Cronus

by K. A. Finn

  'No how are you or any word on the other ships.'

  Chayse sits down and pulls up the coordinates Gryffin sent through. 'C'mon, Milla. It's Gryffin. That message was probably the longest one I've ever had from him.'

  Creed pulls up another seat and crosses his arms. 'Is there any way of letting him know we got the message?'

  'Not yet,' Chayse says as he scans through the data Gryffin sent. 'But that could change. According to this, the hangar is manned. They're bound to have a comms system that can send messages to Earth. Once we have access to that, we can easily contact Gryffin.'

  'So does our esteemed leader even know we're in one piece?'

  Chayse glances over his shoulder to Creed. 'He's not our leader anymore.'

  Milla grins apologetically at Creed. 'Sorry about that. It'll take some getting used to.'

  'Not a problem. I still think you're talking about Gryffin too.'

  'He knows the ship is still transmitting, but that doesn't mean any of us are still alive,' Chayse says as he continues to read the data.

  'So for all he knows we could be a pair of attractive corpses together forever in death.' Milla looks up to see Creed and Chayse both wearing strange expressions. 'What? I was trying to be poetic.'

  'You were being weird and a little creepy,' Chayse says.

  Creed nods. 'I've got to agree with Chayse. Weird and creepy.'

  She waves her hand in front of them. 'Focus gentlemen,' she says trying to take the attention off herself. 'So are we going shopping for some new ships?'

  Creed stares at the screen and scratches his jaw. 'Fuck it. I could do with my own ship. Don't reckon you'd fancy having the High Commander hitching a ride with you for the foreseeable future.'

  Chayse clearly doesn't know the right way to respond so he just looks at Creed.

  'Relax, Captain. I want my own ship, and no, I have no intention of stealing yours. Set a course for the coordinates. Aleena, I don't suppose you've had any luck with your friend?'

  She shakes her head. 'Infinity, Styx, and Epsilon are still unaccounted for. The ships that have arrived are being repaired as best they can with the supplies they have. Damon is happy for the colonists to remain there for safety until the Foundation issue is dealt with. He will notify me when the ships are ready for launch.'

  Creed nods and gets up to join Chayse. Milla sits down beside Aleena and squeezes her hand. She doesn't bother offering her any empty platitudes. There's no point. They both know the odds of the three missing ships arriving in one piece is slim at best.

  DIXON SPACE STATION

  'I heard the little motivational speech you gave Terra,' Evie says as soon as Gryffin steps inside the med bay. 'Why were you so hard on her? She's only saying those things because she cares about you.'

  'It's got nothing to do with you.'

  'Oh, that's where you're wrong, dear. You can glare at me all you want, but I'm going to say my piece.' He turns to leave but she steps in front of him. 'You're going to have to physically move me.'

  Even though he's tempted to swat the irritating woman aside, he thinks better of it. 'You call me here to check my implants or for a talk?'

  'Bit of both I suppose.'

  'What do you want?'

  'I want you to admit you're afraid.'

  'Of you?'

  She waves his comment aside. 'Not of me you silly man, although that would be quite a feather in my cap, wouldn't it? No, I mean you're afraid of losing her.'

  'No, I'm not.'

  Evie laughs, pushing her wide brimmed hat back from her forehead. 'You can deny it as much as you want, but I can see the truth in your eyes.' She frowns at the floor. 'Well, I can see it in your eye. That robotic one is impossible to read. Anyway, it would probably save everyone a lot of time and arguments if you just admitted you love her.'

  Gryffin doesn't have a reply for that. Terra tells him a lot that she loves him. He's never said it to her and he knows it's getting to Terra. He'd tell her if he knew... but he doesn't.

  Evie must see something in his expression because she clasps her hands in front of her and nods slowly. 'You don't know, do you?'

  'You done yet?'

  She takes a step closer and leans back to look up at him. 'You poor thing. What happened in your past to keep you and your emotions so far from each other?'

  'My past is none of your damn business. And neither is my relationship with Terra.'

