CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  Troublesome Favors

  The checkpoint buzzed with quiet activity. Guards leaned against their posts or paced idly, rifles slung over their shoulders. One of the guards, a wiry man with a patchy beard, stood near the edge of the barricade, his phone pressed to his ear. “Yeah, Sphere’s confirmed clear,” he muttered into the device, tapping his boot against the ground. “Three hours and twenty-four minutes. Six Breachers. Guess they weren’t all talk.”

  He checked his watch, glanced back at the others lounging nearby, and rolled his eyes as they bantered quietly. “Yes, I’ll file the report as soon as—” He trailed off, his brow furrowing as he caught sight of his colleague staring past him.

  “What’s your problem?” he asked, lowering the phone slightly.

  The other guard didn’t answer, his mouth slightly open, his hand hovering near his rifle. The wiry man followed his gaze and froze.

  Figures emerged from the treeline—cloaked Breachers who moved in a ragged line toward the checkpoint. Their armor and clothes were caked in filth and blood—dark streaks glistening faintly in the afternoon sun.

  “What the—” The man fumbled with his phone as the Breachers entered the checkpoint like ghosts.

  Two of them broke from the group, stopping directly in front of him. The one on the right—a lean figure with a hood pulled low—spoke first. “It’s done. There’s still plenty to clean up back there.”

  The wiry man swallowed, his eyes darting to the Breacher on the left, who held something in a gloved hand. The Orb. It pulsed faintly, the light inside it shifting like restless liquid.

  The right Breacher nudged the other, who awkwardly extended the Orb towards the guard. His hands fumbled as he tried to hold both his phone and the pulsating object.

  “Uh, yeah, thanks,” the guard stammered. The person on the other end of the call was still talking, their voice a faint drone against the muttering of the other guards.

  “You did it,” the guard said hoarsely, his throat dry.

  Neither Breacher replied. They turned, moving past him without another word to rejoin their group. The wiry man glanced at the Orb in his hands, then at their retreating backs.

  “Wait!” he called after them, jogging to catch up. “We need to call this in. We’ve got protocols—”

  Before he could finish, the largest Breacher turned, towering over him. The guard stumbled to a halt, nearly dropping the Orb again.

  “You do that,” the tall figure said, voice low and unbothered. A single finger extended, pressing lightly against the Orb in the guard’s trembling hands. “We already did the real work.”

  The guard stiffened, his gaze fixed anywhere but on the Breacher. Slowly, the tall figure turned and continued walking. The rest of the Breachers followed, like predators slipping back into the wild.

  The guards exchanged uneasy glances. One of them, a stocky man with a thick neck, leaned toward the wiry guard, his voice hushed. “Aren’t we supposed to… detain them or something? They might have Glass on them.”

  The wiry guard shook his head, staring at the Orb as though it might burn him. “I don’t think that’s an option here.” Another moment passed in awkward silence. Then, almost as an afterthought, the wiry guard called out, “Wait! Who even are you guys?”

  The Breachers didn’t stop. They moved as one, a seamless unit of bloodied cloaks and battered armor. Just as they began to fade into the trees, one of them turned back. A woman’s voice cut through the air, crisp and confident, “Steel Wolves.”

  The guards watched as their silhouettes melted into the forest. For a long moment, no one moved.

  The wiry guard finally exhaled, the Orb firm in his grip. “Steel Wolves, huh?” he repeated under his breath, his eyes lingering on the spot where they had vanished.

  - - -

  Kate and the others had just slipped out of sight of the checkpoint when their pace abruptly sped up. Specter grabbed her hand, its grip firm yet not painful, and dragged her along. “Move.”

  She stumbled but followed, their group breaking into a run. The forest swallowed them, trees and bushes blurring together as they wove through the undergrowth. Branches scraped her arms, and roots threatened to trip her, but Specter’s steady pull kept her upright. Her legs burned, her breath came fast and ragged, but they kept running.

  Ten minutes passed, maybe more—she wasn’t sure anymore—before the forest opened into a small clearing. A pond shimmered in the sunlight, the still water reflecting the canopy above.

  Kate doubled over, hands on her knees, panting hard. She bit back a curse as Specter released her hand, the dull ache in her fingers a reminder of how tightly it had gripped her. It and the other robots walked straight into the pond without pause, their heavy, mud-caked forms sending ripples across the surface. Kate watched as they submerged themselves, the water swallowing the layers of grime that had clung to them.

  She stumbled toward a nearby tree, gripping its rough bark for support as her chest heaved. Glancing up, she caught sight of Marcus a few feet away, already shedding his cloak and pieces of battered armor.

