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Authors: Alicia Howell

Star Rebellion (6 page)

BOOK: Star Rebellion
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              Firestar walked over to me and patted me on the back. “Nice use of the special.” His grin was tight lipped though. He looked over at where Maegan was sitting, then twitched his head towards Water. Something was up between them.

              I smiled and nodded my head at him. Maegan still had her head in her hands, but she was peeking at me through her fingers. I closed the distance between us and knelt so that I was face to face with her. I glided my first two fingers against her jaw bone. “You okay?” The question was simple, implying no more concern than a normal person would.

              She stiffly nodded her head; I could tell that her heart was racing, but I wasn’t sure what for. “What’s upsetting you?” I asked gently.

She finally removed her hands from covering her face. Luckily she wasn’t crying, which was good. Waterstar hated girls crying. Maegan shrugged and I was her eyes flicker toward Water before returning to me. “Just… I’ve never done anything wrong before. And well… you aren’t exactly good people.”

Waterstar snorted behind me. “Oh, we aren’t good people? What about you, and your stupid New Order for a
Perfect
Calshian World? Where you use innocent creatures for profit! They won’t have decent living conditions, I can guarantee that.”

“Waterstar,” I barked at her, automatically silencing her rant.

My friend crossed her arms and took in a deep breath while glaring at me. Abruptly she turned around and went to the door, peering out into the hall as guard.

I turned back to Maegan. “We aren’t trying to be bad. Things like this are necessary to restore peace and order to Calsh. We are trying to save the Mystic Animals, and to make a livable environment for everyone.”

“That’s not what the Commander had said.”

Firestar started laughing. He swept an arm out to point back toward the door. “And after all of that, you
really
trust that had?”

Maegan didn’t have a reply, but she did look down as if ashamed of her previous statement. I slightly lifted her chin up so she was looking at me again. “Come on, we’ll speak of this later. I can answer any questions you have once we return to the Rebellion.” I know what you and probably everyone in the room are thinking right now. Damn, Darkstar! You’ve got the hots for this completely mundane girl that Waterstar will probably hate to death. Maybe you’re right. Hell, I don’t know. Dating is overrated, and there is too much going on in the Rebellion for it to be practical. So quiet yourself and maybe you might be happy to read something at the end of all these shennanigans where there’s a happy ever after. Let me tell you one thing though, happy ever afters don’t exist. I learned that from my sister.

              I stood up and glanced at my two friends who were closer than family. “So… What’s the game plan?”

              Fire and Water looked at me like I was an idiot. I remembered that I was the only one who knew how to navigate the NOPCW halls, or at least the only rebel. Water hadn't even know what the place looked like until now, and Firestar only knew what the maps could tell him. Plus, when it came to plans, I was normally the strategist.

              I started pacing up and down, a tendency taken from Water. We would either have to get out of here and back to Star Rebellion, or we would have to continue on toward the Underworld. Were we in the best of shape to do that though? Would we have the time or even a place to rest if we continued on?

              Maegan’s voice broke me from my planning. “Jacob… what are you going to do with me?”

              The question had caught me off guard. I really hadn’t considered it when I saw her get Waterstar out of that damned room. I mean, I had already said we’d take her back to the Rebellion, but what all would Arctic say? Technically, she was a prisoner I suppose. I looked over at Firestar and raised my eyebrows. He shrugged and sat down with his back against the wall, closing his eyes. What he was going to look for, I wasn’t sure. Waterstar shot a glare in my direction before taking out some bread and pre-made tea. She wasn't exactly friendly to other girls, especially ones she considered the enemy. Even though Maegan had practically saved her life. Water sat cross legged in front of Fire and completely ignored Maegan and I.

