The Heroes Return

by Monica Tesler

  If it’s the only way, we might as well minimize the risk. “Can’t we just broadcast now instead of—” I start.

  Waters raises his hand. “Timing is everything.”

  Regis comes back into the chamber with a group of Tunnelers. At the far end of the stage, they set up two chairs and a small recording device on a tripod in front. Now that I see the setup, I realize it must be the same place they filmed Addy’s message to me.

  Marco elbows me in the ribs and points to the projection. A dozen Tunneler crafts zoom out of the atmosphere in a V formation, preparing to engage the Earth Force fleet. I’m pretty sure Neeka’s craft is the leader.

  The Tunnelers shoot, then roll out on the sides, circling back to form a perimeter. Earth Force returns fire, but the Tunnelers shuffle position, evading the brunt of the assault. All the while, they rain fire on the Force ships.

  “Earth Force isn’t taking damage from those hits,” I say.

  “They’re shielded,” Marco says. “Our shots are all deflected.”

  “Well, how do we expect—” My words are cut short when a burst of orange light showers across the projection. One of the Resistance ships was hit. It spirals away from the others. A second round of fire finds its target, and the Tunneler craft explodes.

  “No!” I shout.

  “Is everything prepared for the broadcast?” Waters asks Regis, his voice low and urgent.

  Once Regis confirms, he looks at me and Denver. “Okay. It’s time.” He crosses the stage in long, swift strides, headed to the area set up for the broadcast.

  Denver folds his arms against his chest. “No.”

  Waters stops. “What did you say?”

  “I said no. It doesn’t matter what you do, Jon. Torture me, if you want. I’m not doing your broadcast. I am not your pawn. I’m not going to read your words to the people of Earth. I may not agree with Earth Force, but that doesn’t mean I agree with you.”

  Waters waves his arm at the projection. “You see what’s happening out there, and I know you’re sympathetic to our cause!” He marches over to Denver. “You’re not going to stand here and do nothing while countless Tunnelers die. Again. You don’t have a choice!”

  “There’s always a choice, Jon. You miscalculated. Threats may work on Eames, but they won’t work on me. I have nothing to live for. Life passed me by while I was stuck in the rift.”

  “You couldn’t save the Tunnelers before, Denver, but you can save them today!” Waters shouts. “If you don’t, their blood is on your hands!”

  “Do you still not get it, Jon?” Denver shouts back. “Their blood is on your hands!”

  29

  “THEY’RE NOT GOING TO MAKE it!” I plead with Denver. “We have to stop this!”

  “It’s not our job, kid. We didn’t start this, and crowning Jon Waters the winner is not going to end it.”

  “My friends are going to die!” For all I know, Neeka is already dead.

  “This is war, kid. That’s what happens. If you want it to stop, convince your pod leader to raise a white flag and admit defeat.”

  “And . . . what? Keep fighting a war with the Youli that will ultimately destroy us?” I ask. “Allow Earth Force to decide the future of our planet? Even you know that’s a horrible idea! Please!” When Denver shakes his head, I turn back to Waters. “Mr. Waters, you’ve got to do something!”

  Waters doesn’t hear me. He’s fixed on the projection. Three more Resistance ships have taken hits. Two have disengaged with engine failure. Meanwhile, the Earth Force ships continue to press without any sign of damage.

  A second ship explodes in a crater of light. My breath catches in my throat. When the image clears, half of the Earth Force ships are no longer visible on the projection.

  “They’ve entered the atmosphere,” Addy says. “We need to get out there!”

  “The Bounders need to stop them on the ground,” Marco says. “If they make it through the force field, we’re done for!”

  My sister and Marco stare at Waters, waiting for their orders.

  Waters nods at Barrick.

  “Romero, Adams,” Barrick barks, “gather the other Bounders, get in position, and await further orders.”

  Adams . . . not me, my sister. He’s sending her into battle. “Let me do the broadcast on my own!” I beg.

