Silence of Stars

by Holly J. Wood

  They’ve been through enough the past few days. Just trust me and play along for now.

  I held his gaze for a moment, disbelief making me sick. I did trust Gideon. I trusted him with my life. But his people weren’t in danger of being annihilated. How could I support a program led by deception? We were all going to sit around and play school for three weeks while billions of lives were at stake?

  Rusty had the same look in his eyes. He shook his head and reached for my hand, giving it a squeeze. The gesture was comforting. Suddenly the spotlight was on us, causing my screens to darken several shades to adjust.

  “And let’s have a big round of applause for your Team Captains—Lark Taylor and Rusty Harris!”

  “Stand up,” Slade barked, pushing Rusty out of his seat. Rusty kept hold of my hand and pulled me up with him.

  “Smile, kids, you’re on camera,” Slade said.

  I looked over to see our faces on a large hologram behind Grace. She gestured to us with a smile.

  “Captains Harris and Taylor excel in areas of history, government, law, and public relations.” She paused and gave a slight smile. “And it doesn’t hurt that they make a nice-looking couple.”

  My mouth hung open as a furious blush heated my cheeks. What game was she playing?

  Rusty had a different reaction. He laughed and raised our interlocked hands, earning wild cheers from the crowd. He was holding my hand too tight for me to break free, and anger rose in my chest. I’d known him what, like five seconds? And he was acting as if we were a thing in front of thousands of people? He and I were going to have some words as soon as we were out of the spotlight.

  I tried to look back at Gideon for support, but got distracted when Rusty dropped our hands. I quickly worked my fingers out of his and gave him a look as the lieutenant continued, “Your Captains represent the best that Earth has to offer, and they will serve as a standard for the rest of you. During these three weeks, look to them as your examples. As long as you give this program your all, you cannot fail.”

  My eyes widened and I glanced at Rusty. He stood tall, his posture straight and his hands behind his back. He looked good; like a soldier. I copied his stance, trying to play the part of the person the lieutenant said I was. Maybe she wasn’t divulging the whole truth, but if I could help motivate my peers to give their best, then I was on board. But I wanted answers. Now.

  The light moved off us, traveling back to the stage. I sat down, grateful to be out of the spotlight. I turned to Gideon but his face was unreadable as he stared forward.

  Grace continued, her tone more solemn now, “As I said before, it is a great privilege for you to be here, but there are rules at the Academy. These rules must be strictly abided by, or you will be deported immediately. I’ll outline them now.”

  The crowd quieted as Grace turned her back to us. A close-up shot of her on the hologram showed that she was placing something on her pointer finger. She reached up and began drawing in the air. My jaw dropped as the words “light screens” poured out from her finger in shimmering gold light and hung in the air where she drew them.

  She turned to face us. “Rule number one: No removing your light screens unless authorized to do so. The screens are there to protect you, and wearing them is a test. If you can’t follow this rule, you are not fit to continue at the Academy.”

  I swallowed. Rule number one? Already broken. A nervous sweat broke out on my upper lip.

  “Rule number two,” she continued to write. “No wandering alone. You must be accompanied by a citizen of Lior at all times after school hours. The exceptions are of course bathroom use, and time in your bedroom.”

  The rules shimmered in gold lettering at the front of the room.

  Make that two rules broken. I looked down to examine my nails in an attempt to hide the guilty flush that was creeping up my neck.

  “And lastly,” she paused for emphasis, “no romantic attachments or notions of any kind may be entertained between Recruits from Earth and citizens of Lior.”

  The stadium grew uncomfortably still.

  Her eyes were firm as she turned to face us. “Let me be clear on this point—relationships between people of different worlds are strictly forbidden by the laws of the Council. Not even flirtation will be tolerated.”

  Rusty scoffed beside me. “And what if they flirt with us? I mean, in case you hadn’t noticed, I’m pretty darn irresistible.” He turned and gave me an impish grin.

  Slade snorted. “Don’t worry, tiger. Good looks aside, a Cadet would never compromise a Recruit that way.”

