“And you shouldn’t. They had to keep it completely confidential.” Mrs. March cued the final door to open, and Rin followed her out onto the catwalk of the room where the missiles used to be housed. “You knew about the cosmoship Tevah though, right?”
Rin swallowed and stared at the huge spacecraft that had sat dormant for as long as she could remember. “Dad showed me, but I never knew its name.”
Frowning, Mrs. March keyed the lights on, melting the shadows. “I had a feeling. He shouldn’t have, but your father was a wise man. I’m sure he had his reasons.”
With both hands on the railing, she looked energized by seeing the ship, and her features flushed. Rin took in her ramrod spine, the confident way she spoke. She thought about everything she’d ever known about this woman.
“Mrs. March, who are you?”
Turning around, the old woman put her hands on her hips. Water dripped somewhere, and a faint hum came from one of the lights.
Mrs. March took in a deep breath. “I am Commander Fleur March of the Yien Dynasty’s Special Forces.”
* * *
Chapter 10
Grey arose from her chair, legs wobbly. She’d just seen a man condemned to death, but she would not cower. No matter how afraid she might be. She systematically met eyes with each Council member, first General Yurkutz, then the others.
“How old are you?”
The question came from the Councilman on the far left. He wore a chunky ring on each of his fingers. She thought he represented the banking sector. Didn’t they already have all her personal information?
“Speak,” Yurkutz ordered.
“Seventeen,” Grey said.
“Why are you here?”
She swallowed hard. Was this a trick question?
“I . . . I’m . . .”
“You do have a tongue, correct?” This came from Lady Kern.
Grey exhaled. “I don’t know why I’m here.”
The Council members exchanged looks. She saw Yurkutz roll her eyes.
“I find that very hard to believe,” the man with the rings said.
“You seem to think I know something about my parents,” Grey said.
“Go on.”
“But I don’t!” She braced for a shock, but it didn’t come. “As far as I know, they died five years ago.”
Lady Kern stared at her with orbs as cold as moons. “What crimes have you committed, Miss Alexander?”
Grey looked down. Great. What hole had she dug for herself? Could they pry a confession out of her against her will?
Somehow she felt she had to stand up to these people. “If you don’t already know, you aren’t as powerful as I was led to believe.”
The jolt that suddenly shot through her wrists emanated up her arms and into her chest. It took hold of her muscles and shook them, burning through her head and making it feel like it would explode.
Grey’s determination to be bold melted onto the floor as a cry she barely recognized as her own escaped from her lips. She tried to lift her head and see if the Council was enjoying watching her suffer like they had with Salinas, but she couldn’t. She dropped to her knees, curling into herself.
“Stop!” A voice came from beside her.
But the pain did not stop, and Grey felt herself drifting into unconsciousness.
A strong hand grabbed her cuffs, and she heard something snap. Instantly the shock ceased, and Grey was lifted to her feet and set back into her chair.
“Stay with me. Breathe.”
She couldn’t see.
“Grey, look at me.”
Gasping, she focused on the blurry man kneeling in front of her.
Jet.
He sprang to his feet, fists balled. Dangling from one of his gloved hands were her restraints. Jet threw them to the floor in front of the Council. “You make a mockery of justice!”
“And you of the Crown.” Lady Kern’s voice dripped with disgust.
Grey half expected the drones to rush him and drag him away, but they looked on, stoic as ever. She wondered if he’d remotely altered their programs. The other prisoners stared at Jet in horror as if they expected a bolt of lightning to strike him dead on the spot.
“I will not stand by and watch you torture a girl who has done nothing to warrant this kind of treatment.”
Evangeline Yurkutz leveled her gaze on Jet. “You are a man of conflicted loyalties.”
Grey struggled to move her limbs. Slowly, her senses returned. The pain was gone, but its effect on her muscles left her drained, as if she hadn’t slept for days. She watched Jet’s back. He was wearing a uniform she’d never seen before. It was black with white stripes down the sleeves, across his chest, and down the sides of his pants. On each shoulder a gold, circular emblem that looked like a rising sun almost glowed. How much authority did he have here? They were letting him address them as equals.
“I expected this Council to seek the truth and issue justice accordingly.”
“You are interfering with this justice you speak of,” the man from the banking district said.
Jet pointed at Grey. “This Council was instituted to ferret out criminals who threatened our great Unified World. Now you silence the voices of conscientious objectors. I do not call that justice.”
“This girl is not innocent,” Yurkutz said. “And I am already questioning her usefulness. I had hoped she would lead us to greater things.”
“If you’re talking about my parents,” Grey said, her scratchy throat causing her voice to crack. Without the fear of a shock, she could at least say one more thing. “You’re right. I would never betray them. No matter what you do to me.”
Jet glanced at her, and she thought she saw the corners of his mouth turn up.
“Quiet!” Lady Kern said. “You are a criminal. You have smuggled illegal items, resisted connection, and murdered a border patroller. All of these actions are punishable by law.”
“They should be dealt with in a local jurisdiction,” Jet said. “She does not need to be here in front of you.”
“Yet here she is,” Yurkutz said.
