Chapter 3: Esthi
A team of Solcrue that had been following me now advances on a squad of Titans and humans further down the desert plains. I guess I’mnotthe priority. But as I cautiously lower myself to the sand to clear the dirt from the Titan I’ve found in the cracked plains, metal bursts up from the desert in a fan of haggard blades that glint under the sun.
The wing is massive and blocks the daylight. It arcs high with feathers resembling blades which ratchet into an impermeable shield that falls hard to the dirt and curls up around me. I scramble back as the sharp feathers scrape up the ground near my body. Only as the sunlight fades under the Titan’s wing do I hear the fighter’s engine and thepop-pop-popof the bullets tearing up the desert floor.
I hunker beside the Titan’s head. Bullets slam into his wing with raucous, reverberating force, making me cover my ears. I’ve been shot at before, but never when out in the open like this. I took a chance because I’ve been tracking the Titan team with a human and a Solcrue since they landed in a Boltburner not far from my campsite. I didn’t anticipate the enemy ground squad.
Solcrue rarely do dirty work. Commander Ahronis is an exception. They prefer clones, drones, and automated systems or servants.
They must be desperate to get control of the Titans, which tells me that the Titans are royally screwing up their plans.
The metal head of the Titan beside me wasn’t difficult to spot from the tree line once I tracked the team’s trajectory. Now, I’m stuck inside a metal dome with a Titan whose eyes dim like he’s running out of power.
“Hey! Don’t give up.” I pat his cheek. “I need you to stay with me.”
His gaze wanders to mine, then languidly lowers as his eyelids droop.
I dig faster, free his mouth and the rest of his face, but it’s difficult to see in the pale slivers of light coming in from between his feathers. I put on my goggles and give him an assessment. Stats show his power is down to four percent.
My father always said Titans were more human inside than we were led to believe. All I have is food and water for humans, plus some spare wiring and a few small backup batteries for my tablet, but I’m going to have to make do.
Freeing my water bottle from my bag, I open the nozzle and touch it into his lips. Most humans wouldn’t survive a day in a desert without water. “Can you drink?”
He clumsily forms his lips to the straw. When I tip up the bottle, the water runs out of his mouth. I cup a hand under his chin and help him like I used to do with my little brother, who died long ago. It’s the most contact I’ve had with another life form in years.
The heat of his synthflesh is indicative of his compromised state. I don’t know if Titans get fevers, but he’s nearly too hot to keep my hand in position.
He drinks down all of the water, and I let him. He needs it more than I do.
I dig through my bag and find the one hydrolyte gel packet I’ve been hanging onto for an emergency. It’s not easy to part with things that could save my life. But I’m feeling in over my head on this strange planet and have been risking things I wouldn’t normally. After two weeks of living on my own, I’ve figured out a basic system for survival.
After confronting the mutant wolves two nights ago and dealing with the moody temperature changes, I am eager to team up with literally anyone who won’t try to kill me.
I rip the packet open and set the end to his lips, feeding the gel into his mouth. Electricity needs ions to flow. Water won’t help him on its own.
He blinks slowly, and a single tear forms in one eye.
“How long have you been buried out here?” I wonder out loud.
He sways his head as he swallows the gel but doesn’t respond, and I know it’s been far longer than any human could endure.
Maybe I can’t save my sister right now, but it’s clear he needs help Icangive.
I push my change of clothes aside in my pack, the spare protein bars and gilkyworm cakes I’ve stolen from Solcrue lunch rooms, and grab my pry bar. It’s the only tool I’ve got that will dig worth a shit.
“This is going to take me a while, but I’m going to get you out.” I focus on breaking up the brittle crust of the desert and freeing his neck and shoulders.
A deep rumble shakes me and makes me freeze.
“Wing,” he says. “Solar.”
As I catch my breath from the startling depth of his voice, I look around at the metal wing that’s curled up in a dome-shaped shield.Must be a pair.
Crawling around his back, I carefully chip away at the dirt, praying I don’t pry too deep and hurt him worse than he already is. I bump the shield with my elbow and wince at the heat. The desert sun is baking him. I’m grateful for the shade but afraid I’ll get cooked if I don’t get more airflow soon.
Sweat drips down my forehead into my eyes. I try to wipe it away, but my clothes are soaked. All I’ve done is add a film of sandy dirt.
I rake free a clump and watch a fissure race out from the Titan’s back. The desert cracks open to a horrendous sound like snapping bones.
