Javen straightens. “When it’s time, I will.”
“I have all the information uploaded,” Dad interrupts us. “I don’t have a contact name yet, but I have a location and a map to get there.”
“Where?” I ask.
“Smack in the middle of Primaro,” he says.
Javen studies the map, lines appearing between his dark brows.
I glance around in search of the Rover. By some weird luck, the vehicle is still there, hidden next to a clump of trees across from where Dad’s lab used to be.
“Javen can’t transport all three of us without draining too much of his Starfire energy. It’s too risky. So, we can take the Rover closer to the city and then walk the rest of the way in.” I glance at Javen. “Will you be able to cloak both of us in Primaro?”
“Hammond is intermittently using the Starfire Inhibitor to keep Alku away from the city. But I knew you may need to return to Primaro, so I visited the city on foot and was able to cloak my presence. It appears she moved the Inhibitor to the mining area since that site needs her protection most.”
“There are less guarded areas in Primaro?” Dad asks.
“Yes, and unless those areas have changed over the last several days, I believe I know where we can go and which places to avoid.”
“Okay, let’s go.” I wave Javen and Dad toward the Rover and then race ahead. My legs are growing much stronger, and I actually feel nearly healed. But there’s no way I’m taking a chance on using the Starfire before I’m confident that I can handle the energy exchange.
I make it to the Rover and hop in the front seat. Dad rides shotgun and doesn’t even say anything about me driving. But he’s the one who taught me how to run manual overrides on a vehicle last year, and I scored one hundred percent on my driving test. Javen hops in the back, directly behind me.
I activate the controls and bring up the coordinates to the city from here. The engine lightly hums as I swipe my hand over the dash, and then the tires spin, moving us forward. I peer over my shoulder quickly at Javen and ask, “First time in a car?”
“New experiences are a good thing,” he says.
∆∆∆
I bring the Rover to a stop a half-mile from the city and hide the vehicle in the trees as best as I can. I mark the location on my Connect to easily relocate our ride when we return. As of yet, we’ve seen no ships overhead or scouts out in the forest. But one can never be too careful.
Dad opens the map on his Connect again. “I have a building and a suite number. Owens had access to a series of encrypted messages calling for a meeting in person with his contact. I’m replying now. If we don’t hear anything back, best we can hope is that our contact is there when we arrive.” Dad taps across the hologram and hits send. A second later the device beeps, and automatically the hologram disengages. “Okay. I told them we’d meet in twenty-five minutes. That’s our estimated time of arrival.”
We make our way toward the city, and when we’re just on the outskirts, Javen takes my hand and clasps onto Dad.
“We have plenty of time,” Javen says. “There’s no need while we’re cloaked to make any sudden moves or try to run. To remain invisible to the humans in Primaro, I need to be touching you at all times.”
Both Dad and I agree, and we set off.
Inside the city, it’s as if a black cloud hangs over everything. Instead of the beautiful, partially organic but cosmopolitan atmosphere Dad designed for this place, the city feels more like a prison. Guards are dotted among the pedestrians on the street, and at least three times already, I’ve seen vehicles drive past with the World Senate logo on the side. Even the citizens’ faces seem solemn, and conversations we pass by are in hushed tones.
Dad checks his Connect and indicates for us to take the next right, and as we do, the buildings all start to look familiar. This is the street the Capitol building is on. My heart picks up speed. The last time we were here, Irene and I were captured by Hammond and then jailed.
Luckily, Dad gestures to a building across the way. By the address, we must be seven blocks from the Capitol. I’m not sure if I could handle going back there again. Plus, I’m sure the building is protected from anyone who is using the Starfire nearby. We cross the street inside a glowing cyan cloud. Thankfully, no one has yet noticed our presence.