              Maegan was watching us like we were all mental; it took me a second to realize that only Star Rebellion members knew that everyone had certain powers. When Fire’s face contorted in pain, Maegan almost rushed forward to try and wake him up, probably assuming he was just having a nightmare. The only reason she couldn’t was because my reflexes thankfully kicked in and stopped her before she got too close. Waterstar, however, was not pleased, and it didn’t help that she already didn’t like Maegan. I think Water had an issue with being saved by someone she considered the enemy, along with the fact that if Firestar was wakened while using his ability, it was very possible that he would go insane in the wrong way.

              “Why you little,” Water didn’t finish her sentence as she swiftly pulled out a collapsible steel rod. She expertly unfolded it and connected the three pieces together. Water started walking forward, as light and quiet on her feet as a sphinx, but far, far more dangerous.

              “Water…” I warned, my voice low and deadly. I had already pushed Maegan behind me and was now crouched down, ready to fight. We had been told to never use any of our powers on each other unless we were training or it was absolutely necessary. If she forced me to use my persuasion now, it would show me protecting an NOPCW idiot over my own comrade. This was not going well.

              “Darkstar…” she said, mimicking me perfectly except her voice held none of my persuasion. She was right in front of me now, and I was the only thing between her and Maegan. She lifted one eyebrow at me, silently asking me who I would choose….

WATERSTAR

              I can’t believe Dark actually had to think about this! It should be as obvious as the fact that the Shadow Idiots wouldn’t be inviting us to an effing tea party! I lifted my rod a little, the only sign I
would give to show that I wouldn’t let him protect her. I saw his eyes flick toward it, then back at me.

              Slowly, as if he regretted doing it, Dark stepped to my side, leaving Maegan wide open. He paused before passing me, he looked like he was going to say something but instead he continued forward, looking unemotional. I knew him too well though, and saw the rigid state of his shoulders. I waited until I heard the rustling of his clothes as he sat down next to Fire. I  then finally returned my gaze to Maegan, and even though she was older than me, she was at least half a foot shorter. Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration, but still, she wasn’t that tall.

              Yea, wanting to beat the crap out of her because she almost tried to wake up Firestar is a little extreme, but I was in a really bad mood. Hell was raining down around us and this entire plan was getting messed up. I shifted into a fighting stance and lifted the rod like a sword. I had trained my whole life to handle weapons of every kind. A smirk settled on my face as I saw her heart drop; she knew I wouldn’t spare a drop of mercy for her. This wasn’t even so much her, but the organization she was a part of. They were all guilty, just by being in the NOPCW. Anyone who stood with them deserved to be punished.

              My lead foot had just left the ground when I heard a moan behind me. As I landed, I nimbly pivoted and faced Fire and Dark. Firestar had just awoken from his trance. I softly
padded over to my two friends and grabbed the bread and tea from where it was still sitting. Fire looked between Dark, Maegan, and I, already assessing what had happened while he was out of it. Instead of thanking me, he just gave a disapproving look as he took the tea. Cool, looked like no one else though Maegan deserved what I wanted to do. Yay for friends.

              “What’s the news?” Dark asked. His voice was cold and he wasn’t looking at either of us.

              Fire's eyebrows slanted downward even more as he watched his friend. “We’ll need to fight a few of the goons, but other than that it’s a clear passage to the Gates.”

              “Did you see anything about what we should do with
it
?” I asked, throwing a glare at Maegan who was once again in a spinny chair at the table.

              Firestar shook his head. “Not exactly, but I saw her inside Star Rebellion when we get back there. And Waterstar, play nice.”

              I blatantly ignored the look he gave me at the end. I could see that the thing about Maegan had raised questions for Darkstar, along with me. We refrained from asking though; Fire’s voice was getting weak and raspy.

              “wait, you guys don’t really think he can see the future, do you? Jacob, that’s impossible, isn’t it?”

              I had to give the little priss some credit. She paid attention to things, though it was none of her business.

              Dark walked over to her. “Maegan, my name is Darkstar. You should start calling me by it. And yes, Fire can see the future. It isn’t impossible, it’s what we do. Well, we don’t all see the future.”

