The Legend (23 page)

“See ya!” I call as I swing my legs over and drop down the other side. I race across the finish line, exhilarated, and fist-punch the air. Reed scowls at me from atop the wall where he is helping Morgan. Seeing no reason to rush now that I have won, he helps Aidan up too, as Matt appears beside them, sitting astride the wall and waiting for the balance of our team mates.

“What took you so long?” I ask, as Morgan and Aidan jog up beside me, Quinn right behind them.

Archer is the last of Reed's team to reach the wall, and the two lope dejectedly towards us, Archer uncharacteristically red-faced.

“Well done,” Morgan concedes, noticing his dejected expression.

While Matt is helping Heath and Rory, Kwan breaks away from the cheering crowd. I smile expectantly, but he walks right past me, coming to stand beside Reed.

“Congratulations,” he grins, stretching out his hand. Reed takes it automatically, but his brow is narrowed in confusion.

“In case you didn't notice, I got here first,” I point out wryly.

“Yes,” Kwan faces me, “but the rules were that whichever
team
crossed the line first would win. That would be the red team.”

“But . . .” I gape at him, as Reed lets out a whoop of delight.

“
You
didn't even know that!” I snap at the smug expression on his face.

“Doesn't change the fact that I won,” he retorts.

 

 

 

chapter 34

“You're pouti
ng,” Reed remarks pointedly as we take a break before the next exercise, and Aidan chuckles beside him.
Oh, so now they're best friends
, I think petulantly. Another two teams are out on the field, going through the same obstacle course. Fiona's team consists of four women, including Abby, and only one man – a strength-Gifted soldier named Clint. It is the same team she has selected for our mission into the States. I had questioned her choice of a team almost exclusively comprising women, who are generally naturally weaker than their male counterparts, but her explanation had made sense. All her people used to work alongside NUSA's soldiers, but the women in particular would draw sympathy from the predominantly male NUSA army. No man likes to hit a girl, particularly one they have known and trusted.

Fiona's counsel over the past few days has enlightened me. I have always thought of the NUSA army as the enemy – each and every nameless soldier an extension of Kenneth, and Eric before him. Now I have come to understand that the NUSA army is made up of
people
. People with families and friends and opinions of their own. Both Heath's and Fiona's groups are testament to the fact that not all of NUSA's people are convinced, and that change is occurring within the boundaries, even without our interference. The Presidents of NUSA have made one fatal mistake – they believed that ruling by force would ensure loyalty. I am hoping that this mistake will be Kenneth's undoing.

Turning my attention back to the field I see that despite the Legion team's best efforts, Fiona's team has pulled ahead of them easily, their superior teamwork and persistence paying off. Both teams are taking extra care that all their members make it through each obstacle, shouting words of encouragement as they move through the challenges.

“See what a good example I set?” Reed ribs.

“Put a sock in it,” I reply. My own team is sitting slumped on the grass behind me.

“Has she always been such a sore loser?” Reed asks Aidan.

“She used to be worse.”

As frustrated as I am, I understand Kwan's lesson. He is trying to unite the teams, to bring us together with a common goal, while at the same time making us aware of one another's strengths and weaknesses. My team in particular will have to learn to work as a unit if we are going to access the States and destroy Kenneth.

I take full responsibility for my group's loss, but I am determined to make it up to them. I rally us into a huddle as Kwan leads the crowd onto the empty adjacent field.

“I'm sorry, you guys. I behaved like an idiot. We're in this together, so let's get our heads in the game.”

“They have Reed and Aidan,” Matt points out, “not to mention Morgan, who's practically as good. They're going to annihilate us.”

I feel a surge of pride that these men have so much respect for Morgan, and make a mental note to tell her so, but only
after
the competition.

“No, they're not,” I argue, “because I have a plan.”

Despite our apparent shortcomings, there is one advantage I have over the other team. I know them – I know how they think, and how they fight. They don't have the same insight into my men.

We gather on opposite ends of the empty field, our blue and red rags so caked with mud that they are barely visible. The aim of this task is simple. One member of each team is handed a wooden baton. The instant the first baton crosses the line at the opposite end of the field, the challenge is over and that team is declared the winner.

“Don't forget,” I nod at Matt and Rory, “harass the hell out of Morgan. Archer won't be able to help himself – he'll come to her aid.” Archer's lack of abilities may not have hindered him much in the first challenge but it would certainly count against him in this one, going head to head with Gifted soldiers. “You two,” I turn to Quinn and Heath, “I want you to stick to Reed like a rash. He'll take the baton. Peg him in.”

