“Then how do I solve this knot in my chest and this perpetual notion I should leave?” I ask. “How do I feelworthyagain?”
Fracture is a patient unit. “If the Solcrue left a sleeper cell in you, it would’ve awakened during our escape from Ellipsis. They were desperate to stop us. But nothing happened.
“You fought with us. You killed many of them, hundreds with the blue bomb. The Solcrue may have infected you, but you broke free on your own. You can do it againifthat becomes a problem.”
My armor suddenly feels too tight. I sense every armored case, seal seam, and weapons holster rubbing against my body. “I did a lot of damage before I figured it out. It wasn’t even thatIfigured it out. I saw what was missing. I saw the human females fighting to save each other as they ran for the escape pods.That’swhat freed me.”
Fracture tilts his head as the ships align and close in for docking. His faceted synthflesh shimmers under Ravenger’s lights. “Perhaps CSP’s betrayal broke you free of your protective programming. It did with the Relics. I got the recording from Menace, who heard Eon’s call as he was lost in space. I was in the ice prison when it happened. But that could be the reason the Solcrue were able to hack you.”
The reminder that my twin has been adrift in space for years haunts me. “Perhaps I let them.”
Fracture visually dissects me.
“I was…angry with CSP for what they did to Eon and so many more of our Brothers. What if that anger with humans was the Solcrue’s way in? Because it is how they feel.”
He stays calmly at my side like he does not fear corruption from me. Maybe he should. “I don’t know. Esthi is the one to talk to about CyberTitan coding. What I see is that you did what you had to in order to survive. And when you got the chance, you helped free the females, and then took many Solcrue lives. That proves you are loyal to us.”
My ultromotor shudders and beats in a chaotic pattern. I still betrayed humans. The reason doesn’t matter. I became the opposite of my purpose. I became CSP, Solcrue…the enemy.How can I face my Brothers after that?
I am tired of excuses. “It shouldn’t have happened. There is nothing that can convince me that I was not at fault in some way. I am Evolution. I am supposed to be unstoppable.”
“You are not a god. Even raw energy can be controlled.” Fracture looks away, like he is disappointed. “You weren’t coming down here to greet our Brothers, were you?”
“No.”
“But we protected our Rebel and Relic fleet together. I thought…”
I cringe inside at the idea of being in the middle of a crowd. I want to feel akin with Fracture, and I do, like with every Titan I have fought battles with. But my Brothers are all important to me. And because they are, I cannot go with him.
“If I was any other unit, I would. But every touch of another can change me. A simple accidental brush is all it takes. I cannot be among hundreds of Titans. If I were to bump into Supercharge and then Flashbomb, it could be devastating forAegis. And I am fragile until I get time to decompress.”
He nods slowly. “That is…understandable.”
“I am sorry, Brother. I am already a danger by design. And my loyalty to our kind was not strong enough to fight malware for a long time. So I am going to patrol to make myself useful.”It’s what I deserve.“It’s what I can do.”
I turn and continue toward the distant hangar with a small, modified Solcruean Skysprinter. If anyone can fly one, it’s me.
Fracture calls after me as I pass the dock hangar doors and lower the ship’s ramp. It hums as it exposes the interior of the ship. “At least contact Eon. He’s here.”
“I know.” My twin has repeatedly pinged me since we broke into Iridithatium space. “He will find me if he wants to talk.”
I consider myself less of a threat if I stay as far away from my Brothers as I can and return only when they need me.
We made it. They are safe. I have every intention of keeping things that way.
I settle into the pilot’s seat, close the ramp, and coordinate with Navi for an appropriate exit.
Navi>>Evo: Opening hangar. But I can’t help thinking this is a mistake.
Evo>>Navi: Explain.
I hover the ship up and guide it through Ravenger’s main hangar, past Relic Titans and humans eager to meet up with theRogues. As I leave, and the stardust of the nebula greets me, Navi replies.
Navi>>Evo: I can hear your thoughts, even when you think you are locked, Evo. You are not the only one who has been broken by this war. We have specific purposes by design. Do you really think the Creators made you adaptable without considering all the possibilities of what you might come in contact with?
I sigh. Craze’s mate is a gentle female forced to become a soldier like so many other innocent humans.
Evo>>Navi: I see no benefit to being corrupted by Solcrue.
