Her attitude started to get on my nerves. I’ll admit the rebellion was not going well, and had been not going well for a while. Our camp was a collection of ship debris welded together. Our fighters were going up against genetically enhanced guards. Most of the ‘citizen’s, all who were not noble, weren’t enhanced even a little.
In order to win any engagement we either had to get in and out fast, or hit with overwhelming odds. And, slowly we lost more people, and it was harder and harder to win at all. Still, what did a child know.
Her eyes went from my head down to my feet. “I know enough. I learned all about strategy, and tactics before I could talk. I’m quite enhanced. All of this thanks to my parents.”
A moment passed before I realized she felt my emotions, or read my mind. Either answer disturbed me quite a bit. “Regardless, it isn’t Harl’s fault. So, why are you needling him?” I hazarded a glance at Harl. I could tell he didn’t appreciate me talking for him. Tough.
“He failed my parents.” Her eyes whipped back to him. “You were suppose to protect them. You were supposed to bring the tech back to the rebels so the war would go in your favor. You failed on both counts, didn’t you? My parents, my siblings dead, and you didn’t gain anything.”
Harl and I exchanged a look. For all her adult behavior and vocabulary, she was a child hurt, because her family was gone. She had to be the eldest. “Gulla.” She had my sister’s eyes.
To my utter surprise I found myself hard on the ground, a blade pressed against my throat. “How do you know my name?” My body stung, but I didn’t remember how it happened. She must have increased reaction time.
I kept my voice steady. Harl had a hard time holding everyone back as it was. If I started to sound panicked someone would get hurt. “I’m your mother’s brother. I joined the Rebellion early on I used you when you were a baby. But, then the rebellion got serious, and I had to go into hiding. They’d leave care packages for me with your picture in it every once a while. Harl was friends with your parents too. He tried to save them. He isn’t perfect, and he didn’t. There is no betrayal here. You feel like you have no one trust, but isn’t true. We want to make a new life without the Nobles walking around with all the power.”
“I would not have brought you, if they couldn’t be trusted, Gulla.” Amaria cool voice flowed over us.
I realized Amaria had known about this girl for a while. A girl she should have told me about.
Harl took a lunge forward grabbing Amaria and giving her a good shake. “You kept this from me? I thought you were devoted to our cause.”
In typical form Amaria didn’t react to being shaken, she only glanced at the beefy hand wrapped around her slim arm. “I am. However, Gulla is her own person. Young perhaps, but she is allowed her own decisions.” Her odd gaze locked onto Harl’s. “I have a strong desire to allow others the freedom to make their own choices. She desired to come here.”
He tossed her arm away, and switched his attention back to Gulla. “Why did want to come here? Not to only insult me I assume.”
The knife left my throat, as she climbed off me. Gulla straightened her back, her hands on her hips. “You wanted the tech. You need it. You can’t possibly take on the Nobles, and their guards without it.” She glanced over at Amaria real quick. “I have it.”
At that moment the area broke in a cacophony of noise. I couldn’t tell if some disbelief, or if others were excited. Too much noise, and too many voices. Harl clapped once, everyone went silent. “What can it do?”
(old website) 