daynight

by Megan Thomason

  “You want me to stay here and watch while they have you Cleave Ethan?” I say.

  “You don’t know that’s what is going to happen,” she says.

  “Perhaps that’s what you want anyway,” I mumble. “You can have pretty little babies together who can grow up to be the ‘future of Thera’ and who can continue the SCI’s grip on the Second Chancers.”

  “Stop it,” she says, fuming. With a whisper she adds, “I had a choice and chose to protect the people I care about. You have a choice. The Ten will have their choice. I don’t know if all those things will match or not, but I do know that I’m not giving up about anything. So neither should you. Come here.”

  She drags me to the corner of the room behind the treadmill—perhaps the only spot in the room shielded from view through the mirror—and she straddles my lap, facing me. To my surprise, she removes her shirt to reveal her shimmery party tube top. The last girl that revealed herself to me in party attire was Bailey and I remember where that led. I still feel a little guilty that I never told Kira what happened.

  At first I think that Kira’s attempting, yet again, to get me to Cleave her. But that’s not the case. In fact, despite her position atop me, she’s being a little robotic. She’d never go back on her deal and risk my life. And we both know they won’t let us stay ‘hidden’ for long. She points to her stomach where she’s drawn an elaborate diagram and instructions in what appears to be… makeup? The picture looks like a bicycle wheel, but when I see what she’s written I understand the message she’s trying to communicate. Ms. Kira Donovan has discovered the SCI’s Achilles heel. When the powers that be banned paper and pencils they forgot that other methods could be used to communicate if necessary.

  “Commit it to memory,” she whispers as she pretends to nibble on my ear. I gladly oblige, my mind whirring with the implications of what she discovered.

  A couple minutes later, the door opens and the security guard informs us we’re out of time. She slips back on her shirt and gives me a chaste kiss goodbye.

  “I do love you, Blake. I know it’s not enough, but don’t ever forget that,” she says.

  I try to stave off the tears until she leaves. Because I fear the security guard is right. The Ten will make sure that our time is up.

  When a security guard comes to fetch me at 0200 hours and leads me on a convoluted route to a massive field of solar panels, I’m positive I have a date with a firing squad. At least I’ll be dying with Kira’s taste on my lips. Instead of finding men with guns, however, I’m surprised to be greeted by my mother and Ted Rosenberg.

  “Walk with me,” my mother says. Ted’s left with the security guard as we stroll between the large panels. “We’ve come to a decision about you, Blake.”

  “Firing squad? Hanging?” I say. She chuckles.

  “No. Actually, we’re giving you a choice,” she says.

  “I can’t wait to hear this,” I mumble.

  “You can choose to stay in Garden City and assist me in my work at Headquarters… assuming you agree to pledge strict obedience to all the Theran Canon. Or, if you feel you can’t abide by the Canon and put aside your feelings for the Theran government, you can choose to leave Garden City… self-exile, if you will, and the Ten will agree to not pursue you and let you live in peace,” she says.

  I’m floored. She is seriously offering me a job at the SCI in return for my pledge of loyalty? As her ‘assistant’? I have trouble believing the Ten will trust me to leave without staging another rebellion. Or what if I left Thera and out the SCI on Earth? I’m not buying it.

  “What is the catch? And what about Kira? Who does she Cleave?” I ask.

  “The catch of you staying is that there are still many on the Council and Ten who feel you are guilty of treason, and who may not be your biggest fans here. Your life could be at risk,” she says. “The catch of you leaving is that those same people will be constantly leery of what you may do in the future. And could construe any actions you might take… as an act of war against us. You’d have to be very careful to live out your life without any thought of us.”

  I pause to take it in. What would life be like working with Vienna? Would I be making her coffee? Taking dictation? Having Mommy and Son Sunnight brunch together? I shudder at the thought. Being at the Ten’s beck and call doesn’t exactly sound like a picnic. Would there be benefits? A passkey to the city models, perhaps? Free rein throughout headquarters? The possibilities are there. But, would the Ten trust me enough to give me any leeway and not shadow me all night, every night? I have to weigh the potential pros with the most certain cons. And the personal assistant option against life in Exile with Doc Daryn and the Survivalists.

