Twell and the Rebellion (26 page)

“
Who said you have to
sacrifice them?” The trainer met Shanna’s outraged gaze
patiently.

“
What other choice is
there?” Shanna replied defensively, but in a more subdued tone. I
could see she was trying to calm down and regain control of her
emotions.

“
Well, that’s why you must
train first, to work it out,” the trainer stated calmly. “If we’re
prepared for them to use their young to catch us off guard, then
we’re already one step ahead of them. We must find ways to overcome
them without killing their young, if we can.”

“
Without their weapons
they have no power,” I spoke up.

“
Yes, you understand.” The
trainer smiled at me with appreciation. “We fear them because of
their technology. Strip that away and they are smaller than
us—weaker than us—no way near as big a threat.”

“
So if I can disarm them,
they are harmless?” Lavi asked hopefully.

“
Not at all. Desperation
can make people capable of amazing and terrible things. If they
don’t fight, they have no hope. They know no other way.”

“No,” Shanna shook her
head furiously. “They don’t
want
another way.”

“
History tells us so.” the
trainer agreed, no longer smiling.

Shanna was right. We had tried
trading, but they’d wanted more and then they’d tried to take it by
force. Then when we’d defended ourselves, they’d launched an attack
that nearly destroyed our world entirely. No matter what way you
looked at it, they were still wrong and we would still need to
fight them. It was inevitable if we were to survive this time.

“
You will go through the
course again and this time you will be prepared for their means of
fighting,” the trainer addressed us, turning away from Shanna.
Watching her furiously blink back her tears, I resisted the urge to
go to her. Like trying to approach a trapped spitting serpent, my
instincts told me it would be fatal.

My heart sunk, unwilling to do
it all again. I was already drained and still shuddering at the
memory of their creepy simulated figures. Nevertheless, there was
no choice in the matter and back in we went. We didn’t stop until
the sun sank over the wetlands, the cool breeze caressing our
flushed skin as we stepped wearily from the arena. Outside, I
paused, taking a moment to drink in the fresh air. Although
emotionally and physically exhausted, I’d done better as the
afternoon wore on. I worked hard to stifle the natural fear of
Abwarzians. It was a hard feeling to ignore, imposed on me over
years of schooling and media submersion, but I forced myself to
look past them and focus on where the actual threat was coming
from. It always came down to their weapons.

As time went on, although
my body was fatigued, my mind seemed to gain strength and make up
for my physical limitations. Becoming still, I relied on my
instincts rather than seeking them out. I soon realized I was
sensing them first, before I could even see them, as I’d sensed
Shanna during training. It was as though my powers were warning me
of a threat, giving me a slight advantage. I honed in on their
weapons, disarming them one by one until there was nothing but
circling ghostly holograms. Although they couldn’t actually touch
me, they still struck fear into my heart every time they
materialized and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get used to
their small, dark haired children being thrust into the warfare. I
reminded myself they weren’t real and therefore neither was their
fear. But the look in their eyes and the horror on their small
sallow faces seemed to match my own terror. It was the biggest
struggle of all to ignore them and focus on my own
survival.

Chapter
Eleven

It was already evening meal by
the time we all dragged our feet wearily to the hall. I was sweaty
and gross. My muscles trembled. I tried to run my fingers through
my impossible hair, but gave up quickly, knowing it was a lost
cause. I was seriously starting to consider cutting it off and only
knowing how much Jonaz loved it had kept me from doing it so far.
What was it with men and long hair? Dead on my feet as I joined the
meal queue, I didn’t even notice Shanna until she was right in my
face.

“
So, are you going to go
sit with Jonaz?” she started with her usual directness. I looked at
her tiredly and she gazed evenly back, as though her earlier
tantrum had never happened.

“
Probably not.” I tried to
sound nonchalant while my stomach lurched.

“Why not?” Shanna
demanded. Annoyance nipped at my mood as I tried to move around
her, but she blocked my efforts.
She was
relentless and I was tired—a bad combination.

