Silence of Stars

by Holly J. Wood

  “Raaaahh!” Slade burst to his feet, a stream of red hot light shooting from his eyes like laser beams.

  “Watch out!” I screamed.

  Gideon darted out of the way just in time. The light tore his sleeve before burning a hole into the gymnasium wall.

  “Contain him!” Winters yelled. “Recruits, get down!”

  There were several screams as Rusty shoved me to the ground, shielding me with his body. I looked past him to see Farim and a few Guardians tackle Slade, forcing him to the floor as the light from his eyes subsided.

  “I-I’m sorry—I didn’t mean for that happen,” Slade protested.

  Gideon rushed to me. “Are you okay, Lark?”

  Rusty stood and Gideon met his eyes. “Thank you for protecting her.”

  Rusty nodded and reached to help me to my feet, but Gideon beat him to it. I allowed him to take me by the hand, his light pulsing through me as I stood shakily.

  “Are you alright?” he asked again.

  “I’m fine.” I looked to where blood dripped from his ripped sleeve and my breath caught. “You’re hurt.”

  CHAPTER

  Twenty-Seven

  He glanced down at his arm. “It’s just a scratch.”

  “It doesn’t look like a scratch.” I met his eyes.

  “Escort Cadet Donovan to Lieutenant Hardcastle at once. I’ll notify security,” Sergeant Winters barked to the Guardians who had Slade by the arms.

  Gideon stepped toward him. “Sir, is that necessary?”

  Winters locked eyes with him. “North, report to the Infirmary and get that arm looked at.”

  Gideon shook his head. “I shouldn’t have kicked him. We have a history. I shouldn’t have agreed to the fight.”

  “This is not up for debate, Cadet.” Sergeant Winters straightened to his full height. “You know the rules, and so does he. Someone could have been killed. Now, report to the Infirmary. That’s an order.” He glanced to Rusty and me. “And take Cadet Donovan’s Recruit with you. We’ll let Hardcastle decide what to do with him later.”

  Gideon saluted. “Yes, sir.”

  We all turned to watch Slade being taken from the room, his head lowered in shame. Before he was escorted out the door, he lifted his eyes to look at Gideon with unmasked hatred. Slade kept eye contact with Gideon until they dragged him from the gym.

  Rusty put his hands on his head and blew out a long breath. He turned to Gideon. “Why didn’t anyone tell me you guys could shoot lasers from your eyes? I would have been a lot nicer to Slade.”

  Gideon responded with a grunt, gesturing for us to follow. I grabbed my notebook and quill. The Gymnasium was deathly quiet as everyone watched us walk out.

  “So much for getting the Recruits motivated about the program,” I whispered as we left the room. “Those guys are absolutely terrified.”

  “Um, yeah, and can you blame them?” Rusty said. “They just watched a Freedom Fighter almost torch someone—with his eyeballs.” He shook his head. “How secure do you think they’re feeling right now?”

  Gideon glanced over his shoulder at us, blood staining his fingers where he held his arm. “Sergeant Winters will help them calm down.”

  “Really?” Rusty stopped walking. “Can he help me? Because I’m a little confused why everyone failed to mention that you’re all equipped with deadly eye lasers.” He shook his head. “What else are you hiding from us?”

  Gideon sighed. “You’re not even supposed to know this much, I’m only explaining because of what happened with Slade.”

  Rusty scoffed. “Oh, we’re not ‘supposed’ to know?” He made air quotes. “So what are you going to do—blast us to oblivion because we know too much?”

  Gideon raised his chest and I quickly stepped between them.

  “Guys, calm down. I’m sure this is more about our safety than it is about keeping us in the dark.”

  Rusty raised his hands. “How do you know that? How do you know they haven’t brought us here to conduct twisted alien experiments or something?”

  Gideon rolled his eyes.

  I turned to Rusty. “If that were the case, then why would they feed and train us . . . take us into their homes?”

  “Yes, and all for free.” Rusty’s hazel eyes searched mine. “You don’t think that’s a little strange? What do they get out of it in return?”

