Lena wasn’t surprised by the statement. Dorry had somehow programed her insignia to erase any electronic information about her. She didn’t know how he did it or why it worked, but knew it did. Gideon had told her before that when he was at the Interplanetary Military Academy he had tried to find her, but all traces of her were somehow never recorded.
Tern interrupted the conversation. “I’m lookin’ fer my friend. She was captured by the Defenses several days ago. Do ya think ya can help me?”
“Your friend was captured by the Priestess?” Suki asked, letting out a deep breath.
“She was my friend as well,” Lena said.
“Why should we help you?” Bates stepped from out of the shadows. His face wore a mixture of hate and resentment and was anything but friendly.
Chapter Eighteen
“We take care of our own,” Bates said. “And you are not one of us. In fact, if anything, now we’ve got even more reason to be on the Priestess’ radar.”
“Bates, shove it,” Suki said, widening her stance in front of him. “The Defenses are searching for them. That’s reason enough for us to help them.”
“No. It’s not.” He spat to the side. “You know the rules, Suki. We help our own. And they are defiantly not our own. And I’m not about to risk all we’ve built here to help them if they offer us nothing in return.”
“We don’t do everything for gain, Bates,” Suki said.
“Oh, really? We’re helping anyone now, are we? In that case, I know of a couple of people I’d really like to help, too,” Bates shot back.
“These two aren’t some of your random love interests, Bates.”
“But you clearly aren’t thinking straight when it comes to them,” Bates countered. “We take care of our own—that’s your rule isn’t it?”
Their voices gradually grew angrier as they spoke. A small crowd had formed around them straining to hear what was happening.
“If you knew who they were, you’d be helping them, too? Suki said.
“Well that’s the thing, isn’t it? I don’t know who they are. Yet you’ve let them into our facility like they’re one of us. How do we know they’re not going to turn us over to the Priestess?”
“Because this is Evangeline Adhara, you idiot,” Suki said. “Do I need to explain to you why she won’t turn you over to the Priestess? Or do you think you can figure it out on your own?”
Bates glowered and didn’t look like he was about to back down.
“What do you want?” Lena asked. “What do we need to do so you’ll help us get inside The Port?”
Evren cleared his throat. “It’s obvious. There is only one thing we can do to satisfy the rules in place and ensure the secrecy associated with our group.”
“What’s that?” asked Gideon.
“Initiate them as Centizoons, of course,” Evren replied.
The kids around them started to talk. At first they whispered but it quickly escalated into full-blown excitement. Some Zoons nodded while others shook their heads. Bates stood stone-still, staring at Evren. Lena could hear her name being spoken in the crowd around them. As she looked at the theater boxes, she could see groups of Zoons leaning against the railings straining to hear the conversation.
“What exactly does it take to be initiated as a Centizoon?” Lena asked.
Bates raised an eyebrow curiously. “To be a Zoon you have to prove you have a skill we need. I doubt you do.”
“It’s nothing they can’t handle,” Suki said, glaring at Bates. The holograms on the stage cast weird, pink and green colors across her face.
“It’s an act of three,” Evren clarified. Noticing the colors scrolling across Suki’s face, he waved his hand toward the nearest hologram which turned it off. “First you have to acquire intel beneficial to the Centizoons.”
“Next, we want something that the Centizoons can sell. Something others will want that nobody else has. It needs to be physical,” Suki said.
“And the third?” Gideon asked.
“We need to know you won’t be a liability to our organization. That you won’t be crying like a baby and spilling the beans about the Zoons if the worst happens,” Bates said.
“The worst being what?” Lena asked.
“If you’re caught and tortured by the Priestess, that you won’t mess up and tell her everything you know about us,” Bates said.
“And everyone here has passed this test?” Gideon asked skeptically.
Suki shrugged her shoulders. “More or less,” she answered.
