“I might have a way in, but I’ll need to run it by a few people first. It will take some time.” Suki said as she relaxed against the window obviously not intent to run it by a few people immediately.
Gideon motioned to Tern. They walked a few steps away and started talking about the other options they might have.
Lena studied Suki again. She couldn’t take her eyes off the scarring and the prosthetic arm. “Suki, what happened to you after Everleigh? Where is your Dad, and Migel?” She thought of the last time she’d seen their friend Migel. He’d asked her to dance at the Founding of the World celebration. He never got the chance. “What brought you here?”Lena asked.
“After Everleigh was attacked, my father was taken. Migel and I hid. He’d been hit by some shrapnel. As had I. I pulled him to a hiding spot I knew of. I stayed with him until he died a few days later,” Suki explained. Lena stared at the scars that surrounded her ear. They were red and jagged as if they healed without proper care. Suki talked as if she were detached from the horror of it all. As if it were another person’s story she was telling and not her own.
“You lost your arm,” Lena said.
“Not at first. It was hit with shrapnel. Infection set in after the explosion. I couldn’t go to a real doctor, or I’d have been arrested. So, it got cut off. I found Evren and he made me this a few years ago.”
Lena shook her head and lowered her chin. She wanted to ask who cut it off, and how. And why people were being arrested after the Everleigh attack. But she didn’t know if she really wanted the answers. “Suki, I’m so sorry. You both saved me. And this horrible thing happened to you. I’ll never be able to repay that debt.”
Bates, entered the room. He was returning from maneuvers. He whispered in her ear and Suki nodded confidently and thanked him. “The Defense patrols have passed,” Suki said. “You’ll be safe here for now.”
Suki slid her hair behind her ear. “Evangeline, I know why the Priestess wants you. She thinks you can destroy her. My father told me about it when I met you the day we came to Everleigh as refugees.”
Lena snapped her head up. “You knew? That’s why you saved me. In Everleigh, you said I was meant to survive. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Suki raised her lips in a half smile. “My dad made me promise not to. He thought it would burden you. No one else on Mir told you because they are skeptical about prophecies. They think it forces you into being something you don’t want to be. That prophecies take away your choices,” Suki said. “But I think prophecies are just a possibility of what you can be. If you choose it.”
Lena looked around the dusty ill-kept room. She saw Gideon and Tern still whispering nearby and wondered what options they were coming up with. Suki interrupted her thoughts.
“Do you believe the prophecy?” Suki asked. “Are you going to try to destroy the Priestess?”
Lena took a deep breath, trying to relieve the pressure constantly growing inside her. “I just found out about the prophecy a few days ago.” Lena thought about the timeline. She’d only found out five days before. It seemed like weeks. “I’ve known for a long time that the Priestess searched for me. I never knew why until Azara told me. Suki, to be honest, I’m still processing it all. And Gideon— Well Gideon wants me to leave. I don’t want to but it makes sense. The people closest to me are getting hurt.” Suki raised both her eyebrows and look from Gideon back to Lena. She looked as if she wanted to say something but held back.
“So you’re going to The Port and you’re going to leave?” Suki asked
“At this point, that’s the plan that makes the most sense,” Lena answered. She wanted to tell Suki she was searching for a way to stay on Mir, but Suki didn’t give her a chance. Grabbing Lena’s arm she pulled her to her feet.
“Come on,” she said. She motioned to Tern and Gideon who immediately joined them. “I want to show you something.”
Suki led them down a hall towards large ornate double doors. Windows lined one side of the hall. Only the dim light of the evening sun filtered through the dirt-caked windows. Gideon and Tern walked behind her. Ollie walked at Lena’s side. It seemed that he’d taken it upon himself to protect her and introduce her to anyone that might look their way. She didn’t mind having him around.
Suki stopped at the carved doors. Turning to the new arrivals, she said, “I think you should meet our crew.” Suki threw the doors open and stepped aside for the others to see.
