THE BLACK BETWEEN STARS

HeliumFilaments

"On jump kit or Titan stride-

I will never leave your side

For better or worse, win or lose

You're the one I will always choose

In this life and in the next

Until my last dying breath,

I am yours and you are mine

From this moment until the end of time.."

-Excerpt of the Precursors

I

'What have I become?

Question looming. It's been two years since the incident and things have yet to sit right with me. Sure, all the doubts and fears that have long caged me are gone- but who ever really gave a shit about that? Picture this; have you ever watched your entire squadron burn alive and felt nothing inside? Have you accomplished intoxicating yourself so often that the high no longer exists? No, I bet you haven't. The last fucking thing I can use to calm my irrational mind and tame the hallucinations is ripped from me once again. Even the feeling of my heart beating is but phantom pain now.

What's the purpose of this journal entry, you ask? Hell, go ask someone else for even I don't know. I found this old notepad lying in the barracks and started jotting down the demons plaguing my deteriorating mind. On the surface I'm fine; elite Pilot blessed with a North and damn good "friends"- Friends, hah, what a word. Its all the same, civilians stare up at me with that iconic look of, "Wow, look at you, you got everything, what more could you ask for?" Fuck you, I'll tell ya what; just to like that person in the mirror again-'

With a grunt the man slammed shut the cover of the metal fieldbook, slipping it neatly into his jacket pocket and breathing out the smoke stretching his lungs. A sharp gale of arctic wind found its way under his hooded parka, sending a shiver down his neck.

"Pilot, I have that casualty report you've requested."

The man paused momentarily to reignite his cigarette.

"How many survivors?"

"I counted sixteen."

He rolled his head back against the rock wall, filtering out smoke through his teeth,

"Wounded, I assume-"

"You'd be more than correct."

The heavy plundering of metal feet sent small tremors up and through the snowbank before coming to a stop just short of him. Ash wisps dusted the winter air as embers danced across his boots. The silver Northstar knelt down beside her Pilot, yellow optic swiveling to meet the cold glare of her partner. There was no love left in his eyes. The scene around them wasn't pretty, but still less gruesome than some of the other ambushes they'd witnessed in the past.

"What's our course of action?" LK-1644 asked.

Her Pilot looked unphased at the sight below them, "Burn the rest of them, I guess."

The machine looked to the small huddle of men, struggling to pull their still living counterparts out of the freezing snow. As the wind began to pick up speed, soot and snowflakes soon became indistinguishable. It wouldn't be long before the helpless grunts would succumb to the environmental hazards and freeze to death. Luckily, the Pilot and his Titan had arrived in time to save them. Or, so it was believed.

The Northstar stood up to her full height once more, her slender legs pranced through the thick snow as she began her decline down the hill. Her Pilot trudged along slowly behind her, the fur of his parka masking his identity and the many swirling thoughts below it. LK's right arm still shimmered brighter than the rest of her rebuilt body and that alone was enough to send guilt flooding through his veins.

Three years earlier they'd been broken- badly. What was meant to be a quick job, in and out with no side casualties quickly turned into a bloody skirmish. Laika's years of agility training and advanced neural mapping had provided them with the upperhand they needed to repel against the pack of Pilots that had somehow succeeded in ambushing their assassination mission. While they made quick work of them, it wasn't long before more trouble rose over the horizon in the form of the infamous Mercenary leader; Kuben Blisk.

His reputation as an explosive, confrontational man with little to no compassion for other people deemed 'inferior' in his eyes was definitely bang on. His brown eyes first pierced him straight through the protective hatch of Laika's cockpit and ever since that day, the Pilot had trouble sleeping. Blisk's presence haunted him like a dark omen, whispering death and truth into his mind when he least expected it. Jespar's teachings and Laika's humbleness were slowly being eaten away by acid that was the embodiment of the Apex Predator himself -and in a twisted and uncanny way, it brought him relief.

"I've sent a beacon to the closest ACES envoy. If I recall correctly, we aren't too far from their last position. Help shouldn't take more than an hour."

