They say that time heals all wounds.

I for one can tell you that though the pain becomes less intense, it doesn’t leave completely. That being said it’s only been about 2 or 3 weeks. I don’t have my calendar anymore.

However, Savannah Caritas also quoted ‘the pain of losing one’s cannot be healed with any time; only with the presence of the other half’

Smart woman.

I’m as happy as I can be. I have my mother, I have my kind but the time is still ticking away. The deadline of the Leto’s condition is almost up and I can’t do it anything about it except sit and wait with the remaining 439 Caritas.

The Caritas Monile Jared gave me is still hanging on my neck by its clasp. I’m scared to take it off. I don’t want to accept the fact I’ve rejected him. It’s my last piece of him.

I was accepted into the pure community upon arrival. Not by every Caritas but that is to be expected; it is the price for bonding with a Torpen whether accidental or not. 

There are no Leto upon this vessel; they control the Externium ships from the palace. That white prison is light years away and the only access to it is through the tubes. Authorised personnel only. Anything dressed in the silvery colour that represents the Leto is killed upon this ship. There is a limit on love for everything.

‘Lara are you alright?’ A deep voice calls. It’s Iron.

‘Yeah I’m fine’ I reply with a smile.

He nods and returns to doodling on a hologram pad. We’re sitting on either ends of the plum sofa in my mother’s room. While I think his hand flies rapidly about the pad. The medium he uses is in fact a touchscreen hologram specifically for drawing. I stare at his face, the embedded lines upon his forehead crease in concentration. I smile as I gaze at his clenched jaw and free wrist.

Iron Knoxx; the gentle killer. Behind the amiable countenance are the cold issues that drive him forward. His hands are as lethal as my words.

I rub my neck where the red chaffing streaks across my skin; I learnt my lesson never to get on his bad side. I should have been more careful with my attire when I arrived. The detestation towards the Leto runs deep.

From what he’s told me, they’ve already cleansed his mother. We don't share much information but the evidence of his resentment burns through his hazel eyes. Despite his bitterness, we manage to comply with each other's moods. We're similar and both unwilling to speak about our personal problems; he only knows the outskirts of the details.

Iron is a good-looking man, probably more so than Jared. At 25 earth years, he’s in his peak condition. He causes many of the un-bonded Caritas' upon this vessel to lose their breath. Despite his godly looks, I’m still able to identify his faults. His hazel eyes are the wrong shade of brown. His alpine height is too advantageous combined with the toned body; his intimidating physique is every bit as powerful as wrestler's. Every time I gaze at his gargantuan hands, I am reminded of the tightening constriction around my throat.

Even his personality provides problems for me; his friendly nature finds no need to argue or contradict me. Being with him is easy, simple, uncomplicated but it is not enough. He is not Jared.

He looks up from the hologram and his eyes dart around, full to the brim with guilt. He awkwardly scratches the back of his neck. 

"How's the neck?" He asks. My hand drops from my throat, unaware that I was subconciously scratching the itchy finger marks.

"It's alright" I shrug. He raises his eyebrows before dropping his gaze.

I glance down at my new I’m wearing a simple skater dress, not white though; that colour is reserved specifically for the Leto and their followers. Anything in white is attacked. Instead it’s a cobalt blue lace; the colour of Ally’s eyes.

My gaze droops to the tiled floor. My eyes focus on the minature specks of dirt. He doesn’t seem to notice my snivelling as he continues with his drawing.

 "Does it not faze you that I was going to kill you?"  He asks detachedly. His eyes don't leave the compelling and absorbing screen.

"Don't let the obsession rule you" I whisper.

"Pardon?" His eyes shoot up to meet mine; curiousity flickering in his penetrating gaze.

The question that has been lingering in my mind since I arrived suddenly releases itself from my lips.

"Well does it not faze you that I'm the cause of the human race's extinction?"

Iron puts down the hologram and stares right into my eyes. The intimate gaze clenches deep in the pit of stomach and I frown at the uneasy feeling. 

"Lara, you cannot blame yourself; blame the damn Leto"

 "I can't"  I exclaim. "I agreed to those foolish conditions to try"

Iron just shakes his blond hair and his mouth curls in disagreement. Cautiously, I push myself further into the plush sofa, alarmed by the dilating of his dark pupils.

"Love is not a command performance Lara" He says quietly.

