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"Are we there yet?" Theo asked.

"That wasn't funny the first time," Cass replied, "It is not funny now."

Theo looked at the water under them, the jutting rocks in the distances. "If I'd known it would be this boring, I might have reconsidered taking this job."

"No, you wouldn't. I didn't hear you complaining this much on the first leg of the trip and that was four days over the ocean."

"But your piloting kept me from being bored, I was too busy trying not to hit my head every time you--" Theo yelped as he flew forward into the windshield, then held on as the hover fell. "Cass? What's going on?"

"Entertained yet?" The hover stopped ten meters over the water and resumed its flight.

"That was not funny!" Theo touched his forehead, surprised when his fingers came away dry. "Why did you turn off the emergency collision safeties? I could have a concussion from that impact."

"No, you don't. I didn't let you hit that hard, and I didn't turn anything off. The locals might have bent their low-tech rules to allow hovers, but they didn't accept the security systems that should come with them. There's a safety harness you can wear to keep you against the seat."

"A harness? what if I need to leave in a hurry?"

"Then you have bigger problems. Just put the thing on."

Theo found the harness in the side of the seat's back, pulled on it; some form of polymer, claw resistant,. "This is..."

"Archaic?" Cass offered.

"Does it even work?"

"Connect it and we can put it to the test."

Theo let go of it. "Let's not. Let's have this be a nice and boring trip. How far are we?"

"At this rate, it'll be ten hours until we reach the dead zone. It's over a hundred kilometer in diameter, and if they are smart, whatever they are hiding in it is not in the center, so from there I have no idea how long it'll take to locate them."

"No sensor, that means visual checks, I hope they got their inspiration from the Bondo movies and it's a kilometer tall tower that will be visible from anywhere under that dome."

"Do anarchists even watch movies?" Cass asked derisively.

"They unleashed an AI on Mars, so they aren't above using computers, and they have to do something to keep from being bored in their low tech world."

Theo hit the roof as the hover dropped hard. "Cass! What the fuck?" He dropped in the seat hard enough his tail kinked.

"This isn't me, the hover's being hacked. Get that harness on, now."

"How can we get hacked? We're not on the network!" Theo grabbed onto the seat as the hover banked right.

"I don't know, but code's getting in. It's aggressive, and it's trying to take control."

"That feels like more than trying!" The hover dove for the water. "Cass!"

"I am working, do you know how many systems are in this hover? And because of the restriction on technology, each one has an independent node, which is what the hacker is screwing with." The hover leveled off, and Theo heard the water hit the underside of the hover. "Okay, good news is they aren't looking to kill us. The hacker is who leveled the hover off."

"Bad news?"

"He has programs everywhere. They aren't AI, but they are fucking smart. Get the harness on Theo, this is not going to be a boring trip anymore."

Theo pulled on the strap and slid the harness over his chest, locking it on the other side of the seat. It tightened against him, but gave as he pulled on it. "This isn't going to protect me from anything."

"Let's hope it does because I'm going to try something."

"Cass," Theo warned, as the hover shut down.

The nose touched the water, and the hover came to a stop. Theo grunted in pain as the straps tightened against his chest and gravity did crazy things, trying to toss him all over the inside of the hover. When it decided to settle, Theo was upside down, the harness the only thing holding him in the seat.

"I have control again," Cass said, the lights inside the hover coming on. Out of the windshield, Theo saw lights through the water.

"Is this a good idea?" he asked.

"The water seems to be blocking whatever signal he was using."

"Yeah," Theo said, noticing the water leaking into the hover. "Problem is this hover isn't rated for underwater, I think. How long until you can get out of his range?"

"I don't know. I'm looking at the systems to figure out how he got in, but this is archaic tech, it doesn't have its tech manual in what passes for its memory. I need to trace every component to see if they have some kind of receiver I'm not familiar with."

"Can you do that while getting us to dry land?"

"I can move us, but the sensors are not getting through the water. The gyroscope locked up when we hit the water, so I have no idea where we are in relation to my maps."

Theo touched the roof. "There's about two centimeters of water in already. We can't stay here."

"If we get out of the water before I have blocked every way a signal can enter the system. They will simply retake control." The hover spun right side up, drenching Theo in falling water, then his feet were in an inch of water. "There, this will give me more time to work."

Theo pulled his feet up. "You are going to soak me."

"Just think of it as a shower."

