(Special thanks to D.X for the edit this round, and for the render)

“Combatants, into your armor, and meet in the center ring.” The official Match Diaititi commanded.

Eyrn looked down at Darren, and nodded. “All right,” she said. “I can’t promise I’ll win this.”

Darren looked up at his friend, the closest thing to a sister he had. “You okay, Twat?”

Eyrn picked him up, and gave a gesture to the crowd, and carried him with her into the armory, just off the main arena. Her combat gear was there – regulation, set to her size, just as it would be for any other combatant.

Regulation Tol-Bot battle armor was equipped with pressure-sensitive nodes that measured the ferocity and speed of each blow against it. The armor itself was not bulky, but rather uniform and sleek, form fitting, like something out of science fiction. While the armor itself absorbed the impact of most blows, the sensors measured how devastating each hit would be, and it was that, along with style and proficiency that helped each combatant build their score.

As she set him down, Darren looked at her. “Twat, why’s your hand shaking? You lose to her, you lose. I’m not gonna hold it against you. Honest.”

Eyrn looked at the chronometer; there were eight minutes left for her to gear up. “Darren,” she said softly, “how can I fight her? I’m…I’m pathetic. When Daemon grabbed you…I froze up. I didn’t fight back.”

Darren shook his head. “That’s what you’re worried about? Hell, Twat, she ain’t half as big as Daemon. And nobody saw that comin’.”

“I should have,” Eyrn said. “I should have taken care of you.”

Darren took a deep breath. “Eyrn,” he said, “I’m a grown up. You can’t always protect me. You try your best, just like I tried my best to defend you. But…someone can always get through. That ain’t your fault, and it ain’t mine. It’s the way the world works. All any of us can do is our best.”

“I let him grab you.”

“He didn’t give you a chance to fight, gat’damn coward. Had he, I know you would’a given him hell. He might’a beat you, but he would have had to work for it.”

Eyrn looked up. “I was always the big one, Darren.”

“Yeah, well, I was short, but weren’t a lot of men who could push me around. Now look at me. But what are we supposed to do, cry about it? Or fight? Twat…as your friend…you might lose some. But if I know one thing about you, it’s that you are one hell of a fighter.”

Eyrn looked up at him, and screwed her face up into a look of determination. “All right,” she said. “Just, if I lose, promise you won’t blame me?”

“My own fault for losing the sea round,” Darren said. “Never should have gotten to this.”

Eyrn took off the kimono and stepped into the simple combat armor; it sealed up around her and powered up automatically. She offered one armored hand to Darren, who stepped into it.

“All right,” she said, voice distorted by the suit, “let’s do this.”

She walked out into the arena, which cheered her arrival; she gave them a nervous wave, and headed into the center, where Felltree waited. She intended to set Darren on the console; he could watch from there. She set him down, and started to turn, when she heard him say, “Wait a sec.”

She turned back, and saw Darren fumbling with his wires. “Sorry,” she said, “should have taken them off for you.”

“It’s not that,” Darren said, getting the first one loose. “Twat, you’d walk into that ring for me, right?”

“Of course, Sarge.”

“Thanks,” Darren said, undoing the second. The third came loose easily. “That means more to you than you can know. Now set me down on the ground.”

“Huh?”

“Set me down on the ground,” Darren said, shaking the harness loose. “I’m going in.”

Eyrn looked to Darren, then to Felltree, then back to Darren, then back to Felltree. “Sarge, you lose your mind?”

“I won’t be able to beat her,” Darren said, looking up at Eyrn, “but that’s okay. I’ll face her. She’ll pin me. She can go on and face Iron Maiden, and godspeed. But I can’t ask you to fight this battle for me. It’s not yours to fight.”

Eyrn looked at him a long time. And she offered him her hand.

The combat arena had spawned, the setting had been chosen randomly and appeared to be a forest setting. It was a vast area with trees for cover, abandoned buildings and all sorts of natural and titan-made obstacles for each combatant to utilize. Each fighter had a starting area, where they had a chance to gear up, taking with them whatever they felt they could best use. Each combatant had the exact same regulation equipment to choose from, which consisted of an array of specially designed melee and simple ranged weapons and simple tools that the more creative players could use to their advantage.

Each player’s armor kept track of their physical and emotional well-being, and assigned them a General Health Status.

There were two ways to win. A combatant could either overpower their opponent and wear them down to a point where the players armor believed they would rightly be dead, or through style and technique acquire a score of no less than 1000. Points were awarded for speed, style, form and technique.

There was no time limit and once a player left their starting area, there was no going back.

Players met in the center of a raised platform for a ceremonial accord to follow the rules and play with honor, and were then delivered to their starting point where combat would begin.

Darren stepped into Eyrn’s hand and she walked into the center of the raised circle. Before the official had a chance to say anything, Eyrn nodded to her opponent, nodded to Darren, set him in the middle of the ring, and withdrew.

