Chapter 52 Shadows of a Legend

Aria stepped out of the lab and into the streets of the Beehive. The artificial rain poured down heavily from the watering systems. She knew what awaited her: an empty apartment, silent walls, and hours of sleeplessness. Her body, with its enhanced physiology, never felt fatigued in the same way others did. Sleep was difficult to come by, and the oppressive solitude of her room only made it worse. She craved where she felt safe, the narrow space of the tank mech cockpit.

She wandered through the empty streets, the rain soaking her hair and clothes until they clung to her skin. The chill didn’t bother her. If anything, she welcomed it - it made her feel alive. As she turned a corner, her eyes were drawn to a dark alley, where a cardboard box sat against a wall.

She froze. Memories of her childhood flashed before her: a smaller version of herself, huddled in a similar box for shelter, hiding from the cold and the cruelty of the streets.

 She crouched down and gently touched its surface. She lowered herself into it, curling up as best she could. Of course, her body was larger now - her legs stuck out awkwardly, and the box barely covered her. But for a moment, she felt that same sense of safety she’d once known as a child.

The gentle tapping of the rain on the cardboard above her head was like a lullaby. Her racing thoughts slowed and for the first time in weeks, her mind felt calm.

But her peace was short-lived. A sudden knock on the side of the box startled her, and a voice called out, breaking the silence.

“Hey! I see you went for an upgrade - from just sitting on a bench in the rain to actually finding some shelter this time.”

Aria glanced up and saw Jacob standing there, his tone light and joking as usual, but his face was serious. His whole aura felt... different today.

“Oh gosh, you again,” Aria whispered, rolling her eyes. 

“Are you stalking me or something? Do you like me that much?”

Jacob ignored her teasing.

 “Come on, Liana. Let’s get to my place. It’s close. I live alone now, no one will bother us there.”

Aria sighed, her usual playful smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.

 “Fine, just this once. But after that, you’re leaving me alone, got it?”

Jacob didn’t respond. He simply turned around and started walking.

When they arrived at his apartment, Jacob opened the door and gestured for her to enter first. Aria stepped inside and immediately scanned the space. It was much bigger than she’d expected for someone like Jacob, who was, after all, just a maintenance guy.

“Well, well! What a nice place you’ve got here. A few families could live in a nice apartment like this,” she said, her tone mocking but curious.

Jacob didn’t respond. He stepped slowly over the doorstep, closing the door quietly behind him. The soft click of the lock echoed in the quiet apartment. He stood behind her.

Aria’s gaze wandered as she explored the space. The apartment was surprisingly neat, with modern furniture and minimal decoration. But then her eyes caught on something - a large picture frame on the wall.

Her body stiffened, and her arm twitched involuntarily. Slowly, her hand clenched into a trembling fist.

Jacob’s voice rang out from behind her, cold and serious.

 “Does that look familiar?”

Aria’s gaze locked onto the photo. Her focus lingered on the figure in the middle - the younger version of herself. It was taken on her sixteenth birthday.

But it wasn’t her presence in the photo that sent a chill down her spine. It was the two figures standing beside her, one on each side, their smiles warm and proud. She knew them well - too well. The pilot team from her elite squad.

Jacob stepped closer, his voice cold.

 “Those are my parents. My mother, Elena Cardin. My father, Marcus Cardin.”

The names hit Aria like a punch to the gut. Memories came rushing back. She had spent countless nights listening to them talk about their kid, their pride, and their joy.

Aria could still hear their voices teasing her, saying, “Our Little Boy the same age as you, Aria, but here you are, driving real tank mech around while he’s still playing with toy mechs.”

Jacob’s voice interrupted her thoughts. 

“But I didn't need to tell you their names. You knew them, didn’t you?”

She didn’t respond. Her fists clenched tightly, her knuckles cracked as her nails dug into her palms. Her body trembled, not from fear but from the wave of grief and guilt crashing over her.

“You know, my parents used to tell stories about this girl. She was just twelve years old when she joined their squad as a tank mech pilot. Same age as me back then. Can you imagine that? Twelve.”

“They made her sound like some kind of legend,” Jacob continued, “How she was this prodigy, a natural pilot. They said she didn’t just operate a mech - she became one with it. They couldn’t stop talking about her. Every other story was about the things she’d accomplished. Back then, I wanted to meet her so badly. I begged them to take me along, just once, so I could see her."

Aria’s shoulders were hunched, the words cutting deeper than Jacob could have known.

“They even used to let me sit in their tank mechs, let me touch the controls, just so I could feel what it was like to be part of their world. I felt amazing like I was a step closer to becoming just like them. And... maybe even closer to meeting her one day.”

“But I never got to meet her. Not back then. As time went on, I started to think she wasn’t real. That they’d made her up as some kind of bedtime hero for me. Until one day...”

“They came back from a mission with a picture. A picture of them standing beside her. My mom and dad looked so proud, so happy. And right there, in the middle... there she was.”

Jacob took another step forward.

 “I don’t have to tell you who that was in the picture. Do I? It was you. You are Aria Lock.”

Aria’s hands tightened into fists at her sides, trembling under the weight of her emotions. Her eyes locked onto the picture frame as if it were a portal to her worst memories. The faces in the photo - smiling, full of life - felt like ghosts haunting her. She took a deep, shaky breath, trying to keep her voice steady.

“She’s dead, Jacob,” Aria muttered through gritted teeth, her voice low and trembling with suppressed rage. 

“Just like your parents. Just like everyone else in that squad.”

 “You damn well know that’s not true! You’re standing right here in front of me! My parents died that day, but not you! You survived Aria. You’re still breathing. You can still fight. So tell me - why the hell are you here, playing at being a student, when you could be out there making those mutants pay for what they did?”

She couldn’t bring herself to turn around. She didn’t want him to see the anguish, the guilt, the hatred twisting her face.

 “Do you even imagine why I joined the academy? It wasn’t to fix mechs or clean up after others. I joined to fight. To kill every last mutant out there for what they did to my family. But I’m not a prodigy. I’m just average. I got stuck in the academy because I was not good enough. But you?” 

He laughed bitterly. 

“You’re the best. The top pilot. The one everyone looks up to. So what’s your excuse, huh?”

Aria’s breath hitched, her nails digging into her palms again. 

 “Stop it, Jacob. I’m not her. I’m not...”

“Not what?! Are you still denying it? I know it’s you, Aria. Just admit it! Tell me why! Why are you here, hiding behind this act, instead of out there where you belong? What happened to you? Did you get scared?”