Colossal Souls

2. A Boy

Silence had claimed the night, leading into a mournful morning for Jack and his two Colossal companions. Neither A.I. nor human made a sound, bringing sad remembrance to their fallen comrade Rebecca Cross, code named Dancer. Jack stared unfocused at the ground, holding Dancer's cold body. The Colossi had several mechanical injuries, Sunny's metal skin cut in multiple spots several feet deep. Liona seemed to be the worst off, with a leg missing and her light underbelly peppered with holes. The lioness hadn't moved from Sunny's lap, possibly feeling the most lost out of the three. Who was she without her precious Rebecca? What is a Colossus without her Shepherd? The beautiful sunrise splashed red and orange across the landscape, giving the Colossus unique hues and tones. Had Jack come to this planet of Bliss on better terms, he might have been enthralled enough to stay. Now he only wanted to leave this planet, and forget his mission here entirely.

Little did Jack realize, morbid circumstances sometimes are just the beginning of a new story.

Neither Sunny nor Liona picked up the child on their sensors, explaining why he now stood several feet away from the trio.

The boy was dirty looking, crimson red splattered across his frame. The blood looked almost a week old. Locks of brown hair mopped about his head, possibly not washed for even more weeks. He was completely silent, staring at the Colossi. Perhaps it was the majestic hues that the morning sky projected on the mechs that transfixed the boy so. It wasn't also unlikely that he was fascinated with the sight of massive metal creatures relaxing on his planet uninvited. The child stood for some more time, seeming to analyze and memorize every bit of the Colossi and their outer layer. Even in their damaged state, the metal warriors were a sight to behold, capable of crushing anyone they wanted with the simplest of movements. Maybe the child understood this as he began to sneak away.
He stopped in his tracks, sight now set on the human next to the mechs. Not noticing him earlier, the boy silently moved forward. The man was covered in dirt and blood. A lot of it appeared to not be his own. He saw a person being held, who he could tell just by the contortions of her body wasn't alive anymore.

Something rang deep inside the boy, the sight of the dead woman.

No more. No more death.

Jack's ears perk up at those words, as though he'd heard them.
Inside his head.
Jack raised his head, any sort of slumber he may have been in disturbed. His focus met the eyes of a young boy standing in front of him. Instinctively, his hand went to his waist, unclasping his energy pistol magnetically. Within a millisecond Jack has the gun aimed at the boy, already covering Dancer's body with his own.

"Get away from us kid, don't make me shoot."

The child only stared at the man. He didn't flinch. He didn't move. Only stared. Lights on both Sunny and Liona flashed to life, Sunny aiming his own energy cannon at the intruder. Liona could only let out a mechanical growl, rendered unfit for combat from their earlier fight.

Unflinching still, the kid nonchalantly took a step forward. Jack gripped his pistol harder, now screaming his orders.

"Get the hell away man! Sunny here will blow you all the way to hell!"

Sunny's energy cannon started to glow hot blue, waiting for any reason to fire off on the kid.

"Permission to fire, Shepherd?"

Lower your weapons, your friend needs help.

The boy motioned behind Jack.

The Shepherd was taken back by this. Not only was the kid unafraid of dying, he also wasn't making a sound. Yet he can still hear him.

This can't be real, Jack realized.

It's real. I can help your friend.

Jack jumped up now, his weapon now touching the child's forehead.