01

by Unknown

  “I got in just after. Why do you think he survived?”

  Two soldiers stared at me. I looked away.

  “Can you save him?”

  I recognized Keira’s voice.

  “We’re doing the best we can. Step back please.”

  “I’m not leaving him.”

  “Someone, get her out of here.”

  I glanced in the direction of another pair of voices.

  “What did you do?” A young soldier gripped the lab coat of one of the doctors I’d noticed earlier. She was now in handcuffs. “I thought you doctors took an oath to save lives.”

  “I didn’t kill them. Neither of us did!” She shook her head vehemently.

  “How did it happen then?”

  “We fixed it so they could be stopped if necessary, only if necessary,” the other doctor said. “This wasn’t necessary. If you hadn’t barged in!”

  “If we hadn’t barged in? You made this possible!” The soldier waved his arm, indicat-ing the bodies scattered throughout the room.

  The first doctor spoke again. “The Gov didn’t want any more on the run. You see?”

  And then another voice. “Here, test this will you?”

  “Shit! This won’t do either. We need O negative.”

  Eberhardt barked an order. “Soldiers, line up! We need blood samples.”

  “Brody?” Keira gently placed her hands on my shoulders and studied my face. “Are you okay?”

  I nodded. “I think so.”

  She leaned in and hugged me.

  When Keira pulled away, I asked, “What’s going on?”

  “It’s happening, the rebellion. We came to save you, to save everyone here, but you’re the only one left.”

  “What happened to him?” I nodded toward the man.

  “Guy was shot just outside the door. He needs blood.” Her face was wet with tears.

  “Did they do anything to you, give you any injections?”

  “I don’t know. I think I was sedated.” I nodded to some needle marks on my right arm.

  “How long have I been here?”

  “About 24 hours, give or take.”

  “Aimee? Is she alright?”

  Keira sat on the bed next to me. She took my hand and rested her head on my shoulder.

  “She’s fine. She’s safe. Brody?”

  “Yes?”

  “I’m sorry I doubted you. It won’t ever happen again.”

  In frustration, one of the military doctors called, “Well, bring in some civilians then!

  He doesn’t have much time.”

  Keira pushed away from the cot and walked over. “Test me.” She held out her arm.

  He drew her blood and checked it. “It’s the right type, but…” The doctor gave her a strange look and mumbled, “on the run?” Keira stared at the military doc but didn’t respond. He returned his attention to the microscope. “Your blood cells aren’t behaving as they should. I’ve never seen anything like this. They may attack his.”

  “But I have the right blood type?” she pressed.

  “Yes.”

  “And without it, he’ll die.” It wasn’t a question.

  Eberhardt walked through the door. I hadn’t noticed he was gone, but now Aimee was with him. Her eyes grew wide, and her hand flew to cover her mouth. She saw Keira and Guy first. Then she saw me, and she ran to me. She ran…to me.

  Aimee buried her head against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her and held her tight, then I leaned my cheek against the top of her head. She smelled fresh and clean, yet with a hint of cigarette smoke. Her hair tickled my nose.

  “I’m so sorry,” I whispered. “I led them right to you.”

  “No.” She backed away just enough to look into my eyes. “They’re the ones who did this, not you.”

  She continued to hold my gaze, refusing to look around. A tear trailed down her left cheek. I reached out with my thumb and wiped it away.

  “Did they give you the injection?” she asked.

  “I don’t know. There are needle marks.” I held out my arm to show her the pinpricks.

  “But I was sedated, so I just don’t know.”

  She ran her finger over the marks, and I shivered. “Brody, seeing them there, that’s a good sign, but we can check later for sure.”

  “Check?”

  She looked away.

  “Do you smoke?”

  She looked back in surprise. “No, why?”

  “You just smell a bit like…” I lifted her hair and smelled again.

  “Oh, we stayed at Tony’s last night.”

  “Is Tony a friend?”

  “Um, sort of. He owns a bar. We were hiding from the Gov. They came after us, but Hisoka contacted Guy. He told us they charged you. He saved our lives.”

