Never Shaken, Never Afraid

It was dark in the galley, but that was by intention. A young man sat quietly at the only table in the small room, his head bowed and hands folded neatly on the surface of the table in front of him. He was of average height, about one hundred and seventy centimeters tall and had the well-muscled build of a weightlifter. A shaggy mop of dark brown hair crowned his head and his features were blunt but well defined. A small sigh escaped the young man’s lips as if he had a great weight on his mind.

Suddenly the lights flicked on, startling the young man. Whirling suddenly, his grey eyes locked with those of the other man who had just entered the room.

“What are you doing alone in the dark?” The newcomer asked with mild curiosity as they walked to one of the wall mounted cabinets.

As they pulled out various packaged items, the young man answered somewhat sheepishly. “I… I couldn't sleep, and Freddy was snoring again.”

The older man chuckled slightly and said with a wide smile “Ah. Now you see why we stuck you with him. If you are tough enough to sleep through that then you could sleep through an artillery bombardment or a Hyaxian Screamer ambush. I don't have any sympathy for you Kevin, when he joined the crew I was stuck bunking with him for almost three years.” He chuckled again at the memory he had conjured.

Kevin just gave a jerky nod, his anxiety clearly showing on his face as he tapped his fingers. “Really? I understand that it's important to come together as a team Devan, but this almost seems like a punishment for existing.” He tried to joke.

Devan gave Kevin a concerned look and stopped pouring the packet of instant oatmeal he was holding. He set it to the side and turned to face him, leaning back on the countertop behind him and folding his arms across his chest. Kevin looked up into the older man’s face as he started to speak.

“It's fine, I know this is your first outing as a recruit Kevin. But you have your training, remember the most important thing. Numquam concussit, numquam timueritis.” He intoned solemnly.

Kevin nodded at the remark and said reverently in common “Never Shaken, Never Afraid. The Steel Custodians motto…” he trailed off. “But, what does it really mean? How can you never be afraid?”

Devan was still for a few moments before he nodded and then turned his head to the side, seemingly looking into some far distant memory only he could see. “It’s a figure of speech kid. It isn’t to say that you can’t ever be afraid, it means instead that while the horrors of the universe may assail us. While the terrors of the old dark might hunger for our souls, we will stand boldly against them. Never showing the fear that gnaws at our core, never taking a single step back from the danger that would seek to destroy us. It's more than a simple phrase…” he paused as he seemed to gather his words before looking intently into Kevin’s face. The man's dark brown eyes like deep wells of sorrow that burrowed straight to Kevin’s soul. “It's more than a simple phrase, it's a way of life. We are strong, not to project an image of stoicism to those we protect, but for each other. We live and die for each other Kevin. This is the way it has always been, and the way it will always be, now and forever amen.” He finished with bowed head.

Kevin muttered the word in automatic response, the training he had undergone having instilled a certain base fanaticism in him that he couldn't control. But he saw no need too. The universe was a hostile place, and he was lucky beyond belief that the conscription squad that had visited his home colony had picked him. He had only been a young boy of fourteen years old, two years older than the normal age limit of twelve that the Syndicates normally looked for. But Commander Alexi had been with the conscription squad that day, and had seen something in him. Something that he himself still wasn't sure he possessed. Seven long years of training though and he was a full-fledged recruit. No longer a mere initiate of the Steel Custodians.

He puffed up slightly in pride at the thought, an action that wasn't lost on Devan as the older man chuckled and gave him a wink. “That's more like it boy. Now, eat something, it's going to be a long day and I'm sure you would rather have a solid breakfast instead of that grey paste the suits dispense.”

Kevin stood to do as Devan suggested just as a somewhat shaggy looking figure stalked into the room. The new arrival was of average height, electric green eyes betrayed the man’s internal cybernetic enhancements and his face was set in a permanent scowl.

The man stopped and looked disdainfully around the room before grumbling “A little fuckin early for you to be having a wank session together in here. What in the name of the void mother's tits are you two doing up so gods damned early? I heard you talking and it fuckin woke me up.” he swore colorfully in a gruff voice that sounded like a smoker that had survived on a diet of sandpaper and glass for a decade.

Devan chuckled and remarked “I'm surprised you could hear anything at all over the racket you were making Blue.”

Kevin frowned slightly at the comment. As he was new to the ship, he was still getting used to the way they talked to each other. They seemed to like to call each other by nicknames, or handles as Hunt had explained to him. Blue was what the crew called Freddy, his raucous roommate.

“I was having trouble sleeping…” he started to say before he was cut off by Freddy.

“Ah you fuckin were, were ya? And you thought you would take a crack at waking me the hell up too? Well I outta…” Freddy started to shout before he was startled by a hand slapping down on his shoulder from behind. Jumping at the contact he swore colorfully and loudly before whirling around to confront his would-be attacker.

Standing in the doorway was a classically handsome man, his tall blond features chiseled and his eyes a sparkling violet. Hunter was a product of one of the outlying gene colonies, extensive bioengineering had crafted his ancestors into perfect specimens of the Human form. He was tall and well muscled, his smile radiant and his temperament cool and compassionate. He was, in a sense, perfect. And at the moment it seemed to Kevin that he was about to catch a fist from Freddy.

Putting up a hand, Hunter simply said “No. I meant no offense Blue, I was simply letting you know I was behind you. Also, I could hear you all the way in B wing.” he said with a reasonable tone.

Freddy grumbled slightly but calmed down, Kevin smiled. The two acted like brothers, and given what he knew of the relationship between them, their backgrounds were about as different as it was possible to be. While Hunter had been born on a gene colony, all needs provided for and high society still alive and well. Freddy had been part of a Techno barbarian cult from the collapsed ecumenopolis world of Nightmordia. A hellhole of criminal activity and as degenerated as a still functional world was possible to be. But they had both been selected for elevation to comradeship by the Syndicate.

Freddy and Hunter joined Devan at the galley counter, making their own brands of breakfast. Oatmeal and a piece of dried fruit leather for Devan whereas both Freddy and Hunter opted for instant protein mash with crackle chips on top. As the three settled down to eat, Kevin prepared his own breakfast. The SCS Flying Buccaneer was a Syndicate vessel, and being such it was afforded many luxuries that Kevin had only dreamed of as a child on the streets of his hometown. Refrigeration units kept fresh food from spoiling and the taps dispensed clean drinking water. He could heat his food in the Radiation Modulator or on an old style induction stove. The options for his first meal of the day were near limitless and he enjoyed his freedom of choice to the fullest extent.

Kevin made a plate of scrambled rockhen’s eggs with a glass of gringos juice and a Flaxxi brand lemon pudding cup. He had never seen a lemon before, but the taste made him think of pictures he had seen of snow capped mountains and clear forest streams. Maybe one day he would see such wonders, but till then he still had his pudding.