"Well it seems to be the case for the Leto"

"They may have knowledge of our entire universe and everything it possesses  but they will never be able to experience any form of emotion Lara. They are deadened; they do not understand"

"They were supposed to help" I mutter.

"Lara, they may have been designed to help us but they knew exactly when they had outgrown our capacity" He bristles.

His hazel eyes harden once more. I bite my lip, not wanting to upset him further. I don’t want my only friend on this ship hazing. Besides my mother, he’s the only other Caritas I trust. 

"Lara, are you hazing?" Iron’s calmed voice breaks through the barrier of thoughts. 

"No I am alright" I croak.  

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asks softly. I squint my eyes in surprise; we don't normally...talk.

He gently picks up my hand and massages my palm. Tugging my arm he pulls me forward and envelops me into an relatively awkward embrace . Though it is meant to be a comforting gesture the smell and feel of his body makes me flinch in disgust. It’s not Jared’s.

"Iron, it feels wrong" I say quietly, squirming to remove myself from his embrace.

"I want you to know I would never do that to you Lara" He whispers against my ear before letting me out of his arms.

"Lie to me?" I mumble. "Everyone lies Iron, even us" My tone is soft yet horribly bitter.

"What I mean is that I would never intentionally hurt you Lara" He replies huskily. 

"Getting hurt is just a part of life Iron; it always happens" I shrug. My eyes droop and find the nail beds of my fingers. We remain in an uncomfortable silence until I dare to meet his eyes. What I do not expect is to meet sorrowful and regretful eyes.

"Iron what's wrong?"

"Nothing" He grunts.

"If nothing is wrong, why are you stabbing the poor hologram to death?" I smile trying to add some cheer the dark mood.

 "Because we both chose the wrong people" He mutters. What does he mean we?

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing" He sighs.

"Clearly you-" I begin before Iron cuts me off.

"Drop it Lara" He says harshly.

I lean back against the end of the sofa and stay silent for a few moments. My fingers tremble as I fiddle with the ends of my hair, gently winding a coil of chestnut hair round and round my forefinger. I chose Jared and he chose me.

"Do you think I chose the wrong person?"

He hesistates before answering. "I don't know Lara" He sighs.

"I know I chose him but I don't know if he chose me too" I say quietly. 

"He kissed you though?"

"I-I was attacked" I shudder at the memory of the Auctor. "He kissed me to save me"

"To save you?" He asks. A flicker of doubt passes through my mind. Was it to save me or to save himself?

"Perhaps not" I murmur.

Jared’s words are firmly ingrained in my mind. I sigh and run my fingers through my hair.

I don't care about my soul, its yours.

"Did he say anything when you left?"

"He said his soul was mine but who knows if that is true" I whisper, refusing to meet Iron’s eyes and instead I smooth out the creases of my blue skater dress. Iron’s lips twist like he’s eaten a sour lemon as he straightens out his spine and crosses over his arms.

"Lara, Torpens may be twisted devils but they can’t lie, even if their soul regrows’ Iron says calmly; his authorities tone practically radiates stringency.

"He lied to me though"

"Did he ever say he wasn't a Torpen?" Iron probes. He leans forward, resting his forearms on his knees and balancing his face on his palms.

I shake my head and sigh. "He didn't lie yet he wasn't truthful either" 

"Lara you just said that everyone lies"

"But-"

"He was probably afraid to tell you in case you ran off" He gestures around the room. I gaze specutively at him. Despite his calm and general facade, it seems as though there is something else. Yet for once I hold my tongue and let the issue go.

"What do you think that means?"

"I think you know what I'm going to say" Iron half-smiles.

I make no attempt at a reply to this. I mull over Iron’s words, then Jared’s and then Iron’s. Torpens can’t lie? Does this change anything? I shake my head at my own inner turmoil. No, it doesn’t.

"Can we talk about something else or go somewhere different? I want to do something fun in my last few days of existence" I sigh. My mother’s room is beautiful but it is also orthodox and cramped with Iron taking at least ¾ of the mauve sofa up.

"Of course but can I ask one more question and then I’ll leave off the topic I swear?"

"Go ahead" I smile, my flame of anger long extinguished. Iron is too agreeable to be angry with.