  “And Kira?” I ask.

  “If you decide to stay, the Ten will decide between you and Ethan as a Cleave for Kira by dawn,” she says. Her expression is blank. Does that mean she’s made up her mind? Will the negative sentiments about me put me out of the running, or will Ethan’s faulty DNA kill his chances? They do seem to be all about DNA here, the SCI being busy building a master race of Original-blooded Daynighters, many of whom will be my children.

  “Who would you vote for… for her Cleaving?” I ask, to see if I can get a reaction one way or the other. Her expression doesn’t change.

  “You are both equally qualified. You both love her. I’m torn, as any mother would be between two sons. With Ethan, her long-term future would be with him on Earth. With you, she’d stay on Thera and raise my grandchildren here. I haven’t decided either way,” she says.

  “What do you mean with Ethan she’d be on Earth?” I ask.

  “Ethan’s attending law school and his path is to follow in my brother’s footsteps in the government there. Naturally, his Cleave would be at his side,” she says. Yet another thing Kira didn’t mention. That means, if I stay, there’s a good chance I watch Kira Cleave Ethan and then they both leave to live happily ever after on Earth, while I’m stuck with my mom and her minions. To me, that sounds like worse than living off bugs in Exile. Sheer hell. What if I’m wrong though and I do have a chance with Kira? Can she be the one for me forever? Unbidden, I feel Bailey’s ice-cold blue eyes glare at me in my subconscious, reminding me that I’d already failed once.

  We’ve gone in a giant circle and I can see Ted and the security guard up ahead. As we approach them I ask, “Why’s Ted Rosenberg here?”

  “Because Ted Rosenberg is a true traitor to Thera. He played both sides, trying to set himself up well with the eventual victor. So he’s the one who should have a date with the firing squad,” she says, loud enough for him to hear.

  Apparently Ted’s not ready to say goodbye. He makes a run for it, darting between two solar panels. I can hear his hefty breathing as he hikes his heart rate beyond acceptable levels. The security guard dashes after him.

  Vienna is chuckling at Ted’s flight. “Isn’t Ted a little touchy tonight. I wasn’t serious about the firing squad. He’s headed for Exile.”

  “That should go well,” I say. “I’m sure he’s far more hated there than here. I’ll go help round him up.” I head down a parallel row to try to corner him from the opposite side. I’m sure I can run double his speed without even trying.

  I keep light on my feet and listen for his shuffle. He appears to be zigzagging between panels in an effort to hit the outer edge where he’d hope to disappear into the canyon. I make some calculated turns to reach the edge before he does and then slow my pace so I can determine exactly which row to intercept him. His shuffles have slowed. If he’s smart, he’s stopped to gauge where the guard and I are. Perhaps he’ll even climb up into one of the panels to wait us out. There must be ten thousand or more of them in this field, so it’d take forever to check them all, without bringing in every troop in the city.

  I slowly crouch down and look through the rows for his feet, betting he’s not so smart after all. I’m right as I see him ten feet in, five rows up, trying to blend into the base of a panel. He’s probably ju
st catching his breath before making a run for the canyon. Kira would get a kick out of watching Mr. Potatohead try to escape. I can understand why he’d try, but the odds are not with him. Of course, Ted Rosenberg’s as arrogant as they come, so he has likely convinced himself it is possible.

  In less than twenty-seconds I’m in the row next to him. I slowly and weightlessly inch to the panel in front of him.

  “Give it up, Ted,” I say. I hear the click of the guard’s gun, indicating the guard has him covered on the other side. Rolling towards Ted, I clip his feet and send him barreling backwards.

  Between belabored breaths, Ted says, “Vienna’s lying. I never betrayed the SCI. It was your father and the Exilers I deceived. That was my job. Brad Darcton assigned it to me.” As Ted nervously twitches, I see his chin fat jiggle. I remember how Kira used to joke about using liposuction on Spud’s fat chin and wish I was back with her and not here.

