“Okay…how about originally? Where did your people originate from?”
“Same place as yours did.”
“Earth?”
“Yes.”
“How the fuck is that?”
He stared at me with those deep-set holes.
“Hey, are you even looking at me. I can’t tell with all that headgear on. Take off your mask,” I say, hopping off the bunk to stand in front of him.
“No.”
“Fine. Then tell me about the Caelum. How are you guys from Earth?”
“Project Caelum. Our forefathers left the Earth’s atmosphere in 2056.”
“You’re lying. Do those faceplate things let you lie?” I can’t help laughing.
He says nothing.
Why is he not saying anything? How the hell could he be telling me the truth? “Hold up. Are you saying you’re from the future?” I’m really laughing now, nervous giddy laughter that sounds a little too high-pitched and frantic.
“Please, forgive me. I must continue my maintenance,” he says, moving backward.
“Sorry. Sorry, I wasn’t laughing at you. Just continue,” I say, reaching out and putting my hand against his arm.
His head tilts down toward the place where my fingers touch him. “Tell me about Pious…” I say, urging him to tell me something—anything more.
“Pious is the general.” His response is flat and steady but his head tilts down toward my hand touching him.
“What about Rune?” I ask.
“He is a traitor and sided with the grounders when they attacked. They have surveillance he was extinguished, but I hear some Caelum say he may have survived somehow.”
His head is still tilting down, watching my hands.
All of these Caelum are under the impression we attacked them, and Rune had something to do with it. Not one of them can think for themselves with those stupid faceplates on. “Have you ever taken off your face armor?”
“No,” his voice slices through the air.
“Will you be allowed to breed with one of the women?”
“No…I’m…only maintenance.”
I raise my arms and slide my fingers across the jaw of his mask, “Do you want to?” I step closer and lock my fingers into the locks of his armor just below his mask and slowly squeeze.
The gears hiss and scream out around his head as I toss his mask to the floor. He’s flawless, just like Rune. A perfect specimen of a human male.
Clear blue eyes widen in shock. “I will not live long without my—”
“That’s the first lie that was told to you. Now show me how to open these doors,” I say, touching the palm of my hand against his cheek. His skin is ice cold and pale white. “Runeisstill alive. He’s been with me on the ground for days without his armor and he’s fine.”
His lips move to speak but huge gulps of terror steal his thoughts before they reach his mouth.
I reach my other hand and place it gently on his opposite cheek. “Show me how to open the doors.”
