The Mir Chronicles- The Complete Series

by Leisa Wallace

  Tarek stood in front of the group. He pointed to a date on the hologram. "In two weeks, the Alliance of Worlds will gather to finalize the negotiations on The Port treaty," he said. He placed his hands behind his back and paced as he talked. "As you know, negotiations have already begun to take place, but it's in two weeks that everything will be written down and signed by all the world leaders. We have until that day to stop Selene."

  "Does everyone here know what they need to do? Or do I need to spell it out for you?" Lucius said.

  Now it was Lena who was rolling her eyes. "Birdee, Tern and I will go to the woods to call on the people to fulfill their promise," she said.

  "While she's doing that, the Zoons..." Suki started to say.

  "With the help of the Cimmerians," Lucius cut in.

  "The Zoons and Cimmerians," Suki gave Lucius a pointed look, "will recruit as many people as we can to take a stand against Selene."

  "While that's happening, Lena will take out the Priestess' communications," Tarek said. "So when we do gather in each city, the Priestess won't know what we're doing."

  Suki pointed her prosthetic hand at a hologram and pretended to shoot it out.

  Lucius gave Suki's hand a disgusted look.

  "Then, we'll rise under the Cimmerians name and attack the Priestess and her Defenses and start an interplanetary war," Lena said then let out a big breath. It was all falling together.

  "The war that will force the IM to step in and initiate martial law," Tarek explained. "The Cimmerians will provide the IM proof of the control device. The military will then conduct their own investigation against Selene."

  "And then Selene will be out of the picture," Suki said. "And a new government be formed."

  "Under the direction of the Cimmerians," Lucius chimed causing Suki to stick out her tongue.

  Lena bit her lip in order to keep from laughing. She looked back at the group. "We will rise," Lena said. "And we will win."

  The group cheered. They had figured it out. They had a plan that would work.

  "But first," Myri said. "We have a marriage to perform."

  Lena looked to Birdee and Tern who hadn't said anything over the last several minutes. He was holding her hand and smoothing back her hair as she rested her head against him.

  "Wha' ya lookin' at me fer," Birdee said with a teasing to her voice. "I've never gotten married. I don' know the first thing ta do,"

  Lena's heart dropped. She looked to Myri then to Suki and Dessa. "We need someone who can marry them legally," she said.

  Suki shook her head. "Not me. What about you Tarek? With all your honors and such, you don't happen to have a way to marry these two do you?"

  "Not unless I'm on Allayah," Tarek shook his head.

  "It's a shame. You seem to be able to do everything else," Suki said then gave him another teasing wink.

  "I can marry them," Evren said stepping forward.

  "You?" Suki raised her eyebrows.

  "What? I got licensed ages ago," Evren said. "With all the crazy things you have me do all the time, I figured it would come in handy at some point. And look. That point is now."

  "You are amazing," Suki said in awe.

  "Do you need anything before we start?" Evren asked trying to smooth his hair out as he talked.

  "I have everythin' I'll ever need right here," Tern said as he tightened his arms around Birdee.

  "Then bring your bride forward," Evren said. Quickly turning to a computer he typed something on a keyboard and a hologram of the woods surrounded them. "It's not much, but it's all I could do under such short notice."

  Tern helped Birdee stand and slowly they took the few steps to Evren.

  "No, not yet." Myri ran forward. Quickly she ran her fingers through Birdee's hair and pulled it into a quick bun on the top of her head.

  "You need a bouquet," Dessa yelled running from the workroom. Lena heard something hit the wall and a moment later Dessa returned with a crystal large enough for Birdee to carry in her hand. It sparkled under the room's artificial light.

  "Now, are you ready?" Evren asked looking to each person with a look that said not to interrupt. When no one spoke up Evren continued. "Then, Tern and Birdee," Evren said. "By the laws of Mir do you agree to be married, thus becoming husband and wife, legally joined in this world as long as you live?"

  "Yes," Tern said turning to face Birdee.

  "Absolutely," Birdee answered with a smile that radiated throughout her.

