We Stand Together

Chapter 14: Sunbreakers, The Mercenaries

Weeks pass by and Eden finally settles into a routine.

She goes on missions on Earth and the Moon (with the supervision of her fireteam), helps Quinn and Ava, and trains whenever she can fit it in her schedule. It busies her time and for the first time ever, she actually feels as if she's contributing to the protection of the City. But as nice as it is, her breaks and days off have been limited to just half days or mere hours.

Eden finds it to be a blessing when she wakes up one morning with no messages from her fireteam or pings from Ava. Even better, she's trained the day before, leaving this day open to whatever she wants to do.

Eden decides that the crucible sounds good. It's been a while since she's been able to go in and now seems as good a time as any. As Eden's clasping on her mismatched pieces of armor, she calls for Uriah.

The little Ghost floats from his place on her bed, beeps, and looks at her curiously.

"Yes?"

"Send a message to Tayton and see if she'd be free to join us in crucible."

Uriah nods his shell and does as she says.

It takes a while for Tayton to respond and by the time she does, Eden's already been to see Shaxx and is on her way to the shipwright.

"Eden?" Uriah beeps.

The female Titan only hums.

"She says she'll join us in orbit."

Eden smiles and rushes to her ship. Once inside, she flips switches and pushes the lever forward and then she's zooming into space.

As the ship hovers just outside of Earth's atmosphere, Eden tells Uriah to send a ping to the Titan. Within moments, there's a bright purple ship hovering next to them.

"Uriah, is there any way to connect to a comms system where we can talk?" Eden asks, sitting back in the seat and looking at the Ghost.

He beeps and mutters for a few moments before turning back to Eden, looking quite pleased.

"There. All she has to do is enter it and we'll be in business."

Eden laughs and gives the little Ghost a loving pat.

"Thanks, Uriah, you're the best."

Uriah looks at her with a swell of pride in his eye before he nestles into her neck.

"Well, if I'm the best Ghost then you're the best Guardian," He coos, snuggling into her neck.

Eden smiles brightly and opens her mouth to speak before Tayton's voice fill the cockpit.

"As sweet as that sounded, I don't think you called me out here for that." Amusement tinges her voice.

A blush spreads across her cheeks and Eden clears her throat. Uriah ducks his shell and busies himself with looking out a window.

"Um no. I thought you'd like to do some crucible with us," Eden rushes, embarrassment in her tone.

Tayton chuckles. "Sure newbie, kick it off so we can crack some heads."

Eden sets everything up and soon enough, they're soaring through the sky with ten other ships, heading to a map on Earth.

When everyone sets down, Shaxx announces the match as a Clash and basically tells them to go at it. Eden's more than happy to do so as she and Tayton surge forward. At first, Eden gets mowed down. She dies several times but it doesn't discourage her from trying again and again. By the time the first match has ended, Eden has died at least ten times with only three kills of her own. She didn't even get to kick off her super.