Shalem 11: You take point.
Decker: Why do *I* always have to take point?
Shalem 11: Because I don't want to get shot.
Decker: You're a pretty good shot with that thing, huh?
Shalem 11: Of course.
Decker: Good. That's good.
Shalem 11: Yes, it is.
Decker: Nice suit. Where did you get it?
Shalem 11: I'm sure you wouldn't know the place.
Decker: You think you're so much better than me.
Shalem 11: No. I know that. There's a difference.
Shalem 11: Let's try to keep this run professional.
Decker: What are you implying?
Shalem 11: I'm not implying anything. I'm telling you to stay on the up-and-up.
Decker: Get bent.
Shalem 11: Do you know how to handle yourself out here?
Dr. Xu: I've reviewed the telemetry from countless infiltrations. I think I have a pretty good idea.
Shalem 11: So… no.
Dr. Xu: Why are you hanging on to that ancient neural disruptor?
Shalem 11: It's personal.
Dr. Xu: But even the most basic contemporary model surpasses it in every regard. Why limit yourself?
Shalem 11: Stop asking questions or I'll show you what it can do.
Shalem 11: Eyes up. Try not to get distracted.
Dr. Xu: I don't get distracted. I notice things that others don't.
Shalem 11: OK. Don't get yourself killed 'noticing' things that don't matter.
Dr. Xu: Hey is that an XB-37a console? I haven't seen one of those in the field yet!
Shalem 11: <sigh>
Shalem 11: Quick, what's the muzzle velocity of a 7.62 round fired from a M110 rifle?
Dr. Xu: Depends. At sea level, with standard conditions, I'd say… approximately 780 m/s.
Shalem 11: Hmmm. You're not completely useless after all.
Shalem 11: You can see things at a distance, right?
Internationale: Certain patterns of electronic interference, yes.
Shalem 11: Hmmm. It would be better if you could see targets. More useful.
Internationale: Violence isn't always the answer.
Shalem 11: No, not always. But most of the time it works well enough.
Internationale: You made a lot of money working as an assassin, didn't you?
Shalem 11: Yeah, I did alright. I was the best, and my fees reflected that.
Internationale: Did it help you sleep at night?
Shalem 11: With that much money you don't need to sleep at night.
Shalem 11: You wear your politics on your sleeve. That puts you at a tactical disadvantage.
Internationale: It's worth it. Global revolution is the most important issue facing the world today.
Shalem 11: Uh. Right. Just don't let it get in the way of the mission.
Shalem 11: You’re pretty handy with that thing. Where did you learn?
Nika: I taught myself.
Shalem 11: Really? Wasn’t that dangerous?
Nika: Trial and error is the most efficient teacher.
Shalem 11: You’re good, but you get too close. Someone’s going to get a lucky hit in one day.
Nika: There is no such thing as luck. Only mistakes.
Shalem 11: And you never make mistakes?
Nika: Very rarely.
Nika: I enjoy working with you. It is good that you were never paid to eliminate someone under my protection.
Shalem 11: What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object, right?
Nika: You would have been stopped. It would have been messy and sad.
Shalem 11: If you say so.
Nika: How many people have you killed?
Shalem 11: I lost track.
Nika: I have killed 83. It sometimes… troubles me. Does it trouble you?
Shalem 11: No. Not since I lost track.
Shalem 11: You would get more respect if you cleaned up a bit. A fine suit goes a long way.
Sharp: Why would I care for such trivialities? My clothing is perfectly adequate.
Shalem 11: You dress like Decker.
Sharp: Perhaps you have a point.
Shalem 11: Watch how a professional gets things done.
Sharp: I too sold my martial skills for cash. We are fellow guns for hire. We are the same thing.
Shalem 11: A vat of nutri-paste and a fine stake are both food, but they’re not the same thing.
Sharp: I dislike food metaphors.
Sharp: You could improve your kill ratio with a couple of augmentations. An external tracking eye, for example, to better analyze ballistics.
Shalem 11: No thank you, I have to see myself every morning when I shave.
Sharp: You can get synthetic skin like mine, and never have to shave again!
Shalem 11: Ooh. You have a technical solution for everything, don’t you.
Sharp: Today is a good day. Let’s kill some people!
Shalem 11: If you say so.
Sharp: You don’t feel a little rush when you take a human life? It’s like popping bubble wrap to me!
Shalem 11: This is just a job. I haven’t felt anything since 2057.