"Cass, this is nothing like a shower. I can see how dirty this water is."

"It'll wash off."

"If we get out of here."

"I estimate that it'll take thirty-eight minutes before the water reaches your neck. I'm hoping to--"

"I really hate it when you hope. You're an AI, you should be able to give me precise answers."

"Then next time, let's make sure we steal a hover that comes with the latest technology so I know what I'm dealing with."

"I hate getting dirty like this," Theo said through clenched teeth, pulling his tail up as water lapped at the tip. "Water should be clean. Can you at least tell me what kind of germs are floating in this?"

"You don't want to know."

"Cass, that is not helping."

"Yeah, well, this is going to help even less. We can't stay underwater."

"That sounds like a good thing to me, but why?"

"Because whoever built this thing didn't bother making the components waterproof. I'm getting failures on the smaller stuff. So your call. We can get out and deal with them, or--"

"Out!" Theo pulled his feet higher as the brown water lapped at them. Water should not be that color. "I so fucking miss the lakes back home."

"Fully enclosed systems," Cass said as the hover rose, "require better control."

"I just want clear water."

The light was blinding after the underwater filter to it, and when Theo finally saw the large shuttle before him, he reconsidered the benefits of staying underwater. The hover shuddered.

"They have control. I can try fighting them, but the only likely result is another dunk."

"I'm not seeing colors, any idea who they are?"

"They haven't called, so I doubt they're from the Orrs."

"On the plus side, the hover doesn't fit in there." Theo leaned forward for a better look, and his feet dropped into the water. "Fuck, why isn't this stuff dripping out." They were moving, the shuttle staying above them. "Any indication where they are taking us?"

"They are towing us, so they didn't input information, but there's a series of unoccupied islands straight ahead, since they most likely want to take us into custody, those make for a good destination."

"So, no broadcast for our arrest, not even a warning, I'm thinking this isn't a legal action."

"Or they could simply expect us to be some low tech thief without an implant so they aren't bothering."

"Unless someone outside the corporations has this kind of tech, that is a lot of distance to travel just for a hover theft."

"But not so difficult for a shuttle like this."

Theo ground his teeth. "Call Uncle, we're going to need help getting out of this."

"It will come as no surprise that they are jamming all connection to the network," Cass answered. "We're on our own."

Theo sat back and almost put his foot down, then saw the water still pooled on the floor and the gunk in it. Theo thought he saw something move in there and shuddered.

Five minutes later they were over a grassy plain, the hover touching down and the shuttle continuing until it cleared enough space to lower itself. Theo was out the door, running. He knew he was wasting his time, but he wasn't making this any easier than he had to. He made it a hundred-fifty meters before the first soldier landed before him.

Theo skidded to a stop and headed left, only for another soldier to land in front of him. A dozen more soldiers were in the air, dropping around him. The green and gold highlights on their armor indicated Theo was in even more trouble than he'd expected. They weren't visibly armed, and they were shielded against scans. But that only meant he couldn't know what to expect.

He waited in the center of the uneven circle, and someone walked toward them, also in black armor with green and gold highlight. The highlights were more stylized, which made Theo suspect this was their commander.

"He's a Vanguard Force Division Commander, according to the insignias," Cass confirmed.

Two soldiers stepped aside to let him through and he stopped twenty steps away from Theo, studying him. The commander grabbed his helmet, twisted it, and the hiss of the broken seal sounded as he pulled it off. A tiger looked at Theo, a serious expression on his face.

'Taavir Doramok' appeared next to the man.

"Marcus, I do not approve of what you did to your fur," Taavir said. "Or do you prefer Theodore?"

"I guess there's no bullshitting our way through this guy," Cass offered

"Theodore is fine, Taavir," Theo answered, "and I'm trying to blend in."

Taavir nodded. "Running from your captors? That is good. I am here to bring you home."

"I doubt that."

"Your true home, not where those traitors hid you. Vanguard will welcome you back."

"I doubt that, you aren't taking me anywhere."

"Theodore, do not be an idiot. You are alone, I am an ally. Come home."

"I have the stunner at max strength," Cass said, "it should go through their armor unless they know about it, but you only get three shots, four if you don't mind an unresponsive arm while it recharges."

"You want to take me to Vanguard, you're going to have to drag me there unconscious." He made fists and readied himself.

Taavir shook his head and stepped to Theo. "Do not act like a child. You are a Vanguard man." He reached for Theo.

