CHAPTER 50

Earth

2027

Rory stood at a podium on the stage at a convention center looking out over a few hundred people who had gathered. She'd coordinated with the US government on choosing a location that would not garner a great deal of attention and she'd urged all those invited not to speak to people about this meeting before they came. An abundance of military troops dispersed throughout the room to handle any security concerns.

Rory had wanted to speak to as many representatives as possible in person so that they would hear her message with their own ears and know it had not been manipulated online. She could have packed out a stadium with reporters, trusted aides who could report back to federal and state congressional members, and international representatives who could make the trip in time. It was too dangerous to gather in large crowds, though. In the thirty-six hours since world leaders had announced Vehru's invasion, the social upheaval was too great to draw in crowds like that. There had even been attacks by individuals supporting the Federation, people who demanded that Earth support their liberators, or die.

That was not even considering that Vehru could surprise her by giving up on the humanitarian act and attack a large gathering.

Rory had thought about using her squad as security at a stadium, but they couldn't manage a crowd like that. If Vehru offered more soldiers for security, it would make her look trustworthy to the people. So, Rory had settled for meeting quietly with representatives from each state in the US and as many countries as could join. She'd asked that trusted staffers come in place of major activists and politicians because the people needed their leaders and they'd have to be very careful with their lives.

If Rory could, she would travel to other countries and do the same thing. At least this way, one group would hear her, record the message, and be able to spread the word that they'd heard it in person. It was real.

For now though, she only had time for this one meeting before she and her squad enacted the most dangerous mission so far. Each person had their own objective and it had to be carried out simultaneously if they had any hope of finishing the job before Vehru or Morfrain stopped them.

If it worked, then not only would Earth have some kind of chance against the invasion, but Rory would manage to significantly hurt Vehru and Morfrain.

When she began, she opened with reiterating some of the things she had said before, extorting them not to give into Vehru or believe her lies. Then she told her story, all of it. Vehru had not banned her from discussing the personal details of her life, only classified information. Although, she questioned whether Vehru would let her tell everyone about the threat to hurt her son. She would save that for the end in case Vehru stopped her.

Those gathered appeared visibly shocked as she talked about Vehru stealing her memory and breaking apart her family, or when she told them that her first husband had come to Earth as one of Vehru's generals.

The audience was captive and now Rory needed to get to the most important part. She braced herself before speaking further. First, she would warn everyone that Vehru may not allow her to finish and to take this as proof of Vehru's deception. Then, she would tell everyone exactly what Vehru planned to do. At some point, Vehru would stop her, and Rory would begin the second part of her plan.

It wasn't too late to turn back. Rory could get the message out for everyone to stop. Jace was so worried that Vehru would hurt her. He would stop if she asked.

Closing her eyes for a moment, Rory prepared herself. They had to do this, no matter what happened. No one could fight a war by holding themselves back. She sucked in a deep breath and began to speak when pinpricks of heat popped all over her body.

The convention center with all those people who watched her intently vanished in the blink of an eye.

The heat swelled and Rory stumbled back in a grassy field. Vehru stood before her, hard eyes already on her.

"You know that you can't disclose classified information," Vehru said.

Rory stared in shock. The commander took her away right in the moment when she was about to utter something compromising. The exact moment.

"No…" Rory shook her head, fighting the knowledge that she'd never wanted to believe.

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"You've always feared this," Vehru said. "You had to know it was ridiculous to believe that you could really hide anything from me." The commander shook her head. "Of course, we can read your thoughts. You couldn't stop fighting, so you couldn't accept what was so obvious. What you knew was true."

The panic made Rory immediately think of Jace, Theo, and her squad, and the danger they were in. Everyone would be enacting their plan right now. At this moment, Theo–

Shit. Shit! She couldn't think about this. Closing her eyes tightly, she imagined kissing Levi's forehead the night before, desperate for the only thing that could consume her mind so entirely that maybe she would not think about what Vehru couldn't know.

Her fear whispered through her mind as she replayed her conversation with Levi. This was especially dangerous for Jace. Damn it, Rory had to control her thoughts. It kept slinking in.

The violation of not even being allowed freedom within her own mind rolled through her stomach in a wave of nausea.

