Once John had made it to the Titan racks, AT-2965 was standing with his cockpit open for his Pilot to jump in. He hopped inside, the hatch closing him in as there was a control transfer delay. "Um... AT?" "[Not yet. I must locate the enemy Titan before transferring control to you.]" "That makes sense, I guess."

After a while of searching, a short range communication channel came up. "Hello, you two." "You!" "I have been given orders to bring you and your Titan in for questioning." "Yeah right, like that's gonna happen. AT, is there anything we can add to our advantage?"

"[Yes. Activating facility defense system.]" Several Heavy Turrets rose from the roof of their shelter and unfolded before taking aim at the Ion.

"How do you like these odds?" "Very impressive, Pilot. I'm surprised." "Now then, get ready to feel the thunder!"

"[Pilot, recommend you disembark and head back to the mess hall.]" "REALLY?! At a time like this?!" "[It did not come to my attention earlier, but you have not yet eaten today.]" "UUGGHH! Fine!" The Legion's cockpit opened, revealing a pissed off Grapple Pilot. John dropped to the ground before heading back into the facility.

"You, Titan, what was that about?" "[It has come to my attention that Pilot John Wray has not yet had his first meal in this sequence of twenty-four hours.]" "What?" "[Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I dismissed him to the facility's mess hall in order to procure more cooked Prowler to start the day.]" "Cooked Prowler?!" "[Acquired by me at 9:28 PM yesterday. He is the first to know what Prowler tastes like.]" "Hmm. I'm kinda curious about it myself now." "[Heavy Turrets are now in standby mode. I will be monitoring my neural link with my Pilot. If he dies, you will be next on the list.]" AT-2965's Predator Cannon was pointed at the Ion, as if intending to direct it at the Pilot within. A Legion had just given the 6-4 Pilot the 'You kill him, I kill you.' talk. "U-u-understood..."

Later, the 6-4 Pilot entered the facility's mess hall and sat down next to John Wray, with an expression of pure fear on his face. "Whoa, what's wrong with you? You don't look so good." "Your Titan just threatened me with that big minigun, saying that if I kill you, it will kill me." "Protocol 3, man." "Protect the Pilot, I know. Anyway, Gates of the 6-4 would like a word with you." Henry placed down a small device on the table.

"I'm John Wray, you already know AT-2965, my partner." "Henry Lehn, my partner is TK-9472." "So... The 6-4?" "Yeah. You?" "ARES Division."

The device on the table projected a hologram of a slim Pilot. "This is Gates of the 6-4. I'd like to have a word with you, Pilot." "ARES Division Pilot John Wray here. What questions do you need answered?" "For starters, how did you survive?" "Me and AT, we had to gather as many Batteries as we could to get my partner fully patched up, then we ran out of the area to find a place to take shelter in for the night. I was thinking of setting up camp in the woods, but AT found this place, an abandoned IMC colonization facility." "Bloody hell. So... uh... What's that on your plate?" "Cooked Prowler. It's pretty good, actually. Hey, Henry, want some?"

"I guess I could go for some new food. Sure, where's the rest?" "Yo, Marvin, another plate of cooked Prowler for Henry Lehn!" The Marvin made another dish of steaming predator meat before bringing it to their table, placing it down in front of the 6-4 Pilot. Taking a bite, Henry couldn't believe his tastebuds. "Oh... Wow... That is... so good. Gates, you've gotta get over here and try this!"

"[Pilot, is everything alright?]" The voice of an Ion could be heard from the 6-4 Pilot's helmet. "I'm fine, TK. Gates just has questions for this guy."

"Speaking of which, care to continue, Gates?" "Right. Why were you here on the planet?" "The ARES Division took a bit of my advice. We were going to establish a mining site on uncolonized worlds, after packing up the mining sites on colonized ones, discontinuing mining operations that would anger civilians." "Why are you still here?" "I decided to stay with AT, and my ride was destroyed afterwards." "Sorry, John. If we knew that's what this was about, we wouldn't have intervened." "At least AT is still alive, I'm more concerned about that." "[I hear you, Pilot. I appreciate everything you have done for me.]"

"Alpha-Tango Two-Nine-Six-Five." "[6-4 Pilot Henry Lehn.]" "Is TK still alive out there?" "[Ion-class Titan Tango-Kilo Nine-Four-Seven-Two has not engaged in combat, no damage sustained or dealt.]" "Good."

"John Wray, why are you still at that facility, anyway?" "Well, Gates, it's because we don't have any form of communication with the rest of the ARES Division. For all we know, they're back at their base, and they've marked me KIA." "I'll try and send a message to them for ya, don't worry." "I never thought I'd say this, but thanks, Gates. Hey, why not come on down? You hungry?" "I guess I could go for something new. I'll be right there." The hologram fizzed out before Henry took it back and finished his cooked Prowler.

"Hey, Marvin, we got someone else coming for a bite. Why not fix them up another plate?" Another dish of steaming predator meat was placed on the table.

