Stronger (17 page)

“You saved me,” I say in surprise.

His eyebrows draw together as if bewildered. “I did.”

I smile at him, wondering if he realizes how huge this is. “You didn’t let them kill you. You chose me over your orders, over your fellow warriors.”

He shrugs, but his eyes show his confusion over everything that’s happened here. Orders to kill Bryant and to bring me in alive are still being shouted through the tiny speakers on the soldiers’ wrists. “Apparently someone wants me dead.” Bryant rips them off and smashes them under his boot, grinding them into the drifting snow.

“We need to hide the bodies and fast.” I apply pressure to the knife wound in my chest, the warm blood oozing between my fingers. “They’re going to be looking for these Vals.”

Bryant’s face is blank but a single tear track divides the dirt encrusting his face. “Okay.”

I’m not much help as Bryant drags the bodies into an old building. I use one of the men’s jackets to wipe up what blood I can and cover the rest with snow. Bryant doesn’t seem to notice the cold as he spreads a dusting of snow over the debris covering the bodies of his former comrades.

Only after we are done does Bryant look at me. “You’re bleeding.”

“Yeah. I noticed.” I sway to the side. “Knife in the chest, bullet in the back.”

“You’re shot? When you pushed me out of the way?”

“At this rate you’re never going to be able to pay me back. I think you’re going to be my indentured servant. My personal Deb.”

“I saved you just now.” The corner of his mouth twitches like he considered smiling but decided it was beyond him.

“We’re still not even,” I say. I follow him as he walks under a stone archway and stumble forward. He catches me. His body feels warm against my own. He smells like soap. “You are coming back, aren’t you?” We’re still standing close, sharing heat. “I need you.” I beat back a blush. “I mean I need your help getting back. I’m not sure I can make it on my own.”

“I should turn you in. It’s what my training say to do. It’s my duty. But I don’t think I can do it again. Those tests they did on you…” He shakes his head, looking completely lost, like he’s teetering on the edge of a great abyss where the foundation of his world just cracked open. But I guess he is. “Yeah, I’ll help you get back. I owe you that much.”

“Good. I’d hate to have been shot for nothing.”

He smiles but it doesn’t reach his eyes. He gently swings me onto his back and holds my legs up, piggyback style. My arms loosely encircle his neck. Each step he takes hurts, jostling my injured body. I don’t know how far we go when my arms simply can’t hold me up anymore and I start to slide back. He lets go of a leg and catches my hand. It’s the only thing that keeps my head from smacking the ground.

“Whoa, whoa,” Bryant says, trying to keep me from falling hard. I’m on the ground, Bryant hovering over me. “Are you okay?”

With the sun behind his head he looks like an angel from the stories my mom read to me as a little girl.

“Huh?”

“I’m going to have to treat your wounds here. I’m not sure you’ll make it back to camp.”

“Why couldn’t I have been beaten with a lead pipe? My body is used to healing from that, not gunshot wounds.”

He laughs but it’s not a happy sound. “I’ve never been shot either.”

“I don’t recommend it.” I run the tip of my tongue against the roof of my mouth. “It hurts.”

His hand lightly brushes my cheek. “I imagine.”

Bryant empties the utility pockets in his jacket and pants. He is fully loaded up with food and medical supplies.

“You stole from us?”

“You’re lucky I did.” He pulls out a syringe. “Drugs. It’ll help you to sleep while I pull the bullet out and stitch you up.”

Despite the pain, I give him a wary glance. “Have you done this before?”

“In simulations, yeah.”

“Can I trust you?” I ask. But what choice do I have?

His eyes sweep over my face and he runs a single finger down my cheek before giving me a single nod. “Yeah, you can.” He injects me with something that eases the pain instantly. “See you on the other side.”

When I wake up, my back and chest have been bandaged. Bryant is sitting beside me. I sit up with a groan. The world blurs then quickly comes back into focus.

“You need to lie down. You’re still healing.”

“It doesn’t hurt at all.” I peel off the bandage below my collarbone and both of our jaws drop open. The stitches he so carefully sewed are now embedded in perfectly healed skin. I tug them free. Not even a scar to show for it.

His mouth falls open. “No way.” His hand shoots out and traces my skin. “How?”

