The Heroes Return

by Monica Tesler

  I push aside my emotions and try to hold a neutral expression while I talk to Waters. “I’m sure you heard we were trapped in the rift after the Battle of the Alkalinian Seat.”

  He nods me on.

  I recount how we found the lost aeronauts and learned that time moved differently in the rift. Then I explain how the Youli arrived and offered us a deal. They’d help us escape the rift if we delivered a message. Of course, the “we” was really “me,” because Mira didn’t come back.

  “What’s the message?” Barrick asks.

  I keep my eyes on Waters.

  He taps his foot. “Go ahead, Jasper. Give us the message.”

  “Peace,” I say. “The Youli want us to work toward peace together and discuss Earth’s admission to the Intragalactic Council.”

  Waters steeples his fingers and raises them to his chin. I hold my breath. So much depends on his reaction.

  Just when I start to think he’s with me, he presses against his thighs and stands. “That message wasn’t for me.”

  I look down at the moldy rug. I need to keep this going in the right direction. I need Waters to agree to work toward peace, and that starts with a peaceful resolution to his conflict with Earth Force. “They didn’t specify who it was for.”

  “Jasper,” Waters starts, pacing the alcove as he talks, “we’re fighting on the same side as the Youli. I’ve been fighting on their side for years. We want to stop Earth Force from exploiting early developing planets. We want Earth to be invited to join the Intragalactic Council. As long as we have a meaningful voice on the Council, our interests are aligned with the Youli. We want peace. You are preaching to the converted with your so-called message.”

  This is not going the way I hoped, but I’m not going to let him run me over with his teacher tone. “You may support the Youli’s agenda, Mr. Waters, but you’re not practicing peace. The Resistance is openly fighting Earth Force now. You smoke-bombed a rally, and people got hurt, my mom included! And you kidnapped Denver Reddy and shipped him across the galaxy against his will!”

  Waters doesn’t respond to what I said. Instead he sits back down and leans close. “You talked to Admiral Eames first, didn’t you? What did she say?”

  Why does he have to be so good at reading the situation?

  “She’s not interested in peace.”

  “No, she’s not,” Barrick says. “She’s interested in occludium. We have it, and they want it.”

  “Don’t you think that oversimplifies things?” I ask.

  “Usually the obvious answer is the right one,” Waters says.

  The anger I thought would come when I first saw Waters starts to simmer beneath my skin. “Who are you to talk about what’s right?” I say, my voice growing louder with each word. “You can’t keep defending your actions that way! The ends do not always justify the means!”

  “Let’s keep the focus on the topic at hand, Jasper.”

  “No! I’m done doing what you say. I know the truth now, Mr. Waters. I know what really happened at the Incident at Bounding Base 51. You kidnapped a Youli so that you could conduct experiments on him. That’s what caused the Incident. It’s your fault Denver and the other aeronauts were lost in the rift all those years!”

  Waters crosses his legs and tries his best to look unruffled. “I can see Denver has been telling stories. Yes, a Youli was taken prisoner that day, but I didn’t order that.”

  I push to my feet. “But you admit you experimented on him!”

  “Gedney and I were scientists instructed by Earth Force to research an alien life-form. Not only did we have no real choice in the matter, it was also a tremendous opportunity for the human race.”

  “And then you started the Bounder Baby Breeding Program! It was you who decided to breed kid soldiers!”

  “No!” Waters jumps up. “That is not how it happened! I established a relationship with the Youli. Through him and his collective mind link, I was able to learn that Earth had essentially doomed its development by weeding out certain genes from the population. I argued to reintroduce those genes for the future of our species.”

  “And you needed a rationale. . . .” Standing up, I see I’m not that much shorter than Waters now.

  “Yes, I emphasized the potential military benefit, but it was necessary.”

  “Again, the end justifies the means.”

  “What would you have me say, Jasper? That I’d rather the Bounders not be born? That I’d rather you not be born?”