The crowd had been roaring up until this point, but as they suddenly realized what was happening, something rather amazing happened. All fifty thousand fans in the Tarsuss Center, as one, went absolutely silent.

Darren stared up at Felltree, and nodded to her. She stared down at him, her face shielded by the combat helmet; she paused, then removed her helmet; her mask still hid her identity, though not from him.

She knelt down, and reached out her hand.

He reached out his, and grasped her finger with both of his.

“We’ll play it out another day,” she said, quietly.

“What?” Darren asked, but he had no time to ask more, because she stood up, backed off, and removed her gauntlets, handing them to the official.

The crowd gasped.

She was resigning.

***

Loona was on her knees, as close to the projection screen as she could be, without distorting the image. The room around her lay in stunned silence; neither Kymie, Nonah or Naskia even so much as moved.

Of course, Dr. Niall Freeman stood as the exception.

“Well? What now?”

Nonah shook her head and silently hushed Niall. In the background Kymie was grimacing, and Naskia just stared at Niall, wide-eyed and shocked.

“Is that it? What the hell was that? I thought we were gonna see something interesting for a change? What kind of malarkey was that?” Niall grumbled and folded his arms.

Loona, didn’t move. She simply looked at the projection in front of her, the image flickering in the poorly lit room outlining her still silhouette.

“Niall, shhh!” Nonah whined, pulling on Niall’s arm.

“Well? Don’t tell me that’s it? I mean we’ve been here for at least 12 hours watching this ‘game’, these two have literally been at each others’ throats resulting in a climactic battle to the death gladiators style…and she just…just…just quits!?” Niall sighed. “She can’t quit! That’s balls is what that is! It can’t just be over like that!? Twelve hours to see her wuss out!” Niall fumed, clearly having finally caught the fever everyone else had, even if he would never admit it.

Everyone save Loona cringed, awaiting the terror that was about to be unleashed onto the room.

“She…resigned.” Loona whispered.

“Look…Loony…there’s still Maiden right? She’s still gonna win, so…you don’t have to kill us…really…things will get better…chin up right?” Naskia smiled nervously, wishing she had something to muffle Niall with, but too nervous to move, and with Kymie huddled up next to her for saftey, she felt it better position to stay where she was.

“That…is…the most…the absolute most…noble thing I’ve ever seen!” Loona sputtered, her voice wavering and quivering on the limits edge of bawling.

“Loony?” Nonah said, stepping forward.

“Bwaaaaaahahaha!” Loona began to sob, burying her head in her lap and collapsing onto the floor in a heaping mess.

“Mrs. Armac?” Kymie asked timidly. “Are you ok?” Kymie went to stand, but Naskia held her back.

“No! It’s a trick! Don’t fall for it! Remember what she did when Diabolique forced Maiden to a tiebreaker! I’m gonna miss that cardigan…it was so comfy….” Naskia sighed.

“I’m more lamenting the loss of that lamp.” Nonah nodded.

“All she had to do was squash that little pipsqueak!” Niall shouted, pacing back and forth. “At least let him go out with dignity!”

“No!” Loona sat up and quickly shimmied over to the small table Nonah and Niall were standing on. She grasped the sides of the table and stared down intently at Niall, though her eyes were soft and her expression mushy, with tears falling down her face.

Niall did fall back, both from the impact and the sudden startling presence before him.

“Niall! She gets it! She understands!” Loona ran a palm over her eyes to mop up the tears then smiled down on Niall.

“Gets…what?” Niall asked, uneasily.

“It! She gets it! It!” Loona repeated, catching Naskia’s attempt at being sneaky, likely on her way to rescue Niall.

Loona stood and grabbed Naskia by the shoulders, shaking her as she spoke. “Naskia! Felltree resigned!”

“Aah!” Naskia screamed and closed her eyes tightly, her fists clenched and her voice panicked. “Loona, remember your breathing! Friends are not for smashing!”

Loona laughed and suddenly wrapped Naskia in a tight hug. “No, you silly girl! I’m not mad! I’m happy! This is one….this is the strongest statement any player has ever made! Felltree gave up a chance at being the first rookie player to clinch a championship title ever! She gave up a chance to make history…because it wasn’t right…because she didn’t want to win it like that!” Loona lingered in her hug.

Naskia calmed, and eventually hugged Loona back. “You think she…I mean…you think she did it for human rights?” Naskia asked softly.

“Why else?” Niall said, watching the image on the screen as the announcers discussed what had just happened, and panned to Felltree exiting the arena to an utterly confused and silent crowd.

Kymie kept silent, but she smiled ear to ear, sinking back giddily into the couch.

“She didn’t just give up a chance at the title…she gave up a chance to make history,” Loona repeated.