Theo opened his hand and slammed his palm into Taavir's chest. The feedback stung Theo's hand, but he was running in the opposite direction before Taavir fell back. Theo planted his shoulder in the stomach of the soldier who got in his way, lifting him, or her, he couldn't tell in that armor, off their feet and pressing his palm into their groin. There was no feedback this time, but the soldier tensed and stayed on the ground once Theo threw them aside.

"Subdue him!" Taavir yelled, sounding pained. "But do not damage him. He is one of us, just misguided."

"Someone's full of himself," Cass commented.

"He's got a squad of soldiers, he's entitled," Theo replied, running hard.

A soldier landed before him, and Theo extended his hand, palm forward. The soldier raised his arm to intercept it and instead of tensing when Theo closed his hand on the forearm, lines of energy traveled down the arm to the shoulder and came back to the other hand. Theo threw himself aside, but the hand glanced against his organic arm, and it went numb, keeping him from pushing himself back to his feet.

"Fuck," he groaned, rolling to his back. He felt the other soldiers landing around him.

"I admire the effort, Theodore," Taavir said, striding toward him. "It is good to see that you hold the Vanguard fighting spirit in spite of being raised by--"

"Don't you fucking say anything about my parents," Theo spat. He put his artificial hand under him and pushed himself to his knees.

"They are not your parents," Taavir said, "you are a child of Vanguard, as am I. You were put in their care, but they stole you."

"They protected me!" Theo got to his feet. "My mom found out about the experiments your sick corporation planned to run on me. And she decided to put me first. Do you have any idea the kind of courage that takes? So don't you fucking bad mouth my parents. They loved me enough to sacrifice everything!"

Taavir looked back at Theo, impassive. "I am sorry you believe that. But fear not, we will set your mind right. You will see them for the criminals they are."

"No fucking way." Theo finger codded the order, bypassing Cass entirely. He had one charge left, and by itself, it wouldn't be enough because the safeguards would ensure there was enough energy to keep Cass alive, but they were past that point. He needed this last charge to be strong enough not to stun, but to kill.

It meant his mission would be unfinished, but his capture ensured that anyway, and he couldn't risk he'd reveal anything about the Colonies, so he was going to end this permanently.

He felt the energy buzzing in his hand as he kept his gaze fixed on Taavir. The other tiger was close. If he saw it coming, he could stop Theo. The touch might kill him, but Theo would remain alive, in danger of dooming his home. His real home.

Taavir glanced up, and Theo saw his moment.

"Theo, don't," Cass ordered, and despite himself, Theo hesitated. Taavir's eyes were back on him, on his arm. He'd noticed the aborted motion. Why had Cass done that? Their lives weren't worth-- "Run!" Cass yelled, and Theo noticed the soldiers were also running away.

Theo obeyed, cursing as Taavir chased him. "Cass?"

"We have incoming, something dropping from orbit."

"What are you talking about? What's dropping from orbit?"

There was an explosion behind him.

"That," Cass said, as the shock wave hit and lifted him off his feet.

Theo fell and rolled. He coughed as the dust settled, hurried to his feet. Cass gave him a wire mesh view of his blurry surroundings. The soldiers stirring on the ground, the form walking out of the crater.

"What the fuck is that?" Theo backed slowly, trying to decide where to run.

The form jumped, and as Theo watched, stunned, Cass projected the landing, behind Theo, between him and the Vanguard soldiers. The ground shook as it landed. It was massive, a matte black armor with hard edges. Robot? Theo wondered.

The armor turned its head to look at him. "Strip!"

Theo stared at its back as it looked at the soldiers getting to their feet. Taavir stepped forward. "This is none of--"

"This is an assault against an Orr citizen!" the armor stated, the volume so loud Theo took a step back. "You will desist, Vanguard, or I am going to fuck you up so badly your father will not ever want to touch you again."

Taavir sighed. "Orr, this is not your business. You are outside your corporation. That man is a Vanguard citizen, taken from his corporation by traitors. Go back to your morally deficit home and go play with your family."

"Oh, you have no idea how happy I am you said that." The fists closed, and the armor flowed over them, turning them into pile drivers. "I told you to strip!" it jumped at the soldier running in its direction and planted the end of the pile driver against the soldier's chest. The armor she was wearing shattered as she flew back out of sight.

A soldier ran for Theo, and before he could get over his surprise at what was happening the armor was between them, backhanding the soldier and he too vanished from sight.