I suck in my breath and not because it hurts. His fingers are still going back and forth where the wound should be, and they race up and over my shoulder to my back. It too is healed. His hands travel back and forth between the two places he sewed up. The hairs on my arms stand on end and I lean into his touch.

“You’re amazing,” he says.

“Thanks.” Then it hits me that he’s referring to my ability to heal, and not about me as a person.

His touch on my skin is making it hard to think, and I’m enjoying the way his fingers feel on my body a little too much. It doesn’t mean anything to him. I’m still a pale, unscarred freak. I scoot back from him. “You can stop mauling me anytime.”

He snatches his hand back and my skin feels instantly cold.

“Sorry.” He shakes his head. “I’ve just never seen anything like you before.”

I stand and stretch. “That’s because I’m one of kind.”

He fights a grin and loses. “You can say that again.”

I point to his pockets. “Got any food in there?”

Bryant pulls out some energy bars and several bottles of nutri-drink. I quickly finish them off. I roll my neck. “I’m good to go now. We better hurry back before they send out a search party. Are you going to stay this time?”

Bryant brings his fingers to his temples, pressing hard like he’s trying to fight off a migraine. His whole body is shaking, like it did when he went through withdrawal. “We’ll see. I’ll make sure you get back, but that’s all I’m promising.”

Bryant obviously isn’t thinking clearly, or he would have let me go on alone as soon as the Ferris wheel was in sight. The smart warrior-in-training in him would have realized he isn’t going to be given the option to leave. If he went back to the academy, it would be only a matter of hours before the enemy showed up at our gate. But he’s far from his best.

He grows paler as the day goes on, drifting into a sort of daze. He develops a tremor in his hands that comes and goes as we travel. His pupils are dilated so much I can barely see the blue of his eyes. Sometimes he scratches at his arms, a couple of times hard enough to draw blood. When he stumbles, I grab his upper arm and guide him the rest of the way. Even during his more coherent times he’s silent and brooding, most likely over Starburst. And I… well, I’m wishing he’d accept that Orions are evil, even his perfect Starburst.

When we enter the rundown amusement park, the sun has started to sink and the western sky is an inker’s palette of purples, pinks, and reds.

My father and Ty are waiting for us when we reach the Ferris wheel. My dad’s hands are clasped behind his back and Ty’s fingers keep clenching and unclenching.

Bryant blinks at my dad and Ty. “You’re both part of this?”

“You don’t get to ask questions. We’ll decide what to do with you later.” My dad raises his arm and points toward the sky. A group of soldiers, weapons out, surround us. “Seize him.”

Bryant doesn’t say anything as they shackle his wrists and legs and lead him away. As soon as he’s gone my dad rounds on me. “We’ll talk about you taking off like that later.”

I shrink at his fury.

Dad’s arms are by his sides, but his hands are pulled into white knuckled fists. “Do you have any idea how worried we were?”

“I—”

Dad brushes his fingers softly down my jaw before spinning around and stalking away with Ty quick on his heels.

I hadn’t thought they’d be worried. It’s a new feeling to know people are concerned for me. And as bad I as feel for worrying them, a smile spreads across my face, knowing that they cared.

My mom is coming out of Bryant’s room as I approach it.

“How is he?” I ask.

“He had a relapse. It’s like an addict getting a fix after going through detox. Hearing the Orions voices gave him some of the drug.”

“But what about the filters?”

She brought her tablet close to her chest and cocked her head, probably trying to figure out a way to explain it so I could understand it. “They work, but you need to be away from their influence for a while to be free from it. If they’d been there in person where they could touch him… well, he would have folded to their wishes, ear filters or not.”

“I remember how affected I was when they touched me.”

“And you haven’t been worked on your whole life like he has.”

“But how is he now?”

“Better. He had a few bad episodes last night but he’s worked it out of his system.”

“Is the that why he still couldn’t see how they were controlling him? Because he got another dose of their influence when he heard their voices?”

Mom glances at Bryant through the window. “Exactly. Your dad sat down and told him the truth about everything. He didn’t take it well, and doesn’t believe a word of it. I think he’s still trying to rationalize it all away.”

Bryant is chained to the bed, his skin pale. Even from here I can sense his confusion, his defeat, his fear. It’s in the way his shoulders slump, the way his head hangs like a whipped Deb. I’ve seen that brand of hopelessness on many of my co-workers over the years. He desperately needs someone.