  “No,” Waters says, he takes a deep breath, then softens his voice, probably to sound less threatening, more like a friend explaining a plan, but his expression oozes with desperation as he turns to face me and Denver. “It needs to be both of you on the broadcast, or it won’t work. The people of Earth know you both were taken. If you don’t appear together, Earth Force will be able to spin the story their way. They’ll likely claim you’re responsible for the kidnapping, Jasper, that you’re working with the Youli.”

  Denver grabs my arm. “Don’t let him manipulate you like this, kid. There has to be another way.”

  “There is no other way!” Waters shouts at Denver.

  “Surrender!” Denver shouts back.

  “You know we can’t do that!”

  Barrick refocuses the projection. At least ten Earth Force vessels are nearly on the ground. He barks into his com link. “The Bounders are ready to engage,” he relays to Waters.

  “Give the order,” Waters says, then turns back to me and Denver. “Are you really going to send Jasper’s sister into the line of fire?”

  I look at Denver, hands clenched to my chest.

  “The Bounders have departed,” Barrick reports.

  Denver shakes his head. “I’m not doing it, kid. I’m sorry.”

  “Convince him,” Waters says to the armed guards.

  The Tunnelers drag Denver across the stage.

  “Stop it!” The Tunnelers ignore me. I run after them. “I said stop!”

  Denver takes the first two punches standing up, then hits the chamber floor. The Tunnelers kick him in the ribs, flip him, and kick him in the back. I wrap my arms around my waist and rock back and forth. All I can do is watch in horror as they beat him to a pulp.

  But it doesn’t really matter what they do. They need Denver to cooperate or this won’t work. They can’t put Denver on a live broadcast with a gun to his head. That would make the Resistance look like the bad guys. It would justify Earth Force’s actions.

  Another one of Waters’s plans backfires, and we’re left paying the price.

  Barrick’s bark calls me back to the moment. “The Bounders are taking fire.”

  I spin back to the projection, expecting to see bounding ships engaging the Earth Force gunners on the ground. Instead, my jaw drops as I process what I’m witnessing on the projection. Addy, Marco, and the other Bounders don’t have ships. They’re out there on foot, engaging Earth Force on the frozen Gulagan tundra, fighting with their gloved hands.

  “Are you insane?” I scream at Waters. “They’re going to get killed!”

  “Bounders are a priceless commodity,” he replies. “I doubt Earth Force will fire on them.”

  “You doubt it?” I shout. “I’m done gambling on your guesses, Mr. Waters!”

  I pace back and forth in front of the projection. Every second wasted is a second closer to Addy’s inevitable death. I can’t believe I came all the way to Gulaga only to watch my sister be slaughtered.

  “Do something!” I scream.

  No one responds. Waters and Barrick urge on their guards trying to beat sense into Denver.

  Regis grabs my arm and bends close. “Let’s go.”

  “Where?”

  “Where do you think?” He nods at the projection. “They need us out there.”

  He wants to fight with Addy, Marco, and the other Bounders? I glance back at Waters and Denver—that’s hopeless. Regis is right. My best bet is to join the fight. I nod.

  Regis takes off running. Once we pass through the doors of the chamber, he loosens the control straps on his blast pack and lifts off. I’m right behind him.

  We weave through the n
arrow tunnels of Gulagaven, slowly making our way to the surface. Regis is flying because of me. He could just as easily bound to the force field—after all, the scramblers are off—but I don’t know the way.

  I push myself faster and suddenly my brain seizes on a memory. I’m racing Regis in the hangar during our first tour of duty. More than anything I wanted to humiliate him. My hatred fueled me.

  Now, as I race to help my sister and friends, I’m fueled by determination. If anything, Regis and I have a common enemy. And maybe, as much as I don’t want to admit it, maybe Regis isn’t the enemy anymore.

  He touches down and darts forward. He hurries us through a door into a small outfitter and tosses me a bundle of outerwear. I shove my arms and legs into the suit, don the helmet, and force my feet into boots. Regis is ready by the time I’m dressed.

  “Right through these doors!” He activates the sliders, and we pour into the first exit chamber. The door slides closed behind us. One more door and we’re in the battle.

