We reappeared on a small hill ridge, barely a few feet up, but still enough to survey the entire battlefield. And shit down there looked as bad for the Exhumans as it had been for me.

With the appearance of three new fortress armors, two of which were advancing at a lumbering but constant pace, the fight was effectively over. The resistance was scattering and the redeveloped and XPCA were in hot pursuit.

But that wasn't what I was looking at.

"Jack, take me over there," I said, pointing at a pillar of smoke a hundred feet past the road.

I saw him open his eyes to take a peek at what I was pointing towards. "Was that your car?" he asked.

"Just take me, as fast as you can, please."

I think he was expecting some sarcasm or a quip from me, and when I didn't give it to him, he straightened seriously and put an arm on mine.

I felt us lurch, and then again, and again, until we were there at the scene. I muttered a thanks to Jack, even as I left him behind with his crutch to run to where Lia had been thrown from the blast.

She was on her back, breathing, thank God, but the image of her burned in my brain like a brand.

She didn't stir at my approach, gave no indication of being awake or alert, didn't seem disturbed by the frizzy brown mess of her own hair in her eyes. Blood smeared her face, rivulets already drying from her ears and eyes and mouth. Her half-lidded eyes were completely bloodshot, making her look demonic and alien. I didn't know what to do, didn't know if I could touch her or move her, if she was in pain, if she'd wake up again even.

Jack walked past where I'd fallen to my knees and gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "She's breathing," he said. "Should we take her to the others?"

"AEGIS might be able to help. Or Karu," I said. "Just...move her gently."

"I will be as delicate as possible," he said with a reassuring smile. He knelt down and carefully touched just the tip of her foot, held my hand, giving it a single firm squeeze, and we jumped away.

When we arrived, AEGIS gasped and struggled to get her pack off one-handed, Moon quickly moving to help her and act as a pair of spare hands in deploying the first-aid kit. Tower said nothing but looked pale, Karu had gone back to organize the retreat.

I was surprised when something grabbed my back and wouldn't budge.

"Now's not the time, Tem," I said, but she didn't respond in any way but to keep holding onto me. "Why did you guys bring her here?" I asked Jack.

Jack shrugged. "Tower is the one who believed AEGIS and brought us. He was going to leave Tem and myself behind, on account of my current disability, and Tem's…difficulty. But she at some point heard we were heading to visit you, and refused to take no for an answer. I believe she would have suffocated in the cargo hold had we not bought her a ticket. And I came along in case you needed me. It wouldn't be right for me to ask you a favor and then not attempt to repay it."

"Tower, Jack, thank you, really," I said, though I couldn't tear my eyes from Lia. AEGIS had half-stripped her out of her slipskin now, but the good news is, it looked like whatever had ruptured all the blood vessels in her face, it hadn't affected her body in general.

"She'll be just fine," AEGIS said with obvious relief as she had Moon prop Lia upright against a rock. "Keep the affected areas elevated, and she's going to have a hell of a lot of bruising, a lot of pain, damaged hearing and eyesight for a while, maybe even some permanent damage if she doesn't get professional treatment...but nothing life-threatening."

I let out a deep breath and almost felt like crying again suddenly.

"The blast was big, the air pressure differential ruptured capillaries all across her skin," AEGIS explained, pushing her now-broken glasses up her nose as though by habit. "Her slipskin detected the blast and acted as sort of a compression sleeve to protect her from it. Obviously her face and hands were still exposed and that's why she looks like she fell down a stairway made of heavyweight boxers, but her organs were protected. Which is good, because a blast like that is a great way of having your lungs explode."

"There are bruises on her chest though," Tower pointed out. I'd missed them, because...modesty, honestly. And I kind of wished he wouldn't either. She was my sister, for chrissake.

"Yeah, that was the slipskin saving her life. The same time the blast hit her, it sort of...slammed her lungs. Forced its own violent compression to increase the air pressure in her trachea to keep the blast from doing the same the other way."

Tower let out a low whistle. "How much are these suits? And do they come in XXXL?"

As much as I didn't want to admit it, Taglock had just saved Lia's life indirectly. I knew she'd bought the slipskin purely on emulating his kit, and so it was his experience in picking the best of the best which was responsible for her wearing it now. I felt a sincere, overwhelming outpouring of gratitude for the man's great wisdom and experience, and resolved to be somewhat less of a dick to him in the future, maybe.

