"I'm guessing you have the equipment I need to contact her," Lucius said.
Evren opened a communication screen for Lucius.
Lucius pulled up and chair and sat down in front of it. After typing in a series of commands, an image appeared in front of him.
General Carina's stony glare hovered on the hologram.
Lena sat beside Lucius.
"Why did you take so long to contact me?" General Carina said looking at Lucius.
He pushed back in his chair and looked at his nails ignoring the woman's scowl. "You think it's me contacting you? Then you're wrong." He motioned to Lena with his head.
The General's mouth tightened. The deep wrinkles in the sides of her mouth intensified making her look even scarier than she already did. "You didn't capture her.”
"You can say that she captured me," Lucius said.
The General turned a hard stare to Lena. "What do you want?"
"Merely to talk to you about your status as a citizen of Mir."
The General did not look impressed.
Lena swallowed and continued. "You formed an army on the world of Qua. An army intent on overtaking the government of another world."
"The Cimmerians are all citizens of Mir."
Lena gave half of a smile. "But they are also citizens of Qua. And military interaction must happen on the planet they're a citizen of. So, with your dual citizenship, you can also say that you formed an army for Qua. With the express purpose of taking down the government of Mir.
"We have not acted out in war," General Carina said.
"That's what I'd like to talk to you about. I'd like you to attack the Priestess' Defenses."
General Carina didn't reply.
"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. I know you talked with my father about this possibility before his death."
"You are playing a very risky game, Miss Adhara. A game you might lose."
Lena stood and stepped away from the video port. "At least it's a game I'm willing to play."
The General tightened her lips even more. "If I could have done it and succeeded, I would have already."
"What's stopping you from succeeding?" Lena asked.
"I do not have the numbers. If I attack with the Cimmerians, they'll be butchered by her Defenses. And I cannot put any more of my soldiers in danger," General Carina said.
"Like you did with Jonah?" Lena said. "Jonah died because of you.”
The General's expression tightened. "Jonah's death was unfortunate. But, I'm not lying when I say I don't have the numbers it would take.”
Lena bit her lower lip. She looked at her friends, gathered on the outskirts of the room. Her friends who were ready to go to war with her. "You might not have the numbers," Lena said, "but you do have the leadership. Leaders that were organized and trained on Qua."
"What are you saying?" General Carina asked.
"You give us all the soldiers you have. They will lead an attack against Selene. We will find enough people from Mir to fight with you."
General Carina's expression turned thoughtful. "Your plan just might work," she said. "If the Cimmerians were to lead. And if you could gather enough people..."
Lena turned to Tarek. "Would that still work? Would the IM still be able to step in if most of the soldiers are from Mir?"
"Yes," Tarek said. "As long as there is an organized force from another world attacking, that is all the IM needs."
"How many?" Lena questioned, turning back to General Carina.
The General pursed her lips as if thinking of a number. "Six-thousand," Carina stated.
Lena's jaw dropped and her stomach immediately tightened. It was so much more than she thought it would be. "That's more than there are Cimmerians," Lena said.
The General gave her a pointed stare. "I want a full legion willing to fight against Selene. And when we win, I want the credit for taking down the Priestess."
Everything felt heavy. The request felt heavy on her shoulders. How was she going to make this happen? How could she possibly find that many people?
"We'll make it happen," Lucius said. "Lena will find your people."
Lena snapped her head towards Lucius. What was he doing?
"I will need the six-thousand before I take any action," Carina said.
"She'll have them for you," Suki said, stepping from the shadows.
"Yes. I'll have them for you," Lena agreed.
The General nodded her head briskly then turned the screen off before Lena could say anything else.
She turned away from Lucius and took some deep breath trying to think of what to do next.
Suki leaned her back against one of the walls, looking on with interest but without saying anything.
"Suki, I think we're going to need the Zoons help," Lena finally said. "I know you've told me before that you keep records on a lot of people here on Mir. People who have done things that may not be so legal."
Suki raised her eyebrows. "You know we do."
"Can you help me compile a list of those you think might stand against the Priestess on a bigger level? We need a lot of people for our plan to work."
Suki smiled even bigger. "Then it's a good thing I have a massive list."
"Very massive," Evren added from behind her.
"You think they'll join us?" Druinn said.
"I think anyone willing to break small rules, doesn't need much encouragement to break the big rules. They just need the right motivation," Suki answered. "I think you are the right motivation, Lena. Just like your dad, people will follow you."
Lucius started chuckling. "You don't just want to destroy Selene," he said. "You want to start a war?"
"Don't feel obligated to stay here. I told you I'd get you out of your room for helping me contact General Carina, and I'll still let you out," Lena said.
"You're not seriously letting him join are you, Lena? He is not a person to be trusted," Suki said. "What if he betrays us?"
"I told him he could," Lena said. "We can alway throw him back in his room if he gets in the way.”
"You can't just let him wander the caverns," Suki said.
"I can't just keep him locked up either," Lena said.
Lucius scowled. "I think you should be worrying less about the person who's helped you three times now, and worry more about your list of people who might help you in the future," he said.
