La miglior difesa è non esporsi
The best armor is to keep out of range.
— Italian Proverb, Luca's ancestor, probably.
Luca woke to the sound of the Peregrine's climate system and the faint scent of sothing vaguely edible drifting from the galley.
Emily was curled up beside him, her cheek pressed against his shoulder, her breath warm on his skin. One leg was hooked over his, her arm slung across his ribs as if he might disappear if she let go. Her PJs were unbuttoned just enough to let her breathe, and her blonde hair was a complete ss. A cute ss, but still a ss.
The room was dark. Blinking a few tis, he registered the slow, dull ache in his torso. Bandages held tight across his ribs and shoulder, still sore with the kind of pain you could live with. It had been eight, maybe nine hours. He must've been out cold.
As gently as he could, he eased out from under Emily's embrace. She stirred, made a sleepy sound that was half-protest, but didn't wake.
The Peregrine was quiet, its systems powered down to standby mode. Barefoot, he moved out of the bedroom, his hand trailing along the wall until he heard the low buzz of voices from the dinette. The room was lit by a single overhead light and the glow of a screen at the far end. The table was a ss of tools, ration packs, scattered loot, and half-dismantled alien tech.
Danny was there in his ridiculous flannel pajama pants. Orange with tiny lightning bolts, his hair a ss of red curls. He was lounging sideways on the bench with his feet up and a spoon hanging out of his mouth like he didn't have a care in the world. Joey sat next to him, fiddling with a biogel injector like it was a puzzle he was determined to solve. In the far corner, Chris leaned back with his arms crossed, nodding slowly as he chewed on a nutrient bar with the expression of soone deep in thought.
Ryan stood at the edge of the table, one leg propped up on the bench seat, pointing at a scorched, half-lted tool with obvious frustration. "Okay, but seriously, if soone hadn't exploded the gravity node, we'd still have half the infrastructure down there."
Perched on the edge of the counter like a cat, Zoe sipped from a silver pouch.
She smirked at Ryan over the rim. "Better that than leaving your turret behind again."
"Hey, that turret's a classic."
"Was a classic."
They all looked up, as if he'd just walked into a living painting of chaos and contentnt. The sudden silence felt heavy, but not uncomfortable.
"Sleeping Beauty returns," Danny grinned, his mouth still full of whatever he was eating. "You missed us poking through the ruins."
Joey held up a small alien wrench with glowing teeth that pulsed softly. "We found a few more tools. No idea if they'll make it through the portal, but hey, we're optimistic."
Zoe raised an eyebrow, giving him a once-over. "You look better. Less like you're about to die."
"Thanks," Luca muttered, dragging his fingers through his hair as he settled at the edge of the bench. "That's the nicest thing anyone's said to all day."
Ryan tossed him a cold hydration pouch with a gentle underhand. "You deserved the nap. We kept it quiet."
Joey was sorting the different armor pieces from their pile. Each one glead with an energy that made Luca's pulse quicken. A ticket to staying alive a little longer.
"Well," Danny said, bouncing slightly on his toes. "I think it's safe to say we've officially gone where no one else has gone before."
No shit.
Examining the Centauri Phantom Recon Helm in his hands, Luca felt the weight of real tech. TL9, Level 64 armor, the kind of gear Sol could only dream of. And it was theirs. They finally had enough pieces.
The Centauri Juggernaut MK-64.
He leaned forward, running his gloved fingers across the Juggernaut chest piece. Even through the material, he could feel the density, the coiled force waiting to be unleashed. This was sothing else entirely. Real armor. Real power.
The Juggernaut set was the highest defensive gear they'd seen in Alpha Centauri. Its core plating alone was built from advanced layered composites that caught the light like oil on water. With a completed set they'd be unstoppable.
Danny hefted one of the boots, scanning it with his multitool. Grav-Lock Boots, complete with micro-thrusters, terrain-locking systems, and enough recoil dampening to stabilize a heavy cannon. anwhile, Joey stood quietly studying the command helm, his fingers brushing the visor. Luca knew he was probably thinking about what they could have done with it just monts ago. It was a command center for your skull.
The gauntlets had enough servo strength to punch through a support beam. The striders could neutralize a fifty-ter fall, according to the specs. Danny could drop off a goddamn building and just walk it off. The whole thing was a moving wall of pain, and the stats were just as insane: a full 10 attribute bonus to everything.
And they had it. Two complete sets, one for each of the Donahue brothers.
But damn. Just looking at it made Luca feel severely underdressed in the shredded remains of his own suit.
Danny grinned, wide and stupid, his hand lingering on the armor like he was afraid it might disappear. He didn't put it on yet, but Luca could see him fighting the urge.