“
Shanna, just drop it!” I
hissed. “Honestly, do you really think it matters right
now?”

“You think our freedom
doesn’t matter anymore?” Shanna’s voice climbed strangely higher.
“You need to go find him and show everyone our freedom still
matters, despite what’s happened.”

I looked past Shanna’s
shoulder, tuning her out for a moment as I spied Avin sitting with
Kaelin. I waited for him to look up, but his eyes stayed downcast
at his meal tray. My stomach panged with guilt.

“
It’s totally selfish to
press our agenda at this time,” I argued. “People here have lost
their families. That’s a tragedy, Shanna. Can’t you respect
that?”

“
Oh please,” Shanna said
viciously. “That’s just your gutless excuse, because you’re
weak.”

I gasped,
experiencing
a moment of pain before my
blood began to boil. “Back off, Shanna,” I raised my voice a
little. “Let these people grieve.”

“
Let them have hope!”
Shanna yelled as people turned to stare. “Our freedom is more
important now than it ever was, while we’re all still here!” Shanna
started to shake, the crazy new look in her eye seriously
alarming.

“
Shanna stop!” I pleaded.
“You’re just tired or something!”

“
And you’re a
disappointment!” Shanna screeched. “You’re totally selfish and I
knew you were too pathetic to be a leader!” Shanna advanced on me
suddenly and I dropped my tray, trying to back away.

“
Have you loaned out your
brain cells? Calm down!” I warned. But it was too late as I felt
her powers hurtling my way. Instinctively, I blocked her, my body
straining with the effort. She was really strong and really ticked
off. Not good.

“
Shanna!” Avin leapt in
front of me, his body between us as he faced Shanna. I nearly fell
over as the connection broke off.

“
She’s ruining
everything!” Shanna glared wildly at Avin. “And so are
you!”

This was
really
not
good. People stopped around us, open mouthed, goggling, and most
likely assuming I was now fighting over Avin with Shanna. Oh boy, I
could hear the rumours already.

I tried to step around Avin but
he threw his arm out, pushing me back. “No, Twell,” he commanded
quietly but firmly. I saw him wince. It was his bad arm and it was
obviously still healing. I obeyed, but kept my eyes warily on
Shanna who was still shaking with rage.

“
Shanna,” Avin’s voice
rolled out like a spell, so fluid and compelling I shivered. “Look
at me.”

Shanna stiffened, glaring
furiously at me as she tried to resist. But the power he was
unleashing on her felt tangible, even to me as I stood back. After
a moment she tore her gaze from me and her blazing eyes fixed on
his. The moment she did, he had her. Just like that. Her eyes grew
wide for a second and then softened, the rage ebbing away as a
glassy stare replaced it. Her features fell slack as her whole
posture relaxed.

“
That’s good, Shanna,”
Avin murmured in a light caress that melted my own defences.
“You’re not angry at Twell. You’re just upset.”

She wasn’t? Could have
fooled me, but I didn’t care what story he spun her at this point,
I just wanted her to stop acting like a lunatic. Avin stepped away
from me, towards Shanna, and her eyes became more glazed as he drew
her into a trance like state. She swayed a little and then a lost
childlike look came over her as she blinked, wide-eyed and
confused. Avin took her arm, not breaking his gaze as he continued
to murmur softly to her, telling her everything was okay as a crowd
looked curiously on.

I watched in shock as he
rendered her harmless. He’d just taken control of Shanna, one of
the strongest willed people I knew, as easily as if she were
completely
moldable
. The strength of his
gift was undeniable. All along, he’d had the ability to overpower
my own mind. He could have made me kiss him. He could have made
me
choose
him. He even could have told me to forget who Jonaz Maven
was, and I wouldn’t have been able to resist. But he hadn’t. He’d
been true to his word. Even though it was breaking his heart, he
wanted me to choose him with my own free will. My eyes smarted with
hot tears as I stared at my match in dismay.