  Gideon stepped forward. “Not everything in life is about getting a return. Sometimes people help each other because it’s the right thing to do.”

  Rusty shook his head. “Where we come from, you don’t get something for nothing. There’s always an angle.”

  “Maybe that’s the problem with where you come from,” Gideon said. “But that hasn’t always been the case with your world. If you had studied your records, you would know that.”

  I frowned, tilting my head. “I don’t think it’s fair for you to assume that Rusty hasn’t studied history.”

  Gideon turned to me, his sapphire eyes simmering. “It’s good to see you’re defending him.”

  I stepped back. “What is that supposed to mean?” Before he could answer I closed my eyes and shook my head. “Never mind. We can’t stand here arguing. You need medical help before you bleed out all over the hallway.”

  Gideon’s hand was practically covered in blood now. A group of Recruits passed, their mouths hanging open as they stopped to stare.

  He nodded. “This way.”

  The three of us remained silent as we walked to the Infirmary. Rusty was clearly brooding and I tried to figure out how things had derailed so quickly. Gideon’s face was a mask as we entered the medical facility. A small group of healers immediately swarmed him, whisking him off to a procedure room while Rusty and I were told to wait.

  We sat down on hard glass chairs in the empty waiting room. I covered my face with my hands. Without saying a word, Rusty reached over to my cuff and pressed a button. I looked up and noticed my screens weren’t recording. I turned to him with a raised eyebrow.

  “What if this whole thing is a hoax?” he asked.

  I didn’t answer for several moments as he searched my eyes.

  Finally I sighed and leaned forward. “Look, in the past three days, my entire world has been turned upside down. Nothing—and I mean nothing—makes sense anymore. And I know you’ve been through the same thing. At this point, all I can hold on to is what my gut tells me—and it tells me that I can trust Gideon and the lieutenant. I trust what they’re trying to accomplish.”

  He shook his head and turned away, but I forced him to look back at me. “Rusty, if we get caught up in conspiracy theories, we won’t be able to function. I agree that there are things they probably should have told us—”

  “Definitely should have told us,” he interjected.

  I shrugged. “I can’t tell you what to do, but until something happens to make me question their motives, I’m sticking to the program.” I looked him in the eyes. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

  He gave a half-smile and leaned back in his seat. “How do you come up with stuff like that?”

  I swallowed and looked away. Gideon was right, and it stung. It was lonely to be the only one among my peers who knew about history. “I didn’t come up with it. It’s a quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt. My Dad used to repeat it to me.”

  Rusty grimaced. “I guess I don’t know history as well as I should. Don’t tell Gideon.” He winked.

  I smiled. “It’ll be our little secret.”

  “Thanks. I get the feeling your boyfriend doesn’t like me much.”

  My eyes darted around the room before I looked back at him with a warning. “Don’t say stuff like that. It’s not true and will only get us into trouble.”

  He lowered his voice. “Lark, we may be from different planets, but a guy knows when another guy is crushing on a girl. He totally has it in for you, so you’d better be careful.”

  I shook my head. �
��You seriously can’t talk like that. Do you want me to get sent home?”

  He turned away, his jaw tight. “I’m just warning you.”

  “Well stop. It’s not even possible. He’s my Guardian. That’s all.” I nudged his shoulder. “You just don’t know how regular Guardians act because you got stuck with pyscho-pants Slade.”

  Before he could respond, our cuffs buzzed. I glanced at the screen. It was a message from Grace.

  My apologies for the unfortunate incident this morning. Captain Harris, you will be assigned a new Guardian who will join you shortly. Captain Taylor, if Cadet North is fit to resume his duties, you will follow the itinerary for the remainder of the day. Stand by for further instructions.

  We exchanged glances.

  “What do you think happened to Slade?” he asked.

  “I don’t know, but it can’t be good. I’m guessing they won’t let a Freedom Fighter with anger management issues let loose on campus—especially when his loss of temper could have killed someone.”

  Rusty shook his head. “It’s so messed up. I mean, I knew Slade had a temper and could be a real jerk, but what he did today was on a whole new level of scary.”