“What about Aidan and Jethro?” Rory asks.

“I'll deal with them,” I grin.

Kwan drops his hand and, as expected, the red team swarms onto the field – Reed holding the baton and the others forming a protective circle around him. Midway across the field, our teams collide and, as instructed, Matt and Rory separate Morgan from the fold, pegging her in and annoying her until she screams in frustration. Quinn and Heath manage to get to Reed, and they hang on to him for all they are worth. Despite their efforts he is still moving, dragging them reluctantly across the grass. His progress is slow but I know he will deal with them soon when his patience runs out.

As I slip through the melee, Aidan and Jethro advance towards me. I dart left and right, trying to find an opening, but they stand directly in my path, their arms outstretched, blocking my way forward. I can't allow them to get too close and I start to retreat, moving farther away from them, in the wrong direction. Archer is not engaging, which I expected. Reed, as team leader, would not ask him to confront anyone, given that he has no Gifted abilities. Reed is betting on the fact that the combination of his and Aidan's advanced abilities will even the odds of five against four.

I cast an anxious glance at Quinn and Heath, who are having a hard time controlling Reed. They are trying to wrest the baton from his hand, which is helping in that in order to keep hold of it he is limited to warding them off with only his left hand. Even so, I know that I have just a few seconds before he breaks free.

Aidan smiles as he and Jethro take another step towards me. Without hesitation, I burst into a sprint, heading straight for them. Momentarily stunned, they hold their positions, shock dawning on their faces. They didn't expect me to try to break right through their defence. Which, of course, I don't. A few yards away, I launch off the ground, using the same impulsion I used to scale the wall in the obstacle course. They are too stunned even to reach for me as I coast over their heads, my legs pumping even in mid-air before I land on the grass behind them. As my feet hit the ground, I hear Quinn's yell of “Run!” and I know that Reed has finally broken free. I sprint towards the line, as the crowd screams in excitement. It is a race to the finish and my adrenalin skyrockets. I am moving so fast that it takes me at least ten yards to skid to a standstill, and I whirl around to see Reed cruise to a stop on the opposite side. All heads on the sidelines are swivelling left and right, not sure who crossed the line first. As one, we all turn to face Kwan, who is standing on the sideline, midfield. He raises his left hand and I give a whoop of pure, unadulterated glee.
We won!

“How the hell did you do that?” Aidan asks good-humouredly as we all converge in the middle of the field to shake hands. “Nobody told me jumping was one of our hidden talents. You guys have been holding out on me.”

“That was the whole point of the exercise,” Kwan interjects. “The first course was to teach you to work as a team. The second was so evenly matched that the only way to win was to think outside the box and test the limits of your capabilities. Well done, Rebecca,” he adds, squeezing my shoulder proudly.

My team is in such good spirits that I am sure nothing could temper my good mood. As it turns out, I am wrong. We are watching Fiona's team compete in the same exercise when Morgan interrupts.

“Rebecca,” I turn at the sound of her solemn voice to find her holding a squirming Alex by the sleeve. Brooke is hiding her face in Morgan's legs. “I found them in the trees over there.” She jerks her head towards a copse of trees adjacent to the fields, near the Academy's border.

“Alex!” I roar furiously, attracting Aidan's attention. As he lays eyes on Alex, he heads straight over.

“Aw, Mom!” Alex's eyes widen in fear as he catches sight of his father's grim expression.

“What are you doing here, Alex?” Aidan demands as soon as he draws up beside me.

“We just wanted to watch . . . Jenna was telling Uncle Norman all about the ‘stopicle' course at breakfast and we wanted to see.”

“Alex,” I glance up as Reed appears behind the children, his expression unreadable. “I told you,” I glance up and catch Reed's eye and he gives an imperceptible nod of his head, “both of you,” I add, turning on Brooke, “that you are not allowed here unless your father or I bring you. You're not allowed out of town. You know that!”

“I know, but . . .”

“No buts, Alex!” I yell, losing my temper. The thought of Alex and Brooke travelling alone after my implicit instruction to the contrary, makes my hair stand on end, particularly given that we are setting explosive charges around the grounds in anticipation of a NUSA attack. Every person inside the Academy has been warned not to venture near the “red” zones, as Crackerjack calls them. The whole purpose of the children being in town is to keep them safe.