When Shanna was completely
subdued, Avin finally broke his gaze and turned his fluid silver
eyes to my own. “I’m sorry,” he said.

Sorry for Shanna’s behaviour?
For trying to kiss me? I didn’t know, but his voice sounded so
tired, so resigned all of a sudden, it cut right through to my
heart and twisted it painfully. Then Maza was there, pushing
roughly through the crowd as they scattered out of her way. Her
shrewd eyes landed straight on me, already accusing. Great.

“
Why am I not surprised?”
Maza’s tone was as frosty as ice, her eyes gleaming at me in a
predatory way as she surveyed the scene.

“
There’s no problem here,
Officer,” Avin calmly addressed her. “It’s just been a long
day.

“
I find that hard to
believe when it is you three I find involved.” Maza swivelled
suddenly to the staring hordes of cadets and demanded, “Someone
tell me what just happened here.”

I inhaled quietly, my muscles
coiling in anticipation. Someone would tell. I knew it. There were
enough people here who disapproved of my and Shanna’s beliefs to
want to see us punished. Avin caught my eye, his pained expression
confirming my fears.

“Well?” Maza’s voice rose
impatiently. “Someone speak!” Time stretched out, the silence
growing thicker around us. I didn’t understand. Why wasn’t anyone
helping her? Confused, I looked at the faces around me and then
stifled a gasp. Resentment. They were staring at Maza resentfully.
Stubbornly. Angrily.

Maza saw it too, on every face
as she pivoted around, glaring at each cadet in range. Realizing
they weren’t going to help her, she grew red in the face,
struggling to contain her anger as she thought through her options.
She knew she could force someone to talk. She had the authority to
make someone obey her. However, it would just enforce the truth and
she knew it. It would prove my point, that they controlled too much
of us. If resentment was already visible, then how long would it be
until resentment grew into retaliation? Retaliation to rebellion?
When would she lose control and have to answer to the Governing
Body herself?

Maza turned slowly,
piercing me with her
poisonous gaze. She
wasn’t going to win this round. But she wasn’t going to forget it.
Or let me get away with it.

“
Go and take your meals,”
her voice was controlled. “I don’t want to have to come down here
again.”

I exhaled the breath I’d been
holding as she walked away, her walk rigid with fury as she
scattered the crowed of cadets in her wake. They watched her
warily, some muttering under their breath, some shaking their head.
Something had changed. An awakening. A slight shift of power. I
could feel it as it shivered over my skin.

As the crowd slowly dispersed,
the three of us stared awkwardly at each other. Well, Avin and I
were awkward. Shanna was just out of it. How Maza hadn’t noticed
was a miracle.

“
Will she be okay?” I
finally found my voice.

“
Yep. It will wear off
soon,” Avin replied unsmiling. He was avoiding looking at me again
and it made me feel awful.

“
Will she still be mad
later?”

“
Probably, but not at
you…I really don’t think it was about you anyway.” He sighed. I
wanted to ask what he meant, but he turned away, still holding
Shanna’s arm.

“
I’d better move her
outside until she recovers,” he muttered.

“
Avin, wait.” I found
myself reaching out as if to grab him. Something flickered in his
eyes, before he repressed it, waiting for me to speak.

“
Are…are you okay?” I
stammered.

“
I’m fine. All’s well that
ends well…as they used to say.” Avin’s smile was polite, but his
eyes seemed to grow dimmer, the silver fading to a flatter grey. He
turned and walked away, taking Shanna firmly with him. She looked
so defeated I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. There was
obviously something going on with her. However, even more painful
to watch was Avin walking away from me. No matter which way I
turned, I seemed to be disappointing or hurting something. It was
turning out to be quite a talent.

Miserably, I collected another
meal and sought the comfort of my own friends. I identified my old
crew from the brightness of Sazika’s long, bright hair. Mira was
sitting opposite her with Quin. My heart lifting, I started to head
over, but then stopped dead. Jonaz was sitting next to Sazika and
teasing her about something, because I could see her profile
turning as red as her hair.