The Armor of God

by Diego Valenzuela

  I’ll see you tomorrow, the thing was saying.

  When sundown finally came, and everyone else was enjoying the free time of a Friday night, Ezra was alone in his dormitory. He had sat on the bed in his underwear, reading a book he took from the library. It was a dissertation written by Alice Nolan after her first year in Zenith. The insights she gave into Absolute Omega’s temperament, and the incredible numbers she obtained during that first year, shed new light on Alice. She was far more talented as a pilot, and far more intelligent, than she ever led them to believe.

  It was no wonder she had been voted as the leader of the Creux Defense Squad.

  She had also chosen, in what to Ezra seemed unnecessary, to include passages about her personal life. Her childhood had not been easy; her father was an addict and her mother merely a child. Alice had to emancipate from their legal bond when she was only fifteen years old. Finding herself too young to work in Roue, she found a savior in a young psychologist called Audra and her wealthy family, who took her in for three years before she was placed in Zenith. Ezra suspected the name was fake, changed to protect her patron’s identity.

  After two hours of reading, Ezra had fallen asleep, book still open and resting on his chest. He was roused by a knock on the door. He rubbed his eyes and got up, slipping on a pair of sweatpants on the way to the door. Had one of the crewmembers lost their key? A look into their chambers confirmed they had not yet arrived.

  He opened the door to meet a decayed version of Alice standing at the other side. “Can I come in?”

  She was unrecognizable in casual clothes that hadn’t been washed or ironed. Her eyes were swollen and red, the obvious result of a steady and strong stream of tears. She also stank of alcohol.

  Ezra was so shocked by her appearance that it took him a moment to take a step back and let her in. Before closing the door, he peeked at the dormitory hallway; it was empty. He didn’t want to be seen; Alice stepping into his dormitory at night could easily be misconstrued.

  “Is everything all right?” Ezra asked. When he looked she was already sitting on his bed, staring at the mess that was his room.

  “Good choice in reading,” she said, looking at her dissertation next to the bed. “I love Nandi’s colors. This is a nice room . . . It suits you.” She wiped her nose.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s—can you sit? I don’t want to talk up to you,” she said and invited him to sit next to her. Seeing her hand pat the mattress felt like his nerves were being strung like the strings of a piano, and were ready to snap.

  He sat down and she began crying again. “Alice—Lieutenant, what’s happening?”

  “I think things aren’t going so well; we might be close to the end,” she said. Her breath stank of alcohol. “The end of Zenith, I mean. I don’t think Zenith has a long time left. Sometimes it feels like no one here knows what they’re doing. Things outside are changing—and now Akiva—”

  “What? What about Kiva?”

  “Nothing,” she said with regret. “I don’t trust his Creux. I’m a bit afraid of Milos Ravana. I’m afraid of tomorrow’s test—that something might go wrong with it.”

  “Ma’am, but what’s the worst that can happen? We’re just synchronizing, right?”

  She nodded. “Right. Nothing. You’re right.”

  “Can’t you ask someone else to perform the test with us? Garros, or Erin, if you’re not comfortable?”

  She shook her head, then turned to look at him. He didn’t say anything; she looked so sad and fragile. He wanted to—

  Alice leaned forward and planted a kiss on Ezra’s mouth, catching him by surprise. Despite, or maybe because of, the shock, Ezra took it and didn’t protest. She smelled of alcohol, but feeling her lips, and then her hand on the back of his head, was pleasant.

  Suddenly she pulled away. Her eyes were filled with tears again.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, awkwardly.

  “No—no, I’m sorry, Ezra. I shouldn’t have done this to you. I’m—I’m not thinking straight, I’m so damn stupid.” She got up and wiped her hands again. “I shouldn’t have come here, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  Ezra followed her out of the room but stayed at the door when she ran down the dormitory hallway towards the staircase. When Alice disappeared, Ezra saw Poole staring at him from her door at the end of the hallway.

  She shook her head and went back into her room.

  Chapter 10

  When the Stars Weep

  Alice’s words made cruel echoes in Ezra’s head throughout that entire night, invading his dreams and taking over his thoughts.