Grey’s head was starting to ache. For a moment, the edges of her vision darkened again.
“I present a proposition,” Jet said.
Lady Kern rolled her eyes. “Pray, tell. I can only imagine what.”
“Release her into my custody as a token of goodwill between Mazdaar and the Yien Dynasty. We will see to her trial and proper punishment.”
The panel was still. She saw something flick in the Mazdaar general’s feline eyes. Grey’s fate was in Jet’s hands now, and she still didn’t know for sure if she could trust him. The Yien Dynasty? What was he talking about?
Each Council member’s eyes began to twitch, and Grey wished she was privy to their telepathic communication.
“Remove the other prisoners,” General Yurkutz finally ordered, and immediately the drones herded their charges out the door. Grey turned to watch. They were as helpless as she was, but she still wished they wouldn’t leave her. The room was cleared, and silence spread throughout the cavernous space.
Yurkutz fixed an icy look on Jet. “You are treading on shaky ground, Mr. Yien.”
“But you will acknowledge the merit of my suggestion.” Jet didn’t wait for them to respond. “As you know, Grey Alexander is no ordinary girl.”
It was the first time she’d heard his surname. Who was Jet, after all?
“Silence!” Yurkutz slammed her fist on the table, quaking the water in the crystal goblets placed in front of each Council member.
Jet seemed to be in deep thought. The communication Dots worked by the user thinking a command, usually a series of connected words not normally thought in everyday life. Advanced users could implement several tasks at once, and she guessed Jet was patching into the Council’s frequency. She didn’t understand the sudden secrecy. What would they need to discuss that she couldn’t hear?
Time ceased as Grey tried to make sense of their facial expressio
ns. Each of them stared straight ahead, silently arguing about her. She ran her fingers through her hair, now damp with sweat. Her life was at stake, and she had no idea what Jet was saying on her behalf.
She thought of Rin again and once more was glad it was she in this strange place facing these merciless people rather than her tenderhearted sister.
The man with the rings was the first to speak. “Then it is decided.”
What was decided?
Jet gave a slight bow. “You have chosen wisely.”
He turned to Grey and motioned for her to rise. When she tried to stand her knees buckled, but Jet grabbed hold of her with a strong grip and helped her to her feet. He firmly led her from the room even as the Council scowled at them with looks that could kill.
* * *
Chapter 11
Outside the chamber, Jet relaxed his hold on Grey’s arm and ignored the curious looks from the other prisoners waiting in the corridor. Even the drones eyed him with almost intelligent awe. Grey knew better than to speak. She didn’t understand what had just happened anymore than she understood why she was here in Mazdaar City, but somehow she wanted to believe she was safer with Jet than at the mercy of the Council.
“Where are we going?” she whispered when they were out of ear shot.
“You’ll return to your cell for now,” Jet said.
She nodded, understanding he couldn’t say more where they were. “How did you get them to release me?”
He smiled, small wrinkles appearing around his eyes. Maybe he hadn’t had age-enhancement surgery after all.
“My father is Emperor Yien.”
Grey felt her own eyes widen.
“It does have its advantages.” Jet smiled again. “From which you have now benefited.”
They continued down the corridor, and Grey noticed that each official or drone they passed gave Jet a wide berth. How much influence did this man really have?
Jet leaned toward her ear. “It would be best if you appeared frightened of me.”
She wondered if she actually might be. Yes, he’d saved her from the Mazdaar Council, but how could she have done business with him all these years and not known he was the emperor’s son?
When they reached the open cell, Jet pushed her inside and left without another word. Grey sunk down onto the metal bunk. Her limbs still felt weak, and a persistent buzz seemed to be vibrating her eardrums.
She lifted her arms and examined her wrists. The restraints had burned deeper into her flesh, causing purple blood to push to the surface. Grey closed her eyes. Not knowing what tomorrow would bring was something she and Rin had gotten used to, but this kind of uncertainty was hard to take. At least back home she was the one choosing to put herself at risk when she’d traded or sold contraband. Here, she was at the mercy of powers she didn’t even understand. And she was still a prisoner.
***
Rin watched Mrs. March deftly work the controls as panels on the massive silo wall opened and closed. Long metal arms extended toward the blue cosmoship. She’d spent the last several minutes peppering her neighbor with questions. Some Mrs. March had answered; others she brushed off for another time.
“Do you have any idea how weird all this sounds?”
Mrs. March laughed. “I can imagine.”
“I still don’t understand what you’re doing here.”
“Now you know in part; then you shall know fully.”
“What?”
Mrs. March searched Rin’s face. “Don’t you remember your parents reciting the Scriptures to you?”
Barely.
Turning toward her, Mrs. March’s face softened. “Rin, I know this is hard. Please understand I am very aware of what’s at stake here for you. I will do everything in my power to keep your family intact. We are working—” the woman pulled out her medallion controller.
Rin caught sight of Jet’s image again.
“I have news,” he said.
“Proceed,” Mrs. March responded.
“They have surrendered her to my custody.”
Mrs. March’s shoulders relaxed. She smiled at Rin. “Wonderful. You’ll escort her?”
