Page 58 of Rebels Rising

When our laughter died down, I sat up at studied her speculatively. I noted a lightness in her that hadn’t been present while she was posing as a male, but there was still something weighing her down.

‘Areyouokay, Arty?’

‘Me? Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?’

‘Because you’ve lived a life of torture and pain. You’re on the run from the organisation that caused all your suffering. You got a ship full of strangers and hundreds of babies. You’re away from Libby again.’

‘Okay, okay. Stop. I get it.’

I waited patiently for her to answer the question, honestly this time. ‘The thing you need to understand about me, Reece, is that I’ve lived my life in a constant state of survival. I’ve been tested in every way imaginable, and even some unimaginable. I’ve endured physical, mentalandemotional turmoil. I don’t know any other way to exist. I think I’d be more worried if there wasn’t something to worry about. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.’

A growl rumbled from deep in my chest, and the sound held a slightly mechanical tinge to it that I ignored in favour of my anger. ‘That’s fucked up. You don’t have to live your life like that anymore, Arty. You have people on your side now. A whole damn army.’

Her next words sent a child down my spine.

‘An army isn’t going to be enough to stop The Program. They’re too powerful.’

‘But we have you,’ I argued. ‘You can teach those of us who have been their subjects how to wield our abilities. We can help you fight back.’

‘They have more just like us, Reece, except they’ve been successfully brainwashed into believing they’re fighting for the betterment of the Intergalactic Union. Some of them believe The Program is the IU’s most powerful governing body. I’m not enough. Even with the others, we’re never going to be enough on our own.’

I levelled her with my most serious stare. ‘Then we’ll just have to make sure we’re not on our own.’

‘I’m not in the habit of seeking out miracles,’ she said, her tone sharp and her eyes hardening.

‘Miracles are for dreamers. We’ll fight for what we need and win allies on our own merit,’ I told her.

The smile she gave me told me enough. She didn’t believe anyone would back us. Maybe she didn’t believe anyone would backher, but she’d managed to corral a decent crowd of soldiers directly from one of the IU’s largest military bases onto her side with only a single speech. She’d been herself, shed light on the truth, and hadn’t asked anyone for anything except to think for themselves.

That was how we were going to win this war. That was why we’d all chosen to stand by her side. She’d accepted us despite the inconvenience because that was the kind of person she was, and I was proud to call her my friend.

‘Believe what you want, Arty, but we’ll prove you wrong soon enough. We’ll have an army ready to fight in now time, just you wait.’

Her smile brightened at my words, and I felt my chest swell with pride that I could succeed in turning her mood around so quickly. She may not have believe those words just yet, but I tell she wanted to.

The moment was interrupted when Adara skidded to a halt just inside the mangled doorway, panting from her sprint.

‘Artemis, come quick. Bromm’s awake!’

CHAPTER 18

Artemis

Reece and I jumped to our feet at the same time and raced into the hallway after Addy. She led the way, surprisingly fast for her small size and I knew she was experiencing the same enhanced abilities as Reece, but I was far too focused on getting to Bromm to ruminate over those developments.

The infirmary was packed with the old teams when we arrived. I had to shove my way through between Xander and Dorian to get inside. Henrik was leaning over Bromm who was sitting up on the cot, his legs swung over the side. Cadmus was already there, a hand resting on his shoulder while Urman and Foryk rounded out the group off to the side.

Bromm’s grin when he saw me was weak, the happiness undercut by the exhaustion lining his eyes, but I grinned back anyway. Seeing him sitting up on his own after almost dying in my arms was the best feeling in the world.

‘Hey, love,’ he said, his voice croaky from misuse and the trauma from the intubation.

‘Welcome back,’ I told him.

‘I would say it’s good to be back, but I feel like shit and I come bearing not-so-great news.’

The smile immediately dropped from my face as my mask fell into place. ‘Tell me.’

‘He should be resting…’ Henrik tried to argue, but Bromm waved him away.

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