Center of the Universe (Twelfth Keeper)

by Malory, Belle

Those words struck a cord in her. Where was her confidence these days? Sae-yers may have destroyed most of China, but that was before anyone knew what they were. And it was way before any of the keepers fully realized their potential.

  Reagan’s words about feeling the fun echoed inside her head. She was going to a ball, for crying out loud. Balls were supposed to be fun.

  Lexie stood up in a pair of stilettos that matched her dress. “Come on, Kenn. We’ll drink some champagne, dance with hot soldiers, and we’ll save the keeper stuff for tomorrow.”

  “Sounds like a good plan.”

  Heading out, she resolved to make this night about having fun. The three of them threaded through the passageways together, then used their spheres to get out of Section 9.

  Phoenix was waiting for her outside the entrance to the ballroom. Seeing him in his black tuxedo with his hair combed back caused her heart to speed up. The lines in his face softened when he saw her, making him look incredibly handsome.

  “You clean up real nice,” she said as he approached.

  “So do you.” He grinned.

  Music streamed in from the doorway. “Planning on saving me the first dance?”

  “Maybe.” She winked.

  Inside there were hundreds of people. Most of the men wore either tuxes or were in mess dress. The walls had been programmed to look like the top of a New York rooftop surrounded by towering skyscrapers. Servers walked around with trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres. The dance floor was packed with people laughing and dancing and talking and…having a good time.

  It felt nice just being there.

  DOE employees and military men were usually the straight-laced kind. Seeing them like this, so happy and relaxed, made her feel like anything was possible.

  Slow music streamed from the speakers and Phoenix grabbed her hand. He pulled her towards the dance floor, wrapping an arm around her waist.

  For a moment, he held her like that, without speaking. They just danced. There was so much Kennedy wanted to say, needed to say, but it felt like her voice had been shut off. So she just let it be.

  After a while of dancing, Phoenix said, “I feel like there’s an ocean between us.”

  She looked up, seeing the uncertainty in his eyes. “What do you mean?”

  His eyes shifted over the room, staring out into the crowd. “Are we…okay?”

  No question could be more loaded than that one. If they weren’t, she certainly hoped they were on the way to being okay. She wasn’t giving him up again. Ever.

  “Everything I thought mattered was so insignificant. You were right, Phoenix. I do love you.” She shrugged, giving him a small smile. “There’s nothing that can outweigh that.”

  His arms tightened around her waist. “God, you don’t know how amazing it is to hear you say that.”

  Good thing he was holding her up. It had taken a lot of courage to tell him how she felt, and at the rate her heart was beating, she might’ve fallen over. “You could say it back, you know.”

  She meant to tease him, but he didn’t take it that way. Instead, he turned fiercely serious. “I love you, too, Kennedy.”

  Hearing him say it out loud was something altogether different.

  The dream of them drowning filled her mind. Knowing they may not have forever terrified her, but at the same time, it was nice to know they had this moment. They had right now. She rested her head against his shoulder. They danced slowly. She enjoyed every second of it. The song seemed to end too soon, changing into one with a faster beat.

  “There you are, Miss Mitchell. I need to speak with you.”

  Kennedy craned her head around to see Professor Mason standing behind them. “Is everything okay?”

  “Everything’s fine, kiddo. I just wanted to ask you a few questions about Russia.”

  Phoenix leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Come find me later.”

  She nodded and reluctantly slipped out of his hold.

  A server came around with punch. Professor Mason stopped him, grabbed two glasses and handed her one of them. “Let’s take a walk,” he said, leading her away from the crowd. “First off, I didn’t find out about Jorgensen going after you until he’d already assembled one of Vickard’s teams.”

  “It’s okay,” she assured him. “I knew it was Phoenix’s fault. Besides, we got what we needed…but it would’ve been nice to have a little extra time to work on Nika. Forcing her to come back only managed to piss her off.”

  She’d tried and tried convincing Nika to come tonight, but the girl stubbornly refused to leave her apartment. “I’m not celebrating anything with those fascist pigs,” she declared.

