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Edwards lurched and grabbed her ankle with a failing grip。 〃No！ I won't let you go！〃
Kyle was kneeling on Edwards's biceps； Edwards's head clamped in his hands； so quickly that there was no sense of transition。 The general heard the bones of his upper spine creak and knew that his life lay on the line。
The dagger in Edwards's boot； the energy derringer in his jacket pocket…those might as well be on the SDF…3； or back on Earth； for all the good they could do him。 Kyle was as quick as a lightning bolt； and there was simply no defense against him。 He was more like an elemental force than a man。
〃I've never taken a human life。〃 The words seemed to e so slowly； though Edwards knew Lynn…Kyle was speaking very fast。 〃But I'll kill you if you don't lie still！〃 The heel of Kyle's hand lay； pressing upward in warning； under the general's nose； poised to execute him in an instant。
Edwards； defeated； kept still。 In Kyle's place； he would have killed； but he would never be in Kyle's place； he knew now。 He had lost。
But he couldn't resist croaking； 〃Go ahead； take the little slut； then。 She's a waste of time in bed anyway。。。〃
Kyle seized a handful of Edwards's hair； preparing to kill him。 His fist hovered； middle knuckle cocked forth； and Edwards's eyes nearly crossed； focused on that single Damoclean striking surface hanging over him。
〃Kyle； no；〃 Minmei said； as her cousin drew quick breaths and gathered his resolve。 〃Kyle； we need him！〃
〃I don't need him。〃 The wrist turned upside down； the cocked knuckle drawn back tight and high under Kyle's right armpit； aimed at Edwards's Adam's apple。 The general squirmed； trying to move his arms； but he was helpless。
〃Kyle； the war's over。 Just hang onto him； and we can end it all today。〃 She swiped the long； damp night…black hair out of her eyes。 〃Kyle； you're not a murderer。 The war's over。〃
〃The war's over。〃 Saying it didn't give Kyle the satisfaction he thought he would have back at the beginning…back when the SDF…3 mission was recruiting； back before he and Minmei and the rest had passed into the flames once more。
But it was enough。 He would settle for it。 〃War's over； General。 You're going to stand up and order your troops to surrender。 We'll strike a peace with the Regent。 And then we're all going home； right？〃
Edwards's mouth moved； but he was unable to speak。 Yet he was careful to nod unmistakably； his hair pulling against Kyle's grip； as he looked up at that one single knuckle that jutted out like a battering ram。 〃Urr。 R…right。〃
Kyle smiled； nodding。 〃扵he wolf shall dwell with the lamb。'〃 He grabbed the front of Edwards's dress uniform jacket； ready to lift him up。
〃扐nd the leopard shall lie down with the kid。'〃 Kyle stuck his fist close to Edwards's face again。 The fist was like some gnarled piece of iron with a scruffy skin…covering on it。 〃And we're all going to live happily ever after； isn't that right？〃
Edwards almost said something； but thought better of it。 He swallowed； then nodded。 Kyle leaned forward to pull him to his feet。
There was a sudden scuffling behind him and Kyle whirled； rising。 Edwards's eyes flickered that way at the same time； to see Adams grappling with Minmei； the bright edge of a bat knife reflecting the light。
〃Kill her！ Kill her！〃 Edwards screamed； not because he thought Adams would necessarily follow orders； but rather because it would keep Lynn…Kyle diverted。 It was no surprise that Kyle unthinkingly sprang to Minmei's aid。 Edwards was digging for his gun； even as he thought； Kyle must know I'm armed！ Why。。。
Adams's eyes opened wide； the edge of his blade drawing a trickle of blood from Minmei's neck。 Kyle came at him； unstoppable and almost too fast to see； with a strength like something out of Robotechnology。
Adams felt himself horribly hurt and sent pinwheeling； but there was nothing he could do about it； he was propelled into a corner； black…red blood bubbling on his lips； knowing he had only a few moments of life left。 Minmei was safe； except for the shallow cut on her throat。
Kyle spun on Edwards； but the general already had his derringer in his hand。 It didn't make any difference； Kyle leapt at him anyway。
The gun was small； only good for two rounds； but graphically effective at short range。 Edwards shot Kyle twice while he was in the air； the body that landed on the general was almost dead。
Edwards pushed Kyle off； while Minmei came to her cousin's side； knelt； and brushed his raven's…wing forelock out of his eyes。 She took his head into her lap tenderly； as Edwards labored to regain his breath and get to his feet。
Kyle's eyelids fluttered。 〃Minmei。。。〃
〃Shh…hh。〃
There was no saving him； she kept her trembling hand at his chin； so he couldn't see the melted fabric and bloody mess that was his chest。 Kyle coughed； 〃The war was almost over。 We'd won。〃
〃We'd won。〃 She nodded。 〃You won it for us； Kyle。〃 She was about to faint； holding a human body that was half blown open； but she found reserves of courage from someplace she had never delved into before； and smiled down at him instead。
There was a final； galvanic bit of life to him。 〃Tell me you love me； Minmei。 Let it be the last thing I hear。 Please。〃
Once； she would have hung back from conceding that； but she had suffered so much since joining the Sentinels。。。it seemed that last words were all she knew anymore。
〃I love you； Lynn…Kyle。 Now and forever。〃
Minmei locked her mouth to his； and felt Kyle go cold and lifeless。 She held him close； rocking as she embraced his head； crooning a little children's song he had taught her a thousand eons ago。
There was the sudden grip of bloody hands； and Edwards dragged her away from Lynn…Kyle's corpse。 He was speaking into a rover mo unit through his smashed face。 〃Rally here！ Rally here！ Make pickup at this location at once！〃
There was a burst of static as someone acknowledged from the assault units。 Minmei knew she was still a captive and that Edwards might still win the day； but all of that was unimportant to her now。
I'm not a prisoner anymore。 I have my own part to play now。
She glanced around the room； and everything she saw seemed to be an edged weapon or