“Not much. I wish I did. I get flashes, but nothing sure. Do you?”
Jane took a sip from her glass. She had tried countless times to force her brain to remember something... anything from her past, but it was locked tight. “Nothing. I was too young when they recruited me.”
Starla gave her a pointed look. “Stole or bought you is more like it.” She sighed. “Pity. David and I have a few things to go on should we ever want to try and locate our families on Earth. He remembers his last name. Edrian told me that the doctors here might be able to unlock the suppressed memories. But first, we need to take care of our ultimate goal.”
Unlocking their memories intrigued Jane, but did she really want to know if her parents had sold her to the Institute? The thought made her ill. And how many memories could a toddler have?
“That could take a while. We need more of us on board, and it’s going to be tough trying to locate the other girls. That’s if they don’t activate their implants.”
Starla toyed with her glass. “One of us may need to go back to Earth to see what we can learn. Here on Brevona, they have the scientific knowledge to make one invisible. If they allowed us to use the technology, it would help us infiltrate the Institute without anyone ever knowing.”
“I’d be the best choice for that. I can fly over the electric fences that surround the grounds of the Institute.” Her wings gave her a freedom that was not offered to the other trainees. It had made her feel special that she had been chosen to fly, and she had trained rigorously to ensure the privilege was never taken from her.
“Mm, we’ll talk to Edrian about that. They have ships flying back and forth between Earth and Brevona regularly,” Starla commented.
“Talk to me about what?” Edrian joined them and took the seat beside Jane.
She smiled at him. He was still obnoxious as hell, but she was really beginning to like him and the way he teased her.
“About one of us going back to the Institute to see what we can find out about the other recruits that were sent to various planets. Jane mentioned she’d be the best choice because she can fly.” Starla grinned.
“When you’re invisible, you can slip through the gates easily when someone else or a vehicle enters. I think David should go.” Edrian crossed his arms over his chest.
Jane punched him. “Chauvinistic, are we? How long does the invisibility last?”
The look he gave made her heart skip a beat. He had wormed his way under her skin, and all she wanted to do was to touch...
He brushed a stray curl from her face. “From the moment you activate the device until you deactivate it. You would already have to be invisible when boarding the spaceship.”
She took a deep breath wishing he had continued his caress. No one had ever touched her with such gentleness or caring.
She tried to focus on their conversation. “Where does the ship land? How far to the Institute? Once I set foot on land, I can fly anywhere on Earth quite fast, whereas David would have to sneak onto a plane, bus, or train, which could take days, weeks even, and there is no public transportation to the Institute.”
“You have a valid point.” Edrian stood. “Why don’t we meet this afternoon to discuss it? I have to get back to work.” He turned and left them.
“I could also get into their computer system and look for any information on us. Maybe they kept records of where we came from.” Jane was starting to get excited. If Edrian agreed, she’d finally be able to use her training for something that didn’t involve eliminating a target.
“I’m sure they did. That’s data we need to save for all of us whose memories were wiped,” Starla informed her.
“Where’s David?”
Starla wrinkled her nose. “He went for a walk. He said he needed to get some exercise in before his muscles got too lazy.”
“Did I hear my name?” Jane turned to see David walking toward the table. He planted a kiss on top of Starla’s head and sat next to her.
Jane watched them stare at each other for a moment and imagined Edrian doing the same with her.
She took a deep breath to clear her musing. “We’ve been talking about one of us going back to Earth to retrieve the data we need about the trainees and where the others have been sent.”
“Jane would be the best pick because she can fly,” Starla told him.
David nodded. “I agree. Have you talked to Edrian about this?”
“Briefly. He had to go to work. He said it’s a good idea, and we’ll discuss it later.”
“Starla told me about the ability the Brevonians have to make someone invisible. We really need to come up with a plan, and we need more of our recruits if we’re going to go up against the doctors and Earth’s leaders. The dragons are formidable, but to execute our plan and put a stop to what’s going on in the Institute, we need our enhanced people.”
David strummed his fingers on the table. “You’re right, Jane. This isn’t something we can just make happen. We need a strategy, a carefully thought out plan. It’s not like we’ve got a magic wand that can make it all go away in a second.”
“I realize that, but if you knew how long I’ve hated the Institute, the doctors...”
Chapter Seven
“What do I do?” Jane asked. “Do I bow? Curtsey?”
Timyt had informed them that he was bringing King Frimont to meet with them that evening. Edrian suggested they hold the meeting in the small park to be away from the noisy children.
“Do not worry yourself, Jane. Just a slight bow of the head is sufficient.” Edrian patted her on the shoulder.
When Jane heard the distant flapping of Timyt’s dragon wings, her heart sped up. It wasn’t every day one got to meet royalty. Although she’d spent quite a bit of time with Timyt who was the king of the dragons, he didn’t come across as royalty. He acted like an ordinary person.