"You sure they'll see it? What if they don't-"

The bantering grunts trembled in fear as the Titan without a Pilot accompanying it approached them, but quickly accepted her help once they saw the faded ACES badge painted upon her hull.

"Thank god for you, Northstar. What's your name?"

"Designation LK-1644."

"LK, eh? Remind Barker that I owe you fresh hydraulic fluid. Where's your Pilot?"

"That is of no concern to you." She retorted flatly, their smiles fading as fast as they'd formed when she flipped open the caps on her cluster missile pods. Screams of agony erupted as a sea of thermite sizzled and popped like rogue fireworks, searing the last remainders of the fleet.

"Satisfactory?" She inquired, secretly hoping to maintain favor within his shrinking heart. Her optic swiveled up towards the man staring at something in his hand. The machine let out a defeated sigh as she reached out through their neural link.

"Pilot? Everything well?"

He wished for just one day she'd quit asking him that.

"Yes. I'll be there in a second. Don't wait up for me."

Laika knew that was another lie, but obliged anyway,

"Good. I will be down here when you are ready."

The conflicted Pilot brushed the light snowflakes from the black card now held in his gloves. The frayed edges of the piece of paper had visibly weathered over the years but nonetheless; mounted upon its red crest the skull of a horned demon stared through him, just as the man responsible for bestowing it upon him once did. A malicious little seed had been planted and while no-one was watching, he nurtured it and allowed it's thorns to wrap around his broken heart.

"You have a talent for war, Pilot. My advice; I wouldn't waste it all on the Frontier."-

Two years ago he'd involuntarily allowed himself to get captured. Believing that Laika had been taken hostage, he attempted a lone raid on a mercenary ship in order to save his beloved machine. However, his sacrifice proved in vain as not all was as it was made out to be.


-TRANSCRIPTS REGARDING CASE 25-20B;

INTEL VIA PILOT ID:36546 HELMET DATA FEED

SRS COMMAND EYES ONLY;

SUBJECTS 1,3; SUSPECTED APEX PREDATOR OFFICERS, ORIGINS UNKNOWN

SUBJECT 2; SUSPECTED HOSTAGE -FORMER MILITIA PILOT ' ', ANGEL CITY ELITE

1: "Give me your arm."

2: "N-no- don't please-"

1: "I said, give me your goddamn ARM."

-AUDIBLE SCREAMING, CHOPPING/RIPPING NOISE-

1: "There, that wasn't so hard now was it?"

-RAPID BREATHING, WAILING-

1: "Calm down. This is the Frontier. You gotta get used to losing a lot more than basic appendages out here-"

2: "WHERE IS SHE!?"

1: "What? Who-"

2: "LAIKA! My Titan!"

1: "Oh, yes- the mass produced Hammond shit kicker. Blisk's dealing with her."

2: "You return her to me, NOW-"

1: "And why would I do that, huh? Let you escape? Seems you got another thing to learn-"

2: "I don't care about me, you let her go! This isn't her fight.."

-LOUD CRACKING, DESPERATE SOBBING-

1: "How'd you like that, huh? Me backhanding you with your own severed arm-"

2: "You're a fucking piece of shit-"

1: "Enough- you're spitting up blood everywhere. Gonna need to hire another MRVN to clean your ass up."

-INAUDIBLE MUFFLING SOUNDS-

2: "Let her go- please.. I'll do anything-I'll do-"

1: "All that pain for a fucking Titan.. Good lord you Militia bastards are sentimental fucks. I should beat-"

-HYDRAULIC DOOR OPENING, FOOTSTEPS, 3RD SUBJECT ENTERS-

3: "That will be all, Kareena."

1: "Blisk- you're early."

3: "You sound disappointed."

1: "No, just- surprised."

3: "Get out."

1: "But I'm not do-"

3: "Get the fuck out, before I rip your arm off."

-ANGRY MUFFLING, 1ST SUBJECT EXITS ROOM-

3: "Apologies for my subordinate -she struggles with self control."

-CONTINUED SILENCE FROM 2ND SUBJECT-

3: "Anyways- do continue. You said you'd do anything regarding the safety of your Titan..."

