My brows pinch upward. “I am the size I was designed to be.”
She huffs a breath in disappointment. “I’m just glad they designed you the way they did. Tall, muscular, durable, don’tneed oxygen, food, or heat. Just light. You never have this problem.”
The way she says it makes me think she doesn’t like being human.
I seal her in her suit while she watches me. “We are all unique, but that does not make any one of us more important than the others. Humans are the reason we exist. You are part of the human machine that gave us second chances.”
When I’m done, Aera takes my gloved hands in hers and closes her eyes. “Thank you, Universe, for bringing this Titan to my rescue and for his willingness and eagerness to help and bring balance.”
“Who are you talking to?” I ask.
She looks up at me. “No one. Just the energy that is in all things.”
It is odd that Rebel can hate me so much and Aera can feel the opposite. But it is all just experience-based. If Rebel knew how I am drawn to Aera and if she knew what I had done in the past, they would not think what they do about me. He would not think I hate humans. Shewouldhate me.
I cannot let her learn the truth. I must protect her and her colony at all costs, even if that means shoving down this growing desire to stay close to her so deep inside that it turns to dust like the rest of me.
Chapter 7: Aera
Evo takes his time closing up the seals on my suit like he’s making extra sure they’re tight.
When Rebel patched my head and gave me another booster, he quietly told me that Evo is not a typical Titan. He and Eon were built in isolation due to their unpredictable natures, but he will protect me as long as I let him.
“I can’t believe we’re here already,” I admit to Evo, my voice still hoarse. I’m barely upright, but the second booster is still kicking in. “Portals... I didn’t know Titans had such technology.”
“Wedidn’t.” Evo closes my helmet, which lights up a familiar StarJumper’s visual dashboard on my visor. It switches to my ear com. “A human Rebel has one. And another setup was found on a CSP ship Relics recently captured.”
“I wonder why they never found us. The other Rebels, I mean.”
Evo leans back on the bed and gives me a once-over like he’s checking my setup, like he doesn’t trust what he has already checked twice. “Yes, Atox, she is suited up. Depressurization is a go.”
“Ramp lowering.” A Medic unit like Rebel steps inside the room as air leaves, and hands Evo a rifle and a bag. His voice relays over my helmet com. “You ready?”
“In a second.” Evo magnetizes the rifle to his back and then slings the bag across his chest. He turns to me. “They did not know you were out there. Toriszi’s group was clear on the other side of the solar system from you. They were hiding in asteroids until Solcrue forced them out. That was just weeks ago.”
“Oh.”
Evo kneels before me, putting him at eye level. “Aera, there are a lot of things we can all blame each other for, plenty of things we carry guilt about, but as I was recently reminded, we cannot focus on those things if we’re going to get out of this alive. We’re here now. We must be present. If you wish to remain in communication with the other Rebels, then make it happen.”
I nod and regret it. A thumping pain in my head makes me wince. “Okay. Am I safe to leave now?”
“Are you?” Evo’s face moves through micro expressions of doubt and concern like a human.
“Will you stay with me?” I ask. “I want to go, but I am pretty woozy. Rebel said the last booster will take a few minutes.”
“I will stay with you.” Evo gets up and leads me out of the room to the edge of the lowering ramp.
“Are the guns really necessary?” I ask as a beastly unit withDieselon the chest of his armor clips a rifle to his back.
“Yes, ma’am. In case Solcrue have invaded since you left. It is always possible. We must assume there could be a few. Or you could be CSP leading us into a trap.”
“I would never do that.”
A dark Titan with blue swirls in his armor and the nameCastoron his digibadge stands guard by the ramp. “It has happened to us before. All of us.”
Evo grunts. “This war has made us distrust others until trust is earned.” Then he looks down at me. “But I believe you. I heard you in your sleep. I know you are worried.”
My body isn’t ready for action, but my heart urges me into the hangar.What if he’s right? What if Solcrue got to them? Is anyone left?
