Rebellion (A Titan Romance Book 1) (15 page)

Akyra took a deep breath. Instinctively, she looked around the room and brought her voice to a whisper. “You’re not going to survive making that point, you know that right?” Akyra tried to laugh at her own joke. But her heart sank into her stomach at the reality of it. A wave of nausea hit, and she felt like she was about to lose control of her legs.

But Raemus pulled her closer, lowering his eyes to her upturned face, replying with a stone, emotionless expression. “I never intended to survive, Akyra.” He brushed a stray lock of hair from her cheek. “I only intended to give everything I have… to something I believe in.” He stared down into her searching eyes. “It’s the only way to show myself—and everyone else—that somewhere in
here
,” he touched his chest, “I get to be human. Like you.”

A
kyra was
in the orphanage’s small medical rooms when the next round of bad news arrived from Raemus’ intelligence network.

Two children sat on a single bed, a boy and a girl both with shaven heads, while Akyra sat on the end, legs crossed, showing them a game she used to entertain sick youngsters back at Wahiri Academy ten years before.

They laughed at her slight of hand, looked at her with wonder when she offered to teach them the trick.

Why not reveal the tricks?
she thought.
There wasn’t going to be anyone left alive to do the trick for them ever again.
Akyra forced herself to smile for the sake of the two infirm children, who coughed forlornly when they laughed too much.
I’m completely out of tricks. I’ve failed my mission. And I’m helpless to save my girls who followed me blindly into this mess.

It was Levi who stepped in the doorway to alert Akyra about the news.

Not Raemus. Of course. Two nights ago, he told me he’d been lying the whole time. No surprise that we’ve found every reason to avoid each other.

“Captain Roux?” Levi said apologetically.

Akyra made him wait until she finished the last trick for the two orphans. She made them promise to never share how she did it, but deep down she found solace that they would tell everyone they knew. And perhaps gain a small glimmer of joy in it, long after she’d met her fate on the coming battlefield.

“Yes, Sergeant Levi Petrus?”

He would send Levi, of course. The youngest, most congenial Titan in the unit. Even then, he has a lot to learn about humans. Unfortunately, like the rest of us hiding like undesirables in this faraway hamlet, he won’t live to get that lesson.

“Sorry to interrupt. Captain Raemus and Sergeant Akino would like to share an update on the…” He looked to the two children sitting on the bed with Akyra and fumbled for words. “…the approaching parties.”

Akyra narrowed her eyes at the children, in turn placing her palm on the cheek of each, smiling. “Be good. Especially, to each other. Okay?”

They answered in unison, “Yes, ma’am.”

Akyra couldn’t take her eyes from them.
Such sweet, kind innocence. Perhaps I could have helped more if… if…

Levi spoke up again from the doorway, “Captain Roux?”

“Tell them I’m coming. I don’t need an escort from you or anyone else, Sergeant Levi. Is that clear?”

When Akyra arrived at the office Thunder Company used whenever they were at Ishkari—which was more often than she’d originally suspected—she found Raemus, Akino, and Tomohiko standing around a hologram table. The table projected mountainous terrain, probably the area of Pergamon surrounding the abbey.

Akyra had grabbed Valarae on her way, and it had been an awkward two minute walk. Valarae made no secret that she was angry at Akyra, every Titan, and the whole doomed situation they were in. However, she was still second-in-command, and Akyra needed her to witness every exchange she conducted with Thunder Company’s leadership from here on out. There could be no more secrets.

“What’s up, Raemus?” Akyra said abruptly when they entered the office.

“The three-day countdown just began. Colonel Weir and his Sec-Ops brigade are planetside, and they’re on the move. Bin Ar-Drezar has mobilized a handful of Zebra’s assets, and they’re on the move.”

Akyra lowered her head, sucking some deep breaths. When she looked up at Valarae, she saw her first sergeant’s expression hadn’t changed. Val couldn’t get more pissed even at this news, which they all knew was coming.

“Okay,” Akyra said. There wasn’t much more for her to say. Until…

“There’s something else,” Raemus said, moving around the hologram table. He stood directly in front of Akyra and Valarae. “Xerxus has an army.”

Akino and Tomohiko began scrolling the mountains on the hologram table, as if they needed something to fiddle with while they eavesdropped.

