Titans

by Kate O'Hearn

  “We are,” Tryn said. “The Mimics don’t consider the youth of Titus a threat. We will be the silent warriors who can defeat them.”

  Jupiter looked at Tryn and a sad smile rose to his lips. “Tryn, your people are not fighters. They embraced peace long ago. For you to fight now would betray them.”

  Tryn shook his head. “No, Jupiter. To watch Titus fall to the Mimics when I could have helped would be the true betrayal. My father was human, and they are no strangers to war. That is what this is. It’s a war for Titus, and I’m prepared to fight.”

  Jupiter looked at his wife and then nodded. “And we are grateful.” His eyes moved to each of them. “We are grateful to all of you. But right now, we are a liability to you. You must leave us here.”

  “What? No!” Astraea cried. “You can’t stay. They’re killing you. You must leave with us now.”

  “There is nowhere for us to go but back to Titus, and the Mimics are there,” Jupiter said. “If we go back in our weakened condition, it could spell disaster—especially as there is only one Nesso to help us.”

  “Jupiter is correct,” Juno said. “We could cause more harm. We must stay here.”

  “Forgive me for saying this,” Tryn started. “But if you think we’re going to let you stay here, you’re wrong. Look.” He held up his ring. “This was on a Mimic Vulcan. It is a Solar Stream gem, and it’s how we got here. We can use it to hide all of you somewhere safe until you’re strong enough to fight. Unfortunately, it won’t open a passage to Xanadu, but there are other places to go.”

  “Where?” Aurora asked. “If a Mimic had it, they know all the places it opens.”

  “True,” Jake said, stepping forward. “So I think we should send you all to Earth. It is heavily populated, and you could hide there until you recover.”

  “That is impossible!” Jupiter cried. “Earth has been quarantined. No one is to return there—ever!”

  “Um, excuse me, sir,” Jake continued. “But I’m from Earth, and I definitely want to go back home.”

  “I am not talking about you,” Jupiter said. “I am speaking of the Olympians and Titans. We are too powerful for your world. Each time we visit, there is a disaster.”

  “Right now you aren’t powerful. You’re weak as kittens,” Jake said.

  “He’s right,” Tryn agreed. “Earth is perfect. The Mimics duplicate your memories when they duplicate your look. So they must know Earth is quarantined and the last place you would go. It’s the perfect place to hide until you regain your strength.”

  “They are correct,” Juno said. “It is the perfect place for us.”

  Jupiter shook his head. “Beloved, each time we visit Earth, we do more harm than good. We have destroyed cities and ruined lives. I do not want to be responsible for any more hardship.”

  “What’s the alternative?” Astraea asked. “Those Mimics are taking over Titus one person at a time. If you’re no longer here for them to make duplicates of, the people of Titus will start to notice that the leadership is missing. The truth will come out. Then all we need is more of Nesso’s venom and we can stop them completely. We’ll show the Mimics that they can’t have Titus.”

  “Or any other world but their own,” Tryn said.

  “What are you saying?” Jupiter asked.

  Tryn looked at the leader. “I heard that a long time ago when the Nirads were attacking Olympus, you gave a speech. You said everyone had to fight for Olympus and all the worlds that you protect. Isn’t that still true? Yes, Olympus is gone, but you are still here. The other worlds the Mimics are taking need your help too.”

  Juno smiled at her husband. “You did say that. . . .”

  Jupiter chuckled softly. “I have never heard my own words used against me so effectively. Yes, as keepers of the Solar Stream, it is our duty to protect other worlds.” He started to rise again and looked at everyone gathered there. “Once we are sure that everyone has been freed from their cells, we will go to Earth to regain our strength. Then we will return and take back Titus!”

  Astraea, Tryn, and Jake went through all the levels of Tartarus. With each cell they opened, the prisoners were weak but grateful to be free. They made a slow, torturous march to the uppermost level while the search and rescue continued.

  Astraea was relieved to discover that out of the massive prison, only the top three levels contained prisoners. Tryn was especially joyful when they finally found Vulcan on level three. He was as weak as Jupiter, having had multiple duplicates made from him, but he was determined to walk unaided.