              For some reason, I felt a trickle of satisfaction when Maegan backed away from Darkstar a bit. She was afraid of us, and that was good. “What, what are you talking about? What are you guys?”

              I took over before Dark could reply. “We’re Star Rebellion,” I stated proudly. “We’re different than you idiots, but that’s all I can say. So get over it or get lost!” And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the extent of brilliant Waterstar speeches.

              Maegan seemed to flinch away from my words, as if they could actually inflict wounds. I smirked as I picked up my rod and acted as if I was going to jump at her. Maegan automatically stood and held her hands up protectively, while also managing to slam the chair she had been into Darkstar. He was driven back a step and she immediately started apologizing way too much.

              I turned back to Firestar, barely containing my laughter. “Waterstar,” he started reprimanding me, “don't be an idiot. She helped get us out, and without her, you know exactly where you would be right now.” Meaning, I would be bleeding on the floor a couple rooms over. Yea, got the message. Still didn't like her though.

              “Yea, well she’s still baggage if we’re going to the Underworld.”

FIRESTAR

              Water and I were now sitting outside the door that I’d broken into earlier. We were waiting for someone to come pick Maegan up. Water was definitely not looking over at the other girl, and I made sure to keep myself between them at all times. Water was the only reason why we were even waiting for someone out here, and she was known to do stuff based on impulse. Like killing people. For seventeen, she had quite the body count. Most of that was composed of succubi and vampires, but still. Sometimes she scared even me. I worried if all of this fighting while we are so young will mess up her future, but then again, what are any of our futures composed of? Fighting. That’s the only thing that will be guaranteed for us. If it isn’t against the NOPCW, it’ll be against the creatures of the night, the ones that populate the Barrens and try to kill villagers when the sun sets. There is always someone who needs protecting.

              A pitch black car emerged out of the shadows, illegally driving without headlights. Figures with Star Rebellion, always breaking the rules. Icestar came out from the passenger side, carrying a small, wireless T.V. Also figures that he'd show up. I wondered if Arctic had given him permission to investigate and tamper with some of the electronics the NOPCW had inside their base. That would probably make Ice's day, and also probably the only way to drag him forth from his garage.

              Water and I stood up as Arctic’s face appeared on the screen. “Hello Arctic,” Water said as I nodded my head once.

              “Greetings, I’m glad to see that you both look fine. You two, plus the captive and Darkstar, are to report back to HQ. No questions asked.” Arctic’s voice was as cold as his name, even though he was glad we were safe. I sometimes didn’t understand the man.

              “But sir! We could get to the Gates, and probably rescue the Animals too!” Waterstar shouted. I glanced at her, a bit concerned. She was always rash, but never toward Arctic. Plus, this might not be the Barrens, but the last thing we needed right now was to be attacked by a nest of vampires. Those things were nasty, especially with all their teeth.

              “Waterstar,” Arctic started to say. My stomach knotted itself. Arctic usually had a high tolerance, but I could hear the strain in his voice. I wonder if something else had come up that we weren't currently aware of. “Because of how you guys performed, we can secure the building. I have other rebels going in through the main doors; I want you guys to get your rest, it’ll be easier that way.”

              I nodded my head, buying his excuse though not believing it, but I could feel Water seething next to me. The screen went black and Ice shrugged, his silver-blonde spikes glittering in the moonlight. He never had been one for words.

              “Do you want to get Dark or should I?” Water asked. Her voice was tight.

              “You can, you look like you have some energy to burn off,” I said, hoping that she could burn off her temper before we went to HQ.

              She nodded her head and took off back into the building. The guy who was driving the car that Ice and Arctic’s virtual face had come in rolled down his window. It was a rebel that I didn’t recognize. He had black hair that was longer in the front than the back, and the front portion was a forest-green where it fell in front of his face, almost covering one eye.

BOOK: Star Rebellion
5.77Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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