“No.” Naskia shook her head, pulling Loona back so they could meet eye to eye. “She did make history Loona….and she didn’t just leave a small impression…she left a big fat gorram footprint that nobody’s gonna soon forget!”

Loona smiled and pulled herself back into the hug. For a moment, the championship didn’t matter, the game didn’t matter, it all seemed to pale in comparison. Loona felt a great sense of pride. In herself, in her friends, and in Felltree.

“Somebody who isn’t us….made a public stand.” she whispered.

“I know.” Naskia whispered back. “I know.”

***

Eyrn, Darren, Tapp, Degu, Bedra, Korye, Jorm and Kel all sat at the familiar bar table where just the night before they had been introduced to one another. Eyrn and Darren had refused to confirm or deny the juicy gossip suggesting they might know the identity of the PuppetMaster and her Marionette; however Jorm and Kel were more than positive they knew who was who, though the two of them would never dare say.

“Tonight is a night for drinking!” Kel said, taking another long drink.

Eyrn shook her head and pushed the neon colored slushie away, her face soured up and she shivered a little.

“Kel’s right, though we hardly need a reason!” Jorm laughed, eyeing the tiny platinum haired human on his shoulder.

“Clearly.” Tapp shook her head and let out an annoyed sigh.

“Oh cheer up you! Smile a little, arn’t you happy?” Bedra laughed, nearly spilling her drink, she was already quite past drunk, which was why Tapp decided to reside with Jorm for the moment.

Korye was doing a stand up job holding Bedra up, and shook her head in amusement. “Well, after tonight’s game, and with what the final promises to bring, I think Kel couldn’t have said it best!

Darren didn’t feel like drinking, he didn’t feel like talking, he didn’t feel like playing, either. Felltree would have won, there was no denying that. She had played a better game, she was smarter, she knew the game better, and she had wanted it harder, and for longer. His ‘victory’ over her felt hollow. He hadn’t won, he just didn’t lose. Which regardless of what he had said earlier, felt empty and sour.

Of course, as the others chatted amongst themselves, nobody said anything to Darren. Mostly they understood he needed to work it out on his own., but also there just wasn’t the right words, and his friends knew that.

“Excuse me.” A familiar voice broke through the loud mass of voices in the bar.

Darren almost didn’t look, but then again when a titan wanted your attention, there was seldom much a human could do about.

“Ummm, I believe it’s polite to address your owner when they greet you Darren!” The voice was trying to be serious, though there was much more sarcasm than anything else.

Korye, Kel and Jorm scowled at the dirty blond haired titan, though Eyrn’s exuberant squee of joy soon distracted them, though had Eyrn not attempted to tackle the blue eyed stranger, it’s very likely Kel or Korye would have tried.

“Aisell!” Eyrn screamed, wrapping her arms around the middle Maris sister’s neck.

“Eyr…gack….hey…careful there tiny!” Aisell laughed nervously, she was happy to see Eyrn too, though a little surprised at her sudden show of public affection.

“What are you doing here?!” Eyrn asked, shocked of course to see her friend here, of all places. Eyrn was not the sort to exactly run into people she knew very often, especially since the universe had grown so much in so short a time.

Aisell laughed quaintly and shrugged. “Oh, same as everyone else right? This is the place to be after all, right?” Aisell hugged Eyrn back and peaked down to Darren, who was looking back at her with a contemplative and of course his signature grumpy look.

“You’re looking good, of course. Glad to see shorty’s taking care of ya.”

“Aisell!” Degu shouted from way on over on Bedra’s shoulder, he just may of jumped too had Bedra not made her way over to greet her friend.

“Hey Aisell!” Bedra grinned as she wrapped her arms around Aisell and hugged her.

Of course Aisell hugged back, not that she otherwise wouldn’t, but the growing crowd around her did unsettle her.

“Hello Bedra.” Aisell smiled, pulling away from the hug so she could greet Degu. “Hey Dee.” Aisell extended a hand and waited for him to hop aboard.

“I’m coming to live near you! Didcha hear? Bedra sent you the message right! Didcha talk to everyone? What did they say? I’m gonna be real close eh?!” Degu went on, nearly running up Aisell’s arm before she could carefully snatch him up into a safer position.

“Slow down Dee, it’s not all worked out just yet!” Aisell laughed, but it was a positive laugh. “Drugar the Leader wants to meet with you first, there are a few rules you need to understand before just ‘moving in’, they just want to make sure it’s a good idea for everyone involved.” Aisell’s smile softened. “But don’t worry, I passed along your apology to Grumm Stone Breaker, I think tempers have subsided.” Aisell winked.

“It won’t be like that this time! There not try’n to take me no more, we’ll get along!” Degu insisted.

Aisell, Bedra and Eyrn chuckled. “Dee, i’ll be glad to talk to you more about it later ok? I can even bring you home with me when I leave. But let me talk to Darren a bit first ok? Of course you did tell Bedra, right?” Aisell looked to Bedra, who by her relatively laid back expression had likely at the very least heard of the possible arrangement at this point.

