United States of Japan

That a universe exists within every human being. That to the blood cells and organs in your body, you are god. That this universe is only one individual among infinite others.

Why don’t people fight for change?” “Because the ones who do get hunted down.

Turn your cheek' only works with physical slaps, only works pre-Second coming. Against guns, bombs, and the most inhumane practices ever conceived, we must protect ourselves. We must become the agents of God's vengeance.

Since we're all snails riding on the razor's edge, we might as well say it as it is.

You want a happy family?" "I'd love a miserable one where everyone hated each other." "Why?" "So we could find redemption in each other's arms.

Regret is like a mental parasite that alters your behavior.

Life is all about lies. It's about what you can stomach.

Jesus and Yillah showed they were superior to the world by dying for it." "Doesn't sound so superior," Ben commented.

I think most people are afraid to love because they want the freedom to suffer alone.

There’s no ideology, only people. And

Is there anyone in the world we don't have to lie to?" "Ourselves" "Most people still do" "Most people still do

Akiko was in a meeting with her superior officers when she farted and tore a hole in her chair. The fart was so powerful, her commanding officers fell back.

Akiko was in a store that sold memories, a mishmash of tawdry emancipation bottled into faked vulnerability and fingernails from forgotten musicians grilled on kebabs of misplaced desire.

The bullets echoed death’s siren muted by gunpowder dissipating into smoke.

Kujira crunched her fists and the monster within died. The biomorph melted into a reservoir of rancor and loathing. Kujira

the sensor readings of hundreds of humans were crushed into millisecond flatlines. “A

Why would a god sacrifice her life if she was God? Just show real power and send an army of angels and there'd be no debate.

Times will change. Peace changes even the worst of killers," Ruth said. "Into what?" Ezekiel asked.

Do you regret marrying a traitor?” “You’re not a traitor.” “I’ve betrayed the whole world for you,” Ezekiel

We’ll all burn in hell for this,” she said. “If there is a hell.” “I didn’t know my father caused this.” “It’s more complicated than that.” “Is it? We’re all guilty of someone else’s sins until they become our own. Then

Shouldn’t we be magnanimous with the locals? It’s their gods that have abandoned them, not ours.

So perhaps these Americans can never be tamed. I’ve

Honor is the only thing that separates us from animals.

I sometimes wonder about all of that. Gods, their commands, all the things people do in their names. Is any of it what they really want?