  "By the power given to me by the courts of Mir, I pronounce you married."

  Lena couldn't help but grin as Tern pulled Birdee in for a kiss. The room filled with cheers and clapping.

  "I say we feast," Myri called taking her husband's hand and pulling him towards the kitchen.

  "I concur," Suki called motioning for the couple to move.

  Tern kissed Birdee again and lifted her into his arms. "I never say no ta a good feast."

  Birdee's laughter was so filled with happiness, everyone who heard laughed with her. "Well, let's go then."

  Tern gave her another hard kiss on the lips and carried her out of the workroom.

  Lena waited until the room had emptied before she moved to follow them. As she passed the workroom table, her heart fell. The nullifier sat in pieces, still not ready to save Gideon.

  A tear formed in her eye. How could she be celebrating when he was still a prisoner inside his own body. Another tear formed. She had to save him. "Gideon, I miss you," she said to the nothingness around her. "I'm working on a way to save you. I promise."

  ***

  Gideon was exhausted. Every muscle begged to be stretched, to be free. But he could do nothing to ease the pain. He stood straight, looking into the room Ras had been working him in for the last several hours.

  "Is it ready?" Selene asked causing Ras to pause the workout.

  Gideon could see her at the edge of the room with his peripheral vision.

  "Yes, the mines are ready for the influx of your prisoners," Ras said. "As soon as the treaty is signed in our favor, they will be transported to the planet."

  "Very good," Selene said. "With the extra workers, the increase in production should give the Viceret what they need and then our bargain would be complete."

  "The bargain will be complete when the Viceret has what they want, not when the prisoners reach the planet," Ras said.

  Selene stiffened and looked like she wanted to argue. Instead, she turned her gaze to Gideon. "Very well," she said. "You may continue with our prisoner.”

  Ras started controlling him once more. But, Gideon's mind was no longer on the workout.

  He tried to wrap his head around what he'd just heard. Mine? Prisoners? Work? It was illegal amongst alliance members to use prisoners as manual labor. But if he had heard right, that's exactly what Selene was planning to do.

  For the next hour, all Gideon could do was what Ras and Selene forced him to do. But his mind was firmly on what he'd overheard. When he finally made it back to his cell, he was certain that Selene was meaning to send the prisoners in the crags to work in the mines.

  Gideon sat with his back against the cave wall. He could hear his father's rattled breathing in the cell next to his.

  "How did it go today?" Zeke asked with strained breath.

  "Fighting the control makes my head pound," Gideon answered.

  "But, you're fighting it," Zeke said. "Good. Keep fighting."

  Gideon humphed in response his headache flaring with the effort. "What do you know about Selene sending the prisoners to the mines?" Gideon asked.

  His father's breath rattled as Gideon awaited his answer.

  "She plans to send the prisoners to the black salt mines," Zeke said. "It was part of her deal with the Viceret."

  "Deal?"

  "They give her the means to the power she wants, she gives them the prisoners they need to increase their black salt production. With more black salt they'll be able to control the energy market."

  "It's g
oing to happen after the treaty is signed," Gideon said.

  "That's been the plan the whole time. And it will go off without anyone batting an eye." Zeke was whispering now. Not out of secrecy, but Gideon could tell talking was pushing the limits of his strength.

  "I'm not going to let it happen," Gideon said. "I'm going to fight her."

  "Which means you need to fight the device inside of you," Zeke said. "It takes a great deal of mental energy for Selene or Ras to use the device inside our heads," Zeke explained.

  "Which means I can use that to my advantage," Gideon said.

  "Yes," Zeke answered. "It wears Selene out. She can falter." He was seized with a cough. It didn't sound good. Gideon was worried about his father.

  "Is that what happened when you shot Jonah?" Gideon asked. He had been thinking about it for a long time now. What happened when his father moved the gun and shot Jonah instead of him or Lena.

  "It was the first time I realized that there was a limit to using the control," Zeke said. "After I had killed Marcus, I chose Selene. I didn't want her to use the device on me again. I did horrible things. But when she told me that they'd found you on that mountain, I would not, could not, act. She activated me long before I saw you on that cliff. And so I fought it. I fought for control of my own mind. And by the time I lifted my gun, I found I could control myself for a small amount of time."

