"Maybe you can finally spend some time with us," Smoke adds. "I've missed you kid."
"Um, actually I think I am."
"But why?" Jack stares at me, his brows drawn together.
I'm not sure how to answer so I change the subject. "Have you seen Link?"
He shakes his head. "Not since yesterday morning. He seems to have disappeared too."
I frown. Strange. He should be here for this.
"I'll see you around, okay?" I say.
"Be careful out there," Jack warns.
"Don't be a stranger!" Smoke calls.
I hurry away from them and dive into the crowd of Primes. This is where I belong now, yet I still feel like an outsider. I press through them until I find Tank near the front where a stage has been constructed.
"When was this built?" I ask.
He turns around, startled. "While we were gone, I guess."
"Where's Rafe?"
"Preparing for some big announcement. Probably a ra-ra speech meant to motivate the troops."
"Do you really think we'll be able to get Colt back?"
"After the way you fought today, absolutely. I don't think there's much you can't do."
I avert my gaze and search the crowd. "Have you seen Jenna or Link?"
"Link, no. Jenna was here a second ago. She's not speaking to me, though."
"People grieve in different ways."
"That's what Ash says, too."
"Is she still in New York?"
"Just until tomorrow so we better be back by then. I haven't seen her for twenty-nine hours and—" he glances at his wristpad— "six minutes."
"That's adorable."
He grunts and turns away.
A hush falls over the crowd and all heads turn. I follow their eye movements. The crowd parts for Rafe as he walks through. Jet and Raven are behind him. Rafe approaches me and Tank.
"I want you two on the stand with me," he says and keeps walking.
"Me?" I say, but he's already on the stage.
Tank nudges me forward. "You heard the man."
I reluctantly follow after him. This is the last place I want to be—on display for everyone to see. As I walk up the few steps onto the platform, I search the crowd for my father. He's got to be here somewhere. That's when I spot him. Off to the side, next to a security officer. His arms are folded tightly across his chest and his brows drawn together. He's upset at something.
Rafe picks up a microphone on the stand and speaks: "Tonight is a very important night, maybe one of the most."
His voice booms through several speakers hanging on the trees.
"Because tonight we will recover your fearless leader!"
Cheers and shouts of joy fill the air.
Rafe continues. "And once we recover him, we will wage a war on the Institute that's been coming for over a century. Finally, the East and the West will be united in their goal. The Institute must be destroyed once and for all!"
The cheering grows even louder and seems to go on forever. Only when it begins to die down does Rafe speak again.
"If any of you have doubts about our mission tonight, especially recovering Colt, don't. We have a secret weapon that not even the Institute can fight."
My eyes flash to Rafe, but he doesn't look over. I hope he isn't talking about me. The last thing I want is to be revealed publicly.
"What is it?" someone cries from the crowd.
"Someone very important to HOPE's cause has made a huge sacrifice for us all. They have transformed themselves into a super Prime, magnifying every ability ten times more than any Prime alive."
Tank looks down at me. I slowly shake my head. This can't be happening.
"Some of you," Rafe continues, "may see this sacrifice as a betrayal, but I want to assure you that this person made a tough choice. And they did it for the benefit of all of us. A Prime could not make this sacrifice. It had to be an Original, someone with pure DNA."
Voices burst from the crowd all at once. Many of them look at me.
"Rafe," I say, my voice a warning, but he doesn't look at me.
Rafe motions for the crowd to quiet down. "You heard me correctly. An Original has chosen to be our savior at great cost to her own life."
My face reddens and I'd give anything to sink into the stage. Shadowing my embarrassment is growing rage. This is never how I would've told people—saying I'm some sort of a savior. I curl my fingers into fists.
"I want all of you to embrace her decision and give her the honor she deserves." Rafe looks over at me for the first time. "As a super Prime, Sage will bring our leader back. She will also be a key figure in saving our Prime brothers and sisters and releasing thousands of Originals. Our battle starts tonight!"
14
The crowd is silent, but when Rafe claps slow and loud, others join in. Some even cheer. Rafe meets my gaze, a twinkle in his eye, almost a smirk.
My breathing comes fast and hard. As soon as Rafe finishes dividing the soldiers into groups based on who will be attacking Terratas first, I leave the stage walking quickly toward him, keeping my head down. I'm acutely aware of how everyone is sneaking glances in my direction. Some are angry. I feel it pulsing off of them in great waves, but others seem to be invigorated by the revelation. They stare at me, not as a person, but as something that will help them destroy the people they hate.
I approach Rafe and grab him by the arm. "Why did you do that?"
"My soldiers need to know they aren't the only ones sacrificing."
"But you told me I could share the information when I was ready."
"This crowd needed motivation. Many of them are going to their deaths tonight."
I search his eyes. What other surprises does he have in store for me?
"You better go gear up. Your ride leaves in an hour." He turns on his heel and disappears into the crowd.
I rub my face, squishing my palms into my eyes. When I lower them, my father is standing in front of me.
"What did he give you?"
I moan and turn around to walk back towards security to do exactly as Rafe suggested. My father follows after me.
"I asked you a question!" he barks.
