“What happened to him?” Aerie’s voice was soft and quiet. “He definitely doesn’t seem to be the same person anymore.”
Exton felt the sting of Gerard’s fate, even as he wanted to hurt him for what he’d done to Aerie.
He stopped walking and strengthened his grip on Aerie’s hand. He didn’t want to tell her the story, but he had to. Especially since it’s clear Gerard is completely gone now.
“When me and the others went in to steal the Perdition from the URS,” he began, “we had to time everything perfectly. It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life, trying to infiltrate New Hope’s military base. We had plenty of first-hand insider reports, since most of the people who were defecting with me worked there at one point or another.”
He turned and looked over at Petra, his gaze glossing over as he relived it. “I was eighteen years old at the time. Gerard was in his early twenties then. I was in university, and he was one of my main contacts at the base. He worked as a sentry.”
“He helped you steal the Perdition.”
He nodded. “Yes. He provided the codes for us to break in and steal it, and with his help we coordinated a diversion.”
“I’m guessing that he didn’t make it onboard?”
Exton shook his head. “No. There was an issue, and he stayed behind to save me. He was captured and assigned to the Reeducation Center.”
Aerie flinched. “I was only there for a couple days,” she said, “and that was long enough. If it’s been more than six years, then ... ”
Exton nodded glumly. He didn’t have to tell her that the Reeducation Center had dehumanized Gerard before remaking him into the hardened, hollow man he was now.
“He still knows you,” Aerie told him. “He told me that you had run off to join MENACE, even though you were just a kid from his class.”
“I imagine the Reeducation Center did a thorough job of reorienting his memories and his desires,” Exton said. “I couldn’t save him. Once we were up in space, some of the med students tried to find a way to undo the damage done by the Reeducation program. We never had much luck.”
“That’s why you were so certain I was done for.”
He nodded. Exton began walking again, more stiffly this time. “When I heard Gerard had been released, I didn’t think he would ever be anything but a cog in the State’s system. But when he was promoted, to third in command no less, I knew it was much worse than I could have ever imagined.”
“He told me he hasn’t told Osgood about you,” Aerie said.
Exton was surprised. Or maybe I’m not. What better way of proving himself to the URS than by taking me down?
“He was my friend, and I failed him. If he hasn’t said anything to Osgood, it’s more likely because he wants revenge himself rather than any latent feeling of loyalty. When Gerard was captured, Tyler and I promised we would do everything we could to find a way to reverse the reeducation process, but success has been extremely limited. We have only had a few people, yourself included, be able to overcome the effects of the treatments. And most of them, also like you, were not under their influence for very long.”
Aerie said nothing, but Exton had a feeling he’d guessed the truth. She slowed her pace down as they drew closer to the settlement.
“So you heard he’d been promoted and you wanted to go to war for that?” she asked.
“There are other reasons, too,” Exton said. “The URS has been unable to stop the dissenters from leaving—part of the reason their work force is always lacking, even if their military recruits keep increasing—and a number of other things that all suggest they’re ready to go on more of an offensive role.”
“So you’re trying to go on the offensive before they do?”
“If we can stop them, we should.”
“I know you’ve been angry with the URS for some time,” Aerie said. “But this is taking it to a new level.”
“A level where we can win,” Exton said. He was discouraged to see the doubt in her expression. “A level where we can save people, not just separate ourselves from the status quo.”
“Who told you that?”
Exton almost told her the truth about her mother, but he decided to give Merra a chance to do that herself. He made a mental note to mention it to her when he called in for a report on Chaya. “We’re fighting for the things worth fighting for, Aerie.”
“The URS has been fighting, too,” Aerie said. “Don’t you think it’s the same thing?”
“Not at all,” he said. “The Founding Fighters of the last two generations fought for the people to conform to their image of fairness. That’s not how life works—that’s tyranny. People are intrinsically different, and we need a system that rewards that, not punishes it.”
“But you could lose,” Aerie said.
“War is always a gamble.”
“It could be the end of us.”
“It could be the beginning of something greater than just us.” Exton felt a rush of anger as his intentions were questioned, and by Aerie of all people. How can she still defend the URS enough to let it stand as it is?
He softened a moment when she thrust herself back into his arms. “You could get hurt,” she said. “I could lose you.”
“It was not an easy choice,” Exton told her softly, running his hands down her back as he tried to comfort her. “But plenty of good has already come from fighting the URS. And more will follow.”
For a long moment, he just held her. “War was not an easy choice, Aerie. But this—what we have, you and me—it’s the easiest thing in the world.”
He could feel her body mold against his. Finally, he heard her whisper, “I know.”
Before he could move to kiss her again, she stepped back.
“The General will not be happy about this. Promise me you will not underestimate my father.”
“I’m not worried about him,” Exton told her.
“I read his accounts with the real MENACE,” Aerie said. “If anyone can win a war, it’s the General.”