"Are you deaf?" the armor yelled.

"This is a fight!" Theo yelled back, "now's not the time to get me naked! What is it with everyone in your corporation being obsessed with naked men?"

"I said strip!" The volume of the order forced Theo to take a step back and was reaching for his shirt. The armor kicked a soldier. Who almost got out of the way in time, but the impact still set him careening away.

"Cass?" Theo asked, shirt off.

"Don't ask me, I'm just happy he seems to be on our side and kind of scared of what he'll do if he decides you're not getting naked fast enough."

"This is insane," Theo grumbled, taking off his pants.

"Not arguing with you there."

Two soldiers fired at the armor, and it seemed to grow bigger.

"Are you seeing that?" Cass asked.

The armor grabbed one of the soldiers and threw him across the combat zone to impact with another one who'd been trying to sneak up behind Theo.

"Maybe we should pay attention to what's going on, instead," Theo said.

"What do you plan on doing?" Cass asked. "Your naked."

"That doesn't really make me any less efficient than I was when I wore clothing." Theo backed away from everyone. He felt uncomfortably exposed.

"Oh fuck," Cass said, awe and fear in his voice.

The armor was in the air again, turning and pulling something from its back. Theo didn't need Cass's projection. It was going to land on him if he didn't move. He had to move, he had to run. Why couldn't he get himself moving? Was that a fucking sword it was holding?

The armor was getting close, falling toward him, arm extended back, that scary band? Sword? Metal beam in its hand, and Theo stood frozen in terror. Cass screamed in his ear, but Theo couldn't do anything. At the last moment, he raised his arms to protect his face, understanding the armor was swinging at him.

What it held hit him in the midsection, the impact so clean he didn't feel pain, just cold, then the armor landed next to him, shoving Theo away. He landed on the grass, his foot hit a stone and the pain told him both parts of his body were still attached. He looked down at himself. Something black was spreading over his legs and stomach. With a scream, he batted at it, tried to keep it from spreading, but it was up to his chest now.

"Cass! How do I stop it?" It flowed around his fingers like it wasn't there, but now it was to his neck. "Cass!" He took a breath, closed his mouth and eyes, folded his ears back, as it covered his face, his head, and all sounds went away.

He continued trying to pull it off, he couldn't hold his breath indefinitely, what would it do when he opened his mouth, would it pour down his throat, suffocate him. He had to get it off. He almost opened his mouth to scream Cass's name. Where was he? Why wasn't he responding? He could tell his hands were covered now, did it mean all he was doing was helping spread it around?

Points of lights appeared behind his closed eyes. He was running out of breath. Fuck. What was Cass doing? There had to be some sort of control on this he could take over to shut it down. He tried to stop trashing, he was going through the little air he had left even faster, but this thing was killing him! He had to do something.

He ground his teeth together as the points exploded. His longs hurt!

He gasped, and immediately closed his mouth. Fuck, had he let it in?

The explosions of light receded.

That had been air.

He ignored the demands of his lungs and took a small breath.

Air, only air.

He gulped the air, touching his covered face. Whatever covered it was hard but pliant. He opened his eyes to darkness. Encased for transport? That made no sense. He wouldn't be able to move his arms if this was to hold him prisoner, or his legs. He bent his knees. They worked fine. He was just blind for some reason.

He got to his hand and knees and was in the process of standing when colors swirled before him, making him lose his balance. He felt his fall, but no pain. There was cushioning in here.

The colors resolved themselves into the outside, around him. The armor was fighting four soldiers; they'd gotten over their initial surprise and were giving it a more even fight now that they coordinated their attacks.

"There," Cass said.

"Cass, where have you been? What's going on? What is this thing?" his voice sounded hollow inside this thing.

"Sorry, I got overwhelmed getting this armor to listen to me. It wasn't exactly designed with me in mind."

"Armor?"

"Yep," Cass answered, his smile audible. "We are wearing a state of-the-art Orr military belt, with all the apps and add-ons. Now, I'm going to need you to relax as much as possible, and let me pilot this thing."

Before Theo could ask what that meant, the armor moved around him, getting him to his feet. Targeting reticules appeared before him, highlighting everyone, with the other armor in blue, the soldiers in red with Taavir, who was taking shots from the periphery in gold.

"Now, relax," Cass said, "and I apologize for the bruises in advance."

And Theo was carried into the battle faster than he could understand what he saw.