“I think this blood is mine,” says Escrow.

Vairocana silently tosses the bent lead pipe. Escrow catches it and follows the smeared trail back into the bathroom stall where Escrow is hiding.

“You’re not what you think you are,” gasps Escrow.

Escrow smirks. “On the contrary,” he says.

“I’ve been thinking about… mortality, in here,” whispers Escrow, hands pressed to his bleeding belly. “And I do believe in reincarnation, right? I mean, we do, you know that–so why the braintaps, the cloning? Why not leave it to the metaphysical?”

“Because sometimes reincarnation needs help,” says Escrow, and raises the pipe.