“I know him well, too, Aerie. I studied under him for years. I thought he was my family’s friend. He and Merra both came to my community in friendship and in faith.”
“And he still caught you off guard,” Aerie pointed out apologetically. “I’m sorry. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt either.” He sighed. “I’m confident it was the right decision after speaking with a variety of people on the matter,” he told her. Remembering Marcus at Chaya, he knew he had made the right choice, even if it hadn’t been easy.
Apprehension came over him swiftly, like a shadow. Aerie might have wanted to join the military before, but Exton knew—as did St. Cloud—that she did not have the temperament for it. Would Aerie still want to stay with him if he was leading the small nation of the Ecclesia remnant and their allies into war?
Glancing over at her now, seeing her worried, doubtful expression, he did not know how she would answer that.
Maybe she will change her mind once she settles in.
“Well,” he said as he pulled her into the entrance of the settlement’s hangar. “We need to get you checked in and registered, but it shouldn’t take—”
Exton faltered as he saw an all-too familiar ship docking in one of the open landing sites.
“What is it?” Aerie asked him.
Before he could reach for his comm, the ship’s entrance opened up and Merra St. Cloud came walking down the gangway.
“Aerie.” Merra’s voice called out as she turned to face them.
Even from where he was standing, Exton could see she was full of the same self-assurance she’d always worn as she strutted around Petra’s settlement.
He felt Aerie’s hand go limp.
“I might as well tell you now,” Exton said. “Your mother’s alive.”
♦20♦
Aerie felt her heart stop as she heard her mother’s voice call her name. It was a sound she never expec
ted to hear again, and hearing it in the small airbase of a defector’s camp dazzled her as much as it disturbed her.
“Aerie!” Merra’s voice rang out across the large room.
She glanced over at Exton as he frowned. He knew the truth, she realized. He just didn’t know how to break it to her.
“Your mother was the one who saved me from St. Cloud when we went to Nova Scotia,” he told her quietly, as if to answer her silent question. “I didn’t know about her before then.”
Aerie said nothing for a long moment, before she tugged her hand free from Exton and rubbed her eyes. She was still tired, and even though time with Exton, along with the walk around the campus, had invigorated her, Aerie was hesitant to believe her eyes.
“Aerie.” Merra came up to her.
In the twinkling of an eye, Aerie found herself once more wrapped up in the embrace of someone she loved.
“Mom?” she finally managed.
It took her a moment for the reality to sink in. As Aerie held onto her mother, she tried to figure out what was different and what was the same. In growing over the last five years—nearly six—Aerie was surprised to see how close she was to her mother’s height.
“I’ve missed you so much, my darling,” Merra whispered into her ear, still holding onto her tightly.
In the end, Aerie decided she was the one who had changed the most between them. Her mother’s free-spiritedness had always been there, just restrained.
“I can’t believe it’s you,” Aerie croaked, as her eyes began to fill a wet mixture of shock and joy.
Merra pulled back from her. “I can’t tell you how much I’ve been longing for this day.”
Aerie stepped back. Suddenly, she didn’t want to discuss any part of her life for the last several years with her mother. Her loneliness began to shift from feeling like emptiness inside of her to one of rejection.
She abandoned me. She’s alive, but she left me, all alone, to fend for myself with the General and the others.
“What’s wrong?” Merra asked.
“Exton said you saved him,” she said, unable to think of anything else.
“Oh, that’s right.” Merra grinned as she glanced over at Exton, who, Aerie saw, was still frowning.
“What were you doing at Halifax?” Aerie asked.
“What I’m doing everywhere I go,” Merra answered. “I was fighting the URS. When I heard about the situation, I wanted to make sure nothing went wrong. So I took up a small squadron of my forces and headed over.”
Aerie glanced back at Exton, still unsure of how to respond. He remained silent this time, as if to tell her he had no answers for her.
“There’s so much information,” Aerie finally muttered. “I think I need to lie down for a while.”
Before anyone said anything else, Exton’s comm beeped. He glanced apologetically at Aerie, before stepping back. “I have to get this,” he said. “I’ll be only a few moments. Excuse me.”
She gave him a tight smile, but she knew from his expression there was nothing he could do about it.
And, Aerie knew, it was possible he was leaving her with her mother because he thought it might be good for her.
Merra certainly didn’t seem to mind. She folded her arms across her chest and gave Aerie a grin. “Well, that was good timing. Now we can talk and we don’t have to worry about him getting upset.”
“Why would he get upset?” Aerie asked.
Merra waved the issue away. “I’m going to have to ask him to get more aid to Chaya,” she said. “The Perdition has already sent quite a bit, so I’m sure he’ll be suspicious.”
“You were at Chaya, too?”
“Of course. That’s where I’ve been for the last several years, with some glaring exceptions.”
Aerie recalled the day Alice had been helping her in the plantation rooms on the Perdition. “Alice knows you,” she muttered.
Merra nodded. “She does. She’s a good kid, just like you. I’ve enjoyed her company, even if she made me miss you.”
