Awakening

by Rebel Miller

  “Hello, Subordinate Metallurgist.”

  If I didn’t recognize his voice, the scent of crisp, clean arrogance would have given him away. I leveled a look at Gannon. “So when exactly did you figure out that I accepted the minister’s invitation?” I asked.

  He snorted as he fell into the seat beside me. “The moment you agreed to our demands that you reject it without a fight.” He strapped himself in then brushed his hand across my own so quickly that if I wasn’t so highly attuned to him, I would have missed it. My body flushed. He licked his lips as a smile flirted around the edges, knowing full well what he was doing to me. “I’m supposed to be angry with you,” he said, “but it’s been over a week since I’ve had a chance to touch you so … fuck that.”

  I struggled to keep a neutral expression on my face, highly aware of our setting and the people around us. Gaia Ambassador of Hale nodded a greeting to Gannon as she walked by. Meanwhile, the eyes of the two female senators trailing behind her snagged on him, no doubt ensnared by the way his shoulders filled out his uniform and the borderline insolent way he draped himself in his seat. They drank him in so thoroughly, I expected to soon find them bottoms up in a corner, completely inebriated. After all, I wasn’t blind. I knew how intoxicating Gannon Consul was. I couldn’t help a small smile when he paid them no attention, completely oblivious.

  I folded my hands on my lap table, hoping to be the picture of professional decorum even as my fingers itched to run through his artfully tousled hair. “You got me on this particular craft, didn’t you?” I asked.

  “No, I did.” A deep voice behind me drew my attention. Tai came to stand before me, his big frame blocking the artificial light from above. He and Gannon exchanged that short nod men give each other in greeting before Tai rested a stern gaze on me. It was evident that he was more committed to being angry with me than Gannon was.

  I shook my head at Tai’s audacity even as my heart lifted at seeing him. “So you both hijacked my single act of rebellion,” I said.

  “Single?” Gannon said with a laugh as Tai arched a brow.

  Tai scanned the space. Two protectors came up to him and said a few tense words in hushed tones. He ordered them to take position close to Aresh Ambassador, who was seated across from us, on the other side of the vessel.

  “Is something wrong?” I asked.

  He shook his head distractedly as he pulled his gaze from the ambassador. “No. Just stay with Gannon. I’ll check in on you when we’re in flight,” he said, running his eyes over me before striding away.

  Gannon and I looked after Tai for a few moments. That’s when I saw Mila Minister arrive. Tall, dark-skinned and striking, she strode into the vessel with a subordinate, Finch Director, hurrying in behind her. She cut a quick look across the room then swiveled her head in my direction. I rose from my seat as she approached.

  “Subordinate Metallurgist, thank you again for joining us,” she said, reaching out to grip my hand in a firm hold. We had first met over a week ago, and I was as overwhelmed by her now as I had been then. Mila Minister was a force to be reckoned with. She cut an imposing figure, and her personality was just as authoritative and direct. While I had not seen her since the briefing, Finch and I had been in constant communication as we worked to prepare her for the meeting.

  “I’m happy to be here,” I said to both her and Finch, who stood close by.

  The minister glanced up and to my left. “Chancellor,” she said, greeting Gannon, who had stood up by my side after she approached.

  Gannon nodded his head politely.

  “This is quite the occasion, isn’t it?” she said, rolling back her shoulders and tugging at the hem of her jacket to straighten it. “I suppose one can’t be too careful with those fuckers running around.”

  “Minister?” Gannon asked.

  “Please call me Mila,” she said to him, but glanced my way, including me in the courtesy. She turned to Gannon once again, her eyeline level with his. “Perhaps it was only your father who received the report. It’s completely unfounded, but there are rumors circling about an exiled ambassador working with the factions. I don’t know. It could be nothing, but all this protection shows they’re not leaving anything to chance,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

  Dread and alarm shot through me. If the factions were working with exiled leadership, the gravity and scope of the danger they posed to the Realm had escalated. Gannon caught my eye and shook his head almost imperceptibly, without words telling me not to worry. I noticed the slight pinch around his eyes.