The Centauri Phantom Mk-64. One look, and Luca knew exactly what it was built for. His path. His build. And Zoe's.
Fuck.
It was a scout suit, but not like his shredded gear. Not even like Zoe's current setup. Carbon polyr weaves shimred and rippled when the light hit them just right. The chestpiece was all sharp lines and flexible plates that moved like layered muscle.
The set included Silent-Step Boots, sleek bastards with magnetic grip toggles that let you scale walls or dance across beams without a sound. Then there was the helt: lightweight, thermal-dampened, equipped with a reactive visor for real-ti tactical overlays. It was the kind of gear that made you a ghost on the battlefield.
He didn't even need to check the stats. Enhanced reflexes, cloaking, movent prediction. Fucking perfect.
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And yet, there was only one set.
The dilemma hung in the air, heavy and unspoken. His own suit was torn to shit, and he'd have to resort to his Level 48 backup, just like Zoe was stuck with hers.
Across the table, he t Zoe's gaze. She was fidgeting with her gloves, pulling at the worn fingertips.
Emily leaned forward, her voice soft but certain. "You both need it. But if I had to guess... maybe the one who's most exposed should go first?" Her eyes moved to Zoe with a look of understanding. She was right.
Zoe looked down at the phantom gloves, her fingers barely brushing the fabric. "I... I could use the upgrade," she said quietly, not eting his eyes. He could see the hesitation, the mory of that last fight still raw. The fear of going back out there, so vulnerable, was written all over her face. She finally looked up. "I know you could too, but... after last ti, I'm not sure I could face it without so real protection."
He gave her a small smile, his nod steady and without hesitation. "You're right. You take it. I'll be fine for now."
Beneath the table, a hand slid into his. Emily's fingers gave his a soft squeeze.
Zoe held his gaze for a mont, surprised by his easy acceptance. The tension in her shoulders seed to ease for the first ti since the fight. "Thank you," she murmured, the words soft but steady. It was a simple exchange, but she looked like she could breathe again.
Ryan piped up then, breaking the quiet mont with a hasty gesture at the remaining gear. "At any rate, Luca, all you really need is the Tactical Vest. We might get lucky once we exit the portal."
Zoe stood in the center of the Peregrine, the five pieces of the Phantom armor set arrayed on the dinette with every eye fixed on her as she activated the new armor. Piece by piece, she put each of the components on her, panels shifting and adjusting to mold perfectly to her form. Finally, she fitted in the power cell.
For a mont, nothing happened. Then ca the low hum.
From the vest's edges, a liquid-like black mbrane began to spread. It flowed like molten shadow, a seamless substance that crept up her neck to fuse with the helt, down her torso and legs to seal every gap between armor pieces. Before his eyes, five distinct parts disappeared, replaced by a single, unbroken suit of weaponized skin. When the substance finally settled, a wave of soft blue light pulsed from her boots to her head. Complete seal confird.
This was weapons-grade spandex. TL9, Centauri-spec, with environntal seal, active camo, and god knows what else. She looked... whole again. He could practically hear the collective intake of breath from the rest of the crew. She's a goddamn firecracker, he thought. She was back in the ga.
Taking a single step forward, he marveled at how the suit moved with her. Power and weightlessness combined. A spark of quiet exhilaration brightened her eyes as she let out a breath. "Oh... now this is what I call an upgrade," she murmured, a genuine smile tugging at her lips.
And yeah, he was jealous.
His own level 60 armor hung in shredded tatters while she glowed like a stealth goddess. He was one more hit away from having his ass fall out of his suit entirely.
He wasn't the only one staring. Chris looked impressed, and Ryan was definitely drooling. Danny looked like he was trying really hard not to say anything stupid, his mouth slightly open.
Luca didn't even bother hiding it. A low whistle escaped his lips. "Holy shit. That suit should co with a safety warning." His grin broadened. "Welco back, Zoe. You ready to get back out there?"
Maybe it was the painkillers Joey had given him, or maybe it was just the sight of her looking like a goddamn superhero, but it felt like they were finally getting their edge back. He couldn't wait to see what they could do now that she was back in action.
She caught his eye. "Ready?" She glanced at her reflection in a polished surface, the suit amplifying every line and making her look both powerful and intimidating. For the first ti in days, she looked truly prepared. "Yeah," she said quietly, conviction clear in her voice. "I've never been more ready."
From her seat, Emily gave him a small, knowing smile. She saw it too. The return of their team's confidence. It was palpable, their fatigue from the past days lting away like morning frost. Zoe was back, and with the Centauri Phantom suit, she was finally the scout she was ant to be.
