Chapter 25: A Shared Passive

On the far side of the store lay the bread and refrigerated drink section. A thin layer of water covered the waxed floors from the freezers and their thawing contents down at the end of the last aisle. Naomi stood in front of the gallon jugs of water. The brown school bag had two of the large bulky bottles stuffed inside its limited storage space. Naomi cursed to herself quietly while she struggled to zip up the flap that was never going to budge with that much plastic sticking out of it.

“We should probably carry one each.” Spencer walked up and gently lifted one of the jugs free to put into his own bag. “That way the weight is more evenly split.”

Naomi avoided looking at Spencer directly and he didn’t press her. He simply lifted two more jugs off of the shelf.

“I spotted canned food two aisles back that way.” Spencer jerked his head in the direction they had come from. “We can snag whatever sounds good and wait for the others to report back.”

Naomi nodded and followed silently. The rubber soles of Spencer’s shoes squeaked quietly against the slick floors as they departed the partially flooded aisle and backtracked to the canned section.

“Do you guys have Chef Boyardee in your world?” Spencer grinned and snagged a can off of the shelf to show her.

Naomi took a long breath before speaking. “Are you going to command me to tell you what’s wrong?”

Spencer calmly placed the can back on the shelf. “No.”

“Why not?” Naomi crossed her arms over her ample chest.

Her words were fierce, but her eyes only reflected a profound loneliness.

“You’ll share if you want to. If you feel it would help.” Spencer answered simply. “It’s something my mom always did. She wouldn’t pry. Whenever I was upset she would sit nearby and do her own thing. Never pressuring, but constantly reminding me that she was there if I needed her.”

At least… until I became a teenager… That pesky voice that kept coming back chimed in. Spencer ignored it.

Naomi clenched her fists by her waist and glared daggers at him.

“Order me.” She demanded.

Spencer shook his head. “I promised I wouldn’t.”

“You shouldn’t care.” She fired back. “Sarah was right. My place is to follow orders. So order me to fall in line.”

Spencer looked her over. Naomi’s purple business suit was rumpled. Her glasses, which she had kept in her front pocket for most of the day, were smudged and dusty. Her fine silver hair stood up in several places. She was disheveled, overwhelmed, and trying to force the world back into the boxes she had defined long ago.

“I’ll only command those who will follow willingly.” Spencer affirmed his own promise from earlier. “I’m not going to force you.”

“You ordered me around earlier when we were saving your friend!” Naomi said, her aggression only growing. “Didn’t you see how easy that was? I know you already apologize, but why haven’t you realized that you don’t have to give a shit about what I think?”

Naomi stepped forward and gripped his shirt with both of her powerful hands. She paused. It was clear from her expression that she was waiting for Spencer to react, for Spencer to order her to stop. He didn’t. Spencer remained calm and maintained eye contact with her while he waited for her to continue.

“Damn you.” Tears fell from her eyes even as she grit her teeth. “Damn you to hell commander. Make me hate you. Be like everyone else. Be selfish. Be rough. Take what you want. Whenever you want. If you order me I can’t stop you. Do you understand?”

She took his hand and slammed it against her chest. It wasn’t a passionate gesture. Not one born from love or lust, but of pain. Her large breast heaved in Spencer’s palm as Naomi’s breathing grew erratic.

“If you order me to strip to nothing I can’t stop you. If you order me to kneel for you I’ll bite you with words, but I cannot harm you.” Her shoulders shook and her grip weakened around his wrist.

Spencer let his hand fall away. Naomi’s eyes fell to her empty chest as tears dripped from her angled nose.

“You can do whatever you want with me.” Her voice was little more than a whisper now. “I’m not a person. I never was. I’ve always been a tool to be used. Even before I became an engie.”

Spencer’s heart ached. This was it. This was the rot that ran to Naomi’s core. The reason for her bitterness and unwillingness to trust anyone. Spencer lifted his shaky hands and gently tilted Naomi’s face up so he could see her.

