Behind the Stars (24 page)

A different pain rose in my chest at the sight of him, at the memory of the loss he was grieving and the knowledge that he wanted to comfort me like I’d comforted him. But I didn’t stop. I didn’t make eye contact or smile. I couldn’t speak to him now, and I didn’t know what I’d say if I did. The lines were restored, and we were on those opposite sides again, only now I didn’t need him for information. I had all the information, and I knew nothing was keeping us here. My body was free of the drugs, and I knew the way out. I was leaving.

Back in the dorm, a dry pair of coveralls waited on my bed for me. A small box was also there, and when I opened it, I found the delicate silver necklace Flora always wore with the little heart locket. Her earrings were also there. I peeled off my wet clothes and slipped the chain and silver locket around my neck. The earrings I left in the box. I didn’t bother getting dressed. I simply crawled beneath my blanket and closed my eyes. I’d sleep until nightfall.

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E
verything was quiet when I opened my eyes again. I couldn’t tell what time it was, but from the sounds of sleep in the dorm, it was well past bedtime. As quietly as possible, I slipped out of bed and into the pair of dry coveralls. I found my second pair of canvass sneakers, and I tied my hair back in a ponytail. I should’ve had Roxie braid it out of my face, but I hadn’t felt like being around anyone, Yolanda in particular. Her lack of memory was too disturbing.

I was just at the exit when I noticed the lights were on in the dining hall. I looked all around the yard, but I didn’t see any guards. Of course.

It was time for me to run, but I wanted to know what they were doing in there. Maybe they were adding the drugs to the food supply. Maybe I could stop them or somehow mix things up so our friends were more alert when we returned to free them. If the aliens were even still here then, and if we still remembered any of this.

I crept across the wet ground avoiding puddles until I got to the back door, where I could hear voices. Several males were inside talking, and one of them was Gallatin.

“It didn’t take much to nail him,” a voice I was pretty sure was Ovett’s said. “They must not be eating much out there.”

“What do you want me to do?” Gallatin sounded resistant.

“Neutralize him. We don’t want him waking up and disturbing the others.”

I pushed up to my knees and peeked over the wall. Sure enough, it was Ovett and another male alien whose back was to me. Gallatin was with them, and he leaned over a bound figure. The captive’s arms were tied behind his back, and it looked like blood was on his face and bare chest.

Gallatin positioned his head so that his chin fell back and
OH!
The sound slipped out of my mouth before I could clamp my hands over it.

It was Jackson!

“Did you hear something?” Ovett looked in my direction. My heart hammered in my chest, and I couldn’t even breathe. “Soso, see if there’s anything out there.”

I ran without even looking at the male alien headed my way, and with trembling legs, I made it to the back entrance of the dining hall. As quietly as possible, I turned the handle and eased the door open praying it wouldn’t squeak. It didn’t. Then I slipped into the kitchen area and over to the door leading into the hall where the men stood over my long-lost boyfriend.

Gallatin was on one knee at his side. I exhaled slowly, not knowing what to do. So many feelings rushed through me at once.
Jackson was alive!
He was captured. I had to save him!

“I don’t know why you’re involving me in this,” Gallatin said. “All I can do is make him calm or change his memories. You’ll have to drug him to keep him down.”

I winced at Gallatin’s words, at the fresh wounds their drugs had inflicted.

“You’re a Guard now,” Ovett said, but his tone made me pause. He was smiling, but his voice was sinister.

“That’s right,” Gallatin said, rising to his feet. Standing, he looked Ovett in the eye, and he seemed to sense what I did. Something was up.

“What purpose do you think that Order still serves?” Ovett asked. “Is it to reestablish the old ways or to maintain control over the people regardless of who’s in power?”

“I haven’t made contact with my fellow Guard yet, but it’s my understanding we all want the same thing. Our way of life restored.”

“You’ve never lived our way of life a single day, and you’re very young to be taking on this role. Are you sure you’re ready?”

Gallatin’s posture was tense, and my concern for him split me in two. “Cato thinks I am. Anyway, my promotion was beyond our control. My uncle—”

“Your uncle could never have reached your grandfather without being allowed. Unless he’s become even more powerful.” Ovett paced slowly, his heels clicking on the concrete floor. “Your sister feels much pressure to protect you, and she’s under much pressure to restore order to Gliese and bring us home safely.”