  I don’t think Zenith has a long time left. Sometimes it feels like no one here knows what they’re doing. Things outside are changing—and now Akiva . . .

  When he left the shower, he noticed someone, maybe Kat, had left a package and a note on his bed. Whoever it was, they had been amazingly stealthy; he hadn’t heard a single sound while in the shower. Ezra took the note and read.

  “Your new uniform. Wear it proudly. —Alice.”

  He smiled and tore the package open to find the black and yellow uniform neatly folded inside, the Besoe Nandi patches and his name, preceded by PFC, were already sewn onto the chest and back. The shoulder pads now boasted the two yellow lines that levelled him with Jena, Kiva, and Poole. Ezra put on the uniform and noticed Alice had sent the uniform one size bigger than the one he had been wearing before, which was a good thing—the other one had begun to grow a bit tight. There was powerful exhilaration in wearing clothes tailored for a bigger man than the one he had been a month before. As Alice had recommended in the note, he still wore it proudly when he walked out of the dormitory and caught Jena leaving her own.

  “There’s something different,” she said. “Don’t tell me.”

  Ezra smiled and turned the shoulder towards her.

  “Nice,” she said and they walked together. “How did you do?”

  “I did all right,” he said. “I hoped to do a bit better, but I passed.”

  “Well, congratulations.” She stopped in front of Poole’s door and knocked. “Poole? Are you ready?”

  There was no answer. Ezra remembered her judgmental violent eyes staring at him after Alice ran from his room and wondered what kind of crazy story she had made up in her head. He only hoped she’d be smart enough not to spread the word. “I don’t think she’s here.”

  Jena shrugged and they took the stairs. Ezra felt a strange urge to ask her about her feelings, but didn’t say anything. He didn’t want to stir any unresolved emotions before the test; he still believed that it was a fragile and dangerous thing.

  Kiva was waiting for them in the first floor lounge and immediately noticed Ezra’s uniform. “Ezra, you’re climbing up,” he said and hit him in the shoulder pad. “Welcome to the club.”

  “Did you see Poole?” asked Jena.

  “She left like ten minutes ago, said she wasn’t going to wait for you. She’s having one of those days, I guess. Are you guys ready for the synch?”

  “Are you?” Ezra asked. “I’m a bit afraid for you. Did you even get any sleep?”

  “Are you kidding? Of course. That tower of junk doesn’t scare me.”

  Ю

  Garros had been waiting in the Compatibility labs for half an hour before the New Ones finally showed up.

  The girl with the purple eyes, Vivian, had been the first one there. Despite her considerable talents and discipline, he still couldn’t bring himself to really like her. She was a wet rag. He had similar feelings towards Davenport.

  “Where are the others?” Erin asked Vivian.

  “Late,” was her dry reply.

  Garros scratched his beard and the back of his bald head, looking at the crewmembers for Jade Arjuna, Besoe Nandi, and Milos Ravana, all of whom had been there, completely prepared, even before Dr. Mizrahi entered the laboratories.

  Five minutes later, he finally saw Ezra, Jena, and Davenport step into the labs.
The kid was finally wearing two yellow stripes on his pad and Garros felt proud to see them. He was sure he’d be the support Quantum Ares desperately needed.

  “You’re late,” Erin said and Garros looked down at her. She was so small but still could command a powerful voice if she needed. He couldn’t wait for their break later, when they would meet like they did every Saturday.

  “Looks like Alice is running a bit late as well,” said Garros, and he immediately caught a grimace on Ezra’s face. “We’ll give her five minutes and we’ll start. Dr. Mizrahi is impatient.”

  “I am not, how dare you?” said the old hag. Garros loved playing with her; he found her unique brand of insanity amusing.

  “No need; I’m here.” Alice entered the labs holding a cup of coffee that couldn’t hide the smell of hooch, at least not from Garros’ nose. She had never been someone Garros would find attractive, but today she looked particularly messy. He wondered why.

  “You okay?” he asked her, and she nodded and smiled.