“So?” Valarae said. “We knew that.”

Raemus shook his head. “It’s bigger than we could have imagined.”

“How big?” Akyra asked.

“Forty thousand troops. Artillery. Rovers and skimmers. He’s been doing quite a job keeping it a secret.”

“You said he wasn’t a threat.”

Raemus didn’t reply.

Akyra studied Raemus’ handsome, strong face. She loved him. She wanted to trust that everything was going to be alright if only she believed in him. If only she believed in herself.

But she couldn’t believe in anything. Not anymore.

“What’s the point?” Valarae snapped. “We’ve got hostiles coming from the south. Now we’ve got hostiles coming from the north. Outcome stays the same.”

Raemus leaned forward slightly, not answering Valarae but staring in Akyra’s eyes instead. “Xerxus just might be our lifeline.”

Valarae stuck her chest out. “What are you talking about, Captain Raemus? Xerxus has been trying to kill us since the day we landed on this shithole you seem to love so much.”

Akino cut in. “Xerxus has been working with Bin Ar-Drezar. And only to get his hands on the Bio-Teck cube. Which makes sense. Think of what a planetary insurgency could do with the newest, baddest soldiers in the galaxy. That’s his motive.”

Raemus added, “We
think
.”

Valarae stepped up to Raemus, almost to his chest. “You think scumbags will all of sudden start helping each other?” It was plain that Valarae was really referring everyone in the room as ‘scumbag.’ “Because I don’t think it works that way.”

Akino slid to Valarae, who was making no mere show at being hostile toward Raemus. His eyes began to blacken with the growing tension in the room. “
We
have the Bio-Teck cube.
We
have exactly what he wants.”

In the past, Akyra would have put a calming hand on Valarae’s shoulder, but that part of their relationship was gone now. If she’d done that, she sensed Val would turn on her with a closed fist.

Instead, Akyra asked Akino, “How do we know Xerxus will come to our aid after everything?”

Raemus didn’t let Akino answer. “We don’t. I’ve got messages out to him, but he’s not answering. If he’s made up his mind, he’s not sharing. Not yet.”

Akyra crossed her arms. “Then what do we do?”

Raemus made sure Akyra was looking him in the eye before he answered. “We pray to The Almighty for victory and new friends. Then we get ready to fight. Just like we’ve been planning.”

Valarae added, visibly shaking with anger, “And if Xerxus is still working for Ar-Drezar?”

Raemus turned to her slowly. “Then we die.”

R
aemus was in a foul mood
. Like Akyra, he didn’t like having his authority challenged at the rate it was happening here at Ishkari. But the unfortunate situation they were in caused an unusual amount of agitation within his Titan team.

Frankly, he felt the agitation himself. He’d led the best of his loyal brothers to this far away land, cut off from supplies, alienated from the way of life they always knew. Now they were about to be targeted by an onslaught of forces that now meant he’d led them to their death. Galactic forces were now on the planet, already closing in on Pergamon. Bin Ar-Drezar was moving in, too, an angry father figure come to destroy his unforgivable, disobedient prodigy.

Nothing had gone as planned.

On top of that, Akyra, the first person he’d ever loved, pushed him away every chance she could. Yet it was obvious to him—and everyone else—that they still loved each other.

Is this all we can manage? Can’t we find a way to love each other, even if it’s to be our last days.

For Raemus, he’d been willing to sacrifice himself and whatever else was necessary to fight for the downtrodden people of Minora. Now, he wouldn’t even have the chance to do that. The great cause he wanted to serve, to prove his humanity with, was ripped away from him. That ate at his heart most.

Come on, Xerxus. Show your true colors and fight with us!

Raemus was gathering his thoughts along the forested paths surrounding the abbey, when he saw First Valarae Sergeant Klipssen seated alone atop a massive fallen log, also far away from anyone. He resisted the urge to call out, knowing how much she loathed him. He knew she blamed him for seducing Akyra. He knew she disliked the growing relationships between several humans and Titans.

But she was on her game. And when she heard his movement, she jumped to her feet and tried closing down her tapper without him seeing.

It was too late, however, to hide such things from an experienced Titan. Val concealed something.

Who was she communicating with that she needs to cover up?

Instead of showing the contempt she’d felt for him in the last week, she began acting very odd. “Hello! Captain Raemus? Good morning!”