  I ignore his questions, even though he’s baiting me with the same issue Marco and Addy explained in the Nest. Is he the one who planted that seed in their minds? “What about the other Youli prisoner? The one at the space station during our first tour of duty?”

  “That wasn’t my doing.”

  “You didn’t know about him? Come on!”

  “Of course I knew about him, but it wasn’t my idea to take him. It ended up being a stroke of luck, though. I was able to communicate with the Youli through him and further our peace talks. You put a real roadblock in those talks with that stunt you pulled at the Wacky outpost.”

  I throw up my hands. This has gone far enough. “Nice, Mr. Waters! Blame it all on the kid! Way to turn the tables. I’m going to find my sister.” I head for the door. Barrick blocks my exit.

  “Before you go, Jasper,” Waters says calmly, “let’s bring things back to the Youli message.”

  I turn around.

  Waters waits until he’s sure he has my full attention. “If you’re interested in peace, like the Youli, like me, then know that Earth Force is on the wrong side of that line.” He snaps his fingers, and the projection reappears in the center of the room showing an image of the space station that housed the EarthBound Academy during my first tour of duty. “Thirty Earth Force gunner ships have just left that space station. Our intelligence indicates they’re headed for Gulaga.”

  “What?”

  “See for yourself.” Waters flicks his fingers, and the image zooms out, showing a larger galactic snapshot of the space station. He points to a cluster of pinpricks of light moving steadily away from the station. If he’s telling the truth, that’s the Earth Force fleet. “It seems we’ve forced the admiral’s hand. Eames is launching a full-scale attack. She was embarrassed in front of the whole world when we nabbed you and Denver. She couldn’t let that stand.”

  “You planned this?” A wave of nausea curls from my belly up my throat. Denver said Eames couldn’t let his kidnapping go unanswered.

  “It’s not possible to plan your enemy’s behavior,” Waters says, “but I’m awfully good at predicting it.”

  “Why did you provoke her like this?”

  “I’m not interested in peace with Earth Force, Jasper, not in the short term. I’ve tried that route. Now I’m convinced that the only way to achieve long-term peace is to rid the galaxy of the Force once and for all. We need a new government in place to usher in our future as full members of the Intragalactic Council.”

  “With you at the helm?”

  “If necessary, for a time, but that’s not my goal. There are plenty of young leaders who share my ideals and who would do incredible things for our planet and the greater galaxy. Your sister, for one, Jasper.” He smiles. “Maybe even you.”

  If what he’s saying is true, Gulaga will be under attack in a matter of hours. “So, what exactly are you planning to do?”

  “You’ll see.”

  28

  THE CHAMBER FLOOR IS PACKED with Tunnelers and Earthlings. Almost every carrel climbing the walls is filled. The room hums with excitement. It’s a totally different kind of energy from when I stood here as Admiral Eames rallied Earth Force for Operation Vermis. Then, it was rage, entitlement. We had a common enemy: the Youli. Now everyone in this room has a common cause. Unity. Independence. Ultimately, peace—and they’re willing to do whatever it takes to get there.

  Waters stands at the podium. He stands for Gulagan freedom, Bounders’ rights, the greater ga
lactic community. He stands for things I believe in.

  Then why is it so hard for me to join him? Especially when joining him means joining Addy and Marco?

  “Listen up!” Water says. “Our intelligence indicates that Earth Force will move into position and commence an aerial assault within the next hour. In addition, we must assume they have bounding ships positioned to enter our airspace at a moment’s notice. Yes, we have the occludium shield in place, but don’t forget that the shield doesn’t prevent Earth Force landing on the surface in regular spacecraft.”

  A smaller group of Tunnelers and Earthlings stands with Waters on the front stage. I’m guessing they’re the captains. Many of them I recognize: Addy, Marco, Neeka, Grok (another one of the junior ambassadors during our tour of duty), Minjae (one of the juniors in Addy’s pod), even Regis.

  Barrick stands next to Waters. “What’s the update on fortifications?” he barks. From the way he asks, it’s clear he’s one of the leaders, outranking probably everyone but Waters.

