I haven't seen Lucian since we left for work this morning. He spent the entire day in Central Command with the generals and the Trinity and I couldn't help but imagine them sitting in comfortable looking chairs, eating snacks while they watched everyone through the camera's they've planted everywhere.
I kept my bag safely out of anyone's reach and once work was over I headed straight to the training center in search for Rosie.
A feeling of familiarity washes over me as I walk into the dull grey building and I am thankful that I haven't been banned from coming here like I am from entering the slave quarters.
I stop in my tracks when I see two armed officers walking around the premises. This is the first time I'm seeing this and when I walk past the medical facility I notice armed guards standing by the entrance as well.
They catch me staring and I notice the recognition in their eyes. Is this added security the result of the rebellions?
Their presence causes me to worry slightly.
I walk through the large garden that separates the recreation room from the training center and inhale deeply, breathing all the oxygen provided by the algae that grows on the floors, walls and even the lopsided fountain in the middle.
When I reach the training center, I open the doors and freeze in place when I see two armed guards standing by the doors as well. I smile politely and attempt to walk past them but a Plutonian holds out his hand stopping me.
"We're going to have to check your bag first, Bone Breaker."
I still and clutch my bag tightly as my nerves ignite with panic. "Why?"
"It's standard procedure. If you want to enter you're going to have to get scanned, Bone Breaker."
He mentions those words I hate again and it fills me with irritation. I can't let them look in my bag and find that mug I surreptitiously hid inside. That would not only arouse suspicion but if Lucian found out he would never trust me.
My communicator rings suddenly and I pick it up.
"Hello?"
"Minion, where are you? I'm bored," Remulus says through the line.
"Umm, Commander Remulus," I purposely utter his name out loud and suppress a smile when the guard's eyes widen. "I'm here to visit my friend in the training center but there are two guards stopping me for some reason."
"They dare stop my minion? Wait there, I'm coming over to beat them up," He jokes.
"What? You're going to punish them?" I ask out loud and the officers shift on their feet uncomfortably.
"I said beat them up, Aria. You need to clean your ears."
The officers look uncertain but they don't budge from their positions. Thankfully I see Rosie walking up the steps and wave at her. She sees me and rushes over.
"Why are you bored?" I ask Remulus and he sighs theatrically.
"Well Altair was supposed to be my wing man tonight but he ditched me because I always get lucky when he doesn't. So now I need a new wing man and I think you'd be perfect for the role."
"I can't. I'm busy at the human quarters." I cradle the communicator under my ear as I speak to him.
"Ughh you're such a bummer. What are you doing there? Can I join? I look a bit human anyway."
I am about to retort but he cuts the line making me wonder if he is on the way already.
"Aria, what are you doing here?" Rosie reaches me and I nearly wince when I take in her appearance.
She is staring at me with only one eye. The other one is shut under a scarred eyelid, with the jagged scar extending from her forehead right down her cheek. I can't help but wonder how she will be able to fight properly with this disability.
"I came to see you," I stutter and my entire being fills with guilt, knowing that she looks like this because of our match. "To see how you are doing."
The guards by the training center watch our exchange and Rosie notices this as well.
"I'm hungry. Shall we go to the recreation room?" She walks ahead and I follow her to the hall on the opposite side of the garden. There are two guards standing there as well.
"I can't let them scan this bag," I whisper and her body tenses slightly.
"Why not?"
"I need to start working in Onyx." I state and she stops walking suddenly.
Instead of walking into the recreation room she turns and walks down the garden path, stopping next to a small water feature that has been fitted into the wall.
"You can whisper here. It is a blind spot," She tells me. "What's in the bag, Aria?"
"I need to replicate the finger prints on this glass. If 'S' knew about my speech they might know how to do this for me," My voice shakes as I whisper. This is probably the most insane thing I have ever thought of.
But I've never been so desperate. And desperate times call for desperate measures.
"'S' doesn't do things for us. They only expose what is going on behind the scenes. They reveal things that the Plutonians are plotting and hint at what we can do about them," Rosie explains.
"I will help. I will join Onyx and help you guys but I need this in return."
Rosie stares at me, looking slightly worried. "Are you sure? I mean I'm happy that you want to join us but it is a dangerous decision and your position as a member of the Trinity's lover makes it tricky. I don't know if Matt or the others told you this but we are all taking a risk by trusting this 'S' person whom we don't know."
"I know that. But my position might be beneficial as well."
"It definitely is but as you can see I don't have much to lose, I'm going to die in the pits anyway. Are you willing to risk it all for something that may or may not work?"
