The Children of The Resistance (The Mir Chronicles Book 2) Read online

  “Then why haven’t we left to their headquarters?” Lena asked.

  “Mir’s atmosphere is monitored. It doesn’t sustain itself. Anyone entering or exiting the atmosphere must follow certain procedures and protocol. Usually, the only place to exit legally is through The Port. The Cimmerians must have arranged some way to bypass the protocol.”

  “So we just hang here until then?” Lena asked.

  “You’ll hang here until then,” Azara said. “It won’t be long until they release Tarek and me. It’s Gideon and yourself you’ve got to worry about.”

  “What makes you think they’re going to release you,” Lena replied looking to Azara.

  Azara raised her eyebrows. “Once they find out who our father is, they’ll release us,” Azara assured.

  “Really?” Lena raised her eyebrows back and turned her head further to look at Gideon. He nodded in confirmation. He still looked tense from his conversation with Azara.

  “Lena, what Azara says is correct,” Tarek explained. “They will release Azara and me. They will send us to our consulate at The Port.”

  “It’s there we will attempt to negotiate for both of your releases,” Azara said.

  “Nobody will negotiate for us,” Gideon said. “Unless they’re just as greedy as the Cimmerians are. The only people who would stick their heads out for us are the same ones who would use us to overthrow the current leader of Mir.”

  Azara tightened her jaw. It was evident she didn’t like Gideon correcting her. “Unless you can come up with some reasonable way to secure your release, we’re going to have to use our political channels,” Azara said.

  “There is no reasonable way, Azara,” Gideon practically yelled. “If we’re freed I can guarantee it will be by the most unreasonable way possible.”

  Once again Azara and Gideon were locked in a stare. Both of their unspoken wills trying to outdo the other’s.

  “We’ll be sent to the Allayan consulate at The Port,” Tarek said breaking Azara and Gideon’s unspoken battle.“The Cimmerians are going to try and sneak off Mir with you and Gideon. You need to find a way to escape before then. Meet us at The Port. And we’ll leave Mir, together.”

  Lena turned towards Tarek. Tarek gave her a look of confidence. Immediately her mind started problem-solving. “How long do I have until the Cimmerians leave the planet?”

  “You act like it’s going to be easy,” Azara snapped.

  “At least, she’s acting,” Gideon said. “Instead of waiting for her dad’s title to save her.”

  Lena interrupted the argument. “I just need to know what I’m working against. “How much time do we have?”

  The door in front of her opened. Jonah stood in the middle of the opening, his arms hanging casually from the door’s rim. He surveyed Lena standing opposite him.

  “Sorry to be disturbing your little lover’s spat,” Jonah said with a smirk. “Though Azara is right, you know.” Jonah moved to Lena’s right to look around her to where Gideon hung. “Lena did cloud your vision.“ He turned to Azara. “And you do have something to worry about. It’s obvious your boyfriend is in love with someone else.” Azara flushed, and Gideon reddened in anger. “Do you really think you’re not being monitored.” Jonah looked towards the ceiling where a small camera hung.

  “Release the brother and sister,” Jonah commanded. The cuffs released, and Azara crumpled to the ground letting out a small shriek as she fell. Tarek caught his footing, as his arms fell limp to his sides. Wincing, he stepped to Azara and knelt at her side. Two guards walked up beside them. Grabbing them by the arm, they pulled the siblings up.

  “Apparently, the General doesn’t want your father as an enemy,” Jonah said to the siblings. “The Allayan consulate awaits your arrival.” Azara now stood on her own. Shaking away her guards, she gave them such a look that made them melt under her stare. She walked herself into the hallway.

  Tarek looked back towards where Lena hung. In one quick step, he was next to Lena, whispering furiously in her ear. “Two days,” he whispered. “My guess is you have two days to free yourselves.” The guards yanked his arms, pulling him out the door.

  Chapter Three

  “Take the Captain to Carina,” Jonah said. He released Gideon’s cuffs. Two Cimmerian guards pulled him to his feet then pushed him around Lena and into the hallway. Gideon turned towards Lena, his face relaxed and he smiled, but Lena could see the worry in his eyes.

