Chapter 9 Craze

Ranger didn't make it, but I've scavenged enough from other ships and the remains of the old plant to keep him in stasis. I just hope Rochir's wristband will help somehow.

Pellucid sits not far from me, holding her humans like they are made of glass. It is rare to meet a Titan with legs. She took out several Solcrue, but she wavers like she is low on power. I fear how much Sevrin damaged her in his labs. Nevertheless, she has stunning blue eyes and a soothing voice I could listen to over the network for the rest of my operation.

I want to touch her again, breathe her in, find out if this consuming need for more of her is one sided or not.

CrazeLocal: I've been monitoring communications in the area with Tangle.

Pellucid looks at me. I have her attention.

CrazeLocal: No luck with ships we can use to escape, yet. Infiltrations always end with Tav's squads and a wall of flaming rifle rain we can't push through. We were hoping to take over the ship, get a ride off of this damned moon. We've been stuck here—

For two years, yes. I know. Pellucid doesn't look away from me. I wonder what she's thinking. I saw you fall.

It hits me. She was the one who watched us from above, from the research vessel.

I have thought of you every night since, I admit. I heard your transmission, but it was broken up by static.

"Hang on, Eliana." She reaches out to hold the hand of a redhead with light in her chest who can't sit up. I didn't know who was down here. I got a response but it was too broken up. I hoped someone was here but figured they were damaged beyond repair.

I don't like the depressing mood of our conversation. The way she blushed when I greeted her on the ramp makes me want more of that.

"You know, Rochir's even uglier in person than he sounded on the com chats with the commanders," I say.

She smiles just a little. They all do. It's progress.

Tangle sets us down in the shaft and begins the journey through the tunnels to our hideout.

TangleCraze: She must be what they spoke of when Rochir and the commanders discussed telepathic tech he had in his possession. But I've never known them to refer to a Titan in such a way.

CrazeTangle: Perhaps it is because she is female. I reply in our private conversation. Maybe they hadn't anticipated finding a functioning pilot because we have no known ships left. Most were destroyed.

TangleCraze: The Rogues are out there.

I can't see Pellucid's digibadge. They must've concealed her to hide her incomplete body. All female Titans I've ever met were mounted to a pilot's seat and never had legs. This one has legs. Perhaps they are rudimentary.

TangleLocal: They call you Navi, but is that for Navigator?

We glide into the cavern we've made our main home since the jailbreak.

That would make sense, she replies, but it is not short for that.

Tangle parks close to the fire pit. I will get it started and gather all useful resources for the females. Can you unload?

I give him a double click back and start with Jeela. Navi seems to favor her, though the reason is unclear.

I lay her down on a blanket Tangle spreads out for her before he starts the fire with a stick against a hot hoverengine.

"You doubt I should be here," Jeela says. "But I saved a human from Sevrin. He took my arms as punishment and gave them to a soldier who lost his in battle with you."

I study the human arms that replace hers. "And those?"

"Because I love humans so much, they spliced me with a dead test subject. Rochir likes Solcrue females and his balls squeezed during ejaculation. Needed hands.

"Not many females of our kind, roaming the galaxy. Just us infertile husklinons. Most love being an anaja to our own kind. I resisted, so they took my legs. That way I couldn't fight. Sevrin just liked swapping parts on me, I guess."

PellucidCraze: She stood up to her people to fight for us. You can trust her.

Navi helps Shavih off of the lift, then walks her to the fire crackling to life in the pit.

"Why?" I ask as I collect another woman and lay her beside Jeela. "No Solcrue I've met are like you."

"It is one thing to rule. It is another to lead." Jeela rolls over, hugs herself, and closes her eyes. "Solcrue have a motto."

"Dominate, assimilate, or die." Pellucid wraps Shavih in a blanket then returns to help her other humans. Even though she is low on power, she doesn't stop.

They all need proper bandages and rest. While Pellucid finishes assisting the females to the fire, I dig through our salvaged medical kits and patch up those I can. We were not prepared for so many human patients.

Tangle climbs a wall like a cubed snake and returns with a pack of rations from a crevice.

Pellucid stares at him like she doesn't know what to think. He fills a jug and a large pot with water and returns to us as Axe, RamBash, and Macabre hover in on our Tacticat. They join Tangle in preparing a meal and attending to the females.