  Grok steps forward. “We reinforced the standard force field around Gulagaven yesterday to prepare for the attack. It should hold.”

  “For how long?” Marco asks. “Earth Force has far superior artillery. We’re outgunned.”

  “It shouldn’t come to that,” Waters says. “All we want to do is bait them for a fight.”

  “Are you sure it’s going to work after what happened at the Lost Heroes Homecoming Tour rally?” Addy asks. “There were injuries, casualties. Admiral Eames has even more at stake.” What she doesn’t say is that our mother was one of those injured in the Resistance attack.

  “She won’t risk it,” Waters says, “not with the world watching. And after what happened at the rally, you know they’ll be watching.”

  Denver elbows me. “Any idea what the grand plan is, kid?” We’re hiding out in one of the carrels on the first level, although we’re not really hiding since Denver can’t go anywhere without two Tunneler guards on his heels.

  I shake my head. “No clue.”

  “Your friend is right,” he whispers. “The Resistance is outgunned. I don’t see how your old pod leader can eke out a victory here.”

  “Still,” Waters continues from the podium, “we’ll prepare our defensive as a precaution. You all know your roles. Everyone except captains is dismissed to their ready positions. It’s a go, friends.” Waters pumps his fist, then inclines his head. “Brothers, sisters, I bow to your service and fortitude.”

  The crowd bows and calls back, “And we also bow to you, brother.”

  It’s the same exchange Neeka had with the chamber guards when we first arrived. I wonder if it’s a traditional Tunneler custom.

  Waters raises his arms and shouts, “May your days be peaceful and productive, and may your nights provide shelter from the cold.”

  The crowd cheers and floods out of the carrels, most of them headed for the exit. We join the masses, but before we reach the doors, Denver’s guards block our path. They’re not wearing voice boxes, but the one on the right raises a paw toward the stage, where Waters, Barrick, and the captains are continuing with the briefing.

  “Moment of truth, kid,” Denver says. “Something tells me we’re about to find out why they shipped me across the galaxy.”

  “Then why do they need me?”

  “If you don’t think you’re part of his grand plan by now, you don’t know Jon Waters as well as you think.”

  Denver marches straight up to Waters. I join Addy and Marco and the other captains. I already know Waters was hoping I’d join the Resistance. He’ll take as many Bounders as he can get. After all, another Bounder in the Resistance is one less in Earth Force. But could Denver be right? Could he want me for something more than that? Do I play a part in his grand plan?

  Waters and Barrick hear reports from all the captains about armed crafts, artillery, defense, tunnel security—the list goes on and on without any mention of Denver or me. Finally Waters dismisses the majority of his captains to their posts. All pilots, including Neeka, are instructed to board their crafts and wait for the launch signal.

  Soon, the only ones left in the chamber are me, Denver, Addy, Marco, Regis, Barrick, and a handful of other officers, most of whom are strapped with guns. I’m guessing they’re here to enforce whatever Waters is about to say.

  Once the doors close behind the departing captains, Waters clasps his hands. “I’m sure all of you have had a chance to meet our guests, Denver Reddy and Jasper Adams. I trust your—”

  “Get on with it, Jon,” Denver interrupts. “I’m not your guest. I’m your prisoner. What I want to know is why.”

  Waters purses his lips. “Very well. Earth Force relies heavily on its media campaign to control public opinion and support. Right now, the population of our home planet is carefully waiting to see how Admiral Eames will respond to your . . . disappearance, if you will. As of now, rumors run rampant, but the Force hasn’t confirmed that the Resistance is behind what occurred. In fact, we strongly believe that, once again, Earth Force will blame this on the Youli. As you know, the Force hasn’t confirmed the existence of the Resistance at all, although reports are all over the webs.” Waters pauses, letting his words sink in.

  “And?” Denver asks impatiently.

  “And that’s about to change.”

