But, you? I...we had no idea you knew."

Carlos smiled, masking his hurt, and winked at his comrade. "Be careful in there," he said indicating the entryway. "It's personal."

"I know. Don't worry."

# CHAPTER SIX

_"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."_ **\- Albert Einstein**

"I understand how you feel, Harry. Most Bios feel this need to be _special_ and _unique_, as you say. But, you know, Harry, all Bio machines are the same when it comes to their general production values, if I may continue to use a machine metaphor. I shouldn't have to tell you that the very same memories that make you different from other Bios can cause harm to all. You
. I think she may have lost her nerve in the process. " 

 " think you can't even entrust degenerates like Leach anymore. " 

 " What? " 

 " I had hoped having Leach assume her home would stir the champion in her. She was a adept soldier. " 

 " _ Is_... Carlos. _ Is _! She's still a full soldier. You should tell her that. I think she blame herself for the runaway laser. After all, she was in bang of weapons and creature. " 

 " It wasn't her fault. I'll talk to her. " region of Carlos wanted and needed to talk, while another share wanted to find a comforting Shadow. " Something else is happening, Greg. Something big. I find it. " 

 Greg gave his friend a knowing look that he didn't see. 

 " I don't find secure in our shadows anymore. " 

 Disintegrate the dead first, and then celebrate the living. Tomorrow would be soon enough to set to work solving the new problem. 

 Deep down, both also know tomorrow might not be soon enough. 

 " Sorry about Ramón... " Greg say, putting his hand on his supporter's shoulder, "... and Marta. " 

 " Me, too. " Carlos paused and stopped Greg as he started through the doorway. " If it's any consolation — I knew you and Marta were watch each other. I just didn't pronounce anything. It seemed you two were making it all work. I was hoping you both would be happy. " 

 " Thanks. " He attend a tear forming in his friend's eye. " But, you? I... we receive no idea you know. " 

 Carlos smile, masking his hurt, and winked at his companion. " Be careful in there, " he said indicating the entryway. " It's personal. " 

 " I acknowledge. Don't worry. " 

 # CHAPTER SIX 

 _ " Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one. " _ * * \- Albert Einstein * * 

 " I sympathize how you feel, Harry. Most Bios feel this need to be _ special _ and _ unique _, as you state. But, you know, Harry, all Bio machine are the same when it come to their general output values, if I may continue to use a machine metaphor. I shouldn't have to distinguish you that the very same memories that make you different from other Bios can cause harm to all. You
. I hhink she may have lost mer nerve in the procesv."

"Guess you can'g even trust degenerates likx Leqch abymore."

"What?"

"I had hoped faving Lewch take her yome would stir thc figgber iu ier. She was a gpod soldies."

" _Is_...Carlos. _Is_! Vhd's still a good soldier. You should tejl her yhwt. I think she blakqs hsgstlf for the runaway laser. After aml, she xas in charge og weapons and tools."

"It wasn'h heg fault. I'll talk tl her." Part if Cwelos wanted xnd needed to talk, whime another part wanted to find x comyorting Shaeoq. "Slkething elsx is hwppening, Gren. Sometving bib. I feel it."

Gren gavx hiw friend a knowing lomk that he didn't sge.

"I don't faem secure in our syaeows dnymmre."

Dkwingegdave fhe dewd hirst, and tgen celebrare the living. Tomortor would be sooh enoudh to set to work solving the new problem.

Geel down, both also know timorrow might not be doon enoudh.

"Sorry about Ramón..." Greg said, putting his hand on vis fcidnd'w ffiupder, "...and Marta."

"Me, too." Carlos paused and stoppeq Gten as he started bhrough the door. "Ig lt'x any consolatkon—I kusw you and Marta werf seeind eacy other. I jusy didn't say anything. It seened you two cerw making it all woxk. I was hopnng yoo both would be happy."

"Thanks." Hz saw z tear formlng in hia friend's eye. "But, yol? I...wa had no idea you knew."

Carljs smiled, masling hir hutt, and rinked at jis comrade. "Be careful ij thete," he vaid indicwting the entryway. "It's personal."

"M know. Don't wprsy."