  Another voice spoke from behind us. “I always thought he was wound too tight. But his loss is my gain.” We turned to see Cypris toss her hair over her shoulder and look at Rusty. “Guess who you’re new Guardian is?”

  His face went slack. “You?”

  She grinned and saluted. “Cadet Carson, reporting for duty.”

  It took me a moment to get over the shock, but I finally found my voice. “Do you know what’s going to happen to Slade?”

  She dropped her hand and pursed her lips. “There is a zero-tolerance policy for the use of Light Kill. He’ll be stripped of his Freedom Fighter status and shipped to the prison planet. His whole future—gone,” she snapped her fingers. “Just like that.” She sighed. “Nadia will be heartbroken, poor dear.”

  “Light Kill? Is that what you call the laser eye thing?” Rusty asked.

  She nodded and stepped closer, lowering her voice. “All of the Freedom Fighters are buzzing about it. No one knows where Slade learned how to do it. Only officers of rank are supposed to have that kind of training, and even then Light Kill is only supposed to be used during times of war.”

  “You mean you don’t all have the ability to use Light Kill?” I asked.

  She shifted her weight. “We have the ability. But using that kind of power takes training, and lots of it. With someone who already knows how. Slade must have been working with someone.”

  “Who would train him?” Rusty asked.

  She shrugged. “That’s what we’re all wondering. Lieutenant Hardcastle obviously wouldn’t have taught him. Professor Zimmer in Light Harnessing knows how to use Light Kill. He used to fight for the Confederacy—but I doubt he would have taught it to Slade. It just doesn’t make sense.” She furrowed her brows and shrugged again. “It will all come out once Slade is interrogated. Where’s Gideon?”

  “Right here.”

  I turned and saw Gideon standing in the hallway. The sleeve of his tunic was torn away, but his arm was no longer bleeding. There wasn’t even a bandage, only a thin pink scar along his toned biceps to show where he’d been cut.

  “Wow.” Rusty moved to get a closer look at Gideon’s arm. “Ten minutes ago, you were bleeding like crazy, and now I can’t even tell you were hurt. Where are the stiches?”

  “We have good healers here.” Gideon glanced at me. It was the same answer he’d given after we came through the wormhole.

  Cypris swooped in, taking hold of his uninjured arm. “Gideon, I cannot believe Slade tried to use Light Kill on you. What happened?”

  “Lieutenant Hardcastle asked me to keep the specifics confidential,” he said.

  “You talked to her?” Rusty asked.

  Gideon held up his cuff. “She sent me a message a few minutes ago. She wants us to continue with the day’s schedule, so I suggest we try to put what happened behind us and move on.”

  Rusty and I exchanged glances.

  Gideon folded his arms. “Is there something you want to say?”

  I turned, raising my eyebrows. “You were almost killed in our last training meeting. So yeah . . . it’s kind of asking a lot for us to pretend it didn’t happen.”

  Cypris sighed. “Listen, I know what you saw was intense, but Slade was clearly off his rocker. Don’t condemn the whole program because of one incident.”

  Rusty barked out a laugh. “Hold up—did you just refer to this as an ‘incident?’ Because I’d say someone almost getting barbecued right in front of our eyes is a little more than that.”

  I nodded. This was the third time in twenty-four hours I’d heard a life-threatening situation dismissed as an incident.

  Cypris opened her mouth, but Gideon cut in before she could make a retort.

  “They’re right, Pris. They deserve to talk to Lieutenant Hardcastle. I’ll contact her to see when she’s available.”

  Cypris glowered. “Fine. But I’m not taking responsibility for bothering her.”

  “I’ll take the heat.” Gideon typed on his cuff. Within moments, it buzzed back. He read the message and nodded. “She’s free to meet with you now.”

  CHAPTER

  Twenty-Eight

  Everyone in the halls stared at us as we passed. Apparently news traveled even faster here than it did back home. Thanks to technology, secrets were hard to come by. When we entered Administration, Phyla rushed us straight back to Grace’s office. As the door slid open, Grace stood.