Lena stepped inside and gasped. They stood on the highest balcony of the old performing hall. Walking to the edge of the balcony she looked down then across the vaulted room. The theater seats had been removed and turned into open workspaces. The room buzzed with activity. Service bots floated through the air. Kids flew around on ragtag flying machines. Guns sounded in the distance and an explosion caused a section of the room to momentarily fill with smoke. A stage held all sorts of devices. Lena couldn’t begin to guess what they were.
“Meet the Centizoons,” Suki said waving her hand over the scene below.
“The Centizoons?” Gideon questioned.
“Zoons for short,” Ollie added.
“What are you guys?” Lena asked in awe.
“It’s a name Evren came up with,” Suki responded, without explaining who Evren was. “Centi means hundreds and Zoons are individuals produced from the same source.”
“What da ya mean?” Tern asked.
“We’re all the results of the Priestess’ reign,” Suki explained. “Most of these kid’s parents worked as scientists, others as merchants. When the Priestess starting taking over, their parents were some of the first to stand up against her. All of their parents fought for the Resistance. As a result, their parents were also some of the first to be imprisoned or killed. Most of the kids here are orphans because of her. They are like us, Evangeline. Their lives torn apart by her tyranny. But we found each other. And found a way to survive. We’re the Children of the Resistance,” Suki said. “We all hold on to the hope that there’ll come a time to overthrow our current government. But until then, we deal in information.”
Lena didn’t really understand what Suki meant but didn’t question it. Suki whistled and a teenage boy came over haphazardly carrying what looked like a pile of old machinery. He dropped them to the ground in an awkward heap. The boy stepped back and looked wide-eyed at Lena. He tried straightening his hair and flattening down his twisted shirt at the same time. Suki cleared her throat and the boy turned red and looked away from Lena. He shuffled forward to pick up one of the machines he’d been carrying. He stepped to the side tripping on his own feet. Suki grabbed his elbow with her prosthetic arm to balance him. When he regained his feet, Suki let go, and he rubbed his arm.
“Remind me I to need to calebrate the grip on your arm,” the boy said.
“I think I just did,” Suki chuckled. “Allow me to introduce Evren,” Suki said. “He’s unofficially in charge of anything that happens in this room. Mostly for the fact that he’s brilliant,” Suki said. Evren looked at Lena and took a step forward, tripping on the machines he’d just dropped on the floor. He caught his footing and stepped through the pile to shake Lena’s hand.
“Brilliant, but a wee bit clumsy,” Evren said straightening out his posture.
“Evren, allow me to introduce…” Suki began.
“Ah, I know. Evangeline Adhara and Captain Gideon Merak,” Evren said as Lena tried unsuccessfully to withdraw her hand.
“How do you know who we are?” Gideon asked. “Who else here knows?” His eyes darted across the room, his posture tense. Lena wasn’t sure if Gideon was looking to fight or escape, but she was sure if Evren gave the wrong response, someone would get hurt.
Chapter Seventeen
“Uh, I’ve seen both your faces on the holos,” Evren explained with a red face. Gideon didn’t relax and gave Evren an intimidating glare. Evren didn’t seem bothered. “I can’t believe you escaped the facility. Don’t worry about me turning you in, though. I’d never tu
rn someone over to that horrible hag of a woman.” Evren stopped shaking Lena’s hand as his eyes landed on Tern. He dropped her hand. “I don’t think I know you.”
“Tern,” Tern said with a nod.
“Wait,” Lena cut in. “How do you know about the facility? I only told Suki.”
Evren looked to Suki and blushed. Suki put her hands on her hips. “Evren, what have you done?” she asked.
“Well, it’s really not that complicated. I accessed the satellite from the Interplanetary Military Academy. The Academy keeps tabs on all worlds associated with its training. It’s all top secret and what not, but they really should have better security.” Suki rolled her eyes as Evren pointed towards the busy room. “Come, then. I’ll show you around.”