  "But I've been fighting against her this whole time. And I still can't move on my own," Gideon said frustrated.

  "I'd never fought against Selene before. She wasn't expecting it. But with you, she is. I still wasn't able to control it completely. Only enough to move the gun. Your friend died. I didn't want that to happen. I didn't have enough control of myself. But I had enough to save you."

  "And do you think I can do the same thing?" Gideon asked.

  "I think you can do more than that," Zeke said. "I think you can save Evangeline and everyone inside these crags."

  Gideon's anxiety flared but inside all his worry, there was hope. Hope he still might be able to stop his mother, protect the recruits around him and save the girl he loved.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The next day Lena watched as Suki and Lucius had a heated conversation over Zoon versus Cimmerian responsibilities. Lena wasn't about to get in the middle of those two.

  Birdee and Tern walked up to her. They held hands and both of them were smiling.

  "Tarek said he'd fly us home," Birdee said.

  Lena couldn't help but smile as she looked at the two. "Yes, are you going to be okay going back there?"

  "I'm not gonna lie, I'm scared," Birdee said. "But, I belong there. And with Tern with me, I think I'll be okay.”

  Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned to see Evren approaching. "Evren. What can I do for you?" Lena asked.

  "I'm here to remind you that you only have two day until we break into the Priestess' communications. We want to do it when she'll be gone to the next interplanetary council meeting. So you have to be back here in two days. Otherwise, we don't know if we'll have another chance."

  "Are you worried I'm not going to make it back?" Lena asked.

  "With your track record, that's always what I'm worried about," Evren said.

  "I won't let anything happen to her," Tarek said coming to stand by them. "It's those two you'll need to keep an eye on." He pointed to Suki and Lucius who were both now screaming at each other as they tried to make their point be heard.

  Evren rolled his eyes. "You don't need to worry about her," he said. "This is just one of her more skillful negotiation tactics."

  Tarek chuckled. "I can imagine it is," he said not taking his eyes off her.

  As if Suki knew Tarek was watching she turned to him, stopped yelling, winked, then continued her fight with Lucius as if nothing had happened.

  Lena raised her eyebrows at Tarek.

  He was smiling.

  Lena cleared her throat.

  Tarek chuckled and looked away. "Let's move out, before that arm of hers turns into a negotiation tactic," he said turning to Tern, Birdee and Lena.

  Lena followed Tarek out to the hangar then climbed into the same plane that had taken them to the Defense Training Facility. Tern and Birdee sat in the storage space behind the pilot seat. Tarek cloaked the plane before they started to move. In minutes, they were soaring over the Everleighan lake towards the woods on the opposite side.

  Tern gave directions to Tarek and soon they were landing in a clearing in the trees.

  As they exited the plane, Tern put his arm around Birdee and turned towards the forest. "Are ya ready?" he asked her.

  "Guess we won't know 'til we're there," Birdee said and started limping into the forest.

  "I'll wait here," Tarek said as he watched them leave. "If you're not back in two days, I'll come for you."

  "I think we'll be okay," Birdee said stopping and turning her head to look at him. "Maybe.”

  "Why don't you take a glider?" Lena said after she'd said goodbye to Tarek and was following them into the woods.

  "Not a good idea," Birdee said. "It's better if we just walk in. If we show up with electronics, then Wren and the council will be even less likely ta talk to me. We are on thin ice as it is.”

  Lena saw Tern's arm tighten around Birdee as if his strength would give her strength. Lena followed them silently through the thick trees. They took no path but didn't seem to need one either.

  After they walked about an hour, Tern whistled. Only a few seconds later, a whistle responded. Tern adjusted his step and followed the direction the sound had come from.

  The tree's around them rattled and a man jumped from them. Lena recognized him. He'd been with Tern when they'd first met him. His name was Jay.

  Lark, who Lena had also met, jumped out of a tree to Lena's right.

