Page 4 of Craze

RamBash ping-pongs around until his chamber shatters, but his movement launches him away from our group as well.

Tangle is stuck. He isn’t built for this. Neither is Macabre, though he wedges himself in a corner and pushes with his feet. They don’t have the speed or power necessary to break out.

My brothers are in trouble.

My ultro surges, and I pummel my chamber until I’ve got a hole. I rip the tempered glass out of my way and climb out intothe thunderous wind, ignoring the searing scrapes of glass over my synthflesh.

Tangle is closest and least likely to survive a crash in a box. I leap to his chamber, find the door mechanism and reef it open.

Craze>>Tangle: See you below, brother. Tuck and roll.

Tangle gives me a wild-eyed look, his short dark hair and threadbare uniform rippling in the wake of our descent.You’re crazy!

Just Craze! No eee!I reply.

I leap back to my old unit and toward Macabre’s as Tangle jumps. Macabre’s door is jammed, and we’re nearing the ground.

Get back!I shout over our network.

He leans against the far side as I beat in the door until it fractures. Then I steady myself on the frame and reach a hand inside. When he grabs on, I tear him through.

When he’s free, I see a fifth cell.

Shit.

It's an impulse to rush to my brother, even though I know I’m going to be too late. The ETA to impact flashes red in my mind. There isn’t enough time.

Still, I push off of Macabre’s chamber and collide with the last. I try the door. The latch breaks off.

Gah! Come on!

Impact ETA: Ten. Nine—

I grab the chamber and slam my fist into the glass again and again, pushing the limits of my force and what my nanos can repair. Synthflesh shreds.

I don’t want my brother to die.

I don’t want him to be alone.

I don’t want to lose anyone else on my team on any mission ever again.

Six. Five—

My brother speaks to me as I fight for him.

Ranger>>Craze: Just dig out my core! Don’t let them have it! Jump, Craze! Jump!

I’m not leaving you!

Two—

Reverence fills his gold eyes, made of the same metals as Tangle’s body. We are all Brothers with similar parts. To let go is to leave a piece of ourselves behind with every lost Titan.

One—

The glass of his chamber is cold and solid beneath my hands. He is alive and with me for one final breath. Then he slams himself against the far side of his chamber and launches it away from me.

Ranger!I scramble in the air, trying to reach him.