"Why did you choose him? What did he do?" Iron asks timidly. I nod my head to accept his question and he smiles shyly. His immeasurable confidence and harsher side is switched to the soft Iron. There are a million answers to his query.

"He challenges me" I shrug. Iron cocks a perfectly shaped eyebrow.

"Is that it?" He asks disbelievingly.

"Nothing is easy with him but that doesn't matter. Easy is boring" I mutter. Iron doesn't push me.

"So you like a challenge?" Iron raises one eyebrow. I nod my head slowly, intrigued by the excitement that suddenly sparks within his eyes.

"Come with me"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Iron, are you being serious?" I laugh.

 "When am I not?" He winks.

"You guys built…a Leto simulator"’ I cry in horror.

Clothed in a track kit and trainers, I assumed Iron would show me the indoor running track. How they managed to fit a stadium-sized arena on a ship but don’t have any spare bedrooms baffles me.

"Yeah, it’s like fighting the real thing" He grins ecstatically.

His cheery face reminds me of one a little boy would have on Christmas morning after receiving a hologram, internet goggles or any other of the technological products the scientists came up with. This is the most emotion he has ever willingly presented.

"You just fight a Leto?" I ask, still disbelieving. "What about the enhancements?"

"Kappor didn't design them to fight" Iron folds his arms across his chest. The grey vest top that clings to his body flaunts the rippling biceps of his body. "In fact, they're useless"

"Do the Leto know you built this?" I inquire.

"No, the Leto are smart enough not to come here. This ship runs on auto-pilot"

"Then how did you build it?"

"It was a unanimous vote that the movie theatre and computer lab would better serve for another function" Iron’s rationality subsides to his excitement. He begins punching in numbers on the control pad. Although this ship doesn’t have the white colour scheme, it still has the majority of the technology.

The door slides upon and Iron strides in. I grab onto his arm to halt him.

"Iron you can't take me in there, I don't know what to do" I ask in a panic. Iron merely shrugs and pulls me through the door.

"It’s easier if I just show you"

"I don't know what to do!" I exclaim desperately trying to push off his arm and run for the door.

"Lara, they’re holograms, they only mimic the actions of how a Leto would fight but they can’t hurt you; they’re not real. If they touch you, the simulator stops and you lose. It’s one big game" Iron heads into the corner of the room and picks up 10 inch razorblade.

"I've had enough of games" I mutter to myself as he tests the weight in his hands as the light glints off the edge.

"Can't I just watch you first?" I beg. "I do flight not fight"

"I did hear you were quite the runner" Iron agrees. "But you can’t watch, the simulator detects the amount of humans in the room. The holograms would attack you either way"

I shrink back in terror. Even though they’re not real, I don’t want to be attacked. I take a look around the empty dark room. Besides the stack of swords, they are a few other various menacing looking weapons like sabres and numerous Sais’.

"I thought Leto can’t be destroyed unless they’re demobilised?" My questions stems back to the Mendosus. I shudder at the thought of the poor young boy both with fear and with pity. His family didn’t deserve that.

"That’s only for a Mendosus" Iron shrugs. "The rest of them can be decimated with a simple sabre" He says staring down at the sword in his hands, testing the blade between his forefinger and thumb.

He reaches down and picks up a small gold-bladed sword from the weapon pile and brings it over to me.

"Iron, I don’t know how to fight" I admit as he places the golden sabre in my palms.

I caress the feel of the smooth leather handle with my fingers; its light but the blade looks as sharp as shark’s tooth. Though the sabre eminates power and danger, it doesn't take away the fact that I have never fought before.

"Just copy me" Iron smirks. "I’ll set your fight on easy ok?"

"Why are you so insistent on this?" I whine. I’m fully aware I sound like an annoying child but I don’t want to lose to the Leto; I don’t want to play any more of their games.

"Please have a go?"

I exhale heavily. "Fine"

Iron nods. "Once I flick that switch." He turns and points at a large neon green switch that watches us from beside the door. "They’ll begin to materialise"

I nod slowly. Iron picks up another two swords in his hands. I take a quick peek at the weapon pile, scanning it until my eyes fall upon a small gold baton. I glance down at the dagger in my hand and tell myself not to be greedy. Yet somehow, the baton seems to call to me, like it wants me to fight with it.

"Iron can I have the baton as well?" I ask. He smiles as his looks from the baton collection to my matching dagger.

"The gold one?"