“Yes.”
“Good job.”
“My pleasure, Commander.” Rin didn’t think she’d ever get used to Mrs. March being called Commander.
They signed off, and Rin was about to barrage Mrs. March again when the woman began to explain.
“Grey’s okay,” she said. “Jet’s making sure of it.”
Mrs. March slipped the necklace back under her tunic. “Jet’s not exactly who you might have thought. For quite some time now you’ve been smuggling contraband, correct?”
“Just like you taught us to do.” Rin fiddled with the frayed edge of her sleeve cuff. “Grey wouldn’t let me come at first, but she has for the past year.”
“I’m glad she’s looked out for you.”
Rin tipped her chin up, trying to keep from crying. Everything was going to be all right. Grey was coming home. “She’s the best sister ever.”
Mrs. March grinned. “How much do you know about the Yien Dynasty?”
She shrugged.
“Mazdaar might act like they own the world, but they do not. Not all of it.” Mrs. March flipped a switch, and more lights came on around the silo. “Most of Asia is still ruled by the Yiens, and it’s their goal to spread the truth about Mazdaar’s lies into every zone. But they must do it secretly. You and Grey have actually been involved in Yien initiatives for quite some time now.”
“We have?”
“As your parents were before you. You’ve been carrying messages from the outside to Yien operatives like me without even knowing it. It was the only way I knew to help provide for you. I made sure they paid you well.”
“But Jet’s shorted us more than once.”
“That was planned.” Mrs. March gave a small nod. “It was his way to signal to me if Mazdaar was close to discovering you rather than contacting me directly, which is always risky. Jet has dual citizenship, and his access to Mazdaar has given us much intelligence. He probably saved your sister’s life today.”
“So everything’s going to be okay?”
Mrs. March sighed. “I hope so. But unfortunately, we’re not out of danger yet.”
* * *
Chapter 12
Grey was barely able to eat the bland mash shoved through the slot in her cell door that afternoon. A disgusting mixture that tasted like rotten corn, she forced it down to keep up her strength but soon regretted it. Her stomach now churned.
She lay on the bed, closing her burning eyes. She could still remember how safe and warm she’d felt when her father would hug her all those years ago and the way Mom seemed to know what she was thinking without a word spoken. Could it really be true? Were they still alive?
The cell door slid open, and Grey shot to her feet. The food had helped one thing, anyway. Her headache had faded with the nourishment.
None other than General Evangeline Yurkutz marched into the cell, and Grey instinctively shrunk back from her.
“Expecting your savior?” Yurkutz laughed. “Did you think we would allow him to take you away so easily?”
Grey’s shoulders drooped. “What do you want with me?”
“I think we’ve already established that.” Yurkutz signaled a drone that entered the small space as well. “Restrain her.”
Grey tensed, ready to fight.
“If you resist, you will regret it,” the general said.
“Why don’t I doubt that?”
The drone jerked her arms behind her back and tied them securely with new restraints made of thicker wire than before. She wondered if their shock would be stronger.
Grey had to look up to meet Evangeline Yurkutz’s eyes, but she did so just to show her defiance. She would not appear weak in front of this woman.
Yurkutz slapped her across the face, and Grey almost fell from the strength of her hand.
Without thinking, she launched h
erself at the woman, barreling her shoulder into the general’s chest. Air whooshed from Yurkutz’s lungs, but just as quickly, she threw Grey to the floor in some martial arts maneuver she didn’t see coming. With her hands bound behind her back and unable to break her fall, Grey’s head made contact with the cement, and everything went black.
***
When she came to, she found herself strapped into the seat of a two-person vehicle zooming down what looked like the main thoroughfare of Mazdaar City. Dozens of similar cars silently glided alongside them, all piloting themselves and guided by satellite and sensors embedded in the polymeric pavement. Grey had heard about them but had never seen them before.
Her arms were still tied behind her back, and her shoulders ached from the strain. How long had she been unconscious?
“That was a stupid move,” Yurkutz said, and Grey jumped when she realized who sat beside her.
“Yet so satisfying,” Grey muttered, expecting to be shocked. When she was not, she wondered if the general was saving that pleasure for later.
“Apparently, your parents passed their stubborn genes to their offspring.”
“If this is still about them, you’re wasting your time.”
“I don’t waste anything.”
“How many times do I have to say I don’t know where they are?” Grey shifted in her seat. “I thought they were dead.”
“So did we.”
A spark flickered in Grey’s heart. Yurkutz wasn’t denying they were alive any more than Jet was. But if they weren’t dead, why hadn’t they come home?
“Why do you even care about them?” Grey stared out the blue-tinted window. If her hands had been free, she might’ve tried to jump out into the street, even if they were probably traveling over one hundred kilometers per hour.
General Yurkutz tapped Grey’s leg with her index finger, and she recoiled at the woman’s touch. She wore a ring with a huge ruby embedded into the silver-like metal, probably platinum.
“You Alexanders are so unusual. You stick together. Family means something to you. Rather old fashioned, but in this case it’s going to be helpful.”
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