Chapter 20: Menace
Aniah greets us with a worried look.
“Get Poppy,” I say as I collect Sefina in my arms and hurry toward the glorious, shining BlazeStar. DrillBit and Bomber close the ascent shaft. The cavern shudders under the blasts.
It is now or never. We either escape in the ship, or we die trying. Survivors file onto the BlazeStar, each escorted by a Brother as per Mother’s requirements.
Menace>>Clover: Do you have what you need?
Clover>>Menace: A-firm. Sythius brought me the extender. Running a final scan now. Please board. We’re running final flight checks.
I hike up the ramp with Sefina in my arms.
Menace>>Mother: One injured human, ID: Sefina, to share quarters with me.
Mother>>Menace: Please dock in room Charlie Sixteen.
Aniah meets me in the hallway with a bag of roots. “Poppy said this is what you wanted? She’s working with Clover.”
“Thanks.”
“I didn’t know she was sick,” Aniah seems worried.
“She’s not, really. She has augments that work like a pulse weapon in her head.”
Aniah’s face pales. “Must give her quite a headache.”
“Yeah, without this stuff.”
“Take good care of my friend, will you?” Aniah asks. “Call Redline if I can help in any way.”
I thank her and hike through the filled passageways of the ship until I find our assigned room. Seeing it so busy is strange, even though I know it’s for a good reason. But it still unnerves me a little. We’re so close to the end.
One way or another, this will be over soon.
The door opens, and I step inside a room just big enough for a Titan to sleep, bathe, and store weapons in. Resting on the bed, I cradle Sefina in my lap and tuck a bit of the root under her tongue.
A screen flashes to my left.
Replenishing needed. Tap to confirm.
I tap the green button, and a panel swivels in the wall, which has an array of hoses and cables that will charge me and provide healing nutrients. But I fear how many other Titans may need them.
Menace>>Mother: Status of Replenishing Supplies.
Mother>>Menace: Stable. Tanks refilled six hours ago.
Menace>>Mother: Technician?
Mother>>Menace: Cara of Titan, Leah of Earth Minor.
I feel more comfortable taking the nutrients in with capable leaders watching over us. It is close to how I felt after I met Mother Besha and realized that not everyone in the solar system wanted to torture me. It is reassuring and fills me with hope.
The connectors hiss as they clip into my back. The noise rouses Sefina.
“Menace?”
“Hey, babe. I’ll be ready for you in just a few minutes.”
