From there, the Tuann made certain modifications to allow the armor to reach its final shape.
There should have been a patch of skin on Caius’s body that was rougher than the rest.The location differed based on the House you were sworn to.For Roake, it was always over the left pectoral muscle.
Gus touched where it should have been, gentle as she traced the edges of a raw, angry looking hole.
They tore it out, she realized.
The fact Caius hadn’t died or gone mad was surprising.The sheer tenacity to survive something like that.
While the Houses had their ways of extracting the armor, it was rarely done.Mostly because it usually resulted in death.The general consensus was that once earned, an armor could not be reclaimed.You had to do something truly heinous for it to even be considered.
“Spawn of a corn cockle,” Gus cursed.
The hope she’d been holding onto that all Caius needed was a quick patch job before she dumped him and the kid somewhere very far away—all before he woke up again—died a slow, agonizing death.Caius needed more intervention than her limited med kit could provide.She was going to have to take him into the heart of her sanctuary.A place no other had ever stepped.
Worse—she was going to need Anandra’s help getting him there.
“What?”Anandra asked, catching Gus’s look.
“I hate to admit it, but I might need your help,” Gus confessed.
She’d struggled moving Caius the handful of feet necessary to reach the container.There was no way she would be able to relocate him into the heart of her sanctuary without assistance.
Anandra looked startled but happy.“Of course.”
Sadly, his response did nothing to help Gus’s mood.The idea of allowing anyone—even a child—into her lair was abhorrent.
Gus wanted nothing more than to toss these two out and forget everything that had happened.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option.Caius was too injured and the boy already knew their location.Gus gave him half a day before he was recaptured.Those ears of his and the perfect symmetry of his features ensured he’d stick out like a sore thumb on Titan.
When that happened, he’d lead his captors right back to her doorstep.
“Grab his feet,” Gus ordered, moving around to Caius’s head.
Anandra held up the Nawana orchid.“What should I do with this?”
“Place it on the table over there.I’ll get it settled later,” Gus ordered, a little surprised the boy hadn’t already ditched the orchid.Given how leery he’d been in the beginning, she’d expected him to have already rid himself of it.How thoughtful.Or maybe he was more scared of Gus than the toxic plant.
If so, he was smarter than she’d given him credit for.Right now, that orchid meant a lot more to her than he did.
Anandra found an empty spot on a nearby table and set the pot on it before taking a look around at the shipping container that served as Gus’s entryway.Of the nineteen containers Gus had repurposed for her own use, this one’s contents could be considered the simplest, least attention grabbing.As long as one ignored the priceless works of art decorating the walls.
What could Gus say; she liked pretty things.
For the most part though, the entryway was cozy.Homey even.With a few rugs to soften the feel of the place and a credenza decorated with a variety of plants and flowers.
Gus waited for Anandra to grab Caius by the legs before bending down to do the same with the commander’s arms.Even with the boy’s help, it wasn’t easy.
“What do they feed him to make him so big?”Gus complained between gritted teeth.
She grunted and heaved, dragging the Tuann one foot.Then two.
By the time they reached the far wall and the door waiting there, Caius had procured a whole new set of bruises.
Gus dropped his arms to unlock the door.There was a beep and then the sound of the door unsealing.She shouldered it open before reaching back to grab Caius’s wrists to resume dragging.Anandra was smart enough not to comment as they carted Caius through her main living area, past a spiral staircase that led up to the container above where her bedroom and office were located.
Surprisingly, shipping containers made for comfortable living spaces as long as you were willing to take the time and energy to adapt them for your use.Gus had spent hours removing walls and ceilings where necessary to create a home perfect for her needs.Holding everything together was an adhesive of her own design.One stronger than any sealant sold for emergency ship repairs.Gus wagered that Titan could break apart—and as long as her sanctuary remained intact—it could float off into the void, no harm done.