“Yup! She says I can do what I want cuz I’m not hers!” Degu looked to Bedra, who was smiling, but Aisell saw deeper, much deeper. Behind her cheery grin, she was terrified.

Aisell pressed her lips together and nodded, then handed Degu back to Bedra. Silently Aisell took ahold of Bedra’s free hand and gently squeezed it, whispering. “Can we talk later?”.

Bedra nodded, and tried to keep up her smile.

“So, Aisell these are some friends of mine!” Eyrn cut in, and introduced Aisell to Jorm, Kel and Korye.

The group talked for a while, and seemed to click well. Aisell had a few questions about Sininentavas and Jutuneim, as she had always wanted to visit; Jorm was only too happy to boast about Jotnarherath.

Eyrn and Kel chatted, while Bedra stuck close to Korye, very close.

Once the conversation had begun to settle, Aisell leaned close to Darren, who was keeping to himself, and whispered discreetly to him. “What’s a girl gotta do to get you alone around here?” Aisell winked. “Or should I ask Princess Tappestrina?”

Darren grimaced and shook his head, climbing into Aisell’s offered hand. “Quiet you!”

Aisell chuckled, then politely excused herself. “I’m going to steel the sarge for a moment, I’ll find you guys later ok…if he behaves.”

“Why don’t you just meet us back at our hotel room? Darren, you remember the way right?” Eyrn shrugged and looked from Darren to Aisell.

“Yea, I’m sure Obi-wan can find it if she needs’ta.” Darren looked back to Aisell for confirmation.

“Yup, either way I’ll get him back to you eventually. See ya later!”Aisell nodded and waved to the others, then quickly made her way out of the bar, Darren in hand.

It was a bit of a silent walk at first. Aisell kept Darren confined to her cardigan pocket at first, keeping a hand near to protect him in case someone should bump into her. The club district of Tremarla was absolutely packed, and a human could easily get injured or even squished quite easily. Once however Aisell had reached a more secluded and quiet area, she pulled Darren out and set him on her shoulder. He of course had nothing but complaining in reply, but she expected as much.

“Yer as bad as Twat…smelly ass pockets fulla crap.” Darren mumbled, kicking at some of her dirty blond hair that was harassing him.

Aisell figured there was another reason Darren was angry with her. Actually, she knew what it was.

“You seem irate, something bothering you?” Aisell asked, shuffling her feet along the decorated stone path.

“Plenty.” Darren grumbled and crossed his arms tightly over his chest.

“I can’t imagine what, you must not have been watching today’s match. Iron Maiden beat Dibilique, and PuppetMaster beat Felltree.” Aisell kept her eyes down, her pace slow, and her voice calm.

“PuppetMaster didn’t beat Felltree, not really. Felltree gave up, no pride in that kinda win.” Darren muttered, looking away from Aisell as best he could.

“Gave up? I don’t know that I’d call it that.” Aisell sighed.

“Really?” Darren scoffed. “And what would you call it Obi?”

Aisell was quiet for a while as she walked. She passed a few random passersby as they enjoyed the park, even a few titan’s walking large dog like beasts. There was even a Dunnermaac walking with a Ler, which was always a rare sight to behold.

“Well…why do you think she gave up?” Aisell asked, turning the question around on him.

Darren wasn’t nearly as long to answer as Aisell, he knew exactly what he had wanted to say! “I think she felt sorry for the poor lil’human and figured she was doing him a favor by bowing out! I think she took matters into her own hands, rather than letting PuppetMaster stand on his own! I thinks she was trying to protect him, and threw away a shot at Iron Maiden, and I really think she couldda won too! Felltree’s good…real good. if you ask me, she’s better than Maiden too!”

Aisell laughed and scoffed. “Oh, don’t go getting carried away now, I wouldn’t go that far Darren!”

“Ah mean it! Maiden plays hard, she’s got reputation and skill, but she don’t play with the passion Felltree does. Iron Maiden don’t play like her life depended on it. She don’t got the drive Felltree’s got. Aisell, I don’t think there’s a soul here that wants it badder than Felltree!l Darren sighed. “And she threw it away fer nothing.”

Aisell was quiet, she turned a corner and continued down the path as the street lamps began to turn on. “Well, there you go. You just answered your own question.”

“Whacha mean?” Darren asked, confused.

“Maybe Felltree didn’t want a cheap victory. Maybe she didn’t feel sorry for anyone. Maybe she just wanted to be able to say her first championship was hands-down honest? Maybe the idea of blowing past one of the best competitors in the game, because of some stupid antiquated rule that favors the big, meaty and strong frankly turned her off?” Aisell sighed. “Maybe she didn’t want to win it like that, Sarge…”

This time it was Darren’s turn to be silent. He had to let Aisell’s words sink in good before he dared respond. “She had every right to win that game you know.”