  “Hey,” I say to Regis. “Thanks.”

  He looks at me and nods. “The Bounders will be the ones who end this.”

  He lowers his visor and seals his helmet. The door slides back, the frigid air rushes in, and Regis and I take off across the Gulagan tundra.

  Up ahead, the Earth Force gunner ships close in. The Bounders hold them back with their gloves. Regis breaks left, but I bolt straight ahead toward the point where I spotted Addy on the screen.

  My mind is a jumble. I’m clenched in fury over Waters’s failed threats and riddled with fear that my sister and friends are going to get killed. Plus, I probably know some of the soldiers in the Earth Force vessels. They might be Bounders. For all I know, Ryan or Meggi or even Cole might be right here on the tundra. I don’t want them to die either. There must be another way to force Admiral Eames to call off the attack. If I could only clear my head enough to think.

  The thing is . . . Waters isn’t wrong. Threats will work on Admiral Eames—the threat of exposing her propaganda campaign and the threat that Denver’s life is at stake.

  What if all we needed to do was lay down the threats?

  We don’t actually need to broadcast, we just need to threaten to broadcast.

  What comes after the threats is what’s important. And if I can get Waters and Denver to buy into the next steps, we might be able to stop this.

  Voices swirl in my head.

  Regis’s words from moments ago: The Bounders will be the ones who end this.

  Addy’s words from the Nest: The Bounders need a voice.

  Mira’s words from the rift: You’re the glue, Jasper. It has to be you. It’s always been you.

  I skid to a halt.

  This needs to stop.

  And I need to be the one to end it. I want to be the one to end it.

  I’m one of the most popular people on Earth right now. I thought that no longer meant much to me, but the truth is, it does. It does because it might help me end this and finally achieve peace for our planet.

  I spot Addy up ahead. I lock in visual contact and bound to her side.

  “What are you doing out here?” she screams. Her arms are raised. She’s trying to block the fighter guns of the nearest Earth Force ship. I raise my gloved hands and help. Slowly we’re able to turn the metal so that the gun is pointed in upon the ship.

  “Listen, I have a plan. I think I can convince Waters, but it will take a few minutes. Bound back with me.”

  Addy targets the second gun on the ship. “No way. We’re outnumbered, J. Without my help, we’re doomed, if we’re not already.”

  I scan the line of Bounders. There are far too few. No matter how powerful we are with the gloves, they stand no chance against this artillery, especially when the other Earth Force ships land. The best they can do is buy us time.

  Which means I need to hurry.

  I nod at Addy. “I’ll be as quick as I can.”

  Pulling up a mental image of the Parliamentary Chamber, I build my port and bound, landing half a meter away from Denver.

  “Where were you, kid?” he asks with a strained voice. The guards have kept his face free of bruises, but his insides are a different story.

  I unseal my helmet and throw it on the chamber floor. “I have an idea. Please listen.”

  Denver locks eyes with me. At first, I don’t think he’ll agree. Then he dips his chin in a small nod.

  I jump to my feet and run to the projection, where Waters stands with Barrick. “There’s another way!”

  Waters spins. “Where were you?”

  “There’s no time to explain. My idea will save us.”

  “Unless you can talk sense into Reddy, don’t waste my time.”

  “Hear him out, Jon.” Denver pushes to standing, wincing from the beating.

  Waters narrows his eyes at me. “Ten seconds.”

  “You don’t have to broadcast live. You just have to threaten to do it. Get Admiral Eames on the line. Tell her what you plan to do. Make her call off the invasion.”

  Waters’s face crinkles and his gaze drops as he processes what I said.

  “The most that gets us is a cease-fire,” he says.

  “For now, that’s enough! They’re dying out there!”

  Denver nods, catching on to my idea. “The kid’s right. Start with a cease-fire and move on to diplomacy. Someone needs to negotiate, Jon, and by ‘someone,’ I do not mean you.”

  “Well, if you think I’m sending you—”

  “Send me!” I shout. They all turn to me, one face more incredulous than the next. “Send the Bounders!”