  “You should be ashamed of yourself on all accounts. I hope you had a good meal tonight, Ted. How do you feel about slop?” I say. He’s up on his knees now and begging the security guard. He still thinks he’s going to be executed. The SCI, however, will be kinder than my father would have been—my father would have put the bullet through his brain. Ted lured my father and the Militants into the city, knowing they’d be ambushed. Knowing they couldn’t win.

  “Please, please, please spare my life. I’ll tell you everything I know about the Exilers. Everything you need to take them out,” he says, whimpering and sweat pouring from his face. “I’ll do anything you need. Anything.”

  Vienna walks up behind him with a second security guard and says, “Shut up, Ted. I said that you should face a firing squad, not that you were going to.” Ted sucks in a chest full of air and then bows down at her feet. She steps back and says, “Instead, I have a bright orange jumpsuit and nightpack with a night’s worth of food. Nathaniel’s going to take you outside the city. Good luck, Ted. I hope the Exilers are as forgiving for your trespasses as we’ve been.” I watch as Nathaniel, the security guard, cuffs and blindfolds Ted. Ted’s screaming as he’s dragged off. Before they get to the edge of the canyon Nathaniel tires of the wailing and uses a piece of duct tape to quiet Ted for the rest of their journey.

  Ted probably does deserve Exile. He flagrantly broke dozens of Canon rules with his attempt at being the double-agent. My problem is that there’s no due process to the SCI’s law. Ted had no trial, no jury of his peers, and no due process. As crappy as the American government can be, democracy still has merit. The SCI assumes that the few know better than the masses. They test their methods on unknowing and unsuspecting Second Chancers. As with any dictatorship, they need to be stopped. I just have to figure out the best way to make that happen with the information Kira gave me.

  My mother approaches me. She says, “I need your decision, Blake.” I know what I need to do, but it’s still hard to do it, as it is any time you have to pick in a lose-lose scenario. As much as my choice sucks, the alternative’s unbearable.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Ethan

  “You never had a heart defect, Son.” Dr. Christo has never been one to mince words, but he’s never managed to utter a doozy like this one. He’s dressed head to toe in such a dazzling white that it blinds me. I struggle to suck life-giving air into my lungs.

  “That’s impossible,” I finally manage to say.

  “Thera’s at a critical juncture. The Ten and Council have been decimated, leaving the most extreme in place. It’s time you know the truth.”

  “And you’re telling me the truth is that I had a dozen surgeries for a non-existent heart condition?” I ask incredulously.

  “It was necessary to make it appear that you both had a defect and needed constant medical care. For your protection. And to give me complete, unquestioned access to you.”

  “You’re the one who had me locked up for ten years?” I accuse.

  He begins to pace back and forth in my living room. Like, Jax, he too has the capability of blocking surveillance, so our conversation is secure.

  “The Grand Council and the Ten had lost focus. They were perverting the purposes of the grand design behind Thera and the Second Chancers. I had to take action. At the time, I ran the Assisted Pregnancy lab. Your mother and father had ‘won’ the lottery and were due. I used your mother’s egg, but… fertilized the egg with… I’m your biological father, Ethan. You have both ARB and pure Dark DNT in you. But your parents couldn’t know. And the ARB and DNT don’t always co-exist well, so I needed to treat you. Hybrids are… rare and exceptional. You have… undeveloped talents.”

  He lets the news sink in. I sit down on the couch and bury my head in my hands. Brad Darcton, the man presumed dead in the attack on Headquarters, is not my father? Dr. Christo is? Which would make Jax… my brother? I’m some sort of DNA hybrid concocted in a lab?

  After a minute taken to get my breathing under control again, I ask, “Why? Why would you do that?”

  “You’re destined to realign the Ten and Grand Council to their intended purposes. It’s almost time to right the wrongs of the Ten. To be trusted by the SCI, you had to be a pure Dark. To be trusted by me and the rest the Arbiters, you needed to have the ARB marker. I trained you from your youth for this purpose.” He looks so proud of his accomplishment.