"I don't want to talk about this right now."
He grabs my shoulder and jerks me to a stop. "Answer me!"
I shrug. "I'm not sure exactly. Some kind of super pDNA, but I did what I had to do."
"Super pDNA? Where did he get it?"
"He didn't say. I assume one of his guys created it."
He shakes his head fast. "They couldn't have. The mutated DNA needed for something like that is extremely rare. Even the Institute has limited access."
While my father thinks, I search the crowd for Link. I want to be the one to explain my decision to him. I think he will be especially upset, but not for the same reasons as the others.
"What did he threaten you with?" my father asks suddenly.
"What do you mean?"
He rubs the back of his neck. "I've known Rafe for a very long time, and although he makes an excellent commander, he's also a master manipulator who doesn't care about anything or anyone but the end result. As long as he thinks he's on top, whether it's winning battles or feeling more important than someone else, he's happy."
"What's done is done. I'm going to save Colt tonight, and then I'm going to save Max."
"But at what cost?"
His eyes are so sad I have to look away.
"Give me your arm," he orders. From within his pocket, he withdraws a syringe. "I'm going to figure out exactly what they gave you and come up with a cure. Hopefully, it won't be too difficult seeing how I've already created a cure for the Kiss. Within a few months, should you develop any symptoms, you may be good as new."
I force a smile, too afraid to tell him that I don't have months. He presses the needle into the crook of my arm and withdraws a vial of blood.
"I really should get going," I say.
He gives me a quick hug. "Be careful. Just because you'r
e a super Prime doesn't mean you're invincible."
He lets go, leaving me cold.
I hurry away, anxious to return to command and get this rescue mission rolling, but just before I enter the security building, I hear someone yell, "Traitor!"
I turn to face my accusers. A group of Originals stand not far away glaring at me as if I've done them a huge injustice, and in a way I have. I've made it so there is one less person with pure DNA to help save the human population through reproducing. Even though my father has created a cure to the Kiss and will soon be able to mass produce it once he has the right supplies, a Prime's DNA still won't be pure. I quickly slip inside the building, fighting back tears.
"What did you expect?"
I look up.
Jenna's standing in front of me with her arms crossed. "Did you think they would embrace the new you?"
"Shut up," I snap and move to pass her, but she stops me.
"You are a traitor, a selfish Original…or should I say Super Prime now?"
I want so badly to slap her, but I'm too afraid of my own strength. Instead, I say, "You have no idea what you're talking about."
"Don't I? You betrayed Anthony and pretty much everyone you love. What do you think Colt is going to think about this?"
"I'm sure he'll hate me just like you," I say matter-of-factly.
Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "I don't hate you, Sage. I'm pissed. We’re fighting to save you and your kind so you can have a better life. I don't want to see anyone else die, especially people I've grown close to. You've become like a sister to me, so when I die well before you, I can do it knowing you live on in a good world where you don't have to fear for your life."
"I did it to save Link," I blurt. "Well, mostly."
"What?"
"Link," I say, already feeling relieved to be able to tell someone. "Rafe was going to give him the super pDNA."
"So?"
My eyes meet hers. "The dose would've killed him within weeks. It's too strong, even for an Original."
"Killed him?" She brings her hand to her mouth. "But that means…."
I wait for her to say it, but the words sealing my fate hang in the air. Her eyes tear as do mine. She shakes her head then turns around only to sprint away leaving me alone.
Maybe now she can forgive me, or maybe not. Saving Link isn't the only reason I changed, and she'll realize this.
It doesn't take long for me to change into my special suit in an open dressing room next to the hanger. None of the others are wearing one, which makes me extremely uncomfortable. I'd offer it to them, but they would be too tall for it, even Raven.
Raven and Jet are on the other side of the hanger quietly talking, occasionally their eyes drift toward me. I could listen in on their conversation easily enough, but I can guess what they are saying. When Jet's gaze meets mine accidentally, he forces a smile and averts his gaze. I exhale and lean into the wall.
Tank is already inside the hovercraft with Jenna and Zip, another Prime I've spoken to only a handful of times, going over the flight plans. Jenna will be Zip's copilot, something she has been learning to do the last several weeks.
I glance down at my wristpad and pretend to be reading something on its small screen. Better to appear busy then seem awkward and alone.
Rafe walks in from a side entrance to the hanger. "Is everyone all set?"
Jet and Raven stand to attention.
"We should be leaving on schedule," Raven says.
"Good. The rest of us will leave shortly after you. Tank already knows what to do, but I want to make sure the rest of you do, too." His eyes land on me.
"Save Colt," I say.
"It's a little more complicated than that," Rafe corrects.
"I'm beginning to realize that when it comes to you everything's complicated."
Jet clears his throat, almost as if warning me to be quiet, but I won't be silenced. What's Rafe going to do? Imprison his secret weapon?
Rafe takes a threatening step toward me. "Don't forget who created you. I could easily take it all away."
An ice-picked chill races up my spine. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Tank appears just then, calling down from the top of the hovercraft's ramp. "All set! Let's go."
