Once Again

Chapter Four - To The Stars

Picture: Break by Dreamin-8-bit

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE :)

To The Stars

Echo's head snapped up the moment he heard Noise repeat what he'd mumbled. Yes, Tristam had said that he had excellent hearing, but Echo didn't think he'd be that good.

"Poor kid," Rogue muttered. "What have we dragged you into?"

He reached a hand out to help him stand and instead, Echo scrambled backward. "Get back!" he ordered, his voice shaking and his heart pounding. With his luck, Rogue could probably kill him with a single touch. "Don't touch me!"

"Hey, it's alright," Rogue said gently. "I'm not going to hurt you. Promise. I don't even have powers."

"You don't?"

"Nope. I'm the only one who doesn't. Well, except for you, of course." He glanced around and sighed. "Why don't we go find Nitro and WRLD? You seem to get along with them."

Echo let him help him stand up, and then took a wobbling step. The one called Fij gently took his arm and said, "Hey. It's going to be okay."

Immediately, Echo felt calmness and relief wash over him like a wave. Even the burn on his neck felt better. He sighed a little in relief and let his tense shoulders relax. "Thanks, Fij."

The other smiled. "Of course. I'm going to go get some cream for your burn, so don't go too far."

"Braken, why don't you go get WRLD and Nitro?" Rogue suggested, and Echo noticed how the younger Raider kept staring at him like he was looking into his soul.

"What? Oh, yeah, okay." Braken seemed to snap out of some sort of trance and shook his head as if to clear unpleasant thoughts. He turned and scampered off to go find the others.

A moment later, Puppet found them. "Hey, Echo," he said cheerfully. "How are you liking ... oh." His voice trailed off as he noticed the burn. He glanced at Rogue and then the blanket tent behind them. "He fell asleep again?" he murmured.

Rogue nodded slightly.

"Oh ... sorry you had to be there," he told Echo regretfully. "Anything I can do?"

"I don't think so. Thanks." Echo shifted his weight uncomfortably. "I guess now I'm just ... " He was afraid, though he didn't tell them. His heart was pounding and his hands were sweaty, but Fij's touch helped relax him.

"Hey," Nitro called. "I heard you needed some kids your age to keep your sanity."

"Not exactly ... "

"Fear not, my friend. We are here," Nitro announced, as if it wasn't obvious already.

"Come on, let's play a game of cards or something," WRLD suggested. "Cards is relaxing."

"No, it's not," Nitro protested. "Especially all the games you like. Those are stressful."

"Can I - " Braken started.

"No," the other two cut him off.

Braken looked hurt for a second, but he quickly covered it up. "Okay. I'll go find something else to do." Even though he was pretending to be happy, Echo could tell he was disappointed and lonely, yet the outsider wasn't willing to risk having him spill another secret. He was still furious that everyone knew about his sister.

"Great, let's go." Nitro took Echo's arm and led him back to the mechanic-looking area, where he noticed the android Karma Fields slumped lifelessly over a stool. Nitro caught him staring and said, "I'll fix him later."