Sitting next to Hunter he asked “So, what are we doing here again? Hunting for Slashers?” Hunter smiled as he spooned his breakfast into his mouth, the faint sounds of the crackle chips crunching heard as the man chewed.

Nodding he said quietly “Yes. Though we generally call them Flesh tearers as that's what they do. Space madness takes all who spend too much time unprotected in the old dark. Remember, no matter what they might look like, they're not Human anymore. So don't hesitate to blast them as soon as you see them. They are abominations, an affront towards the genefather himself, bless his holy instruments.” he said with venom before finishing with a respectful chant.

Kevin nodded, he knew a little of space madness. One time a group of Slashers had attacked his colony, the vile creatures looked human but acted like beasts. Killing for pleasure and consuming the dead be they man or animal. He shuddered at the memory, screams echoing faintly in his mind's eye.

He felt a nudge and looked up, everyone else at the table had stood and he looked towards the doorway before bolting upright, his hand in a fist over his heart.

Standing in the doorway was a true giant of a man, impossibly wide shoulders and a thick neck held up the man's large head. His arms were as big around as Kevin’s legs and his barrel chest looked powerful enough to flip a groundcar. It was Commander Alexi, the man had been born on a titanworld, the crushing gravity shaping the planet’s inhabitants into solid pillars of muscle and bone.

Alexi surveyed the gathered crew and nodded his head. “It's good to see you awake and preparing for the task ahead. After you have eaten and refreshed yourselves, meet together in the command room. I will deliver the briefing in exactly forty seven minutes, do not be late.” and with that he turned and lumbered out of the room, his heavy footsteps echoing in the sudden silence of the galley.

Kevin knew that the Commander was a good man, kind and intelligent. But he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sheer power of the man's stature, and from the silence in the room he wasn't the only one that felt the menace the huge man exuded.

Even the generally noisy Freddy was quiet and in seeming speculation. Kevin finished his breakfast quickly and in silence as the others picked up a muted conversation about the mission ahead. He deposited his dishes in the vibroatomiser and then hurried to his shared room. The SCS Flying Buccaneer was a Necros class assault frigate, heavily armoured for her small size. At a maximum length of only sixty five meters, she only had room for the most basic of living spaces. The eight man crew had to sleep two to a room.

Gathering his set of power plate underalls, he rushed to the small bathroom near the galley. Inside were two small chambers, one for men and one for women. While in training at the Steel Custodians main citadel, there had been no such distinctions for gender. The men and women would share the same bathrooms, generally rotating out in shifts. But here he had the luxury of being able to use the facilities any time he wanted too.

Stripping naked, he moved across the small space to an opening in the wall, inside was a small water atomiser and a wave frequency modulator that would cause the mist to vibrate. This would rapidly lift dirt and accumulated grime from his body, leaving him tingling and feeling as if he had just walked through a hot furnace briefly. It was a sensation that he was all too familiar with from his long sweaty days of training at the citadel. But it was a joy nonetheless. Oh to be clean at the press of a button.

As a youth on the streets of Dredgetown, he had not had the opportunity. Only able to get somewhat clean in the industrial runoff of the local wash plants. Finishing his acoustic shower quickly, he stepped out into the bathroom just as another man was walking in.

Kevin heard him coming before he saw him, the tell tale whir of electric motors and the creak of metal dynamos alerting him to the man’s presence. But he didnt dive for a towel like he would have as a youth. He wasn't afraid to be seen bare as the day he was born, he was a Steel Custodian’s recruit and he would be smashed if he let a little thing like nudity make him flinch.

The man who entered was tall and spindly, his bone structure looking impossibly gaunt for any healthy man. His hair was long and black as night, it fell to his shoulders and clashed with the reflective yellow of his eyes making him look like some long lost predator of ancient Terra. But the man was not suffering from any ailment, the man’s name was Henry Shilack. He was from the Dwarf Nightworld of Umumbediah II, the planet only having sixty percent the standard gravity of most developed worlds. This lowered gravity caused his bones and musculature to be wholly inadequate to support him for longer than a few minutes unaided, which is why he was currently wearing a full body exoskeleton. The powered skeleton bolstering his weak body and giving him a vigor that was more on par with Kevin’s own heavy physique.

Kevin nodded to the slight man as he grabbed a towel and began to dry himself, the feeling of the soft fabric a welcome balm to his tingling skin.

“Hey there boy. I see you have been busy warming the shower up for me?” Henry said in a friendly tone. The man was almost impossibly nice Kevin had found. He never got angry, never became upset, if he made a mistake he would apologise and it was impossible to stay mad at the cheery man.

Kevin had grown quite fond of him in the few weeks he had been part of the crew. Henry would call him boy and pretend to be gruff, but treated him like a long lost brother. Kevin had never had a family before. He found the sense of belonging intoxicating, as if the man exuded some sort of aura of calm and tranquility. And as one of the nightworlders of Umumbediah II, he might very well have some genetic mutation to do so.

Henry sighed as he switched off his exoskeleton, the full crushing weight of his frail body settling on his shoulders. He started to struggle with the harness with only moderate success. Kevin had wrapped his towel around himself and stood watching for a moment before he stepped towards the struggling man.

“Hey, I can help you if you need…” he began but lurched back as Henry snapped at him.

“No! I can do it! What kind of useless invalid couldn't even get out of their own suit alone. I'm fine. I don't need your help.” he said with vitriol. After a moment he stopped and looked at Kevin’s taken aback features. He seemed to deflate even more, suddenly looking as tiny and frail as a sickly child.

Kevin immediately forgave the man. He could very well understand the feelings of helplessness he must be suffering from every waking moment of his life. Feeling like you didn’t belong in your own body, the feeling of loss that comes with the realisation that you just aren't capable of doing a simple task. He cleared his face and opened his mouth to speak but Henry cut him off.

“No. I'm sorry Kevin. I just…” he trailed off and let out a small sigh. “I just need to do this okay. It has nothing to do with you, I appreciate your willingness to help, you're a good kid. But please, I need this.” he pleaded, the self loathing evident in his shuddering tone and helpless features.

Kevin just nodded and stepped back, concern screwing up his features. He had only known Henry for a few weeks, but this show of vulnerability had done little to temper his respect for the seasoned veteran. If anything he found himself respecting the man even more. As he pulled on his fresh set of clothes and fastened them, he saw Henry finally free himself from his prison of synthetic muscles and magnetic servos, only to pitch forwards with a shout of alarm and fall flat to the ground.

Kevin didn't hesitate, immediately leaping to the fallen man and lifting him in his powerful arms as he knelt beside him.

