Chapter 11 [Renagades]

Capricorn 22/2261 4:15

"Ki3O2Li2C2," I stated. The screen burned into my eyes. Every bone in my body throbbed, begging me to rest. The screen flashed red.

"Jadien, you have been awake for the past forty-one hours. You need to rest." Vix said. I leaned on the counter and rubbed my eyes.

"Ki3O2Li2C3." I typed in the new serum code. I had to find something. My new bracelet, delivered yesterday by Cleo, beeped. I opened it and answered the call.

"Heya Stormy. Are you going on the Minerva mission?" She asked. I stood and paced the lab.

"Minerva Mission?" I asked. Raven nodded.

"Yeah, they're leaving next week, I assumed you would be there."

"I don't do teams."

"Ethan is leading."

"So? We're not joined at the damn hip."

"Sorry, I just thought you would go with him."

"I don't care about him. He's not my friend."

"Okay, sorry for asking." Raven rolled her eyes and flicked off the comm. The screen turned black. I tapped it close and stared at the wall, deep in thought. A mission on Minerva. What did that guy say to cause one? Don't tell me they're sending a whole team for one guy.

"Serum successfully bonded with isolated human cells," Vix said. I realized then she had been talking this entire time. I spun to face the screen, seeing it flash green. "Fifty milligrams with a fifty percent buffer, full cell takeover within a day. Recovery speed, three times the average human."

"Vix, you are amazing." I breathed. I smiled and took a shaking breath. "Send it to Jackson to prepare the serum. I want it in twelve hours."

"You don't plan on using it, do you?" Vix asked. Her wide eyes locked on me. Once again, I was struck by her concern. AI's don't feel emotions. But Vix was never a standard AI. If anything, she acted more human than me at times. I held up my ruined hand.

"I have to. The sooner we do, the sooner I can get back on missions." I answered. Vix bit her lip and sighed.

"We don't know how this serum will impact the HCDS. It could make the degradation worse."

"Or it could fix it. Send the formula to Jackson. In the meantime run some simulations on the mixing of HCDS and this one."

"Will you wait for all the test to be complete?" Vix asked. I paused, staring at my hand.

"Send it, Vixen," I commanded. She visibly flinched at her full name. She glowed for a moment before peering at me.

"You are so much like your mother." She whispered. I closed my eyes and turned away from her. So many emotions came with the comparison of my mother. Hatred, joy, fear, anxiety... my mother, a brilliant scientist of her time, also was the person I hated the most. "Formula sent."

"Good. I'm going to my room." I turned and headed to the door. The walls dimmed before shutting off as I opened the door. My footsteps echoed amongst others on the crowded floor. I kept my eyes locked on the floor, ignoring everyone around me. Soon the sounds faded, and I was left with my thoughts.

Part of my mind focused on the serum issues. What could stabilize the HCDS? Something that could take an immense amount of electrons. Kilkium is part of the hyper elements. They need something equally as unstable to balance it. But no other hyper elements or other work. We've run all the combinations. There has to be something. Hiki. Juguet. No both equal with many other hypers, but not Kilkium. Bloody hell. Think. There has to be something.

The other half focused on Legend. He's leading a mission. To Minerva of all places. What is the mission for. Are they trying to rid the Legion? Take back the planet. That's impossible. We've never done it before. If he really is doing that, he needs help. Damnit. My damn hand. Damn severed nerves. This serum has to work. Rave said I had a week. Only a week.

Smack. Pain rushed through my skull, and I stumbled back. I blinked, returning to Lexi and the present. Legend stood in front of me. He had one hand raised as if to catch me. Before he could touch me, I raised my own hand in warning. He held his palm up in surrender. I turned away and rubbed my forehead. After a moment, I turned back. My reflection on his visor showed how horrid I looked. My hair was messy and unbrushed. It stuck up at odd angles from me, pulling at it while thinking. Dark circles surrounded my eyes, and my face was pale and thin. I covered my face with one hand and kept my head bowed.

"Why are you here. This floor is for labs. I doubt you are a scientist." I snapped. My words were harsh and clipped. I immediately wanted to take them back. My exhausted brain wasn't thinking right. Legend didn't move from in front of me. I took a deep breath and raised my head. "I'm sorry. I didn't see you."

I moved to sidestep him. When I did, he held up one hand in that direction. I stared at his hand for a second before jerking my eyes to the visor. Then I noticed the box he was holding in his left hand. The green and white plexper told me it was from the cafe. I took a breath, mainly to keep myself from snapping at him again.