"Yeah"’ I smile sheepishly.

He picks up the baton; it appears pocket-sized compared to him. Placing my dagger in my right hand, I take the baton from him. The little gold scales that decorate the baton create a surreal metallic texture.

"Lara it’s not actually a baton" He states, keeping hold of it. "Hold it away from your body and press the little button in the middle."

I seize the baton from his hand, immediately curious. He takes a few steps back as I fiddle with the baton with my searching fingers. My fingers glide over the smooth golden surface, feeling for any alienations.

"Where is the-" I say as I catch sight of the black button, smack bang in the middle of the golden scale plating. I press down lightly on the button. The effect is immediate and I drop the baton in surprise.

On the floor, the baton unfolds bit by bit until a golden shield lies before me.

"Wow" I breathe. Slowly I bend down to pick up my new bat-shield. The golden scales are the exact same design as on the baton.

"It changes back to a baton when you press the button again" Iron says pointing to the tiny button on the back of the shield. "In case you need to run" He adds.

I smile at him, enjoying the feel of the dagger and the shield in my palms. I feel dangerous; I feel powerful.

"You ready?" Iron asks. I nod.

He marches over to the switch, tensing his body before flicking it up. The room is instantly lit by fluorescent green lasers and a siren sounds.

"Remember Lara, copy me. It's just a game, they can't hurt you" Iron yells over the blaring siren. The adrenaline begins pulsing through my veins and my muscles contract. I grip my weapon and my defence so tightly my palms begin to sweat with the exertion.

Then they appear. 6 green male figures are projected, rapidly morphing into very realistic Leto’s. Pale and dark skins. White clothes. Silver swords. Dead faces.

 Iron’s face is fixated on the approaching Leto. His jaw and fingers clench around the Sais’ in his palms. I begin to panic as they come closer and closer. I forget entirely what Iron said about them being fake. There are 2 of us and 6 of them; this is completely unfair.

The Leto’s begin to separate, heading in different directions towards Iron and I. However only one seems concentrated on me; the rest are focused solely on Iron. The Leto approaches me with a wicked smirk. His dark hair is neatly styled and completely contrasts with his milky pallid face. His spotless white suit looks ready for anything but battle.

To my side Iron slashes away at the first Leto to attack him. As his left Sais makes contact with the Leto’s stomach, it morphs into its original fluorescent green figure and disintegrates into thin air. Iron smirks with satisfaction as his prepares for the next Leto. The red-headed Leto approaches him next and moves in the same way as the first. The Leto aims for Iron’s brain and the air leaves my lungs in concern. Iron however seems to expect it and hits the Leto in stomach. Like the first Leto he vanishes into thin air. He turns to me, his smile dropping from his face immediately.

"Lara watch out" He cries.

I turn just in time to dodge out of the way of the Leto. It hisses and lunges forward again. Once again, I leap out of the way just in time. The Leto returns to its fighting stance, waiting for me to make my move.

"What do I do?" I yell. Iron decimates another Leto before calling back over.

"Aim for the stomach or the neck" He hollers.

I turn back to my attacker who took my distraction to his advantage. I crouch and cover my body with my shield as the Leto’s sword comes into collision. I jump up to see the Leto stumbling backwards.

"The shield uses their force against them" Iron calls.

My Leto hisses at me again and charges forward. His sword is just about to touch my skin when I spin to the side, bringing me behind the Leto and giving me the opportunity to plunge my dagger into its back. My sword is soon hanging in the air once more as the Leto disintegrates. I gasp, glancing over to Iron who easily overpowers the last Leto and destroys it.

Iron smiles triumphantly over to me. The siren blares again and the green lasers disappear. The lights return to the room and the normality returns. I let out a sigh of relief and press the button on my shield. It curls up immediately and the baton is returned to my hand. I feel shaken but empowered.

"How was that?" Iron asks.

"It was…fun" I say nodding my head in surprise. I'm still panting from the release of adrenalin yet Iron hasn't broken a sweat.

"It gives you quite a rush doesn’t it?" Iron chuckles.

"Yeah"

"That was very impressive Lara. You are the first person to beat their opponent on their first try."  Iron says casually. My face subsides to the involuntary smile of pride.

"Really?"’ I ask bashfully, my cheeks colouring. Iron nods and I beam. His low chuckle fills the room and I join in.