  When the last cell was opened and everyone had made it to the top level, Astraea was amazed by how many Titans and Olympians had been taken. It was even more disturbing to realize that no one had noticed the change until Jake arrived and set everything in motion.

  Another surprise prisoner was Jupiter’s brother Pluto. If the Mimics had captured Neptune as well, they would have taken the Big Three without anyone noticing. It was fortunate that Neptune spent a great deal of time in the ocean and so was likely beyond their reach. They all gathered outside the empty cells on the main floor. Jupiter and Pluto were leaning heavily on Zephyr for support, while the weakest prisoners relied on the stronger ones to keep them upright. Gone were the divisions between Olympian and Titan. They were all in this together, and they would need to fight together to win.

  Astraea stood beside Jake and put her hand on his arm. “I’m so sorry we didn’t find Molly here.”

  Jake turned to her with fear in his eyes. “Where is she? She wasn’t in the prison on Titus and she isn’t here. What did they do to her?”

  Tryn said, “Have you ever considered that she was never taken?”

  Jake shook his head. “But that thing, that Shadow Titan, grabbed her first. I saw it before I fell down and hit my head.”

  “Jake,” Astraea said softly, “I promise we’ll find her and won’t stop searching until we do. Let’s just get everyone to Earth and we can keep looking.”

  Jake nodded, but said nothing.

  “Everyone,” Jupiter called. “We owe our lives to these brave young people who have freed us. . . .”

  Weak cheers rang out, and gratitude was in the air.

  “But,” Jupiter continued, “none of us are strong enough to take on the Mimics on Titus. Astraea has a team, but they are too few to do it successfully. They have a plan that could work, but it is dangerous. We must leave here and hide until we recover our strength. To do that, we are about to break the quarantine and flee to Earth.”

  There were gasps and shocked whispers from the gathering.

  Jupiter raised his hands. “I know, I know, it is not ideal and not what I would have ever wanted. But we have no choice. We cannot return to Titus. If we did, the Mimics might launch a full attack against us with no one able to stand against them.”

  “What are we supposed to do on Earth?” Vulcan called. “We cannot just sit around while those monsters take Titus.”

  “We will not be sitting around,” Jupiter said. “We will be drawing up a plan and making weapons. But we must leave before those Mimics return. Each moment we waste puts Titus in greater danger.”

  Jupiter motioned to Tryn. “Do it.”

  Tryn looked back at Jake. “You’re sure this is the best place?”

  Jake nodded. “It’s the only place. There are too many strange-looking Titans here to keep them safe anywhere else. Trust me, this will work.”

  Tryn took off the ring and handed it to Jake. “You just hold it up and call out your destination. Be as precise as you can.”

  Jake accepted the ring. He put it on, pointed it at the wall. “Okay, ring, take us to Earth, the United States, Westward Junction in Detroit, Michigan, Reynolds Specialty Steel plant—at night.”

  The wall exploded with the light of the Solar Stream. Tryn looked back at Jake again. “This is your idea. Lead us in.”

  Jake turned back to the weak prisoners. “Where we are going is abandoned. You’ll all be safe, I promise. Fo
llow me.”

  Astraea helped support her parents into the blazing, swirling lights of the Solar Stream, leaving Tartarus behind and heading to the uncertainty of Earth.

  35

  THE JOURNEY THROUGH THE SOLAR Stream was longer than the one to Tartarus. Once again, it was too loud to talk during the transport. Even if it wasn’t, there was little to say. Astraea looked back in despair at the Titans and Olympians. They were leaning on each other for support and looked so vulnerable and weak that it broke her heart to see such powerful beings brought to their knees.

  When it ended, they exited the Solar Stream into nighttime. The sky above showed no stars and was filled with dark clouds. There were bright lights in the distance, but around them was completely dark. If it weren’t for their Titan vision, they wouldn’t have been able to see anything at all.