Devastation.

That was the best way he could describe the look that haunted her normally perfect features. The weight of unseen traumas pulled her down visibly. Naomi took a shaky breath.

“Please.” She choked out. Her hand lifted to hold Spencer’s hand against her cheek. “Hate me. I don’t know how to love.”

Something dripped onto the floor behind Naomi. Maybe he saw it from the corner of his eyes or maybe it was purely gut instinct, but Spencer acted before his brain could even process the threat. Spencer looped one leg around Naomi’s leg and pushed her as hard as he could. Naomi’s broken expression turned from hurt to panic as a dark shape rushed over her falling head and right into Spencer’s body.

Hot pain pierced straight through Spencer’s chest as wide jaws clamped down on him. The body armor stopped the teeth from reaching his heart directly, but even the durable material cracked under the immense pressure. Spencer didn’t scream. He couldn’t scream. The breath had been driven from his lungs until all that came out was a quiet gasp.

The monster looked very similar to a centipede. It had a long armored body with many legs that wriggled in the air even as it hung down from the ceiling. Its large black eyes bore through Spencer while its spear-like mandibles closed in around him.

“Commander!” Naomi screamed.

Spencer had never heard her sound so genuinely frightened before. Her sobs had changed from broken to panicked. Her firm hands shot up and punched the centipede directly in the jaw just beneath where it had me skewered. The creature pulled back, widening its mouth enough that Spencer’s body armor ripped away and his body fell down to the hard floor below.

“I’ve got you. Please! Hold on!” Naomi’s arms looped under Spencer’s shoulders and she dragged him back as fast as she could manage.

The centipede dropped. The heavy body crushed the metal shelves to their left as its lower half joined it on the floor. The centipede reared up and hissed. The stench of rotting meat wafted out of its jagged teeth. Naomi slid Spencer behind her and punched the first legs that shot out to attack them.

I need to help. Spencer tried to tell his arm to unsling his rifle, but he couldn’t get his arm and his shoulder to coordinate at the same time.

His shirt was warm. Too warm. Spencer’s eyes lowered to see a deep maroon bloodstain spreading across his chest.

That’s not good… that’s not good at all. His mind felt sluggish.

His shirt was warm, but yet his body felt cold. Naomi continued to strike the creature and hold it back with her fists alone.

Why isn’t she firing her cannons? Is there a wind up time or… 

No. That wasn’t it. Spencer realized that Naomi wasn’t firing because he had asked her not to.

She’s trying to follow my orders. Spencer opened his mouth. I’ve got to tell her it’s okay.

The words wouldn’t come. It was so hard to breathe.

“Spencer!” A different feminine voice cried out from the end of the aisle.

A dark flash of steel raced past the centipede. 

Sarah. 

One of its many legs lashed out catching Sarah’s face. A red line dripped fresh blood down her cheek, but Sarah didn’t even flinch. Her sword flashed behind her and severed the limb clean off.

“No, no, no, no!” The sword wielder’s strong hands clamped onto Spencer’s wound.

It should hurt, but Spencer’s focus was on the beautiful girl’s face.

This could be the last… Spencer’s eyes watched the cut on Sarah’s face stitch itself closed. Ah, lifesteal. I could use-

Memories flashed through Spencer’s mind from several days ago. About a wound he had on his leg that stitched itself together far quicker than any human should be able to manage.

Andrea. Despite it growing ever more difficult to think straight, Spencer forced his mind to work through the connection he can feel being made. Andrea had heightened health regen. When she was with me… I had heightened health regen.

It was a long shot, but it was possible. Spencer mustered every ounce of strength he had left.

“Let… me… shoot… it…” Spencer choked out. He tasted iron. His fingers twitched at his side.

Sarah’s tearful eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t waste time asking questions. Spencer felt the bloodied rifle slide off of his shoulder and placed into his hand. Sarah lifted Spencer up slightly, sliding herself beneath his head and shoulders to support his weight, while her hands puppeted Spencer’s to where they needed to be.