  I swallowed back the disappointment that rose like bile in my throat. Gideon remained silent at my side.

  “What about relationships between Recruits?” Rusty asked Slade quietly.

  I stared hard at the glittering rules in the air, pretending I hadn’t heard. Out of the corner of my eye I caught Gideon shooting Rusty a warning look.

  “There aren’t any rules against that,” Slade answered. “Judging by the way the lieutenant has paired you two together, I think she’d encourage it. Team Captains almost always end up as a couple, so go for it.”

  I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, my face on fire. Gideon’s knuckles were white as he gripped his armrest.

  “Recruits, we have one more surprise for you before you begin training. Lord Stryker Krane, a distinguished member of the Intergalactic Council, is here to welcome you to the Academy.” Grace looked up as the glass ceiling slid open, retracting on both sides until the sky was in full view.

  The crowd murmured, and then the noise grew in volume as a sleek silver spacecraft appeared in the sky, lowering into the stadium until it hovered just above the ground.

  “Oh. Wow,” I breathed, leaning forward in my chair. Finally, I got to see an airship! It was shaped like an elongated pyramid with no visible windows or doors. I was practically drooling and itched for a closer look.

  “That’s a Lunar Phantom,” Gideon said.

  The ship touched down and the hatch opened with a hiss, lowering a ramp to the ground. The crowd fell into an awed silence.

  “Please stand as a sign of respect for Lord Krane,” Grace said, turning to the ship.

  We all rose from our seats. With a name like Lord Krane, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it wasn’t the man who appeared on the ramp. He was young—early twenties if I had to guess—and dressed in an ornate black uniform. Despite his apparent youth, he carried an air of importance about him.

  The crowd erupted into applause as he strode down the ramp of the ship, followed by a small entourage of hard-core bodyguards. Grace met him at the bottom of the ramp and bowed slightly. He tipped his head in return. His face was displayed on the hologram screen so we could all get a good look. I grimaced, wishing they hadn’t gone in for the close-up. He had fair hair and eyes that were a light pink—but it was the intensity in those eyes which was the most unsettling. He looked half-crazed.

  “Lord Krane, on behalf of the Freedom Fighter Academy, we are honored to have your presence here today,” Grace said.

  Krane scanned the stadium, his eyes slowing down and coming to rest on me. I was far enough away that I knew he couldn’t be looking at me specifically, but it made me uncomfortable nonetheless. I shifted and he finally looked away.

  “Thank you, Lieutenant,” he said. “This appears to be a promising group of Recruits.” His voice carried a slight hissing sound that made my spine crawl. He turned from Grace to address the crowd. “I hope you each recognize the distinct privilege you have been afforded here, and will apply yourselves to the cause. It will be my pleasure to report to the Council on the progress made at the end of your unit.”

  Another cheer rose up and Lord Krane’s thin lips pulled into a tight smile.

  Grace bowed again and addressed us. “Recruits, this completes Orientation. Your Guardians will direct you to your classrooms where you will begin your specialized training. More information, as we
ll as any updates, will be sent directly to your cuff. Thank you, and good luck!”

  The stadium erupted with sound and movement as everyone prepared to go to class.

  “Where do we go now?” I asked, glancing down at my cuff.

  Gideon was already scrolling through his cuff screen. “It looks like you’ll have a tour of the different training classes, followed by lunch in the Commons.”

  Slade sighed heavily. “Seriously? We have to chum around with you two all day? Hardcastle really has a thing for this pair, doesn’t she?”

  My eyes snapped to him. “What are you talking about?”

  Slade turned his cuff so I could see the screen. “Looks like you and Harris have the same itinerary. My guess is you’ll be training together for the duration, so you might as well get friendly.”

  I could feel the tension radiating off Gideon as Rusty turned to me with a raised eyebrow. “I’ll have to find out who’s responsible and thank them,” he said. He winked and motioned for me to go ahead. “Shall we?”

  I hesitated, turning back to Gideon as my cuff buzzed.