  “Okay, guys, I’m sorry I’m late,” she began, so Garros lumbered back and stood next to Erin, hands behind his back, eyes on the New Ones. “First off, about your advancement tests. I saw and discussed your results with Dr. Yuri and, well, let’s just say it’s in the best interest of everyone involved to give you four a passing grade and move on. If you want details, meet me in my office this afternoon after lunch. Either way, congratulations to all four of you.”

  Someone failed, Garros thought, but couldn’t imagine who. He saw the faces of all four kids change, and they all looked at each other. The eyes converged mostly on Ezra.

  “You’ve been preparing for this test since you got here and though it is very important for us to prepare your studies from now on, it’s not something that will take very long.”

  She was using the exact same speech Juliana, the late former leader of the CDS, had used when Garros arrived in Zenith all those years ago, when he was not much older bigger than Ezra. The kid was so much like a younger version of him.

  “Every operation that you perform in your Creux will take place in a host infected with the laani. Right now, for the purposes of this test, we merely want to see how well your mind can synchronize with the Creux’s operating system, gauge your ability to control it, and test its temperament. Your crew, Dr. Mizrahi, and myself will oversee everything, so don’t be afraid; this exercise has always been very safe and very exciting.”

  Ezra grimaced again. What was up with that kid? Was he seeing through Alice’s façade?

  “This is how it will happen. Phase one: one by one, you will enter the Egg and we will synchronize you to the Creux. You will be asked to remain in the docking bay until all four of you and myself have synched. Then begins phase two: miniaturization. We will be placed inside a dummy body that simulates a diseased host for twenty minutes. In that field, you will begin communicating with your Creux. You need to write a report on his or her temperament, so make sure you can describe it. Phase three: you will move around and do basic mobility exercises. Phase four: we will return and desynchronize. Any questions?”

  There were none. “Easy as pie,” Garros said.

  “Easy as pie,” Alice repeated.

  The first one to go under was Jena. Garros waited outside Jade Arjuna’s docking chamber until Jena had changed into the Synchronization Suit, the skin-tight outfit that covered her from knee to neck. When he finally stepped inside, the chamber was too crowded. Dr. Mizrahi, Alice, two crewmembers, Erin, and himself in addition to Jena, who was staring into the open Egg as though it was a beast’s open mouth.

  “Go in, Crescent,” said Alice.

  Jena nodded and placed her naked foot in the thick fluid, slowly dipping her body inside the Egg. “Don’t be afraid,” her crewmember said. “There will be a very faint point of light inside the Egg. You will stare at it for ten seconds after the lid closes. If everything goes well, you will change perspectives, and look in on us from Jade’s eyes, just outside that window.”

  “This is for you, Dad,” Garros heard Jena whisper, and the Egg closed.

  “Suit is acting normal,” the doctor said. “Everything is ready.”

  “She’s nervous,” Garros said, looking at the screen that displayed Jena’s vitals.

  “They always are,” Alice said and grabbed the mic. “Jena, can you hear me?”

  “I can hear you,” Jena said through the speakers.

  “Try to relax. I’m going to initiate the synchronization. Do you see the white blinking light?”

  “No—no, wait. Yes, there it is. I see it.”

  “Eyes on it. Because this is your first synchronization, you might feel a tiny prick in the back of your neck—it will be a one-time only thing, all right?”

  Dr. Mizrahi held up a notepad and jotted down a series of words and numbers Garros couldn’t puzzle out; they were only for her to understand.

  10. 9. 8. 7—

  Garros looked at Alice. She was sweating, her hands shaking. He didn’t remember ever seeing her look so weakened or afraid.

  3. 2. 1. A beep.

  Two other screens came alive, displaying the synchronicity levels between Jena and Jade Arjuna. Everything was green. She was on the other side. “Jena? Can you hear me?”

  “I can—I can see you. Oh my word, I can—I can see you. From outside!”

  “You’re synchronized, Jena. Congratulations.” A round of applause broke in the room. Garros walked towards the window overlooking the bay and saw the incredible and slender shape of Jade Arjuna standing just outside.