"I do not need a caretaker," I told him in the calmest voice I could muster. He tilted his head to the left and held the box out. His hand shook slightly. My gaze immediately locked on it. He didn't have any weakness before the mission, I remember checking. My mind ran back to the satellite video. Being hit by a rocket must have hurt, even for a Legend. I took the box, watching as his hand returned to his side. The slight tremor didn't fade. "Thank you."

He gave a quick nod and turned away. I watched his gait as he headed for the elevator. A mild limp on his left side. Before I could even formulate the question, I decided. I ran after him.

"Hey, I need to talk to you," I told him as I fell into pace with him. He looked at me and tilted his head left again. Questioning. He gave a slow nod and scanned his right hand on the lift. I noticed his barcode was on his armour. I kept quiet on the ride down. Outside we walked to the phoenix statue that sat in the center of the cross-shaped courtyard. I pulled myself onto the base and crossed my legs under me. I set the box down and stared at the Legend. He waited for a few steps in front of me. His armour looked black under the blue Lexian night. I looked up at the twin moons and took a slow breath in. The air was chilled, warning of the oncoming winter. Lexian winters were almost as bad as the Norns.

"Let me see your hand." I looked back at him. He raised both hands and tilted his head in question. "Left."

He dropped his right to his side and stepped forward. I carefully took his left hand, turning it palm up and letting it rest lightly on mine. My hands were half the size as his, reminding me how small I was in comparison. I felt a slight tremor again.

"I saw the satellite video from Minerva." I murmured. "You got hurt. How bad?"

He bowed his head as if thinking. He gave a slow shake of his head.

"Legend," I warned. He raised his head and looked at me. "Do not lie to me."

He pulled his hand back and looked away. For a minute, I didn't think he would answer. Then he raised both hands and signed to me, 'bruised back, a few pulled muscles, nothing bad.' I stared at him. It was impossible to tell if he was lying under his armour.

"Follow me," I commanded. I stood, grabbing the box and leading the way to the living quarters. We took the lift up to the seventh floor. I walked to my room, scanning the barcode on my wrist and leading Legend in. Once inside the door, Legend froze, suddenly looking extremely uncertain. I closed the door behind him and put the box on the table. I slumped into the couch and leaned back. "Vix?"

"Yes?" The holographic girl appeared in the center of the table. I pressed a finger to the lips. Vix glanced at Legend before nodding. A green-lined grid ran over the floor, walls and ceiling from Vix's hologram. Legend jumped, turning to watch them. "Silence mode is activated. All transmitters blocked."

"Thank you, Vix." I nodded at her. She gave a fleeting smile before vanishing. I leaned on the armrest of the couch and turned to the Legend.

"You corrupted the video chip in your helmet with my old bracelet, correct?" I asked. He gave a short nod. "Why did you let Greflin go?"

No response. He moved in the from the doorway but kept a distance between us. I stared at the box on the table.

"Was it to save me?" I asked. He gave another short nod. Okay, the faster the nod, the more confident he is. Slow means uncertain. "I thought Legend were always supposed to follow the mission. My death wouldn't have mattered in the eyes of the council."

He took two steps closer. I suddenly felt like I was dealing with a wild Drakon. Timid but curious. Fearful but strong. He raised his hands to sign. 'It matters to more than the council.' I gave a forced grin and turned away. My sitting room window faced one of the moons. The blue rock glowed against the dark sky. I counted two stars to the left of it and found the Norns planet.

"You know what we are..." I whispered. "We are weapons. They don't... they don't see us as human."

He sat on the far end of the couch, bowing his head and bracing his elbows on his knees. He stayed that way for a while.

"You've read my file, you know I am a modified soldier, just like the Legends. I am a special ops. We are not supposed to fail. We did. There will be a backlash." I continued. He gave another confident nod. "What's the mission on Minerva?"

'To kill the Legion on the Minerva base.' He answered. His hands moved fast and fluidly, telling me he had been doing it for years.

"How big is the team?"

'Medium.'

"You leading alone?"

'Yes.' I stared at him for a minute. I jerked my eyes away when he raised his head. He's a Legend. He'll be fine. So why do I have such a bad feeling about this?

"I'll take care of the council if they decide to recheck the chip. I had my hacker corrupt it even more." I stood and nodded. He gave me a confused look as he stood. "Have a good night, Legend."

I picked up the box as the green grid faded. I kept my head bowed as he headed for the door.

"Takia," I whispered as the door opened. I heard him pause before continuing out. I walked to my room and pulled off my shirt. I threw it into the laundry chute. Then I sat on the bed and opened the box. I couldn't help but smile when I saw the contents. A few vegetable sticks and a small chocolate cake.