  He stepped forward and took my wrist, his light humming into me where his fingers touched my skin. “It’s a notification.” He swiped the screen and we both read the message. It was from Grace.

  Captain Taylor, Lord Krane has requested an audience with you. Have Cadet North bring you to my office immediately.

  CHAPTER

  Thirteen

  Gideon looked at me, his blue eyes brimming with concern.

  “Is this normal?” I asked.

  He shook his head once and then let go of my wrist to type a reply on his cuff.

  “What is it?” Slade asked, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

  “We won’t be joining you for the tour,” Gideon said without looking up.

  “Why not?” Rusty’s face fell.

  Gideon’s eyes hardened. “That’s confidential. We’ll catch up with you later.”

  “Oh come on! Don’t try to be cool and go all ‘confidential’ on us. What is it?” Slade crossed his arms over his chest.

  Gideon ignored him and took my elbow. “Let’s go.”

  I allowed him to usher me to the stairs, giving Rusty an apologetic shrug as I moved past.

  “I’ll see you later, Lark,” he said.

  Don’t bet on it, Gideon snapped.

  “Was that for my benefit?” I asked when we were a safe distance away.

  “I don’t trust him,” Gideon growled.

  I stopped and turned to face him. “Wait . . . are you jealous? Because, according to Nadia, Grace—and basically everyone—that’s not possible.”

  A muscle twitched in Gideon’s jaw as he stood looking down at me. After a moment, he cleared his throat. “We have bigger problems right now. Why does Lord Krane want to meet with you? It doesn’t make sense. Unless . . .”

  “Unless what?” Unease twisted my stomach at the look on Gideon’s face.

  He shook his head and took my arm, signaling for me to keep walking. “Nothing. I just wish you didn’t look the way you do.”

  “Excuse me?” I yanked my arm away from him.

  “Sorry, that didn’t come out right.” He reached out his hand. “We need to hurry. Lord Krane won’t like to be kept waiting.”

  I lifted my chin. “Fine. But you don’t have to drag me around like some dog on a leash. I’m perfectly capable of walking on my own.” To prove my point, I marched forward several paces before stopping. I turned and lifted one shoulder with a sheepish expression. “Um . . . which way, exactly?”

  Gideon smirked and pointed to a floor-level exit past the airship. “We’ll take a short cut.”

  My eyes widened and I covered my mouth to hold back a squeal. “Can I touch the Lunar Phantom?”

  He shook his head. “See those guards? Not a good idea.”

  I frowned as I looked at the black-clad men standing at attention around the perimeter of the airship. “Stupid guards,” I grumbled to myself.

  I had to practically jog to keep up with Gideon’s brisk pace as we moved down to the floor and past the ship. I gawked as we passed. I couldn’t see any windows. How did they navigate? I would have given anything for a peek inside, but didn’t have time for a closer look. I was beginning to suspect that one of Gideon’s super powers was speed walking. We reached the exit door in record time. He opened it and gestured for me to move through. I stepped into a long hallway with doors on all sides.

  “Who is Lord Krane, anyway?” I asked.

  Gideon kept us walking at a brisk pace. “He is Chancellor Krane’s son, which is why he’s the youngest member of the Council—and why he holds so much power.”

  “I’m assuming Chancellor Krane is the head honcho of the Council?”

  Gideon glanced around and lowered his voice. “Yes. We need to be careful what we say though, you never know who might be listening.”

  My brows pulled together. “We aren’t supposed to talk about it?” I whispered.

  “It’s political. And with your knowledge of history, you know that political gets complicated.”

  I blew out a long breath. “Yeah. It seems no matter where I go I can’t escape ‘complicated.’” I looked at him as we turned down a hallway, this one filled with Guardians and Recruits searching for classes. Several of them gave me curious glances as we reached a glass elevator shaft in the middle of the hall. Gideon passed his cuff over the scanner on the wall. There was a beep, followed by the unmistakable hum of an elevator approaching.

  I’m not sure who might be listening. Pretend like you don’t hear anything.

