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by Jeanne Powers
He's late. I anticipated that.
He'll breeze in, angry and defiant;
he'll complain, he'll insult,
he'll pretend he isn't interested,
but he'll come.
And he'll stay.
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This is all a load of crap.
I knew it would be.
Guards, cops, guns and gates
like it's some Big Deal and not just horseshit.
Another stinkin' headgame.
Don't know why I bothered.
They're all liars, wouldn't know the truth
if it bit them in the ass.
They promise stuff they don't deliver,
and they still think they're going to use me.
Yeah.
Right.
I'll play along awhile,
just for the pleasure of walkin' out.
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She is impatient.
Her anger is her armor
as she paces Amy's patterns,
precise and intricate.
She doesn't know I know.
She is restless.
But she will wait.
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He's just what I expected,
conceited, erratic, petulant
and self-absorbed.
Never mind that we've been waiting,
never mind that we have priorities too.
Who does he think he is?
More exorcist than scientist,
half a step away from quackery,
how can anyone take him seriously?
How could you, Allan?
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He's prepared; he always is.
Always guarded and on guard.
His efficiency is sometimes frightening
but always effective.
He'll find working with civilians a trial
but he'll do it
and do it well.
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I've seen their type before, both of them
--no surprises.
(I don't like surprises.)
Intellectual arrogance.
I can hear it now.
"Military intelligence? Isn't that an oxymoron?"
He's playing tough guy,
a real Rebel Without a Clue.
She's playing Scientific Ice Princess,
above the rabble and the fray.
They've assigned me the Terminator role,
robot, unthinking, unreasoning,
shoot-'em-up Joe.
Their loss.
I'll do my job in spite of them.
Oh, I'll respect them--
if they earn it.
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They're all here at last
but not together.
At least there hasn't been bloodshed
(not yet anyway.)
Their differences can be our strength
or our Achiles' heel; is free will
always part blessing and part curse?
Ironic indeed if individuality
becomes our downfall
in the face of viral unity.
Our salvation. . . or our damnation?
Time will tell, and there is no time.
Already the fire is kindled,
and we stand in the Burning Zone.
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