  “Hisoka Watanabe?”

  She nodded.

  “He was at the trial too.”

  “The trial?”

  “They let him go.”

  “Oh. He took a stand outside too.”

  “Outside?”

  “Yeah, that’s something you’ll have to see to believe.”

  Just then, a piercing cry cut through the room. We both turned to look.

  -Guy-

  Healing

  Thousands of knives pierced my skin. They prickled along my right lung and my rib cage. No, not knives, I realized. Needles stitched me back together. I curled up and almost fell to the floor. Hands pushed me back onto a mattress and held me in place as the needles did their work.

  The pain…so intense. Eventually, I became aware of my surroundings: lights, voices, faces, Keira. And then, the needles simply stopped. The memory lingered, but the actual pain was gone. Could I? I took a deep breath just to see. Yes, I could breathe easily. I closed my eyes and just breathed. Soft fingers trailed down the side of my face.

  “Mmm…” I opened my eyes.

  “Can you sit?” Keira asked.

  “I think so.”

  She put her arm around my shoulders and helped me up. My stomach complained

  loudly.

  “Hungry?”

  “Very.”

  “I guess that’s part of it then.” She leaned over and whispered something to Eberhardt.

  A military doc approached and held up a stethoscope. “May I?”

  I nodded but flinched when the cool metal brushed against my chest. “What happened?”

  I tried to ignore the lions gnawing at my stomach.

  “You were shot. You were dying, so we gave you some of my blood.” Keira looked away. “I’m sorry.”

  “I was shot?” I looked down at my chest. There was a faint scar. “And now I’m not.”

  “Yes, because of my blood. I didn’t want to, but no one else had the right type.”

  “You saved my life.” She looked into my eyes. “Thank you.”

  Eberhardt approached and handed me a sandwich. “You back in charge?”

  “Give me a few minutes. Where did you get this?”

  “His lunch cooler.” He nodded toward one of the doctors in custody.

  I was about to say thank you when I saw all the people with their chests blown apart. I tried to hand the sandwich back. “Maybe later.”

  Keira put her hand on mine and pushed the sandwich back toward me. “You need to eat to regain your strength.” She stepped in front of me. “Just keep your eyes on me, okay?”

  I looked into her brilliant green eyes and took a bite. The food calmed my angry stomach. After I polished off the sandwich, I looked at Eberhardt. “I guess it’s time. Everyone must be wondering, especially about this. Where’s your vid’recorder?”

  He patted his pocket. “The electricity back at Tony’s went out just after it happened.”

  “So they don’t know anything?”

  “Only that we took Parliament. Raquelle contacted me a few minutes ago. Some of Harlow’s men got the power back up again, and Alexis has reassured everyone.” He handed me my earpiece. “Just tell me when.”

&
nbsp; I shook my head. “Not yet. Do we have full control?”

  Eberhardt nodded. “We’ve taken the Gov, and most of the military are with us.”

  “Not to mention the thousands of people gathered on the front lawn,” Keira said.

  “Most of the military?” I asked.

  “A small percentage are siding against. The man who shot you, for one.”

  I used my transmitter. “Harlow, how many military, would you say, are against us at this point?”

  “Hey, good to hear from you! Not many. I’d say just over 5% are with the Elite. Look, I don’t know how Saunders slipped through, but he’ll get what he deserves.”

  “No, let him go.”

  Keira and Eberhardt looked at me in surprise.

  “You don’t know what you’re suggesting,” Harlow said.

  “Let him go. Dishonorable discharge, nothing more.”

  “But he shot to kill,” Harlow argued.

  “He was following orders, and we don’t want to form a new Gov that’s the same as the old. We’re all Terenians. We all need to be on the same side. Do you have enough authority to give the order? Will they listen to you?”

  “Yeah, because of my link with you, they will.”

  “Alright then. Honorable discharge for anyone who wants to leave the service. Hook up with Alexis. You’ll need to make a public statement.”

  Harlow took a deep breath. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

  “Alexis? Did you get that?”

