Chapter 18 Fracture #2
She doesn’t speak. Maybe it hurts to talk. There is no one else but us, so it’s up to me to prove she is not a problem, but a beacon of hope.
I set the balm aside and look over at her.
“No one has been able to hack a mothership. Our Mother programs remain untainted. Our telenet has never been hacked. Sevrin’s underlings managed to do it with Navi, but she killed them and took their ship.
So that discovery never made it out. And you know why?
Because Relic Craze heard her. Because of your telenet, he saved her and her fellow test subjects. ”
She picks at a thread on the blanket.
“The Relics stayed united and were able to coordinate an escape from Hyperion because of the Titan network. You are the reason their jailbreak was successful. You are the reason Menace and I could talk when we were in Quris’ lab.
Every battle we have won since has benefitted from this, from your beacons, telenet, ship shields, and Mother AI. You did those things.
“I read your profile on a tablet from the base. We all find ourselves in unfamiliar situations from time to time. You cannot expect yourself to know everything. But you can take a break. If you don’t, you might break. Then who will help us?”
“Esthi is very smart.”
“You don’t think she feels overwhelmed already? We cannot lose you.” I place the balm back in the kit and extend the water bottle. “Esthi needs you. You don’t know just how much of a relief it was to her that you arrived when you did.”
Roxi reluctantly takes the bottle and drinks. She downs half of the bottle then sighs. “Please don’t treat me like a superior. I work alongside Titans on resistance security measures.”
“But you’re a Creator.”
“To create is to be human. Some create life. Some create art. Others create machines or new crops that feed, new medicines that heal. It is just what we are. I do not care for the hierarchy.”
Every facet of me tingles with new energy. “You…don’t?”
“No. It’s too much pressure. I want to do my job and see everyone go back to their homes or their residences, to their friends, coworkers… I do not need a badge or anything that says I’m above others. A good, true Creator is humble and focused on their mission.”
“So…” My ultromotor whirs faster as thoughts of what I want to do with her circle in my mind. “Would you accept affection from a Titan, if one offered?”
Roxi tilts her head toward mine and studies me. “Obsidian, you are quite a hunk of synthetic man, but there must be someone better suited, gentler, who can give you the love you deserve.”
“That’s not what I asked. If you don’t care about the chain of command, does that mean you’d accept a Titan? Because it seemed to me, before we left for Lencio, that you were happy to kiss me.”
“Now that you know what I am, how can you still want me?”
“While I am disheartened that you didn’t think you could trust me or anyone with that knowledge, I still care for you the same.”
“Because of programming.”
I sigh. “No. How are you not getting this?”
She steals a glance at me and looks away.
“Ah, so it’s a choice…to avoid relationships because of what…Joey? Well, I’m not him. And I’m going to make a decision, too.”
I collect her and scoot her into the middle of the bed, then crawl over her.
Roxi’s eyes widen. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to convince you that this isn’t programming.” I switch off my running systems and meet her gaze. “Look into my eyes and tell me what you see.”
She looks. “N-nothing. Just dark oculi with pale blue halos.”
I slowly open her suit up. “Let me serve you. I want you to feel good for a change. No strings attached.”
“I…” Confusion washes over her face.
“Tell me to stop, and I will.”
“Stop what?”
My body smoothes over as I contact her skin and carefully brush hair from her eyes. Sweeping my nose along her jaw, I draw in her scent and lock it away tightly so I never forget it. When I nibble on her neck, she gasps.
“Easy, Roxi. I’m going slowly, but I want you to relax and feel good for a change. Let me show you something Creators didn’t program.”
I kiss her neck and feel her hand rest on my side. “Fr…Obsidian… This isn’t right.”
“Who will enforce the rule that Creators and Titans cannot be together? CSP? We are all one force just trying to survive together. Just let me serve you…”
She makes a noise but doesn’t say no. I lift myself and look down at her. “Roxi.”
There’s hesitation in her voice. “I don’t know if I want whatever is on your mind. You’re so quiet. You’re always locked.”
“Like a human?” I grin. “Sometimes, that can be advantageous.”
“How?”
I roll my eyes. “I often hear things I don’t want to, specifically thoughts from the younger Titans like Scant, who are still horny teenagers.”
Roxi curls her lips inside her mouth and tries to hide her smile. “You’re serious?”
“You have no idea.”
We share a light chuckle.
I check on her wounds. “Feeling better?”
“A little. Stress doesn’t help.”
“Then let me help you get rid of that, forget it for a while. Scanners are watching for ships far beyond visual range, and we have some time to waste.”
I sweep my fingers over her face, savoring the softness of her even if she isn’t fully human. She’s still human in all the best ways. “Forget the war for a moment. We’re doing everything we can. Just lose yourself in something good for once. Let me have the honor of being the one to serve you now.”