Children Of Gaia

Chapter 34

With the Cronus in tow, the Sarrat pressed onward heading toward Alpha Colony with a precious cargo and new citizens to join their ranks. In addition to their success on Darsalae and locating a Titan with its crew alive and well, there was now even further reason to celebrate. The Cronus like all Titans had its own protein slabs and full-scale hydroponic bays. The house menu of Alpha Colony was shaping up to have more on offer than any Gaia-born had ever been privy to. In her steady updates Gaia learned that the only complaints from the people were the same since leaving Earth, that the food on offer was sad and tasteless. Something they could easily address once mass-production got under way.

Since leaving Darsalae, Felix had been troubled by something. Every time he saw Argus with his missing arm, Felix felt tremendous guilt. He was never trained for the military. If it were a Trooper that went in his stead that day perhaps Argus wouldn't have lost his arm, or Sergeant Baxter, his life. Argus smiled and beamed every time he saw Felix, he bore no anger or resentment whatsoever. As far as he was concerned, Felix was now his family. Sharing these thoughts with Felix did bring him some comfort, but ultimately he knew what he must do.

Finding Gaia, Felix said, "this might be a long shot but do we have anything that would work as anaesthesia on Argus?"

"We do not," she replied, "but, the Drusai genome is still on record from the first Tarrax visit." Felix's face brightened. "Give me half an hour dear, I'll sort you out," she winked.

Feeling his spark rekindled, Felix charged off to get Argus from his quarters. Felix found him studying the faces of Alpha Colony's manifest, his new family. To what end neither knew exactly, Argus just seemed fascinated by all the different looking people, and was excited to meet as many as possible.

"Having fun?" Felix asked with a big smile.

"Yes yes!" he nodded. "So many new friends," he beamed. Felix chuckled. Verbal conversations between telepaths was often confusing for third parties. Very little content was vocalised and the rest remained on another plane entirely. Felix didn't have to say what he was there for, Argus knew instantly and then began to reflect on Felix's thoughts. Argus had come to terms with his disability but only for the simple reason that he didn't know it could be replaced. He didn't concern himself with the details, Argus trusted Felix without question and was happy to have Felix proceed. Within the hour, Gaia and Felix had Argus in the machine shop prepping him for surgery. The scar tissue was removed and a new synthetic arm was designed to mirror his left. As Argus lay unconscious, Felix walked over with the new arm fresh off the press and Gaia got to work.

A few hours later Argus awoke and was in a panic. He was restrained and tried to free himself from the bench, but could not break the metal bars and clamps that locked him in place. After Gaia alerted Felix, he rushed over and Argus relaxed the moment Felix entered.

"Stuck!" Argus called out to Felix as he approached. Gaia released the clamps and Argus jumped to his feet, only to collapse instantly. Felix and Gaia rushed to help him back to his feet. Felix tried to explain that he would feel groggy for a little while until the drug wore off. Argus was fine, just having panicked from not being able to move. He inspected his new arm closely, its synthetic covering matched the dark olive of his natural skin perfectly.

"Gah!" he said waving his new arm up and down. "Feel funny." The next shake of his new arm caused it to open and his new weapon appeared. Just like Lloyd's forearms, Argus now had a mini turret of his own.

"Stop stop stop!" screamed Felix fearing Argus would punch holes all through their ship.

"It's alright dear," interjected Gaia. "I have it deactivated until he gets a feel for the new neuron receptors."