Ahead of them Beatrice had joined the fight. The deflection specialist once again lived up to her name as limb after limb and bite after bite was caught, blocked, or redirected with her quarterstaff and floating shield. Naomi stood awkwardly behind her, fists still raised, but eyes turned back repeatedly to check on Spencer’s condition.

The room’s edges faded from view. Spencer limply aimed the gun in the centipede’s general direction, prayed he wouldn’t hit anyone but the monster, and pulled the trigger. The Winchester kicked out of his weak grip and clattered to the floor. The bullet passed between Beatrice and her shield to strike the monster in the corner of its hissing maw. The bullet punched deep and black blood splattered into the air.

As the creature’s blood fell to the floor Spencer felt his vision sharpen, the fog in his mind lessen, and the coldness in his chest warm slightly.

“Again.” Spencer wheezed.

Sarah picked up the rifle and worked the bolt like a professional to hand him back a weapon ready to fire. Spencer, a little steadier now, fired again. The bullet struck the segmented body just beneath the head and ricochet of the armored chitin. The healing feeling didn’t return this time. He didn’t inflict any damage.

“Naomi!” Sarah’s voice cracked like a whip and the taller engie whirled around in a panic.

“What? Is he okay?” Her gray eyes tightened at the menacing bloodstain covering most of Spencer’s chest.

“Hold him steady.” Sarah handed off Spencer’s support to the taller girl while she straightened and snagged her sword from the ground. “He needs a clear shot.”

Naomi’s fingers trembled, but they helped Spencer slot his finger back into the trigger guard.

“Chamber… a… round.” Spencer wheezed.

His chest wound felt smaller, but not closed. His vision began to fade again. Naomi nearly knocked the weapon out of his hands as she hastily pulled the bolt back and slid it forward to chamber a live round.

Ahead of them, Beatrice worked to maintain the monster’s attention while Sarah darted under it. More shelves toppled and jars in the next aisle crashed loudly into the smooth hard floor. Sarah spun, severing every limb in her reach at the same time. The centipede hissed and thrashed painfully as it lost the ability to support its head. Sarah and Beatrice leapt forward and gripped either side of its powerful mandibles in an attempt to hold it as steady as possible.

Spencer aimed right up at the roof of its disgusting mouth and squeezed the trigger. He managed to hold onto his weapon this time. The bullet passed straight through the soft tissue inside the monster’s mouth and exited out of the back of its neck. Either its brain was reduced to goop or Spencer severed something important, because the creature dropped to the ground with a heavy thud and stopped cold. 

Spencer’s chest felt warmer again. Lifting the tattered remains of his shirt Spencer peered down at his wound. The blood made it look awful, but by the end of the fight Spencer was left with two long scratches on his chest. No longer life threatening. The pounding headache and nausea remained.

“Still lost a lot of blood.” Spencer laid his head back gently onto the floor and draped his arm not holding the rifle over his eyes. “The lifesteal is probably percentage damage based. Not sure what the math looks like. Everything hurts.”

Naomi leaned over him, her eyes still wide and searching.

“Are you sure you’re-”

A pair of hands ripped Naomi away from Spencer and threw her violently into the potato chip display a half dozen feet away. 

“This is your fault!”

It was Sarah. The normally hard to read Sarah stood over Spencer with teeth bared, sword drawn, and chest heaving with unfiltered anger.

Spencer tried to sit up and failed halfway. The room spun. “Hey!”

“You stay away from him!” She screamed at Naomi as the taller engie tried to untangle herself from the mountain of crushed chip bags beneath her.

“I-I didn’t-” Naomi’s pleas fell on deaf ears.

Sarah stepped forward and slapped Naomi across the face with the flat end of her blade. A long red mark sprung up on Naomi’s pale skin.

“You’re dead weight!” Sarah’s eyes flashed dangerously. “Dead weight must be severed!”