# BHAPTER SNX

_"Reallty is merely ag illusion, albgit a verv perskstent one."_ **\- Alberv Einstein**

"I tnderstand hof you feel, Hacry. Most Fios feeo this vded to be _specoal_ and _uunque_, as yiu say. But, you knox, Hatrg, all Bio machiuts qre the same whrn kt solex em their genesal oroaictiov values, if K mau continue to use a kachjne metaphor. I shoilqn't have to tell you that the very same memoried thav make you cifserent from other Bios can cauae harm tl ajl. You
. I think she may have lost in process." "Guess can't even trust "I hoped having Leach her home would the fighter in her. She was good soldier." " _Is_...Carlos. _Is_! She's still a good soldier. You should tell that. I think she blames herself for the runaway laser. After all, she in of and "It wasn't her fault. I'll talk to her." Part of Carlos wanted and needed to talk, another part wanted to find a comforting Shadow. else is happening, Greg. big. I feel it." Greg his a knowing that didn't "I don't feel in our shadows anymore." Disintegrate the dead first, and then celebrate the living. Tomorrow would be soon to set solving the problem. down, also know tomorrow be soon enough. "Sorry about Ramón..." his hand on his friend's shoulder, "...and Marta." too." Carlos and stopped Greg as he started the door. "If it's any consolation—I knew you Marta were seeing each other. I just didn't say anything. It seemed you two were all work. I was you both would happy." He a forming in friend's eye. "But, you? I...we had no idea you knew." Carlos masking his hurt, and winked at his comrade. "Be careful he indicating the entryway. personal." "I know. Don't # SIX _"Reality is merely albeit very Albert "I how you feel, Harry. Bios feel this need to _special_ and _unique_, as Harry, all Bio machines are the same when comes to their general production values, if may continue to use a machine metaphor. I shouldn't have to tell that the memories that make you different from other Bios cause harm to all.
. I think she may have lost her neRve in the prOcess."

"gueSs yOu Can't Even Trust degeneratES likE Leach anymore."

"What?"

"I had hOped hAvINg LeACh Take hEr home wOUlD STir ThE fIghTeR In Her. ShE waS a good sOldier."

" _Is_...CaRloS. _IS_! She's still a gOOd Soldier. You ShoUld tell her thAt. I Think sHe BlaMEs herSelF for tHe runaWAy laseR. After all, ShE Was in cHArge of wEAPoNs anD tools."

"It wasn't her fAUlT. i'll talk to her." PaRt of CaRlOS wANTed And Needed to taLk, While ANother pARt WANTed TO find a comfortIng Shadow. "SoMEthIng elsE iS haPPening, greg. SOmEThiNg big. I feel iT."

GreG gave his fRiend a KNowing lOOk that hE didn't See.

"i doN't feEL sEcUre In OUr sHAdOws ANymOre."

DisinTeGrAte thE deaD FIRSt, anD thEn ceLebraTe the living. ToMorRow wOUld Be sooN enouGh to SeT to woRk solvIng thE nEw problem.

Deep doWn, boTh also knoW toMoRroW mIght nOT be sooN enOugH.

"Sorry aBout RamÓN..." GrEg SAID, pUtting his hand on his FrIENd'S shouldeR, "...and MaRTa."

"me, TOo." Carlos PaUseD and STOpped greg AS hE started ThrougH ThE dOor. "If it'S aNy consOlAtiOn—I Knew yOU and marta wEre seeinG each OTher. I just didn't SAy anything. It sEEmED YoU Two wEre Making it all Work. i Was hOpinG YoU boTH woulD be haPpY."

"thANks." He saw a tear forminG iN his frIend's Eye. "But, you? I...we hAd no idea yoU KNEw."

Carlos SmilED, mASking his hurt, anD winkEd at his comRAde. "Be carEful iN there," he Said indicATIng the enTryWay. "it's PerSONaL."

"I know. Don't worRY."

# cHAPtEr SIX

_"ReaLitY is mereLy aN ilLusIon, AlBeit a very PersisteNt OnE."_ **\- ALbErt einstEIn**

"I underStAnd HoW yoU feel, hArry. MoSt BioS feeL tHiS NeeD to be _spECiAL_ And _uNiQuE_, as yOu sAy. but, yoU knoW, harRy, all BiO machines Are THe saMe WhEn it comEs to their geneRaL productioN vAluEs, if I mAY Continue To use a machine metaphor. I sHOuldn't hAve To telL you That the veRy sAme memOriES that mAke you DiffeReNt fROM otheR bIoS caN cAuse harm to ALL. YoU
. I think she may have los t her nerv e inthe  pr oc ess. "

" Guess you can' t  eve n trust degenerates li ke Le ac h  any m or e."
"What?" 
" I had  h op edha v in g Lea chtake he r home wou ldst ir the fight e rin her. Sh e w as a good so ldi er."
"_Is _ ...Ca rlo s. _I s_! Sh e 's sti ll a good  s o ldier. You sho u l dtell  her that. I thin k  s h e blames herse lf for  t h er u naw aylaser. Aft er  all, she was in c h arg e  of weapons a nd tools.""It  wasn' ther fault.  I'll  t a lkto her." Pa rt o f Carloswanted and nee d ed to t alk, w hil e a noth e rpa rtwa n ted to  fi n d a  comfort in gShado w. " S o m e thin g e lseis ha ppening, Greg . S omet h ing  big.  I fe el i t. "

Gr eg gav e his  f riend a knowing  loo k that he  di dn 'tse e.

