The Constant Star (44)

THE STORY SO FAR

“You must be hungry as well, you’ve been on a minimal diet the last few days. Let me fix you something to eat. Lucas, you’d better run and let the elders know.”

“Oh right! Of course.” He puts his hand gently on her arm and looks Siff in the eyes, “I’ll be right back.” He smiles and then takes off on a run across the grass to the road.

Esken leads her back inside where he sits her on the rest area and makes sure she is comfortable. He brings her a cup of water before heading to the stove to prepare some food from the fresh vegetables he must have just picked from the garden. He looks to be in his forties, but very healthy and with a gentle demeanor. A very kind man, Siff decides, though also very quiet: he hasn’t spoken a word since they came inside. Perhaps it’s for the best, there’s certainly going to be an interrogation later. But there is one question that is burning on Siff’s mind, even in her weakened state it baffles her that no-one has come to retrieve her yet. She has to know, “How long have I been here?”

Esken raises an eyebrow as he looks over from his cooking, “Dear, you’ve been my guest for the better part of three days. It was just a few hours ago the elders were here. Now here, have some vegetable stew and get some of your energy back.”

Siff receives a wooden bowl filled with carrots and potatoes, and takes a sip off her spoon. She can’t believe how good it tastes. The only thing stopping her from devouring it is the heat from being fresh off the fire. Oh my god I need more of this.

Three days. Three days after being shot. What is going on?

36

The Council room in the Needle is already abuzz. Saturn and Pluto have barely left the room in the last few days, making it their command-centre. Their officers are constantly moving to and fro with new information to share. When Jupiter arrives Mars has already taken his seat. Jupiter does not bother to join them at the table before speaking in his authority, “Ladies and gentlemen, if we can have the room, please.” All work stops and the room is cleared in seconds. The door slides shut and he continues immediately, “We have to get her out. We have to do it right now.”

“This is going to be the exact same argument as last time, unless something new has come to light?” Mars seems agitated to have been called back from his secret mission.

Jupiter feels the protocol chip in his pocket, “You could say that.”

“I thought we had discussed this. You admitted you were in the wrong and emotionally overwhelmed. It is obvious what needs to be done. Pluto, you need to destroy her and everyone she has come in contact with.”

“I decide what happens to the Chosen Ones. They are my responsibility, Mars. But in this case I believe you are correct. She has contaminated a small group with her presence and we must eradicate her influence immediately.”

“But I have new intel. She may be our most valuable asset.”

“You don’t get a say in this, Jupiter. I don’t even know how you learned of her discovery.”

“I told him, Pluto. He is a member of this Council as much as any one of us. We must remain united and in communication with each other. There is no room for fractured leadership at this time, and to leave him out would only alienate us from one another. Something I am sure Diana would take full advantage of.”

“Since when were you the military expert, Saturn? I am the tactical head at this table, or did you forget?”

“Then are you failing by choice, or by ignorance?”

“You watch your tongue, Jupiter. After all I have done for you I will not hesitate to bring justice to your slander.”

“I went with your teams, remember? I saw behind enemy lines. I saw a rebellion force that is untrained and vulnerable, carrying weaponry and operating artillery they have no right to own. I planted bombs that never went off, and marked snipers that escaped our strikes. We should be winning this war against such an untrained enemy, but every inch we take is requiring a pound of blood and I can’t help but ask myself why.

“How did they get that weaponry? How did they know we planted those bombs? How did they know to move their snipers? Mars, there is a spy in your ranks. Someone who is actively helping the Rebellion. Someone who has access to your mission plans and your weaponry. They are getting help!”

“If you are facing failed missions that is a testament to your military abilities, not my entire force. It is most likely you were seen planting the bombs, and seen killing the snipers. Even the most ignorant military commander would know to disable your sabotage and move their remaining snipers to avoid detection.”

“Don’t be so proud, Mars! Open your eyes to the truth! They have your weapons, and they have your intel. And that is my argument for bringing Siff back here. She has seen first-hand what is in the lower levels. She has met with their authorities and seen things she doesn’t even know she’s seen. We need to get her out of the Tube and back here so we can interrogate her.”

“That is foolishness! Whatever intel she can provide will be useless against her bias. I also have my spies in the Rebellion, and she is an unnecessary liability. She has already been among the Chosen Ones for days. We need to stop her influence immediately.” He turns to Pluto, “Destroy that village.”

“Once again, Mars. That is my decision to make. The Needle is my domain.”

“So maybe you can answer my question, Pluto.” Jupiter turns his fury to a new avenue, “Why did it take you so long to

Enjoying the story so far? Get up to four weeks ahead at www.patreon.com/stevelikestowrite