Maybe.

"I'm happy she is alright," Jack said nervously. "But do you know where Steffie is? Please tell me she's not down there, in the path of those metal monsters?"

I shook my head.

"Then can you explain why there's apparently a massive riot and civil war at New Eden, and why we had to rescue you from what is clearly an XPCA weapon?"

I looked at AEGIS, and realized I found it hard to do so. She smiled back at me but it looked pained and weak, hanging off of her mutilated body.

"It's...a long story," I said. "But the really short version is, Blackett is worse than even I ever imagined. He's captured Saga...whom you might remember from the Christmas party, or when we used her to get the truth out of Ajax and Celia...and he...he…"

"He tortured her," AEGIS cut in putting her hand on my shoulder reassuringly. "And used her to mentally dominate the residents of New Eden. Some of them didn't like that and joined the resistance...they're the ones in red, running away and dying right now with Karu trying to help them...the rest are basically enslaved to Blackett's will directly."

"We're here to stop Targa and Blackett from doing this to anyone else," I said. "She's in that hangar and he's...somewhere else here."

"And when you say 'stop', I assume you mean 'murder'," Jack clarified.

"Yes. In no uncertain terms."

"Might I ask why you are not satisfied with merely stopping them? I suspect I know but would like to hear if from you."

I looked at Jack and saw the glint of one of his eyes as he stood smiling, waiting for an answer. I thought, he might be testing me right now, trying to decide if his loyalty should remain to Blackett, and I didn't know what kind of answer to give him. All I had was the truth as I saw it.

"He completely brutalized Saga, Jack. He did it all with his bare hands, tore away pieces of her flesh...and he had some tech or something that he figured out that made it so she couldn't grow back, that if she died, she'd be dead, dead. He kept her locked up for a month, tearing away at her over and over--"

As I spoke I felt Saga's memories bubble unbidden in my mind. The pain of it made bile rise in my throat.

"There was less than half of her left...she was just...he snapped her spine, ripped her pelvis from her body. I...I saw it, in her memories. All of it. He was so cold, he did it without a shred of compassion or feeling...she had something he wanted, so he just...took it."

"And you are certain that the memories she gave you were genuine?"

I glared at him, wanting to punch the smile off his stupid fucking face.

"I was down there with half of her body, sent in there by Targa for her to reprogram my mind. I saw her, saw what was left of her, saw where they'd kept her, all with my own two eyes. I felt her pain and misery and the pleading wish for death coming off her like the smell of rot, Jack. Don't you fucking dare--"

He backed up and apologized with a half-bow. "I merely wanted to confirm. A Code X is a dangerous thing."

"It is. And Blackett is showing us why, what you can do with one when you have no morals or compunction about abusing their abilities."

"If what you say is true...and...I am still hesitant to believe--"

"Why would I lie! Why would the Exhumans of New Eden be let out and killing each other--"

"Calm down, Chariot. I merely...All of us have served Blackett faithfully, some of us for years. Some of us believe in his rhetoric, some of us even had a crush on him."

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Tem squeezed me tighter from behind. "I believe in Chariot," she said.

"With that said, I want to make certain there is no room for misunderstanding or error before we make an irreversible decision. That is all. Surely you understand?"

"Do you want me to take you to Saga? or what?"

"I will ask two of you to do something I know neither of you would wish to. Forgive me this, but I need to be certain that everything is as you say." He turned to Moon. "Would you be willing to delve his memories? In the interest of determining truth?"

All eyes turned on her and she turned red, even as she stood completely motionless.

"Moon hates attention," I said.

"Your pointing that out does not help the situation," she said in the same seemingly-bored tone as ever. "But he is correct that I find this very uncomfortable."

"Isn't this unnecessary?" I asked. "Jack, you seem like you're already convinced. Tem...I don't think cares about arguments whatsoever. And I can always count on Tower to have my back."

"Chariot, I like you bro," Tower said with a smile. "I really do. But I also can't just turn on Blackett if I don't know for sure. I think Jack's pretty smart here."

Moon nodded.

"But you two think I'm lying? Seriously?"