  Aside from knowing they brought Ryder in, this was something she may never get over. DOE had to learn they couldn’t bend people to their will.

  Mason downed his punch and set the empty glass on the nearest table. “I wish you could’ve had that time. Truth is, I think Dominika needed it.”

  “About that,” she said. “I know I’m not a professional, but I don’t think Nika has any mental illness. Dr. Sigly may be using that excuse to DOE’s advantage.”

  “Still distrustful of the old doctor, eh?”

  “Wouldn’t you be?”

  Mason grinned, stroking his beard. “She’s certainly got a Mr. Hyde in her, doesn’t she?”

  Kennedy stared at him pointedly. None of this was funny.

  Mason cleared his throat once. “I know how you feel about her, kiddo. Trust me, I feel the same way. But Dominika has had second and even third opinions. Dr. Sigly wasn’t the only doctor to evaluate her.”

  Well, damn. She’d really wanted to pin this on Sigly. Still, it was frustrating. Kennedy would never believe Nika’s problems were so large that she was incapable of caring for herself.

  “If it makes you feel better, I’ll look into it,” Mason said.

  She nodded. “Thank you.”

  “Anyway, I have another reason for wanting to speak with you.”

  Kennedy raised a brow, seeing an excited gleam in Mason’s eyes. Whatever this was about, he definitely had her attention.

  “We’ve found a planet for you,” he said. “It’s not far, only about six months travel. The whole star system is made up of different water worlds.”

  His words caused her feet to stop moving. “You want to send me away?”

  “To train, kiddo.” He looked at her strangely. “This is an amazing opportunity for you. The planet is made up of humanoids. These people have powers like yours, but greater. We’ve been in contact with a few of their leaders, and they’ve agreed to let you visit. They’ve agreed to help train you.”

  Kennedy swallowed, feeling a buzz grow in her ears. Listening to Professor Mason tell her this made her want to cover them and scream hysterically. How could she leave?

  The blonde of Phoenix’s hair caught her attention from across the room. He was laughing over something Davaris had said, his face lit up.

  She couldn’t leave him. Not now. Not when two minutes ago he’d told her he loved her.

  Professor Mason saw where her gaze had traveled, and he connected the dots. “I see,” he said, sighing. “Tell me, Miss Mitchell. Did you know Jorgensen dropped out of a mission he’d been planning?”

  “Yes.”

  Shame washed over her. He’d dropped out because of her, and Mason knew it. Even though she felt guilty, she couldn’t say she wasn’t relieved to know he wouldn’t be going.

  “He’d been planning that mission a long time.”

  “I know.”

  Sheesh. How bad did the man plan to make her feel?

  “I suspect he changed his mind because of you.”

  Kennedy swallowed, not liking where this conversation was headed. “Are you upset with him?”

  “No.” Mason stroked his beard. “I know the boy loves you. I’m not stupid. I knew what that was…once. But I’ll tell you the same thing I told him. When a world depends on your ability to keep it safe, that ability should be as strong
as it can be. If going to this water world will give you the skills you require, you should go. If going on the mission will strengthen Phoenix’s ability, then he should go.”

  She lowered her eyes. Deep down, she knew he was right. It didn’t matter though. Logic was a foreign language her heart couldn’t translate.

  “Will you think about what I’ve said?” Mason asked her. “All I’m asking is that you sleep on it for a few nights, get used to the idea. The two of you wouldn’t be apart forever. And you know what they say. If it’s meant to be…”

  She tried not to scowl at him. If her dream held any truth to it, he was jinxing her, dammit.

  “So?”

  “I’ll think about it,” she conceded.

  He patted her on the back. “Thanks, kiddo.”

  Of course she’d never agree to Phoenix leaving. She had a feeling it wouldn’t do any good to explain her fears to Mason. He wouldn’t understand how she could put so much importance on a dream. Phoenix would understand though. He would believe her.

  Mason checked his brace after hearing it beep. “I’ll let you get back…” His words drifted off as he read a message.