After a while, the sound of a descending Drop Ship was heard outside. "AT, who's out there?" "[It is a 6-4 Drop Ship.]" "Stand down." "[If you insist. Disengaging combat systems.]"

A familiar figure was spotted entering the facility, it was Gates. "Gates. I didn't think you trusted me." "If your mission here was to take the resources of uncolonized worlds instead, why shouldn't I trust you?" "Fair point."

Later, another Drop Ship jumped in, landing beside the first. "Looks like the ARES Division got your message, Gates."

"Captain Gates of the 6-4, why have you contacted us?" "I thought you'd like to know that one of those Pilots you've marked dead isn't as dead as you think." "Really? Who?"

"Hey, Marder." "Pilot John Wray. I'm surprised you've survived, and have gotten this old IMC facility back online." "I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for AT. He found this place, and he helped me get it back up and running." "AT-2965, is this true?" "[Correct. This abandoned IMC colonization facility was the best possible shelter on this planet. There are older Titan models stored on the racks, which suggests that the creation of the six more advanced designs has not began until approximately seventeen years after this facility was considered lost. This is also evident from the outdated Marvin design which remains active within the mess hall.]" "Fascinating. Since Blisk brought you into the IMC back when he was one of our Commanders and you were merely a homeless wash-up on the streets, perhaps you would like this place to officially become your home?" "Wait, what? Really?" "Yes. You have managed to find peace between two opposing forces, and I view that as an extraordinary accomplishment."

"Well, even though we're basically enemies, I think you're alright, John." "Thanks, Gates. Means a lot. Marder, wait, what about AT?" "Legion-class Titan AT-2965 remains linked with you, why erase a link between a living Pilot and an active Titan that have survived a hostile environment together? Your Titan shall stay with you on this planet."

"[General Marder, I have intercepted my Pilot's dream the previous night. He views me as more than simply his partner, but as his best friend. I understand why he would feel this way, we both have had our fair share of helping each other when we need it the most.]" "Well, the bond between a Pilot and a Titan is completely unique. I suppose we should ease up on the civilians, that way resistance will be considered unnecessary and the war will end in mutual peace." "[Scenario hypothesis: allowing civilians to be free of forced oppression and poverty from taking their resources will eliminate the purpose of the Marauder Corps, causing them to disband with nothing left to fight for. Recommendation for this course of action: 100%.]" "~sigh~ Very well, AT." General Marder acknowledged.

"Hey, Gates? How many 6-4 teams are out on missions?" John asked. "None. Why do you ask, Pilot?" "I was hoping that no more good soldiers would die."

"I suppose we have much to do. First of all, we should recommission this facility into Pilot John Wray's own establishment, we should also commence repairs on it. That Marvin in the mess hall will have its AI removed and placed in the more up-to-date model, then it will be back in that kitchen." "Bringing this place up-to-date, huh? Cool."

"[Hostile biological signatures incoming.]" AT-2965 reported. A pack of Prowlers came out of the woods.

"Everyone stay back! Get inside! GO, GO, GO!" The ARES Division and the 6-4 ran into the facility as AT-2965 pulled out his Predator Cannon and activated his Smart Core, targeting and killing all Prowlers in the area. "[ARES Division, 6-4, hostiles down. The coast is clear.]"

General Marder, Gates, and John were the first to come back outside, followed by the Pilots and other troops. "Well, that was... an experience." "Oi! You were shaking in your boots, Marder!" "As were you, Captain Gates."

"Cut the mushy stuff, you two!"

For once, Marder and Gates didn't know what to say.

"[I would advise you two to not do anything you may regret.]"

Droz stepped up. "Yeah. I know you both have a thing for each other."

Marder and Gates looked at each other, then at Droz.

"I may have... taken a liking to her... in my youth." "No way... Ethan Marder?!" "Yes... That's... my middle name." "I still have that bracelet you gave me thirty-nine years ago!" Gates pulled a small silver heart-shaped locket on a gold chain out of her pocket, showing it to the leader of the ARES Division. The memories came flooding back. "After all this time... I've been fighting against the person I value most? I'm...I'm sorry." "Just don't let it get to your head again, Ethan. OK?" "You have my word."

"All it took for you two to remember everything was a Pilot and a Titan getting stranded on a hostile planet?" "Apparently so." Marder replied. "We'll see you around, OK?" "OK, Gates."

The two groups, now a bigger one, left the Pilot and Titan with a fixed up facility to call home, and a way off the planet anytime they need to get something at a market or something, a Drop Ship. "Well, that was interesting. Wasn't it, AT?" "[Indeed it was, Pilot. Are you hungry?]" "I haven't even finished my breakfast yet!" "[It is past breakfast time. Get some lunch.]" John went inside as two Prowler meat tacos were left on the table next to a glass of milk.

With survival no longer a problem, and the war ended, John Wray and AT-2965 were supported by two formerly-opposing factions. AT-2965 was eventually given linked Datacores to the older Titan models within the facility, allowing him to transfer himself between them at will.

I know it seems ridiculous and completely unlikely, but that just came to mind as I started running out of ideas.

See you next time.