  I gave an infinitesimal nod as the doors opened, revealing an elevator completely made of glass. I shook my head. They really had a thing for glass on this planet. I stepped in, doing my best to not look down as the doors slid closed. But morbid curiosity won out and I glanced at my feet, staring down at the bottomless elevator shaft beneath. I swayed slightly and focused on Gideon as we began our ascent. He stared straight ahead.

  I don’t know what to expect when you meet Lord Krane, but whatever you do, try to stay on his good side. I’ve heard he has a terrible temper, which has had catastrophic results for inhabitants of other worlds before.

  “No pressure,” I said under my breath.

  The members of the Council each have distinct powers. Powers they keep closely guarded so no one knows exactly what they’re capable of. He glanced at me, his eyes tight. I’m not trying to scare you, I just want you to be prepared. Be polite, and you’ll be fine. His eyes narrowed. But if he tries anything . . . He clenched his fists at his sides. I’ll deal with him.

  I’ll be fine. I put my hand on his arm, wishing for the thousandth time that I could Mindspeak back. The gesture was meant to reassure him, but the truth was I was feeling anything but confident. Especially after that cheery little pep talk.

  He covered my hand with his and then let go before the elevator stopped at the top floor and the doors slid open. The height made me dizzy and I hurried out of the elevator.

  We stepped out onto the rooftop, with the waterfall roaring just feet away.

  I gaped. “Talk about a view. Grace’s office is somewhere up here?”

  Gideon nodded. “This is the Terrace. The administrative offices are this way.”

  He led me around the stone terrace to the back of the waterfall. A bank of windows melded into the mountainside. I couldn’t see through the glass, but had the distinct feeling whoever was on the other side could see us.

  Gideon stepped to a door with the Freedom Fighter symbol on it and scanned his cuff. The door slid open, and he waited for me to pass through first. I jumped as I almost ran into one of Lord Krane’s bodyguards standing watch inside the door. Gideon took me by the elbow, steadying me as we approached a desk where a middle-aged woman sat typing on a holographic screen. She peered at us over half-moon spectacles.

  “Cadet North and Captain Taylor?”
<
br />   We nodded and she pursed her lips. “We expected you sooner. This way.” She hurried out from behind the desk and half-walked, half-jogged down the corridor.

  Gideon and I exchanged glances and I mouthed, “Sooner?”

  Told you.

  I shook my head as we followed the woman. Lord Krane’s expressionless bodyguards lined the hallway. Wearing dark screens and clad in black, they were like creepy grim reapers waiting to suck the life out of the next hapless victim to walk by.

  I shuddered and avoided looking at them as we moved past. We reached a large door at the end of the hall marked Lieutenant Hardcastle. Two more guards stood sentry, but the secretary acted as though they didn’t exist as she scanned her cuff at the door. Before opening it, she turned to us and lowered her voice.

  “Don’t speak unless you are spoken to. And above all—don’t look Lord Krane in the eye.”

  My stomach twisted as the door slid open. She ushered us into a large room and my jaw dropped. The walls were filled from floor to ceiling with books. Actual books! I bit my lip, anxious to get my hands on one.

  “Cadet North and Captain Taylor,” the secretary announced, breaking me from my thoughts.

  I turned to see Grace standing behind a large marble desk.

  “Thank you, Phyla. That will be all,” she said.

  Phyla scurried out of the room like a mouse running from a snake, the massive door sliding closed behind her.

  “Captain Taylor, Lord Krane has requested an audience with you.” Grace stepped forward, trying to convey something with her eyes that I couldn’t understand.

  “So this is the Recruit you have made your Captain,” Lord Krane said as he appeared from behind a large wingback chair.

  I was struck again by how young he was, though he carried the authority of someone decades older. I lowered my head in a slight bow to avoid meeting his eyes.

  “I don’t like to be kept waiting.” His voice was strangely serpent-like and caused the hair along the back of my neck to stand on end. He stepped closer until he was a few feet away from me. “Remove your screens.”