  “And if I say no to being your ‘sleeper agent’ in the SCI?” I ask.

  “You won’t. You can’t,” he says.

  “Are you threatening me? If so, you’re no better father than Brad Darcton was,” I say.

  “I’m nothing like Brad Darcton. Given what you know about the SCI… what they are doing to the Second Chancers… to the Exilers… to the people you love… Can you turn your back on a chance to fix it?” he asks. He’s right. Kira would never forgive me if I had the opportunity to repair that which is broken.

  “All those couples are carrying Kira and my children? What happens when my ARB-marked blood mixes with Kira’s?” I ask.

  “Not for you to worry about” he says. “You have other concerns. From here on out, things will move quickly. Your Uncle’s in town and they are scrambling to fill spots on the Ten and Council. If offered a spot, you’ll take it without hesitation. I will advise you as I am able and Jax and I will train you to develop your latent… talents.”

  “Jax knows?” I ask. “For how long? And what talents?”

  “He’s always known,” he mumbles. “It would be impossible to keep from him. As for talents, it’s unclear what you are capable of. We’ll have to run tests.”

  As disturbed as I am by the turn of events, I’m equally intrigued. If I could do a fraction of the things Jax is capable of, it would be amazing. Life changing.

  “And, Ethan,” Dr. Christo says. “You’re to keep this to yourself. No one can know. The future of Thera depends on it.”

  “Hey, bro. I hear a Cleaving may be in your future,” a very smug Jax says, arriving uninvited and announced as always. Kira’s been staying with me, but is taking a longer-than-approved shower.

  “You bastard,” I reply. “You knew about me all along and never breathed a word.”

  “You,” he says, poking me in my chest, “did not have clearance. Besides, all the clues were there. You just failed as detective.”

  “We’re brothers,” I say as a statement, still unbelieving. “I seem to be accumulating those lately.”

  “So I’ve heard. Half-brothers, though,” he corrects. “I’m anticipating a few half-brotherly quarrels in our future.”

  “Well, then I guess nothing will change,” I say. As much as Jax riles me up, it’s hard to stay mad at him. “We’re always arguing.”

  “Over trivial things, thus far. Imagine what happens when brothers clash over important things,” he muses. What, like Blake and I have been doing over Kira?

  “Then we’ll have to hope blood runs thicker than hostility,” I say, unconvinced that if they Cleave Blake to Kira that I’ll be able to get past it and forgive
him.

  “About that Cleaving… Think they’ll pick you?” Jax asks.

  “I have no idea. If they don’t I’ll be in no condition to help you, your father, my Uncle, or anyone else for that matter. I’ll find some remote area on Earth and curl up in a ball and wither away.”

  “Dramatic as always, Ethan. Have you talked to Kira?” he asks.

  “She knows how I feel. I can’t force her to feel the same,” I shrug.

  “She does,” he says. “She’s got a big heart. Big enough to love more than one man utterly and completely.”

  “Don’t remind me,” I say. I stuff my hands into my pants pockets and rock back and forth to calm my nerves.

  Jax pats me on the back. “Got to run, bro. Kira’s done showering and I’d hate to meet her for the first time when she’s in… compromising attire. It’s almost show time. May the best man win and I think we all know who the best man is.” Well, I know Jax always assumes that he is the best, but I’ve got to think that between Blake and me that he’d support me.

  “Thanks, Jax.”

  “Ethan, do you know where my brush is?” Kira yells. I turn around to say goodbye to Jax, but he’s already vanished. So, I do the only thing I can. Go to spend what may be my last moments with Kira before the Ten’s decision comes down.

  We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us.

  — Joseph Campbell

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Kira

  The knock comes at 0300 hours. Two armed guards tell us that the Ten has requested Ethan and my presence at Headquarters immediately. We oblige and follow the men. Ethan holds my hand the entire way, and I’m not sure whether this will be the last opportunity to do so or not. Vienna Darcton visited me earlier to tell me Blake would be given a choice to stay or leave and the Ten awaited his decision before choosing my Cleave.