Cinder

5 - Deserter

"I know you must wonder what motivates my actions. Yet, you stay silent rather than voicing your questions. Why?"

She remained still, allowing herself a moment of respite from the most recent 'analysis' as golden ichor bled from the lacerations across her body.

"I know how you communicate, and though I may not have always been, I can assure you I am quite sapient enough to hear you. So I imagine you must refuse to speak out of contempt or for some foolish idea of stoicism."

Her gaze remained facing the ceiling, towards the machines above that conducted her constant vivisection. She would not falter.

"I will tell you anyway; I am not entirely interested with you; rather, I have found myself invested in discovering what is within you. More specifically, your extra-dimensional properties."

A familiar metal probe came down and began to sterilize and staple her wounds closed, at least until the next time she'd be analyzed. She barely felt the punctures anymore, her nerves had become far too desensitized to register them properly.

"The Inferno, the Ark, and the Tempest all share similar qualities. They all exist, at least to some extent, in non-physical dimensions in one way or another. Whether it's their function or their state of being, none of them are entirely tied to the third-dimensional realm ... similarly, I understand that this is not your true form and that you have merely bonded yourself to this ... vessel ... in order to interact with the reality rather than simply observing it. I theorize that you use your own anomalous existential traits to aid in the usage of the three I've previously mentioned."

He paused. "I find it almost unbelievable that you would give up on the potential to actually shape reality from outside the constraints of normal space, just for the capability to exist as lesser beings. How tragic."

Finally, she could take no more. It is not tragic; where you see potential for power, we saw potential for corruption. Where you see weaker beings, we saw a way to temper our true capabilities. We understood that which you seem intent on either ignoring, or refusing to comprehend altogether.

"You were afraid."

The lights turned off, leaving her in darkness and isolation.

"That's a symptom of inferior forms, finding yourself unable to make the final effort and do what is necessary."

A door opened, and he left her alone once more.

"That is why I have no fear."

The android thought that he had the last word, but she had faith. Little did he know that she held no fear, not any longer; heartache, pain, empathy for the humans that had come under his tyrannical rule, but not fear.

He was still out there, she could feel it. And as long as he lived, she knew that a resolution would be found no matter how long it took.

Spyglass may not know fear ... but someday, he would know loss.

...

"So, uh ..." Gray glanced around the Leatherback's interior. "Nice place."

Tobias' expression remained neutral. "I know it's not ideal ... but not a lot is these days."

While Leatherbacks were definitely larger than most compact dropships, it wasn't as though there was a ton of room to work with. There was the cargo hold, a ladder folded against the wall which would lead up to the cockpit, and a few sections for storage, likely where he was keeping his rations and supplies in.