Henry’s eyes were misty and his face was set in an expression Kevin had never seen on him before. With shock he realised that the older man was on the verge of tears and so he did the only thing he could think of and started to sing the song his mother used to before she had died of cancer and left him on his own. A timeless tune of twinkling stars and wishes fulfilled.

He began softly, rocking slightly side to side while cradling his fallen friend, after a minute Henry seemed to come to himself once more and waved his arms. “Stop it, stop it. Help me up please.” Kevin did as he requested, propping the man against his exosuit sheepishly, a bit embarrassed. “Kevin. If you ever tell anyone about this..” he said in a level voice.

Kevin nodded vigorously. Even though he could have broken the man in half with a single arm, he still felt a palpable pang of dread at the slight man’s tone.

After a moment of silence Henry cleared his throat and scratched his face. “Er, what was that by the way?”

Kevin jerked as if stung and then answered quickly. “Uh. It was a lullaby my mother used to sing for me when I was hurt, before she died.” he said softly. “I think she called it Little Twinkling Star.”

Henry nodded slightly before slapping him on the shoulder, the action barely making its way through his thick garment. “It was a nice song. Um, thanks. I guess I might have needed some help after all.”

Kevin smiled and said “Yeah. I just. I was worried you had hurt yourself.”

Henry chuckled. His usual mirth returning like the sun spilling over the distant horizon. “It's quite alright, it's going to take more than an improvised wrestling match with the bathroom floor to put me down.” Kevin laughed, feeling instantly better about the situation. “Now get out of here, I want to take my shower in peace.”

Kevin just smiled and walked out of the chamber, his head full of the recent events and his mind whirling with the new revelations about Henry’s character. He was more complex than Kevin had given him credit for, not just the resident jokester. But a cheery facade put up to put his brothers at ease. Once more the words Devan had spoken to him that morning fluttered unbidden through his mind. ‘Numquam concussit, numquam timueritis. It's more than a simple phrase, it's a way of life. We are strong, not to project an image of stoicism to those we protect, but for each other. We live and die for each other Kevin.’ the old man’s voice rang through his mind and he squared his shoulders. He would be strong, if Henry could do it, then so could he.

With his newfound determination he made his way to his room and dropped off his worn clothing. Just as he was entering the hall, a high-pitched female voice rang out from behind him, shrill and almost birdlike in timbre.

“Hiya there Kevin! Are you on your way to the briefing?” it rang out, causing him to jump in surprise. Turning around his eyes were met with a large woman, easily half a dozen centimeters taller than him and with the wide build of a professional wrestler. Her auburn hair curly and short and her bright blue eyes shining in mirth.

“Oh hello Julia, I can honestly say you startled the absolute ghost out of me.” he replied breathlessly.

She giggled, the girlish sound completely at odds with her hulking stature. Her voice was like that of a young girl, bright and singsong. “Oh I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.” She apologised. “Hey, were you though?” she asked again.

He realised he had not answered her question. Nodding suddenly, he replied “Yes. I was going there now actually.”

“Splendid.” she quipped. “I’ll come with you.” and with that she pranced up to him and they set off down the hall together.

He glanced at her, she was walking, a spring in her step and a wide smile on her face. A sudden thought crossed his mind and he grinned before he whispered. “Had a good night's sleep I take it?”

“If you are asking if me and Joshua had sex last night, we did.” she said brazenly, causing him to cough violently. She gave another giggle at his consternation and then said “He does the best he can. But I do wish he was as big and strong as you are Kevin.” she said with a meaningful look in his direction, her eyebrows raised and her eyes wide.

A wave of panic flashed through him. What was she hinting at? She wouldn't try to take a pass at him would she? Would he say no? Would he even be able to, she was easily as heavily muscled as he was, possibly more.

“I uh, er. What?” he spluttered at her.

She just laughed again and punched him in the shoulder playfully, it stung a bit and he resisted the urge to rub it. “I'm just playing Kevin, geeze. Maybe we do need to find you a good lay, you are so stiff.” she murmured under her breath. He got the distinct impression that he hadn't been meant to hear that, but his hearing was much better than the average persons.

Before the conversation could devolve any further towards degeneracy, they reached the briefing room. Commander Alexi was standing in the middle of the room and turned his titanic frame towards them as they entered.

“Oh good, you are here. We start in five minutes, we are just waiting for Joshua and Henry now.” he rumbled, his deep baritone voice seeming to vibrate in Kevin’s chest from this distance.

He heard another person mutter nearby “Yeah, if Joshua can even walk with a crushed pelvis. Lucky fucker.” It was Freddy, as colorful as usual. Kevin’s face reddened slightly but he gave no indication that he had overheard.

As he stood there Henry walked into the room just behind him and gave him a friendly nod before moving to the other side of the room.

Kevin moved to sit in the vacant seat next to Hunter. Hunter nudged him as he sat and gave him a wide grin before turning his attention back to the slowly revolving hologram in the center of the room, just over Commander Alexi’s head. The hologram appeared to be the image of a standard model agricultural station, its wide and somewhat squat appearance very distinctive.

Kevin had never been on a purely agricultural station before, well, he had never been anywhere really. This mission was the first time he had been to space since being first inducted into the Steel Custodians Syndicate when he was a teen.

Commander Alexi grumbled suddenly and Kevin looked over to see him glaring at the door. In the door was the disheveled form of a somewhat slight man, his form short and lean and his body built like that of a professional swimmer. Coming from the ocean world of Submersia, Joshua’s ancestors had adapted to a partially aquatic lifestyle. The webbing between his fingers was more pronounced and his chest was large as his lungs were almost forty percent larger than the average Human’s. His tan skin clashed with his pale, almost milky white eyes. His head was hairless but he sported a thin goatee of bleached white hair.

Kevin watched in curiosity as the man walked slowly across the room and sat next to Julia with a slight wince. He smiled as the thought of why Joshua was hurting crossed his mind again unbidden.

After a second of letting Joshua settle himself, Alexi cleared his throat and began, the strong baritone of his voice making Kevin’s sensitive ears ring slightly.

“As you can see from this schematic we have been provided, the station consists of two main levels. We have the agricultural deck and the habitation deck.” Alexi paused and glanced over them to make sure they were all paying attention. Seemingly satisfied he continued “Now I believe that the largest concentrations of flesh tearers will be clustered near the habitation pods at the rear of the station nearest the agricultural deck. This dark and damp location will be the perfect habitat for the beasts, but we won't know for sure till we arrive.”

Kevin watched the holomap as it zoomed in response to Commander Alexi’s hand motions. The second floor of the station first zoomed in close then moved to the rearmost view of the station. He could see the exact location Alexi had been referencing. The last two hundred meters of the station narrowed towards a large open space surrounded by small rooms. These dark and somewhat claustrophobic locations nearest the food and shelter would certainly be irresistibly attractive nesting locations for the tearers.