“Alex,” Aidan intervenes, kneeling in front of them and getting their undivided attention, “your mother gave you an instruction. There is nothing you can say that will make this okay. And you, young lady,” he rounds on Brooke, “you also know the rules.” Brooke looks as if she is on the brink of tears, but I am not fooled. Brooke can be very manipulative – she is, after all, Reed's child. Apparently Aidan is not fooled either, because he continues regardless. “You know how dangerous the Rebeldom can be.” Brooke nods her head three times in quick succession.

“What do you have to say for yourselves?”

“Sorry,” Alex whines and Brooke mumbles something unintelligible.

“As impressive as that was, I've heard it before,” I say, my temper barely in check. “Apparently you two think you are above the rules.”

“We don't!” Alex insists, sensing trouble.

“Maybe they should be separated.” I address Aidan, and he meets my gaze, playing along, while Reed looks thunderstruck, thinking that we are being serious.

“That might be a good idea,” Aidan replies levelly. We both studiously avoid looking at the children, although I can tell by their stunned silence that this particular form of punishment hadn't occurred to them.

“Brooke can go and stay with Henry and Sofia,” I propose, and I hear her gasp of horror.

“Mom, no!” Alex is hysterical. “I promise we won't do it again. We just thought . . .”

“That you wouldn't get caught?” I prompt, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes! I mean no! Mom . . . you're confusing me! We're sorry, aren't we?” He turns to Brooke, who is on the verge of real tears. She bobs her head, her eyes swimming.

“I promise,” she whispers.

“I'll think about it. Now both of you go and get something to eat – I'll take you back after lunch.”

“But . . .”

“I said I'll think about it, Alex. Now go.”

As they scamper off, whispering to each other, Aidan's face creases in a broad smile.

“Good job.”

“I've still got my poker face,” I grin back.

“Wait a minute,” Reed intrudes. “You mean, you guys were bluffing?”

“Of course we were!” I exclaim. “You don't really think we could keep those two apart, do you?”

“They don't know that, though,” Aidan explains, “and it would be the worst punishment in the world. Our parents used to threaten us all the time exactly the same way.”

“It was the only thing that would make us behave ourselves,” I add. “Well, for at least a day.”

“How long do you think they'll take heed?” Reed asks, a strange expression on his face as he looks between the two of us.

“Probably a day or two,” I reply. Alex and Brooke are as headstrong as Aidan and I ever were.

“I have so much to learn,” Reed groans.

“It comes easier than you think,” Aidan reassures him.

 

 

 

chapter 35

R
eed offers to walk with me when I take the children back to town after lunch. It didn't take long for them to drop the repentant charade and they are happily bounding along ahead of us. Reed is soon chasing after them, throwing them into the air to much gleeful squealing. I watch with mixed emotions. My heart aches for his reassuring presence in my life. I have never felt safer than when I was with Reed – in the short time that we were together I felt that I could take on the whole world. He makes me better, makes me stronger, and makes me feel more alive than anyone else. I cannot deny the fact that I love him any more than I can deny loving Aidan. And my inability to choose will cost me both of them, because I would rather live a lifetime alone than hurt either one of them.

We drop the children at Jenna's.

“So, Chase has moved in then, I presume?” I ask, taking in the man's jacket hanging over a dining room chair and the shoes in the hall. Jenna has never been the best housekeeper, but the uncharacteristic tidiness of her living area suggests that Chase may well be.

“Yeah,” she grins. “We figured it was simpler this way.”

“I'm sure you did.” I waggle my brows suggestively and she laughs. “Just don't scar the kids,” I add.

“Shut up.” She smiles good-naturedly as we make our way to the kitchen. I can see Reed playing hide and seek with Alex and Brooke in the small garden. He's terrible at it – hiding in plain sight – but the sounds of their laughter is proof that the children haven't noticed.

“He gets sexier every time I see him,” Jenna muses, following my gaze. I quickly avert my eyes and fetch cups from the sink.

“I bet he doesn't do dishes as well as this, though,” I retort, holding up two sparkling mugs.

“Yes, Chase has his uses.”

“Using my name in vain?” Chase calls as he enters the kitchen. Unabashed, he walks straight over to Jenna and plants a kiss full on her mouth. “How are you, Rebecca?” he asks, squeezing Jenna's waist before switching on the gas.