“Come on, Lena,” Ollie yelled, grabbing a piece of machinery off the floor. Lena screeched as Ollie threw himself over the edge of the balcony. A split second later he was hovering upside down in the air in front of her. The machine clamped onto his feet and kept him hovering in the air in front of her. Lena looked over the five-story fall then back at Ollie who now flipped the machine right side up.
“What in the world is that?” Lena gasped.
“Just a little something we like to call a Zoom-zoon.” Evren said, puffing out his chest.
Suki shook her head. “We’re not calling them that, Evren.”
“Well, I think it’s a fantastic name. And that’s what I’m calling them,” Evren said, straightening out his jacket.
“It’s a stupid name, and no one calls them that,” Suki said. “It’s a glider.”
“Yes, but they would if you did.”
“I’m not calling them that,” Suki responded.
“Not yet, but you will.”
Suki rolled her eyes again and handed Lena a glider. “They’re all different. They’re pieced together with whatever we have on hand, but they all basically function the same,” Suki explained. Throwing one in front of her, it gave off a low hum and hovered a few inches from the ground. Suki stepped onto it and the machine clamped around her feet. “These are the basics. Lean to guide it where you want it to go. Angle it up to go higher and down to go lower.” Suki flipped herself upside-down and grabbed one off the ground for Lena before throwing it towards her and flipping herself right side up again. “If you’re clamped in, you shouldn’t have problems figuring it out.”
Stepping onto the glider, it clamped around Lena’s feet causing her to feel unsteady. Trying to catch her balance, she leaned forward only to have the machine jolt forward into the railing. Lena fell to the side. The glider pulled her feet above her.
The sound of laughter filled her ears. She looked to Gideon who stood next to Suki. Both failed to hide their amusement. Gideon laughed again as she scrunched her face in disapproval. “You could help me,” Lena said.
“Helping you wouldn’t be nearly this funny,” Gideon said with another laugh. Lena gave him another incredulous look before pushing herself upright. The glider immediately centered itself under her but she still grabbed at the railing until she found her balance. Tightening her stomach muscles, she let go of the railing. The glider didn’t move. Gideon grabbed one off the floor and threw it in front of him. Stepping onto it, it clamped around his feet. He swayed it under his feet a few times before steering it over the balcony and around in a controlled circle.
“Show off,” Lena said.
Gideon grinned as Tern glided next to him. Tern also stepped onto a machine and effortlessly glided over the balcony railing without a problem. Lena felt Suki grip her arm and lead her glider over the edge of the railing. “You’ll get the hang of it,” Suki said. “It’s in your nature not to let things beat you.” Letting go of Lena’s arm, Suki flew to the front of the group. Lena leaned her body slightly towards Suki. When her glider moved just as slowly, Lena sighed with relief.
“I’m sure you’ve already gathered that this is an old Opera House,” Suki explained leading the group around the upper floors while gradually descending.
Lena’s confidence with the glider oscillated between panic and joy as she leaned to guide the glider after Suki. When it didn’t bolt from under her, she relaxed her muscles and grinned as it flew. Gideon’s shoulders shook in a silent chuckle as he watched her. She glared and turned her attention towards Suki.
“It was already falling into disrepair when the Priestess took over. We’ve turned it into not only our workplace but our home,” Suki said.
“Exactly what kind of information do you deal in?” Gideon asked, swinging his glider from side to side as he followed Suki.
“We steal information,” Suki said.
“And technology,” Evren piped in. “We steal it and sell it to the highest bidder. Mir, even in it’s declined state, has the most successful port in our galaxy. Leaders from around the world come here to trade their goods. They bring information with them; we find it and steal it. Most of these kids are quite good at it too.”
“Pickpockets of information,” Gideon said under his breath as he looked around the room. “That’s what Ollie was doing at the hotel. He was gathering information.”
“Yes and no. Ollie really did get caught and sold for stealing. We just hadn’t rescued him yet,” Evren answered.
“We would have if Evren would have told us he was caught in the first place,” Suki said glaring towards her companion.
“Didn’t you realize he was gone?” Lena asked.