Rafe looks up at him and nods his head once. Tank does the same. Before Rafe leaves, he gives me a look that might frighten others, but I'm not scared of him. Not anymore. Not since I know I can beat him up if it comes to that. I lift my chin in defiance and turn away.
Up inside the main cabin, Jet and Raven disappear into the cockpit. They are all in there. I should join them too, but I don't feel like being glared at right now. Instead, I drop into a chair in front of a wall computer and search "high-speed rail". The screen lights up with the latest and greatest train, while the hovercraft lifts into the air.
I bring up a standard blueprint and memorize everything about it. Then I search for photographs to give me an idea of what to expect on the inside. The front of the train is more comfortable than the rear. It's filled with a dining hall, sleeping quarters and seating that looks more like someone's living room rather than a narrow speed rail. The rear of the train is starkly different. There are prison cells and large areas with short straps hanging from the ceilings. In several of the photos, these areas are filled with standing soldiers who hang onto them for support. The train is so long, especially this section, that it looks like it could easily hold at least a thousand people.
I rest a hand on my knee to stop it from bouncing. I could do this for Colt. This is my last chance to save him.
"Hey," a voice says.
I whirl around. Zip drops into a chair next to me, his long legs stretching across the floor. Zip is a Mudder, tall and muscular with high cheekbones and a narrow jaw.
He sweeps his fingers through his long blond hair, exposing his brilliant green eyes. "So what's it like to feel all super?"
I squirm in my seat. "Probably a lot like how you already feel."
He laughs, a surprisingly gentle sound. "I've never felt special before."
"Neither have I," I admit.
He nods as if he understands. "I know some of the others might give you crap for what you did, but I think it's damn admirable. It's not like any of us could do it, and I don't know how many Originals would be willing to do it either."
"I just want to get Colt and my brother back."
"Well, if you're as good as I hear you are, then I think you'll be successful."
I wrinkle my nose. "What have you heard?"
He chuckles again. "Plenty. People are saying you can uproot trees and shoot lasers out of your eyes. Some even say you fart lightning bolts."
This makes me laugh out loud.
"There's a smile. I haven't seen one on you in a long time."
"I didn't know you were looking," I say.
"You don't notice a lot of things, Sage Radkey." He stands, his eyes staring into mine. He clears his throat then returns to the cockpit.
I stare after him, shocked by his confession. I may be innocent, but I swear he's never shown any interest in me. I slowly turn my head back to the darkened computer screen, catching my reflection. I sip a quick intake of breath and lightly touch my head.
My hair, that I have yet to pull back into a ponytail, looks longer and shinier as if it's made of tiny maple threads. It compliments my complexion, which is perfectly smooth and glowing with a healthy tan. Not at all like it used to be: tanned unevenly and often weathered-looking. My lips are the perfect shade of red, and my eyes…they are dark blue like the ocean in the arctic with bright specks of aqua shining within.
I am stunning.
I turn away from my reflection and keep my eyes focused on the wall across from me. So much of me has changed. I've become the better version of myself…or have I? Rafe said that he had created me. Am I a lab experiment and nothing more? Whatever Zip sees in me, it's an illusion. My transformation is complete.
I lower my head into my han
ds. Colt saw the real me, and he liked it. I only hope that when he sees me next, he’ll be able to see through the illusion and remember what it was he loved about me. Because from what I just saw, there's not much of me left.
15
The cockpit door opens. Jet, Raven, and Tank come into the main cabin alert and tense.
"It's almost time," Tank says, looking at me. "Are you ready?"
"Yes."
His eyes narrow. "Zip's right. You've definitely changed. I don't know if I like it, but he sure seems to. And he won't be the only one." He rests his hand on my shoulder. "If anyone comes near you that you don't want, just say the word and I'll crush their skull in."
I smile. "I appreciate that, and same goes for you. I'll break anyone who tries to make a move on you without your permission."
Tank laughs. "I'm glad we've got each others back. Now let's go get your boy."
"Her boy?" Raven sneers. "I'm pretty sure he'll want nothing to do with her when he sees what she's done."
"Strap up," Tank says, shoving a wing suit at her, nearly knocking her over.
It takes just minutes for us to get ready. I've never worn a wing suit or jumped out of an airplane before, but I've watched videos on how they work plenty of times. The old me would've been terrified, but the new me is excited, almost giddy, for this new adventure. I tie my hair back, trying to avoid awkward glances from Jet.
"Just say what you want to say," I blurt at him.
His face reddens and he lowers his gaze to the floor. "I don't know how to act around you."
"Why?"
"Because you're like a gorgeous superhero now."
"She's hardly super," Raven snaps. "She's a walking wonder drug, that's all."
I cringe at both their responses. "Raven's right. Please don't treat me any differently."
"I wouldn't say she's right, but I get what you're saying. Sorry, I'm being strange. It will pass."
"I hope so." I descend the ladder after Tank to the loading bay and stand back as the ramp lowers. Wind rushes in from the dark sky and twists all around us.
"As soon as you jump," Tank yells over the wind, "you'll see the train. Head toward it. Try to land at the rear. That's where Colt's most likely being held."
Saving Eden (Original Series book 3) Page 11