  Jonah stepped between them, causing Lena to refocus her eyes. He didn’t wear a uniform like the other Cimmerian guards. He wore black pants with a black sweater that hugged his form. A gun sat on his hip in a holster along with an electric rod.

  ”So, should I congratulate you on a job well done?” Lena said still hanging from her cuffs. “The girl of the prophecy and the son of the priestess. However did you do it?” Lena hoped Jonah would pick up on the sarcasm.

  “I’m good at my job, Lena. Anyone paying attention could have seen Gideon’s interest in you from day one. He watched you more than a Captain should observe a servant. I knew if I got close to you, I’d get close to him.”

  “And what’s your job now? To recruit me to the Cimmerians?” Lena asked.

  Jonah smiled. “Do you really want to go hide on another planet for your whole life? You know Gideon can’t see your real potential. Otherwise, he’d be keeping you here. Not trying to hide you on an unknown planet.”

  “It’s better than being held prisoner,” Lena said.

  “Lena, I know you don’t want to leave Mir and fighting is in your blood. Look at what you can do for the Cimmerians. For Mir.”

  “So, I was right. You are trying to recruit me.”

  “Of course I am. You are the daughter of General Marcus Adhara. He was the Priestess’ biggest threat to her conquering Mir. Now you’re all grown up. The offspring of her greatest threat to power. If you joined us, you could take it back.”

  Lena scoffed. “You’re dreaming if you think that.”

  “People will look to you, Lena. The ones disenchanted with the Priestess. They wait for word of your survival from Everleigh. They know you’re alive. They’ll look to you. To the Cimmerians.”

  “But what will the Cimmerians do for Mir, Jonah? I’ve read about the Cimmerians. They want to set up a government-run world where they tell people what and what not to do. Where they decide who’s privileged and who’s not. Where they choose where you work and what you’re good enough to do or not do.”

  “Is that so bad?” Jonah asked.

  “It’s not what Mir was built for,” Lena responded. “Mir was constructed for the advancement of the human race. It was created for peace and prosperity. Happiness and equality. Where we’d help each other. Where we’d find our talents and use them to benefit not only our world but all worlds. That is the only Mir I will fight for.”

  Jonah smirked and looked away. “You’re an idealist, Lena.”

  “Not an idealist. I believe in Mir. The true Mir. The Mir that stood for hundreds of years.”

  “The Mir that was overrun by the promises of that woman.”

  “We’ll learn from our mistake.”

  “No one is going to learn anything while the Priestess is in control.” Lena bit her bottom lip and glared at Jonah as he continued talking. “If you join the Cimmerians, you’ll have an army behind you. You can help the Cimmerians destroy the Priestess. That’s what the prophecy says, isn’t it? That you will be the one to overthrow her?”

  Lena cringed. She didn’t know what to think about the prophecy, or if it was about her or not. She hadn’t even had time to think about it that much. But she did know one thing. “I am not helping you, Jonah. You are just a different face of evil. I can’t believe I was ever your girlfriend.”

  Jonah smirked as he played with the handle of the electric rod that was hanging from his belt. His blue eyes met hers. “You were never really my girlfriend, Lena. You were nothing more than an assignment. An assignment that I aced. Don’t confuse
what you thought we had as friendship or romance. It was nothing more than a way to get what I wanted. Just so happens that in the process, I got to have a little fun.”

  Lena felt her nostrils flare, her lips tightened. Jonah was standing only feet from her. Raising her chin, she looked at him defiantly. “You’re despicable.”

  Jonah stepped to her and grabbed her jaw forcing her to look at him. Lena let out a gasp and tried to turn her head away. Jonah gripped her jaw tighter. Her skin stretched where Jonah held her. She forced herself to breath normal, but couldn’t help that her skin crawled under his touch. She felt the burning in her jaw where Jonah gripped, but it was nothing compared to the anger building inside her.