On Earth, there was no royalty left. Many years ago, all royal houses had been abolished, the nobles stripped of their titles, and their palaces turned into museums. Their country estates were converted into apartment buildings, and royalty lived in ordinary houses. Well... not quite ordinary. They were still rich, so their homes were quite nice and sat on a piece of land, but they were now regarded and treated just like the commoners. For a while, each country had its own government, until a unified World Leadership was created, one that ruled over the whole planet—now known as the World Leadership Organization.
Timyt walked toward them. By his side, strode what looked like an ordinary man. Not as tall as the dragon, and except for the ridges on his forehead, he looked normal. No fancy clothing, no crown on his head. Nothing that would indicate he was royalty. Timyt and the king chatted as they approached in what looked like close camaraderie.
“Your Majesty, allow me to introduce Starla and David, the two that saved your family,” Timyt said.
Starla and David stood and bowed. “It’s an honor, Your Majesty,” David said.
“And this is Jane. Our latest visitor from Earth.”
Jane copied David. “Your Majesty.” Was that her voice that came out sounding like a squeaky mouse?
The king sat on one of the stone chairs. “I am so happy to finally meet the two people that saved my family and me from certain death.” He looked pointedly at David and Starla.
David cleared his throat. “Your Majesty, it was mainly Starla. I was merely there to support her and make our attendance at the party seem genuine.”
“Still, without you, she could not have attended. I am forever in your debt. You will be well rewarded, and after what Timyt has told me you two agreed to join us and live on Brevona, I have the perfect reward in mind. And now, I would like to hear your full story, and Jane’s. Do not leave anything out. I am a big boy.”
Jane couldn’t suppress a giggle. Next to the dragons, the king wasn’t that big. And it just sounded weird.
Bidiana came by with a tray of snacks, glasses, and a flask of win
e. She greeted the king, filled their glasses, then left the tray and the flask and returned to the house.
“David, you first. From what Timyt has told me, you need to start from when you first enrolled in the training facility,” the king said.
“Your Majesty, it was not enrollment. We are taken, bought, kidnapped, or sold by our parents when we are very young. I remember quite a bit because I was almost seven when I first entered the Institute. As soon as I arrived there, they took me to a surgical room where they began with erasing my memories...”
Jane was amazed at how much David remembered from before the Institute. If Schultz and Schmidt had ever found out... Starla was next. And finally, the king looked at Jane and nodded.
She began her tale. “Your Majesty, I don’t remember anything from before. I was a toddler when the doctors recruited me into the Institute. The rest of my story is much the same as Starla’s except I was given a special suit and wings and taught to fly. My assignment was to come to Brevona through the portal, hunt down Starla and David, kill them and then activate the implant in my wrist for a memory wipe, which we now know would have killed me. I was told Starla and David had defected and were traitors to our government.”
The king held his glass up for more wine. “That is quite a story from all of you. Timyt explained much of it to me already. I knew about the wrist implants, and that you were unaware that activating it would kill you. It is monstrous. Everything you have told me is reprehensible. I was not aware that Earth’s people were so barbaric.”
“Your Majesty, the Institute and our existence is top secret, known only to the world leaders. I’m sure if people on Earth knew about it and what goes on there, they would be horrified. There are good people on our world. I have no doubt they would fight to stop the atrocities of the Institute if its existence became known to the public.” David took a sip of his wine.
The king nodded in agreement. “Yes, all worlds have the good and the bad. Just look at Brevona and the general who was ready to slay us and take over the rule of the planet.”
Was there good on Earth? Jane couldn’t help but wonder. The conditions on the planet were horrendous... worldwide poverty, starvation, so many people homeless. The human race could be cruel to one another over nothing but scraps. Would parents be desperate enough to sell their children just to fill their bellies? Or did the Institute lie? Selling those desperate parents the idea that their child would have a better life, food to fill their bellies, and a warm bed away from the elements. And what about the children that were stolen? Whisked away from their families, never to be seen again. The situation on Earth sickened her the more she learned about it.
Edrian had just listened quietly until Jane and the others finished their stories. He cleared his throat and took the opportunity to tell the king of the general’s men, their alliance with people from Earth, and plans to take over Brevona. “You and your family are still in danger from these radicals.”
The king nodded. “Yes, your father has kept me apprised. The palace guards have taken every security precaution to keep my family safe. But there is more? Timyt has told me you have a request?”
“David, Starla, and Jane want to destroy the Institute and the two doctors who run it, as well as assassinate the members of their World Leadership Organization responsible for the plan to take over Brevona. In order to accomplish this, they need the assistance of other trainees from the Institute. From the information they have shared, several of them were to be sent to other planets. They would like to find out where, warn them not to activate their implants, then enlist their help to demolish the Institute, its scientists, and Earth’s corrupt government.”
The king crossed his arms, his gaze trained on Jane, David, and Starla. “That is quite a task for such a small rebel group.” He turned his attention back to Edrian. “What is it that you wish from me?”
