arbitrate (daynight) (16 page)

There’s shuffling in the room that everyone seems to ignore. They’re too shocked to see that Brad’s alive. Vienna looks like she has seen a ghost. All but Violet and Victor are surprised—those bastards knew he was alive all along and were housing him.

The video ends, and Jax restores full lighting to the room.
 

Fantastic. We’re all surrounded by armed military personnel, and we are hostages to Brad Darcton. Well played, Brad. He’s the only one with the balls to stage a coup of his own people using SCI military to help.

Jax grabs hold of Kira, ready to whisk her out of there on the first sign of real danger.

A door opens, the military goons part, and a very smug-looking Brad Darcton enters. He strides over and places a quick peck on Vienna’s lips. “Hello, Darling. You look lovely…a little pale but beautiful nonetheless.”

She stammers. “You…you…you…were dead.”

“Nah. Just incapacitated for a spell. During my recovery, I had a lot of time to…ponder, study the political landscape, and formulate a plan.” He turns to address the crowd. “As you can see, our Military backs my return to my rightful spot as Senior member of the Ten. And lest you think that my power doesn’t extend beyond here, I think a live broadcast is in order.”
 

Brad motions to several military personnel, and, suddenly, Ethan is surrounded. Their weapons are pointed at him.

Using his own kid as bait to show how ruthless he is? What a bastard
.
 

“Jackson, I’m sure you’ll be happy to assist me in this matter.”

Jax glares at Brad. He’s not on board with this. But when Ethan’s guards release their safeties, Jax agrees to help. Brad uses a low voice to tell Jax what he needs—something about tapping into a video feed of some sort.

Several scenes appear out of nowhere—so crystal clear that I could swear we were seeing everything in person. There’s a mall, a school, a football stadium, an amusement park, a military training facility, a corporate headquarters for a high-tech company, and a medical research facility. People are scurrying about at each location. I don’t get why Brad wants us to see this.

“We have spent decades researching and testing and gathering data. But what have we done with our findings? Nothing of consequence. Society’s morals are declining at a faster rate than ever on Earth. And here on Thera, we’ve allowed those we banished to gain strength and power and to rise against us. We have been tentative, weak, and indecisive. That changes
now
. After this morn, the SCI
will
take control on Earth. And here on Thera, we will become a force that
no one
will reckon with.” He looks sharply at Jax, then me.

He gestures to all the locales Jax is showing us.

We watch the mall implode into a billowing ball of shrapnel and dust.

Gads almighty, what has he done?

Kira screams, echoing what I wish to do but can’t. My scream is stuck in my throat. In fact, I can barely breathe. Jax pulls Kira flush against his chest so that she can sob against him. He shields her eyes from the rest.

The school is next, reduced to steamy rubble by a wall of fire, hundreds of promising young minds perishing in an instant.

No. Make him stop. Make this stop.

A mushroom cloud swallows the football stadium. Thousands dead.
 

Despite the Ten being coldhearted bastards, they are squirming looking ill and disgusted.

“No,” Henry shouts. “This is NOT what we are about.”

Brad ignores the protest and the attacks continue.

The crowds at the amusement park battle a mist that steals their breath, each person falling to the ground.
 

How could anyone kill families at an amusement park?
Tears stream down my face as I watch them fall like dominoes. I look around the room. The only dry eyes are Brad’s.
 

Vienna stands up and holds her hand out. “Please…Brad…stop this.”
 

He rolls his eyes at her and responds with a sharp tone. “Not. Until. It. Is. Done.”

The military facility’s own drones turn on them, dropping bombs and obliterating all within. Now, even the military guys are emotional. Their eyes are glassy, complexions pale.

Brad admonishes them. “Stop being a bunch of pussies. You’ll be thanking me when new troops arrive to support you, and we are able to build a military that no one can reckon with.”

A pulse renders all electronics useless at the high-tech company headquarters followed by a stronger electrical shock that seemingly stops everyone’s hearts.

Why? Why, why, why, why, why…

I lean over and vomit the contents of my dinner all over the floor. I’m not the only one.

This isn’t right. Please make it stop.

When I look back up, I see poisonous, acidic fumes fill the medical research facility, killing everyone in the most horrifically painful way I could ever imagine.

Brad looks triumphant.
 

