Landing on his hull, I help Esthi inside before climbing in myself. I close the hatch. A blue shield ripples over his hull.
“Welcome to the Pissy Sissy. I’m Reidar. No portal for us, but she’s pep in a can. Strap in!”
Esthi and I take seats and belt in.
“Got any extra guns?” I ask.
“It’s a one-pilot ship. I have all the controls. But some information would be helpful,” he says as we dive through the battle, taking out Solcrue fighters. “Any idea where my sister is, Kelta Toriszi? Have you seen her?”
“She’s a firecracker, for sure. She was on the BlazeStar, last I heard,” Esthi says. “Her mate was hurt.”
“She found someone?”
I’m surprised by his ease of conversation while he fires at the enemy. But knowing Kelta lived in her ship, I wager he does withhis. It’s just second nature to fly and talk, maybe even fire at the enemy.
“Sort of,” I clarify. “She’s bonded to my Brother Thruster.”
“A Titan?” he mutters in shock. Then laughs. “I’m not surprised. Thruster, huh?”
“He is severely damaged. She was not in a good headspace when we returned. You may want to reach out when there’s time.”
Commander Savage>>Local: Retreat. I want everyone through now! Solcrue are targeting the portal!
Titans and Rebels without portals flee through the main portal. Portal carriers pull back.
I scan for any Brothers who might be adrift in space as our pilot races for a nearby portal. The only free-floating Titans that register in the void are Fracture and Evo. They’ve found their way to Craze’s ship and are rigging up a special weapon I’ve never seen before. It’s just the two of them. I can’t explain the need to be with them, but it batters my core with demands.
“Can you drop me off there?” I ask.
Esthi looks at me like all she wants to do is get out of here.
“Ican.” The hesitancy in Reidar’s voice makes me think he doesn’t want to.
“Please. It’s just… I need to be out there with them.”
“Why?” Esthi challenges.
“Rogues might be more advanced than Relics, but we’re always stronger together. And we need them to help us navigate the nebula. Whatever they’ve built is special. But we need to make sure they get to the other side.”
Armor>>Local: I’m landing near Fracture and Evo.
“If you’re going, I’m going,” Esthi says, unbuckling.
I don’t like the idea. I’d much rather her be safe, but she looks determined.
“Alright.” I turn to our pilot. “Go find your sister.”
“Will do.”
He opens the hatch. I grab Esthi around the waist and leap out, igniting my rocket boots. We blaze a short distance to the hull and land with heavy clunks as our magnetic spacewalk heels kick on. Esthi draws her rifle as I free mine from my back. We march up the roof toward Fracture and Evo, scanning the hull for infiltrators.
Armor>>Local: How can we help?
Fracture>>Local: Connect to the power port at thejunction.
He sends me a visual schematic. I grab the cable, lug the large wire rope to the port, and get it hooked up. Esthi fires her rifle over my head at an incoming Solcruean transport dripping soldiers onto Craze’s roof.
The weapon that Fracture and Evo have sits on a tripod that looks like a cannon or a launcher for a massive shell. The central cylinder bursts with storming blue light the moment I connect it to power.