  "Tern," she shrieked as she bound into his arms. He released Birdee and swung his sister in a circle. "Put me down. I'm not a kid anymore," Lark laughed. When Tern put her down, Lark focused on the others in the group. Her eyes went wide when she saw Birdee.

  "Hi ya, Lark," Birdee said.

  Lark gasped. It was as if her face held so many emotions Lena wasn't sure what was going on.

  "He found you!" Lark said.

  Birdee laughed. "He sure did. And then he married me.”

  "What!" Lark shrieked. "You're married." Lark excitedly wrapped Birdee in a hug. "I missed you," she said. "I'm so glad you're home. And that you're my sister now. Which means..." Larks eyes widened.

  "I'm a part of our people again," Birdee said with a smile.

  Tern kissed the side of her head. "You've always been a part of us," he said.

  Lena stood in the background watching the scene. She missed Gideon terribly at that moment.

  "We need ta talk ta Wren and the council," Birdee said.

  Jay and Lark gave each other sideways glances. Jay cleared his throat. "Wren may not be so happy ta see ya. As ya know, she's been acting as head of the council since yer father died. But now, she's trying ta sway the council ta choose her as the official leader. She says in yer absence, she's the closest relative ta yer father."

  "There's still a huge fight going on about it," Lark whispered. "Birdee saved all of us by joining the Priestess' Defense. And in return the council disowned her. Led mostly by Wren.”

  "I heard," Lena said. "Tern told me,"

  "Figured it would be him. Birdee doesn't talk a lot about her problems," Lark said. "Never has. She's always tried ta lighten people. Her story is sad. And she doesn' like people ta be sad.”

  The farther they walked, the more Birdee leaned into Tern. But even with her knee splinted straight and her ribs still on the mend, Birdee walked with determination.

  "So, yer married," Jay said from where he followed behind everyone else. "Can't say I'm surprised."

  "As of yesterday," Tern said. "Birdee is officially part of our people, now."

  "As if she wasn't ta begin with," Lark said.

  Lena alm
ost didn't see the first cabin. It was nestled in-between the thick forest trees as if it had grown with the tree itself. Logs made the walls and a small window was on the side. It was a small home. But it was lovely. Whoever owned it kept the area around it swept and welcoming. Soon they were passing more and more cabins. All of them small and yet the area felt welcoming. Lena saw people walking various nearby paths, carrying baskets filled with laundry or different foods. When they saw Tern with Birdee, they stopped and stared. Birdee was limping heavily now, Tern tightened his grip on her waist, but never offered to carry her.

  Lena could hear Birdee's name being whispered as she passed. A boy ran ahead of them and disappeared on the path into the trees.

  "They are surprised ta see her here," Lark explained. "They are going ahead ta get Wren and probably the rest of the council."

  Birdee's jaw clenched as she overheard some of the things being said.

  "They don't all feel like those ones," Tern said in her ear. "Just as many people will be glad yer here.”

  "Don' feel that way," Birdee said as she tightened her grip on Tern.

  They kept walking until the path opened up into a meadow. Birdee was growing noticeably more tense as more people surrounded them coming from all directions until they were forced to stop.

  "Let the traitor through." The crowd parted. A woman waited opposite of where they came from. Her hands were crossed in front of her. She wore leather and linen and looked a lot like Tern and Lark.

  "Birdee," the woman said stepping forward. "You know we do not allow outsiders here. You and your friend are not welcome."

  The woman wasted no time getting to the point. She didn't even seem to care that Birdee needed a seat.

  Birdee scowled at the woman's abruptness. She nodded at Tern who released his arm around her and she stood taller. "I've married Tern," she said. "According ta our traditions, I have become a part of yer people through marriage." She looked like a leader. "As fer my friend, this is Evangeline Adhara, daughter of the late General Marcus Adhara. She's come ta ask our people ta fulfill a broken promise."

  Wren gaped, the look of shock painted on her face.

  Birdee stepped forward, the limp in her step obvious. She pulled folded up pages out of her pocket. Lena recognized immediately that they were the letters Wildee and her father Marcus had written to each other.