“That is an Orb,” Gideon said.
The side of the glass slid open, and there were three seats inside.
Cypris turned to Nadia. “Come on. If we have to wait for another ride you’ll be late.”
Nadia sighed. “Fine.” She climbed in and took a seat.
“You go next, Lark,” Cypris said with a falsely sweet smile.
Gideon looked between us and cleared his throat. “Actually, I’ll get in and have Nadia sit on my lap. That way you can each have your own seat.”
I had to bite back a laugh as Cypris’ face fell, but Gideon was already climbing in so she had no alternative but to follow. She took the seat beside Gideon and Nadia, who looked like a couple of over-sized grade-schoolers trying to share the same swing.
“This is cozy,” Nadia grumbled.
I climbed in last, gazing all around as the door closed behind me. The seats were made of the same clear material as the Orb, so it looked as though the others were sitting on nothing at all. Even the floor was transparent.
“It’s like a giant bubble,” I said, gazing around the space. “Is it really going to fly with us?”
“Yep.” Gideon strained to see past Cypris’ auburn curls to give me a smile.
“Awesome!” I took the empty seat, twisting to find a seatbelt.
“What are you doing?” Cypris snapped, clearly still irritated she wasn’t sitting on Gideon’s lap.
“There aren’t seat belts,” Gideon explained.
I glanced up in surprise. “What if we crash?”
“The Orbs are self-propelled and computer activated. It’s impossible for them to collide with each other.” He gave me a wink as we began lifting off the ground. “Here we go.”
A short laugh escaped my throat. I gripped the armrests of my seat as the ground grew farther and farther away. My feet tingled with the sensation of flying through the air with seemingly nothing to keep me secure. It was thrilling and terrifying at the same time.
“Technically, an Orb’s system could be hacked, making it possible to manually operate. So in theory, it actually could collide with another Orb,” Nadia said.
Gideon pinched her side.
“Hey!” She slapped his hand away.
He tipped his head my direction. “Not helping.”
She looked at me and blinked. “Oh. Sorry, Lark. Something like that has never been recorded and is extremely unlikely.”
I swallowed and gave her a weak nod, trying not to focus on the fact that we were traveling higher than a skyscraper. “How fast do these things go?”
“Just your standard twelve knots. Though technically you could hack the governor to make them go faster.” Nadia’s eyes took on a wistful look before she shook her head. “But of course, tampering with an Orb would be a major rule infraction.”
Cypris rolled her eyes. “You use the word ‘technically’ way too much. Someday we’ll get you to lighten up and have some fun.”
Nadia’s forehead wrinkled as she shifted on Gideon’s knee. “I have fun.”
Cypris shrugged. “To each her own.”
I turned to look outside. Apparently, girls were the same no matter which planet you were from.
My eyes widened as another Orb appeared less than twenty feet away from us. “Look! There’s another one.”
There were two passengers, a boy and girl dressed in Freedom Fighter uniforms. They smiled and waved.
I waved back. “This is so amazing!” I watched as more and more Orbs came into view.
“What’s amazing is how Recruits from third-level planets always react the same way,” Cypris said with a snicker.
I turned to her. “Third-level?”
Gideon glared at Cypris.
“Less evolved might be a kinder way of putting it,” Nadia said quietly.
“Oops. My bad,” Cypris answered with a wicked little smile.
I ignored the jab and continued to stare in wonder as the sky filled with hundreds of Orbs.
“We’re getting close to the city, so you’ll see lots of Orbs now,” Gideon said.
“That tall blue building is the Academy,” Nadia added.
I scanned the buildings ahead, and my breath caught.
“That’s the Academy?”
CHAPTER
Twelve
“No. Way.” I pressed my hands against the glass, eager to study every detail. The Academy was built into the side of a mountain constructed of glittering blue stone. The Freedom Fighter star was carved into the front of the enormous structure which towered over the city.
A small waterfall ran through the center of the building, past arched bridges and walkways, until it reached the bottom where it fed fountains and a large lake.
