Chapter 11 Aera
A glittery unit like Chasm walks up to Evo as we listen to Clover talk about the last sighting of Xiphos. His digibadge reads Fracture. Their heads tilt toward one another like they’re having a conversation.
Poppy introduces Commander Toriszi, who watches everything.
He listens and never speaks. A woman stands beside him with a Titan in black webbing, covered in thrusters like he is a humanoid starship.
Most of the Titans in the room stand beside women.
But as Poppy and Clover talk about the original trip to the Solcrue Galaxy from Sol, how they secretly met with resistance crews and regularly updated backup plans, slowly building the concepts of Titans, I come to understand that the males are not simply protecting the human women.
They are all mates. Savage and Leah are like Eon and Raven.
Diesel and Rhee. Menace and Sefina. Armor and Esthi.
And me, with three human men and a Titan. I feel like it’s too much. But I’m still grateful for Evo choosing to stay by my side.
When Poppy is done, Chasm speaks. “Alright, now that Xiphos is in our sights, let’s refocus on our priorities.
Pull together the resources you can for this supply mission.
Trajectory suggests the Solcrue cruiser will pass closer to us tomorrow with the other vessel headed away on a different patrol, so we’ll want to slip in and disconnect all outgoing signal systems, make them disappear quietly, take the Solcrue out as we board. ”
“Why not just use the bomb to wipe them all out?” I ask.
Savage casually leans back against the wall. “We could. And we probably will. But it is a one-time deal until we can recharge it, so it is saved for last resorts, used to escape when we are overrun. If we use it too early and need it again, we will die.”
“We often have these backup systems,” Chasm offers. “But because materials are hard to come by out here without longer-term mining operations like the Solcrue have, we cannot simply make more of these critical weapons systems. So we fight the old-fashioned way first.”
“Which, as it turns out, works pretty well,” Menace says with a grin that exposes pointed teeth like a wolf. “Solcrue have forgotten a lot of the old ways. They are not strong with Terran battle or even Terran life.”
“So grounding enemy forces…” Steele says in thought. “Would be helpful.”
“It is in our future plans,” Savage admits. “Just not right now. Rogues need to take the lead because this is their territory.”
Chasm continues. “Mother, run simulations.”
Attack patterns flash across the screen, many resulting in decommissioning and death. Flashbomb notices an opening. “Re-run simulation with a team infiltrating from this propulsion maintenance hatch.”
We get our first hint at a possible successful mission.
“Evo,” Chasm calls to him. “You have spent the most time on Solcrue ships. Please weigh in.”
Evo studies the screen for several long moments like he’s assessing and trying to decide what he wants to say. “If Solcrue believe that the attack is just humans coming for them, but a bunch of Titans unloads, it will be quite the wakeup call. I would use the cover of Rebel ships.”
He steps around me and taps a variety of access points on the holo, illuminating them green.
“These are the least active during routine operation. Solcrue do not consider human Rebel ships much of a threat, though they may upgrade that threat condition now that Toriszi’s fleet has helped us escape Ellipsis.
“If I were to take over a ship like this again, I would avoid these hot zones...” Evo selects several areas onscreen, illuminating them red.
He looks entirely too comfortable with Solcrue vessels, like he’s spent more time on them than I previously sensed.
“Unless I’m carrying grenades or at least flash bangs,” Evo adds.
“Crew quarters need to be locked down until we can tackle those mass numbers.
Hundreds will fill these rooms. You can safely estimate that about two hundred will be working, and another two will be resting on a battle cruiser of this size.
That may not seem like enough when we have over a thousand civilians with us now and even more Rebels.
But these ships can go out with several months' worth of supplies onboard. I would say, there is a good chance of securing enough goods for a few more weeks. Solcrue do not like to deplete their stores below a month.”
Savage walks up to the schematic, the blue light glazing his dull gray synthflesh. He sucks a pointed tooth, and I realize he and Menace share common traits. “Do you know of some way we can tackle this many Solcrue when we have far less that will be unloading?”
Evo motions to Leah. “RID shots will work like flash bangs. I did not have those. I took down 217 Solcrue on Vessna before I was encapsulated by CSP anti-cyborg gel.”
“Maybe so,” Chasm interrupts. “But you had just heard CSP betray your twin over coms. You were not operating at standard capacity.”
Evo glances at Eon. “What does that have to do with anything? I am just a Titan. I have a maximum capacity, the same as anyone else.”
I don’t think Evo comprehends how different he is.
It’s apparent in the way most of the Titans in the room fidget and try to hide their reactions from Evo.
Several switch on programs to regulate their feelings.
I know because one second, they have a grimace or raised eyebrows on their face.
The next moment, their faces are completely apathetic.
Evo glances around at his Brothers and Sisters like he has done something wrong and doesn’t understand what it is.
“Maybe it was the sudden freedom,” I offer. “CSP betrayed you. Your Human Protection programs went offline. Survival Mode engaged.”
Chasm tilts his head and studies Evo. “She may be right. Please, continue.”
Lights flash over Evo’s eyes, and a schematic of a weapon loads on the holo.
“This is a capsule gun. It will surround you, like Capsule does, insulate you from all signals from other Titans, and steal your strength like a bad battery drain. But they have made other canisters for it now that cause electrical overload, drench us in acid, and corruption nanos that will cover you and try to eat inside your synthflesh. You will have to close every orifice to avoid being consumed.”