3: "-was that a lie?"

2: "No. You heard me. Loud and clear. I want your word she'll be safe."

3: "Ah."

2: "GIVE ME your word."

3: "Hah, feisty, I like it. It's comical how the human brain reacts under immense pressure- Fine. You got it; you have my word no harm will come to the Northstar. Now, here's what you are gonna do for me."

-AUDIBLE HELMET FUMBLING, CLICKING-

-END TRANSMISSION-


He clutched the socket of his own right arm. The skin had long since healed underneath the metal cap of the new cybernetic limb, his joints clicking as he flexed his metal fingers. The phantom pain of bone being butchered from its rightful place still lingered, causing the Pilot to constantly check and make sure the new arm was still attached. He hated Kareem for what she'd done yet his regrettable newfound admiration and fear of Blisk superseded all disdain he held for his new acquaintance. At the very least, revenge was something that was very prevalent throughout the Frontier and increasingly so within the Mercenary Code.


-"Now that the Ark has been destroyed and you've failed your mission of collecting Marder's head...it seems you and I are out of a job."

The man's bloodshot eyes lifted wearily, the chains binding his left arm to his back now weighing him to the floor.

"And what do I have to do with that?"

Blisk strode around him, hands pulled neatly behind him as he clutched a large hunting knife within his leather fists.

"You see- that Militia nuisance Jack Cooper raided some of our best Pilots and put them in the dirt- Even offered the prick some work but as expected, he pulled a no-show. Not to mention you, killing off my 'testers'- experienced, albeit shit excuses for mercenaries. I would commend you on ridding me of them, but see that's the problem, I'm burdened with filling my ranks once more."

He kept his true thoughts to himself, choosing to look at the floor, "I'm not that good of a Pilot. I'd be a hindrance."

Blisk knelt down beside him, lifting his blood splattered chin with the blade of his knife until he was forced to lock eyes with his captor.

"You're right. You aren't that good of a Pilot."

His face scrunched, pulling back his knife as the other man's head fell in shame. He then did something unexpected; his tone turned soft as if praising a scolded child,

"You're a broken thing."

He stood to his full height, combing back his greased hair with a hand. For a brief second, the man in chains looked up with a feeble hope seconds before being nailed by a sharp kick to the chest. As he lurched forward and cried out, the Apex Predator's boot pushed him face down against the concrete.

"There's hate in your heart. I saw it, felt it during our first skirmish. You wanted me dead for hurting your flying tin can and you would have succeeded would I have let you. You know I'm right."

He stared down pitiful upon watching the man's reluctant tears hitting the floor.

"You're a bloody killer, kid. You've always been one. No use trying to escape your fate."

"I'm n-not one of you," He spat through clenched teeth, "Militia blood runs through my veins. That is something you can never take away from me."

There was silence. Long silence. Eventually to broken by a low chuckle.

"I know we got a long way to go, kiddo. But believe me, we'll get there." Blisk's grip on his mutilated shoulder make him scream out again, "One way.." The man's wails increased into a horrible pitch as he felt the knive blade slip neatly into the socket, "..or another."


"Pilot? Are you alright? Pilot."

He shook his head, coming out of the forest of his mind. His cigarette had fallen cold in his lap and he lifted himself out of a tall snowdrift he had sunk into, freeing his body from his winter casket.

"Laika- my apologies. Got distracted."

"Seems to happen frequently with you."

He chuckled, letting a smile grace his scarred face, "Suppose it does, doesn't it?"

"According to my scans, no further traces of lifeforms are present in the area. Shall we move on?"

The recruitment card he clutched between his fingers began to shake like a leaf as he shivered in the cold. Instinct urged him to seek warmth yet he just stood there like an idiot in the blowing snow, that damn card capturing his gaze through his tired eyes. It was days like these that really brought out the worst in him. Sometimes the memories were just as painful as losing his arm all over again.

"In a minute."


-"I wish you'd been honest, commander."

Blisk tossed his cigarette out the door of the dropship, "Eh, 'bout what?"