Oh no
. A realization hit him in a flash, as clear as day.
She’s going to betray us.

“Good morning, Sergeant Klipssen. Please, don’t let me interrupt your time alone. I know how rare it is.”

“No trouble, captain. It’s good to see you. But… I was just heading back down to the abbey. Please, excuse me.”

With that, Val moved back to the path, heading briskly toward Ishkari.

Of course there’d be a traitor. Why not? But what’s she planning? Who is she secretly communicating with?

He watched her progress down the path, and just as she rounded a stand of trees out of sight, she passed Corporal Clarx Nilsson coming his way.

“Captain Raemus!” Clarx yelled from a distance. “Can I have a word with you? Captain Raemus! Oh my, I’m glad I finally found you.”

What now, little guy? More bad news?

Raemus waved the male Banshee up the path. “Corporal Nilsson, get over here! What’s got you all worked up?”

“Well…” As usual, Clarx was out of breath in Raemus’ presence. “We should talk.”

“We should? Where’s Akyra?”

“No, Captain Raemus.
We
should talk. You and me.”

Raemus raised his eyebrows at Clarx. He motioned to the same massive log Val had been on. “Have a seat.”

“No… no, I’ll stand, I mean if that’s okay. It’s just… about Captain Roux.”

Raemus felt his heart miss a beat. “Clarx, get talking. What’s going on?”

“Well shit, captain. She loves you.”

Raemus’ mouth opened, but he didn’t know what to say.

Clarx still panted slightly, more nervous than anything. “And you love her, right? Isn’t that what this whole thing is about? I mean, I think it is. You
do
love Captain Roux, right?”

“With all my heart, Clarx.”

“Okay…” Clarx kept looking away from Raemus’ intense downward gaze, but somehow he managed the courage to keep looking back. “I know you have this great cause you’re willing to fight for. And I know Captain Roux has a career she’s willing to fight for. But it just seems like those things are all messed up now. Kinda? Am I right?”

“It does seem that way.”

“Well then, what the hell are you going to be fighting for when Colonel Weir gets here?”

“What are you trying to say, Clarx?”

“Captain Raemus, we’re all here fighting so you and Captain Roux can love each other. That’s why we’re fighting tomorrow. All of us. All the Titans. All the Banshees. We might not say it out loud, captain, but it’s true. It’s just that, well, y
ou
and her need to start doing the same.” Clarx looked him dead in the eye. And held it. “Don’t you think?”

“Thank you, Clarx. She doesn’t seem to want to love me, I’m afraid.”

“You don’t
let
her, captain. You’ve been so wrapped up trying to find ways to serve everyone else that you don’t let her, the one person who loves you most, serve you back!”

Raemus swallowed hard.

A giant wave of thoughts and emotions slammed into him, and it spun him around. Literally. He looked down the path toward Ishkari.

“Captain?”

Raemus lifted his head and laughed up to the forest canopy. He laughed loud and deep. Then, he turned abruptly back to Clarx, still wide-eyed, not even sure if the Titan had understood him. Grabbing his head with both hands, Raemus planted a big, fat kiss right on Clarx’ forehead. And laughed again, rubbing his stubbled scalp.

“Clarx! You are, by far, the bravest human I’ve ever met! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go.”

Raemus strode the path back to the abbey in light, bouncing steps, even jogging occasionally, leaving poor Clarx alone, confused whether he did the right thing—or just completely screwed everything up.

* * *

A
kyra did
the thing she always did the eve before battle: she cleaned and maintained weapons.

They had plenty, too. Personal weapons included simple carbine plasma rifles, kinetic rifles, rocket launchers, mortars and countless shells, recoilless rifles. And of course, the heavy duty turrets atop their two armored troop carriers. If deployed well, those items could hold back an advance force for a minute.

Maybe two minutes.

Not much more.

Her heart sunk even more.

They were all going to die tomorrow.

Then again, each Raptor contained about ten times the firepower of all the Banshee’s weapons systems combined. Since Colonel Weir advanced without waiting for reinforcements from Dehlosse-5, the Raptors were going to be the most powerful assets on the battlefield. But there were only ten. And Colonel Weir came with the entire Sec-Ops division stationed on High Orbit Anchorage.

Maybe they were evenly matched.

