Suki looked at her silently, gathering her own thoughts. “Lena, I know you’re grasping at any opportunity you have to stay on Mir—”
“But you think I should leave,” Lena interrupted.
“Not at all,” Suki said. “You’ve had your own confirmation that you and Gideon should work together. Go forward with what you know and the unknowns will reveal themselves.”
“What do you mean?” Lena asked.
“Something big is coming. Be ready.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Gideon, Evren, Ollie, and Bates stood around the hologram of the Port. Evren beckoned to Lena and Suki to join them. Tern stepped next to Lena causing her to jump. She hadn’t even noticed him in the room.
“This device can get us through the shield at any location,” Gideon explained to Lena. “Our problem is that the Priestess has increased her security around the Port’s shield. There is no spot we can sneak through without a soldier seeing us.”
Ollie was brimming. “We cun get ya in The Port, no problem,” said Ollie. “The trick, ya see, is not gettin’ caught. But Bates un I come up with a plan to distract.” Ollie smiled.
Bates had never really warmed to them since their sudden initiation. But Suki was right, he was loyal and took his job protecting the Zoons seriously. Lena respected him for it. Ollie puffed out his chest as he explained the plan. Some of the Zoons around him rolled their eyes, but Lena could see their excitement as well.
“Once we get into The Port, we’ll go to our safe house. The Genosee Consulate is having a gala which I happened to procure an invitation to. We’ll be able to get in without a problem,” Suki said. “Sneaking into their control room should be easy.”
Gideon nodded. “We’ll go to the Genosee Consulate, help Tern find Birdee, then contact Tarek. Eves will leave with him,” Gideon instructed.
Suki gave Lena a sideways glance, reminding her of their earlier talk. Lena straightened her shoulders. She could do this, she told herself. She could find a way to stay.
***
Merchants crowded the streets with carts selling food, clothes, and house goods. She’d heard about markets. She hadn’t imagined them smelling so bad. Lena blinked. Bits of information floated above almost everything she looked at. Lena wasn’t sure if she liked the lens Evren had given her. Mostly it just displayed names, but every now and again a person she looked at had information about transactions with the Zoons, or offenses against them. It fascinated her and made her mind swim with all the extra information. One person Lena looked at had so much information floating above him that Lena forgot to look where was walking and tripped over the edge of the sidewalk. Gideon’s hand caught her arm and he waited for her to regain her footing. She gave Gideon a sheepish look before blinking the information away. Gideon had refused to put his lens in. She hadn’t ask him why but now she wondered if she should take hers out as well. Suki was right, it was distracting. Refocusing on where she walked, she watched scrapped-together bots floating around, acting as servants to their masters.
Lena reached into her pocket and pulled out the money Suki had given her before they left the old opera house. Lena had resisted taking it and said she’d be fine, but the Zoons around them had laughed. “She’ll just steal it back,” one Zoon had said.
She walked along the street. Peddlers called to her from all directions. Dirty kids sat along even dirtier gutters eyeing a cart of roasting food. Lena examined the food. The meat smelled old and looked overcooked. Still, she handed the children a coin.
She found a hat cart and bought a hat to help her fit in better. As she turned from the hat cart, an old woman bumped into her. Her head barely reached Lena’s chest. She looked at Lena and smiled. Lena jumped back and turned to Gideon. He gave her a quizzical look and kept walking. When she turned back to the woman, she was gone. Lena knew she was the mystic. Standing on her toes she looked over the crowds of people, but the mystic was already gone.
The group split up on the street and headed towards the forcefield. Gideon, Tern, Lena, and Suki together. The rest of the Zoons took different routes toward The Port’s entrance. The closer they got, the cleaner the streets got and the wealthier the buildings looked. Lena couldn’t believe the striking difference in such a little distance. The morning light cast an orange hue on the buildings as it rose.
Tern grabbed her elbow, pointing to a group of soldiers ahead.
“We’ll break into the shield a quarter mile from this entrance,” Suki whispered. “The road around the forcefield is heavily patrolled. But the Zoons will cause a distraction big enough we won’t have a problem getting in.”
