Broken Steel - The Pillars of Sovereign

Episode 6 - Resurgence

Pressure released as the Titan docked with the mobile repair bay which had been set up within a make shift camp, which sat on the outskirts of the city and away from any retaliation. It had once been a thriving outdoor market but now the open space was filled with tents, repair bays and stockpiles of supplies.

Steam gushed out as the battered machine as it powered down, there was static in the air as the clamps locked on to its warped and battle damaged hull.

Luca made the final checks within the cockpit as he unbuckled his restraints. AVA's voice spoke through the internal mechanics of the cockpit, even though the Titan was in standby mode.

"Are you ok Luca?"

It took a while for Luca to respond, his mind was elsewhere.

"Yea...that thing, I've never fought anything like it...I could feel my insides twisting by just been close to it."

AVA was concerned, she could see the dark Cataphract's effects on screens and sensors but she'd never truly feel it like Luca could.

"Dead space technology... that's what it was using, its forbidden tech...simply because of its effects on organic matter"

There was a bang on the Titans hatch, Luca reached forward and released the latches. With a hiss the internal pressure and stagnant air of the cockpit escaped, the HUD folded away as the hatch opened. Luca was blinded at first by the sudden flood of light, but his eyes quickly adjusted as a figure lent into the hatchway. Luca quickly identified the figure as Blaize the pilot of the timber wolf that had joined in the battle against the dark Cataphract.

"Ah good you're in one piece, you fell out of the sky pretty hard." Blaize brushed his top lip with a grin upon his face.

"See I don't fly for the simple reason that you can fall out of the sky... leave the flying to the pretty boys I say." Blaize was a giant of a man, with bright red hair and piercing blue eyes. Luca couldn't work out if his hair color was natural or if it was for effect. Like all wolf pilots Blaize was athletic and toned beyond any normal human but, he seemed kind hearted and there was no denying he had a sound tactical head on his shoulders.

One thing Luca had noticed is that Blaize never minced his words and always said only what was needed, be it blunt at times.

"Come on the generals with the rest of the team and he's waiting for us." Blaize turned away but stopped dead, he turned back with another grin on his face. "Bring your girlfriend or she might get in a huff with you."

Blaize quickly jumped from the cockpit and onto a walk way that ran along the repair bay and the Titan, before AVA could respond.

"What do you mean girlfriend!!!" AVA screamed.

Blaize continued to walk off without looking back chuckling to himself. Luca reevaluated his ideas of Blaize right there and then, maybe sometimes he said more than was needed.

Luca reached for the tiny cube that contained AVA and, pulled it from the slot within the cockpit. With that AVA's frantic screaming at Blaize ceased. He then pulled himself forward and to the edge of the cockpit, looking around the makeshift camp he noticed Blaize walking off towards a large camo tent at the center of the camp.

Below Luca and the Titan, Zenith was stood as still as a statue waiting patiently. Beside Zenith stood what seemed to be a lifeless manikin propped up by a stand and dressed in a green jump suit similar to the other ground crew and mechanics. It took a few moments till Luca noticed him waiting below.

Luca swung round and onto the walkway with ease and, began to head for the stairs down off of the repair bay. He began to remove his pilots harness as he walked. As he was walking Luca noticed zeniths eyes following him along the walkway and down onto the ground, the whole experience put him on edge a little. He felt drawn to Zenith if only to find out why he was so interested in him.