Chapter 10

Parker senses his struggle by seeing his hands open and close with the painful expression on his face. She feels almost sick at the thought of dropping her hand, of not touching her. What is wrong with her? Parker takes a knife, cuts off an extended length of her hair, and tucks it into the collar at his neck.

“Does this help?” Brax could smell her and could feel her hair touching his skin. It did help. It did not cure the haze but lessened the urge to keep her from clawing at him at his side. Only joining his body with hers would cure his haze, but he felt that piece of her next to him enabled him to hand her the rifle.

“You will stay within eyesight of me. You will keep your comms open. Yes?” Brax stared intently into her eyes as she took the rifle and competently checked the scope, the switches, and alignments.

“I will keep my eyes on you. I have synced your locator device in your armor with mine. I will come for you after.” Brax centers his mind and controls his instincts, preparing for action.

He walked directly behind her, his body hulking over hers.

“Keep your helmet and cloak on. My men have not seen a female they could mate for many years. For everyone’s safety, they can not know you are here.” Brax follows her to the exit ramp. Even though she should be farther in the back, he gestures for her cyborg to come and stand next to them. He can not abide her not being at his side.

Her hair touching his neck and his primitive self, sensing her being close by, are the only things preserving his sanity.

Brax hears the rumbling of voices through the troops waiting for insertion, “not the avatar, a real warrior,” “sniper,” “so tiny,” and “rifle.”

Brax whistles loudly to get the warriors’ attention, moving to the front of the landing platform.

“Intelligence Command directly transported PW001 for today’s mission. This mission is crucial. The last piece to contain Purix, Intelligence Command deemed it necessary for PW001 to be present during this mission to ensure its’ success. PW001’s unit will be linked to my group but stationed on high ground to overlook all units. Ward, I need aerial backup on PW001 coordinates. Questions?” Brax knew he needed to explain the change in the personnel to keep the mission on track and reassure his men that Parker, being as small as she is, is an asset to the team.

“No, sir!” The resounding response echoed in the holding area. Brax could feel the tension lessening with the lead sniper directly involved during the mission. This was not typical protocol, but everyone understood how important this mission was to containing Purix, ending this conflict, and preparing for Arcturia to be reestablished as a planet.

“All units prepare for landing,” Ward, the pilot’s voice sounded on the overhead comms “5, 4, 3, 2, deploy.”

The warriors swarmed off the ramp in an organized fashion. Each unit moves as one to its assigned mission coordinates. Brax and his unit move into the center of the battlefield.

Brax’s eyes track Parker as she moves into position. He notes the aerial support drones hovering over her position. She chose a high rocky outcrop with a rocky overhang that hid her well amongst the rocks. Her cloak changed colors from black to the silver and brown stones surrounding her. If Brax had not seen when her cloak shifted into camouflage mode, he would not know where she was. Brax checked his wrist unit, noting the red pulse of her position. His back was to her, but he could sense her location like a wire tethered to his center.

As a general, Brax has excellent field awareness. He knows where his units are positioned, and he can track the warriors of his unit and all of the units under his direct command. Other generals usually command from the rear, but Brax always led from the front, leading his warriors.

“All comms open, communicate any sightings or detection of Purix soldiers. PW001, you’ve got the best visual field, eyes open.” Brax commanded out instructions as the units got in place.

“I’ve got movement in quadrants 2, 5, and 8.” Parker’s electronic voice sounded over the comms. Other snipers start to call out the movement of the enemy.

Laser cannon fire starts sounding across the surface. Parker watches as Purix soldiers swarm forward to engage with the Arcturians. Parker looks for those Arcturian warriors with multiple Purix soldiers advancing against them. She calls out when she sees Purix soldiers coming out of covered holes in the ground.

“Engagement at 2, 5, and 8. Movement at 1, 3, 7, and 9. Incoming hostiles, engaging.” Parker rattled off what she could see from her position. Other units start calling out contact.

“Full engagement, all units,” Brax commanded across the comms. Brax holds his place, waiting for the Purix soldiers to come to him. Before, he would wade into battle swinging his laser sword from left to right, dismantling the enemy. Brax realizes something within him has changed. He can feel his battle haze surging, a red film leeching over his eyesight that highlights enemy movements, but it is not overtaking him. Mate. The one thing that controls the battle haze will keep warriors from devolving into primitive killing warriors - a mate.

The battle rages around the rocky surface. Parker lays on her perch, with her cyborg guarding her front and the sensors in her cloak protecting her back and sides. She sits within her covered ledge, picking off enemy targets and watching the Arcturian warriors of her unit.