Lena studied the crowd around them, their wide eyes anxiously awaiting their answer. A few people whispered, but the room had become mostly silent. These kids—they were just like her. Their lives drastically changed by circumstances completely out of their control. Lena didn’t know a lot about them, but they seemed loyal to each other. And when she thought about being a part of this group, she felt peace. Being initiated was a way she could stay on Mir and not be alone. They could help them free Birdee.”
“How long will it take us to find what you require?” Gideon asked.
“That’s completely up to you,” Suki said. “It just needs to meet the requirements. Most recruits take a few weeks. But if you have access to the right kind of information, you should be able to do it faster.” Gideon studied Lena, then looked to Tern who only shrugged his shoulders.
It looked to Lena like Gideon was seriously thinking about joining the Centizoons. Suki brushed her hair over her shoulder so it landed on her back as she waited for the two of them to answer. Seconds passed slowly. He was taking too long. He was going to refuse. Anxiety gripped her insides. She couldn’t let the opportunity pass.
“I have what you need right now,” Lena blurted out. Gideon turned towards her, but she quickly turned away from him so she wouldn’t see his reaction. She had what they needed to become Centizoons and she was going to use it. She focused on Evren and pulled a box from her pocket. She took a deep breath and opened it. She held it out for Evren to see the pieces of the broken device Dorry had given her. She cleared her throat. “The Priestess has a device that controls a person’s actions. This device will counteract it.” She handed the device to Evren who held it gently. “It’s broken. But I think it can be fixed if you’ll help me.
“As for caving under pressure, we’ve been captured, hidden, hunted and tortured. We’ve also had the best hand to hand training this and other worlds have to offer. If we get captured, I can assure you we will not surrender. We will not flail in the arms or our enemies. We will fight. And if that fight happens to be to the death, then we’ll gladly join our loved ones who have gone before us. But we will not betray those we are bound to protect.”
The room went eerily silent. The only sound Lena heard was the intake of her own breath. All at once the crowd burst into cheers. They clapped and hollered. Some chanted her name. Lena had no idea what was happening. She stared at Evren who was smiling, then at Suki who laughed and stepped towards Lena.
“Why is everyone cheering?” Lena asked.
“For one, that was the fastest initiation ever. And two, word travels fast around here. They know who you are. They know who you defied. And your little speech just now—that’s enough to get anyone who hate the Priestess cheering.”
“So are we Zoons?” Lena asked Evren.
The room went silent again.
“I’ll need some time to verify your information,” Evren said. “But yes, you are now officially a Zoon.”
“Lena is a Zoon,” Bates cut in. “Gideon and Tern will need to pass their own test.”
“Are you kidding me?” Lena said. “We work as a team. If I make it, they make it.”
“They need to prove their worth,” Bates said.
Suki looked ready to argue, but Gideon held up his hand. Lena knew he would walk away. She knew he wouldn’t want to be a Zoon. Lena gave him a pleading look, begging with her eyes for him to join. She held her breath waiting for his answer. After a heavy pause,
Gideon sighed in defeat.
“Okay,” Gideon said. “If you promise to help us get into The Port, we’ll prove our worth to you. Do you have something in mind for me to get? Or can I pick something myself?”
Bates looked at him curiously, then he looked at Lena. She stood clutching her necklace around her throat waiting for the answer. Bates stepped closer to her and lifted the chain from her hand. She released the medallion and let it hang from Bates’ finger. “I want the stone.”
“You want my necklace?” Lena questioned.
“No, I want the stone that was just flown into Arc. It has so much security around it, it’s got to be something special.”
Gideon looked at him curiously. “Tell me more.”
“There are myths surrounding certain stones,” Bates said.
“The stones that created Mir,” Gideon said.
“You know of them?” Bates asked.
“My education was well rounded,” Gideon said. “That’s what you want in return for our help? A guarded stone?”
“That’s what I want.”
“And you think I can get it?”
