Three solar cycles had passed when I became a high-ranking mercenary. A fucked-up bastard through and through. I witnessed evil and sadism imprinted on flesh and metal. Practiced the world's cruelty. Discovered that side of Zenith, the Aether Network, and the GNA. The planet's true sewer. Everything I had contributed to was merely the tip of something far filthier.
That day, I was returning from a mission in Nobody's Land when I spotted three men surrounding a woman. They taunted her, growling threats, while she held a defensive stance with a knife in her hands.
Not my problem. In this world, nothing beyond your own problems should be your problem, fräulein. Don't owe favors. Don't be nice. Empathy? Throw it into hell so the devil can embrace it. Show any weakness, and you'll be devoured.
Yet something about that situation bothered me, and I couldn't ignore it. A greater force made me intervene.
The three men stopped their taunts and stared at me. That was enough of a distraction. The woman lunged at one of them and slit his throat with her blade. The other two hesitated, torn between attacking me and turning on her.
As I approached, one fired. The bullet ricocheted and pierced the shooter's own shoulder.
He tried to run.
I grabbed his little head, which fit perfectly in my palm. Ever seen jelly? Imagine squeezing it. Feeling the goo spread between your fingers, hearing the mass break down until only a shapeless ball remains. That's what crushing a head is like.
He fell. The fucker's brains dripped between my fingers. Ah, that delicious smell of blood.
The third man was still fighting the woman. I had to admit: the girl was good. Agile, with millimetric precision. But her opponent was big, and strength eventually overpowered agility. He trapped her in a chokehold. She tried to kick him, but it was useless.
The man stared at me frantically. "STAY THE FUCK WHERE YOU ARE! I'LL FUCKING KILL HER!" His dread poured off him.
I inhaled that fear and swallowed it, delirious. His terror fed my madness, but I kept advancing. The woman trapped in his arms? Fighting for her life. Irrelevant. I only wanted that man. Wanted his blood.
He understood I would keep coming. So he dropped her and ran.
I went after him. My fingers wrapped around his little neck, and I leaned over his body, waiting for the light to fade from his eyes.
"NO! DON'T KILL HIM!"
My eyes widened. That voice?
"HE'S MINE."
Too late.
The man's purplish face and bulging eyes hung before my hands. I turned to the woman.
She had a sturdy body covered in scars and wore black and red clothes. Braids reached her waist, framing fierce brown eyes. "Who the fuck are you?!" She was smaller than I'd expected. Enormous audacity.
"You're the woman from that night." I ignored her question, fascinated by recognizing her. "You saved me."
Her brows drew together. "Come closer, and I'll kill you."
"What's your name? Always wanted to know." A favor. She had done me a favor. I don't owe favors.
Her eyes traveled over my body and stopped on mine. "You serious?"
"Yes. What's your name? I'm Cron."
She hesitated. "Maeva."
French? My mouth fell open. "You're…"
"Shut up. Now spit it out. Who are you? Why are you going around saying I saved you?" She fixed me with that terrifying gaze. Told me to shut up? Brave.
I studied the audacious little woman. "Three cycles ago, you and a group invaded the R-Refuges and freed some victims. I was one of them."
Maeva crossed her arms. "What do you want?"
"Just returned the favor. Saved you." I turned to leave.
"What favor? What are you talking about?"
I stopped and rubbed my eyes. What was wrong with that woman? "You saved me. Now I saved you. That's it." I took a few more steps.
Her laughter pierced me, vibrating through my entire being.
I turned. Was she insane?
The little woman was doubled over, holding her belly, laughing as though it would kill her.
And that was when I realized… That laugh. I wanted more.
Maeva caught her breath to compose herself and gave an amused smile. "You're funny, man. Think I did that to collect favors? I do it for the people, not for favors." She waved. Her laughter gradually faded until it disappeared.
Then she turned to leave.
I remained motionless, watching her back as she grew farther and farther away. Suddenly, I heard nothing but her footsteps against the dry earth.
I had never felt that before. A spark. Something emerged inside me. Something about that woman pulled me in. And I wanted more.
No. Don't fuck this up. Haven't you learned anything? "Hey."
Maeva turned, revealing a dazzling smile.
Shit. "T-tell me more about that."
Her smile widened. She placed her hands on her hips. "Cron, right?" She beckoned with her fingers. "Wanna know more? Follow me."
I followed. Followed for cycles!
Breaking with everything I had learned. Breaking with everything I knew. And something was being reborn inside me.
Maeva was fascinating, strong, and incredible. A fighter for just causes who defended her ideals like a lioness. She faced anything. And anyone. She projected her voice to reach hundreds of people and represent hundreds more.
But our pasts caught up with us when we least expected it. At the worst possible time. When the gears began to turn.