I lay bloodied on the cobbles, the wound in my side very nearly gushing a fountain of blood. I was going to die. Of that there could be no doubt. The thugs who had jumped me had dealt me a fatal blow and I was going to die here on the street. In that moment, I could not help but cast my mind back over a lifetime of failure and disappointment. I could not help but see the humiliation and misery I felt at every juncture. I had dreams like everyone, but each one of them had been singularly crushed by my very own people. "Aid you?" Leiax grimaced coldly. "I would sooner mate with a Zard."