  Suddenly the Youli’s message resonates in stunning tone. Their message wasn’t for Earth Force. It wasn’t for the Resistance, either. It was for me, and I know exactly what needs to be done. “I’ve spoken to you, Mr. Waters, and I’ve talked to Admiral Eames. Neither of you is capable of reaching terms. You need fresh voices. Like you said, there are plenty of young leaders who share your ideals, who would do incredible things for the galaxy, who can move Earth toward peace.” Regis knew exactly what he was talking about. “The Bounders will be the ones to end this.”

  “What exactly are you suggesting?” Waters asks.

  “Both sides send representatives to a neutral location to negotiate—Cole Thompson and Lucy Dugan for Earth Force, Marco Romero and Adeline Adams for the Resistance.” I swallow hard before continuing. “. . . as long as all of them are still alive. I’ll facilitate the discussion.”

  Waters laughs. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re just kids.”

  Denver places his hand on my shoulder. “Maybe so, Jon. But this kid rescued me from the rift, helped lead a publicity campaign across his planet, and talked sense to me in a cramped crate. Not to mention that much of what you’re fighting over is technology that only the Bounders are capable of wielding. I’d say our futures lie with these kids.”

  Waters closes his eyes and rubs his chin.

  “They’re closing in on the force field!” Barrick barks.

  We’re out of time.

  “Your plan has a major flaw, Jasper,” Waters says. “Earth Force will never agree to it.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong, Jon,” Denver says. “Get me a secure line to Cora. I’ll get her on board.”

  30

  THE SECONDS TICK BY AS Waters tries to secure a channel to Admiral Eames. On the projection, the battle intensifies.

  Addy and Marco work together. They manage to stop one of the ships from progressing, but it’s clearly draining them. Minjae and another Bounder arrest a second ship, but the rest of the gunners continue their advance.

  “We need to hurry!” I shout. “What’s taking so long?”

  “They’ve nearly breached the force field,” Barrick says.

  As soon as the words squeak from Barrick’s voice box, the closest gunner ship fires at the invisible wall, the only thing separating Earth Force from Gulagaven and the heart of the Resistance.

  One of the Bounders ru
ns to the front to defend the force field, trying to knock away the laser fire with the power of his gloves.

  He’s too close. He can’t hold back that kind of firepower.

  I see the moment when his energy gives out. One second, he has control of the laser with his gloves; the next, his arms collapse inward. Then he’s lying in a heap on the cold ground, his protective gear burned through and steaming in the cold Gulagan air.

  Only now can I clearly see his face.

  Regis.

  “No!” I slam my fists into the projection and stumble forward, nearly falling to the ground.

  “Denver!” Waters shouts. “Get over here now! I’ve got Cora on the line!”

  No matter how quickly Denver manages to convince Admiral Eames, it might not be fast enough to save the Bounders. Every second counts.

  I grab my helmet. “I’m bounding out there.”

  Barrick grumbles and dodges for me. I duck out of the way. “Don’t you dare—” his voice box is translating, but I build my port and bound before it finishes.

  I land half a meter from Addy. My skin burns. I didn’t have time to seal the coat sleeves tight against my gloves. And I don’t have time to worry about that now. I aim my gloves at the advancing gunner ship and help my sister hold it off.

  “What’s happening?” Addy asks with a strained voice. She’s tired. The Bounders can’t keep this up for long.

  “Denver is negotiating with Admiral Eames. We’re hoping for a cease-fire.”

  Please let it work. Please. Everything I’ve done, all the choices I’ve made, have led me to this moment. If I’m wrong, I might as well go lie down next to Regis.

  Addy turns back to the ship. I feel her command of the atoms slipping. This isn’t going to work.

  “We need to make them defend from both sides,” I say. “That will buy us time.”

  “But the force field . . .”

  “All we need is a few minutes, Ads. If it takes longer than that, we’re goners no matter what.”

  She nods and refocuses her energy at the ship. “Go!”

  I bound to the flank, where Marco and Minjae are holding back another gunner.

  “Come with me—attack from the rear!” I shout.