The Lightbreakers of Orpheus [15]

A serialised Sci-fi novelette, told in flash fiction chapters.

Previously [1]. [14]

[15]

“Your boy stayed at the hospital last night. I heard a noise, came out. He was clearing the yard from debris his own size! Tossing concrete blocks like those weighted nothing. Lightbreakers are something, right?” Doc Benton paid a visit to the old Vulture05, stationed not far from the hospital.

“He’s not my boy. He’s a Lightbreaker. You were right from the start. He can’t be anything else,” Derek said, wiping motor oil from his hands. He was getting the vessel ready to fly on another Gravedigger mission.

Doc Benton shook his head, chuckling grimly.

“As much as I enjoy you admitting I’m right for once, I must say – Derek you’re an idiot,” the Doc paused thinking, “nothing like that would’ve happened if you and Sophie could’ve just told the boy some simple truths about the birds and the bees. As simple as that!”

“He told you what he did? Anouk is scared as hell. He is an aggressive killing machine, capable of the most despicable…”

“Derek, he didn’t even know how to call what he did, when we talked. Lightbreakers were never meant to live normal lives. To fall in love, and to make love. He had no clue what was going on with him. I presume he acted according to the chemical reactions driving him, like Lightbreakers are supposed to.”

“Would explaining how sex works stop him?” Derek snapped.

“It wouldn’t have hurt. Maybe he could be in control, if he had the proper knowledge. He hasn’t showed any signs of aggressiveness prior, right?”

“Why did you come? I’m not taking him back.”

“I knew you wouldn’t, the stubborn old fool you are,” Doc shrugged, “I’m just informing you he’s staying with me. I’ll give him shelter as long as he helps me clear the hospital from debris. Judging by his speed, it’ll be done in no time.”

“I don’t care. Just keep him out of my sight.”

Doc Benton looked as though he wanted to say something more, yet he merely sighed, and walked away. He turned back right before the door swooshed closed, just to add,

“Your girl, Anouk, can blame it upon herself too. She knew what he was.”

Doc didn’t hear Derek cussing at him behind the door.

***

“Did you find the girl?”

“Yes, sir, Supreme Leader Jerome, sir!” the officer was more confident this time around.

“Alive? I want details. Report!”

“She and her guardians reside on an unregistered, obsolete airship Vulture05, with a crew of outlaw Gravediggers, hunted by the Government forces in the same area our last Lightbreaker mission cleared, sir.”

“Good. Good. I should’ve known Captain Derek was too stupid, and proud to change his ways. Hunt them down. Bring me the girl, preferably alive. Kill the rest,” the half-android Supreme Leader of the Rebel Forces Jerome said coldly, with his blue eye squinting.

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