He snapped his attention back to the large man as Alexi continued unabated “The plan is as follows, we will be splitting into two groups of four. One heavy trooper and a support trooper each, the other two spots will be filled by regular troopers as denoted by this list.” on the holomap two lists of names appeared.

The first showed Commander Alexi, Joshua, Julia and Henry. The second list showed Devan, Hunter, Freddy and himself. He nodded silently as he saw the lists, they seemed well balanced and in accordance with standard operating procedure. Though what else could he realistically expect from such an experienced commander as Commander Alexi.

Kevin watched the holoscreen as it cleared once more and then zoomed in on an airlock on the spinward side of the habitat. Alexi pointed a huge hand at it and stated “This is our entry point. We will meet here to assess the situation at hand, if nothing seems amiss we will proceed as previously stated. Any questions troopers?” he rumbled.

Kevin glanced around the room, it didn't look as if any of the others had any objections and so he remained quiet as well. It wouldn't do to raise his voice like an inexperienced recruit and then get called out for it. He needed to get used to acting like a full trooper.

Commander Alexi smiled a bit, the action seeming to split his face in two as his wide mouth cracked to reveal blunt teeth. He nodded and then said “Alright good. We reach the habitat in less than two hours, if you have any last things to prepare then I recommend attending to them at this time. That is all. You are dismissed, Troopers.” And with that declaration he turned off the holoprojector and left the room, his heavy steps fading down the hall as the muted buzz of conversation returned to the small room.

Hunter leaned over to him and asked “Are your plate diagnostics done yet Kevin?”

Kevin jerked as he realised he had not completed the full diagnostic run of his suit that he had started the night before. “Uh, oop. No, I still need to finish that!” he blurted out.

Hunter just shook his head and waved him away “Get on with it then. You should have plenty of time to finish up, if you go now that is.”

Kevin thanked him and rushed out, narrowly missing Joshua on his way out. Shouting an apology to the shorter man, he barreled down the hall to the armoury. The doors were sealed as he arrived and he panted out the code to unlock them, his personal identifier warning the system that he was not a full trooper and so his plate was to stay immobile until unlocked by a trooper or officer.

This wasn't a bother to him however as he knew he wouldn't be needing to don the powered plate till they had reached their destination anyways. And when that happened his suit would be unlocked by a fellow crewmate. So he settled down on the small inset bench next to his power plate’s alcove and scrolled through the diagnostic charts. He gave a small sigh as he realised that this was going to take him a good chunk of the remaining two hours he had left. Settling down more securely, he started to parse the data and issue the correct commands to check each and every component of his new armour.

Some time later he rubbed his eyes, his checks were finally done, every plate and bolt of his suit showing a solid green and ready status. He knew already that this had been the case, but procedure was procedure. Humanity hadn’t survived this long by abandoning that which worked to keep them alive after all. The old dark held many horrors, and the tearers were among the least of them that he knew of. As if his thoughts had summoned the attention of his crewmates, Hunter and Freddy walked through the door.

“All I’m saying is that it dosn’t fucking work at all. I’m not shitting you motherfucker, its just not fucking possible.” Freddy cursed colorfully as the two entered the armoury.

Hunter sighed and said “Yeah sure. You know what Blue, I don't want to rehash this right before a launch, it's bad luck you know.” he finished with a meaningful glance towards him. Kevin looked back and forth at the two men as the normally blunt and belligerent Freddy clamped his mouth shut suddenly and nodded. Kevin was amazed, Freddy virtually never agreed with Hunter on anything, so what could be so important to keep silent that he would follow the blond man’s instruction.

Putting the mystery out of his mind he asked the two “Hey, is it time?”

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

Hunter nodded and Freddy gave a snaggle toothed grin. Kevin nearly jumped out of the ship in excitement as Hunter turned to his suit and said commandingly “Suit mobility override Gamma-alpha-foxtrot-sigma-niner-six-four-alpha. Trooper authorization Hunter Huntsman”

After a moment the lights around the perimeter of the suit flashed first blue then green and a small tinny automated voice said “Authorization accepted, suit mobility restored.”

Hunter and Freddy turned to their own suits but Kevin paid them no more mind, his attention fully focused on the magnificent piece of engineering in front of him. He had been fitted for his powered plate of course when he was still back on the citadel training, but to see it in person. To hear the hum of its heart beat and the whirr of electronics. The smell of freshly bonded duramite and sealing oils. It was a completely new experience to him.

He jerked as a voice grated through his awed daze. “Are you going to wear it or fuck it? C’mon recruit, get it on, we need to move out soon!” He looked over his shoulder, Freddy already geared up in his standard suit of Mk.VI Venturi powered plate.

Squaring his broad shoulders, he stepped close to the armour and keyed his personal activation code into it, the plate responded by opening up with a small sigh of released pressure. The arms legs and torso unfolding like a metallic flower allowing access to the interior of the armour. He took a last breath and then stepped forwards into it.

Immediately it sensed his presence and merged with the underalls he was wearing. The small ports and biological readers across its surface mating with similar ports in the armour itself to allow it to act less like a bulky suit and more like an extension of his own body. He had trained countless thousands of hours in the simulators and such back as an initiate on the citadel, but this was a new experience entirely. He felt as if the plate were testing him, taking his stature, his posture and determining his mettle. After what seemed like an eternity the armour sealed fully, apparently satisfied with his condition.

He breathed deeply, the power plate’s internal life support providing him with a steady flow of clean filtered air, it had a slightly sterile smell to it, but he didn't mind at all. It was better than the stinking slums he had grown up in and he smiled hugely as he flexed his shoulders for the first time.

The armour’s servos whined as they mimicked his actions almost perfectly. There was a slight amount of resistance however and he tried the action again, this time the action was perfectly smooth. He nodded to himself, the armour was adapting to his movements. The more he wore it the more it would learn to anticipate his movements till he was able to move with the almost supernatural speed that veteran troopers were capable of.

He looked around the small room, the suit had an armoured faceplate with sensors around the edges so as to allow for maximum armour coverage over his face. He would never have known he was even wearing it however as his view was entirely unobstructed. The inside of the helmet coated in smart screens that projected a perfect simulacrum of his surroundings. The effect was doubly enhanced by the seeming weightlessness of the heavy plate as he took his first steps.

The deck under his feet shuddered slightly as the weight of his suit pressed down on it, but he felt none of it, his movements as fluid and effortless as if he was wearing nothing at all. He laughed openly at the feeling as he walked across the room and then out into the hall.

Hunter was waiting for him, his Mk.X Dennun plate shining like burnished steel with the symbol of the Steel Custodians emblazoned across the chest. It was a heavier variant than his own plate, designed to power the energy hungry weapons that Hunter was wielding.