  “Yes, I heard. Any other brilliant ideas?”

  “I’m still thinking. How about this. We’ll use Eberhardt’s vid’recorder to get some footage in here. The people should know what the Gov did, so we’ll record it now, and Raquelle will show it in a little bit. We’ll need to work it in somehow, so the people will understand what they’re seeing.”

  Everyone in the room was hanging onto every word. I motioned for Eberhardt to hand the recorder to a soldier. He showed him how to work the small device.

  “I don’t understand. What did you find in there?” Alexis’s voice registered through my earpiece.

  “I’ll get back to you. I need to talk with my team.” I looked first at Keira and then at Eberhardt. “Let’s go somewhere we can talk in private.”

  -Aimee-

  Truth

  I found Brody’s clothes stashed in a cabinet in the lab. Although they were a bit wrinkled, he looked much more comfortable in his suit. Brody leaned on me slightly as we climbed a flight of stairs and went past the main conference room. The ministers were still in there, tied to their chairs. Prime Minister Armstrong lifted his head as we walked by. His glare bore into me, and I silently thanked the soldiers who stood guard throughout the room.

  I tore my gaze away and led Brody toward the main entrance.

  “Wow,” he said. “You weren’t exaggerating.”

  I looked across the sea of people on the front lawn of the Justice Center. They overflowed into the streets in all directions. Of course, I had seen them on the teleview back at Tony’s and on my way in, but I’d been too distracted then to really comprehend the mag-nitude of it all. I took a deep breath and leaned my head back, relaxing a bit in the warmth of the sun, but tensed again when I heard my name. I opened my eyes.

  Alexis stood in front of us. “Aimee? Is he one of them? Where are the others?” Her vidcrew was at her back. They faced the opposite direction and scanned the crowd.

  “Brody was the only one still alive,” I said.

  “Can I get an interview?”

  Brody’s arm was still draped around my shoulders, and I felt him stiffen at her words.

  “We’d rather not,” I said.

  “But the world needs to know,” Alexis insisted.

  Brody stared at her. “You don’t know what you’re suggesting, but if you really want them to know, there’s plenty of evidence inside. Leave us out of it.”

  “Please, Alexis,” Aimee pleaded. “Just report there were no survivors, okay?”

  Alexis held her hand to her ear and then spun around. She called to her crew. “We’ve got work to do inside, guys. Let’s move it!”

  On the front wall of the Justice Center, Raquelle’s projection went blank. A minute later, an image appeared, and a hush fell over the crowd. It was the room we’d just passed, the one with the ministers. They were still tied to their chairs. A cheer rose from the crowd and floated up to the clouds. After showing each of the ministers in turn, Guy and Keira took center stage.

  Guy cleared his throat and began. “Many of you know us as Richard Burke and Kendra James. You may have seen us on Everyday Elite. You’ve probably heard that we’re engaged to be married. You may think you know us, but every coin has two sides.” He flipped a small golden object into the air and caught it as it fell. It was Keira’s pendant.

  She picked up where he’d left off. “You may think you know us, but you do not know the whole truth. You see, as long as the Divide remains strong, people must either hide or pretend.” She paused. “I’m tired of hiding. I’m tired of pretending who I am for the vid’recorders and for all of you. And what’s more? I believe you deserve to know the truth.

  Don’t you want to know the truth?” She shook her head. “Whether you’re with us or not, you all have a right to know certain truths. For example, have you ever wondered what happens inside these walls?”

  Keira held out her hands, and words appeared along the bottom of the screen: The Justice Center, Tkaron. “This place was designed to uphold the laws meant to protect the citizens of Terene. The Gov should be working for you.”

  Guy continued. “Instead of doing their job, the current administration has tortured and experimented on the very people they claimed to protect. What we are about to show you is graphic and disturbing, and it is real. Please, cover your children’s eyes.”

  Guy put his hand to his ear and spoke into his transmitter. “Roll the footage.”