I fidget with the hem of my shirt. “Can I see him?”

My mom is still watching Bryant. “I think that would be good. For some reason, out of everyone, he trusts you the most.”

“Okay, I’m going in.”

The two guards outside Bryant’s room wave me through. As I approach him, I decide to try and lighten the mood by forcing a flippancy I don’t feel.

I sit down on the chair and kick my heels up on his bed. “This is ironic. You the prisoner, me the one who’s free. It’s much better to be on this end.”

The glare he gives me doesn’t bother me at all. It actually makes me smile, because he looks much more like himself.

“Enjoying this?”

“No,” I say honestly. My smile wilts. “I heard they explained to you what the Orions are really all about. It’s a lot to take in. How are you doing?”

He sits a little taller. “Fine.”

“You’re not thinking of trying to escape again, are you? You saw the Orions won’t welcome you back with open arms. You do realize they tried to kill you, right?”

His jaw clenches and he nods. “I’m seen as an enemy because you kidnapped me. Of course they don’t want me anymore. You contaminated me.”

I drop my feet to the ground and slide forward in my seat. “That isn’t why. They wanted you dead before that happened. You heard Starburst give the order to gas us back in that glass box, right?”

“They knew how dangerous you are, and wanted to kill you while they had they chance.”

I slouch back in my chair. “And kill you in the process.”

“I’m willing to die to protect Earth.”

“That isn’t why you were in the cage with me. Why not send in one of the Vals recently returned from war? They have actual combat experience. They chose you because they wanted you dead. I warned you.” He turns his head, but I keep talking. “How can you dismiss what happened? They ordered those Vals to kill you. That guy David didn’t want to, but couldn’t fight the compulsion of their voices. He was apologizing as he pulled the flipping trigger!”

“They don’t control people. They give orders and we obey. That’s how it works in the military.”

“They’ve compelled you, too.”

He shakes his head. “They haven’t.”

“They have. I’ve seen it.”

He pinches the bridge of his nose and grits his teeth. “I would remember doing anything against my will like that.”

“They make you forget those parts. Or convince you it was your idea. But your free will usually shows up in nightmares. You do have horrible nightmares, don’t you?”

Bryant doesn’t answer.

Finally he turns and glowers at me. “And why would they want to kill me?”

“Because you started to grow a conscience and ask questions. And because you were becoming too strong and too popular.” I lean forward, the chair creaking in protest. “It’s what they do. They did the same thing to my brother Hiram.”

My brother’s name gets his attention. “Who are you?”

I tuck my hands under my thighs, my legs bouncing up and down. “Haven’t you figured it out yet? I’m a little insulted, after all the times I’ve saved you.”

He reclines against the wall, his eyes traveling over my face. “You have a brother named Hiram, and you called me Stretch, and… No!”

“Who?” I ask almost eagerly.

He rubs his eyes and leans closer to me. “Lexie?”

I nod. “About time you put all the pieces together. It’s why I kept saving your life, even when you didn’t deserve it.”

He flinches. His chains rattle when he catches a few strands of my hair between his fingers like he used to when we were kids. “But you died.”

“A lie.”

He releases my hair. “Why?”

“To protect me from the Orions.”

“Your parents were torn up for years about your death. There’s no way they could have faked that grief.”

I study the chains around his wrists, trying not to picture my parents mourning my loss. “They thought I was dead, too. My uncle arranged the whole thing.”

“How could he be so cruel?”

“They were about to take me anyway. By pretending to kill me, he saved me.”

“I should have known it was you.” Bryant plucks at the blanket. “You reminded me of someone from the very beginning, but I could never figure out who.” He shakes his head. “But you’re wrong about the Orions.”

“Oh, really? Do you know it was the Orions who developed the atmos bombs? The Musks dropped the bombs, but they were following the Orions’ orders. They used the Musks as their soldiers just like they use us now. They were the ones who ordered the bombs dropped that terraformed the atmosphere, robbing the earth of oxygen.”

“I don’t believe you.” Bryant turns his head away, refusing to look at me.

“It’s true. They came back months later, expecting us all to be dead, but we surprised them, managing to alter our DNA and survive. It impressed the Orions. They liked the fact that we grew stronger, well, the Vals anyway. Besides, I think they found us more beautiful than the Musks, closer to their image.”