We wait for a pedestrian to enter for the automatic door to slide open. When someone approaches, we race through as quickly as possible, all while holding onto Javen. I spot the stairwell. I breathe in deeply, and then we begin our climb to the ninth floor. My legs burn as we reach the landing, and I check on Dad, who’s winded. For a man his age, he stays in shape, but nine flights is a lot, especially when coupled with the stress of getting here.
“You okay?” I whisper.
“Will be in a minute,” he pants.
As we wait, my chest tingles with nervousness. Who knows whether we are walking into a trap? But it’s a chance we need to take. “I think I should reveal myself first, and after we assess the safety, you can, Dad.”
“No way, Cassi. I’m not putting you into any more danger than necessary. I’m the one doing this. You and Javen hang back. You may not need to reveal yourselves at all.”
I close my eyes for a second. I want to argue but instead lean into his ear. I reach for and grip my gun. “I’ve got your back. Team Foster, okay?”
Dad’s lips curve into a sad smile. “Team Foster.”
Javen releases Dad, and the cyan glow around him dissipates. Just seeing it disappear from him forces my breathing to increase. Gripping Javen’s hand, I follow Dad as he strides directly toward the unit. I check the time, and we are right on schedule. I draw in a deep, fortifying breath as Dad types to the contact.
I’m here.
Dad straightens his back and drops his shoulders while approaching the door. A rustling sound comes from inside and then the door cracks open. A man I haven’t seen before peers out.
Javen grips my fingers tighter, and I squeeze the handle of my weapon with my other hand.
The man, who has dark wavy hair and appears of Indian decent, raises his eyebrows when he sees Dad but says nothing. Instead, he opens the door more widely and gestures Dad inside. Dad glances around and doesn’t move his feet, and I know he’s giving us a brief second to get inside. Javen and I rush through the opening. Then Dad follows the silent instructions.
When the man shuts the door, he crosses his arms over his chest. “Dr. Foster? Aren’t you supposed to be dead?” His voice still maintains the slightest hint of an Indian accent.
Dad presses his lips together. “I have heard this rumor.”
The man bows his head slightly. “I apologize, but I must scan you for weapons.”
“I understand,” Dad says.
The man taps on his Connect and extends his wrist toward Dad. The device beeps and then a beam extends from his Connect. The man runs it up and down Dad’s body, then indicates for him to turn. Dad obeys, holding his hands in the air. Good thing that I’m the one with the pistol.
“Thank you.” The man nods and taps twice on his Connect. “He’s clean.”
Javen snaps his head toward the front door as if he heard something. Or someone. Before I hear anything, the lock clicks and in walks one of the last people I had expected to see.
Luca Powell.
My heart leaps into my throat. Was Matt Owens a double agent? A traitor, too?
I flit my attention to Dad as his face turns ashen. He knows what I told him about Luca and his traitorous behavior. He also saw him on the spy video from General Atkins. Dad has no idea where I am in the room, but he holds his hand up slightly as if to tell me to hold my ground, but not enough to alert them that Javen and I are here. I squeeze Javen’s hand so tightly I think I might hurt him, but he does nothing to stop me.
Another person follows behind Luca. Alina. She peers around the room and back out into the hall, then closes the door behind her. She walks to the other man and stands beside him. Anger burns
in my core against her. This girl has tricked me too many times. Why does she have to be here now? Part of me wants to shoot the lot of them and be done with this sordid business. But I know I could never do so in cold blood.
My eyes waver among all the people in the room. No one is speaking and it’s driving me crazy.
“Dr. Foster,” Luca says and walks toward Dad with his hand extended. Dad doesn’t take it and Luca drops his hand to his side. “We had no idea you were alive.”
Dad narrows his eyes. “You know I’m unarmed. If you’re going to kill me, I would rather skip the formalities.”
Luca tips his head and his eyes widen in surprise. “I’m not going to kill you. I’m simply surprised you’re here. When we received Owens’s encrypted message to meet, we weren’t quite sure what to do as we’d gotten word he was killed in the city bombing the other day. That’s why I sent Madan in here first.” He looks to the other man.