Hunter looked him up and down, the blank faceplate slightly ominous as it gave away no hint as to the man’s temperament. After a moment Hunter spoke over open comms “Looking very good for your first fit. You are well acquainted with the workings of your armour I can tell. I saw your results on the plate simulators, top marks. Very impressive. You will likely be slated for Heavy plate in the future if you feel up to it, you have the build after all.” Hunter added with a chuckle, gesturing to his body.

Kevin smiled and then felt a little silly as he realised the other man couldn't see his reaction. “Hey yeah, thanks Hunter. Sorry, I'm still getting used to this. All the training in the galaxy cant prepare you for the real thing, this is actually incredible!” he positively gushed. He couldn't help it, he felt unstoppable, as if nothing in the universe could hurt him.

Hunter sighed and warned “I know that sound, kid. You might feel strong but remember, that armour is not impenetrable. Last thing we need is you rushing a sniper position and getting yourself cored out by a hypersonic slug or something equally stupid.”

Kevin hunched slightly but even the grim warning couldn't fully curb his enthusiasm. Hunter motioned him to follow and so he did. They walked from the armoury to the main corridor towards the hold area and Hunter dodged around a heavily armoured Julia to a truly titanic figure in massively armoured plate. Kevin felt a sense of awe and a little fear as he realised the large gunmetal grey figure was Commander Alexi, the already huge man ballooned to absolutely gargantuan proportions by the superheavy battleplate he was wearing.

Alexi turned ponderously towards them and spoke over their close range open comms, his voice deep enough to cause the mic to crackle slightly. “Ah, our new recruit is here. Hmm, I must say that the steel suits you mighty fine, recruit. You do yourself an honor with such finely crafted plate, see that you return in that condition. Perhaps splattered in the vitae of those who met an end by your blade right?” he turned back to his conversation with Devan before Kevin could respond and he realised the question had been rhetorical.

He twitched in excitement at the compliment, now all he had to do was not fuck everything up. ‘Not too hard right?’ he thought to himself. His suit had already been strapped with his choice weapons before he had donned it, now that he stood in the embarking area he checked them.

The Steel Custodians syndicate allowed its initiates to choose their own weapons to specialize in after a general training process. Knowing that his physique lended him to a more balanced build, Kevin had opted for a thermosteel claymore. The huge sword was able to be wielded one handed while he was wearing his powered plate. Reaching over his shoulder with his right hand he felt the reinforced handle and smiled. The feel of the hilt was as familiar to him as his own skin such time had he spent practicing with the weapon as an initiate. But now he could be even more deadly efficient with the heavy sword as his natural strength and speed were greatly augmented.

Connected by a sling to his right hip was a standard issue beam rifle, the weapon firing searing beams of near ultraviolet light to kill the enemies of Humanity. On his left was his heavy service pistol. The caliber being .48 and having more than enough stopping power for almost any human sized opponent.

He heard a clank to his side and noticed Hunter standing by him, the unreadable blank faceplate a little off putting. The man’s cheery voice popped over the local comm as he asked “Well? Are you ready for the crucible? Your first tempering as it were?”

Kevin gave a nod, knowing that if he spoke the nervousness he felt might come across. This seemed good enough a response for the man however as he simply nodded back and thumped Kevin’s shoulder.

The ship would be approaching the station on automatics, the smart computer using the sensors of the ship to connect to the station without Human interference. It wasn't really artificial intelligence, no, from what Kevin understood of it the ships had things called AI fragments in them. This made them much more autonomous than an unenhanced ship but not so self aware as to cause issues.

As he speculated as to the nature of such things the whole ship shuddered to a halt, the sudden deceleration catching him off guard and causing him to stumble slightly. A hand caught one of his shoulder holds in an iron grip, stopping him from falling flat on his armoured faceplate.

Hunter chided him over a private channel “Hey kid, watch your footing. I won't always be behind you to pick you up, got it!”

Kevin nodded and stood to attention as Commander Alexi and Devan walked to the large doors at the end of the hold. A loud thunk echoed through the room as the ship finished settling into its docked position.

“Troopers move out!” Commander Alexi commanded with a gesture. The huge man was carrying a large bore autocannon connected via a feedtube to a massive ammo drum on his back.

Not needing to be told twice, Kevin stomped after the imposing figure, drawing his own much smaller beam rifle and holding in a relaxed ready position. He would be able to snap it to a target in a heartbeat if needed.

Hunter, Freddy and Devan moved to the side and so he followed as Commander Alexi spoke over open short range comms “You know the plan. Move along the main corridors clearing as you go. We are looking for survivors and potential remaining security forces. Anything that will give us an edge in clearing this petri dish of a habitat, understood?”

A series of affirmations followed including Kevin’s own as the two groups split up. Commander Alexi, Julia, Joshua and Henry moving towards the darkened tunnel that led to the agricultural deck and Kevin following his group to the slightly less gloomy residential wings.

Kevin looked around a bit wide eyed, he had never been on a space station before. The Citadel was built inside a huge asteroid, but it was less a station and more a twenty kilometer self contained world. Having its own atmosphere and primitive weather patterns. This was different, the ceilings were a scant few inches overhead, the walls pressed close. It was more like the inside of the SCS Flying Buccaneer than what he had been imagining. Maybe the agricultural deck was different, but that was not important at the moment.

He focused all his attention back to the present as Devan raised a hand. They all stopped, a blind corner ahead of them, the L junction marked with streaks of corroded yellow paint and the partially faded characters AGRIHUB 307.

Devan motioned for Hunter to move to the corner, the heavily armoured man moving forwards with a stealthiness that any inexperienced in powered plate would call impossible. Carrying the group's support weapons, Hunter had a modular kinetic assault cannon or MKAC. Having an over under barrel configuration it combined the best features of a beam rifle with that of an electromagnetic cannon. Whirling around the corner Hunter opened fire on something that screeched in pain and surprise briefly before being silenced.

Freddy and Kevin moved forwards as Hunter gave the all clear.

“Thank fuck these bastards die like any other fucking creepers.” Freddy growled as they rounded the corner. On the ground about fifteen meters away were the still smoldering remains of two twisted figures.

Kevin grimaced under his helmet as he made out the tell tale features of Humans twisted into savage abominations by madness and rage. The gorey trophies that adorned the shattered bodies and the almost ritualistic wounds they bore made his very skin crawl. It was as if everything that had been Human had been emptied out of them and replaced by pure savagery and hatred.

“Okay, they probably know we’re here now. Remain alert, we likely won't get the jump on any more of them.” Devan said over comms as Kevin stepped over a still twitching arm. He tried not to look at it and just followed Hunter in front of him.

