I blindly followed the girls, losing track of our location. Verisha kept peering back at me, something odd etched on her face. I gave her a nod, unsure of what she was seeking. Finally, we reached a large room brimming with narrow green doors.

“We can find uniforms here. They will be better if we are leaving the compound.” Hairu’s urgency was uncanny. I supposed with other visitors such as Grail, she’d learned the tenacity of the faith and expected their imminent attack. She and Verisha dove into a locker, yanking free its contents. I spun away as both females dropped their current attire to replace it. The warmth in my cheeks the slightest tether to reality. Then I remembered.

“Hairu, is Verisha ok? She took a hit. . . saving me.”

“Yes, miss IO will be fine, another effect of gene splicing. She heals rapidly so long as the wound is not vital, though it may slow her during the process.”

“That’s good to know.” I said, unable to think of anything else. I peeked over my shoulder, catching a faint glimpse of the green-haired girl’s slender, but muscular back. The burn on her pale skin looked days old rather than only minutes. The wound vanished as she shrugged on the new blue suit. Must be nice.

I needed to collect myself. I’d willingly left Jazz behind to find something in the Red. But he, as a traitor, turned to faith dug at my insides. Was he a liar? Just another pawn of Owls all mighty this whole time? The thought of him being one of the sheep cut at me like a knife. They killed my sister. Even my worshiping parents. Why save me? He had no marks of exile. I touched the three soft scars on my scalp. So, how does this all tie together?

I rubbed a hand over my face. Then placed my head against the locker. If I was to follow the women out of here, I couldn’t be dead weight. I needed to commit. Be willing to pull the trigger as my treacherous friend once said.

I stole another look. Both girls had zipped up the tight blue suits. Verisha, Rapidly laced her green hair into a rope down her back. Once again, I acknowledged her streamline figure. Taught muscles worked under the fabric. There was more feminine definition at her waist and chest than I’d given her credit for. Also, there was something about her movements. It itched in my mind.

Hairu, finished pulling on a set of heavy knee-high boots riddled with buckles. She’d pulled her red locks into matching loose tails on either side of her head. The short stature, face, and hair style gave the appearance of a female in her late adolescence, a couple orbits younger than me. While the suit clung to the slender curves of her artificial body. This, coupled with the knowing gray eyes, gave away her impossible age and experience. There was something about her actions as well.

She raised an eyebrow. “Please hurry Ex, I doubt they will wait long to commence their invasion.”

Caught gawking, my face burned as I dug into the locker. The scaly material rubbed against my fingers as I sampled the suits hanging inside. I supposed they were unisex, but I decided against putting one on. Pulling on a sleeveless white shirt and familiar military type pants instead. After finishing with the buckles of my boots I asked, “Is there any reflector gear here?”

Hairu looked at me, confused for a minute. “Reflector gear?”

“Yeah, like Jazz was wearing?”

“Oh. Infantry armor? Yes.”

I took in the new name while following the automaton. She led me to a row of red lockers with an array of equipment. Chest pieces, masks, and parts that attached to arms and legs. Not wanting to waste time, I selected only a chest piece and gloves with no ends on the fingers. Fully dressed, I refitted my belts and ammo.

The girls stood in wait. Verisha holding a light rifle at the ready. I considered asking where I could get one, but decided against it. I still had a blaster at my waist and only a few of the bullet loops on my bandolier were empty. The contender was my best asset. Jazz once said Titans wrath had access to a whole compound. If it was anything like Utopia, it was safe to assume that most, if not all of them would be covered in reflector gear.

The girls bolted out of the door. As I followed, the world drained of color and my legs felt heavy. Liked gravity anchored me in place. “Where are we going?”

Hairu paused and looked back at me. “We are evading a potential assault of an amassed group of hostile humans.”

I sighed. “I know why we are escaping, but where? Outside of this place, there isn’t anywhere to go. You said it yourself. No other compounds or settlements close by.”

“They cannot capture Miss IO again. She has a very important purpose.”

There it was. The sting of true jealousy touched my soul in that moment and the word echoed in my mind. A purpose. Verisha had one. Her movements and actions shown with it. Hairu was created with one, even if it had changed with time. I looked down the corridor towards where we’d left Jazz. Seems he had one, and I’d never known. A soft touch on my swollen cheek pulled me back from the direction thoughts were heading.

“Ex. I am aware you are understandably confused. But do not give up. Verisha and I will need your help.”

“You’re both stronger than I am. Probably even with this thing.” I touched the HAG.

Hairu’s small thumb rubbed circles on my skin, her gray eyes looking up and boring into mine. “There is more to it than strength. Please come, aid us.”

The words affected me as always. Stabilizing the buzzing pain inside. Verisha had approached during our brief dialogue and looked on in concern. But quick glances down the hall hinted at what worried her. I ignored the slight twinge in my chest.

She had a purpose. If I could help her achieve it, maybe it was enough for now. I couldn’t let this damn stagnant world win. I would find reasons to continue. Only a few cycles ago, I was ready to give it all for my new friends. I would go with that for now. Rolling my shoulders and gently removing the automaton’s small hand from my face. “Ok, I’ll do all I can. But no more excuses. If we get out of this, I need to know more.”

BOOM!