The closer they got to the border, the thicker the crowds gathered, causing them to slow down. Lena saw the gates just in front of them and to the right. Lena could see the outline of the huge man Tern had told them about. He stood tot he side of the entrance. Lena couldn’t make out his details, but something about him caused her to shiver. The other guards at the gate checked every ship lined up to pass through and then turned each away. Guards were also searching the people walking on foot. They weren’t nice about it, either, throwing people to the ground if they objected to the search.
“She knows I’m here,” Lena said, almost in a whisper. “The innkeeper reported me. Now they’re searching everyone to find me. I bet that scary looking man at the gate works for her.”
“Let’s hurry,” Suki said. “Ollie should be distracting the guards any time now. Follow me. Stay close and don’t draw attention to yourself.”
Lena heard and explosion and Ollie’s distinct voice ululating near the gate. Gideon to grab Lena and tuck her into his side. Tern did the same to Suki. Black-clad soldiers ran past them towards the entrance. Suki led them to the street next to The Port’s shield. A small fence was the only partition between the forcefield and the street. Suki and Tern jumped over the fence first. Suki set up a small machine next to the forcefield. She pressed a button and the machine entered the barrier causing a disruption in the forcefield. A small hole appeared, then grew until its opening was just large enough for a person to slip through. Tern went through first followed by Suki.
“What are you looking at?” a man said.
Lena turned to see a soldier walking towards them. Gideon stepped in front of the hole hiding it from the soldier’s view.
“Answer me, peasant.” The soldier was clad in black with the Priestess’ red insignia on his shoulder. She knew by his uniform he held no authority.
“I’m not looking at anything. I’m just going to The Port,” Lena answered, trying to keep the fear from her voice.
“It doesn’t look like you were going to The Port. Besides the Priestess has closed The Port,” the soldier yelled, stepping within arms reach of her. “Let me see your hand.”
Lena clenched her fist. She didn’t want the guard to see her insignia. All the other soldiers were running towards the explosion. No one paid the three of them any attention. She looked at the soldier’s feet, then at his face. “Sorry,” she said, before using her elbow to hit his temple. The guard fell sideways. Gideon pushed Lena through the hole and closed it behind them.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Suki pushed them into an alley behind a white three story house. The house appeared vacant. Suki went to the control panel, pulled it open, and disabled the alarm.
“Welcome to our port house,” she said, opening the door. “We don’t use it much. Mostly a stopping place on our way to events and different functions.”
Lena walked inside. The house was gorgeous. Marbled floors and pillars only emphasized the arched ceilings. “Your port house?” Lena asked in awe. “Suki, this is beautiful.”
Suki shrugged her shoulders. “Kind of cold for my tastes.” Suki led them through a kitchen, into a sitting area and up a curved staircase to the second floor. “No one lives here. But we keep it stocked with food and clothes.” She pointed the boys to a bedroom off to the left. “You’ll find the clothes you need for tonight’s eve
nt. Make sure you shower,” she yelled. “When you’re done, have one of the droids cook us up some food.”
Lena watched Gideon follow Tern into the room. He smiled over his shoulder at Lena and she felt her stomach tighten again.
Suki led Lena into the adjacent room. “You really should tell him how you feel,” Suki said, opening a large closet full of gowns.
Lena shook her head. “Suki, there is nothing to tell him,” she responded. She walked into the closet and started thumbing through the countless dresses hanging on the rod.
“Only because you won’t admit you’re in love with him,” Suki said, pulling out a red silk dress and holding it up to herself.
Lena turned away and started looking through the clothes. “Suki, you’re being silly.” She pulled out a simple tan dress and began changing.
“You’re the one being silly. You love him. He loves you. You’re going to regret it the rest of your life if you don’t say something to him. And it will be nobody’s fault but your own. Plus, don’t you wanna know what type of kisser he is now that he’s older and more experienced?”
“Suki,” Lena said, gasping at her audacity.