  Her eyes lingered on him as he peeled off the thick outer layers. Beneath, his upper body came into view—scarred and battered, black Marks covering the right side of his athletic frame along with some weird tattoos on his arm.

  “Of course the dude’s built like a brick house,” Kate muttered, only for her stomach to drop when she realized she’d said it aloud.

  Marcus turned slightly, raising an eyebrow at her, but she snapped her head away before he could make eye contact. “Great. Fantastic. Kill me now,” she whispered to herself, her cheeks burning.

  The robots left the pond first, water cascading off and out of their frames as they stepped back onto solid ground. Bastion took a few steps toward the treeline, crouched, and began clearing bushes to reveal something stashed beneath them. Kate watched as her moped and their cargo bike came into view, along with the spare bags they’d hid earlier.

  Marcus waded into the pond next, his body vanishing beneath the water as he vigorously scrubbed his scalp and armpits. She watched Marcus for a moment longer before Specter approached her. “You need to wash up. Get into clean clothes,” it said, tilting its head slightly.

  “Yeah, yeah, I got it,” she muttered, waving Specter off before crossing her arms and scowling as Marcus stepped out of the pond, utterly unconcerned. “He better not peek, though.”

  Specter chuckled, the sound disturbingly human. “Technically, we’re all Marcus. We also share sensory information.”

  Her eyes widened. “What?”

  “Relax,” Specter said, its voice tinged with amusement. “We’ll look away.”

  Kate’s face flushed bright red as she turned toward the group. “Everyone, turn the fuck around!” she shouted, jabbing a finger at each of them.

  Without waiting for a response, she stormed toward the water. She could feel the heat of her embarrassment searing her cheeks as she stepped into the shallows. The cold water bit at her skin, seeping through her boots and pants. She shot a nasty glare at the robots and Marcus, but none of them were looking her way.

  Still muttering curses under her breath, she tugged off her filthy cloak and then the steel armor underneath, wincing as she dropped it into the mud. She hurriedly stripped off her thick undershirt and pants as the cold bit deeper.

  The water was freezing, and she hissed through clattering teeth as she scrubbed at her skin. Every ripple sent a shiver through her, her fingers numb as she scrubbed away the dirt and blood from the Glass extraction and the battle. She shot another suspicious glance toward the group, but they all seemed busy—Marcus still getting dressed, the robots fussing over their gear.

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  When she finally finished, she trudged out of the pond, wrapping her arms around herself to stave off the chill. She yanked open her bag near Bastion, grabbing a towel to dry off before hastily dressing. Clean clothes clung to her damp skin as she shoved her feet into a fresh pair of boots, her teeth still chattering.

  Kate shot one last glare at the others before muttering, “Next time, I’m staying at the checkpoint.”

  “Next time?” Specter asked as it turned around, its glowing eyes focusing on her.

  Kate shrugged, still shivering despite her fresh clothes. “Yeah, no,” she muttered, rubbing her arms for warmth. “I’m never doing anything crazy like that again. But it felt good saying it.”

  “You’ve got issues,” Specter said honestly before it moved toward the others. “By the way, why’d you call us the Steel Wolves?”

  Kate hesitated. “What? I heard you and Bastion call yourselves that before you started fighting. That, and you kept muttering crap about blood and iron.”

  Specter just stared at her for a second before it spoke up, “That doesn’t mean we’re suddenly a guild or party called that.”

  Kate didn’t have a chance to retort before the two nameless robots crouched low, folding into tight fetal positions. They hugged their legs to their chests, their frames creaking slightly with the movement. Marcus stepped closer, briefly resting a hand on each of them. His eyes closed as if concentrating, then he stepped back, giving Bastion a quick nod.

  The large robot stepped forward and extended its hand, pulling of the tip of one of its finger to reveal a small tool. It crouched in front of one of the folded robots and began removing bolts from the back of its head with precise, mechanical efficiency, then pried off the plating. Kate winced as the large robot slid its hand into the exposed cavity, gripping something inside.

  When Bastion pulled back, an Orb emerged, its faint glow still tethered by thin, pulsating veins. The tendrils shimmered with a faint blue light.

  “That looks nasty,” Kate muttered, unable to look away. “Why isn’t the Orb pulsating like the other one did?”

  “Because a part of Marcus is inside it,” Specter replied. “We don’t know why it stabilizes the light like that. It just happens.”