  Astraea felt strange ground beneath her feet and looked down. She saw a track of long steel. Behind her was another track. In the distance she heard a horn blaring and saw a single light driving toward them.

  “We’re on the tracks!” Jake cried. “Everyone, get off them now. The train is coming!”

  Everyone turned and watched the approaching light.

  “Go!” Jake cried, pushing the closest Titans away from the tracks. The others finally realized the danger and stumbled away just as the large freight train whooshed past, its horn blaring in protest at them being there.

  “What was that?” Cylus cried.

  “It’s called a freight train,” Jake said, panting in relief. “I don’t care how powerful you guys are, if a train is coming, you run. They are bigger and heavier than you and will do a number on you if you get hit.”

  “Why did you bring us here if it’s so dangerous?” Astraea asked.

  “I didn’t, this ring did!” Jake cried. “But my grandfather’s company was beside the tracks, so I guess it thought this would be a good place to land.” He looked around. “But I can’t see anything in this darkness, so I don’t know where his building is.”

  “Really?” Cylus said. “I knew humans were weak, but you are blind, too?”

  “I’m not blind, I just don’t see in the dark.”

  Astraea walked up to him. “We do. What are we looking for?”

  “The building was made of red bricks and stood three stories tall. There was an old rusty sign in front that said, ‘Reynolds Specialty Steel.’ ”

  Astraea looked around and saw many old broken-down buildings. Several had signs, but she couldn’t read human language.

  “There it is.” Tryn pointed directly ahead.

  “Really?” Jake said. “I can’t see anything but Zephyr, because she’s glowing.”

  Zephyr walked up to Jake, shaking her head. “I can’t believe I’m going to do this, but would you like to ride on my back? But,” she quickly added, “it’s only to stop you from falling over and breaking your neck before we get to safety. So don’t get any dumb ideas that I like you or anything like that. . . .”

  Jake looked at Astraea. “What did she say?”

  “She’s offering you a ride on her back so you don’t trip and fall.”

  “Really? Cool! Thanks, Zephyr!” Jake reached out and patted her glowing neck. “You’re the best.”

  Zephyr gave Astraea a withering look. “Astraea, will you ever tell him what I actually say?”

  Astraea chuckled and shook her head. She leaned closer and whispered, “Not until you say something nice.”

  “Yeah, like that’s ever going to happen!” Zephyr whinnied.

  Astraea was still laughing as she showed Jake how to climb up on Zephyr’s back. She settled his legs beneath Zephyr’s folded wings.

  “You’re all set,” she said to Jake. “Just hold on to her mane.”

  “This is so awesome,” Jake said. “I’ve never been on a horse before.”

  “What did he say?” Zephyr cried. “Get him off! Get him off right now, before I throw him off!”

  Juno approached Zephyr and laid a hand on her rear flank. “He did not mean to offend you. But humans do not understand the difference between us. I am asking you to remain calm and let him stay where he is.”

  Zephyr looked back at Juno and bowed her head. “Of course, anything you say. Would you like to ride too?”

  Her face wrinkled in a smile. “Thank you, child. I am well enough to walk—as long as it is not far. I have not been back to Earth in a very long time, and none of this looks familiar.”

  “We don’t have far to go,” Tryn said. “I see what Jake is talking about. It is just ahead.”

  They crossed a second set of tracks and made their way over a cracked asphalt road. Up ahead was a tall fence with barbed wire at the top. Farther along was a gate with a chain locking it shut.

  Astraea saw weeds and other plants pushing through the asphalt, while the building itself had broken windows on the upper floors and wooden slats covering the downstairs ones. There were painted messages on the building that made no sense. “This area looks deserted.”

  “It is,” Jake responded. “That’s why I thought of it. My dad said this whole area used to make cars and parts for cars, but most of the industry left, leaving all this behind.”

  Jupiter nodded. “Your choice is very wise—thank you.”

  “What is a car?” Astraea asked.

  Jupiter pointed to a large road in the distance. “Look way ahead, down there on that road. Those moving things with the white lights in front and red at the rear are cars. Humans use them to get around. We have had some experience with them in the past.”