“Fine, thanks.” I watch, amused, as he swiftly takes over the making of our tea and I mull over the fact that, despite my initial reservations, Chase is perfect for Jenna. He indulges her almost as much as she indulges herself.

“Thanks,” I gratefully accept the steaming mug from him.

“No problem. I went up to the Academy today, watched your exercises. It's amazing what you guys are capable of.”

“Don't even think about it,” Jenna warns, a completely out of character scowl settling on her angelic face.

“Think about what?” I look from one to the other as a silent message seems to pass between them.

“Chase is being utterly ridiculous,” Jenna snaps, but I can hear the underlying fear in her voice. Jenna and I have known each other for a very long time – there is very little she can hide from me.

“It's not ridiculous,” he replies gently, stepping towards her, but she quickly moves away from him. “I've been considering volunteering,” he turns to me with a sigh, “for the procedures.”

“You want to join the Legion?” I almost drop my mug in surprise.

“I want to be able to protect her,” he corrects.

“That's what the Legion is for,” Jenna interrupts. “All I need from you is to be here, to be alive. You're no use to me dead.” Her fear is making her lash out.

“She's right,” I point out. “I admire your courage, Chase, but we can handle this. The only reason for anyone to become Gifted would be to enlist in our army.”

“Well, I could,” he murmurs, and Jenna gives a small shriek of outrage. “I could help, it's the least I can do after everything you've done for me.”

“What exactly have I done for you?” I smile, remembering that I have done nothing but give Chase hell since we arrived in Georgia.

“You freed me,” he replies, with utmost sincerity. “You enlightened me to the truth, you opened my eyes. Never mind the fact that you introduced me to Jen,” he grins across at her. She doesn't smile back and he falters. “The point is, I want to help.”

“You are helping,” I state, setting my mug down on the counter beside me. “The two of you are taking care of our children, which is the only reason we can focus on this war.” My eyes find Reed again through the window, this time he is crouched behind a bush that barely conceals his legs. “That is the most important job of all, believe me.”

Chase looks less than appeased but he moves to the back door and joins Reed outside.

“Thank you,” Jenna says, with a ridiculously smug look on her face.

“Just do me a favour, Jen. Don't let Chase anywhere near the General, okay?” Harrison would have Chase Gifted in a heartbeat.

Reed is covered in grass and leaves as we make our way back home.

“So there really isn't any chance you would separate them, is there?” he asks.

“No, really there isn't, but they don't know that.”

“You sure had me fooled. Aidan's a good dad.” I can hear the underlying doubt in his voice, but he underestimates himself.

“So are you,” I point out sincerely. Brooke adores Reed already, even without the knowledge of his real identity.

“You think I'll ever be able to do that? What he did? Act instinctively as a father? I wouldn't know the first thing about raising a child.”

“Nor did Aidan when we first had Alex. He's only so good at it because he's had years of practice. He raised Alex alone, and he did it well because he had to. Give it time – you're going to be a great dad. Trust me, I know.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“Because I know you. You're brave and strong and beautiful. And despite your cocky, devil-may-care attitude, you actually care very deeply. You would sacrifice yourself in a heartbeat to save any one of us.”

“Probably not David,” he jests, but his eyes are serious. He takes a step closer to me and I draw in a shaky breath.

“Yes, even David,” it comes out barely more than a whisper. “You're that good.”

“I love you.”

The words ring out in the quiet stillness, so out of the blue and yet not unexpected. We have both been avoiding the topic for weeks, tiptoeing around each other and pretending that everything is fine. Now, I cannot tear my gaze away from his hypnotic green eyes.

“Reed, please . . . don't . . .”

“I'm not expecting anything,” he replies, moving closer and shadowing the sun. When his mouth touches mine a jolt of longing courses through my body, so powerful that my knees go weak. I lose myself in that kiss, my body reacting instinctively to his touch and when he pulls away, I feel empty and hollow. Reed closes his eyes and rests his forehead against mine. “Just answer me one thing . . .” he begins, but I cut him off immediately.

“Yes,” I answer, already knowing the question. “Yes, I love you. You know I do. I always have, I always will.”

He nods slowly and acceptingly. He knows that this changes nothing. He knows that I love Aidan too. And he knows that I will die before I choose between them. He once vowed that he would fight for me, even if he had to fight dirty, but there is no point. It would only hurt us all.

He presses his lips against my forehead, and I instinctively wrap my arms around him, burying my face in his chest and wishing that he would never let me go.