“So they’ve developed anti-Titan guns to handle more advanced units,” Craze remarks from where he leans against the wall, Navi clutched tightly to his chest. “That’s not good.”
“Even I could not escape their corruption for over a year. Whatever you have to do to avoid capture, do it. Do not let them take you.” Evo hangs his head in shame.
“They made me hurt the ones we’re supposed to protect,” Evo tells everyone. “I couldn’t do anything but watch myself do it. So we must be prepared that they could do it to other Brothers and Sisters.”
Menace slips through the crowd to rest a hand on Evo’s shoulder.
“Quris tested something similar on me and my batch brothers. I’m certain he leaked the code to Solcrue, or at least CSP, who did.
Any tainted Brothers should not be considered lost if they become corrupted.
We are still awake on the inside. We must fight for that, or we may all be decommissioned before this new war is over. ”
Fracture motions toward Evo. “Perhaps it is time we get a sample and see if we can track down evidence of this corruption so we can develop an antivirus that can hunt down this corruption and eliminate it.”
“I have called Ribos in. He is waiting outside.” Chasm directs us toward the doors.
“We will keep working on this. I will send updates as we settle on a plan. Now, not a word of the females’ special statuses may leave this room.
If you share what is not yours to share, I will decommission you myself. ”
Every Titan in the room taps a fist over their digibadges. Chasm commands the sealscreens off and opens the doors.
Ribos, a tall medic with a red stripe that crawls up the right side of his chest and over his shoulder, waits for us just outside.
I follow because I want to be sure Evo is okay. The way his eyes seem to focus mostly on the floor, only darting up occasionally to confirm he’s addressing obstacles, makes me certain he’s burdened by what he had to do under Solcrue control and ashamed of it around his Brothers.
As we leave, the other women in the room each offer me a fist bump.
“Hey, I’m Leah.” The first woman winks at me. She’s tall and built like a soldier with a few bite mark scars on the back of her neck. I think Savage might just be part wolf. “Glad to have you on the crew.”
“’Sup? I’m Esthi,” the shortest of the women remarks.
I tap her fist. “’Sup.”
Esthi leans close and whispers, “If Evo gets a little handsy, let me know. I’ll get you a zapper.” She snickers. “Or you know, normal stuff like a wristband or a weapons upgrade. Anything you need, just holler.”
“Thanks.”
A woman with dark eyes and scars on her face grins at me. “Omega Force, huh?”
“A few of us are still around.”
“Sefina. I’m a sentinel, served on a bounty hunter’s ship for a while. Esthi’s a Gray, protected CyberTechs. Hope we get to run this mission together. I’d love an all-women’s kick ass team. Navi can pilot. Or Raven.”
“Don’t forget me, bitch!” The woman with the gold Titan named Thruster makes a crazy face and sticks out her tongue as she passes. “Or just put me on guns. I love lighting things on fire.”
Thruster’s body flickers with light like the engines in his body want to ignite. “You light me up.”
“Stars, guys. Get a room.” Diesel mutters as he squeezes through the mass of Titans and people. Brodin, Daken, and Steele wait for me just off to the side, looking exhausted.
“I’ll have a few shadows to lose before I can wander off.” I dart my eyes at the men around me.
Sefina hums a note of lust as Menace slides in against her. “Yeah, but having someone who fights for you after all the shit the Solcrue have put us through makes life feel like it’s worth it again. Especially when that guardian is all muscle and...”
Menace growls. “Sefi... Don’t start talking dirty unless you’re ready for the consequences.”
A memory of one of our earlier battles against Solcrue that boarded our ship comes back to me. The officer’s scaly fingers squeezed around my throat, crushing my windpipe. There was a crazed delight in his eyes, the kind I see in Menace’s red eyes now.
Sefina growls right back at Menace. “We better go. It was nice meeting you, Aera. And it looks like you’ve got a Titan with his eye on you.”
Evo has stopped in the hallway and is watching our conversation.
“No matter what he says or thinks,” Sefina adds, “Evo was an effective member of our team when we rescued Rhee and flew Vessna into the Iridithatium belt. He’s a good Titan despite the past.”
“I appreciate the heads up. See you around.”
Sefina calls after me. “Still want that all-girls squad sometime.”
I grin back at her as I make my way to Evo’s side. “Counting on it.”
Evo waits patiently. “I must get inspected by Ribos. I would like to protect you, but this may take some time.”
“You stayed with me. I will stay with you,” I reply.
It feels like everyone is looking at us.
I’m just glad someone seems to care how I feel.
Evo seems to understand my desire to help with the supply mission.
All of my life has been dedicated to protecting my colony, whether we were on Earth Minor or Centurion.
They sacrificed to keep me healthy. I want to return the favor.
As we turn and follow Ribos, Evo’s fingers close around mine. When he draws me close, I finally feel like my purpose and my soul aren’t light years apart. I am here with him. And he’s here with me.
“A lot is changing,” he says as we walk. “How are you…feeling?”
“I feel like an object in someone else’s plans.”
Brodin, Steele, and Daken stay close, but their eyes are on all of the Titans working to repair the ship and care for the injured around us.
“Do you not want to find Xiphos?” he asks.
“I do. I just don’t want to hide like a fucking coward because my blood has something in it that I didn’t ask for.”
“You’re basically royalty,” Evo remarks.
“I don’t give two shits.” Frustration simmers to the surface of my skin again. “I am descended from the original resistance… Great. You know what that means?”
He shrugs.
“That fighting is also in my blood.”