I look back to Javen, but he seems no less confused by this than me.
“Are you needing asylum?” Luca asks. “It will be difficult, but I believe we can get you off Arcadia eventually, if need be.”
“Asylum?” Dad asks. “What are you talking about?”
My mind spins with all I know about Luca, and I can’t stand waiting anymore. I release from Javen, and the blue-green glow around us vanishes. “What are you talking about, Luca?” I growl and point my weapon at him.
“Cassi!” Dad scolds.
Luca takes a step backward and throws his hands up chest-high. Alina and Madan inch away in surprise. Luca stares at me and then to Javen, whose right hand now glows cyan.
“Whoa,” Luca says to me. “This obviously is not what you think it is.”
“Then what is it?” I snarl. “I saw you, Luca. I saw you more than once. You are a snake.” I whip my attention to Alina. “And you . . . you are no better.”
“You only think you know what I am, Cassi,” Luca says. “And you have me all wrong.”
“Then how are you still alive when Hirata and Cooper are dead?” I glare at him, clenching my pistol.
Luca grits his teeth together.
“Because he was ordered to plead, if he had the opportunity,” Alina says. “Luca is one of the only insiders left who Hammond trusts.”
I look at her. “Who ordered him?”
“That’s not something we can reveal,” she says. “But you’ll need to trust us.”
“I’m not trusting either of you,” I say.
“There aren’t a lot of options in this situation, Cassi,” Luca says. “Hammond is calling in more battleships from Earth. The fleet is moving through the Space Fold now. My people want to get anyone of high rank to safety, and there’s not much time.”
“Listen,” Alina says. “I get your lack of trust. But if Dr. Foster is alive, we need to at least get him out of Primaro.” She holds an object my way, and it’s not a weapon.
It’s my mom’s journal.
Chapter 22
Fuming, I march up to Alina, pistol still in hand, and snatch the leather-bound journal from her grasp. “If you’re giving this back to me, why would you steal it in the first place?”
Shame blankets Alina’s face. Her demeanor is entirely different than the girl I knew at the dorm. That girl seemed immature, careless, and self-absorbed. “It was a spur-of-the-moment type of thing,” she says. “Our people were looking for solutions in using the Starfire to help us. I saw the journal and had a hunch it might be Dr. Foster’s, and that it might contain data we could use. But when I discovered what it really was, I felt terrible. I didn’t mean to take something belonging to your mother. I’ve carried her journal with me ever since I took it, so her words never fell into the wrong hands. I didn’t even tell anyone but Luca that I had it.”
“How did you know it’s hers? Did you read it?” I snap.
So much has been stolen from me.
Javen touches my shoulder and I glance at him. The glow around his hand is gone, but fire still burns in his eyes.
“I could never get the lock open,” Alina interrupts and I turn my attention back to her. “But I was able to see the name under the strap.”
I pry my finger under the piece of leather and see the tiny inscription of my mom’s name.
Isabel Foster
“I shouldn’t have taken it. But we have been grasping at straws for data.” The emotion in her eyes makes me want to believe Alina. But this entire situation is completely unbelievable.
“So, you want me to tell you what’s inside?” I snap.
She arches a brow. “If the information is useful to our cause.”
Dad steps toward Luca and the others. “Thank you for returning the journal, but can one of you please explain who you really are and what is going on?”
“There’s not a lot of time,” Alina says. “But essentially, I was sent to Arcadia by the group I work for to keep tabs on certain people. Meeting Cassi in the dorm was only a happy accident. But living next to her changed my mission entirely.”
“What are you talking about, Alina? You’re like sixteen . . . maybe seventeen,” I sneer. “Is Alina really your name?”
She shrugs. “I know it’s difficult to believe, and this is the last setting I wanted to be in to convince you. But I only look young. My appearance is part of my cover.”
“And you?” Dad says to Luca. “What are you? Forty? And do you work for these people, too?”