“The Guard cannot be missing a member or they’re no use—”

“Which is precisely my point.”

Gallatin’s brow furrowed. “I’m not sure I understand.”

“If your sister had a mate, someone of her own nation and a former cabinet member like myself, we could go back to Gliese and garner the support of our countrymen.”

“Acona has the planet under terrorist rule. He has guerilla soldiers in every major city with Warrior outposts established in all the crucial points.”

“Your father was of the Warrior nation,” Ovett said. “Why should I believe you won’t turn and be loyal to his brother once we’re away.”

“My grandfather never did, and it was his own son,” Gallatin snapped, anger seething in his voice. “I can show you proof of my reason to hate Acona.”

He held out his arms.

“Yes, yes. I know of your injuries. His attack on you at Pellagasi was... disturbing. And the loss of Sontag, well, I’m not sure your sister has fully recovered.”

“She still mourns him.”

“He’s dead.”

Gallatin studied the man a moment. “I would never betray Cato,” was his only answer.

Ovett took a deep breath and turned. “Well, there’s nothing but time now. I’ll go and fetch Shubuta about this one. Keep an eye on him, will you?”

“Of course.”

The two alien men left and only Gallatin, me, and unconscious Jackson remained. I thought about what I’d just heard, how it sounded like Gallatin might have trouble ahead, but I couldn’t help him with it. And if my former alien-friend-whatever was telling the truth, soon it wouldn’t matter. We wouldn’t even remember... Loss again ached in my stomach, but I ignored it, rising to my feet. I entered the dining hall determined to take Jackson. Gallatin wouldn’t stop me. I wouldn’t let him.

His back was to me when I spoke. “Remember how you said you wanted peace?”

He spun around in surprise. “What are you doing here?” He started toward me as if everything hadn’t changed, but I took a step back.

He stopped. “You shouldn’t be here,” he said.

“I’m leaving, and I’m taking Jackson with me.”

“Jackson?” His eyes flashed, and he looked back at the body curled on the floor. “This is... Jackson?”

“Yes, and he’s coming with me. You’re going to let us leave.”

“He’s unconscious. There’s no way you can get him out by yourself. You’ll only get caught.”

“D’Lo can help me.”

“Don’t you think Ovett will miss D’Lo? He’s a giant.”

My jaw clenched. “I’m not going to argue with you, Gallatin. I’m taking him.”

His eyes softened and he stepped forward, catching my hand, ignoring my attempt to pull it away. “Ovett will be back in less than a minute. Hide in the kitchen, and let me help you.”

My heart beat faster as I held his hand. I knew he still cared for me, and it hurt knowing I still cared for him in spite of everything that had happened. The time we’d spent together crowded my mind, but I couldn’t go back there. Now Jackson was here.

“I’ll hide, but if you pull any tricks—”

“I would never trick you.” His voice was gentle. “I want to help you.”

I moved to do what he asked, but just then the back door opened. I jumped behind a metal cabinet near the wall, my heart thudding in my chest. Gallatin turned his back to me and walked to meet Ovett in the center of the room.

“Did you find Shubuta?” he asked.

“She gave me a pill. Combined with the tranquilizer dart, it should make him sleep until she’s able to examine him and make a proper recommendation. She’s reluctant to prescribe drugs tonight.”

“She had a shock earlier today,” Gallatin said, and I appreciated his remorseful tone.

“We don’t have time for this kind of weakness. We’re at war.”

“She’ll be better tomorrow, I’m sure. Give me the pill and I’ll see he takes it.”

“You can handle it yourself?” Ovett’s voice was skeptical, but I could tell he didn’t want to deal with the situation anymore.

“I’ll take care of it.”

The older alien turned and left the hall, but I waited several minutes before stepping out from behind the cabinet.

“That was close,” I whispered. “What did he have?”

Gallatin held the pill to the light. “Looks like more Zoraquel.”

“Is that what...”

“Yes,” he fisted the pill and looked down at me. “I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

We stood for a moment not knowing what to say. His hand twitched as if he wanted to reach for me, but he didn’t. “The way you sang, the ritual you observed was very beautiful.”

