Jim shrugged, swirled his coffee cup, and stared into it for a minute. If he’d been anyone else, Roland would’ve been able to read his emotions by the scents coming off of him and the microexpressions on his face. Most post-humans were just as easy to read as regular humans. It took a mix of very specific surgeries and a hell of a lot of time spent in practice to hide anything from Roland. It said a lot that Jim had considered the expense worthwhile.

“Violence is the coin that buys the future,” Jim said. “There was a time when you explained that to me.”

“I don’t remember that conversation,” Roland said. “But it’s been years since I’ve taken a life. A couple of foreskins, one guy’s hand, sure. Sometimes a point needs making. I haven’t killed anyone in a long time though. That’s why all the folks you sent to my door are still alive. And I mean to stay on the wagon.

“Killing’s not wanted on this mission,” Jim assured him, “just property destruction. I need two or three days of your unrivaled shit-upfucking expertise.”

Roland flicked a suspicious eyebrow at his old friend.

“Property?” he asked.

Jim nodded, “A couple guys might need crippling along the way. But no killing.”

“So what’s this gig?” Roland was interested now, in spite of himself.

“Sabotage.” Jim’s lips curled up in a feral grin. “Over the last few months, we’ve noticed a substantial build-up among the radical Christian militias in North and Central Texas.”

“We?” Roland asked.

“My own organization, and the AmFed’s Central Intelligence Agency.”

Roland couldn’t help but laugh, “I remember enough of the old days to appreciate the irony of you working with the CIA.”

Jim’s head cocked just a little to the left. He grimaced. Roland wasn’t sure, but he thought his friend might be little embarrassed and defensive.

“Anyone who lives long enough becomes a hypocrite,” Jim said with a shrug. “I’d hoped to hold out longer, but their satellite coverage is fucking phenomenal. I’ll send you the intel–”

He made a flicking gesture toward Roland with his right index finger, and then frowned in annoyance. “You might be the last darkbrain on this continent, you know that?”