“We're going to be late,” I point out after a long moment and he nods. We have an important council meeting this afternoon. Adam has agreed to be instated as President if we manage to overthrow Kenneth and we need to discuss the process. We have given very little thought to what would come after that but Adam, being the philanthropist that he is, is insistent that we come up with a plan to win the people over. I personally don't think much winning over will be necessary – given that the citizens of the States have been so accepting of the changes made already, but I am so thrilled that Adam has agreed that I keep my thoughts to myself.

We all take our seats around the large wooden table. I sit beside Aidan, who gives Reed and me a contemplative look as we sit down, almost as if he can sense something has happened. I keep my eyes on Adam who is the focus of the meeting.

“As I have already told Rebecca,” he begins, in his quiet, melodious voice, “I am prepared to stand in as President when Kenneth Williams is removed from his seat.”

“You mean when we kill him,” Reed interjects.

“Yes,” Adam accedes, “when you kill him – if it comes to that.”

“Oh, it'll come to that,” Reed remarks seriously.

“I will not act alone, though,” Adam continues. “If I am instated I will need a cabinet.”

“A cabinet?” I ask, having no idea what he is referring to.

“A body of advisers to the President,” my father informs me. “They assist the President in decision making.”

“The President has sole authority over any law making,” I counter.

“Only since the war, Bex,” my dad smiles fondly, reminding me that the world I grew up in is very different to how it was before.

“Giving one man that level of power is dangerous,” Adam warns.

“Even if that man is you?” Reed asks.

“Even if that man is me,” he replies simply.

“Okay, a cabinet,” I agree. “How will you select the cabinet members?”

“We will vote them in. All of us.”

“Done. What else?”

“What we need to decide is the best course of action to introduce the changes that we will be making to the citizens of NUSA.”

“The citizens have been accepting of the changes made so far,” I say. “I don't see there being much of a problem.”

It has been a long time since I shared their mindset, but I can still recall how easily we accepted whatever the President proposed. The fear of the unknown keeps NUSA's population much like sheep – they do not think for themselves as long as the boundary fences are protecting them from the savages out in the barren lands. Eric's propaganda made sure of that.

“Fiona and her people are proof that change is occurring,” Adam reproves. “You can only subdue the human spirit for so long. Also, we are talking about a change that challenges everything that the citizens of NUSA have been taught. We are going to bring down the fences.”

This brings me up short because Adam has a point. The very fear that has kept the people within the States bound to the tyrannical rule over them is the single thing that could turn them against us.

“You're saying the fences should stay up?” I ask incredulously.

“Not at all,” Adam assures me. “What I'm saying is that we will need to address the nation – to enlighten them, and educate them.”

“How?”

“Through a series of public speeches aimed at reassuring them and instilling confidence in the new leadership. Their fear of the unknown is the single biggest obstacle we will face. We cannot afford a riot. Anarchy could result if we don't handle this properly. First and foremost, we need to show them that the Deranged are not dangerous. What do you think I've been doing all this time in town?” he smiles. “I may not be much physical use to the Legion, but I can make our transition into NUSA easier. I've already selected twenty previously Deranged and am personally attending to their education. They are the worst of NUSA's fears. Add to that the number of ordinary people we have in our community, who are perfectly civilised, and we should be able to convince NUSA of the truth – that they have been fed nothing but lies.”

“What about the Rados?” I say. “There's no way you can convince NUSA they're not dangerous. They are – and we all know it.”

“Sadly, I must agree with you. But as dangerous as they are, they are also still human, and deserve to be treated humanely. They are unable to reproduce and not many of them will make it into old age so they will not be a long-term problem. I propose we open a secure, specialised facility to care for them – not only to protect the general population, but also to prevent them from doing harm to themselves. We cannot rehabilitate them, but we can certainly make them more comfortable.”

“I doubt it will be that easy,” I point out.

“Nothing worth while ever is,” he replies enigmatically. “But leave the details to me. All I want from you is confirmation that you will support my strategy. If you want me to take up the mantle of President you need to respect my decisions and trust that I will act in the best interests of not only our community, but the country that I am obligated to serve.”

A hush falls over the table at his words, which are spoken with absolute conviction. I am amazed at Adam's natural leadership, and even more convinced that he is the right man for the job.

“Your father would be proud of you, Adam,” my dad breaks the silence. “God rest his soul.”