He had been trained to kill, seen hundreds if not thousands of images of the horrors that existed out in the old dark, but seeing it first hand was different. It was real, right in front of him. He swallowed hard and gripped his gun tighter. There was no way he would die to these things, he would kill them all first and so cleanse the galaxy of their existence.

Freddy grumbled something foul under his breath as Kevin heard a wet crunch from behind him. He glanced at the man and wished he hadn't as he saw Freddy was busy trying to kick some clinging offal of his armoured boot after having walked right through one of the mangled bodies. Devan and Hunter didn't seem to notice or care, they just kept moving forwards. The sound of their heavy armoured footsteps echoing ominously through the deserted looking station.

The corridor they were traveling down was part of the main hall that ran through the complex, it was tall and wide but peppered on all sides with dark, vacant doors. The portals leading to rooms that could house horrors beyond imagining.

A crash alerted him to danger to his left, but before he could even get a fix on the perpetrator, a searing beam of scarlet light speared a charging flesh tearer through the torso. The creature was blown onto its back as the laser caused the liquid in its chest cavity to rapidly and violently convert into steam. With no immediate exit except the small hole burned into its chest the superheated miasma of its internal organs exploded outwards like a red geyser, spraying gore across the ground between them.

Kevin jerked back as the spray reached him, small spots of vital fluids dripping from his now sullied plate. Hunter just gave a hoot as Freddy exclaimed “Hah! Looks like we got a squirter, nasty little fuckers arn’t they!”

Freddy gave his shoulder a slap that roused Kevin from the daze he had been in. The gruesome death had taken him aback, in the holovids the deaths of such creatures had always seemed so precise and clinical. Not like the messy smashed remains he had seen so far. With shocked realisation he understood that the holovids that he had been fed as an initiate had most likely been doctored to reduce the gore to levels that children could accept. Now as an actual recruit he was being subjected to the full horrors of reality, he grimaced as Freddy let out another vulgar comment.

Devan just motioned towards the dead tearer and said “Yes I’m sure you would indeed have killed its whole family if they were here Blue. C’mon. Keep it moving, Hey! Kevin lets go!” The old man said sternly over the comms. “Look at your HUDs, cover your fields of fire, we don't want any of them getting into close quarters here. There isn't enough headspace to swing a sword effectively in here.” he warned.

Kevin started to move after him in a reflexive way, his mind still partially shocked from the bloody display of death he had witnessed. But not more than a minute passed before his training started to kick in, he deepened his breathing to help settle his heart rate and tried to focus on Devan’s armoured back directly in front of him. It helped almost immediately and he started to feel himself calming down slightly. It wouldn’t do for him to lose his head in the middle of a hot zone, that's how raw recruits turned into dead recruits.

No sooner had he steadied himself than he heard a scream of rage from directly behind them. Whirling he was able to make out the forms of multiple tearers as they rushed the group. Before he could react, more screams echoed through the enclosed space. They were surrounded, Kevin’s arms felt like lead, the muscles refusing to respond even as everyone else opened fire.

Bright blue electrical sparkles danced through the air as Hunter opened fire with his gun, the flashes of impacts along the walls lighting through the holes blasted clear through the onrush of enemies. Devan’s heavy assault rifle slinging hot lead across the other side of the corridor, the bodies of those tearers he hit smashed to the floor in sprays of gore. With four of them to cover the area they should have weathered the assault like a sump pipe withstanding scalding industrial runoff. What instead happened is that Kevin froze, his beam rifle damnably silent as the others covered their fields of fire.

Freddy was the first to notice something was wrong, swearing loudly in surprise then anger as he realised his rear was uncovered. Before he had time to say anything more, he was tackled to the ground by two of the blood maddened savages, their long jagged fingernails like claws as they scrabbled for purchase on the downed man’s plate. Finding none they resorted to bashing at him with clubs made from old pipe and fire hardened wood.

Hunter hollered to Devan as he turned, shifting his avenue of fire towards their rear. Devan took up the slack in the front without a word and Kevin watched as Hunter blasted the two flesh tearers off Freddy before moving on to the ones still charging. Through it all Kevin just stood there, fingers numb from shock and mind hazed in a fog of mental indecision.

He knew what to do, mind relaying the orders to pull the trigger to his fingers, fingers that refused to respond. He groaned and staggered a little as his muscles seemed to turn to water.

Freddy regained his footing and cursed violently “What the fuck you useless scrap! You almost fucking got me killed you useless maggot!” Without another word the enraged man drew his shiversteel saber, the blade humming as its edge began to vibrate excitedly. He slashed it across the chest of the tearer in front of him, the vibrating blade causing massive cavitation wounds across its flesh, immediately disemboweled it.

Devan finished off the tearers that were now fleeing from their position in fear and turned to see the situation developing behind him.

Kevin jerked as he felt something slam into his shoulder, it was Freddy’s hand, the man gripping his shoulder, his other arm drawn back to deliver a punishing blow to his faceplate. He didn't flinch away, he deserved whatever the other man was willing to give and more. Before the blow could land however, a bulky armoured hand shot forwards and stopped Freddy from landing the blow.

“Hunt, stay out of this!” Kevin heard Freddy hiss angrily.

Hunter didn’t release his hold and instead said “No, I will not.”

Kevin stood still as Freddy seemed to be torn between continuing his assault on him and turning to fight Hunter when Devan stomped over. Devan pulled the three of them apart and got right into Freddy’s face as he said with deadly calm “Freddy, stand down. Now.”

Hunter stood back a pace and looked around, going back to his overwatch as Devan turned from a fuming Freddy to Kevin.

Kevin shook a little as the full weight of the situation fell upon his shoulders. He had failed, his first real combat scenario and he had stood immobile as a comrade was attacked. He was fucked, what would the punishment be? He wondered in the seconds that Devan stood silent in front of him. Would he be discharged from the Steel Custodians? Potentially imprisoned and made an example of?

Before his speculation could turn any darker, Devan placed an arm on his armoured shoulder and guided him to the side of the corridor. Holding his huge belt fed machine gun in a casual position he looked at Kevin with his blank faceplate.

“Kevin. You fucked up.” he said simply and Kevin’s heart sank to his bootsoles. This was it, he was about to be sent back to the ship in disgrace or worse. Devan continued “You really fucked it kid. But that's alright.” Kevin snapped his eyes back to the passionless faceplate of the man in front of him. That wasn't right, shouldn't Devan have been ripping into him, telling him how much of a failure he was?

Instead the older veteran continued speaking in a level tone, almost sympathetic. “Kevin. You made a mistake, you froze, locked up. It happens, it happens to pretty much everyone at least once in their early years. You are lucky we were only facing flesh tearers when you did. I can remember my first mission as a smooth faced recruit.” he said with an air of tiredness, as if the memory weighed heavily on his mind.

