He'd looked after her when she'd been ill. She howled. He'd made her a shelf for her toys. She howled. He'd smiled and waved to her as he left to join... the Army. She howled. Hope howled all her hurt and her pain and her anger. She cried for her baby sister. She cried for her mother. She howled for her Daddy. Daddy was dead.Gideon was holding her with his one good arm as she cried herself out. "Everyone's dead, Gideon," she told him between her sniffles. "The aliens killed everyone in the. Remember this? You must havebeen six. And look, you are wearing your first lipstick, and your hairis nearly to your shoulders and is shiny and curly. You are starting tofill out, Missy. Remember that? Those little breasts and hips. You arewearing short denim shorts and a yellow crop top. See how your littlebelly is showing. It was such a wonderful feminine feeling and that waswhen you first knew you were a real girl. You wanted makeup and dressesand lingerie after that. You were crazy in love. So you know my mom?Straight to the point, much better. Yes, I did know Sarai.How did you become her artifact?Usual contract. I asked for something while I was still alive, she got me after I died.Then I felt his mood go cloudy while the sword in my hand started to vibrate slowly at first but gradually increasing in intensity. In the end, I had to stab the point to the ground and used both hands on the handle to hold him steady.What the hell was that, Flo? I asked after he calmed down a bit.I. They attempted (and not very well) to play ... Fuck me! That's It's A Long Road, the theme song from Rambo.I looked at Tatiana and asked, "What the fuck is going on?"She smiled and said, "I would say they are welcoming the 'new Rambo' back to the hospital."I whined, "Lieutenant, get us the hell out of here!"Flashback – Colonel Maggie and Jack – At the hospitalI needed to nip this in the bud so I ordered, "Lieutenant, belay that order."I moved so Sgt. Blaine could see me and ordered, "Sgt..