Dawn bowed her head, and Master Aki placed both hands at his sides and gave her a deep bow in return. Master Aki respected the Galadrias immensely, and it showed in how he treatedthem.
“How’s the leg, Brisk?” I asked my favoriteMarine.
He shrugged. “Looks like a pin cushion, but I’m okay.” Hewinked.
That was arelief.
“Okay… guys, I have to show you something. I needed water, so Dawn took me to this human military bunker type place, and I foundthese.”
I held up the files and proceeded to explain what I’d found. Damien’s eyes were wide as he flipped through the papers. Even my stoic mentor was scowling as he leafed through afew.
He shook his head. “We must not let thishappen.”
“Yeah, but how can we stop it?” Iventured.
He rubbed the little white goatee on his chin. “First and foremost, we destroy their latest supply of this green stuff. Show them we know about their deal and we won’t stand forit.”
My eyes bugged. “What you do mean? Like blow itup?”
He nodded calmly. “Precisely.”
Gentle Master Aki wants to blow up a shipping dock in Boston?Okay….
Nox looked super thrilled about all ofthis.
“Then, you’ll start training with me. We work with Jeremy to test your gifts, and find a way to end the Dream Wars. Before this plan can come to pass,” Master Akiconcluded.
I tried and failed not to roll my eyes. “Master, that’s… a nice thought, but they have a kill list. If we invent another device, the government will ‘terminate’ us. I know you believe in my gifts, but I’m not strong enough to do anything that would make a bigimpact.”
“I believe you are,” he said, withouthesitation.
I sighed. “And I appreciate your faith in me, but making a female breeder’s nose bleed is about all I’m capableof.”
He shrugged. “Agree to disagree, young one.” That term of endearment meant the conversation was over. He wouldn’tbudge.
“Fine.Whatever.”
If he wanted me to try and move shit with my mind, I would give it a go if only to prove him and Jeremywrong.
Damien was pacing angrily. “We should get these files to thepress.”
I’d thought of that. “But how? How do we get them from here back home? And honestly, who would believe it? They’ll scream ‘conspiracy theory,’ and next week they’ll forget aboutit.”
Damien looked livid. “While you’ve been in here, they blew up the Bisbee mine. Five dead.That’swhy it says terminated. Someone must’ve printed these fresh, right after ithappened.”
My heart sank when I thought about that sweet town and the five lives lost. “So no moremine?”
He nodded. “Which means no more plasma bricks or cuffs. The government is just handing the human race to the ghouls on a silverplatter.”
Rage poured through me at that. “I’ll bet these are their only copies. There was a typewriter in theroom.”
Brisk stepped forward. “Were there cameras? Did you leaveprints?”
Shit.
I swallowed hard. “I may have left some prints on a chair or two.” And the marker with which I wrote‘traitors.’
Idiot.