“Not like that she didn’t.” Aisell insisted. “Besides, maybe she would have won, and maybe she could have beaten Iron Maiden…but then what? Nothing changes, another Titan claims the pot, what changes, what then?” Aisell shook her head. “I think Felltree understood that PuppetMaster squaring off against Iron Maiden is much more important.” Aisell shook her head. “She didn’t hand him the game, he fought hard, he came back from a sure loss and tied it up, and I know if the scales were even he could totally kick her ass!”

Darren laughed. “I don’t know, she looks like a tuff cut of meat that Felltree, not the sort to back down from a challenge if ya ask me.” Darren nodded. It wasn’t long until he found himself scooped up and sitting before Aisell’s icy blue eyes.

“They’ll settle the score someday Sarge, on even ground, but she didn’t give up, she’s not like that. He deserves to win honestly, he can’t do that with a fifth round win…not now. Maybe someday, but now.”

Darren nodded. “Yea, well I hope they get to square off soon, b’cause I’m itching to find out who’s the better player!”

Aisell smiled quaintly and shrugged. “Oh, well I can answer that one! It’s simple, Felltree’s the better player!

“Like hell she is!” Darren scoffed.

“She’s much prettier too, and fans adore her!” Aisell bragged.

“She’s loud and cocky and she’s showy!” Darren scolded.

“She isn’t showy, she’s flamboyant and gorgeous!”

“Ha!” Darren laughed.

“Okay! You know what? I don’t think it’s safe to let my human travel out like this!” Aisell teased as she scooped Darren up and shoved him into her side pocket.

“Sore loser!” Darren yelled up, battling her fingers as she attempted to keep him subdued.

“Loser? I dunno, I’m looking pretty good right now, don’t know about you though?” Aisell grinned, and pulled the zipper closed on her pocket.

“Your little prison can’t hold me!” Darren protested, as Aisell walked down the stone path with a clever grin from ear to ear.

***

Eyrn slipped out onto the balcony of their hotel suite, allowing the door behind them to slide shut. The others were all in the main room socializing when Eyrn had noticed Bedra slip away. After some time, she felt it best to check on her friend, mostly out of concern, but also it gave her a chance to take a breath of fresh air.

“Hey, isn’t it a bit chilly out here without a coat?” Eyrn asked, coming up beside Berda, who was leaning against the balcony rail.

“Oh, hey Eyrn.” Bedra smiled weakly, then looked back out into the distance.

“The noise getting to you?” Eyrn asked, bumping into Bedra playfully with her hip.

“Naw.” Bedra shrugged.

“Then what’s up?” Eyrn’s expression became more sullen when Bedra didn’t reciprocate her playfulness.

“Just thinking,” Bedra said, clearing her throat and bringing her thumb up to clear something from the corners of her eyes.

“About Degu?” Eyrn guessed, not taking her eye off Bedra.

“Heh, am I that transparent?” Bedra chuckled softly and turned to face Eyrn.

Eyrn nodded. “I’m not just adorable you know, I’m also relatively intuitive. It came in handy growing up an outsider.”

Bedra half smiled. “I’m afraid Eyrn.” Bedra began.

“Afraid of what?” Eyrn asked, deciding to allow Bedra to fill the blanks, rather than doing so for her.

“Afraid he’s getting in too deep, afraid he’s making a rash decision without thinking. Afraid that he won’t fit in, but will be to afraid to admit it…afraid he’ll be miserable.” Bedra turned away, tears began to trickle down her face again, despite her best attempts to hide them.

Eyrn nodded, but didn’t say anything just yet.

“Afraid he’ll get hurt.” Bedra sighed slowly.

“He might.” Eyrn admitted.

“I know.” Bedra looked off, trying to avoid eye contact. “Part of me wants to demand he not go, ya know? Just forbid it. He would listen, he always does.” Bedra laughed cynically to herself. “He would do whatever I told him…even if that made him miserable.”

“Then, why didn’t you?” Eyrn asked gently.

“Why didn’t I forbid him?” Bedra looked back to Eyrn, genuinely shocked to hear Eyrn ask that.

“Yea, why not just do that? He’d be safer right?”

Bedra shook her head. “I couldn’t do that to him.” Bedra swallowed hard.

“Why not?” Eyrn probed deeper.

Bedra looked back again, this time perplexed. “Because he isn’t mine to keep? I don’t know, I really don’t. It just doesn’t feel right, it did once, I used to feel like his well-being was my responsibility, ask me this a few months ago and I’d never of let him do it. But…well, knowing you and Darren…even Tapp…well it’s changed how I see things. Suddenly…forcing him to stay just doesn’t feel right.” Bedra sighed and looked back out into the distance.

Eyrn smiled and put her arm around Bedra. “He’s lucky to have someone like you Bedra.”