“Beatrice!” Spencer called out in a panic.

A resounding clang echoed through the ruined store as metal struck against metal. Beatrice stood in front of Naomi with her arms spread out wide and her shield quivering against the bladed edge of Sarah’s weapon.

“You dare side with her?!” Sarah roared in anger.

Beatrice threw her quarterstaff down and simply pointed at Spencer. Sarah blinked and looked down as if she'd forgotten Spencer was on the floor behind her. The anger drained out of her in an instant and Sarah dropped to her knees.

“I-I’m sorry, commander.” Sarah glanced at her sword in her hand and tossed it away immediately. “What do you need? Water? Bandages? A new shirt?”

Sarah wiped her eyes. “Anything. Please. I-I didn’t mean to.”

Spencer reached up and cupped Sarah’s cheek with one hand. Sarah let out a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob. She reached up and held his hand against her fervently.

“It’s not Naomi’s fault.” Spencer stressed to her.

Sarah grimaces, but nods. “I-I know. I made too much noise and-”

“It was my fault.” Spencer continued. “I said I didn’t want to split the team, but I allowed the team to be split. We’re stronger together. Remember? We win as a team.”

Spencer gestured up to Beatrice and Naomi. Beatrice remained protectively in front of Naomi and the taller girl stayed on the floor with her face hidden beneath her disheveled hair.

“Because she wouldn’t listen-” Sarah’s eyes flashed in Naomi’s direction again, but Spencer turned her face back towards him pointedly.

“I’m not dead.” He assured her. “Naomi protected me until you and Beatrice could come and save us. She did everything she could. She even followed my orders from earlier even though I didn’t phrase it as an order.”

Naomi flinched at the words.

“Help me sit up.” Spencer requested.

Sarah bit back her concerns and complied. Spencer turned to face the pitiful engie on the floor directly.

“Naomi.”

She met his eyes. Her face was a mess of guilt, relief, and dread. “Y-yes?”

“I’d like your trust. Do you feel that I’ve earned it?” He asked her in an earnest tone.

The room fell silent as Spencer’s question lingered in the still air. Beatrice glanced down at Naomi and the taller girl bit her lip. Sarah bowed her head behind Spencer and her trembling fingers tightened on his sides.

After a time Naomi nodded solemnly. “Yes… more than anyone else.”

As with Beatrice the day before Spencer could tell Naomi’s past trauma was far from healed, but this tentative bridge between them now had a solid foundation on which they can traverse. 

Spencer smiled. “In that case, I’d like to formally request to be your commander. No more tagging along. No more existing somewhere in between. I’m all in. What about you?”

Naomi stood. She straightened her clothes and fixed her posture to be at her imposing six foot five inch height. With a breath for courage Naomi snapped to attention.

“Naomi reporting for duty, commander.” She met Spencer’s eyes and blushed lightly. “Thank you for not giving up on me… darling.”

Spencer nodded and felt even more at ease when a small chime sounded in his ears.

Bonding Event successfully passed, Milestone successfully passed, Big Steps Forward: 

• Ten store credits awarded.

• Team member, Naomi, stats vastly improved.’

He glanced to his side to gauge Sarah’s reaction.

“You good?” He pressed his lips softly to the side of her face.

It was Sarah’s turn to blush as Spencer’s bloodied lips linger lightly on her tear streaked cheek.

“Yes commander… I’m sorry.” Sarah leaned forward to press her forehead to his. “I just want you to be safe. Seeing you bleeding out…”

She shuddered. “Don’t… let that happen again. Not for anyone.”

“Well I won’t try to, but it’s not like I’m just going to sit around and watch any of you die.” Spencer nudged Sarah playfully with his weak arms.

His attempt at levity fell flat. Sarah frowned, Beatrice bit her lower lip nervously, and Naomi’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Right, well, we should probably get to the roof.” Spencer cleared his throat and looked to Sarah to help him up.