Why had Vehru let them get away with so much if she could read their thoughts? It just couldn't be. There was no hope if this was true. Rory could not let go of hope. It was the one thing Vehru had never stolen from her.

"How can you do this to us?" Rory let the hatred for Vehru consume her entirely. "You've hurt so many people on so many worlds. So many that you're killing your own mother."

With a speed too great for Rory to register, Vehru moved and now stood so close to her that their noses nearly touched. While she expected out of control rage, the commander spoke with a chillingly controlled voice. "You will never hurt me the way I've hurt you. The lust for revenge won't ever be satisfied. It's not an endeavor you should undertake."

"It's not revenge." Rory stared resolutely into her eyes. "It's a truth you numb yourself to by day with mindless cruelty and by night with alcohol that you can't even kill yourself with."

"This is why of all the Witnesses I've had, you're the one I trust the most."

Nothing had ever disgusted or insulted Rory more. The sudden and shocking words derailed Rory's train of thought. The initial reaction settled into dread, though, because if Vehru trusted her, then she didn't fear what Rory could do. Why would anyone fear Rory when they could read her mind? That feeling of helplessness that always seemed to return hung like weights from her body. She wouldn't give in. Wouldn't. Not as long as she lived.

"Of all the partners of Witnesses, Jace is the one I trust most." Vehru smiled. "You even surprised me by finding Theo, who I also thought was incredibly trustworthy."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I've told you before and you never listen. Every planet deserves a Witness they can trust. It's incredible that after all I've taken from you and with how powerless you know you are that you continue to fight me." Vehru's look deepened. "I made it to where I am because people underestimated me. I know to never underestimate a flesh-and-blood human. I thought that was one of my greatest strengths. I fully harness the potential of people like you who somehow have the fortitude to fight no matter how many times I destroy you."

A creeping feeling wound down Rory's spine.

"You, though, are even more special than I realized." The sudden look of pain in Vehru's eyes terrified Rory, because it defied even that of the personal devastation of Rory telling Vehru's mother everything. "You told me I'd made a mistake. I knew I hadn't because you're too perfect. I had total confidence in this. Only I did make a mistake, didn't I?" Vehru grabbed Rory's throat without warning, the pressure of the fingers on her windpipe firm, but not yet painful. "You're so desperate to beat me that you did the one thing I cannot tolerate."

Vehru knew. She knew and Rory would not be able to get the message to Jace.

Hot breath wafted over Rory's face as Vehru whispered in a terse voice. "You have always feared I could read your thoughts. All this time, you tried so hard to not even think about it. Even now, my Replica tells me you're trying to not to think about the fact that you've sent your husband on a death mission."

Rory had done what she could to prepare herself for the consequences of her actions, and it simply wasn't possible. "Don't hurt him."

"Shut the fuck up." Vehru's hold did tighten now, enough to make Rory's breath feel tight. "You're confused about why I've let you get away with so much if I know what you're thinking. We all have our weaknesses. You figured out mine. I give you credit for that. You found my mother. The Federation's weakness is that they are cheap sons of bitches. It takes energy to monitor your every thought in real time. The neuroweb alerts us of keywords to review. Or I have my Replica search through your memories. It's not constant."

A tremble started in Rory's fingers.

"That's how I missed what you planned to do to my mother or when you first placed the cameras in your home. Clever girl. You didn't even realize how smart you'd been. There was nothing about your plan with her that triggered an alert that we needed to investigate your thoughts."

Rory caught herself before she could think of everything that she feared Vehru may know. The other woman laughed bitterly.

"Oh stop. My Replica is monitoring your thoughts now. There's no point in trying to control them. I already know everything you plan to do. How sad to have your brave efforts crushed before you can even really get started." Vehru shook her head. "I know Nikka is delivering all that precious data to Theo right now. I know Alix is about to release the recording you sent to my mom and to start pushing out other compromising videos. I know Lyon plans to spread word that the great General Jace needs everyone's help because you know the soldiers trust him. You think that you can get some of them to turn against me and you're probably right. Jace has already stolen the loyalty of more than just your squad. You're arming Earth against me and stealing my own soldiers for your rebellion. It's a good plan. Except I also know what Jace is doing."