  “I’m sure it’s nothing to fret over,” Mila continued, with a wry twist to her lips. “There’s no fucking way the Protectorate would approve the Corona for this trip otherwise. Speaking of which” — Mila swung a look over her shoulder before glancing at me — “she’s just arrived, so we’re probably leaving soon. Come see me once we land on Septima.”

  I nodded my consent as she turned and strode away.

  Finch stepped into my line of sight, his eyes bright. “It’s good to see you again, Kira,” he said with a small smile. He shot a curious look at Gannon and ducked his head before following his superior.

  “I believe you have a fan,” Gannon said with a smirk, his eyes on Finch as he approached Mila, who was speaking with Aresh Ambassador.

  “Why, Gannon Consul, are you jealous?” I asked out of the side of my mouth, my eyes on them as well.

  He sniffed. “He’s not your type.”

  I drew back and turned to him. “Is that right? Handsome and smart is not my type?”

  “Submissive men are not your type,” he said flatly, slanting a hot look my way.

  My mouth dropped open. “He’s submissive? How do you know?” I whispered.

  Gannon struggled not to laugh at my conspiratorial tone and glanced back at Finch and Mila. “Your minister couldn’t be more of an alpha. She defines dominance and control. Just look at your new friend. He’s getting hard just watching to her speak.” I turned in their direction. Sure enough, Finch was deep in the throes of rapt attention.

  “So why do you think he likes me?” I asked, still assessing Finch.

  “I know he likes you.” Gannon shrugged in my periphery, turning to me. “He’s young. Perhaps he doesn’t know any better. Plus” — he looked me over, effectively setting my skin on fire — “who could blame him?”

  I decided it would be best for my reputation to change subjects rather than run my hands and body all over our system’s future high chancellor. “What do you think about what the minister said about the exiled ambassador and the factions? Do you think there’s any truth to the rumors?”

  He thinned his lips. “I don’t know,” he said after a while.

  Gannon’s uncertainty only served to unsettle me even more.

  It was an hour’s trip to Septima Two from Dignitas One, so Gannon and I settled into our seats, lost in our own thoughts. Every now and then, he would glance at me and I’d smile, knowing, without either of us saying a word, the illicit direction of his thoughts. Tai checked in on me a few times but was primarily focused on his charge, the ambassador.

  It was a new experience getting to see Tai in full protector mode. He commanded his team with respect and efficiency, leaving no room for error or doubt who was in charge. I imagined his superior had chosen him for this excursion because of his reliability, control and effective leadership. I felt so proud of him then, and my feelings of uneasiness lightened knowing that he was there, helping to ensure the safety of all of us.

  Soon enough, we docked at the arc station on Septima Two. When almost an hour had passed there without any sign of us being allowed off the craft, people started to glance around and inquire about the delay.

  Gannon checked his comm as Tai approached us with a grim face. Gannon and I both stood up.

  “We’ve been here for nearly an hour. Why haven’t we been given authorization to leave?” Gannon demanded before Tai could speak, his tone revealing his own uneasiness
.

  Tai’s scowl deepened. He tipped his chin toward a corner at the back of the vessel, and we quickly followed him to it. “Something’s not right,” he said in a low voice, his eyes on me. “I can’t say more than that, but we’re not leaving until it’s been sorted out.” Tai was more than concerned, he looked … fearful.

  My anxiety ratcheted up to new heights and my chest tightened. I took three deep breaths, trying to find calm.

  Tai turned to Gannon. “You need to take her back to Prospect,” he said, his tone and demeanor unyielding.

  “What?” I croaked. I shook my head firmly. “No.”

  Tai ignored me as he and Gannon started planning my departure.

  It was while Gannon nodded in response to Tai’s directions on where to locate a returning arc craft that I heard a low, whirring sound. Cocking my head, I turned around slowly, looking about the vessel, trying to locate its origin. The sound seemed to be coming from off in the far distance. Its volume increased as seconds passed. Wincing, I covered my ears with my hands and staggered when my feet trembled. I glanced down to see that it was actually the floor of the craft that was shaking, not me. The vibrations grew now with the rapidly increasing sound. I stumbled back and reached out, trying to steady myself. Tai grabbed me around my waist and hauled me painfully against him.