Our Orb descended, along with dozens of others, until we set down in a large field in front of the Academy. The glass door slid open and I stepped out onto the grass, my screens automatically adjusting to the bright morning sunlight.
Cypris stepped out beside me. She smirked before smoothing out her uniform. “Good luck on your first day—you’re going to need it.”
I gave her a forced half-smile in return.
“Thank the stars, we made it on time!” Nadia said, looking at her cuff as she climbed out. “I’ll have to run to make it to Transport before the bell rings. See you all after school. Good luck, Lark!” She smiled and tossed a wave before darting off toward the building.
Gideon climbed out last and closed the door to the Orb, sending it back up into the air.
Cypris sidled up to him, taking his arm. “Don’t forget you’re my project partner in Light Harnessing. Otherwise Ansel will try to partner with me, and he doesn’t know the subject nearly as well as you do.”
“Sorry, Pris, but as Lark’s Guardian, I’ve got to escort her during her training.”
Pris? I snorted and then coughed to hide it.
Her full lips drew into a pout. “You’ll be missed.” She dropped his arm and sauntered off with a decided sway to her hip. A few boys in uniform turned her direction, but when I looked back to Gideon, his eyes were on me.
“How are you feeling?”
I bit my lip and shrugged. “Nervous. Excited. A little of both, I guess.”
He nodded. For a split-second I thought he wanted to reach for my hand, but he tightened it into a fist instead.
My stomach dropped in disappointment. “Can you . . .?” I shook my head and let the question trail off, deciding against it.
Gideon dipped his head, forcing me to look at him. Do this?
A sigh escaped and I gave him a shy smile. How did he know I needed his Mindspeak right now? Did he crave to hear it from me just as badly? My heart stung at the thought.
Whenever you need it, just give me a sign. Like . . . I don’t know . . .
“This?” I pulled on a strand of my hair, wrapping it around my finger. I was so weak. I shouldn’t be giving in to this. My head understood that, but my heart didn’t get the memo.
His blue eyes ignited. That works. A muscle in his jaw twitched and he looked away. “Let’s go.”
We followed the stream of students, some in Freedom Fighter uniforms, and others wearing light screens like I was.
“Are they Recruits?” I asked quietly. The students with screens were gazing all around. They looked so dark compared to the others. I wondered if that’s how I looked to Gideon: like a shadow.
He nodded. “Everyone with screens is from Earth. We’ll start with Orientation, which should help answer some questions.”
“Good. Because I swear, I’m storing up enough questions to stretch from here to the Milky Way.”
He chuckled and we reached the main archway, passing through the massive stone entrance. A Cadet in Freedom Fighter uniform scanned our cuffs before we entered a huge courtyard where dozens of students were gathered.
The waterfall I’d seen outside fell through the open ceiling, ending in a large fountain. Potted plan
ts and flowers gave a jungle-feel to the space as students’ voices echoed off the stone walls.
“This is the Atrium,” Gideon explained. “Orientation is this way.” He pointed down an arched hallway and I had to force my mouth closed as I trailed beside him like an eager puppy.
We followed the hallway to where a line had formed. A Freedom Fighter accompanied each Recruit from Earth.
“What are your responsibilities as my Guardian?” I asked.
Gideon glanced at me sideways. “I’m responsible for your safety while you’re here. And it’s my job to show you around.”
“So, every Recruit from Earth has one?”
He nodded.
I looked around. “There are so many of us.”
He titled his head. “Three thousand, eight hundred and forty, to be exact.”
“Wow.” I’d done the math after first Contact and had come up with something close. My gaze rested on a group of Chinese Recruits in line ahead of us, talking excitedly to each other as they examined their cuffs. Those were the kind of Recruits I would expect to figure out how to save our planet. The braniacs, just like Reagan had said.
Thinking of my best friend sent an unexpected ping of homesickness through me. I noticed that many of the Recruits were talking to each other like they were already friends.