Luca smirks. “No, I’m definitely not forty. After Hammond told me what she was doing and how the plan would affect this planet and the Alku, I knew I couldn’t follow her. But I needed to bide my time and play along. I hoped being on the Board would help me influence the way situations played out. I’ll admit that I was weak, though. Then Alina became my assistant and Hirata came into power. Afterward, Alina approached me in secret to feel out my intentions. When Hammond returned and made the arrests, we planned for me to make a plea. It was a longshot, but I was able to convince Hammond I was only there to spy for her. She bought my lie.”
“We have to go, sir,” Madan says and glances at his Connect. “You’ve already been away from the Capitol building for too long.”
“Honestly, there isn’t that much we can do at this point, though. If the Alku are still refusing to attack . . .” He eyes Javen. “And getting any rebel ships through the Turner Space Fold is proving impossible. It’s too heavily guarded. The living members of the World Senate who side with us would help, if they could, but it’s too dangerous to reveal their positions. The best we can offer you right now is to keep you alive, Dr. Foster. We can rebuild confidence and attempt again later.”
“The Alku may be willing to defend themselves,” Javen says.
“We have a plan to reclaim one of the mining sites and take out the device blocking the Starfire energy,” I add. “But we were really hoping Owens’s contact—you—might be able to secure the help of the World Senate members who are still sympathetic to the cause.”
“For that,” Alina says, “our hands are tied. If there were a way to get ships to Arcadia without using the TSF, I’m certain the option would be considered by the underground Senate members. But right now, their help is impossible.”
I always knew getting outside help was a longshot. But knowing we’re on our own sets a pit in my stomach.
“Well,” Dad says. “We didn’t come here to go into hiding. And if you're just going to sit by and let this travesty happen, then we need to leave.” He looks to Javen. “You can get us back out of the city, right?”
“Yes, sir,” Javen says.
Still not really sure if we’re safe, I holster my pistol in my waistband. If Luca wanted to kill us or take us into custody, he would have done so already. But he could always just be afraid of what Javen might do. I grip onto the journal and turn my attention to Dad. “Let’s leave. We have to get back and prepare.”
“Get back where? For what?” Alina asks.
I look at her. There’s no way I’m telling
any of them about the Intersection.
“There’s a war going on, Alina,” I say. “If you haven’t noticed. We need to prepare the troops we have.”
“You won’t win,” Luca warns as he walks to the door and opens it.
“Sometimes you still have to try,” Javen says and then grabs my hand and pulls me to Dad. A cyan glow illuminates us as he clasps Dad’s upper arm. Javen nods to me, and we rush out the door.
I almost expect Luca and Alina to have a small portable device able to block the Starfire energy so guards can jump out in surprise to arrest us. But nothing happens.
Outside, we hurry toward the city’s edge. Javen navigates us back down the safest streets where his Starfire energy can still be maintained. As we near the perimeter of the city, my and Dad’s Connects buzz and a holographic message appears above the screen, rotating and flashing in red.
Emergency Alert
This is probably where I find out Luca and Alina were lying the entire time. “Slow down,” I say to Javen. “We should see whatever this is.” I look out toward the forest. We are so close to being outside of Primaro. My muscles tense with anxiety.
Citizens of Primaro. This is an emergency alert. Please return to your homes. If this is not possible, make your way to the lower levels of the nearest building.
The message repeats itself but gives no further details. An alarm blares from behind us, signaling emergency procedures in the city. Everyone was trained on these before we arrived on Arcadia. But I’m not sure anyone thought we might actually have to use them for a reason like war.
We pick up the pace again, but Javen suddenly slows us and stops. His eyes swirl with cyan, and then he closes them and inhales deeply. When he opens them again, I know by the tension on his face that whatever just happened isn’t positive.
“Wirrin is summoning me. The army used the portal and are already on this side. The troops are in a holding pattern but are waiting to attack.”
The Starfire Wars: The Complete Series Page 32