“No. I don’t. That’s my point. I’m just proving you’re not Zoon material.”
“Do we get help from any Zoons?” Gideon asked.
“Ah, yes,” Evren said adjusting the collar of his shirt. “You may each take one Zoon with you.”
“Good, because I’m choosing you,” he said to Bates. “And Tern is choosing you.” He turned to Suki whose grin turned so wide, Lena couldn’t help but smile back. Tern didn’t seem upset by the fact that Gideon chose a Zoon for him. In fact, he stepped up next to Gideon in a show of unity.
Bates’ mouth dropped open. The shock on his face caused Suki to laugh out loud.
“You asked for it, Bates.”
“And if you don’t do everything I ask of you,” Gideon said challenging Bates. “We get the Zoon’s help by default.”
“Deal,” Suki said.
Bates did not look happy, but he shook Gideon’s extended hand.
“I need some equipment,” Gideon said. “I assume you have an equipment locker.”
Suki nodded. “You can have what you need.”
“Suit up. We have a stone to steal,” Gideon said.
Chapter Nineteen
Lena looked toward the door as Gideon entered the room with Suki, Tern, and Bates. This was the first time she had seen them since they left to plan their stone heist. Gideon was dressed in a black glider suit with a helmet covering most of his head. Pads covered his elbows and knees. He rocked back and forth on the glider. The lights attached to it blinked into view with each movement.
Suki flew next to him and spun her machine in a circle. She wore the same safety gear as Gideon. Her glider flashed bright purple, the same colors as her prosthetic arm.
Bates stood on his glider with his arms crossed in front of him. He did not look happy to be there, but Lena also saw an edge of excitement behind the scowl.
Tern, like always, stood quietly to the side, a glider in his hand.
Evren came up to Gideon and handed him a small round case. “Here’s a lens for you. It has all the information you need on the stone and those who hold it.”
Gideon opened the box and put the lens in his eye. Blinking a few times, he nodded at Evren. “It works fine,” Gideon said. He pulled a safety shield over his eyes.
“We’ll be monitoring you from here. Everything you say or do, we’ll be able to hear and see on our screen,” Evren said. “If by chance you come upon a problem, we’ll be able to diagnose the best possible way to help you.”
Gideon nodded and turned to Suki, Bates, and Tern. “Are you three clear on our plan?” Gideon asked.
They all nodded. Bates seemed to be having mixed reactions toward Gideon. He scowled a lot but at the same time followed Gideon’s orders without questioning him.
Lena wondered what the plan was. Gideon had refused to let any Zoon, including her, in on what they were going to do. He refused to let Suki and Bates turn on their lenses until they were ready to leave. He also made sure they were always in the same room together.
Gideon crouched down on his glider. “Are you ready?”
Suki crouched and lowered her shield. Turning off the lights on her arm and glider, she said, “After you, Captain.”
Lena watched as they flew to the exit, her heart skipped a beat as Gideon flew out of sight. The Zoons cheered and hollered as they watched the group leave the building. They then formed a circle around Evren who projected a large hologram of the footage from their lenses. There was a screen for each team member’s lens. Gideon’s was blank, he hadn’t turned his on yet.
The roads they flew on were dark. Shadows bounced from the few lights that lit the streets. They were flying into a richer part of town, towards the shield that covered The Port. Suki took the lead and flew just below the skyline with the group close behind. She pointed to a tall building ahead. It was the tallest on the street and had a sign near the top that read “D-Tower.” Lena wondered what the D stood for but didn’t ask. The building was a simple rectangle that reached high into the sky. The surfaces were flat and boring.
“The basement houses one of the Priestess’ vaults,” Evren explained to Lena as if reading her mind. “She keeps stuff all over Mir, none of it in the same place. She thinks the citizens of Mir don’t know where she keeps her valuables. But, of course, the Zoons know.”
Lena saw Gideon’s screen activate as he blinked on his lens. They were nearing the tower and she could see everything he was seeing.