  He walks to the center of the stage and activates a projection. This time, we’re seeing Gulaga. He flicks his fingers, and the image zooms out until we can see the Earth Force fleet closing in. For several moments, he doesn’t speak. He lets us watch the fleet as it gets closer and closer. He lets the gravity of the situation sink in.

  “I need you to stop this,” he finally says.

  “How exactly do you propose we do that?” Denver asks.

  “You are two of the most recognizable, popular people on the planet. I need you to tell Earth that you stand with the Resistance, and that the Resistance stands for peace. I need you to convince them that it’s time to move beyond Earth Force and usher in a new era as members of the Intragalactic Council. I need you to tell Earth Force to stand down.”

  He needs me to do that? Why did he factor me into this? How did he know for sure I would come? The Resistance kidnapped Denver, but I came by choice.

  “How on earth is that even possible?” Denver asks.

  “It’s all set up. We have a high-level contact in Earth Force public relations. She’s arranged for the broadcast to stream globally. Once it’s out, the webs will run with it. Earth Force won’t be able to shut it down.”

  “Jayne,” I say.

  “That’s right,” Waters says. “Jayne is an extremely valuable asset of the Resistance, as I believe you already know, Jasper.”

  Waters must have been the one who told Jayne to bring me into the fold. He sent Gedney to see me on the tour. He made the recording of Addy begging me to join them. He knew I would come, and he knew I would be a far more willing participant in his plan if I thought I came by choice. And he knew I could help get Denver on board.

  “As for timing,” Waters continues, “we’ll wait until the Earth Force fleet is within range, perhaps even draw combat. That way, we’ll have excellent footage of the Force’s savagery to include with the broadcast.”

  Wait a second. This is moving too fast. I may agree with the Resistance’s objectives, but I don’t approve of all their methods, including this one. There’s way too much that could go wrong.

  “You’re risking everyone on Gulaga for this?” Denver asks.

  “It’s a calculated risk. I’m confident Admiral Eames will cave. Once she knows that you’re on Gulaga, Denver, she’ll call it off. We both know she wouldn’t do anything that might result in your death.”

  Denver throws up his hands. “That’s ridiculous. You’ve never understood how the military works, Jon. Cora is a soldier. She’ll prioritize the mission, not her personal feelings. And trust me, her personal feelings are no longer a factor.”

  “You’ve been gone a long
time, Denver. I understand the military. And I know Cora. Trust me.”

  Denver clenches his jaw and starts to shake. Every muscle in his body is coiled tight, like he’s about to spring on Waters. His Tunneler guards take a step closer.

  I’m no expert on Admiral Eames, but no matter how she reacts there’s a lot that could go wrong. I have a very bad feeling about this. I glance at Addy. She bites her lip and looks away.

  Barrick’s com link buzzes. He relays the report to Waters. The first Earth Force vessels have been detected on standard satellite. They should be in Gulagan airspace within minutes.

  “Excellent,” Waters says. “We’ll watch the initial engagement. Then we’ll broadcast live. Regis, please oversee the setup for filming, load the script into the teleprompter, and confirm Jayne is ready to go.”

  Regis nods and exits the chamber.

  We crowd around the projection, watching as the Earth Force fleet closes in. When they’re within striking distance, Waters gives the order to send the Resistance ships out to meet them. Sweat beads on my forehead. I clasp and unclasp my palms, watching for the first sighting of the Gulagan vessels.

  “You’re sending those heaps of junk out there?” Denver asks. “That’s a suicide mission.”

  “They’re trained in evasive tactics,” Waters says. “We won’t keep it up for long.”

  “Neeka is piloting one of those?” I ask my sister, remembering the ride in Neeka’s craft and how the inside looked like it was held together with duct tape and wire.

  “Yes,” she says gravely, still not meeting my gaze.

  How did it come to this? We’re out of options. Earth Force is retaliating for the Resistance’s attack at the rally. Their counterattack was predictable. All of this is part of Waters’s plan. And our only shot at calling off the fleet is Waters’s broadcast.