  'True, but when I see two people on a destructive path, it's hard to keep my nose out of their business. You need to figure out what that girl means to you before it's too late.'

  'She can't keep questioning me. If any of my crew did it, they'd only do it once.'

  'Well I have a feeling that may have been the last time she attempts that. I doubt she'd be eager to have you put her back in her place like that again.'

  'How I deal with my crew is my business.'

  'That is true, but from what I have heard, she's not a full member of your crew yet. Nor is she a Nomad. She was born on Earth under Foundation rule.'

  'So was I.'

  Evie nods slowly and looks at the ground. 'Grew up there. Their rules, their regulations are embedded in her. Have been since she was old enough to understand them. Her principles are very different from yours. From ours even. She wants the Foundation taken down just as much as we do, but in a very different way.'

  'There's only one way. The leaders of the Council have to die.'

  'We know that, but I doubt she'll agree so easily. She wants this to end, but not by killing left, right, and centre. I imagine she will want a peaceful finish if at all possible. You may need to meet in the middle somewhere.'

  'How can there be a middle between not killing them and killing them?'

  She scratches her head and readjusts her hat as she shrugs. 'Don't know. You probably should figure it out before it's too late though.'

  'Thanks,' he replies sarcastically.

  'And speaking of too late, when are you going to let the real you out?'

  'The real me?'

  'You're not going to try to convince me that this person in front of me is The Gryffin I've heard so much about? After all the work you've done for us I know you're holding back for some reason. Don't get me wrong, you look intimidating to a certain extent, but you're missing the fire in your belly. Or it's been extinguished, not sure what happened.

  ‘All I know is that it's not there anymore and it sure as hell should be.' She sucks in a breath and covers her mouth. 'I trust you won't tell Felix about my little slip up. I try to keep this base as civilised as I can.'

  'I don't understand you.'

  She smiles widely and rests her hands on her hips. 'I'll take that as a compliment. I'm not trying to be cruel or kick you when you're down. I just know there's a lot more to you than you're letting show right now.'

  'You want me to go on a rampage?'

  'Not on my station. But it could help with taking down the Foundation. I understand that you have perhaps mellowed thanks to Terra's influence, and that's an achievement in itself. However, mellow is not what's needed right now. Don't be afraid to use who you are in the fight against the bad guys.'

  'You're telling me to embrace the cyborg side? I snapped the neck of the last person who told me to do that.'

  She jumps from foot to foot as she claps. 'Wehey! That's exactly what I'm talking about. Let that side out again. And no, I am not saying to embrace it and ignore the man. I'm saying use it. Use it against the people who hurt you. Use it against the people who are still doing this to other innocents. Use their weapon against them. Use their weapon to destroy them. Captain, I have no idea what it must be like to live as you do. No idea what it must be like to have parts of myself replaced as if they meant nothing.'

  'You trying to get in my head?'

  'No, Gryffin. I am trying to be serious with you if you'll allow me.'

  'Do I have a choice?'

  'No. I am trying to say that... I am sorry for what you've been through.
I shudder when I allow myself to think about the procedures. I am also a little embarrassed to admit I didn't allow myself to think about it. Meeting you has raised a question with me. I was wondering, Captain how do you see yourself?'

  'What the hell are you talking about?'

  'Human or perhaps less than human?'

  Gryffin licks his lips, unwilling to even go there with her. He hasn't gone there with anyone.

  'I consider you human. Perhaps before I met you I didn't. But I've changed my perception. You are absolutely human, Gryffin. Modified, yes, but still very much human.'

  'Why are you telling me this?'

  'I believe you may need to hear it. You have feelings, Gryffin. Feelings you need to respect and acknowledge. You are not a machine. I may be incorrect, and please do not feel like you have to correct me, but I suspect you may think of yourself as less than human because of your modifications.'

  He doesn't respond. There's enough going on in his head without pulling himself into a conversation like this.

  'In one of your chatty moods I see. That's quite a skill, Captain. Can you teach my dear husband how to not argue back when I'm giving him advise?'