“Evren, can you show us where the guards are situated inside the building?” Gideon asked.
Evren cleared his throat and typed in a command. A new image popped up next to the four screens. It showed a see-through image of the building’s blueprints. Lena could see the outline of where walls and floors should have been. There were red dots where people were walking the corridors or sitting in offices. There were a couple dozen people in all.
“I’ll send the image to your lens,” Evren said. “Don’t go to the front. Go around to the back. There are fewer guards there.”
“Yes, I can see that. I hate having you constantly in my ear. Plus, I don’t want anyone to be able to intercept our communication. I’m turning you off,” Gideon said. Gideon turned off his microphone and motioned to Bates and Suki to do the same. Now Lena was frustrated. She could only see what they were doing and not hear them.
They moved to an alley adjacent to the side of the building. Suki and Gideon jumped off their gliders and secured them on the magnets attached to the back of their jackets. Sliding along the outside wall of the building they peeked around the corner to look at the back entrance. Gideon pointed to the guard, then signaled for Tern to go position himself on the other side of the building.
From Tern’s screen, Lena saw that he was flying over the building to reach the other side. She looked at Suki’s screen. Gideon signaled to Suki and she took something out of the bag she’d been carrying over her shoulder. It was an outfit. Lena raised her eyebrows at Evren who shrugged his shoulders. Through Gideon’s screen, they watched Suki put a blazer and slacks over her riding clothes. She handed her glider to Gideon and rounded the corner.
Lena looked at Suki’s screen. Suki approached the guard. He looked shocked to see someone wanting to enter through the back part of the building. He held his rifle to his chest and motioned her away. Lena wished she could hear what they were saying. She saw Suki’s finger point to the door and then both hands come together in a pleading gesture. The guard scowled and took a threatening step towards her. Behind the guard, Lena could see Tern sneak past him, use a device to open the door, and then creep inside the building. They watched as the guard ordered Suki away.
Evren gripped Lena’s arm, then relaxed it when Tern made it into the building without incident. “I was sure the guard would hear that,” Evren said.
“Me, too. How did he get the door open?” Lena ask
ed.
“Oh, that was just a little something I made to sneak into locked places.”
On Gideon’s screen, Suki rounded the corner to where he waited for her. Handing Suki her glider, Gideon grabbed his glider off his back. They mounted and flew up several stories of the building. Bates went ahead and met them there. They leaned into the building’s shadows and waited. A window opened and Tern pulled them into a room and led them into a stairwell.
Flying downward, they traveled level after level toward the basement of the facility, avoiding the red blinking lights as they went. When they arrived, Suki peeked around the corner of the stairwell into the security room where the vault entrance was located. Guards stood on each side of the vault door, another sat at a desk several feet in front.
The door they guarded looked impenetrable. Lena saw from the blueprint that a forcefield encased the walls. Gideon motioned to Suki. From his screen, Lena watched as Suki leaned her glider against the wall, smiled, and grabbed a bottle out of her satchel. She winked and rounded the corner.
Suki’s screen tilted as if she were stumbling. They saw her hand on the wall and then the bottle obscured part of the screen as she took a drink. The guard at the security desk stood. Walking to her he grabbed the bottle from her hand. She fell into him, the jacket of his uniform filling the screen. The jacket pulled away as the guard grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the seat behind his desk. She sat and pulled another bottle appeared in her hand. Lena let out a snort of amusement.
“I wonder what else she has in that satchel of hers,” Evren said, chuckling.
The guard yanked the bottle from her hand and confiscated her satchel. The guards at the vault grinned at each other. Suki’s screen tilted again, this time toward the vault. The two guards smiled at Suki. The screen then tilted up until Suki’s feet were flying over the top of it. The view whirred until Suki righted herself, the image only at the height of the guards’ knees.
The Children of The Resistance (The Mir Chronicles Book 2) Page 10
