[ It's a familiar story, in the end. A lot of the other Reapers had beginnings like that. Or uglier, sharper. The Army tends to recruit people who want to escape something, even if it's just themselves.

Carver rubs his thumb along the rim of the glass, watching John. ]

We did okay, I guess. We were pretty fucking poor but we made it work. Got easier after my mom reenlisted as an officer. I saw her a few times a year.

[ He snorts. ]

God, she was mad when I signed up.