  “I can see Garros,” Jena said. “He looks small.”

  He laughed and waved at Jade from the window. He would never get used to seeing these iron monstrosities as his friends and comrades; picturing Jena’s spirit inside the forty-foot-tall Creux was an amusing thought.

  “Well done, Jena. Right now your Creux is locked, so you won’t be able to move. Just stay calm, remember your body is safe inside this room. Avoid strong emotions and wait for the rest of us to synchronize. If you can, try to gauge Jade’s temperament. I’m closing communications, but your crew will still be here at all times, if you need anything. I’m moving on to—to Milos.”

  “Understood. Wow. This is so surreal,” Jena said.

  Garros followed Alice and Dr. Mizrahi to the docking chamber assigned to Milos Ravana, three doors away from Jade Arjuna’s. “She looked stable,” he said.

  “Yeah,” Alice replied, voice quivering.

  She had placed Milos Ravana in the first docking chamber, far away from the others—she truly believed in the possibility of an explosion. Garros grabbed her by the shoulder and stopped her. Dr. Mizrahi kept walking. “Are you all right? Alice, this isn’t the first time you’ve overseen these tests, why do you look like you’re about to pass out?”

  She took a deep breath. “It’s the first time I’m doing it for Milos. The last times, the pilots—they were assimilated, or the whole chamber blew up.”

  “Alice. Dr. Mizrahi did the tissue samples. We’re sure. Akiva is the match—he will be all right,” Garros said, entirely confident in his voice. “You need to relax; don’t let the kids see you like this, they need to trust you. This is a scary moment.”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry,” she said. “Thank you, Garros.”

  Davenport was relaxing inside the Egg like it was a hot tub when he and Alice stepped into his assigned docking chamber. Though not of a size with Garros, Davenport was a big guy, and looked comically cramped in the Egg.

  Garros looked at Erin, who stood in front of a window, eyes on The Armor of God. Milos Ravana was looking in from outside, and it was impossible not to feel intimidated by the killer’s eyes.

  “Is everything ready?” Alice said.

  “Yes, ma’am,” one of the crewmembers, a man in military uniform, replied.

  “How are you feeling?” Alice asked Davenport, doing a lousy job of hiding her fear.

  “That tower of junk doesn’t scare me,
ma’am,” he replied and looked up at Garros, a shit-eating grin spread across his face.

  “Good. It shouldn’t,” said Alice. “Close the lid, please, Dr. Kruger.”

  The other crewmember, a fat and bald man who was also one of the oldest employees of Zenith, approached the Egg. This bullfrog of a man had attended higher studies with Dr. Mizrahi, and she often attested to his genius. It was precisely that genius that had landed him his job as Milos Ravana’s lead crewmember. To best understand such a volatile Creux, they needed the most powerful brain they could find.

  Davenport dipped his head when the lid slid into place, and the screens displaying his vitals came alive.

  “Akiva, can you hear me?” Alice spoke into the mic.

  “Loud and clear. Don’t sound so nervous, ma’am, we’ll be fine. I see the light.”

  Alice sighed and looked at Garros. Of course she wasn’t hiding her anxieties very well at all; even Davenport had picked up on them. “Good. Okay. We’re counting down.”

  10. 9. 8. 7—

  If anything horrible was going to happen, it would happen now. Garros couldn’t help but look at Ravana’s red eyes outside the window. Susan closed her eyes and looked away from the screens. Erin never looked away—she was too brave to be intimidated by Milos Ravana.

  3. 2. 1. A beep.

  “He’s in! He’s done it,” Dr. Kruger said and everyone began clapping. Even Dr. Mizrahi, who barely ever smiled, wiped sweat from her forehead and joined in everyone’s glee.

  Finally, after more than two decades, they had finally found the missing piece: a pilot for the single most powerful piece of equipment in Roue’s arsenal.

  If the war against the laani was ever won, and humanity once again walked the surface of the world freely, this day would be remembered as a turning point.

  Garros looked forward to planning the party tonight.

  Alice looked up at him and he saw small pools of tears in her eyes; she was smiling. She hugged him, relieved.