“You’ve never been to a funeral?”

“Yes, but it’s different for us. When you’ve lived five hundred years it’s more of a celebration.”

“I’m going to get D’Lo.” I couldn’t listen to him speak of five hundred years when Flora didn’t even have eighteen.

“I’ll try to wake this one.”

* * *

B
ack in the dorm, D’Lo was snoring with his arms over his head. As usual the drugs had knocked him out, but after two weeks, he’d grown somewhat used to their effects. Still, I had to yank on his arm for what felt like hours before he stopped talking in his sleep and opened his eyes.

“They’ve got Jackson,” I hissed. “I need you to help me get him out.”

“Who’s got... what?”

“Dee, please wake up,” I pled, jerking his arm again. “Jackson’s in the dining hall. He’s with Gallatin. Unconscious. I need you to help me get him out of here.”

“But what about—”

“There’s no chip. There are hardly any soldiers anymore. It’s like I told you, it’s all mind games to keep us under control.”

“The cutting I saw wasn’t a mind game. Cleve wasn’t a mind game.” He moved like he would lie back down.”

“You can’t ignore this!” My heart ached like it would burst if he didn’t start getting dressed. “If they get Jackson, they’re going to neutralize him. You know that can’t be good.”

He was still reluctant.

“Help me, Dee!” I was near tears now.

“We just buried one of ours,” he whispered. “I don’t want to do it again.”

My breath hiccupped as I tried to speak. “Then you have to help me get him out.”

That seemed to register with him, and at last he started moving in the right direction. I exhaled a sigh of relief and stood.

“Meet me at the front.” I turned away, giving him privacy. In another moment he was with me, moving slowly but moving nonetheless.

“Where is he again?”

“Dining hall. Gallatin’s waiting for us.”

I ran through the dark not caring about the puddles now. D’Lo huffed to keep up with me, but I knew it was the effects of the drugs still in his system.

“He’s helping us? You must’ve really let him get close to you.”

“I had to get information is all.”

“It was more than that. I could see it.”

Shaking my head, I pushed my feelings aside. “Jackson’s here now. That’s all that matters.”

We went through the door and Jackson was now seated in a chair with Gallatin’s shirt on. It was too long for him, and he was leaned over with his head on the table still unconscious. I appreciated the effort all the same.

“I couldn’t get him to come around. But you can take my shirt. I have more.”

“Thank you,” I whispered as D’Lo hoisted my lifeless boyfriend over his shoulder. “Follow me, Dee.”

I started to go, but Gallatin caught my arm. “Wait. Prentiss—”

“I’ll be in the kitchen,” D’Lo said.

I watched them disappear through the back doors, wishing I could follow and not face this moment. I knew it would be painful, and I’d had enough pain in the past two days to last me a lifetime. I didn’t want any more.

“I know it’s a bad time, but we might not see each other again,” he said.

I didn’t answer. Instead I studied the copper pendant hanging to the middle of his bare chest. In the dim light, it seemed to match the color of his skin. I studied its iridescent finish, the black pearl absorbing light in the top corner. Everything about him was different and special, and I’d only tried to make it normal. Like me.

“I don’t want you to remember me this way,” he said. “With hatred.”

At that my eyes flickered to his. “I don’t hate you.” My voice was a cracked whisper, and I felt the burn of tears threatening to come.

“I’ll always remember the week we spent. Bully. And while I know you only did it out of pity, Prentiss, when you kissed me... It was—”

“Stop.” My voice was desperate. “I can’t do this.”

“I’m sorry.” He looked down. “I hope... maybe one day you’ll remember those days instead of these.”

“So I’ll remember?”

“Possibly. If you’re far enough away and don’t come back.”

I looked up at him, studying his face. His tan skin and hair, his golden eyes, the scars. His lips, our dance, I would remember everything. Relief mingled with devastation raced through my insides.

“There’s something else. Ovett’s men, during the collection... well, he deviated from the plan.” He paused and crossed his arms over his bare stomach. “He said he was worried there wouldn’t be enough room for all of you in the camps, so he gave an order. It’s why we have to leave sooner.”

Yolanda’s story of Russell flashed through my mind... Cleve... my chest grew tight. “What did they do?”