  “Really?” Cylus said. “Wait, Chiron told me that when he last visited Earth, he and the others with him were captured and taken away. Did they use cars?”

  Jupiter nodded. “And trucks, I believe.” He looked at the gathering of Titans and Olympians. “Remember, we are visitors here. Everyone must be on their guard. We must not expose ourselves to humans or do any damage. Let us get inside and then we can rest and start to recover.”

  They fell silent and walked like a zombie army across the deserted road to the fence entrance. Tryn jogged up to the gate and caught hold of the lock on its thick chain. He pulled out his lockpick kit and opened it in seconds, then pushed the gate open. “Once everyone is inside, I’ll lock it again.”

  One by one the Titans and Olympians filed through the gate and were standing in a parking area that was overgrown with grass and weeds. Very little of the original pavement remained.

  Once the gate was relocked, Tryn joined the others walking up to the freight doors.

  Cylus and Render caught hold of the door handles and started to pull. The doors creaked and moaned, but finally surrendered to the centaurs’ strength.

  “Very good,” Jupiter said. “Everyone inside. Then we can rest.”

  The moment they entered, they were struck by the smells of damp, decay, and rust, and the sound of dripping water. After they’d moved farther inside, the doors were shut and sealed behind them, casting them into total darkness.

  “All right,” Jupiter said. “First we need light. Those of you who are strong enough to move, look around you, and see if there is anything we can use to construct torches.”

  Astraea tapped Jake on the leg. “Stay here with Zephyr. I’ll go see if I can find something.”

  “Be careful,” Jake said. “This place has been closed for a long time. There still might be some old machinery in here and things you can hurt yourself on.”

  Astraea settled her parents on the floor before going to search for something to use to make torches. Most of the prisoners were too weak to join the search, so it was mainly her, Tryn, and the centaurs moving around.

  Going deeper into the abandoned metal plant, Astraea saw immense machines rising like monsters from the darkness. She could see well enough, but at night the world became black and white to her Titan eyes.

  All around her she saw piles of scrap and rusty metal as well as the huge machines. When she rounded a corner and was looking
up at a machine that made no sense to her, she tripped over a pile of old oily rags and fell down into the middle of them.

  “I think I found something!” she called out.

  Tryn came running first, followed by Render and two other centaurs. Astraea held up a rag. “This will burn, won’t it?”

  Tryn sniffed the rag. “That’s machine oil. It sure will. I found a barrel on the other side. If we can find some wood, we can start a fire and then work on the torches.”

  By dawn they had a fire blazing in the barrel, and torches were being made from pipes with oily rags wrapped at the end. They wouldn’t last long, but it was a start.

  With the arrival of day, light poured in through the cracks of the boards on the windows, and they could see exactly where they were and started to explore.

  “What did you say this place was?” Vulcan asked Jake. He was gazing around at all the immense abandoned equipment.

  “My grandfather used to make specialty steel for the car industry. But the plant closed a long time ago. After my grandfather died, my dad brought me here when they were holding an auction to sell off everything that was valuable. This is all that’s left. Dad says no one wants these big old machines and forges anymore. I think he’s planning to sell everything off for scrap.”

  Vulcan eyes went wide. “Did you say forges?”

  Jake nodded. “They’re here somewhere. I don’t remember what they look like. But they used them to make molds and important parts.”

  Vulcan started to shake his head. “With all of Earth available to us, you brought us to a forge?”

  Jake shrugged. “I’m sorry. It was the only place I could think of.”

  Vulcan reached out and pulled Jake into a bear hug. “There is no need to apologize, boy. I thank you for bringing me here. I am feeling better already.”

  “You can use these forges?”

  Vulcan laughed heartily. “With your forges and all these steel machines, we can melt them down and make all the weapons we need to defeat the Mimics trying to take our world!”

  36

  DESPITE VULCAN’S EARLY EXCITEMENT OVER the forges, he was too weak to do much more than sit down and look longingly at the equipment. All the Tartarus prisoners were weak and ran out of energy too quickly to do anything in the building.