The energy in the room had shifted. Danny was back to examining the scans on his multitool and loading them up on the computer. Chris had settled by Zoe, and even Joey looked more relaxed, the tension that had been riding his shoulders since the fight finally easing.
The Centauri Guardian set was the last one on the table, and yeah, it was a tough call.
Luca settled onto the dinette bench, his bandaged ribs protesting the movent. Almost imdiately, Emily slid in beside him, her head finding its familiar spot on his shoulder. Her weight against him was warm and grounding, a reminder that they'd all made it through another nightmare together. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer.
Emily, Ryan, and Chris all looked at the remaining armor the sa way he looked at fresh water after a Venus portal. dium armor with full environntal adaptability and HUD overlays. The kind of gear that could keep you alive when the floor collapsed or a Thornmolt spat acid in your face.
"I could use that upgrade," Emily murmured against his shoulder, her voice soft enough that only he could hear.
He squeezed her waist gently. "So could Ryan. And Chris." He glanced at the three of them eyeing the armor. "But Ryan's is the only one broken beyond repair. Guy's earned it."
She lifted her head to look at him, those green eyes studying his face. "Always thinking about everyone else first."
"Says the woman who keeps from falling apart," he said, pressing a quick kiss to her temple. "Besides, you're already perfect."
Emily rolled her eyes but smiled, settling back against his shoulder. "Smooth talker."
"Alright," Chris said, stepping back from the table. "You take it this ti." He gave Ryan a nod. "I'll keep an eye out for the next piece that cos our way."
Ryan grinned like the smug little shit he was. "Appreciate it."
Grabbing the armor, he started slotting it on one piece at a ti, like it had been made for him. The chestplate hugged close, not bulky like Danny's tank set, but solid and dependable. The helt sealed with a soft hiss and ran a startup scan, green light pulsing across the visor.
Emily's fingers traced idle patterns on Luca's forearm as they watched Ryan suit up. The simple contact sent warmth through him, better than any painkiller Joey could offer. She was exhausted too, he could feel it in the way she leaned against him, but she was here.
"It moves like a dream," Ryan said, rolling his shoulders and bouncing slightly on his toes. "Feels like I'm not even wearing armor."
"You're going to miss this," Emily said quietly, her breath warm against his neck.
"Miss what?"
"Having sothing to complain about with Ryan's gear." Her voice carried a hint of laughter. "Now he'll actually be useful."
Luca snorted softly. "Don't worry. I'll find sothing else. Maybe his hair. Or that stupid wink thing he does."
She tilted her head up to look at him, a small smile playing at her lips. "You love that stupid wink thing."
"I absolutely do not."
"Liar." She pressed a soft kiss to the underside of his jaw, right where she knew it would make him shiver. "You're proud of him. Of all of them."
Watching Ryan flex in the mirror like a jackass, the new gear gleaming under the Peregrine's dim light, he had to admit the guy had earned it. First, he lays claim to the healer role like so kind of fucking druid, then he saves his ass. And Zoe's. The asshole was racking up so many karma points he was starting to float. Still, he couldn't really begrudge him.
He'd be lying, though, if he said he didn't secretly wish Emily had taken it. He wanted her safer, more protected, especially after what they'd just been through. But Ryan? He'd make it work. He wanted him safe, too. The Guardian Set wasn't just armor; it was battlefield command gear with tactical HUDs and a microfusion core. The second Ryan activated the suit's Power Surge, Luca could see the difference in his posture, his confidence.
"I know what you're thinking," Emily murmured.
"Yeah?"
"You're wishing I'd taken the armor instead."
"Maybe," he admitted. "I want you safe."
"I am safe." She squeezed his arm. "I've got you watching out for . And Ryan's right there. And Danny, Chris, Joey, Zoe. I'm surrounded by idiots who'd throw themselves in front of a plasma cannon for ."
"Damn right we would."
"So stop worrying about the gear and worry about getting yourself patched up first." Her voice took on that tone he knew better than to argue with. "Can't protect anyone if you're bleeding out."
He looked around at his crew, taking inventory while Emily's warmth anchored him to the mont. Danny, Ryan, and Zoe were now sporting armor that should last them through this tier, at least until they found sothing better. They settled in for a well-deserved break within the portal's relative safety.
The exhaustion was hitting him now, the adrenaline finally wearing off. His bandaged chest still ached with every breath, but Emily's presence made it bearable. Made everything bearable.
"You're next," she said quietly, reading his thoughts again. "We'll find you sothing even better."
"I know." He pressed another kiss to her hair, breathing in the familiar scent that sohow still managed to sll like ho even after everything they'd been through. "We always do."
He glanced down at his own shredded gear and sighed.
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