Kevin shifted uncomfortably, he wasn't sure what to say in response. Before he could say anything Devan continued “Take me for example, you wouldn't expect me to have a story of such shame in my own past would you?” Kevin shook his head, his armour mirroring his slight shrug.

Devan chuckled and said “Well I do. I remember it well, as if it had happened but recently though it was many years ago. I was a raw recruit, my first mission underway on one of the colony hubs near Largra Fulminade, the outer colony hubs were being plagued by an infestation of Armelion Horrors. I'm sure you remember those from you initiate training?” he asked Kevin.

Kevin shuddered involuntarily at the memory, as an initiate they had been introduced to a great variety of abominations that existed across the width and breadth of The Core. Among the most vile discovered were the Armelion Horrors, a species of parasitic predatory carnivores from the nightmare jungle hellworld of Armelion. They released infectious spores on death that would enter the lungs of those close by and then gestate into their larval stage in the infected’s lungs while they were still alive. Once sufficiently mature they would eat their way from their host’s lungs to the large intestine where they would then reach metamorphic size and exit the conventional way.

Devan nodded at his silence and spoke once more “I had been tasked with watching the exit for any signs of hostile movement when a man stumbled through the door. He was obviously heavily wounded and bleeding but alive. He saw me and reached out towards me before one of the horrors came through the doorway behind him and tore him apart right in front of me. I was shocked, still as a statue and my mind blind with shock and terror, yes I will freely admit that I was terrified. Well the Armelion rushed towards me and likely would have been my end if not for the timely intervention of my commanding officer at the time. He chastised me for my lapse and then took me aside. And do you know what he told me?” Devan asked suddenly.

Kevin shook his head again and muttered “No, how could I?”

Devan gave a snort at that and warned “Watch the attitude boy. I may be going easy on you, but I'm still your superior officer.”

Kevin straightened and apologised immediately “Sorry Sir! I meant no disrespect.”

Devan just shook his head again and his tone indicated a slight smile that Kevin couldn't see. “You are strong spirited Kevin, you keep that fire burning and you will make it far, take it from me. I was just like you once. No, my commander took me to the side, he took me aside and placed his arm on my shoulder just like I am doing to you now. He looked directly into my face and told me the story of his first mission. He was fighting dissenters on some backwater colony hub and froze as I had, as you did. He told me the story and it made me realise something. I may have made a mistake, but that didn't condemn me as a person, I could still overcome my weakness and go on to become a great trooper. And judging by the fact that I'm still alive after all this time I would imagine that I was correct would you not?” He left the question hanging in the still air of the station. Kevin swallowed heavily and thought hard to himself.

Devan made the same mistake, as had his own commander as a youth. Did they all? Surely not. He imagined that there must be some among them that didn't make the same nearly fatal error he had. But Devan was right, he had messed up, but that should not define who he was. He could be strong too. He stood tall and squared his shoulders, gun held tight against his chest as he answered the older man in front of him.

“Yes, you’re right. I can do this, I will do this. I won't let my own insecurities stand in the way of my duty.” he said a bit stiffly but with as much heart as he could muster.

Devan nodded and slapped his shoulder again with an armoured fist before motioning for him to follow.

As they reached where Hunter and Freddy were standing, he saw that they seemed to be much calmer. Freddy looked at him and said “I’ll forgive you this one transgression boy. But if you fuck up like that again I’ll…” but he was cut off by Devan snapping at him.

“Stow it Blue. I already had a talk with him. If young Kevin becomes a liability I will take care of him myself, understood?” Kevin felt a slight pang of apprehension as the cowed Freddy nodded. Devan seemed deadly serious. Kevin made the mental note to note fuck it up again, the consequences would likely be much more severe for the second offense.

He gripped his gun tighter as they once more formed a column and began to move along the dimly lit hall, the dark doors on either side of them yawning wide with potential danger. But no ambush was forthcoming, it was silent.

He muttered under his breath “Where are they?” and Hunter seemed to have picked up the comment as he shot back.

“They are savage, but not stupid. They probably figured out they can't take us out in close quarters with such limited space and will likely be waiting for a more open space where they can bring more force to bear at once against us. I would bet they will ambush us in the main hub area, it would match their tactics.” Hunter said. His tactical acumen was well known and Kevin had no reason to doubt the validity of his prediction. Still, he gripped his beam rifle tightly and scanned all the doorways for hostile activity.

The station was large and it took them a few minutes of continuous walking to finally reach the large room near the opposite side of the station. Kevin looked around the huge chamber, it was easily one hundred meters across and lined with dark hallways, openings and chambers that in turn likely led off further into the depths of the station. The hub room was one of the few rooms in the station to have fully active lighting, the lights on the tall ceiling too far away for the tearers to smash out effectively.

If Hunter was correct then this room would likely become a battleground soon enough, Kevin took a deep breath, the clinical air inside his suit tasting slightly metallic, but he didn't care. It was clean and free of the stink that likely permeated the station.

A noise reached him as they made their way around a pile of metal crates to the center of the room. Hunter stepped into the open and stopped, his gun coming up to a ready position. Kevin rushed forwards and then stopped in his tracks as he saw what had made Hunter stop.

A small group of flesh tearers were hunched around a small fire that burned inside the broken remains of a decorative planter. The thing that caused him the most disgust however was the slightly deteriorated corpse of a young man on the ground, the body clearly not that of an adult and missing an arm and leg. The missing limbs could be seen in the hands of the tearers around the small eating pit as they tore strips of flesh and consumed them. One of the tearers was facing them and its eyes went wide as Hunter and him stepped into the open.

Instead of fear, Kevin felt a white-hot anger burst to life in his chest, hatred for these abominations and all they stood for suddenly engulfed him and he yelled in anger.

His yell seemed to startle Hunter who took as step to the side and didn’t fire immediately. Before the other man could open fire, Kevin drew his thermosteel claymore and pistol. He thumbed the activation button on the hilt of his greatsword as he charged the creatures, determined to show his resolve to the others by turning the beasts into small meaty chunks. If he had been thinking a bit more rationally he might have realised that all he was doing was obstructing the line of fire of the others, but he didnt care. His vision was red rimmed and his focus lasered onto the twisted forms of the greedy cannibals as they jumped to their feet in shock.

The first had not even had time to grab a weapon when nearly five feet of heated hafnium carbonitride alloy speared through its chest, the 7,500°F blade almost instantly cooking the brute and setting its corpse alight. The blade was light as a feather in his power armoured grip as he tore it free and swung his pistol up, executing another of the tearers with a direct headshot. The body had not even hit the floor before another of the foul creatures was cleaved entirely in two with a powerful bisecting slash to its midriff.

He grinned in savage satisfaction as the thing died, the feeling wasn't truly joy, just the pride of justice swiftly dispensed. The last two died before he could make any further movements towards them, their bodies riddled with holes to the sound of automatic gunfire.