The man's eyes never did fill with light again.

"Laika. That you never had her."

Blisk simply smirked as he tossed a G2 at his feet.

"Had to do something to get you to give yourself up."

He picked up his new weapon, studying its dark metallic finish. Fresh oil still lined the reloading mechanism and he wondered if the weapon had ever been fired before. It was hard to get used to the idea of having access to an open armory and a wide array of weaponry, especially when his new targets would be of those he used to protect.

"You have my word and that will stand for as long as I'm alive. I won't hurt her, but only if you keep up your end of the deal. I can count on you to do that, right?"

The Pilot only nodded, staring at his boots as their ship hovered over the ground, blowing dust all around. Before he could leave he felt the heavy hand of Kareena grab his shoulder, a smug grin plastered across her treacherous face.

"Hey, if you ever need a hand I got you covered, partner."

She laughed, his face going white as he gripped the door with his new prosthetic arm. Kareena's boot collided with his back and with a heavy thud he faceplanted the dust.

"See you in two years, fucker." Her laugh could be heard for as long as it took the dropship to warp off planet. His teeth gritted in anger as images of Kareena's severed head surfaced in his broken mind. He'd kill that bitch soon enough-


"Pilot, incoming!"

This time, Laika's warning wasn't near fast enough. The sky lit up like a white flare as a rogue railgun shot narrowly missed him, obliterating the rock formation 300 meters behind him. The blast knocked him on his knees, making him reel in shock. He rolled onto his back just in time to witness Laika firing back on their sudden opposition. His head tilted back as he caught sight of their attackers; uncannily enough, there hovering mid-shot was another Northstar. This was hardly a surprise, Kabor was full of flying machines.

"Pilot! Hostile scans completed; Hammond issue Northstar chassis code, unidentified armory. Pilot biological scans reveal-"

Seeing a chunk of metal fly off Laika's arm as a shot clipped her was all it took to bring him to his senses. Without further interruption from his screaming PTSD, he reached for his gun and poured a round into their opposition.

"Laika, fall back. Saddle up and let's take this fucker."

As anticipated, the other Northstar turned her sights on him. As his Titan reversed her thrusters and shot backwards, he watched the other railgun prime as it seared with white hot light.

"Biological scans updated; enemy Pilot is female. Civilian class."

Unwanted images of Kareena's smug grin flooded his mind. He knew it wasn't her, yet his temper still flared. He could almost feel the enemy Titan pull the trigger as Laika scooped him up and into her chassis. The shot missed as they danced aerially, their railgun already primed. He locked her in their sights, thrusters on full speed as he launched them forward like a javelin. She was about to feel the full heat of the fire that she'd just stoked.

I

-SRS INFO BULLETIN;

-UNRECOGNIZED TRANSMISSION REC'D 12/3/2134 FROM UNKNOWN ORIGIN, GEOTRACKING DISABLED

-LAST KNOWN LOCATION; CHOUTAN DIST. ANGEL CITY 12/3/2132

-MILITIA RECORDS HOLD NO DATA ON PROPOSED PILOT 'MAXAM IVANOV'

-NO SYSTEM TITAN DATA LINKED TO PILOT, SUSPECTED ROGUE MERCENARY

-SUSPECTED APEX PREDATOR OFFICERS CLASSIFIED AS CLASS A THREATS

-ANY INFORMATION ON 'MAXAM IVANOV' OR AFFILIATED APEX PREDATOR SUSPECTS ARE TO BE BROUGHT TO SRS ATTENTION A.S.A.P-


a/n; holy shit, who's ready for titanfall 3!? i know i hella am. not too sure when we will get that but in the meantime, we should all write stuff. that's how i'm gonna cope anyway. going to give this 'upload a chapter at a time' thing a try instead of uploading a whole goddamn text wall story in like, 6 days. any feedback is appreciated! i'm not the best writer out here, but what the hell. we can't all be god status *stares directly at that dude writing Six* (if for SOME REASON you have not read anything by matteoarts, go heCKing do it now. thank me later) until next update, bye! -HF