Chrono Sector, Team Barracks
"I'll admit it," C'luppo said, his skin shifting to a contemplative blue. "I misjudged that Julian fellow. Bit of a knucklehead, yeah, but he's got heart. Proper heart. The kind you can't fake, innit?"
McGee nodded, casually cleaning his pistol with practiced efficiency. "Agreed. Takes guts to stand up like that. Even if it blew up in his face."
"LADS!" Javar's voice rang out from his perch. "Come look at dis! LOOK!"
He was reading a magazine. Not just any magazine. Victoria's Secret.
His eyes were literal hearts. Drool dripped from his beak. His feathers were puffed up in the most ridiculous way possible.
"Angels, mon! ANGELS! Look at dem wings! Look at di—"
"JAVAR!" Miki stormed over and SNATCHED the magazine. "Are you KIDDING me?! We have the Crucible in TWO DAYS and you're—"
"Cultural appreciation, Miki gyal! Di fashion industry is ART!"
"This is LINGERIE!"
"Exactly! High fashion!"
McGee didn't even look up from his gun. "He's hopeless."
"Ey ey ey!" Javar hopped down, still grinning despite Miki's fury. "But listen, right? Me been t'inking. Dat Juli yout'? Me want him in di finals. One on one. Proper scrap."
C'luppo's tentacles perked up. "You want to fight him?"
"Bloodclaat, yeah! But not in di Crucible. Nah nah." Javar's eyes gleamed. "In di Crucible, me might even team up wit' him temporary-like. Learn his style. Study his moves. Den when we reach di finals?" He punched his wing into his palm. "Proper showdown!"
McGee finally looked up, deadpan. "What a traitorous bird."
"Strategic, mon! STRATEGIC!"
"You're going to team up with a competitor to study him so you can beat him later. That's literally treachery."
"Dat's SMART!"
Miki threw the magazine at his head. "You're an IDIOT!"
"Me an intelligent idiot!"
"THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE!"
C'luppo's skin flashed amused purple as the bickering continued. Despite everything, they were ready. In their own chaotic way.
Steel Sector, Team Barracks
SMACK.
The sound echoed through the room.
Nara's hand connected with the captain's face. Hard. Her pale features twisted with fury, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her accent came out thick, raw with emotion.
"How COULD you?! How could you say such HORRIBLE t'ings to dat poor boy?!"
The captain's face turned slightly from the impact, but he didn't react. Didn't touch his reddening cheek. Just stood there, black eyes empty.
"He vas CRYING!" Nara's voice cracked. "Crying over his hero! Over YOUR brother! And vhat do you do?! You spit on his memory! You call him BASTARD!"
The butterfly girl Hanna hovered nearby, wings drooping. "Nara, please—"
"NO!" Nara whirled on her. "Don't you DARE defend him! Vhat he did vas CRUEL! Inexcusable!"
Randolph, the Saurian, stepped forward. His normally calm green scales had darkened with anger. "She's right, Polo. That crossed every line. Your own brother? Really?"
Polo still said nothing. Just stared at the wall.
"SAY SOMETHING!" Nara screamed, her fangs fully extended.
Silence.
Randolph's fists clenched. "You know what? Fine. Don't talk. But in that Crucible? Don't expect me to watch your back like before. You're on your own."
"Randolph—" Hanna started.
"No. I'm done." He turned away. "He wants to be alone? Let him be alone."
Nara wiped her tears furiously. "I vanted to marry dat Juli boy. Now? Now I just vant to APOLOGIZE to him for having such a MONSTER on my team!"
She stormed out, slamming the door hard enough to rattle the frame.
The butterfly girl looked between Randolph and Polo, her wings trembling. "We're supposed to be a team..."
"Not anymore," Randolph muttered, walking to his bunk.
Polo's hand finally moved, clenching into a fist at his side. But he said nothing.
The cracks had become chasms.
Terra Sector, Team Barracks
"Yo, y'all see that confrontation, right?"
Stone leaned back in his chair, a mountain of a teenager who looked like someone had taken a street brawler and upgraded him with military-grade cybernetics. His left arm was completely mechanical, black metal with blue energy lines running through it like veins. His right eye was natural, deep brown and sharp. His left eye was cybernetic, glowing faint orange, constantly whirring and refocusing. A metal plate ran along the left side of his jaw, giving him a permanent half-smile. Dark skin, fade haircut with designs carved into the sides, and a confidence that filled the entire room.