MacabreLocal: It's like they were trying to turn them into us.

He splints a half metal and half human leg of a woman who has passed out.

PellucidLocal: They were. Still are.

I think back to the shields that burst to life in between her and Tav's teams, the way sparks bloomed from the guts of the ship as systems flickered on and off, air swirling over the ramp, making her long black hair dance.

Tav was livid. Rochir was bleeding out.

I loved it.

And even when there was nowhere to run, she stood among her humans against Tav's gun. I have never seen a female with such gall.

How could anyone want to hurt such a beautiful creature?

Macabre swats my chest with the back of a hand and points to his forehead. Switch off, fucknut.

Pellucid studies me for a moment then gets up and walks off into the shadows.

We can't have her wandering the tunnels due to known welvir populations. I chase after her.

CrazePellucid: where are you going?

She backs up and bumps into a wall near one of our escape tunnels.

CrazePellucid: Why do you run from a compliment?

She sighs weightily and looks back at the group by the fire. Why lie?

I don't want to push her away. That's the opposite of what I want. But I think she might be hyper vigilant after such a battle.

Shifting closer, I covertly draw in her sweet scent. The hint of warm synthetics and human musk I detect make my ultro race. She is not afraid of fighting alongside humans, something I've not known female Titans to do. They were always bolted to the pilot's seats. But they always wished for legs.

PellucidCraze: I should go. You've got things under control. I'll only be a target. They're safer with you.

What are you talking about? I ask.

Rochir wants me. He doesn't really need the others because Sevrin already took the parts he needed for Killstar. All except the ones from me.

We cannot lose her. I have so many questions. You should not return to the Solcrue. There is no logical reason to.

She tilts her head toward the fire. I should stay away from them.

But Rochir is dead.

She hugs herself and paces between me and the wall. Pellucid is small for a Titan. We don't know that. Tav certainly isn't. And by now, the Solcrue commanders have likely called their fleets here for reinforcements.

I can't stand the thought of her trying to sacrifice herself, so I take her by the arms. She is far softer than I realized. My cock swells and strains against my pants. But I ignore my growing needs because I fear she is damaged by the thinness of her Titan body.

They won't forget about the others. I soften my grip on her arms. You can't go.

She crosses her arms. Most female Titans are hard to open up. They're sassy and bossy and bottled up. Why the hell not?

I won't let you. I want her to stay.

Her lips quirk like she doesn't know what to make of me. Their subtle movements have me transfixed. I need a taste. I need to know she's real, and I'm not making her up due to some erratic program from too many Solcrue guard shockbaton hits or from the fall to Hyperion, or any number of body slams I've taken during my service.

So Craze, why did they name you that?

I guide her back against the wall and savor the softness of her thin body against mine. As our hot breath mingles, I finally get a feel for what's beneath her cloak. She's curvy and smooth and not made of clunky parts like most Titan females.

I've got a few loose wires, I admit.

Pellucid's brows rise, and I realize that wasn't the best way to sell the idea that she can trust me.

Emotional blocks don't work. I don't think. I infiltrate, annihilate, and evacuate. Our lips brush, but I don't kiss her. The longer I look into the cybernetic depths of her gaze, the more I see the fear she hides.

Something is wrong. She doesn't trust me. She expects me to hurt her, to take.

Her breathing quickens and her eyes narrow. Her eyes fill with anger. Do not touch them.

I only want to touch you.

She grimaces and rubs her forehead. What? Why?

This isn't working. I've pushed to fast and too hard when she isn't ready. It doesn't matter if every nano in my body wants her, she's resisting. And I don't want that.

I had hoped she'd want me, too.

I ease back though my body aches in protest. Please don't run. Stay here where we can protect you. I cannot bear the idea of anyone taking you apart.

The texture of her face has me reaching for her chin. I've never seen a Titan with so few body seams before. We are so few. Fight with us. We will give you everything we can. Just please, stay. Come and have something to eat with us. You must be hungry.

Pellucid watches me, touching her lips like she's been stung.

I'm trying everything I can think of because I want her to be safe and protected. I also want her to want to stay. Because I desperately need her.

Some feelings can't be blocked with a program.