“Did I ever tell you how he came to me?” Bedra asked, turning to Eyrn.

Eyrn shook her head.

“It was about two years ago. I was visiting my family back on the Reef. Growing up we had this big barn where humans would live, we used to play with them, train them to come…to trust us.” Bedra chuckled. “Things are different back home, humans are a lot more feral and tribal…they live in barns and fend for themselves a lot. Sort of like at the Maris farm…only not as independent. We feed them and try to keep the shaar population low…but they’re not pets like they are here.”

“Like barn cats….heh.” Eyrn shook her head in disbelief.

“Sure…” Bedra responded, not quite understanding what a cat was. “Anyhow, I was always really close to the barn humans around our neighbor’s farm, I knew generations of them. It was hard to leave, once my parents decided to move to the Korafia. Most of them didn’t want me to leave. I would come back of course, from time to time, but it was never really the same. They grew much faster than I did, and before long new generations were born, and they didn’t know who I was.” Bedra shrugged.

“Heh, I know the feeling.” Eyrn lamented.

“Well, back to where we started, about three years ago, I came home, right around the time the island was hit with a tropical storm. The place I was staying was in the city, and was spared most of the wrath, but the farming community I grew up in was heavy hit. I found myself tied into the relief effort. There were so many people without homes, so much devastation…it was terrible.” Bedra frowned at the memory.

“I can only imagine.” Eyrn nodded.

“Well, the neighbor I mentioned, he was one of the ones to lose everything. His house, the barns, the livestock. He came out with the clothes on his back, his family and his life.” Bedra sighed. “The barn where all the humans he had lived was totally destroyed. It was a twisted pile of wood and water…mud…not a one of them survived.” Bedra closed her eyes. “Well, so we thought. I mean, it seemed impossible, how could they right? So, we were cleaning up, salvaging anything we could, when I heard a very faint sound. I almost dismissed it, but heard it again, louder. It was so faint…it took me a while but I located it, under a sheet of roofing, tucked away in a little mud pocket…he was so small, he couldn’t talk yet, I don’t even think he could walk. I had never handled a human so young, the mother barn humans would never let their infants near us. But…he was alone, I didn’t know what else to do.” Bedra spoke. almost panicked, as if reliving the whole thing.

“So, he was just an infant?” Eyrn asked surprised.

Bedra nodded. “There was no HOS, not after the storm. Relief efforts were strained as it was…they don’t give infants a very high survival rate without a human mother to look after them…I couldn’t just leave him there…he was so small…so helpless.” Bedra wiped a tear and sighed.

“Sounds to me liked you did the right thing.” Eyrn smiled.

“I looked and I looked for another human, for anyone…but he was the only one. I had intended to surrender him to the HoS on mainland, but by the time I ended up making my way back he was an energetic and spirited child…and we’ll the idea of abandoning him didn’t settle right. So…I kept him.” Bedra shrugged.

Eyrn rest her hands on the balcony and leaned forward, looking off at the cityscape before her. Skyscrapers and towering buildings were still so foreign and alien to her, it made her feel small and insignificant, which was still such a new feeling, it was almost exciting.

“Mostly though, Eyrn I’m afraid he’s not going to wanna come back…ever.” Bedra said at last, frowning longfully to Eyrn.

“He may not.” Eyrn said truthfully. “But, that’s not a bad thing, also, I’m sure he’ll want you to visit!” Eyrn said, with a more upbeat voice.

“You think so?” Bedra asked hopefully.

“Maybe, have you asked him?” Asked Eyrn.

“No.” Bedra shook her head. “Honestly this all sort of came out of nowhere, I was taken aback, I probably should eh?” Bedra asked with a concerned frown.

Eyrn nodded. “It seems to me Degu is still quite attached to you, I mean you were all he had, and asides from a few bumps along the way, you were good to him.” Eyrn said with a shrug, of course that was a subjective statement, human slavery in general was a bad thing, but Degu had been well cared for dispite of it all.

“I wish I had met you sooner Eyrn, I wish I had seen it sooner I mean. Looking back, I…I just don’t understand where my train of thought could have been. Seeing things in hindsight, I just feel so…so…so…”

“Stupid?” Eyrn suggested, with a grin.

Bedra nodded.

“Yeah.” Eyrn shook her head. “History always looks different looking back, there is a lot mankind isn’t proud of either, I remember growing up and asking momma and poppa lots of questions, and just not getting it. ‘I guess you had to be there’, mama would often say.” Eyrn shrugged. “My mama didn’t get to vote until she was very old – women couldn’t. The color of your skin determined your status as a person, the rich oppressed the poor, hell Bedra we even tried to tell people who they could and couldn’t marry…apparently we thought it fit to decide what was and was not love.”

“And all of this is better now? I mean, did they work it all out?” Bedra asked, almost hopefully.