"That blonde kid Juli and the red-haired team captain? That was WILD."
His teammates, a mix of various species, nodded in agreement.
"Felt bad for the blonde," one said.
"For real, for real," Stone agreed, his cybernetic fingers drumming rhythmically against the metal table. Each tap made a small clinking sound. "But here's what I'm thinkin'. That Juli kid? He's the favorite. Everybody sayin' he gonna rack up the most points in the Crucible."
"You think so?"
"Man, I KNOW so. Kid fought Ragnar and lived. Got that dog in him. That IT factor." His cybernetic eye zoomed slightly, like he was calculating. "Which is exactly why I'ma fight him."
"You serious?"
"Dead serious." Stone's metal arm transformed smoothly, plating shifting to reveal built-in weapon systems before reverting back. "Soon as I see him in that Crucible? I'm goin' straight at him. Ain't tryna eliminate him or nothin'. Just wanna see the gap. Measure where I'm at versus where HE at. See if the hype real."
"That's bold."
"Nah, that's smart. Can't get better if you don't test yourself against the best." He stood, his impressive height and build making him look more like a soldier than a cadet. "Besides, win or lose, it'll be good data. Good experience. And who knows? Maybe I'll surprise myself."
His team looked at him with respect and concern.
"Just don't get yourself eliminated on day one," someone warned.
Stone grinned, his natural teeth bright against his dark skin and metal jaw. "Trust the process, fam. Trust the process."
Team 9 Barracks, Later That Evening
Juli sat alone on his bunk, holographic communication device in hand. He pressed the button.
A hologram materialized. A woman with blonde hair, tired eyes, but a warm smile.
"Juli! Sweetheart!"
"Hey, Mom." His entire demeanor changed. Softer. "Just checking in before the Crucible."
"I've been watching! You passed! I'm so proud!"
"Barely." He laughed. "But a pass is a pass."
They talked for a while. Normal stuff. Colony life. Her work. His training.
"Oh, and he contacted us again last week," his mother said warmly. "Sent the usual support. Made sure we had everything we needed."
Juli's expression softened. "He's still doing that?"
"Every month like clockwork. He asks about you constantly. Wants to know how you're doing."
"Tell him I'm gonna meet him face-to-face someday. When I'm closer to his level."
"Juli, you don't have to—"
"I know, I know. But I want to." His grin turned stubborn. "I'm gonna stand in front of him as someone worthy. Not as some kid he saved. As an equal."
His mother sighed, but she was smiling. "You're just like him, you know that?"
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Speaking of—" Her voice brightened. "Someone wants to say hi."
The hologram shifted. A small girl appeared beside his mother.
Bright red hair. Warm eyes. Cheerful smile.
"Big brother!" she waved excitedly.
Juli's face lit up. "Juno! What's up, little troublemaker?"
"I'm not a troublemaker!"
"Oh really? So you DIDN'T put mud in Mrs. Hahn's flowerpots last week?"
Her eyes went wide. "How did you—"
"I have spies everywhere. I know EVERYTHING." He grinned mischievously. "I know you stole cookies. I know you skipped nap time. I know ALLLL your secrets."
"You don't!"
"I do! I'm your big brother. It's my JOB to know."
She giggled, then tried to look serious. "Well, I know YOUR secret too!"
"Oh yeah? What's that?"
"You're scared of the Crucible!"
"WHAT?! I'm not scared!"
"Are too!"
"Am NOT! I'm gonna kick everyone's butt!"
"Promise?"
"Super promise. I'm gonna win the whole thing. Then when I come home, you're gonna have to admit I'm the coolest big brother ever."
"You're already the coolest!" She smiled so brightly it hurt to look at. "Go get 'em, Juli!"
"You know it, little red."
His mother called Juno away for bedtime. The girl waved, her red hair bouncing as she ran off-screen.
"Love you, Juli. Be safe."
"Love you too, Mom."
The hologram faded.
Juli sat in the darkness, staring at the flame crest emblem on his nightstand.
Wait.
Red hair.
RED hair.
JUNO HAD RED HAIR!
The same unmistakable shade as the Titan. As the man who saved them.
Juli's little sister.
The daughter of the RED-haired hero!
The secret sat heavy in the quiet room.