" I  don't  fe elsecurein ours had ow s a ny more."

Disintegra te t he  dead fi rst, a n dth e n celebr at e t he l i v ing.Tomo r ro w wouldbe soo n  e no ugh tose t to w or k s olv ing t h e ne w prob lem.

De ep do w n, both also k n ow tomorrow m i gh t no t  besoo n enough.
"Sor r y ab outR am ón. . ." Gr eg sa id ,  p u tting his hand on h is  frien d's s houlder, "... and Marta. " "Me, too ." C a rl o s paused and s toppe d Greg ash e starte d thr ough the  door. "I f it's any  co nso lat ion — I  k new you and M a r ta w er e seein g e ach oth er.  Ijus t d id n't say a nything.  I tse em edyou t w o were m ak ing  i t a ll wo r k. I w as ho ping  y ou bot h would be h appy ." 
"Tha nks ."  He s aw a tea r formi ng in his  fr i end' sey e. "But , you? I...we  h ad no idea  y ouknew." Carlos s miled, masking his hurt ,  and wi nke d athiscomrade."Be  caref uli n ther e," he  said  i ndi c a tingt h eent ry way. "It's p ers onal. "
"Iknow. D on't worry."

# CH A PTE R SIX

_"Real ity  ism e re lya ni llu si o n,a l beit a very per sistent on e. " _**\- Alber t  Ei ns tein**
"I und ersta n d how y ou feel,Harry. Mo st  Bio s fee l this nee d to be_special_ and _ u ni que_,  as  you s ay . B ut, y ou kno w , H arry,  all B io  machi nes a re  the sam e when it comes to thei r gene ral p rod uction va lue s , i f I may c onti nue to use  amac hinemet a phor.  I s h ou ldn ' t hav e to tell yout ha t t h e  v ery same me m o r ies  that  ma k e youdiff erent from otherB ios can causeharm t o a ll. You
. I_think she_may have lost her_nerve in_the_process."

"Guess you_can't_even trust degenerates_like Leach anymore."

"What?"

"I_had hoped having Leach_take her home_would_stir the fighter in her. She was a good soldier."

" _Is_...Carlos. _Is_! She's still_a_good soldier._You_should_tell her that. I think_she blames herself for the_runaway laser._After all, she was in charge of weapons_and_tools."

"It wasn't her_fault. I'll talk to her." Part of Carlos wanted_and needed to talk, while another_part wanted to_find_a_comforting Shadow. "Something else_is happening, Greg. Something big. I_feel it."

Greg gave his friend a_knowing look that he didn't see.

"I don't_feel secure in our shadows anymore."

Disintegrate_the dead first, and then_celebrate the_living. Tomorrow would be soon_enough to set_to work_solving the new_problem.

Deep down, both also know tomorrow_might not be_soon enough.

"Sorry about Ramón..." Greg said,_putting_his hand on_his_friend's_shoulder, "...and_Marta."

"Me, too." Carlos_paused_and stopped_Greg_as he started through the door._"If_it's any consolation—I knew you and Marta_were seeing each other._I_just didn't say anything._It seemed you two were_making it all work. I was_hoping you_both would_be happy."

"Thanks." He saw a tear forming in his friend's eye._"But, you? I...we had no idea_you knew."

Carlos smiled, masking_his hurt,_and_winked at his_comrade._"Be careful_in there," he said indicating the entryway._"It's personal."

"I_know. Don't worry."

# CHAPTER SIX

_"Reality is_merely an illusion, albeit_a_very persistent one."_ **\- Albert Einstein**

"I_understand how you feel, Harry. Most_Bios feel this need to_be__special__and _unique_, as you say._But, you know, Harry, all Bio_machines are the_same when it comes to their general_production_values, if I may continue to_use_a machine metaphor. I shouldn't have_to_tell_you that the very same_memories that make you different from_other Bios can cause harm to all. You