“Ha! Not by a long shot…but there getting there.” Eyrn smiled.

“You think he’ll be okay?” Bedra asked next, afraid to hear the answer.

“Humans have a remarkable capacity to survive Bedra, he’ll be fine. It won’t be easy, he may not like all of it, but it’ll be his decision, he’ll be making his own choices, sink or swim it’ll be on his own merit.”

“I guess so.” Bedra deflated. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“Not at all.” Eyrn laughed.

“For such tiny little things, they really are a remarkable species.” Bedra admitted. “That they can be where they are, with no assistance from the rest of the galaxy, as such a young species…in a way they have it figured out better than we do.” Bedra said, as she watched the shuttle crafts in the distance come and go.

“In some ways they do, and in some they don’t.” Eyrn said with a weary look. “But Bedra, I hope they take their time getting here…I really do?”

“Why’s that?” Bedra asked in earnest.

“Because we have a hell of a lot of growing up to do, before we can even hope to welcome them fairly into the galactic family.”

Bedra turned back to face the skyline. “For such a long history of trying to protect people, we really do have a lousy track record for protecting people.” Bedra half laughed.

“You’re telling me.” Eyrn snickered cynically.

“What Felltree did today was kind of amazing.” Bedra said, with a glimmer of hope.

Eyrn nodded. “Left me speechless.”

“What Darren tried to do was even more amazing. I half think he would have given her a run for her money in that ring.” Bedra said honestly.

“If willpower and ferocity were worth more, he would have destroyed her.” Eyrn said with a stiff upper lip. “The sarge is many things, but a quitter he ain’t. Anyone who knows him back home will tell you that. He was a bit of a lion on the field…sorry…a bit of a…Shaz-shaar…I think there called?” Eyrn shrugged.

“I get what you’re saying.” Bedra laughed. “I’ve been around you two long enough, I’m starting to get your oddities.”

“He’s small…I mean for a human…he’s on the shorter side, but he has a ferocity to him that really shows. Anyone who served under him knew two things, first, do your job and do it right, and second, that the Sarge always had your back.”

“Sounds like he was quite a leader.” Bedra nodded.

“He is.” Eyrn corrected. “He could have gone on to higher things, had he not taken the post at Groom Lake…eh…I suppose it’s like he always says…’ah’m a working man kid!'” Eyrn giggled.

Both Titans sat out on the balcony for some time, talking, laughing and sharing stories. Eyrn had a wealth of experience and wisdom beyond her years, which Bedra seldom had a chance to sit and absorb. In return, Eyrn was eager to learn as much as she could about the empire, which Bedra of course was all too willing to share, which always gave them something to talk about, and had strengthened their bond over time.

“Someone’s here to see you!” Korye said, interrupting them from a conversation about colonial era Archavia, and what was known as the Tannhauser Crisis of 773.

“Hmmmm?” Bedra looked up, forgetting how long they had been out here.

“The girl we met at the Bar, the one Darren left with.” Korye stepped out onto the balcony, sliding her arms around Bedra’s waist and sneaking a nibble on her ear

Eyrn watched the two and giggled a little as she slid back into the hotel room.

“Hey! You found us!” Eyrn smiled to greet Aisell.

“Yea, this one was insisting I return him…said he has something important to do or something.’ Aisell rolled her eyes and held out her hand to present Darren.

“Welcome back Sarge!” Eyrn grinned to the man in Aisell’s hand.

“Mighty low of you t’leave me alone with this one Soldier!” Darren scolded, looking back on Aisell with what at least appeared to be a convincing look of mock scorn.

“Oh, you hurt my feelings!” Aisell winked, then tilted her hand causing Darren to fall off ballance and tumble into Eyrn’s wating hand.

“Awww, Sarge afraid of sweet harmless Aisell?” Eyrn teased, looking Darren over as if pretending to inspect him for damage.

“I’m fine ya fuggen brat!” Darren batted Eyrn’s encroaching fingers away, and hopped onto her shoulder as soon as she brought her hand up high enough for him to hop aboard.

“So what’s next for you?” Eyrn asked, looking to Aisell.

“Well, I think I’m gonna head home tomorrow morning.” Aisell shrugged, sticking her hands in her pant pockets and leaning against the wall near the door.

“Not going to stick around for the final? Iron Maiden vs PuppetMaster! Its going to be chaos around that’s for sure!”

Aisell chuckled and shook her head. “Too much action for me, you know…I’ve always been a homegirl. Besides, Lez needs help with the harvest, and Aehzay starts next term soon, I can’t leave Lezah alone with Quendra, she’s liable to end up Terg tied and the farm conquered by right of spoils of war!” Aisell laughed.

“Things not going well between them?” Eyrn asked nervously.

“Naw, they’re going fine. Drugar’s diplomatic, but Quendra’s making sure she gets her say in, which she’s every right to do. Just looking out for the welfare of her people.” Aisell shrugged.