Suki laughed as she nodded. “Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it. Gosh, even I’ve thought about it. And kissing him as a kid versus kissing him now. Boy, it’s going to be different.” She pulled the dress over her head and started tying up the series of strings that held her dress in place.
Lena couldn’t help but laugh as she pulled her own dress into place. “I may have thought about it,” she admitted, feeling a little embarrassed. Gideon did give her her first kiss. Lena thought back trying to remember the year. She couldn’t remember, but it was by the lake—their lake in Everleigh. Everything good happened by that lake. And everything bad Lena rubbed the scar on her shoulder where Gideon had shot her.
Suki looked into the mirror and started fixing her hair. She parted it down the middle and pulled it into a smooth side bun, sweeping her hair in a way that it covered her head scars. Grabbing a set of long gloves, she pulled one over her prosthetic arm. Halfway through putting the other glove on, she turned around. She looked gorgeous. The red dress hung to her body emphasizing her curves. She smoothed out the dress with her hands then scrunched her face when she looked at Lena.
“What are you wearing?” Suki asked exasperated.
Lena looked down at the simple tan dress she’d chosen. Suki shook her head in disgust. “We’re going to a party of the most influential—not to mention affluential—people in our galaxy. Not a board meeting.” Pulling her gloves off, she stepped behind Lena and started flipping through the dresses. “You have to play the part. You’re no longer a servant or a prisoner. You are Evangeline Adhara.” Stopping, she smiled as she pulled out a dress. “This is what you’re wearing tonight.”
***
Lena smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror. Suki stood behind her, artfully curling her long hair. “You really don’t have to go through so much trouble, Suki,” Lena said. “Hopefully, we’ll be in and out before anyone can get a good look at us.” Lena grabbed a sandwich from a tray and took a bite. She was hungry, but her nerves made it hard to eat.
“You have to look like you belong there or everyone will notice you, especially with all the bruises and scars I had to cover. It’s a good thing I know how to use makeup,“ she said. “Plus, we had some time to spare. It’s not often I get to dress up so fancy. It’s been fun. Almost like we live a normal life.” Suki stepped back as Lena swallowed.
Lena stood up to the floor length mirror. Her jaw fell open. The dress was gorgeous. It was off-white and flared slightly at the waist falling to the ground. The bodice was adorned with beaded gold jewels. Its v-neck was embroidered in gold and crystal. Her necklace hung perfectly in the center. The Saraphyst Stone glistened in the light. She’d never looked so beautiful.
Suki opened a panel in the wall and picked out large crystal and gold earrings and a matching bracelet. “The finishing touch,” Suki said, smiling.
“Suki, I don’t know what to say. It’s so beautiful,” Lena said, spinning in a circle. She put on the earrings and felt the weight of them pull her earlobes. She shook her head and watched them sparkle in the lights.
“You look like your mom,” Suki said, stepping back. “Angelic.”
Lena smoothed her dress down to distract herself from the tears she felt coming. She blinked them back and laughed as her enhanced eyelashes fluttered in her eyesight. Taking a deep breath, she followed Suki into the hallway. They both paused at the top of the stairs. Gathering their long dresses in one hand, they glided down the stairs.
Lena heard Tern and Gideon speaking quietly in the sitting area below them. The tapping of the girls’ shoes on the stairs interrupted the conversation. Turning towards the open stairway, Tern and Gideon stood.
Tern was in Lena’s direct line of vision. He was dressed in a formal looking leather jacket and pants. His hair was pulled into a ponytail. Gideon came to stand at the bottom of the stairs. He wore a traditional formal suit. His jaw dropped as he watched Lena descend.
Lena smiled nervously. Moving her arm to rest on her stomach, she drew a deep breath. “Hi,” she said. She knew it was silly to say, but any word would not be enough to sum up her feelings. Gideon chuckled and smiled back to her. Lena felt frozen in the moment.
“Gentleman, we can’t be late,” Suki said. Tern held out his arm to her through which she threaded her gloved prosthetic arm.
