Kal’s voice lowers, as if he doesn’t want to be overheard.
“Aurora is … unsettled. We encountered more colonists, infected with the same ailment as the chimps. One spoke of … spawning?”
“Yessss,” Cat sighs, writhing on the floor.
I take her hand and she opens her eyes and looks at me. I want to look away from that unnatural color, those flower-shaped pupils. But instead I squeeze my roomie’s fingers, muster a smile.
Tyler takes a shaky breath. “We suspect at least one GIA agent was on that transport—it must have been from the Bellerophon. They’re inbound on our position.”
“The colony reactor is the most heavily fortified structure in the settlement, sir. If we are planning a defense, we should gather there.”
“Roger that, we’ll head to you.”
“I will have deterrent recommendations ready for you when you arrive.”
“We’ll be there ASAP.” He swallows thickly. “Kal … tell everyone to mind the integrity of their biosuits. Under no circumstances are you to allow anyone’s gear to breach, is that understood?”
“Zero, is she—”
“Just get it done, Legionnaire. We’ll be there soon. Tyler, out.”
Ty taps the uni, kneels beside Cat. Putting her arm over his shoulder, he scoops her up. But Cat shakes her head, places one hand on his chest.
“N-no … ,” she whispers. “Leave me, Ty.”
He raises that scarred eyebrow of his, and for a second, the charmer in him rises to the surface. “I didn’t know you were trying out for the comedy circuit?”
“I’m … serious,” she breathes. “Let me g-go.”
“No way.” He lifts her up and stands in one easy movement, Cat cradled in his arms. Her head lolls back, her body limp. But with visible effort, she pulls herself up so she can look him in the eye.
“I c-can see it, Ty,” she whispers. “And it can see all of you … th-through me.” She shakes her head, a kind of wonder creeping into her voice. “It’s so big, Ty. It’s so b-big and I’m falling into it and you have to let me g-go.”
“No,” he says.
“Please,” she begs.
“You listen to me, Brannock,” Ty says, his voice hard as steel despite the tears shining in his eyes. “We are the Aurora Legion, and we do not leave our people behind. Do you understand me?”
She licks her lips, eyes slipping closed.
“Legionnaire Brannock, I asked you a question!” he shouts.
Cat’s eyes flutter open and she draws a deep, shivering breath.
“Furthermore,” Ty continues, in his best parade-ground voice, “I shouldn’t have to remind you that I’m your superior officer. So if you’re considering laying down here, if you even think of cashing out on this drop, I’m going to kick your ass so hard the lump in your throat will be my fucking heel, is that understood?”
Tyler Jones, Squad Leader, First Class, doesn’t curse. Tyler Jones doesn’t do drugs or drink or do anything we mere mortals do for fun. I can’t remember the last time I heard him swear. I doubt Cat can, either.
“Is that understood?” Ty roars.
The words have the desired effect. Cat swallows hard and some focus returns to her eyes. Her grip on his shoulder tightening as she whispers.
“S-sir, y …”
“I can’t hear you, Legionnaire Brannock!”
Cat blinks hard, slowly nods. “Sir, yes sir.”
Ty looks to Zila and me, his stare hard with command. I can see the leader in him, I can see our dad in him, burning so bright it makes me want to cry. To reach out and hug him, to tell him how proud he makes me. But instead, I stand to attention. Because that’s what Legionnaires do.
“Scar, you’ve got point,” Ty orders. “Zila, watch our tails. We go hard and fast to the colony reactor tower, meet up with the squad. Anything gets in our way, we blast it back to hells. Nobody in this unit is dying here today, am I clear?”
“Sir, yes sir,” we reply.
“Right. Let’s move out.
33
Auri
All around me, Tyler and his squad are transforming the reactor into the place we’ll make our stand. They’re hauling cabinets to block up entrances, blasting vines away from windows, figuring out how to augment our defenses with what’s left here.
I’m wrestling with a solidly built table, turning it onto its side to lay it down in front of Cat, like a kind of last-ditch shield in case they come at us through the windows. My gaze meets Kal’s every half a minute or so—though he’s busy single-handedly matching the strength of half of us combined, he’s still waiting for me when I look his