Mecha Corps (41 page)

How about Michelle?

Michelle talked with Kyle for a while. Kyle leaned over the table toward her, but she rocked back, aloof. They circled each other like the opposing poles of a magnet.

Matt sat alone in his own thoughts. So many questions, and so few answers. So many agendas, so many players. His future stretched out in front of him like a rutted country road disappearing into pea-soup fog.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this,
he thought.
Kill Rayder, and then everything would be clear. No more obstacles. Get on with your life.

Except, Matt realized, he never really knew what his life was. His future was as cloudy and confused as ever, because he’d never thought past that one goal.

Matt sighed. He was empty, echoing. What would fill him up besides the Mecha?

Toward the end of the evening, Michelle came to sit next to Matt.

“Now what?” she asked.

Matt barked sudden laughter. “You too?”

“You too, what?”

“I was just thinking,
What the hell do I do now?
”

Michelle’s gaze bounced down to the table. “You killed Rayder, right?”

Matt nodded.
At least I hope so,
he thought.

“How do you follow that?” Michelle breathed.

“First Mecha Corps from Earth,” Matt said. “How do you follow that?”

They both laughed. It was a brittle, uncomfortable sound.

“Save the universe,” Matt said, after a time.

“From what?” Michelle said. Her tone was light, but her eyes were haunted. Maybe putting it all together. The Union and the HuMax.

Matt sighed. “Whatever it needs saving from.”

Michelle nodded and reached out to take his hand. He squeezed it softly. He imagined the feel of her lips on his.

But it wasn’t time for that. She watched his face warily, as if expecting him to lean over the table and try again.

“Seems a tall order,” Michelle said, after a time.

“We’ll do it.”

Michelle grinned. “How?”

“However we need to.”

Michelle laughed. “Somehow I knew you’d say that.” She squeezed his hand, content to let him hold it for a while. Her smile was bright and full of promise.

It wasn’t much.

But it was enough.

Brett Patton
, in the words of a friend, “was watching Evan-gelion while you were reading Heinlein.” Actually, don’t tell anybody, but he was doing both. And actually, don’t tell anyone, but he’s also taking liberties with the quote. He’s been writing fun, action-oriented science fiction for years, but this is his first published novel. He lives with his wife, Lisa, in Los Angeles, where he is sometimes asked to consult on “rubber science” for various science fiction movies. Visit him at his Web site:
www.brettpatton.com