“With your permission, we would like to use the invisibility module. Jane has the means to fly and using our module she could infiltrate the Institute without being detected. She can then retrieve the data we need to locate the off-world trainees and the information needed to destroy the Institute and their plan to take over Brevona.”
“You have my permission. I will contact Doctor Gomus myself. What else can we do to help?” He looked at David.
David set his glass on the table. “Sire, if we are able to rid Earth of its present government, it will need new leadership. Earth is in trouble. Its natural resources are depleted or poisoned, much of the population is starving and homeless. That is why World Leadership wants Brevona. I believe Earth can be saved... with help. But that is a worry for another time. First, we need to gather a group of the older trainees in such a way as to not arouse suspicion. We must also hunt down the insurgents here on Brevona and eliminate them. That includes the spies from Earth that have joined their ranks.”
“You have located all these groups, Edrian?” the king asked.
“Yes, Your Majesty. We know where they are hiding. But Father and I fear there may be spies in the palace. We must be sure that no word can get back to Earth’s leaders after we have annihilated them all.”
“Then I suggest you start by sending Jane to Earth as soon as possible to glean all information she can to assist you.” The king turned back to David. “Now, what of the very young in the Institute? Once it is destroyed, they will need to be placed with families. We need to know how many are there and transport them back here to Brevona.”
“Your Majesty, Jane might be able to find out their history. If they were kidnapped, they need to be returned to their natural parents,” David informed him.
“I agree, but any that were sold, even with poverty as an excuse, those parents do not deserve a child. Those sold, and the orphaned children will come and live on Brevona. There are many people here who will gladly give them a loving home.”
“Your offer is appreciated, though I must warn you, many of them will need time to adjust, especially the older children.”
“Agreed.” The king stood and inclined his head. “I must return to the palace. Edrian, it is quite a task you have taken on. My space fleet and troops are at your disposal. Take Jane to see Doctor Gomus in the morning. You need to set the first phase of your plan in motion right away. I wish you all a good night.”
Timyt and the king left them, the king’s arm around Timyt’s shoulders. The camaraderie between them was evidence the two had indeed been friends for many years as Edrian had mentioned the other day.
Jane shook her head, somewhat baffled. “That was quite something. He came across as just an ordinary man, nothing at all like our world leaders.”
Edrian chuckled. “Are we not all just ordinary and the same in the gods’ eyes?”
“I suppose. We had to study religion, but were taught it was all a man-made myth, stories made up through the centuries.” Jane smiled at him. So much was different on Brevona, some of it quite magical and couldn’t be explained by science. Like the fascinating dragon man in front of her, no experiment could have created Edrian or his people. So, was there a higher power? If God was real, He had turned his back on Earth and her people a long time ago.
Jane heard a whisper in her mind with the deep tenor of Edrian’s voice. It felt so intimate, so right... She sighed from the pleasure of it.
Earth has not been forsaken. Your God led you, David, and Starla, here, to us.
Edrian placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “I will take Jane to the science facility early tomorrow morning. Then I need to find out when there is a ship leaving for Earth.”
“I hope soon,” Starla muttered. “I can’t wait to get started.”
“While Jane is gone, we will begin eliminating the pockets of insurgents. We also need to find out if there are spies in the palace. Again, the invisibility module will help with that. I will go to the palace and secretly move among the servants to see what I can learn,” Edrian said. “It is late. We should get som
e rest.”
Chapter Eight
Three days later, Jane was on her way to Earth on one of Brevona’s passenger ships. It would land in Austria, and from there she’d fly to Switzerland. David had shown her a map of Earth, and the landmarks to watch for from the sky. Unfortunately, there were no individual maps for each country, but if she flew high enough above the Alps, she’d be able to spot the Institute.
After the ship landed, she slipped out of the cargo hold easily. The invisibility module kept her hidden from the passengers and crew. No one would be able to track her movements or report to the Institute that their dead assassin had been seen alive. Though she could see herself, she was completely invisible to the people milling around her.
Being careful not to bump into anyone or anything, she quickly found an open space, away from the ship, and activated her wings. She gazed down at the small compass on her right wrist to orient herself on which direction to fly, and if she followed David’s instructions, she’d reach the Alps swiftly.
Within seconds, she soared up into the sky. The cool air whipping around her face felt exhilarating. She had missed the feeling of freedom. It had been almost a week since she’d been able to take to the skies, which seemed like forever after her daily training.
She flew for a while before she spotted the Alps. She followed them from Austria into Switzerland, though she really had no idea where one country stopped and the other began. Flying lower, she scanned the valleys until she finally saw several buildings in a verdant valley surrounded by mountains. The layout looked familiar, so she zoomed toward it. As she got closer, she knew she’d found the Institute.
Trainees were on the grounds doing drills, practicing weapons skills, and hand to hand combat. She had to infiltrate either the male or female facility to access the data they needed, and it was much better to be on familiar ground. She headed toward the place where she’d grown up.
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