Tempest

1 - Typhon

NOTICE TO ALL READERS:

"Tempest" is a sequel to my other story, "Inferno". If you have not read it, I suggest looking through the stories here or accessing it through my author page. You will not know the characters or past events and references unless you've read the story before this. Thank you!

— "THE SOARING GRIFFIN", IN ORBIT AROUND EREBUS, 2 YEARS AND 3 MONTHS AGO —

The large Tone exited the drop ship, and lumbered through the hangar. She seemed absentminded, as seen by the fact that several riflemen and Pilots had to quickly sidestep to avoid being trod upon under her large and heavy feet.

"KT!"

She stopped for a moment, but did not turn around. Gates quickly made her way next to the Titan, and looked up into the blue eye of her chassis.

"I know what just happened was awful, I... I can hardly believe it myself, but we have to pull through this." She gripped the edge of KT's leg, and shook it slightly as though to jostle some reassurance into her through force. "If we let ourselves fall apart, then we also destroy any hope we have of rescuing him. Be strong for him, please."

Slowly, KT's eye rotated to hold Gates in its field of view. She could sense the Titan analyzing her words of encouragement. Looking away, KT remained silent as she walked away towards the Titan barracks.

Gates just sighed, and sat down on the hangar floor. The rest of the 6-4 came over to her, noticing the odd exchange between the two.

"What was that about?" muttered Bear.

Gates shook her head sadly. Truthfully, she felt hopeless like the Titan; Four was a great friend to her as well. Maybe a little less than KT felt, considering the bond between the two of them. Never before had she seen such a bond between a Pilot and a Titan. She couldn't imagine what KT must be feeling, to have lost her other half twice now.

"Four stayed behind, made sure that the rest of us all got out safely."

For once, Davis had no smart quip to share. Droz simply looked at her. "He... he was the one who shut down the guns?"

She nodded. "That's not all, either. He's going to lay the groundwork for our victory. He's trying to plan ahead, for us to win this fight when the time comes for it. If there was a person more dedicated to bringing peace to the frontier, you'd be hard pressed to find 'em."

Gates looked out at where KT had disappeared off to. Unlike the Titan, she had to set an example and remain strong for the rest of the team. "I'm worried for her. How much damage a long-term separation from her pilot could do to her, how much trauma the AI mind can withstand before becoming corrupt. I can't see her linking with a new pilot either." She swallowed hard. "At this point, I doubt that there's any way she could form another emotional bond as strong as she's made with Four."

She looked back out the shields of the hangar, toward the dead planet of Erebus beyond.

"I hope each of them is strong enough to survive their ordeals alone."

— TYPHON, PRESENT DAY —

"...Commander Briggs, this is Gates of the 6-4. Are we late to the party?"

She heard an audible sigh of relief from the commander on the other end of the line. "You're just in time, Gates. How much juice do you have left in the Malta?"