  “If you won’t join the Cimmerians on your own, I’ll have to convince you with other methods.” Jonah released his grip. “I know where Thora is,” Jonah whispered. His voice was barely audible. Lena looked at the camera on the ceiling. Jonah’s face was hidden from its view. She knew he was purposely talking soft enough that it wouldn’t be able to record what he was saying. “I was with you the day we found Thora on the satellite in Everleigh. I know she stole something valuable from the Priestess.”

  Lena hardened her stare but didn’t respond.

  “I didn’t tell the Cimmerians,” he continued.

  “Why are you telling me this?” Lena asked.

  “If you don’t help us, I’ll tell. If you try to escape, I’ll inform the Cimmerians of what I know,” Jonah said. “If you do anything different than what I ask of you, I’ll send the Cimmerians after Thora. Or maybe I’ll send the Priestess.”

  “You’re threatening me,” Lena said.

  “I’m securing my position,” Jonah responded. “Help us, and don’t attempt an escape. Then, Thora will be safe. Think about it. Joining the Cimmerians is a much better option than what you have going for you now.”

  He held Lena’s stare then turned to the hall and called for a guard named Naos. “Release her cuffs and get her some warmer clothes,” he commanded. Naos nodded and left Lena’s view. Her cuffs released and she fell to the floor. Her arms felt numb then started to burn just like before. Lena saw Jonah’s boots in front of her. She looked up.

  “Think about it, Lena. Join us, or remain our prisoner. Either way, we’ll use you.” Turning casually he exited the room into the hall. Lena could hear the clanking of the metal getting quieter as he walked away.

  Naos stood in the doorway now. He whistled for another soldier. After a brief conversation the soldier left and a service bot returned with a pile of clothes. She could feel her hair loose around her face. Her face throbbed where Jonah grabbed her. She imagined it would leave a bruise. As she looked down at herself, she noticed her silk wrap was smeared with dirt and had holes in it.

  “I don’t know when the General will want to see you again. You better get rest while you can.” Naos left, and the door shut.

  She turned and slid until her back was resting against the wall. She took a deep breath and tried to stretch her arms. They hurt. She hurt. Everything Jonah has said hurt. She felt like something in her chest had torn. Something that could never heal. Lena felt a tear roll down her cheek and onto her neck. She quickly wiped it away but another filled its place, then another and another. She held her breath trying to control the pain building inside her. When she could hold it no more, she released it. Then she lost it. The last few days had been too much to handle. Huge gasping sobs echoed around her tiny cell. Grabbing the pile of clothes Naos had given her, Lena lay on the ground and curled into a ball. Burying her face in the clothes, she suffocated the tears until there was nothing left to cry. Still, she kept her face pressed tightly into the clothes, until finally, her body had nothing left inside and sleep overtook her sorrow.

  ***

  Thora stared at the server. The huge metal box filled the table. Its ends going over each side. Thora stood next to it, her fingers tapping on its metallic surface.

  “We can’t break through the security without her,” Aaron said.

  He stood next to Thora, staring at the box while his hand absentmindedly rubbed the scars on the side of his face. Aaron had been her constant companion since she’d left the facility. He was the one she called to meet her after she’d left. He had also removed her tracking device so her sister Selene wouldn’t be able to find her. In addition, Aaron had arranged the recovery of the server they now looked at. With his children Remiah and Dessa, they infiltrated the building that the server was stored in, then bombed the Priestess’ facility to sneak it out. Thora looked to where his two children sat cleaning their weapons on the other side of the cavern. Both had been trained at the Priestess’ Defense Training Facility, but after helping their father acquire the server, they hid with Thora and Aaron. They were deserters. They both would be killed if caught by the Defenses. The fact that they were in danger rested heavily on both Aaron and Thora.

  “She’ll come,” Thora answered turning back to her companion.

  “Are you sure?” Aaron asked. “It’s not like you told her to meet you here.”

  “She’ll come. And she’ll bring Gideon. Just wait,” Thora responded with reassurance. “If what I suspect is true, Lena saw the footage of me here in Everleigh. I know her well enough to know she’ll try to come here.”

  “You’re placing our ability to access the server on a guess. I don’t like it. Are you sure you can’t contact Dorry to help us retrieve the information?” Aaron asked.