Gideon smiled and held out his hand to Lena. Lena reached for Gideon. As their hands touched Lena’s breath went out of her. For a moment—in what felt like a lifetime—Lena felt pure happiness.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Lena stood, tucked into Gideon’s shoulder in the middle of the courtyard of the Genosee consulate. The stars glistened brightly above them and lights glowed dimly from the temple next to them. Tern had already slipped into the shadows, scouting any potential threat. Suki stood opposite Lena and Gideon, the three of them making a tight circle.
People flowed around them. Many of the Genossians entered a sacred room to pray to their God before coming back to the courtyard to mingle or dance. String music filled the air around them. Everyone wore rich attire just like Suki and Lena. The woman laughed and men smoked cigars that caused Lena to gag.
“We can assume the Priestess kept the attack on the facility secret,” Gideon said. “People inside The Port have little reason to care about what happens outside of the Port. But if the Genossians do have access to her computer system, it’s possible that they’ll know of our escape.”
“They do have access,” Suki said. “Whether they’ve been able to bypass all of her security points is a different matter altogether.” She surveyed each man that passed.
“What exactly are we looking for?” Lena whispered.
“A key,” Suki answered back. “We could break in, but that would cause an alarm. If we enter with a key, no one has any reason to think we shouldn’t be there. That guy looks powerful.” Suki pointed at a man passing in front of them. He wore a maroon suit with a gold chain hanging from his pocket. “What does your lens say about him?”
Lena blinked on her lens. “He’s a Genossian diplomat. Umm, Raul Esquivel,” Lena said. “That’s all it says.”
“Good enough for me. I’ll try him first,” Suki said slipping away.
Lena walked into the crowd still not sure what she should be looking for. The dance floor wasn’t as crowded as the streets of Arc, so it was easier for Lena to focus on the information coming across the lens.
Gideon held out his hand to Lena. “You’ll seem less conspicuous if you look while you dance.”
Lena’s muscles stiffened. She didn’t know how to dance.
“Don’t worry,” Gideon chuckled. “I’ve learned a thing or two about dancing since we were kids. We won’t stand out, I promise.”
Gideon spun her into him. His hand wrapped firmly at her waist as he took her ot
her hand in his. He nodded his head to the beat of the music indicating to Lena their first step. Lena stumbled. Gideon’s hand tightened on her back keeping her from falling. Before she knew what was happening, they were gliding across the dance floor. Gideon’s eyes locked on hers and he smiled. Raising his eyebrows, he nudged her into a spin and she burst out laughing. Gideon steadied her in his arms. His eyes crinkled up and the edges caused Lena to smile even bigger. They danced an entire song, the whole time Gideon steadying her missed steps and laughing with her at her clumsiness. The music changed to a slower tempo and so did Gideon’s steps. He pulled Lena closer and swayed slowly with the music. Lena lifted her chin to get a better look at him. His face was nearly touching hers.
“I love your smile,” he said.
Lena let out a laugh to ease the tension building inside of her.
“Did I say something funny?” Gideon asked. He led her into a small twirl.
She looked around the courtyard at the other couples dancing. Information blinked across her lens, but she ignored it. Gideon was every bit as good at dancing as the others around them. He pulled her into him and she relaxed in his arms. She followed his movements. It felt good being with him. Lena let her mind wander. Maybe Suki was right. Maybe she could have a relationship with Gideon. Maybe he could come with her to wherever he was sending her and they could live a quiet life. Together, safe, always looking out for each other. Lena stumbled again but Gideon’s strong arms pressed against her back balancing her.
“You really do know how to dance, don’t you?” Lena asked, looking into his eyes. They were brown with flecks of gold. Had she ever noticed the gold before?
“I went to a lot of balls at the Interplanetary Military Academy,” Gideon said, staring back into her eyes. “And with Azara ...well, I had to learn.”
Lena’s heart plummeted. She blinked, and pulled back. How could she have forgotten about Azara? She slowed her steps and stopped. Why did she feel like she couldn’t breathe? She dropped her arms to her side and stepped out of Gideon’s hold. She didn’t want to be dancing with Gideon anymore.
The Mir Chronicles- The Complete Series Page 34