LENA

 

As soon as the General discovered what I'd done, I was confined to the holding cell. It wasn't prison--not exactly--but it was close enough.

Not that I was lonely. Rhine was there with me, silent and stern and looking glum about the whole thing. I figured I'd probably ruined his prospects at another promotion.

I only minded that I didn't know what was going on. As far as I could tell there had been no news since we'd received the message about Galentide's death.

"Give it up, Lena." Rhine looked over, head in his hands. He sat on a tiny cot in the corner of the cell.

I couldn't decide whether I was still annoyed with him or grateful for all he had done. Content to ignore him for now, I continued my pacing.

"We won't know anything until tomorrow. I mean, if this plan even works in the first place."

I glowered. "Henry will come through."

He sighed. "It's not up to Henry who ascends."

"Maybe not, but with Curran ready to punish Gillis and end this war, there's at least a chance for peace."

"Sure, as long as Zubeida doesn't screw that up." Rhine sniffed disdainfully.

He may have been doubtful, but Curran still had a good half of the fleet behind him. He was the favorite for the throne, the one everyone expected to win. As long as the anti-alliance supporters hadn't resorted to civil war, there was still a chance.

"Curran needs to be the next leader," I said. "It's why I did what I did."

"I know why you did what you did." It sounded like an accusation.

"For our people and theirs." I met his stare. "This is the way."

Rhine was quiet for a long moment. He glanced to the locks on the door. "You really want out of here, princess?"

I raised an eyebrow.

He rolled to his feet and I watched as he placed a hand against the lock panels. He nodded to himself.

"Don't tell me you're secretly a locksmith."

He gave me a devilish grin, the kind I suspected he'd worn as a boy. It was startling on such a perpetually stern face. "Not in the least."

Instead, he managed to bribe one of his men. It took a combination of charm and thinly veiled threats, but one of the Major's subordinates let us out on the condition we wouldn't implicate him. Before long, we were making our way through the halls of the Base.

"We should head for the camp." We weren't the only ones being held prisoner on this base. The other Etrallians would need help.

"Are you insane?" Rhine peered cautiously around the corner. "The only direction we're headed is toward the tarmac. We need to get out of here. Now."

"We can't leave without them. Listen to me, Rhine. If we leave them here, there's no telling what the General might do. He's a second away from imposing martial law and you know it."

Rhine gritted his teeth as he scanned the next hallway. "Fine. But if they catch you...."

I shrugged. "Fair enough."

We were halfway to the exit when I heard the first cry of pain. Nothing human to be sure. The distinct sound of Etrallian torment. Before we rounded the corner, I knew what I feared was true.

The General stood in the mess hall. Half his men had formed a semi-circle around an Etrallian prisoner. The Etrallian was unarmed of course, but our soldiers weren't. They were kicking him with their combat boots, beating him down with their fists. When he tried to stand to defend himself, a soldier struck him with the butt of his gun.

This wasn't imprisonment, this was abuse.

One of the soldiers cocked his gun. Not punishment, but murder. Clearly, the General didn't intend to hold a trial.

"Stop," I screamed.

Two soldiers grabbed me as I tried to break through the line of men.

"General!"

The General paid me no mind. A few soldiers glanced nervously my way as if they expected me to break free at any moment and put myself in the line of fire.

General Wilkerson spat in disgust. "Put this one out of his misery."

The Etrallian bowed his head, so human-like I had to close my eyes. I waited for the shot, the crack of gunfire that had become familiar. Instead, I heard a loud whoosh as the doors from the entrance burst open. I heard the thundering of boots as a whole platoon of men marched into the room.

"Hold fire."

I nearly fainted. I didn't have to do a headcount to realize the General was outnumbered.

Maria Burgess stood with her hands clasped behind her back as she surveyed us. We must have been quite a scene, but her gaze was like stone. I watched her with a mixture of terror and amazement.

"Stand down, General." The President locked onto the man in question. "That's an order."

Thank god.

I tested my bonds, pulled away from the men who held me back. Reflexively, they tightened their grip. "I'm not your prisoner," I snapped. My words broke the silence.

The President looked over. "Release her," she said firmly.

The General shook his head. "What news?"

Maria raised an eyebrow. "Stand down."

The General stared back for a long moment before giving his men a firm nod. All weapons were lowered.

A man screamed.

As I turned toward the source, I saw a flash of Etrallian flesh as the prisoner on the floor kicked another soldier's feet out from under him. With several vicious blows, an entire line of men went down. Bone cracked and I winced.

The Etrallian was at the door, fighting through the thick of soldiers. Fighting for his life.

The guns came back up and I heard the simultaneous click of a dozen rounds loading. The General had just enough time to look surprised before the Etrallian was out the door and dashing across the tarmac toward the nearest ship.

"Seize him," shouted the General.

"Let him go," Maria Burgess ordered. "We're releasing the others as well."

If the General looked surprised before, I thought he might have an aneurysm now. "Release them?" He asked between clenched teeth. "Madam President, I--"

"You have your orders, General."

"But why?"

"Because, General. We're going to cut a deal."