  From then on, everything happened in slow motion. Protectors were running and yelling everywhere. I watched stunned as a group of them corralled the Corona, her face a mask of fear even while she shouted out commands. The high marshal was close by, also surrounded, barking out orders to his teams.

  Tai spun me around to face him and started yelling at me, but I couldn’t hear what he was saying. The sound had grown shrill, so loud now that every other sound was buried beneath it. Finally, he shoved me hard into the corner, where Gannon caught me and pushed me to the ground.

  All the air left my lungs in a rush when Gannon’s weight landed on my back. He wrapped his arms around my chest and over my head just as a loud, shattering blast rent the air, followed by a piercing light. For a few frightening seconds, I was both blind and deaf. I closed my eyes and screamed when the craft jolted so hard, Gannon and I were lifted into the air and suspended for a few seconds before landing hard on the ground. Pain shot from my wrist and up my arm as I broke my fall with my hands. The vessel jolted violently again, and I screamed again. This time, Gannon’s hold on me loosened, his hands scrabbling at my back and arms as his weight lifted off of me. I landed alone, a searing pain running along on my side.

  Frantic, I opened my eyes, but I couldn’t see anything. There was billowing smoke everywhere, so much I could hardly breathe. My ears rang, blocking out all sound. I called out Gannon’s and Tai’s names, even though the fact that I couldn’t hear my own voice meant they probably couldn’t hear mine either.

  Light and then much heavier objects began dropping all over my body. Alarmed, I realized that they were parts of the vessel. I had to move, find cover. Wheezing, I reached out with my good hand to try to lift my body into a crawling position but suddenly felt a sharp pain against my temple, and everything went black.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “Kira!”

  I heard his voice, but I couldn’t move. My tongue was thick and heavy inside my mouth.

  “Kira!” Gannon yelled, his voice hoarse and tense.

  I pulled my lips inward and tried to move my arm. I cried out as pain lanced through it, filling my sight with stars.

  Suddenly, there was movement at my right. Rock, shards of glass and bars of steel were lifted from around me. I blinked as light filtered through the dust-filled air into the corner where I lay curled on my side. As I rolled onto my back, Gannon dropped to his knees beside me. His eyes and hands skated down and up my body, assessing the extent of my injuries. He exhaled deeply, leaning in to hold my face and plant tight kisses across my face. I breathed in the scent of him, allowing him to comfort and seek comfort.

  “Gods, I couldn’t find you. I held onto you, but then you were gone,” he said, pulling back. I saw a smear of blood on his palm as he drew his hand away. When he saw my eyes on it, he curled his hand into a fist, hiding it.

  Gannon began to look about. “Stay still. I’m going to get some help.”

  I raised a hand to my temple and winced at the dull pain. It hurt, but it wasn’t unbearable. I must have been knocked out by something. I pressed again and the second time around the pain didn’t feel as bad. Meanwhile, my entire left arm throbbed terribly.

  I cleared my throat. “I — I’m fine. I think it’s just my arm,” I said, flexing all my fingers and toes to be sure.

  Gannon’s eyes shifted immediately to my right arm. He tenderly touched a spot that was swelling around my wrist. “It’s either broken or sprained,” he muttered more to himself than to me.

  “I’m okay.” I felt the need to confirm it. Gannon looked ready to heal my wrist by sheer force of will. I looked him over quickly, noting the dust and torn fabric of his shirt. “Are you all right?”

  He nodded and reached for me as I began to shift. Using my good arm, and with Gannon’s help, I managed to push myself up to sit. What I saw when I looked around took my breath away.

  The gleaming example of the Realm’s technological power and might was now a pile of rubble around us. While the vessel itself was mostly intact, sections of the craft had been blown out. Sunlight streamed in like ribbons through gaping holes overhead. Beyond them, the arc station platform was in ruins. A few feet beyond us was a pile of what looked like fabric lying atop a broken metal door. It took me a moment to realize it was actually a body.