"Can we do it again?" I ask eagerly.

"Let’s go". He grins and flicks the switch.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After a few hours of constant Leto fighting, I’m drenched in sweat. Iron however is still crisp without a hair out of place or even a bead of sweat upon his forehead. Iron continued to increase the intensity of difficulty until after about 2 ½ hours I was up to the maximum level of 8 Leto on my own. It was then Iron and I moved onto team fighting.

I knew Iron was strong from the first time we met however I underestimated just how destructive he is. No matter what the number of Leto every time he came out on top with ease. His deadly eye is always aware of the incoming attack. Even working in a team with me, his style and brute force made us dominate the Leto every time. He is a dark horse hiding behind his affable appearance.

"You’re a real natural" Iron smiles as we stroll down the corridor back to my mother’s room. I’m in desperate need of a shower.

"Thanks" I grin. "I had no idea you were that dangerous though" 

We both laugh before sobering up. I smile genuinely at him. Fighting has brought out a different side of him and of me too. 

"Where do you think I got my nickname?" I stop dead in the corridor.

"Pardon?" 

"Iron is just my nickname" He shrugs. He continues to stride on and I run after him. I don’t want to be left hanging.

"What’s your real name then?" I pry, my curiosity desperately wanting to be in the know.

"I’m named after an ancient Greek hero called Achilles" Iron says softly.

"Your name is Achilles?"

"Yeah" He shrugs. "Achilles was completely immortal except for this one spot on his ankle." Iron states. "It was his only weakness"

"Do you know why your parents called you Achilles?"

"I think they called me it" He says quietly. "Because a Caritas’s only weakness is their heart."

I stay silent and think about this phrase. The corridor is as quiet as us and only the sound of my laboured breathing from all the fighting can be heard. It’s true. My heart hurt me; it’s completely at the mercy of Jared.

I stare up at Iron when suddenly everything falls into place. I recognise the signs of a hurting Caritas because they are ones I have displayed on many occasions since meeting Jared.

"You're bonded aren't you?" I ask softly. He looks like he’s going to cry. I reach forward to clasp his hand in mine. This is another strong man brought to his knees for love.

"My girl; my bond mate was taken from me. She’s been cleansed" He says, a grieved tear spills from his green eyes.

"Iron-Achilles I’m so sorry." I whisper. I turn to him and wrap my arms around his muscled waist. He lets out a low whimper. It feels as wrong for him as it does for me.

Cleansed Humans. We know nothing about what happens to them. We don’t know how changed they will be. They could be changed into completely different people. Take the sins and the bad out Humans and what are you left with? Some good and a genetically altered personality; a genetically altered person.

"What is her name?" I enquire.

"Rena" 

"Is she the reason you fight?"

"She’s the reason I live Lara. Fighting was the only way to get my anger out without hurting anybody. It was at first me training to get her back but now it’s just to fill the void." He whispers. I break away from the embrace and tug at his enormous frame to move down the corridor.

"How long have you been bonded?"

"Only 8 months before they began the cleansing. We were separated immediately. She went to one of the other Externium ships because she’s Human." He says miserably.

"So you don’t hate the Leto because they took your mother; you hate them because they took Rena?"

"Yeah. Can we please not talk about this anymore, I don’t want to haze. I’m not sure how much longer we’ve got" He sighs. I smile at him, trying to lift his spirits. He rubs over his face with his palms and groans.

"So what should I call you? Achilles or Iron?" I ask. He smiles sadly.

"Let’s go with Iron, I don’t want little Miss Gold dagger thinking she has the upper hand" He smirks.

"I'm the chosen one remember" I laugh. He raises his eyebrows; the first sign of a challenge.

"The chosen one? Dream on sunshine" He scoffs stopping outside my mother’s door. "Now go and have a shower, you stink" He chuckles holding his nose.

"Whatever weakling." I say sweetly. He gives me a attempt at a menacing look. I shake my head and roll my eyes as I activate the control pad. The door slides open and I wave Iron off.

I quickly strip off all my clothes and let the hot shower water run over my body. I finger the Caritas Monile between my fingers and admire the glowing golden liquid. Some of the depressing weight feels as if it’s been unloaded from my shoulders. Thougn I'm not entirely happy and the pain of separation still lingers, I feel better. I feel content and for now thats all that I ask.