  'What do you want?'

  'I know you're facing a difficult decision. I suppose I'm just saying that you yourself are an important factor in this decision. Your feelings are an important factor. Whatever decision you make, don't forget that.'

  'You're saying I should have my implants upgraded?'

  Evie shrugs and stuffs her hands in the pockets of her skirt. 'No one can make that decision except for you, Captain. What I can say is that if you do decide to go that way, we will be able to facilitate you.'

  'You can finish me?'

  'You're hardly unfinished right now. Apart from your obvious lack of an arm of course.'

  'You know what I mean.'

  She pauses then nods. 'Yes, I do and yes we can. My dear husband and I examined your scan data in detail. We can stabilise the control implant with the help of some upgrades. It would override certain areas of your brain, however. In layman's terms your personality - as delightful as it is - could be pushed aside.'

  'Temporarily or permanently?'

  'When it comes to the brain who knows anything for sure. I think that if this is an option you are considering, it would be best to presume it will be permanent. Anything other than that will be a bonus.'

  He thought as much. When he was used to attack Ultar he was under control of the implant. He fucking hated it. He remembers everything he did but couldn't stop it. 'Can you create a kill switch?'

  Evie frowns at him. 'If you believe that is necessary, yes. We can make sure there is one in place. Are you saying you're seriously thinking about this?'

  'Yes, but I want there to be something in place if it goes wrong. The last thing you need is four hostile cyborgs on your station.'

  She nods solemnly, the usual mischievous grin wiped from her face. 'Very well. Leave it with us. If you decide to go down this path, we'll make sure everything is ready.'

  'Keep it to yourself for now. I'll tell her once I know for sure.' Evie nods and strolls out of the room. Is he seriously considering doing this? Death is a preferable option, but that's not going to help the Nomad. Staying alive and fighting for them - that's all he has left.

  27

  DIXON SPACE STATION

  Terra straightens her shoulders and clears her throat as she approaches Bray. She spotted him seconds too late to make a convincing escape. The Hunter stops at the top of the stairs and looks over at her.

  'Hi Bray.'

  He turns away from her without acknowledging her. 'The silent treatment. Really? You've been taking lessons from your infuriating brother.'

  'What do you want, Terra?'

  'I just wanted to talk to you. We haven't had a chance to speak properly since Ares arrived. Things got a little crazy on Ultar after...'

  'After you told me you loved my brother and not me? I'm fine.'

  'Please, Bray. I don't want things to be awkward between us. Or between you and Gryffin.'

  'You dumped me for my brother! How could things be anything but awkward? I'll work with you, but that's it. And as for Gryffin, my relationship with my brother has nothing to do with you.'

  He pushes past but she follows him. 'I don't want to leave things like that.'

  He stops suddenly, startling her. 'I don't give a damn what you want. What is it with you, huh? You always think it's about you.' He winces and turns his head away.

  'What's wrong?'

  Bray wipes a smear of blood from his eye and blinks a few times. 'Your father's handy work.'

  'Bray—'

  'Don't, Terra. I've got bigger problems at the moment than having you on the same station as me. It's done, Terra. I don't have a problem with you or with Gryffin because of you. The only thing on all our minds should be how to get Garvan out and stop the Foundation. There's no time to worry about you and how you feel.'

  'I didn't mean to—'

  'Why are you even bothering with this?' he interrupts. 'You should be worrying about Gryffin and how the hell we're going to save him. He is your main priority after all.'

  Bray storms away leaving Terra feeling like he punched her in the gut. She knew he'd be less than friendly with her but she never thought he'd be outright aggressive.

  She wanders back down the corridor and away from Bray. As she walks, the realisation of what she just did hits her. Bray is right. There are so many more important things to be concerned with other than a failed relationship. What was she thinking even bringing it up? Bray just found his family and lost his best friend on top of everything her father did to him. That conversation with her was the last thing he needed.