“Of course we did. But kids come and go all the time around here. We don’t give it much thought unless something suspicious is pointed out to us. Which, in Ollie’s case, it wasn’t,” Suki said, giving Evren a pointed stare.
Evren didn’t seem the least fazed by Suki’s comments and acted like he hadn’t even heard them. “This is the room we test the technologies we’ve acquired,” Evren explained. Lena looked over the room again. Her eyes stopped at what she assumed used to be the stage. Holograms flashed in bright colors. Blues, purples, reds and greens cast shadows of light across the few Zoons who stood on the stage studying it. They looked deep in conversation as they analyzed the diagrams. “Every Zoon has different strengths and, as such, different job descriptions. The Zoons in this room are adequately good at testing the technology acquired.” They flew next to various theater boxes. Groups of kids and teens gathered around tables collaborating their information while others worked on different inventions. All seemed to have some pieced-together glider sitting next to them.
“Acquired by who? By Ollie?” Lena asked.
“Oh, no,” Evren said quickly. “Ollie gathers us intel. If the intel has information about new technologies we send our agents out to acquire it. He is too inexperienced for such a mission. Suki is the best at getting us new technologies. But of course, we have others.”
Lena didn’t know what to say so instead focused on the Zoons. Most of them in the room had some kind of deformity that they used technology to compensate for. The Priestess’ reign had not been good to them.
“What do you do with the information you get?” Lena asked, still taking in all she could see around the room.
“When we find new information, we bring it here. We work with each other to decide who would benefit most from having it and we make deals,” Evren replied.
They landed on the stage and stepped off the gliders. Lena’s foot got caught on the edge of her foot clamp and she stumbled her last step. “You blackmail people?” Lena asked catching herself and kicking the machine to the side. She did not like the glider.
“Sometimes,” Suki responded, unashamed. “But mostly we just sneak into The Port, steal technology from the other worlds, and sell it on the black market.”
“Do you work with the Priestess?” Gideon asked.
Suki shook her head right away. “No. There is no love here for that woman. But we try to stay under her radar. Sometimes we bribe her Defense soldiers to look the other way. Sometimes we do deals with them to stay on their good side. We’re not sure how much she
knows about us, but she hasn’t come after us, so that’s a good sign.”
Lena looked back to Evren. The iris in Evren’s left eye had turned black with a thin ring of neon green. An electronic pulse zigzagged through the middle.
“What just happened to your eye?” Lena gasped, still staring at him.
Evren blinked. “It’s an electronic lens,” Evren said. “I invented it to monitor data associated with various transactions specific to the Centizoons operations. I issue each Zoon their own lens. When you look through it, the lens will automatically record, sort, and store information about the people you’re looking at. It will also tell you a variety of information on the person that’s been previously documented.
“It sounds distracting,” Lena said.
“It is,” Suki said at the same time Evren started talking.
“Not at all. You can blink and turn the display on and off at will. I originally invented it to document who we’ve had transactions with without drawing attention to ourselves. But I found the more you know about a person, the better off you are. So we try to keep running tabs on everyone we meet. Your information is being recorded now. Quite brilliant technology, if one would just wear it.” He said the last part to Suki and gave her a scolding look.
“It’s annoying,” Suki said. “And maybe I don’t like all my transactions being recorded.” She flipped her hair to the side. And whether it was the comment or how she moved, it caused Evren to turn bright red.
“I don’t think it’s wise to record information about us,” Gideon said, bringing his glider forward. “Delete it,” he commanded.
Evren backed his glider away from Gideon as he looked at him with wide eyes. “Nobody has access to our systems except the Zoons. Your information will be safe.”
“You can’t guarantee you don’t have traitors within your group,” Gideon said. “Delete it.”
Evren looked to Suki who nodded. Evren blinked his eye again and backed away. “Well, that’s weird,” he said. “Evangeline’s information seems to have disappeared on its own.” Evren’s eyes jerked in micro movements back and forth, and though he stared directly at her, it was obvious he was studying something else.
The Children of The Resistance (The Mir Chronicles Book 2) Page 9