Dahl Remains

"Dahl Corporation: building tomorrow, today. Enlist now. Your future awaits."

"Yeah. My future."

---

They told me "Dahl remains." I didn't know what it meant.

Thought it was loyalty. Thought it was pride. Thought it was money they spent

On a gun in my hand, on a promise they'd keep

The only thing Dahl builds is a hole six feet deep.

I signed on the line. Eighteen. Dumb. Hungry.

Recruiter had a smile like a knife — clean, ugly.

Said "see the stars." Said "be somebody."

Now I'm somebody's body count. Somebody's hobby.

---

Dahl remains. That's what they said.

Dahl remains long after you're dead.

The flag stays flying, the mine stays deep

The corporate logo's the last thing you'll see.

Dahl remains. You're just a cost.

A line item lost. They'll replace you by Monday

Dahl remains. You're gone. They stay. That's the tune.

---

They parked us on Pandora before the vaults were even rumors

Just security for a dig site that found nothing

Payroll of poor kids from Eden who believed in something

Like a paycheck. Like a pension. Like a way back home.

Now I'm knee-deep in dust with a cracked helmet dome

They pulled out two years ago. Left us a radio.

Said "hold the position." Said "we'll let you know."

That was three thousand sunrises ago.

I stopped counting when the skags learned my name, you know?

---

"You ever wonder what 'essential personnel' means?

It means 'expendable but we haven't told you yet.'

Dahl remains. You don't."

---

Sometimes I see new Vault Hunters roll through

Shiny guns, shiny attitudes, shiny armor, too

They look at me like I'm a ghost. Maybe I am.

Just a Dahl insignia on a rusted-out can

Of a man who used to believe the fine print was a promise

Now I know the fine print's where they hide all the commas

I ain't a soldier anymore. I ain't a man.

I'm a warning. I'm a footnote. I'm a Dahl brand.

---

Dahl remains. That's what they said.

Dahl remains long after you're dead.

The flag stays flying, the mine stays deep

The corporate logo's the last thing you'll see.

Dahl remains. You're just a cost.

A line item lost. They'll replace you by Monday

Dahl remains. You're gone. They stay. That's the tune.

---

"Dahl Corporation: building tomorrow… building tomorrow…"

"They left us here. And they're still building tomorrow. Guess that means today's already over."