  “Gannon,” I breathed.

  “I know,” he murmured, scanning the area as well. Suddenly, he turned to me. He ran a hand up my arm then firmly gripped my jaw, turning my face to his. “You keep looking at me, understand?”

  I pressed my lips together and nodded, understanding that he was trying to save me from seeing not just the destruction, but fatalities as well.

  My heart dove to bottom of my belly. “Tai!” I shouted, wrenching my chin from his hold and lunging forward.

  “Don’t move!” Gannon yelled, but I ignored him. He gripped my shoulders, trying to hold me still.

  “Where is he?” I felt a tightening inside my chest. Clutching at it, I searched Gannon’s face, hoping I wouldn’t find a terrible answer hidden within his look of concern.

  “Kira!” Gannon and I turned to find Tai running toward us.

  Like Gannon, his uniform was torn in parts and dust coated him all over. He fell to his knees in front of me and gripped my hands. When I winced, he released me, alarmed.

  “Her wrist is injured,” Gannon said tightly.

  Tai leaned in to give me the same physical assessment Gannon had just moments before. When he was satisfied, he looked to Gannon. “Your father’s safe. He and the Corona are with my team on the lower platform.”

  Gannon’s shoulders slumped in relief. He nodded with a shuddering breath. I realized then that I must have been out, unconscious, for quite a while. I placed a few fingers to my temple, again testing out the pain.

  Risking Gannon’s ire, I surveyed our surroundings again. “What happened?”

  “We were attacked,” Tai said. “The explosion took out another craft, in the dock beside us, but from what we can see of the trajectory of the blast, ours was the main target.” His eyes slid to my hands. “So far, ten people have been confirmed dead.”

  “Who?”

  Tai glanced up, his eyes assessing me. “Maria Ambassador, two senators, including Nolan Minister of Hale Three. The rest were subordinates.”

  “Subordinates?” I said.

  “Finch Director was one of them,” Gannon said solemnly.

  I clapped a hand over my mouth, tears threatening. Both Gannon and Tai tensed. At first I wasn’t sure why, then I realized that they thought I was about to dissolve into a wheezing hysteria. I reined in my emotions and lowered my hand. They needed my stren
gth as much as I needed theirs.

  I heard people calling out in the distance. As the dust began to settle around us, more and more citizens were emerging from the rubble, some with only minor wounds, others in need of immediate attention.

  I turned to Tai. “You have to help them.”

  “I don’t want to leave you,” he said, his mouth set.

  “I’m fine. They need help. Go.” He didn’t move. “This is what you were trained to do,” I said, knowing that an appeal to his sense of duty would work better than any heartfelt plea.

  Tai looked over his shoulder. A man limped by, leaning on a woman for support. They were coated in fine gray dust, blood splattered in vivid arcs across their faces and uniforms.

  “I’ll stay with her,” Gannon said, drawing Tai’s focus to him.

  “No, you won’t,” I said. “Look over there.” I nodded to a group hobbling around to our left. “They look like elites. They probably don’t have a clue what to do.” I looked to Tai. “You said citizens are being taken to the lower platform, right?”

  Tai nodded hesitantly.

  I turned to Gannon again. “You should take them there.”

  “Kira, I’m not letting you out of my sight.” Gannon ground out, but I could see he was torn. Around us, people were in need of help.

  “Well, you can stay here, if you like,” I said, struggling to a stand, fighting against a wave of wooziness. I was fine. I could manage a sprained wrist and headache. I pointed to a woman sitting on a sheet of twisted metal. “I’ll be over there.”

  I could feel Tai and Gannon’s eyes on my back as I walked away, negotiating the debris underfoot. Chancing a look behind me, I saw Tai say something to Gannon before sprinting off toward the platform. Gannon glowered at me but approached the group I had pointed out.

  “Hello,” I said once I’d arrived in front of the woman. My wrist was throbbing fiercely now, so I cradled it in my hand. “Are you okay?”