“I think I’d like her.” Eyrn smiled. “Do you think….well that Degu will get on well there?” Eyrn asked cautiously.

Aisell shrugged. “Dunno, hard to say. I think they are more than happy to have him if he’ll work. But it may be a hard transition for him. I can’t even imagine really, going from a pet to an independent person…he’s in for a shock.”

“He…will be independent right? I mean it’s not just going from one cage to another…ya think?” Eyrn hesitated to ask.

Aisell shook her head. “I don’t know the Tribe that well yet, but I know them well enough to know this, every man and woman works for their own, best they can…they look out for one another and each do their part. It’s not a perfect system they have, but it works for them and it’s gotten them along. The important thing is they continue to be free to develop as they want, without interference from us, ya know?”

Eyrn nodded. “You’ll look out for him, right?”

Aisell chuckled. “As best I can.”

Eyrn nodded.

“I’d like to take him tonight actually, if he wants to go that is. Its harvest time and Quendra thinks it’ll be as good a time as any to introduce him to the tribe.” Aisell looked around, as if hunting for Bedra and Degu.

Eyrn bit her lip. “Right. I’m sure he’ll be all too eager to go…as soon as you pry him from Bedra’s cold dead fingers!” Eyrn laughed.

Aisell winced. “Right…well…I may have to sneak him out the back while you distract momma bear!”

Eyrn grinned at the correct earth reference, Aisell was one of few who seemed to get them! “Right! Leave me to the wolves…some friend you are!”

Both girls laughed.

“I’ll go today, I’d like to actually.” Degu spoke up, his voice was small, but still audible despite the two chattering titan’s.

Eyrn and Aisell turned in unison to see Degu standing on Bedra’s shoulder at the end of the entry way hall. Bedra’s eyes were red from crying, and her makeup was running a little, but her lips were curled into a genuine smile.

“You two need some time?” Aisell asked, shuffling her feet nervously.

Bedra shook her head.

“We talked.” Degu said, then hopped onto an offered palm.

Bedra brought Degu to her face, and pressed him against her cheek. “You’re gonna be ok Dee?” She asked, struggling to keep it together.

“I think so?” Degu offered back, sounding about as sure as he could.

“If you need anything, Aisell can get in touch with me. I know it seems like a really long way, but I’m only a few towns over, I can get there real fast, if you need anything at all don’t be afraid to call okay?” Bedra went on, not letting Degu out of her hug.

“Bedra, I’ll be fine!” Degu mumbled as he wiggled and squirmed.

“I know you will Dee, I know.” Bedra sighed, then let Degu up, but not before sneaking a kiss.

“Bedra!” Degu whined as she kissed him, his face blushing slightly from embarrassment.

“Sorry!” Bedra hesitated, then offered her hand out towards Aisell.

Degu hopped eagerly aboard Aisell’s palm, and was then transferred to her shoulder.

“Well, I should be going, don’t want to miss the last direct shuttle to Archavia. You’ll call me when you get back to town, right?” Aisell said to both Eyrn and Bedra.

They both nodded.

“Okay, we should get together!” Aisell smiled, then looked to Degu to assure he was ready to go.

“G’bye Eyrn, and Bedra!” Degu waved.

“Later Mop head…you take care’a yerself eh?” Darren said from Eyrn’s shoulder, having kept quiet most of the time out of respect and awkwardness.

“You too Darren! And good luck tomorrow! I’ll be watching!” Degu waved.

“Good luck with what?” Aisell asked with a sly grin.

“Uh…nothing!” Degu said. “He…just…really likes PuppetMaster?”

“Ah. Well. I do too, Degu,” Aisell said.

“Try not to get killed, hmmm?” a small voice spoke up from the distance. All eyes followed the source to Tapp, who was standing along the side wall by the hallway door.

“I won’t!” Degu laughed and waved to Tapp, who crossed her arms and shook her head.

“Honestly, no data pads, no temperature control, no plumbing…I give you two weeks!” Tapp sighed; though she’d never admit it, this was her way of showing both concern and sadness that he was truly leaving.

As the goodbyes tapered off, Aisell turned to leave. Before the door could close on them however, Degu looked back and shouted out. “B…bedra?”

Bedra leapt forward and stood in the way of the closing door. “Y…yea?”

“Y…you’ll visit…right?” Degu asked timidly.

Bedra smiled. “If you want me to.”

Degu smiled. “As much as you can, ok!?”

Bedra nodded. “Okay, I will.”

Aisell smiled and waved goodbye, as Bedra stepped back and allowed the door to close.

“You gonna be okay, Sunshine?” Darren asked, after a long silence.

“No.” Bedra said with a quiver in her voice. “Well, maybe Eventually.”

*NEXT TIME….ON TITAN EXILE…*