"Let's just say you don't have the best relationship with Blackett," Tower said. "I don't think you're lying, but it'd be real easy for you to get your panties bunched up over something which a lot of us would understand and let go."

"It's torture. It's brainwashing."

"Yeah. And if you're right, then I believe you. So we'll just check if you're right."

"I can't believe--"

AEGIS cut in. "Athan, just let them peek at your memories. They'll see it themselves, they'll be able to join you without any lingering doubts. I don't think it's about anyone thinking you're wrong or full of shit, it's about checking your parachute before you jump out of a plane. Right?"

"Well...I don't need a 'chute personally, but yeah," Tower said.

"Fine, do whatever," I said and held my arm out for Moon. She stared at it blankly.

"I never agreed to this," Moon said.

"But you want to see my memories so you can believe me."

"I do."

"And if you bond with me using your power, you will."

"I will."

"Then...do it?"

"That would be a violation of my personal beliefs," Moon said, and I groaned. "I do not pry into the minds of those I am shadowing."

"Damn it, Moon, just look in my head," I shouted at her, grabbing her hand while she offered no resistance whatsoever.

"For the record, I loathe you," she said and collapsed.

"I considered the possibility that I should start wearing a full body outfit around you," my shadow continued speaking from right behind me. "Since it appears you are unable to resist forcing yourself on my bare skin."

"Could you make it sound any dirtier? Jesus."

"I could. Would you like me to try? Perhaps...roughly burying your fingertips into my helpless, naked flesh? A soft moan of protest escapes my lips as you ravage me against my will? Powerless, as my my own powers are used against me."

"Jesus Christ, what the fuck kinds of books do you read all day?" I asked.

"Hardcore smut, mostly."

"Really?"

"Joudan. May I go back now?"

"Did you see my memories?"

"No. That would be a violation of my--"

I began to think very hard, forcing myself to remember Saga's memories and Moon froze on my back as I did. I found myself shuddering and twitching, and on the ground where I had once been standing. I re-felt every piece of my flesh being torn away, the horrifying crack of my own bones as Blackett broke me apart with detached cruelty. The smell of my own blood, thick and black, pouring from my midsection onto the shining metal floor.

I heard Moon throw up on my shoulder, though nothing actually came out of her. I was about a second behind her.

"Please let me go back now," she said, her voice still somehow emotionless, though I saw something had changed in her eyes.

I just nodded and touched her hand again, and she sprang back to life with a jolt. Neither of us could make the other's eyes after that.

"Now Tower...if you wish to see...you can...get it from Moon," Jack said, clearly disturbed at what he'd just seen the two of us go through.

"I'm uh...I'm going to trust Moon on this one. We've been together enough that I'll believe her," Tower said, hesitatingly.

"Blackett is a bad guy," Moon said simply.

Tower nodded grimly. So did Jack.

"Then...we do this thing," Tower said.

"Thank you guys," I said, though I felt a little annoyed we'd had to go through this whole farce to do it. Mostly sick. "You do know we'll be like...enemies of the state and all that."

"We're Exhumans," Moon said with a hint of a shrug. "I believe we are all accustomed."

"Nothing we haven't done before, and for much worse reasons, I'm sure," Jack agreed.

"Tem? Do you know what you're getting yourself into?" I asked, trying to see something both invisible and clamped to my buttocks.

"No, but I don't care," her muffled voice responded.

"Good enough for me, I guess," I said, and took a deep breath, watching the Exhumans run. There was nothing but desert out here, the nearest town was at least thirty miles away. I don't know where they thought they'd be running, but...fear made people do desperate things.

I wanted to kill that fear. I wanted those people to have normal, happy lives.

I sensed a new presence on our little hill and spun around, swords ready. It was a girl, maybe my age, wearing a white top and jean shorts, with a red sash tied around her arm.

"Oh, there are people here," she said.

Everyone else turned around at her voice, assuming similar ready stances. Except Tem, she was still just riding my butt for all it was worth.

"Are you with the resistance?" I asked, pointing at her sash.

"Yeah, I'm Rito. Nice ta meet'cha. Thanks for not trying to kill me on sight like a bunch of them down there. Crazy, today, huh?"

"Yeah, crazy."

"Um," she said urgently and then stopped. "Uh, I uh...I have a job I'm supposed to be doing, but...I kinda can't...with everyone looking." She fidgeted adorably.

