Checked in and checked out. Riverside in a strange city. Luminous pauses, shadow to shadow like a belt-fearing teen.

The experiment yields results. The more I know, the less I fear. Amnesia’s today’s special at the Pain Cafe.

The numbers appeared infinite until they didn’t. Cut short, cheated, and flat-out lied to. The Old Empire double-dips at the chip table without apology or remorse. How many more until we order our own bowl?

Father to son and lessons learned, our hands won’t stay clean this time. I yearn for the hunts of old; other lifetimes perhaps. My battle is not over, and the sword’s become heavy.

Who I am now is who I was and who I will be next round. I don’t make the rules; I must abide. A cowered coward I cannot be. Every drop of my blood is comprised of generation’s worth of poor schmucks duped into servitude. All notches on the color spectrum look the same when the lights go dark and the feelings run high. Love cares not for light switches.

How many 1up’s until our brainwashing ceases? How long until we know who we truly are? Don’t forget your “free taco for every war” punchcard.