New Elysium: Weapons of War (Book 2)

Actions Speak Louder Part 8

Dedicated to our lovely friend cosmogyral-delirium and her cat Stalin, that she lost this weekend. We know that pets do become family and we mourn when we lose them. May his memory be a blessing. 

Lars watched as Red's mood turned more and more somber the further they traveled from New Elysium. He stared out the window, eyeing the black, not speaking too much. Even Heisenberg left him alone after a bit of time. Lars remembered that this was normal for him. Red had only ever wanted one thing, and that was to be in space.

They used to talk for hours about things that really mattered, life, the universe, and everything else. Even what they'd wanted out of life. But never once had that included a significant other. Captain Scott of the Aphelion was very different from Red, supposed insurrectionist, and terrorist.

The only thing that astounded Lars more than that was the fact that Red didn't tap into the net. He hardly bothered with it, preferring what he could see with his own eyes. So he was mostly unaware of his own reputation, something Lars suspected was in fact by Red's own design.

Lars waited until Null had laid down for sleep. It was odd that even with the all the hardware that their body contained she still needed sleep. Her mind was so occupied with helping Nova that he felt left out of the process. He'd had to convince her to lay down, that there was nothing she could do right now.

And right now, she was dreaming and he wasn't a part of it because he was still awake. This bothered him but he knew their minds didn't always work according to everything he thought he'd known about them. He could be in her dreams with her, or dream without her, and the same was true for her. It didn't make sense, but not many things about the shared space inside this body did.

On his side of the veil that separated their minds, Lars now turned his thoughts to Red, careful not to interrupt whatever it was that Null was dreaming about. He knew from long experience that Red was still awake. Even Captain Scott had spent hours awake at night, pondering his next move and what to do with his men.

Red? You awake?

Yes... What is it? Is it Null?

No, no I was wondering if you could tell me what happened on Helion 7 now?

You aren't going to let that go, are you?

Captain, I remember what you were like before...

Red didn't respond right away. Lars wondered if he'd said too much, but he was too curious. Eight years had passed, but Lars found it hard to imagine the circumstances that had driven this man to change so much.

Imagine, Red started, imagine, that someone continuously tries to die for you. Maybe you'll get a small taste of it.

His voice coming over the channel wavered.

I don't know if I have to imagine that Captain, Lars replied. I've had... I have that. Is that what happened?

Yes, Red's voice carried his thoughts. Repeatedly. It's like her first reaction. If a sacrifice is required, she'll do it. If it would take her life, she'd give it. She's literally all or nothing... I even wish she was a little more selfish, she just... I don't know... Why me? I wonder...

Why she loves you?

I am none of those things, Lars. I don't give a shit about Jack or New Elysium, it's not at all what I thought it was going to be. I don't care about saving anyone right now.