  She grabs onto the nearest door frame as her stomach rolls and she has to fight to keep it under control. Her father has too much to answer for. His jealous revenge turned to madness and is still hurting people to this day. His legacy will haunt her until she dies and no matter what happens, Gryffin and Bray will never fully recover from what he did. She honestly doesn't know how either of them can stomach looking at her.

  Instead of walking towards the med bay, she turns back on herself again. She needs some time alone on Ares. She stumbles to a stop when she hears a scream coming from the corridor ahead of her.

  Bray's scream.

  She races around the corner and finds Bray lying on the floor with his head in his hands. She drops to her knees beside him, trying to pry his hands away, but he won't let go.

  'Bray! Can you hear me?'

  His only response it to throw his head back, hitting if off the ground as he roars in pain. Blood drips from his ears and the corner of his left eye. She brushes her hand against his implant and hisses as it burns her. Terra looks at the small crowd gathered behind her.

  'Stop standing there! Get help! Now!'

  DIXON SPACE STATION

  Sayber rests his hands on the edge of Bray's bed and takes a deep breath. Bray is finally resting. He never wants to hear screams like that again. The last time he saw something like that was when he saved Gryffin's life after the Nomad attacked his ship. Seeing his enemy covered in blood, writhing in pain on the floor was an unsettling experience that will stay with him.

  Evie throws the pressure syringe on the counter then pulls off her hat to run a hand through her wiry hair, further releasing the messy locks. 'That should knock him out for a few hours.'

  'Thanks, I don't think he could have coped for much longer,' Sayber says.

  'What happened?' Rua asks. The Rogue had arrived at the scene of Bray's incident a few minutes after Terra, and, unlike the Commander, she has refused to leave.

  'I'm still trying to figure it out.'

  'Is it his eye?' Morgan asks. 'He's been struggling with it since he got to the Sector.'

  Sayber glares over his shoulder at him. 'Struggling how?'

  'He didn't say much, but it's clear he's been in pain. On the journey from Earth it was bleeding... you
know, from under the metal. He tried to hide it.' Morgan rubs a hand over his face and curses. 'I was too focused on Erin to give it a second thought.'

  Sayber snorts. 'Wouldn't have done any good. His arm could be falling off and he'd never say a word. Damn stubborn fool. Just like his brother.'

  Erin bursts through the door, freezing when she sees Bray. 'Is he...?'

  Sayber shakes his head. 'No, he's alive. Something's wrong with his eye or the implant around it.' Before she can ask any more questions, Sayber turns to Evie. 'Any ideas?'

  She takes a scanner off the counter and moves Bray's head so the implant is facing up. Sayber's stomach churns when he sees blood oozing from around the implant to cover the left side of Bray's face. Evie wipes some of the blood away, but it keeps coming.

  'What the hell is wrong with him?' he asks a little louder than he intended.

  'Patience.' Evie spends the next few minutes examining Bray. After what feels like a lifetime, she straightens. 'What colour are his eyes?'

  'Brown,' Rua answers immediately, surprising everyone. Seems the Rogue and Bray have got up close and personal at some stage. 'His eyes are brown.'

  Evie nods. 'Interesting.'

  Sayber opens his mouth to give the woman a verbal kick, but she raises her hand and wiggles her finger at him. 'It's interesting because he now has blue eyes.'

  'Eyes don't just change colour,' Morgan says.

  'True. Organic eyes don't just change colour... but cybernetic ones can.'

  'You've lost me.'

  Evie smiles sweetly at Sayber. 'Not a difficult task from what I can tell. I'll explain in simple terms. Brayden's eyes are artificial. Well... not fully artificial. His right eye is organic with cybernetics inside it. His left eye has more in common with my scanner than a human eye. From what I can tell, the cybernetics have only just come online.'

  'How is that possible?' Sayber asks.

  She shrugs. 'How would I know? I didn't design the implants. Perhaps it was working, but only reached fully operating status now. I imagine the sensation would have been painful. Poor mite probably felt like his head was being split open.'