Page 27 of Craze

I look up at the tall Titan who shields me from weapons fire under the ramp. He lifts a gun, and fires back at Warden Tav’s men like it isn’t dangerous to stand in a storm of burning metal aiming for him.

The air churns with fire in flashing yellows and greens that glaze his savage muscles and ignite a startling need I didn’t think was possible in my malnourished condition. He’s all business as he shoots down the enemy with vicious effectiveness.

Holy shit. He’s hot—

I realize what I’ve just thought and that he could overhear it.

Switch off!

My heart pounds in my ears and my body heats with the embarrassment and desire that smash into one another. But I don’t have time to get my head straight. I need to focus. And the Titan with a magenta digibadge labeledCrazedoesn’t seem fazed.

Switch on.Windows of data load in my vision again.

RamBash>>Local: We’re locked down. Full throttle escape with who you can. We’ll clear a path, come back for anyone left.

Craze>>Pellucid: Number of females?

I stutter, realizing he’s talking to me.

Shavih, you get that?

“Get what?” she wheezes in my mind.

She can’t hear the Titans’ communication, even through me.

How many are left?

“Twelve.”

Pellucid>>Craze: Do you copy?

Craze>>Pellucid: Twelve, copy.

It’s strange how he speaks to me in code even though we are right next to one another, but it is clearer in my mind than any spoken word would be over the blasts that tear through the air.

I try not to be upset that we have lost three more women because I need to think. But remorse grips me hard.

Tangle>>Local: Hoverdrone inbound.

Craze gives Tangle two clicks in reply. I do the same even though I don’t know what a hoverdrone is. I want to fit in, to be part of a team, but mostly to not hinder any chance of us getting the fuck out of here.

Craze>>Pellucid: are you damaged?

No.If he only knew.

Craze>>Pellucid: Secure humans and retreat in three, two—

I’m not ready to charge out after him. But when he hops up into the ramp, gun kicking as he targets Solcrue firing from the cover of pallets and vehicles on the tarmac, I follow. I don’t have a plan. He seems to. I’ll take whatever I can get right now.

A floating platform races toward us, one I can only assume is the hoverdrone Titan Tangle mentioned.

“Come, on, hurry.” I help my sisters stay low and cluster up near the edge of the ramp.

The hoverdrone’s thrusters break hard. The piloting Titan fires from the drone, cutting down three Solcrue.

Craze picks up two women and sets them on the platform, then hustles back for more. “Sorry about the patty finger ladies. We’re low on time.”

I help Shavih climb up.

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