But then again, there
was
the wild card. What was Xerxus going to do?

Shit, maybe he’ll just watch. Or maybe he’ll join Bin Ar-Drezar just long enough to kill us all, then take the Bio-Teck cube for himself.

Dammit.

They were all going to die tomorrow.

Finally, Akyra just laughed. Standing alone in the gun turret of her own vehicle, she put a can of lubricant to her temple, and laughed. She knew she was going to die, and she found the whole thing absolutely hysterical.

“Akyra?”

She spun round to see Raemus standing only a few meters away from her carrier. “Raemus? Hi.”

“Care to share the joke?”

“Just thinking about how we’re all going to get our asses handed to us tomorrow.”

“Hilarious, isn’t it?”

But Akyra’s face twisted, and her eyes clamped shut.
Please don’t cry in front of him. Be brave, Little Miss Roux. Don’t cry!

“Sweetheart?” Raemus deep voice never sounded so kind. “Akyra? Come on down. Let’s talk about this, can we?”

Akyra didn’t love at first. Then she nodded, wiping away the few runaway tears. She pushed herself onto the roof and swung her legs over the edge.

Raemus stepped to the vehicle, holding up his arms to catch her.

By then, plenty of Banshees and Titans around the abbey saw them talking. They edged closer, hopeful to hear, for they knew the lovers hadn’t spoken in days. Not out of anger but from a sad, hopelessness. They watched Akyra slide off the armored carrier into Raemus’ powerful arms. Then, they watched as Raemus and Akyra held onto each other, without a word, for a long, long time.

* * *

O
nly a few hours later
, the two teams mounted up, beginning to move forlornly away from each other. The two captains barely had a chance to talk, let alone make love to each other for what would have been their second—and last—time. There was still so much preparing to do.

But they didn’t need to say everything. They both knew each other’s hearts. Even during the week they drifted apart, they always knew what the other thought. Didn’t they? At this point, confessing their love openly, in earshot of everyone at Ishkari Abbey, everything seemed be as it should be.

“Do we have a chance?” Akyra had finally asked.

Raemus pulled her close, pressing her head against his chest. “It’s not in our hands, my love.”

Akyra sighed deeply, not mournfully. Just happy to finally, once again be against this magnificent, Titan heart. “Seems The Almighty has a funny way of reminding us of that. Do we pray for Xerxus?”

Raemus just laughed. “I’ll pray for him the second I know what he’s going to do.”

Then, in a few quick whispers, he told Akyra of his suspicions of Val. It wasn’t hard for her to believe.

“Good evening, captains.” Clarx had side-stepped his way to them.

Akyra straightened herself up, quickly pulling her hair back from her face. “Hi Clarx. How’s your prep coming?”

“Fine. I guess.” He looked back and forth between Raemus and Akyra. “Do you think since we’re already up against a shitstorm that I could… you know… maybe this
once
carry a weapon?”

Raemus smiled and Akyra laughed. “I need you to be my voice to outside world, Clarx.” She put a hand on his shoulder. “You
know
that.”

“The outside world is here, captain. They’ve come to kill you.”

Raemus’ laugh echoed throughout the abbey and the surrounding forest. A few others laughed, too, revealing just how many soldiers were eavesdropping at this point.

Akyra opened the back hatch of a carrier, pulled out a rapid-fire plasma blaster with an auxiliary grenade launcher attached. She could barely lift it with one arm, but managed to throw it at Clarx. “Don’t go and shoot anybody you know, okay kiddo?”

The weight of the weapon almost took him off his feet, but he merely staggered, the extreme joy of his greatest wish coming true keeping him upright. “Oh captain! Thank you, thank you! You will not regret this!”

“I already do. Now beat it. Glory to The Almighty.”

“Yes, sir! Glory to The Almighty!” Clarx turned with the weapon awkwardly cradled in his arms, leaving the captains just as Akino, Aejax, Rayeley, and Emilia approached.

Finally, an hour after sunset, Raemus and half his team powering up their Raptors and climbing into their vehicles. They were the first wave to move away form Ishkari. They needed to move to terrain that would give them any advantage they could get. And they wanted to get as far away from Ishkari Abbey as possible.

And if he got lucky, Raemus was to find the mysterious leader of the armed, local fighters. And hopefully talk some sense into him.