I feel defeated.

The rest of the room? The great leaders of Thera?

They are broken.

Pale.

Sick.

Disgusted.
 

Weeping.

Heads between knees, rocking back and forth.

Gads, who could do such a thing?
 

He killed thousands of innocent people…children
.

Henry, who always appears stoic, gives Brad a murderous glare. His voice is hoarse from the tears draining down his throat. “Helping the homeless move on…to better circumstances is one thing. What you’ve done…is…nothing short of genocide.”

“I suggest you get back home quickly, Henry. You can thank me later. I’ve all but gift-wrapped your election win for you—as light will be shed on the extent of the current administration’s security failings amongst every walk of life. The country will be more than ready for new leadership.”

Henry lunges for Brad, pushing him to the ground. It takes several guards to pull Henry off. They drag him out of the room with Henry yelling, “You better watch your back, Brad. I don’t care how many soldiers you have behind you. If you ever pull that kind of crap again on American soil, I will find a way to make you pay.”

Brad laughs as the door closes with Henry on the other side. “He’ll get over it. Now, where was I? Jackson…I assume you’ll let your dear Arbiter colleagues know about the incoming.
That
should keep them busy for a while. As for the rest of you…prepare for the influx and put them to good use. I have outlined each of your assignments in a general mandate you’ll find on your tablet.”

You’d think he was holding a seminar on, “How to become a serial killer.”
Turn to page thirty of your textbook. Be sure to take notes.
 

No one moves. Everyone is in shock. Terrified to protest. Terrified to acquiesce.
 

Vienna is staring at her Cleave like he is the devil. The guy next to her has his mouth hanging open. An older gentleman across the table is massaging his temples, likely hoping to rid himself of both a headache and Brad. A bald man, purple from an asthma attack, is using his inhaler. A dark-haired woman is staring at a picture of her kids on her tablet.

Brad bellows, “For Gads sake, people. All those who died will get a second chance. They get to live again. Have you forgotten? That’s what we are all about. Does it really matter
where
they get to live if they get to live? At least they’ll be put to good use…have a purpose. They’ll be making us stronger, better!”

Jax is the only one brave enough to step forward. Kira is by his side, her eyes red and puffy. I think she’s in shock. She doesn’t seem to be seeing or hearing anything. With a firm voice, Jax says, “It
does
make a difference where and how they live, Brad. You’ve made some interesting choices. I hope you are prepared to live with the consequences.”

“Can’t you see, foolish boy? I’m well prepared to deal with anything!” Brad dismisses Jax and turns to me. “I’m afraid I’ve usurped your seat on the Ten. But you’ve shown that you make an excellent assistant. You start immediately.”

“Wait. No. That wasn’t part of the deal.” I object. I may throw up again. “What
was
part of the deal is returning my son to Kira.” Even though the baby is only one life compared to the thousands that were just lost—it’s the only life I have the least bit of control over.

“Oh, Blake. I’d think you’d have realized who is in charge by now. You
will
be working with me. And Kira…your son is safely back at your apartment.”

Kira collapses into Jax’s arms. He holds her tight. “Brad, I’ll be seeing you soon,” Jax warns before disappearing with Kira.

Brad blinks slowly. I’m not sure he has seen an Arbiter portal before. Once he recovers, his eyes narrow and land on Ethan and me. Great.
Thanks, Jax. You left us behind with Mr. Mass Murderer.

“A question that sometimes drives me hazy: am I or are the others crazy?”

—Albert Einstein
 

CHAPTER TEN

Kira

One week later

It has been a week since I got Aiden back.
A week since Brad Darcton returned and showed us his coordinated terror attacks on Earth. Ethan left to go help Henry do “damage control.” What Brad did though—that’s not the kind of damage that can be controlled. That’s the kind of damage that takes years of healing and recovery. If I were on Earth, I’d be afraid to even leave my house. Brad showed that
no one
is safe. That the enemy can infiltrate any place, any time, and with a variety of different methods. They’ve made Earth feel like Thera.

Although extremist factions overseas had tried to take credit for the attacks, the blame was given to homegrown terrorists. The masses have demanded tighter security and controls, and Henry King has a concrete plan. The polls are overwhelmingly in his favor, and his election is imminent.

