Page 14 of Rebels Rising

I’d been wanting to catch her alone anyway, but right now probably wasn’t the time.

‘Why don’t the two of you head back to your room and I’ll come find you tomorrow,’ I cut in, speaking through a small gap I found between Addy’s shoulder and the captain’s. ‘I have something I want to discuss with you, but Cadmus is right. After what you did to Reece, and Addy by extension, I think it’s fair that you keep to yourselves for a bit, don’t you?’

I may have been more understanding of their situation because of my theories, but I was still angry at them both for lying about my friend and causing us all so much pain and suffering. The reasons behind their actionsmay have softened me slightly towards them, but that didn’t mean I was going to let them off scot-free.

Tarren, red-faced, chest puffed and huffing, looked as if he were about to argue but his sister placed a delicate, scar-riddled hand on his arm and he visibly deflated. ‘Fine,’ he spat out through clenched teeth before piercing me with a pointed stare. ‘Tomorrow.’

I gave a jerky nod that he accepted before guiding his sister back the way they’d come. His gentleness with her was telling, and a part of me thawed even more. Not completely, he still put someone I cared about at risk, but, if I was right, I could understand his action and the reasons behind them. If I were in his position I probably would have done the same.

‘What do you need to talk tothemabout?’ Addy asked, her nose scrunched in a sneer.

‘Just let me talk to them first, and I’ll come to you when I have the information I need,’ I said, darting my eyes towards the captain in a way that I hoped conveyed my message. She frowned, but understanding soon lit up in her eyes and she agreed.

The captain, however, was not privy to our silent communications and wasn’t so understanding.

‘What reason do you have to keep this information from us now?’ he asked, suspicion clear in his tone. The feeling was mutual.

‘I’m not keeping anything from anyone,’ I assured him. ‘I’m merely refusing to speculate.’

‘Speculate what?’ he demanded, refusing to budge even an inch.

My response was to give him a deadpan stare that raised a few nervous coughs from the other members of our group.

‘Well, come on then. Let’s get this meeting over with. I’m tired and want to get some sleep,’ I waved for them to follow me as I re-entered the cockpit, pushing past the captain in the process. He attempted to block my way, but he was no match for my strength.

Libby was still there, laughing quietly to herself as Baldr attempted to escape the chair while Eloria struggled to keep him on it. Bal was having the time of his life enjoying the little game, but Eloria looked stressed as if he were going to break if his feet touched the floor.

‘Here, let me,’ I offered, picking the little escape artist up and placing him back on my lap.

Everyone settled in around the room, some standing while others seating themselves in various positions. Dorian leaned against the wall with Urman at his side, and on his other side was the captain, though he was scowling at Adara as she picked the arm of my chair rather than him.

‘Hey,’ she smiled at me. ‘Mind if I perch?’

‘Go right ahead,’ I told her. If I caught her starting to lag then I’d give her my seat. Bal could always rest in my arms anyway.

Addy turned to the hologram, her lips stretched wide in a happy smile. ‘Hi, Libby! I’m Addy. It’s nice to finally meet you,’ she greeted with genuine excitement.

‘Ah, hi,’ Libby returned the greeting, suddenly shy. I understood it since Addy would have been the first person she’d met that wasn’t a subject of The Program. Well, she was, but Libby didn’t know that yet. Unfortunately, from the way everyone shifted nervously, her timidness had come across as rude rather than shy.

‘Libs, we’re about to debrief. You can stay if you want, but it will probably be a long one,’ I offered, attempted to divert the attention away from the awkwardness.

‘Oh, um, I should probably get back. It’s still night here and I should probably let you go before the others catch on and demand to see their own kids. You have enough on your plate right now. Thanks for calling, A. And for getting Bal back…’ her words choked off when the emotion got the better of her, and my own eyes watered with tears that were eager to be shed.

‘Of course, Libs,’ was all I said. No words were even necessary. I would have been here to save him with or without her permission, though having it certainly made things between us less bumpy. Fighting with Libby was never fun, and it was an extremely rare occurrence.

‘Love you, A,’ she said, then looked down at the little boy in my arms. ‘Mama loves you, sweet boy! I’ll see you soon.’ She blew a kiss, then the hologram dispersed and the room was left in silence.

No one spoke, the words a struggle to drag out amongst the trauma and exhaustion.

Reece, who had settled cross-legged on the floor by the door, was the first to break the silence. ‘So… was I the last to know that Arty has actually been a girl this entire time, or does someone still have to figure that out?’

The room erupted into an array or chortles and snorts.

‘I knew first!’ Addy piped up eagerly, but her statement was met with opposing reactions. The most negative of which – no surprise there – belonged to the captain.

‘And how is it that you knew her secret the entire time and didn’t bother to let me…usknow?’ he demanded sternly.

The pink woman merely shrugged, a teasing smirk pulling at the corners of her lips. ‘I just felt her up. It’s not my fault I was the only one who managed it.’

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