  Kennedy had been about to walk away, but stopped when she saw Mason’s face go a few shades paler. “Are you okay, Professor?”

  He glanced up at her with wide eyes. “No. Round up all the keepers you can find and send them outside into the main hall.”

  “What’s going on, Professor? You’re scaring me.” Feeling her wrist vibrate, she looked down. The screen on her display read CODE BLACK.

  Wait. What the hell was a code black, and why had no one taken the time to school her in what the different codes meant?

  “We’re being attacked,” Mason said in a low, rushed voice. “Sae-yers.”

  Thirty-One

  Phoenix pushed her arms through an armored vest capable of deflecting bullets and laser rays. The thick weight of the thing rested heavily against her gown, black fibrous padding against shimmering satin—a stark contrast if there ever was one. It didn’t bring all that much comfort though. No one knew if the vests would shield them against Sae-yer weapons.

  “The bots are spread out across the southern sections,” Mason told everyone. Heavy lines creased his forehead. In the span of a few minutes, his debonair, polished demeanor faded into haggardness. “They’re emitting a chemical called Peronium X. Now, I realize you all have no idea what that means, but trust me when I say it’s some pretty lethal stuff. It freezes glass to the breaking point, even Olympian glass built several inches thick. Rooms with windows aren’t safe, so try to avoid them if you can. And please arm yourself with a gun.”

  Kennedy spotted the guns Mason mentioned lying on the table beside him, attached to belts. Before getting one for himself, Phoenix helped Kennedy secure hers over her hips. Fear edged his eyes, and she could tell it wasn’t for himself. It was for her. If he had any sort of say, he would stop her from fighting with the others. He couldn’t though, and there was nothing he could do to satisfy the need he had to protect her. Strangely, that was comforting. While it was nice to read about the hero protecting his lady in fairy tales, real life didn’t hold the same enchantment. She would go crazy if she had to stay behind and wait.

  “General Vickard ordered me to split you up into groups of three,” Mason said. “As soon as I call your name, I’ll give you the section number and level you’re covering, and then you’re good to go. Remember, our mission is to force the Sae-yer bots to retreat. Use any force necessary.” He went on to call out names, four at a time. When he called out the names in Phoenix’s group, Kennedy wasn’t included.

  A muscle in Phoenix’s jaw ticked. “Revise that list, Mason.” His tone was low and dead serious.

  The professor held a hand to his temple. “Please, Nix, don’t go against me on this. I have my reasons.”

  “I don’t care about your reasons. Change it.”

  Kennedy laid her hand against Phoenix’s arm. “He’s right. Our heads will be clouded if we go with each other.”

  He looked down at her, pleading with his eyes. “My head will be clouded if I can’t see you, if I can’t know that you’re okay.”

  “You know that’s not true.” She squeezed his arm reassuringly. “We need to stay focused. I want to know that you’re okay too, and you won’t be if we’re together.”

  They both knew he couldn’t argue with her reasoning. His eyes turned to a hazy black as he struggled with the arrangement. “I want you to know how much I hate this.”

  “I know. I hate it, too.”

  “Promise me you’ll be careful.” His fingers found hers, weaving through them. “This is a precious commodity right here, and you’ve got to keep it safe.”

  She smiled, warmed by his words. “I promise.”

  Phoenix was almost out the door when he turned back around, walked over, and lifted her off the ground. His lips found hers, and he kissed her like he never would again. It was so intense; it felt like he was connecting their souls. Tears stung the back of Kennedy’s eyes as she wondered if he was kissing her for the very last time.

  No, she couldn’t give spark to that kind of thought. They would make it through this, both of them. She had to believe that.

  She barely remembered they had an audience until Phoenix set her back down. Breathless, she watched him walk away. When he disappeared from sight, she wanted to chase after him. She was still half-tempted when someone lightly touched her arm.

  It was Lexie. “You ready to head out?” There was a more subtle question behind her grass-green eyes, that asked, Are you okay?