Deactivating his sword, he lowered it as it was still far too hot to sheath on his back.

Hunter and Freddy moved past him to survey the immediate area for more danger while Devan walked right up to the carnage site and nudged one of his kills with an armoured boot. He nodded and said “A bit rash, perhaps unskilled, but nicely done.”

Kevin smiled under his faceplate but before he could respond Freddy commented “I have movement, a lot of fucking movement. Shit, get ready!”

Kevin’s training kicked in, he stepped into formation and sheathed his sword, the blade smoking slightly as it scalded the oiled surface of his backplate. It was cooled enough not to damage the powered plate, but he would have to spend some extra time resealing the suit against corrosion after they got back to the ship.

These thoughts flitted through his mind in the short seconds between pulling up his rifle and the signs of movement conveyed to him through Hunter’s powerful sensor array. As a support trooper, Hunter’s plate was jam-packed full of radar, lidar, sonic and other sensors to help pinpoint and track enemies. This data was then relayed to the rest of them through directed laser tightbeam so as to augment their own suits sensor packages and provide the clearest targeting data.

This manifested in his HUD as thin red outlines of potential targets that showed even through solid cover as they approached the group’s position. As the first of the tearers swept into view he pulled the trigger of his beam rifle, the weapon firing a bright purple lance of coherent light at his target who screamed as its chest was vaporised partially. The wound was a fatal one and so he switched to the next available target, methodically mowing them down as fast as he could draw a bead on the fast moving targets. His eye tracker and autoservos helped him greatly with his aim, the suit actively helping his movements, reacting to his gaze and eliminating wobbles or quivers in his aim to deliver killing blow after killing blow.

The tearers seemed endless however, his shots thinning the herd but not enough, they would reach them in seconds no matter what he did, thinking quickly he drew his claymore again while firing his rifle one handed on full auto, no longer aiming for weak spots instead trying to do as much damage as possible before they reached him. Legs were severed and limbs smashed by his fire but it mattered little, they reached him.

He heard Freddy curse loudly before the hum of the man’s shiversteel saber reached his hearing. Thumbing the activation button of his sword again, he took it in a powerful two handed grip and started to carve a clear space in front of himself. The tearers were relentless however, likely knowing that this was their one shot to overcome their defense.

Kevin staggered slightly as a blow rang against his helmet, he slashed the tearer responsible, the white-hot blade cutting through them leaving naught but charred ashes in its path. Another blow nearly knocked him to his knees, but he persisted, his arms raising and falling in heavy blows. The practiced forms from his days as an initiate kicked in and the world seemed to draw away, gone was the bloody screaming chaos of the agricultural station, he was back on the citadel. In one of the many sparring chambers. Many opponents surrounded him on all sides, but he was unafraid. He was a Steel Custodian, never to be shaken, never afraid.

His blows felled the beasts in front of him like a scythe fells wheat, the bodies piling up so high they made those behind stumble to reach him. It mattered little, they died just as easily on their knees as they did on their feet.

He stumbled, a voice ringing in his ear, at once familiar and indistinct. He shook his head to clear it and gawked at the sight before him. The room was littered with corpses, dozens, no, hundreds of flesh tearers lay dead or dying along the corroded floor of the chamber. Amongst them were the signs of weapons fire and explosives, the tell tale wounds of melee weapons and the charred craters of laser blasts.

He deactivated his sword, the smoke that billowed from the blade filling the air as it burned off the last of the gore and blood that had layered its length. Hunter was standing next to him and smacked his shoulder again asking “Hey, you okay in there kid? What a fight!”

Kevin gave a bewildered nod and tried to respond but found his mouth was dry. He took a drink from the hydration tube in his helmet, the cool filtered water doing wonders for his mood as it soothed his throat.

Kevin panted slightly as the adrenaline started to leave his system, the dull ache that settled into his limbs testifying to the violence of the struggle.

Freddy and Devan moved closer to survey the desolation of his foes, Freddy spoke up, his voice impressed “Great gobs of snot kid… You fucking chopped those shitmunchers into hamburger meat!”

Kevin smiled in spite of himself, Hunter seemed to nod slightly and said “Yeah. Good work Griller.”

Kevin gave a start, Hunter had just called him Griller. Not kid or boy or Kevin, but Griller. As he pondered over what the change in vernacular could mean, another noise reached them. The low thump of heavy footsteps, something heavy was approaching.

Kevin stood tall and at the ready as a huge figure in somewhat dirty grey armour stomped into the room from the other side of the station. He relaxed a little as he realised it was Commander Alexi and the others. Devan motioned for them to follow him as he walked over to the huge man and reported their situation.

“Alexi, we cleared the main corridor of the habitat deck, met minor resistance but were ambushed as we entered into this room. The enemy's attack broke against the might of our determination and they were defeated, only a few escaped into the station. I recommend we call that spineless coward Governor Vishnu to ask for additional forces.” the man relayed in a strong voice.

Commander Alexi seemed to mull it over before asking “You think we need backup Devan?”

Kevin heard Devan reply quickly “Negative, but it's going to be a waste of our time to hunt down the last few dozen or so that remain, I assume you were ambushed as well?” Alexi nodded and Devan continued “Then we have broken their ranks. Not enough remain to be a danger, and we have better things to do than slog through the depths of this place for a week or more rooting them out.”

“You make a fair point, when we get back to the ship I will relay the message to that worm. Good work Devan.” Alexi rumbled in his deep voice.

Hunter and Freddy stood by his side as Devan spoke up again “One last thing Alexi.” The large man turned towards Devan curiously. Devan gestured to him and Kevin stirred a little as he said “Griller did a great job here today, he chopped any that approached him into steaks. I have the footage saved if you would like to review it later. I have no doubts you will be impressed by our newest member’s rapid progress.”

Kevin’s chest swelled with pride as Alexi turned to look at him and said “Oh? I am interested to see that indeed, I always knew you were capable of greatness, since the first time I saw you as a starving urchin on the streets. Griller.” and he motioned for them to move out as a single group.

Freddy nudged him with a cackle and Hunter gave his shoulder a slap as they started off towards the ship. He heard Julia and Joshua talking quietly over the open comms and picked up the word Griller a few times. He smiled widely, as Henry moved to his side and congratulated him.

“Good work out there kid, or should I call you Griller now? That's a good one you know, they call me Greasy after all.” he finished with a hearty laugh that was shared by several of the others nearby.

Kevin had not felt so at peace with himself in a long time, not since he had been a child living with his mother certainly. Finally, he had a purpose, he had a family. He belonged here, these people, they would die for him. And he knew he would do the same. He would never be truly afraid again, for he knew that his new family would always be there to keep him safe.

End of Story