“So what then? They changed sides and helped us drive the Musks from our planet?” Bryant asks, sarcasm in every word.

“Yes.” I meet Bryant’s eyes. “The Musks had started to rebel against them. They used our warriors to fight that rebellion, and the Musk wars began.”

Bryant frowns, lowering his eyes.

I move back and sit on my own bed. “You don’t have to believe me. We didn’t bring you here to change your mind. Ty just wanted to save your life. They would have killed you.”

“No! The Orions love me. Until you came into my life I was going be one of their greatest warriors. And the people love me, too.”

“You’re right, the people do love you.” I stand. “That’s why the Orions wanted to kill you! They don’t want soldiers like you becoming more beloved by the people than they are. So when a war hero becomes too popular, they have him killed. Like my brother, Hiram!” I’m shaking by the end, and I have to take deep breaths to try and calm myself.

He stares back at me, his eyes wide. “You think the Orions killed Hiram?”

“Why is it so hard to believe? Is this because you’re in love with Starburst?”

He flushes. “No.”

“Do you still think you love her?”

“Of course,” he says instantly and then a strange look passes over his face. “I—I—”

“You might not love her. Tell me, what it is you love about her.”

“She’s pretty and perfect.”

“Perfect? No one is perfect.”

“She is,” he says, his eyes narrowing.

“How is she… never mind.” I decide trying to pick apart the perfection of Starburst would be a mistake but I have to bring up one other point. “Perfection isn’t possible. You’re probably seeing her that way because of their mind control.”

“They don’t control us!” he says, pounding the side of his bed with his fist with each word.

“You saw what they did to the soldiers we encountered. They ordered you to kill yourself.”

“That was after the rebels took me. And it could have been anyone giving those orders.”

“You can’t tell an Orion’s voice from a human’s?” I put my hand over his. “You know you’re lying to yourself.”

I think about anything else I could use that would give evidence to my argument. I finally find something. “Then you really felt like terrorizing Debs was the right thing to do?”

He rests his elbows on his knees. “I was helping keep order.”

“How can you still be so loyal? Even after they ordered your death? Even after what you saw when you tried to go back?”

He shakes his head. “I know what I saw but it doesn’t make sense. They saved Earth and every human being on it from the Musks’ invasion.”

“Then why did they stay after we were safe?”

“To keep protecting us.”

“To use us as their slave laborers and foot soldiers just like they used the Musks before us. Except we looked more like them and gained their favor. The same will happen to us when they find another race they find more attractive than us.”

“Lexie, how did your thinking get so warped?”

“Because their voices don’t compel me, at least not as easily.” There’s an uneasy silence, both of us trying to find support for our side of the fight. “If their only desire is to save us then why do they keep sending us to other planets to attack their enemies?”

“The greatest defense is a strong offense. We attack the Musks when the Orions get Intel that they are preparing to strike against us.”

“Of course. Let’s blame the Musks for all of our problems. They make the perfect boogeymen. Bryant, you saw it with your own eyes.”

He puts a hand to his forehead. “I don’t believe you.”

“We have proof that they ordered the death of my brother, Hiram. That’s why Uncle Charlie started the rebellion.”

He shakes his head, working his jaw back and forth.

“Everything I’ve said is true. Some of the people we work with have been secretly filming the Orions whenever they get a chance. And we have soldiers recording battles to gather more proof. And we’ve made an uneasy alliance with the Musks who’ve given us some new Intel.”

“You trust the Musks?”

“Not entirely. The enemy of my enemy isn’t always a friend. But for now we’re working together.”

“Let’s say you’re telling the truth. Why risk working with them?”

“Because so many of our greatest warriors were dying. And the explanations weren’t adding up. When we spoke to the Musks they said the Orions had done the same to them.”

“What does any of this have to do with your brother?”

“He was a victim of ‘friendly fire’ after refusing to attack a building of Musk children. His friend was there and told my uncle about it. The friend was found dead the next day.”

Bryant doesn’t say anything, but I don’t really expect him to. It’s a lot to take in. After a few moments of silence, he glances up at me, his face is white and his eyes look panicked. “I still don’t believe you.”

“I think you do, you’re just afraid to admit it.”

It hurts to see him struggling against all he thought he knew, to destroy his world that way, but it hurts far worse to watch him cling to the lies the Orions have been feeding him.