  Kate watched Bastion adjust its grip on the Orb, its massive hand trembling slightly. Marcus stepped closer, locking eyes with the robot, and gave a sharp nod. A second later, Bastion yanked the Orb free, the glowing veins snapping and splattering a light blue liquid onto its chest. The liquid evaporated almost instantly, leaving the Orb cradled in its palm.

  As soon as the Orb came free, Marcus staggered, falling to one knee. He gripped his head with both hands, his breath ragged.

  Kate opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Specter interrupted. “If the Orb gets removed before Marcus retrieves the part of his mind inside it… well, that part of him dies. Sort of.”

  Her head snapped toward Specter, then back to Marcus. “What do you mean, it dies? Then why the fuck are you idiots doing it like this?”

  Specter didn’t answer immediately. It just watched as Marcus pushed himself back to his feet, still breathing hard but standing steady. He nodded to Bastion again. The large robot moved to the second folded machine, repeating the process to expose the Orb. Once again, it yanked the glowing core free, sending a violent splash of blue liquid flying. Marcus didn’t collapse this time—just slammed into a nearby tree and gripped his head.

  “Marcus told us he wanted to try getting used to it,” Specter said, its tone matter-of-fact. “He feels the robot’s death in a way. It’s debilitating, to say the least, but from what we can see, there’s no long-term damage. We told him not to, but he thinks he needs to handle this if he wants to field a larger force. Larger battles, more dangerous Spheres… he figures it’s better to start now. That, and he’s a stubborn bastard.”

  Kate stared at Marcus, her stomach twisting as she watched him grit his teeth and slowly straightened again. “You know that’s messed up, right?” she said, turning her glare on Specter.

  “You just watched him stab himself with Monster-Glass a few minutes ago and grow stronger because of it. Also, we never said we’re sane,” Specter replied before giving a casual shrug. A few seconds later it caught one of the Orbs as Bastion tossed it over, then removed a fingertip, revealing a tool of its own. The robot calmly unscrewed its chest plate, lifting the thick plastic piece away to expose the cavity underneath. Inside, Kate caught a glimpse of faint, glowing blue veins and robotic parts.

  The Orb in Specter’s hand began to pulsate, its glow becoming more pronounced. Specter shoved the Orb into its torso, wedging it into place. “The first Orb gives us life,” it explained, tapping the side of its head. Then it gestured to the new Orb nestled in its chest. “The second regenerates mana—our source of power. Without it, we’d rely entirely on what Marcus provides us.”

  Kate narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms. “Then why give the Orb to the guard? If it’s that useful to you guys, why not keep it for yourself? Or use it to create another robot?”

  “Because,” Marcus said as he approached, an empty garbage bag in hand. He began gathering their wet, dirty clothes, shoving them inside. “I wanted to do this right.”

  He handed the bag to Specter, who secured it while Bastion lifted the two deactivated robots into the cargo bike. Their folded forms made it easier to stack them neatly.

  Marcus turned back to Kate. “Specter vouched for you. He thinks you have the skills we’re missing.”

  “That,” Specter added, “and it’s handy to have another human around—and a mind that isn’t just a weird copy of Marcus.”

  Kate swallowed, her nerves prickling under their attention. Marcus stepped closer, his voice calm but firm. “The two of you made a deal. I honored our part of the bargain. That meant not being a greedy, selfish prick by hoarding the Orb.”

  She glanced at the robots, the bike, the discarded bolts on the ground, and then back at Marcus. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she exhaled sharply. “You’re a strange bunch, you know that?”

  Marcus flashed a small smile and held out his hand. “Sucks to be you. You’re one of us now.”

  Kate stared at him for a moment. Her eyes dropped to his hand—the same hand that had yanked an Orb out of a monster-infested Sphere mere minutes ago. She hesitated for a second but then she grabbed his hand and shook it as firmly as she could, forcing herself to meet his gaze.

  “Fine,” she said, her voice steady. “I’ll join your guild.”

  Marcus’s smile grew, faintly amused. “Never said we were a guild.”

  “Well, you better start one,” she muttered, releasing his hand and brushing past him toward her moped. “Because I just coined it back there.”

  Marcus exchanged a glance with Specter, the robot tilting its head slightly in a way that somehow conveyed emotion. The two of them shook their heads almost in unison before following her.

  Bastion and Specter each donned raincoats that would hide most of their features. The coat fit Specter well enough, draping over its frame without much trouble. Bastion, however, looked ridiculous, the material stretched awkwardly across its bulky shoulders and barely reaching halfway down its arms.

  “Looks great,” Kate muttered, biting back a smirk as she swung a leg over her moped.