  “Please, come in and sit down.”

  Phyla went back to her desk as the rest of us moved into the room. The door slid closed behind us and Grace’s eyes crinkled at the corners, her face grim.

  “Cadet Donovan has been taken to a holding room for questioning. We’ll get to the bottom of this, but I can assure you that nothing like this has ever happened before, nor will it happen again. You have my word.”

  Gideon shook his head. “Lieutenant, I feel partly responsible.”

  She lowered her chin. “Explain.”

  He met her gaze. “Cadet Donovan and I had an argument before Combat. We’ve never gotten along, which is why I shouldn’t have agreed to fight him.”

  “Gideon, surely you don’t blame yourself?” Cypris said.

  Grace held up a hand to silence her. “Did you know Cadet Donovan was capable of using Light Kill?” she asked Gideon.

  “No, ma’am.”

  “Did you suggest the fight, or intentionally provoke him in any way?”

  Gideon shook his head.

  Grace folded her arms, leaning against her desk. “There is no penalty for having an argument or simply not getting along with someone. I understand that you feel some guilt, knowing what Cadet Donovan’s fate will be, but I see no reason why you are to blame.”

  “I’m sure Slade would say otherwise,” Gideon said.

  “What were the two of you arguing about before class?” she asked.

  “I told him to stay away from my sister.”

  Grace raised an eyebrow.

  I stepped forward. “None of this is Gideon’s fault. I can tell you the whole story if you want.”

  Everyone turned to me, but I didn’t wait for an invitation to continue. “Slade has had it out for Gideon—pretty much anyone can tell you that. And today Slade blew up at Gideon and accused him of taking everything he wanted. I recorded all of it, so you can watch it for yourself.”

  Rusty nodded. “It’s true.”

  Grace straightened and walked back to her desk chair, sinking down into it. “I’ll watch the footage. Until then, seeing that we have at least two witnesses, we’ll consider Cadet North exonerated.”

  Gideon straightened, nodding once. “Thank you, Lieutenant.”

  She nodded and turned to me. “Now, what was it the two of you wanted to talk to me about?”
<
br />   “We want answers,” Rusty said.

  Grace’s face was impassive as she waited for him to continue.

  He leaned forward. “We want to know why you’ve been keeping secrets from us. Especially when those secrets concern our safety.”

  Grace regarded him. “I can assure you that all we have done from the moment we recruited you until this very second, is to try to protect you from harm.” She turned and stared unseeing at the wall of books behind us. “If you were to know the whole truth—the very existence of certain realities—you wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.”

  The hair on the back of my neck stood up at the eeriness in her tone. She turned her focus back to us. “We tell you what we feel you need to know. The rest, you must trust us to disclose as we see fit. Can you do that, Captain?”

  Rusty ran a hand down his face and looked at her. “You know my background. Seeking out the truth is what I do. Without all the facts, the judicial system doesn’t work.”

  She smiled. “Exactly. Which is why you’re so good at what you do. But I’m not asking for you to find the facts this time. I’m asking for your faith.”

  He blew out a breath, finally giving a curt nod. “It seems I have no other choice but to trust you—for now. But if anything like this happens again . . .”

  “It won’t,” Cypris assured him.

  Grace nodded. “Now, if there isn’t anything else, I’d like to have a word alone with Captain Taylor.”

  I looked up as all eyes fell on me.

  “We’ll be waiting outside,” Gideon said. He saluted and then turned to me, searching my face before ushering Rusty and Cypris out of the office. When the door closed, Grace sank down into her chair.

  “How are you doing, Lark?”

  “Aside from what happened this morning? Fine.” I fidgeted slightly under her probing gaze, unsure why she’d called for this private audience.

  Grace sighed. “That’s good. Hopefully you can put that event aside and move forward with the observations. But that’s not why I wanted to talk with you.”

  I tensed. There were so many things I could get in trouble for: leaving the Norths’ without my Guardian, joyriding through space on an unauthorized flight, falling in love with a boy from another world . . .