“You missed me?” Aerie felt her voice start to tremble. “Then why did you leave me?”
“I’d rather have the rest of the family with me while I explain,” Merra replied. “It’ll be easier to only have to explain it once. I’ll make the arrangements after I meet with Exton and Director Ward, and check in with my forces.”
“Your forces?”
“Of course,” Merra said. “Who do you think twisted Exton into fighting in the first place? I didn’t just spend all those years at your father’s side worrying about my plants and my kids.”
Aerie felt the room began to spin. “Why are you doing this?” she asked. “Why couldn’t you just stay with me at New Hope? You had to go and ruin everything like this?”
Merra frowned. “You should be grateful,” she said. “You wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
“Exton wouldn’t be risking his life if it weren’t for you.”
Merra’s green eyes gleamed. “I’m glad to see the rumors are true. You really do love him.”
“Of course I do.” Aerie frowned. “Why else would I be so upset at the idea that he’s in danger, particularly if I’m the reason behind it?”
“You’re not the reason behind it,” Merra said. “You’re just part of the collateral. And anyway, it matters little, now that you’re an enemy of the State.”
“He’s still risking his life to join the war.”
“He was already risking it,” Merra replied. “He’s been a risk for the URS ever since he stole back the Perdition. I wouldn’t worry about him, though. I know he’s smart, Aerie. He’s seen the signs. He knows that time is running out.”
“Running out?”
“The URS was bound to attack the Perdition sooner or later. They already did. Do you really think that it’ll be the last of the attacks once the URS manages to break through the Perdition’s communications jamming?”
Aerie faltered. She knew firsthand they were already being taught how to reroute the comm systems, and how the NETech was going to give them a new advantage in battle strategy.
As if she could read her mind, Merra said, “They’ve been making plans for years, Aerie, to take the Perdition down. Exton’s just taking the path that will save the most lives.”
“You don’t know that.”
“The odds are on my side.” Merra softened. “But I can see, if you really do love him, why it hurts you so. I was worried for Victor, too. I’m still worried for him.”
“But you left him, too,” Aerie nearly yelled, surprised at the venom in her voice.
“We’ll discuss that later,” Merra remarked easily. “Now, why don’t you go and take a nap? You’re clearly exhausted.”
“Don’t tell me what I am,” Aerie snapped.
“You always had a temper when you were tired.”
“You don’t know me anymore.”
“No,” Merra said. “You don’t know me anymore, Aerie, if you ever did at all. You were only allowed glimpses back in the URS.”
“I liked that mother better,” Aerie replied bitingly.
Merra smiled. “Cute.”
Aerie turned on her heels and headed away. She didn’t know where she was going, but she just wanted to get away.
Mom is alive. I can’t believe it.
Aerie almost laughed, thinking how this was how Exton had to have felt earlier when he’d met her outside his ship.
Aerie thought about the day when she, that morning so close to her twelfth birthday, had woken up to find her mother was gone. She’d had a seizure, suspected to be the result of a deadly bacterial reaction, while she was piloting a vehicle on the way back from the outer regions of New Hope. The General quietly informed her and the rest of the unit of her mother’s death, before telling her she had to report to the Central District for a full counseling check-up.
She blinked, realizing she had no idea where she was going.
“Aerie.”
Aerie felt a wave of relief h
it her as she heard Emery call out to her. She turned to see her friend hurrying toward her. “Emery,” she said, trying to smile.
Emery came up and hugged her. “I know you’re upset,” Emery said. “I saw Merra’s ship register for landing at the checkpoint.”
“I can’t believe she ... ” Aerie struggled to find the right words.
“We were surprised she was alive, too. She came with some of her forces to save Exton at Halifax, once he took you down to General St. Cloud.”
Aerie shook her head. “No. I think I was going to say I can’t believe she left me. It’s like I didn’t even know her at all.”
Emery patted her shoulder comfortingly. “My father worked on his ships quite a bit when he was alive. I barely saw him. I know Exton is more the engineer than I am, so I imagine he misses him more than I do.”
“You don’t miss your father?” Aerie asked.
“No, of course not. I miss Papa every day, and my mom, too,” Emery assured her. “I just don’t think I knew him very well.”
“Oh.”
“I guess it’s not very reassuring to hear that children are surprised at who their parents are, outside of being parents.”
Aerie snorted. “I know the General less as a father than anything else. I thought I knew my mother.”
“You might just be seeing a different side of her,” Emery said. “Give it time.”
“You’ll be here to help me, won’t you?” Aerie asked.
“Of course.” Emery smiled. “I’ve missed you terribly, too, you know. Somehow you managed to get under my skin.”
Aerie giggled, already feeling better. “Speaking of getting under your skin,” she said, “how did the rest of my family fair?”
Emery rolled her eyes. “Ungrateful, to the last,” she said. “Brock is still at the med center. He had a few bruises we wanted to take care of. Serena and your brothers are getting their quarters assigned.”
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