  Bastion didn’t reply, but its glowing eyes dimmed slightly before it adjusted the coat with a grunt, tugging the fabric into place as best it could.

  Together, the four of them made their way out of the forest, dragging the cargo bike and moped along with them. The dirt road that led back to New Haven came into view, a faint track cutting through the overgrowth. Marcus stepped ahead, pulling out his phone as they paused near the road. His thumbs moved quickly over the screen before he turned back to Kate.

  “Let’s meet us here in two days,” he said, holding up the screen for her to see. “It’s my dad’s old gym. We’re holed up there. Any Glass you still have, bring it there, alright?”

  Kate checked her own phone as it buzzed, glancing at the message that had just popped up. His number, along with an address. She nodded and, without a word, dialed the number.

  Marcus’s phone rang almost immediately. He raised an eyebrow, glancing at her with a mix of confusion and amusement.

  “What?” Kate asked, flashing him a sly grin. “Just checking if it was real.”

  “You’ve got trust issues,” Bastion said firmly, its lenses fixed on her.

  “Maybe,” Kate said, kicking the moped into gear. “But considering the company I’m keeping, can you blame me?”

  Neither Marcus nor the robots responded immediately, but as the group set off down the road, Marcus’s faint smile returned.

  Kate let out a long breath and glanced between them, rubbing the back of her neck. “Now what?” she asked, her voice carrying more than a hint of exhaustion.

  Specter tilted its head in what she could only guess was amusement. “Now, you go home. Eat, shower, and sleep off the horrible, traumatic experience that you insisted on going through firsthand. Perhaps ice cream can help. Simple.”

  “Simple,” Kate muttered under her breath, shaking her head. “Sure. Let’s call it that.”

  The group reached a fork in the dirt road, and the robots veered right. Kate stopped where the road split, glancing between Marcus and the two machines. “Guess this is goodbye,” she said, her voice quieter now.

  Specter and Bastion gave brief nods, their heavy steps crunching over the bits of pebbles on the road as they continued down their path. Kate lingered, her eyes darting to Marcus, who had stayed behind. For a moment, neither of them spoke.

  She shifted on her feet, unsure what to say. A knot twisted in her stomach, fear and excitement warring in her chest. Part of her warned her to back out of this whole deal. But another part whispered that this was be something she needed to hold onto. Something she couldn’t afford to let go.

  Her gaze settled on Marcus. His bright blue eyes seemed to catch the fading light, a stark contrast against the dark Marks etched along the side of his head.

  ‘He’s either going to die young,’ she thought, her lips tightening, ‘or he’ll become something big.’

  She let out a soft sigh, the tension easing as she forced a smile. “Every Sphere out there, huh?”

  Marcus nodded, his voice steady. “Specter might’ve laid it on a bit thick. But yeah. I want to destroy every last one. I never want something like this to happen to my family again. No one’s family, for that matter.”

  Kate studied him a moment longer before grabbing the handlebars of her moped. She slipped on her backpack, started the engine, and settled into the seat as the corners of her mouth twitched upward. “I’ll see you in two days. And for what it’s worth… I’m sorry I pepper-sprayed you.”

  He chuckled softly, the sound brief but genuine. She gave him a final nod, then twisted the throttle, and the bike lurched forward as she sped down the dirt road.

  For several minutes, the forest blurred past her, trees blending into streaks of green and brown. Her thoughts raced just as fast. ‘That was one hell of a job interview,’ she thought, a small smile tugging at her lips. For all the chaos, a flicker of pride warmed her chest. She had been part of something good—terrifying, but good.

  ‘He’s different from the other Breachers,’ she admitted, recalling the Orb and the way Marcus had handed it over without hesitation. ‘Mom would be proud of me for being part of taking one down.’ The warmth spread deeper, steadying her nerves. She straightened in her seat, her voice soft but confident. “New Haven, here I—”

  A blur shot past her, so fast that she nearly lost control of the moped. She yelped, skidding slightly as her foot scraped the dirt. Her heart hammered in her chest as she spotted the familiar figure up ahead—Marcus, who slid to a stop in the middle of the road. Blue mist bled from his body as he panted, holding up a hand to signal her to stop.

  “What the hell, man!” she shouted, her voice cracking with adrenaline. “I nearly crashed, pissed myself, and had a heart attack, thanks to you!”

  Marcus didn’t answer right away, his expression tight with concern. His phone was still in his hand, the screen lit up with an active call. He stepped toward her, his breathing still uneven. “I need a favor,” he said, his tone urgent. “Someone’s in trouble.”