  Dozens of bloodied corpses and cases of living organs were displayed for everyone to see. It was quiet at first, but then we heard a rumbling in the distance. It grew louder and louder as the chanting rolled forward. “Lies, lies, don’t believe your eyes. Lies, lies, to send the Gov goodbye.”

  I turned to Brody. My mouth hung open. I had no words.

  “Come with me.” He took my hand and pulled me along behind him. “Hurry! We don’t have much time.” The chanting grew increasingly louder.

  Four soldiers blocked the entrance.

  “We need to get back in,” I insisted.

  They drew closer together.

  “Don’t you remember me? Harlow brought me in earlier. We just came out to see the crowd.”

  One of the soldiers took the time to study my face. He gave a curt nod and a signal, and the others stepped aside.

  We burst into the main conference room. Brody strode up to Guy. “They don’t believe it. I don’t think they want to.”

  Guy looked at Alexis, but his words were for both her and Raquelle. “Cut it. Switch back to me.”

  Brody and I ducked behind the vid crew as they pointed their equipment at Guy.

  “It’s come to our attention that some of you don’t believe us. And why should you? The Gov has lied to you and so have we. So no more lies, at least not from us. From this day forward, Richard Burke is dead. I prefer to be called by my chosen name, Guy Bensen.”

  Keira chimed in, “And the Redemption for Orphans committee will have to find a new leader, because Kendra James is gone too. My real name is Keira Maddock.”

  Guy smiled and threw his arm around Keira’s shoulders. “This is truly an historic day.

  I am a highly regarded member of the Elite, and my lovely fiancee is a wanted Freelancer fugitive. We are, in fact, engaged, and we’ve been working together for over a year to bring down this administration.”

  Keira leaned into him. “Working together to close the Divide.”

  “With a Gov that represents all citizens, in a realm where everyone has
a say.” Guy turned, and they kissed. Then he addressed the people once more. “And now, an invitation.

  We’ll take a group of citizens downstairs for a tour, and we’ll all go along for the ride.”

  Alexis instructed Raquelle to show some earlier footage while her team got ready to shoot on the front steps of the Justice Center. Meanwhile, Guy told Harlow to form a team to search the crowd for a dozen willing citizens. He wanted a mix of ages, genders and occupations. Most important, half were to be Elite and half Working Class.

  Brody and I found a smaller conference room with a vidscreen. I sank into a tan leather seat, leaned my head back and closed my eyes, trying to clear my head. I used a technique Guy once taught me. Thoughts flowed in and out. I simply let them come and go, and my mind began to still. My breathing became even and relaxed. A slight tickle along my forearm brought a smile to my lips. Brody’s fingers moved to my palm and settled. I curled my fingers around his and opened my eyes.

  He stared at me, then leaned in for a kiss, but I instinctively turned my head.

  “I’m sorry. I just wanted to thank you.” He pulled his hand away and leaned back in his chair.

  I curled and uncurled my fingers around the sudden emptiness. Then I reached forward and pushed a button. The vidscreen lit up.

  They were on the front steps. Alexis stood in front of a small group. “I’m Alexis Palamara. In just a few moments, we’ll be entering the Justice Center to see it all firsthand. Let’s meet these courageous citizens.” She turned to a man. “Sir, what brings you here today?”

  “My sister went missing a few weeks ago. I want to see if…” He choked up and turned away, mumbling, “I’m sorry.”

  “And you, Miss Armstrong?” Alexis turned to a young woman with long blond hair.

  Her startling blue eyes looked directly into the vid’recorder.

  “I’m Adira Armstrong. I want to see my father, to know that he’s alright, and to disprove your lies.”

  “They’re letting her in? Why?” I asked.

  “Why not? Guy said he wanted a mixed group.”

  I leaned toward Brody and explained, “She hired a Freelancer to kill us, but Keira stopped him.”

  Brody turned and stared at me. “Does Guy know about that?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  He nodded at the screen, and we continued to watch. They had assembled a mix of Elite and Working Class citizens, some with every reason in the world to want in, and others with no reason save curiosity.