Armor looks upfront to where two Titans, Lance and Hydra, have taken the pilot’s seats. Four more guard them. The offline Titans are already strapped to beds in the CSP’s medical bay with Atox.
“Shields up, ninety-two percent,” the automated system reports. “Panel SB four-four-alpha down.”
Two Titans break away from helping Atox to address the shield’s downed panel while Armor escorts me to the seatsbehind the pilots. Outside the windows, the ceiling retracts, and we burst up into the sky.
“Two bogies, approaching from the southwest,” Radar mutters from where he stands behind the pilots.
“Copy, hang on,” Hydra remarks as he adjusts a setting on a screen in front of him, and he and Lance change our trajectory.
Armor braces me and grabs a handle overhead. “Let’s give them a chase and a distraction while we figure out what to do about Venom squadron.
“I think I have an idea.” Karambit steps into the hallway behind us with a highly augmented blond with eyes an inhuman blue. His resemblance to Myria makes my stomach burn with anxiety over what’s become of her.
Behind them, Mace brings forward another man. “I can make them talk.”
“I’d like to help.” Karambit grins.
“Don’t say shit, Lenarro,” the second man growls.
The blonde grimaces and spits blood from his bleeding lip onto the floor. “Shut up, Joey. I know.”
Lenarro gives me a once over like he recognizes me, but I don’t know him. It’s his augmented body that concerns me.
“CSP?” I ask Lenarro.
He watches me closely but doesn’t say anything.
Joey laughs, then groans when Mace punches him in the stomach.
I step up to Lenarro to get a better look at his eyes. Karambit holds his arms behind him while Armor shifts uncomfortably beside me.
“Esthi...”
“It’s okay, Armor.” I glance at him. “Lenarro won’t hurt me.”
“How know you say that?” Karambit growls. “All CSP types want is to destroy us and you.”
Lenarro winces. He’s trying hard not to show his damaged state in front of Joey. It makes me wonder why, but it brings back a memory of childhood and trying to be tough like Myria.
“I can fix you,” I tell him quietly enough that Joey can’t overhear. “But I’m going to need something from you.”