I swallow hard and look into her eye. All I can think of is Lucian marrying some Plutonian girl, becoming sole commander or second in command and then ruling the galaxy. I don't see myself fitting into that picture at all. I don't belong here. I never have.
"Yes, I have nothing to lose either."
Rosie nods and holds her hand out to me. "Give it to me. I'll see what I can do."
I hold out my bag and then hand it to her hesitantly, holding on to it for longer than necessary. Rosie takes it from me and wears it like a backpack. "Don't worry, they haven't scanned me so far. Must be because of my maimed face."
I gulp in response and hold on to her shoulder tightly. "I only trust you, Rosie."
It frightens me to say those words knowing how precarious my situation is. One wrong move and everything might just blow up in my face.
Rosie holds on to my hand and squeezes it. "I trust you too. I will try to get you that job by this week."
I give her a weak smile and she walks away, heading to the lifts that leads to their rooms. I swallow my apprehension and walk away from the blind spot, heading to the garden again.
I unexpectedly catch Cassandra's bright red head exiting the medical facility and feel extremely happy to see her here. I call out to her as I rush her way but she doesn't even notice me. She is swaying on her feet, looking dazed as she holds on to a piece of paper.
"Cassandra!" I catch up to her and she just stares at me blankly. Her lips are quivering and her body is shaking like a leaf.
"What's wrong?" I frown and she opens her mouth to speak but then shuts it quickly.
I look down at the paper in her hands and she tucks it behind her back.
"They're going to kill me, Aria," She whispers softly and her eyes fill with tears.
"What?" I stammer, not understanding her at all. I pull her towards the back of the building where it is more secluded and then take the sheet of paper that she is holding.
She hugs herself and leans against the wall looking lost and frightened while I read the medical report. It is a paternity test and when I read the name under the column that says 'father' my heart drops to my stomach like a pile of stones.
My eyes are huge and unblinking as I read the name over and over again hoping it is just my imagination but the words remain the same.
Lazarus.
Lazarus is the father of her child. I turn to Cassandra and she just stares at me while her arms and legs visibly shake. I hold on to her arms and my fingers dig into her skin.
"Cassandra, how? Why?"
"Remember when I told you that he punishes me sometimes," She stutters and then looks down at the floor.
"He forced himself on you?" I ask her in a shaky voice. "Why didn't your commander stop him?"
"He can't do anything, Aria," Cassandra laughs bitterly and then she whispers, "Lazarus is the Trinity. What he wants he gets."
My body shakes with anger and I pull Cassandra close, wrapping my arms around her tightly. "I'm so sorry, Cassandra. I'm sorry you had to go through this because of me."
"It doesn't matter. I told you I would rather get hurt instead of you and I meant it. I just can't let anything happen to my baby. I don't care who the father is, Aria. I love my child no matter what," Cassandra mumbles into my shoulder.
I rub her back, trying to soothe her but she suddenly pulls away.
"They have the results. Soon he will find out and then he will kill me for carrying his child. Or his fiance will kill me. What do I do? What do I do, Aria?" Her face is filled with fear.
I pause not knowing what to say or do and then we hear another voice.
"There they are, officer. I saw them come here together to conspire. They are hiding something in that paper over there." I see Stela walk towards us with a sneer on her face. "You have to confiscate it and punish them."
My eyes widen in alarm and I look up at the officer walking behind her. I am thoroughly surprised to see Remulus.
"I was looking for you and this girl suddenly pulled me out here saying she saw some rebellious activity that needed to be reported." He shrugs his shoulders at me and Stela whips around to face him.
"What? You know her?"
"Duhh, we're in the same squad," He says and Stela looks like she is about to burst in anger.
She marches up to us and tries to grab the paper in my hands. "Give that to me or I swear I will report all of you to the authorities."
Her words make Remulus laugh but I know how serious the situation is and her threat boils me with rage. She reaches her hand out, trying to snatch Cassandra's results and I push her back. I then punch her right in the nose and a loud crack reverberates in the air.
Everyone stares at me in shock and Stela screams while she covers her bloody nose. She falls to the floor and writhes in pain and in a twisted way it fills me with satisfaction to see her like this.
Remulus rushes up to us and when he sees the serious expressions on both our faces he eyes the paper in my hands.
"Is that a medical test?" He asks me and I nod my head while Cassandra bursts out crying. "Tell me it isn't bad news, Aria."
He snatches the paper out of my hands when I don't answer and sucks in a breath after he reads the results. He then pulls out his phone and dials a number.
"Are you going to report us?" I ask hopelessly but he doesn't reply.
"PG Lucian, we need you help," He says into the communicator.
Heyyy, things are getting serious. Hope you guys are ready for the ride lol. Sry for the delayed update :) :) Next one will be out on Monday.