Karambit winces as he strains against what I can only assume is his punishment program that’s causing him pain. “Oh, stars. It hurts. But feeling anything other than that damned mud is wonderful right now. I’ll take it. You can punish me later.”
I laugh nervously as I take his hand and inspect the damage. Taking my multitool from a pocket in my bag, I reattach the connectors I can, twist together some frayed wiring, and sleevehis torn synthflesh back into place. “You’ll need a better repair later. But this should hold together for now.”
“Thank you.” Karambit gets up. “Esthi.”
“Before you kneel or do any of that, go help another Brother so we can get out of here.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Armor guides me through the rubble to the next Titan. Catalyst has roused a few more and still has a strip of jerky sticking out of his mouth.
In the distance, Carver drops down with another Titan. “Firebolt is the last. That’s all forty-four of us. I did a back-up scan. But forty-four fell when we landed. So I’m going to cut a path to the supply den Drillbit suggested over the net. Any who can fight should follow first in casewelvirsget in.
Mace and Karambit march ahead of the group, just behind Carver.
Armor turns to the crowd forming in the main tunnel. “Carry those who cannot walk. We can charge them up as we follow Carver’s lead. Drillbit wants us to close channels as we exit them, so make sure no one is left behind.”
A team of Titans brings a dark unit to us as we exit the desert landing site and head for the supply den. I sigh wearily and connect Atox to Armor.
“If you get too tired to walk, let me know,” Armor says. “I will carry you.”
The biggest struggle since my crash landing wasn’t searching for my sister. It was finding the courage to trust a stranger. But Armor protected me then, and it seems like he wants to now. I just wish I didn’t feel like I was sinking too deep into something I can’t back out of.
There’s a pressure to Armor’s hand as it slides around my waist and steadies me, which makes me think something more is going on with him that he has yet to tell me about.
I just hope, whatever it is, that it doesn’t make me regret bonding with him.