"I'll be watching you," Suki said. "Don't think you can do whatever you want just because Lena is giving you a chance."
Lucius shrugged. "Watch me all you want. I have nothing to gain by leaving here."
Suki and Lucius were staring each other down.
Lena turned toward Evren. "Evren."
He had stopped paying attention and was examining the nullifier blueprints. His eyes were wide in awe.
"Evren," Suki snapped. "We need a list."
"Of course." He shook his head and typed quickly on another computer. "I'll let you know when I have it." He turned back to the blueprints and was soon totally absorbed.
***
"Six thousand people," Myri said. "Lena, how are you going to find that many people?"
Lena looked around the table. It had somehow become the official gathering place whenever they needed to talk about anything serious, or even just to be together. This time Lucius was with them. The others eyed him warily, but Lucius held his head at a cocky angle as if daring them to say anything to him.
"I know six thousand people sounds like a lot. But, when I was in Everleigh, I realized that we're not alone in our fight against Selene," Lena said, looking at her friends. "There were signs everywhere that there are more people on Mir who are willing to stand against her. We will find them, and we will join together to overthrow Selene."
Evren pushed up from where he was sitting. "I have created a program showing those who have acted against the Priestess already and the probability that they will do so on a larger scale."
"Once we have a list, we can se
nd the Zoons out to look for people," Suki said. "They can do it in a quiet like way, as to not draw attention to the people we're trying to recruit. Then we can gather here in the caves. There's room enough here for that many people."
"The caves were meant to hold the majority of Everleigh if needed," Remiah said. "About twenty thousand people to be exact. So six thousand won't be hard to find room for.”
"Suki and Evren have already started looking through their records," Lena said. "I'm going to look at my father's records and see if there is anyone in his files that can help us."
Lena looked at the far end of the table where Myri, Druinn, and Tarek sat. They weren't even citizens of Mir. She in no way wanted them to feel obligated to help her. Lena got their attention. "If you three want to go home, or go to The Port, or wherever, we will get you there. This isn't your war."
Myri and Druinn looked at each other briefly before Myri urged Druinn to talk with a nudge."We'll help you," he said. "What Selene is doing is affecting your world right now, but from the information that you've shown us, her influence is going to spread to worlds beyond this one."
Tarek stepped forward. "I will fight with you, Lena. In whatever way I can. I promised Gideon I would watch out for you. And I will. I agree with Druinn and Myri. This problem with Selene is going to spread. I must do my part to stop it. And that is standing by your side and helping you in whatever way I can."
Dessa stepped forward. "I know it's not much but I will get the living quarters ready."
"And I'll work on the security issues surrounding more people being here," Remiah said.
"I can help ya research," Birdee said. "I am only good for sitting anyway."
"I'm with ya too, Lena," Tern said. "Ya risked your life ta help me rescue Birdee, and have become my friend in the process. I trust ya, and will work with ya in whatever way I can ta be useful."
"Oh, isn't this nice? All of us on the same team," Lucius said with a mocking tone. "I'll be in my room doing real work." He got up and left before anyone had a chance to respond.
Suki rolled her eyes dramatically as Lucius walked away.
Lena felt relief. She wasn't alone. Her friends were capable and skilled at doing what needed to be done. "Let's get going," she said.
Lena started heading towards the hall leading to the records room when Dessa ran to her. She looked hesitant, but Lena nodded at her and she seemed to relax.
"We still haven't heard from my father," Dessa said. "Or Thora."
Lena's heart fell, she'd had Evren look into the security of the Divitian consulate, but besides seeing them taken there, they had yet to find out more.
"Dessa, I'm so sorry," Lena said. She turned back to the table where Tarek was talking to Remiah. "Tarek," she said getting his attention. "Is Azara in The Port still?" she asked.
"I can't be certain, but I see no reason why she would leave," Tarek answered.
"You mean besides the fact that she was kidnapped by Cimmerians, dumped by her boyfriend and linked to us?" Lena said.
Tarek gave a small chuckle. "Yes, besides that."
"Do you think she can find out about the situation with Thora and Aaron?"
Tarek looked at Dessa's concerned face and quickly nodded his head. "Yes, we have connections with the Divitians. I'm not sure what response she'll give, but she knows Thora and my father are friends. I'm sure we can get her to help us somehow. Let's check with Evren and see if he can bypass Allayan security to contact her. "
Lena, Dessa, and Tarek made their way to the workroom where Evren had resumed rebuilding the nullifier. On a side computer was a list of people on Mir who might join them. It was adding names slowly. By the side of their name was a percentage of their likelihood of helping. There were only a few names on the list so far. Suki's was at the top with a one hundred percent by it. Just below was Evren's name. "Ninety-seven percent is all?" Lena questioned with raised eyebrows.
He ran his hand through his hair and shrugged his shoulders without explaining what the three percent difference would be.
Lena walked to the table where all the pieces of the nullifier were laid out. It looked like Evren had completely dismantled the whole device and was now putting it back together according to the plans.
"What do you need?" Evren said in an annoyed tone.
"Can you contact Azara for us?" Lena asked.