Gideon followed my line of sight. “They had time to connect during transit. I’m sorry you didn’t get that chance.” He looked back at me and his eyes flashed. And no matter what you’re thinking, you are qualified. You’ll see.
I rubbed the goosebumps on my arms caused by his Mindspeak as the line moved forward. If I could Mindspeak back to him, he wouldn’t have to wonder what I was thinking. He would know.
I glanced over my shoulder and noticed a guy a few yards back staring at me. He had Chestnut brown hair and was wearing screens too. When our eyes met, he smiled and gave me a little head nod. I realized I was staring. I blushed and turned back around, focusing on the large auditorium we were filing into.
“They really have a thing for arches here, don’t they?” I said.
Gideon nodded.
I gazed around. “We have the same kind of architecture in D.C. and the White House. It was thought to symbolize power.” And I had to admit, it worked. This space was so huge, it reminded me of the Roman Colosseum. There were archways and pillars lining the stadium seating, all surrounding a stone floor that was the size of two basketball courts. A large glass-domed ceiling loomed above.
Cadets in Freedom Fighter uniforms were scanning cuffs and handing out satchels embossed with the Freedom Fighter star. A girl wearing a dark pink uniform gave Gideon a flirtatious smile before scanning his cuff. She hardly noticed me as she handed me my satchel. I slung it over my shoulder and she scanned my cuff. When she looked at the scanner she did a double-take, her eyes bulging.
“She’s here at Lieutenant Hardcastle’s request,” Gideon said.
The girl glanced at me and stood a little straighter. “Of course. You will both be in the VIP section. Your cuffs will indicate the seats.” She drew her scanner over our cuffs again.
Gideon nodded. “Thanks.”
He led me down the narrow flight of stone steps. I looked over my shoulder to see the girl watching us before she turned to the next Recruit in line.
What was that all about? I held on to the iron railing and followed after Gideon, glancing curiously at the Recruits and Guardians taking seats in the rows we passed. It was incredible that the Liorites were managing a program on this scale. It gave me hope to think so many teens from Earth would be working to help save our society. Like Grace said, the fate of our future didn’t rest entirely on me.
We were a few rows up from ground level when Gideon stopped. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure I was still following before he turned and walked down a triple-wide aisle. I lifted an eyebrow and felt dozens of eyes follow me as we walked up to a raised stand with four large seats. The VIP section.
“Don’t tell me we’re sitting here,” I hissed, glancing around in the hopes that we were in the wrong place.
Gideon looked amused. “You don’t like being on display?”
“Hmm, you think?” Heat creeped up my neck. “Why can’t we sit in the regular seats?”
“Because this is where Lieutenant Hardcastle wants us.” He gave me an apologetic shrug before helping me up the small steps to the platform. “Don’t worry. They aren’t staring at you because of where you’re sitting.”
“Oh really?” I gave him a withering look as I checked the seat number on my cuff against the number on the seat and sat down. “Why are they staring then?”
Because you’re beautiful.
His words caught me off guard and I lost all train of thought as he stepped past, taking the seat on my other side as his sapphire eyes kept hold of mine.
My heart fluttered about like a wild thing. I shook my head. “Don’t try to distract me.”
Before Gideon could respond, our attention was drawn to someone climbing up the stairs. It was the guy with Chestnut hair I’d seen earlier. He stopped cold when he saw me and smiled. “Hey there. I think this is my seat—though I don’t know what I did to deserve VIP status.” He shook his head. “It can’t just be my good looks, can it?”
I laughed. “I don’t know, but be my guest.” I motioned to the open seat beside me.
Beneath his brown hair were hazel eyes and a rakish smile, one that demanded a smile in return. A faint scar ran down the side of his face and a memory stirred.
His Guardian took the last seat. He was striking with a deep tan and white blonde hair. A deep scowl lined his face when he saw Gideon. “Well if it isn’t my old buddy North.” His dark eyes looked away from Gideon and raked over me. “Got another one of Hardcastle’s darlings, I see?”