"Are you shy?" I asked, and then felt incredibly stupid for asking, so I followed up immediately with something better. "What are you trying to do?"

"Oh, uh, I don't know. I'm supposed to bring someone here, but my powers don't work if anyone's watching. Dunno why, they're just kooky like that. Could...could you all just turn around for a second?"

"Surely you're kidding," Jack said. "You appear from nowhere and expect us to present our backs as a target while you use your powers, and claim to know not even what it is you do?"

"Um, pretty much," she said. "I'm kinda the logistics gal for the resistance...I move things around a lot with my powers...gets really boring asking what everything is...so I don't."

She seemed honest enough for me, and if they had an Exhuman who could move things like Jack did, that would explain how the resistance operated in the shadows so effectively. I made a big show of turning around and waited for the others.

AEGIS turned around too, standing right next to me. "You think she's cute," she said.

"What?"

"You like slender girls with athletic builds. You like blondes. And you have a soft spot for Exhumans and anyone who needs a favor from you."

"AEGIS I only just met her. And she's tiny, like almost as short as Tem."

"And yet, I can see your heart rate elevated, you fucking letch."

"You fucking letch!" Tem giggled.

"Um...I'm sorry...I'm flattered…" Rito interjected sounding a bit flustered from where she stood, completely within earshot.

At this, I heard Tower laugh and turn around. Jack did as well, but I felt he was still tense, his powers ready to take him off at a hair-trigger.

We stood there awkwardly for a minute.

"Um...please?" Rito asked.

"I see no reason to trust you," Moon said, her completely emotionless deadpan an utter contrast to Rito's lilting, bubbling words.

"Oh. Well...I said I wasn't going to harm any of you."

"No you didn't," Moon replied. "You said you had a job to do, that you could only do if nobody was looking, and that you were supposed to bring someone here. Regardless, telling us you won't harm us is still no reason to trust you. It is the first thing someone who does intend to harm us would say."

"Oh, um, I'm sorry," Rito fretted. "I really, really am, um...I don't know what else to say. I'm falling really far off my schedule. Please?"

"Moon, just let the girl do her job. We want the resistance to win here, remember?" I said.

"All we agreed upon was that Blackett needs to be stopped. We said nothing about the resistance."

"Moon, you're so damn difficult...Tower, can you pick her up or something?"

"Help, I'm being molested," Moon said in the same flat tone as she stood there without a soul touching her. "Help, help."

I could sense Rito's anxiety skyrocketing as she fidgeted in place, her hands over her mouth as she wriggled like a worm on hot pavement. "Please...please don't! I'm just...just doing my job!"

My friends were just too weird and I felt too bad for Rito. I'd had enough, and stomped over to Moon, grabbing the pink trim of her charcoal hood and pulling it down over her eyes without touching her skin.

"Molester. Molester. Help."

"Oh shut up."

Rito sighed enormously in relief. "Thank you, um,"

"Athan," I said, grinning despite myself. Something kicked me painfully in the shin, and when I looked around, I found AEGIS' eyes smoldering at me. "What?"

But now that we were all facing away, I sensed another presence join Rito's behind us and turned to look.

The new arrival smiled, but not at me, barrelling forward straight at Jack. He turned as well, his smile as large and genuine as I'd ever seen, and the two of them locked in an awkward crouching hug.

From over his shoulder, I could see the tuft of her short blue hair, and under his arms, her wheelchair and the red of her resistance outfit.

"You're safe," he crooned.

"Sorry about everything," she said, squeezing him tightly into her. "I didn't mean to disappear like that. But I had to do what I did to help the resistance. It's just too important. I'm sorry."

"I understand," he said.

"Well," she said into his chest "don't understand just yet. There's still one more thing the resistance needs me for."

We were all focused on Steffie and her return and so I hardly found it suspicious when Rito slunk off behind us, until I sensed that she'd brought someone else in again. This time, I jumped, swords already flashing through the air.

Jack was there too, appearing behind the sudden guest with a knife at his throat.

To my surprise, he just stood there and waited, a wan smile on his face with his hands in the air in surrender.

"Wh-what's going on?" Rito asked.

"Thank you, Rito, you've done everything just as I'd hoped," Soran said, even as Jack's knife drew a bead of blood from his throat.