Page 41 of Craze

Shavih sits up from where she holds two other women. This time, she doesn’t speak. Jeela doesn’t even glare at me as I collect Loli from Navi’s arms and hop down. Navi wipes her face dry of tears then reaches out and draws the blankets over Loli’s eyes.

Navi>>Local: Do you salvage from them?

Never,I reply.Any parts on them at the time of death are theirs.

Tangle takes Loli from me. I get down and use my speed and force to dig a deep hole. Tangle climbs down into it and curls Loli up.

“May you find peace in freedom and freedom among the stars,” Tangle and I say in unison.

Then we push the dirt over Loli’s body while the others watch. As Tangle turns the hoverdrone around, I punch the rock wall, freeing boulders which I roll atop her grave.

Navi follows me with her eyes as I climb back onto the platform. “What are the rocks for?”

“Welvir protection.” I sit beside Navi and motion her to me.

Navi shifts closer, eyes me, then leans against my chest. But this time, she rests her head on my shoulder. She doesn’t know how much it means that she finds comfort in me.

Tangle>>Craze: Never knew you to be so—tender.

Craze>>Tangle: I deal with the here and now. That is not always battle. Do not ask me what the plan is for tomorrow. I will deal with it when it happens.

Tangle>>Craze: You have taken a liking to that female. Is it because she behaved like a Titan?

I consider it as I look down at Navi’s face. A tear streaks her light bronze skin. The sight of it twists my insides. So I wipe it away with a thumb as gently as I’m able.

Her eyes flutter open, and blue light falls over my hand.

Craze>>Navi: I will not hurt you. But I cannot stand to see you in pain. Please tell me what you need.

Just time and quiet space to think.Navi closes her eyes again.I am not used to so much communication. I spent most of my time in isolation.

I hoped for an answer that would give me direction for this moment and the next. I’ve got to figure out how to make myself focus on something long term. I need to write a program.

Program Creator: Loading—

When it opens, there are too many options and things to adjust. It is why I never tried to complete it. It’s beyond my capability. I just need help focusing on Navi.

I scrap the program and reply to Tangle. As I do, I think back to Navi’s battle on Ravenger III.It is not what she is that matters. I don’t care if she’s Titan or human or a blend. She fights for her Sisters like we fight for our Brothers. Tell me that would not appeal to you as well.

Well, sure,Tangle replies. But I don’t want her like you seem to.

Good, because she’s mine.I stall at my own claim.

Tangle glances back at me, arching a gold brow.

Growing self conscious, I curl myself around Navi and draw in her scent.I don’t really understand it either Brother. Her aroma and the way she looks at me drive me mad with desire. I did not feel it when I first tackled her out of the way of Tav’s bullet. But when I saw her face and the determination in her eyes—

I changed inside.

You what?Tangle asks.

The strength of the feeling grips me.I would decommission myself for her, not because of programming or protocols. I would end the world to keep her safe if it meant freeing her of the guilt I know all too well. And I’d do it of my own damned choice.

Chapter 13: Navi

We lose two more women on the ride to the new campsite. Every time, Craze and Tangle say the same prayer, cover them with rocks, and Craze eagerly becomes my backrest again. Of the twenty-one of us who began the escape plan, we are down to myself, Jeela, Shavih, Aeri, whose bones have been filled with Soiridium—a highly dense metal—and Eliana who has an ultromotor instead of a human heart.

They died free. You gave that to them.Craze won’t let me forget it, and he won’t let go of me unless he has to.

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