“Seems we both did,” Gideon’s voice held a territorial edge. “Slade, this is Captain Lark Taylor. Lark, this is Cadet Slade Donovan.”
Slade flashed me a smile as blinding as his hair, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Sorry you got stuck with Cadet North, but at least you get to hang out with his sister.” He looked back at Gideon. “She was supposed to meet me before school this morning. What happened?”
“Maybe she’s not interested,” Gideon answered.
“Oh, she’s interested all right,” Slade shot back.
The Recruit next to me had been watching the interchange and quickly held out his hand to me to defuse the tension. “I’m Rusty. And for the record, I’m nobody’s ‘darling.’”
I took his hand as the pieces fell into place. My face went slack. “Wait . . . Rusty? As in, Rusty Harris?”
He tilted his head, his hazel eyes curious. “Yeah. How did you know?”
My mouth dropped open. “I have a video of you that I’ve watched like a thousand times.”
“You do?” He raised his brows with an intrigued smile.
I was still holding his hand so I dropped it. “It’s not like that. I mean . . . I’m not a stalker or anything.” I felt my face burn. Did I really just use the word stalker? “It’s a video from when I was younger and you accidentally bumped into me. If I had my phone I could show it to you.”
Slade leaned his shoulder into Rusty’s and stage whispered, “Psych-o.”
Gideon narrowed his eyes. “Watch your mouth, Slade.”
Rusty put up a hand between the two of them. “Guys, take it easy. I want to hear this.” He looked at me and his brows furrowed. “How do you know it was me?”
“Because of your scar.” I traced his cheek lightly with my finger and dropped my hand. What had gotten into me? I was never this forward with anyone, but I felt we had a connection I couldn’t describe.
Gideon shifted in his seat and cleared his throat.
“Where was the video taken?” Rusty asked.
Before I could answer, the glass ceiling went black, casting the stadium in darkness. I jumped as a voice boomed
over loudspeakers.
“Recruits from Earth, welcome to the Intergalactic Freedom Fighter Academy!”
A cheer rose from the crowd as a brilliant ball of light appeared, hovering above the stage. It was beautiful, but I didn’t know why everyone was cheering. We were here to try to save our planet—not have a dance party. I noticed Rusty wasn’t cheering either and wondered if he was having the same thoughts.
The cheer rose in volume as the fiery ball descended to the ground, growing bigger and bigger until it was the size of a giant boulder. It flashed and exploded in a million shards of light, revealing a woman in Freedom Fighter uniform. The crowd went wild and I gasped. It was Grace.
She beamed and held her hands up to halt the applause. “Welcome, Recruits!” Her voice rang around the amphitheater and the crowd quieted.
“I am Lieutenant Hardcastle, head of the Freedom Fighter Academy. Congratulations on being selected for the Recruitment process.” A light shone on her as she spoke—or maybe it was coming from her. I couldn’t tell.
“Participation in this program is a privilege. You will have three weeks to learn, practice and hone your abilities. After your unit is complete, there will be a Commencement Ceremony and you will return to Earth, where you will use your new-found knowledge to better the communities and world around you.”
There was an excited hum through the crowd as everyone talked at once. I shook my head and turned to Gideon. “She’s certainly painting a rosy picture—what about the rest? Like the part that if we fail, we get obliterated?”
Rusty leaned over, nodding. “Yeah. This isn’t the version I was given either—what’s going on?”
Slade raised an eyebrow at Gideon. “It was Hardcastle’s call to tell them in the first place. Better let her be the one to do the explaining.”
Gideon leaned toward Rusty and me, lowering his voice. “You two are the only ones to know the stakes at this point. It needs to stay that way for now. Otherwise, there could be mass hysteria.”
“Maybe there should be,” I said, gripping the armrest. “They deserve to know.” I searched Gideon’s face as Grace’s amplified voice started up again. Gideon met my eyes and shook his head.
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