  Kennedy answered both questions with a nod of her head. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

  Her group of three also included Davaris, and together they headed down to the lower levels. It dimly occurred to Kennedy as she walked silently through the passageways that she was with arguably the two most talkative keepers. Yet not one word was passed between them. She swore she could hear the faint beating of their hearts as they descended the elevator shaft.

  Davaris’s brace beeped, and Vickard’s voice came through the other end. “Woods, what is your location?”

  “We’re entering Level 2, sir.”

  “Roger that. Standby for directives.”

  Kennedy remembered hearing Level 2 was where most of the shipyards and supply rooms were located. The doors were spread out, since unlike the rest of Olympus, the chambers in this level took up large amounts of space. Citizens didn’t travel through the majority of Level 2, apart from the workers, but as far as Kennedy could tell, there wasn’t another soul around—not a comforting observation.

  “Should we start searching?” Davaris asked her and Lexie.

  “General Vickard told us to standby,” Lexie told him. “I think we should wait for orders.”

  He cocked his head to the side. “We’re above the military, Lex. Our decisions can be made without parental supervision.”

  His above-the-law attitude didn’t faze Lexie. “It’s not parenting, you dimwit. We’re part of a collaborative effort.”

  “Who’s effort—ours or theirs?”

  She leaned against the wall, showing him that she planned on staying put no matter what he said. “It’s called teamwork, Davaris. Ever heard of it?”

  Kennedy inwardly groaned. Better fates could’ve happened than being stuck with these two. The deafening silence from earlier, although terrifying, was better than this.

  A few minutes later, Vickard came back to say, “Everyone’s clear to search their levels.”

  Davaris cocked a brow at Lexie. Sarcasm filled his tone as he whined, “So do you approve now, Mommy?”

  “Just go.” She shoved his shoulder, pushing him ahead of her. “And stop being an infant.”

  “We wasted three whole minutes getting permission,” he pointed out. “Just sayin’.”

  “And I’m about to waste your balls—just saying.”

  He snorted as if the idea was ludicrous. “I’d like to see you try.
In fact—”

  “Um, guys,” Kennedy cut in. “Can we focus?” Sheesh, she was about to have a heart attack as it was, and their senseless banter wasn’t helping one bit.

  “Great idea,” Lexie said in agreement.

  “Get your guns out to be safe,” Davaris said, shaking his head. Beneath his breath, he muttered, “Women.”

  They searched the chambers, one by one, finding the shipyards empty. Thankfully no one suggested splitting up to speed things along. Kennedy stayed close to Davaris and Lexie, figuring they were a stronger unit as a group.

  “What is this place?” Lexie asked as they entered one of the last chambers.

  Hollow shadows filled the wide space. Cool, damp air hit Kennedy’s nostrils. She breathed it in, a strange feeling coursing through her. Tingles soared across the back of her neck. “It’s the water supply room.”

  Lexie steered her head around to look at Kennedy, but kept her gun aimed ahead. “How do you know that?”

  She shook her head, looking around for signs or a confirmation. “I can literally smell all the water.”

  As they ventured deeper into the chamber, members of other teams rang through the little speakers on their braces every few minutes. They reported when they were finished searching their sections. Kennedy held her breath when she heard Phoenix say, “All clear in Section 1.”

  Hearing the sound of his clear, strong voice, she closed her eyes for a second. Relief washed over her. He was okay. For the time being, he was okay.

  Hydrocyclonic machines lined the back walls, connecting to each other. Whooshing water rumbled from inside them, spinning, and Kennedy knew she’d been right about this place. It was for water treatment and distribution.

  The video feed beeped on Lexie’s brace. Mason’s face appeared in front of her, and they all paused to listen to him. The signal must have gone bad because small gaps of static interfered with the line. “Alexia…all the levels…cleared…except yours.”

  “Professor?” Lexie banged on her brace, as if beating the thing would fix it. “You’re cutting out,” she shouted.

  “The bots,” he said in a louder voice. “Spotted on Level 2!”