  “Dorry left the planet. And he is helping us. He programmed Evangeline’s insignia to access the server,” Thora responded.

  “Thora, I know you think she’s coming, but are you even playing with the possibility that she might not? That the Priestess will capture her, or that Gideon will convince her to leave the planet?” Thora turned her head to look at Aaron as he continued. “I don’t think it would hurt to help her remember that we need her.”

  “We can’t send anything that might be intercepted by the Priestess or any other world,” Thora responded.

  “And I know you have a connection with the mystic Xenia. And she has a way to send a message without electronics,” Aaron said.

  Thora looked back at the server, but her thoughts seemed far away. After a moment, she nodded her head. “I’ll arrange it.”

  Chapter Four

  “I’ve been trying to get your attention,” A woman said, her voice sounding like she hummed the words.

  “I’m sorry, you must have me confused with someone else,” Lena answered.

  Lena stepped back. The woman’s silver and black hair stuck out in all directions. She carried necklaces on her arm and across her neck. Her neck looked burdened under the weight of it all, or maybe she was just old and stood like that naturally. The woman lifted her hand towards the chain Lena wore around her neck. She pulled out the medallion Lena had hidden under her shirt.

  “A warrior and an angel. One with the power to save, the other to destroy. Alone you will accomplish nothing. It’s only when you work together that you’ll be balanced enough to accomplish your destiny.”

  “I know you,” Lena studied the woman. “You’re the mystic Xenia.”

  “Yes. And you’re Evangeline,” Xenia purred.

  “What do you want?” Lena asked.

  “I want you to remember.” Xenia placed her hands on the sides of Lena's head. Flashes of colors swirled in Lena’s mind. Lena tried to step away, but she couldn’t move. Memories of her childhood and life as a servant flipped like photos across the screen of her mind.

  Memories of her parents laughing with her. Stories and games they’d play. Her and Gideon running through the Citadel as children. Her parents’ deaths. Gideon shooting her. She felt the emotions of each moment like she was there.

  “What are you doing to me?” Lena panted. She saw the first—and only—time she’d met the mystic. Gideon buying the necklace for her.

  “Helping you remember what you must do.” Xenia released her face. Lena fell panting to the groun
d. “Thora waits for you. Have courage. You are no longer alone. You have Gideon. Now wake up and get to work.”

  ***

  “I think she’s coming around,” A male voice said. Lena opened her eyes. Boots surrounded her. Someone in Camouflage knelt by her. “Yeah, she’s awake,” the same voice said. Naos, Lena remembered. His name was Naos.

  “Sorry to wake you,” Naos said. “The General has requested your presence." Lena nodded and pushed herself up. She shivered. She was still wearing the silk wrap Azara had given her before the Cimmerians had captured them. As if reading her thoughts, Naos turned his back to her. “Go ahead and change,” he said, motioning for the other guards to turn around as well. Lena slipped on the clothes. They were the same camo that the soldiers wore. They’d even supplied her with a tie for her hair. Lena tried to run her fingers through her tangles. In the end, she smoothed the sides the best she could and rolled the rest into a bun at the base of her neck. When she finished tying her boots, Naos motioned her into the hall. He stepped in front of her while the rest filed in behind her. This time, they moved towards what Lena assumed was the back of the ship.

  The room they entered was large and filled with screens on all the walls and tables throughout the center. Lena was surprised that they didn’t use holograms. Everything was projected on flat-screen consoles. Lena hadn’t ever seen technology as old as this looked. Naos guided her towards the center of the room, through the array of chairs and people that cluttered the walkway.

  General Carina and Jonah met Lena in the center of the room. Jonah rubbed his head. When he removed his hand, Lena saw a large lump forming on the side of his skull. He held a sour expression that let the whole room know not to ask about it. Naos moved to the side of the room and stood with his back to the wall with several other guards who did the same.

  “Agent Vernalis tells me that you are quite handy with technology,” General Carina stated.

  Lena stiffened, out of all the things she expected to be asked, this was not one of them. She cleared her throat. “I was taught how to fix things at the Defense facility,” Lena replied. “My skills are limited beyond that.”