I’ve had to spend extra time with my therapist. I’m feeling so many emotions. Joy for having Aiden back. Devastation over the time I missed with him. Anguish over what has happened on Earth while I have been “safely” tucked away on Thera. Fear, knowing that there’s a contract on my life. Cabin fever since I can’t leave this underground bunker. Distress at the overwhelming responsibility of having to take care of three babies. Exhaustion from lack of sleep. Loneliness because Jax has been gone a chunk of every night on Arbiter and Ten monitoring business. Anger that when Blake stops by, it’s to find Jax, not to see his son—or me. Guilt for the time Ethan has lost with Zander and that he feels so uncomfortable around me that he has purposefully stayed away. Confusion over my feelings.

The more that I try to figure out how I feel, the more insane I get. The last time I felt this out of control, I ended up in a 24/7 lockdown mental facility in Education City—the equivalent of a sprawling mega-university offering only advanced degrees—including ones in psychiatry and psychology. I shudder thinking of my time there. I’d rather die than go back. Of course, it was thinking about dying that landed me there in the first place. If it hadn’t been for Jax figuring out how to pull me out of my self-imposed black hole, I don’t think I’d be here today. He gave me something to live for.

Jax needs to learn how to bottle his “feel good” touch therapy into a pill for times he is away. I didn’t appreciate how much he helped until he wasn’t around to help. I’m not quite sure if I miss him for his calming abilities or just miss
him
, and that bothers me. I think Jax is just plain avoiding me because he knows I’ve been having “more than friend” thoughts and doesn’t return my feelings. It’s only natural that we’ve grown close after spending a full year together and after everything that has happened with the babies. But it’s silly of me to expect anything more than that.
Isn’t it?
Of course it is. I’m not sure I
want
anything more than that—with anyone. Thus, the insanity.

I check the clock on the wall of the nursery—0315 hours. Jax won’t be back until well after sunup. Not that I can see the sunrise. On my agenda for the rest of the early morn: feed babies, burp babies, change babies, play with babies, and try to get the babies to nap. The schedule’s on a continuous loop. Maybe I’ll get a shower in while they nap, maybe not. Maybe I’ll grab a bite to eat but probably not. I’ve lost my appetite.

A timid voice interrupts my train of thought. “Miss Kira. Master Ethan’s home and is extremely upset that he can’t find his son. He’s in his room unpacking.” Great. It looks like Jax failed to tell Ethan about the remodeled, impossible-for-Ethan-to-access wing.

“Thank you, Martha. I’ll handle him. Can you watch Eva and Aiden?” I pick up Zander, who had been happily swatting at a toy bar hanging overhead. I can tell he’s tired though and start to rock him.

“Of course, Miss Kira.” I’ve tried to break her of the “Miss” and “Master” habit, but it’s hopeless.
 

I head out the door that exits across from Ethan’s room. Ethan’s sitting on the edge of his bed, elbows on his knees and head in his hands.
 

“Ethan? I brought Zander.”
 

He raises his head and looks at me with such contempt and hatred that I want to melt into a puddle and seep into the floorboards. “Where the hell was he Kira? You can’t keep me from my son.”
 

I flinch. “The babies and I are targets. We’re just doing what we need to do to keep safe. It’s not to keep you from Zander. I promise. Anytime, night or day, you can just press the intercom button and he’ll be brought to you.”

“You think you are at risk in a high security bunker? Be honest, Kira. It’s because you don’t trust
me
. How ironic is it that
you
betray
me,
and, suddenly, I’m the untrustworthy one.” I close my eyes. He’s right. I don’t trust him to keep Evvie’s existence a secret. Maybe someday I’ll be able to. But he held a gun to Jax’s head. I can’t risk him flipping out over Evvie.

I reopen my eyes, walk over, and hand him a sleeping Zander. Ethan’s countenance completely changes when he looks down at Zander. I sit next to the two of them on the edge of the bed. He still smells like cinnamon and I breathe the scent in like it’s a lifeline. “I’m sorry, Ethan. I know I’ve messed up in every conceivable way. I’m broken, and I’m not sure I can be fixed. That I can fix
this
. However, I don’t want to fight with you. I don’t like everything that has gone down—especially you threatening Jax’s life and outing him to the Ten. But you are Zander’s father. He needs you…”