Evren blew at the hair that had fallen across his forehead and gestured to a communications device behind him. "Do you have a security code?" he asked Tarek.
Tarek nodded then stepped past Evren and typed in a whole bunch of words and numbers into the console.
"Next time just use it," Evren mumbled. "You don't need to ask me for every little thing." He turned back to work.
Lena was standing in the camera's view when the hologram burst to life and Lena saw Azara reading in a chair.
Azara's head jerked up from her book, and she stared at the hologram. "Lena, what in stars name are you doing contacting me? And how did you possibly get through Allayan security?" she said with more scorn than admiration.
Lena shrugged. "Tarek is with us. He helped."
Azara scoffed. "Clearly," she said, before turning more somber. "How is my brother? And Gideon?"
"Tarek is doing well. He's here." Lena moved so Tarek could be seen.
Azara's eyes narrowed with of look of concern and displeasure.
"Hello, sister," Tarek said.
"What do you need, Tarek?" Azara said.
"We need your help," he responded.
"What makes you think I want to help either of you?" Azara scoffed.
"Azara," Tarek scolded. But Azara's expression didn't change.
"For one, you're Gideon's friend," Lena said.
Azara let out a laugh. "I usually don't stay friends with boyfriends from the past. Especially after finding out I'm only a placeholder until he could be with someone else." She stepped across the room towards a window. She looked over her shoulder. "Assuming you are together. Is he with you?" Azara turned from the window and looked Lena up and down, and Lena had the direct sense that Azara looked down on her.
Lena felt discomposed. A mixture of anger and sadness filled her as she thought about how Gideon was now gone from her life. "Gideon is with Selene," she answered.
"What?" Azara said. Everything about her arrogance had quickly turned to shock. "He would not be with his mother willingly. He despises her."
"I know," Lena said then quickly, but with as much detail as she could in a short amount of time, told Azara about the control device and Zeke and what they found on the server as well as about Gideon being implanted then activated.
Azara looked shocked for a moment before she pulled her shoulders back and raised her head. "This information is a little hard to believe. I'd like to look into the allegations you've presented."
"Yes, of course. I'll have Evren send you the information that Thora presented to the council." Lena paused. "But this isn't about what has happened to Gideon. I need to ask a favor of you."
Azara didn't look like she wanted to do anything more to help Lena but she was still there listening which Lena took as a good sign.
"I need to find where Thora has been taken," Lena said. "She, Gideon and our friend Aaron all went to The Port together. Gideon was activated and went with the Defenses to Ebon. But we don't know what happened to Thora or Aaron. We saw footage of them taken to the Divitian Consulate. But we couldn't trace them after that." Lena looked to Dessa who'd remained awfully quiet during the whole exchange.
Dessa wore an anxious expression.
"I've heard of the Princess Toralei," Azara said. "I will find out what happened to her. And her friend. Send me the information on the control device. To be successful, I need to know everything." Azara closed the communication before they could say anything else.
"My sister will do as she says," Tarek said to Dessa. "Send her the information, Evren. She will find out what happened to both of them."
Chapte
r Ten
"How is our patient?" Gideon heard Selene ask.
Gideon was in the same medical room that Ruddy had taken him to yesterday. His muscles ached. Ras had tested the limits of the device late into the night. When Ras had finished, he left Gideon strapped to the medical table to sleep.
"Put the headband on, and you can see for yourself.”
Gideon didn't need to look to know it was Ras who was talking. His voice gave him away. Gideon also knew that the headband Ras was talking about was a thin golden band that gave the person wearing it the ability to control his movements.
Gideon heard shuffling as his bands were loosed then his eyes flew open and he sat up. His movements felt forced. He turned, his legs hanging off the table. His body tingled from the blood being forced back into his limbs. He tried to stretch his body. It refused to move. He stood. He wanted to turn his head towards Selene. Instead, his feet walked him forward.
"I know I'm able to make him walk and give orders," Selene said. "I've already done those basic moves with both him and Zeke. What I need to know is if I can make him fight."
"It shouldn't be hard. You've done it before with Zeke," Ras said.”
"Zeke wasn't as resistive as Gideon is proving to be," Selene said. "And plunging a knife into an unsuspecting victim wasn't hard. Making people walk and talk and do basic moves isn't hard.”
"You just need to exercise the parts of your brain that are controlling him," Ras said. "And don't lose your temper. If you're not in control of yourself, you can't be in control of someone else."
"I'm always in control," Selene snapped.
Ras huffed. "If that were true, Zeke would have already shot Lena, instead of some boy."
Gideon could see her in his peripheral vision. She had a hand pressed to the side of her temple as if using the device was giving her a headache.
Gideon tried to stop his movements by forcing every thought he had into making himself stop. But Selene forced him out of the room, across the hallway, and into an open training room. He knew this room. Ras had taken him here the night before as he tested the device out on Gideon.
Gideon had gathered then that different movements took different amounts of control from the wearer of the band. Something like walking and talking was second nature to the controller. But just like training your own body in more complex maneuvers took practice, being the one forcing someone else to bend or kick in a way not natural to the person controlling took more training and effort to get it right.
The Mir Chronicles- The Complete Series Page 53