Chapter 6: Rebel Commands
"Come inside. Quickly." Mr. Smith said softly in a very grave voice in their ears. The crowd was still laughing, but the procession had slowed down. The Gamemakers were trying to pluck the silly-string off themselves and their costumes.
"Honey - why do you need the kids now?" Mrs. Smith asked with a worried look in her face. The crowd began cheering again as the Gamemakers began joking loudly at the unexpected turn of decorations. The parade had stopped its' progress completely. She noticed two peace-keepers break off from their platoon and talk with each other.
"I just need their help with a piece of equipment we may need after the parade." Mr. Smith said in a low voice. "I'll see you at home, dear." Mrs. Smith nodded before walking back toward the apartment building. Mr. Smith opened the door for Cressida to walk in to the store. With one hand on the scruff of each of his son's necks, he ushered them into the store. The four of them walked right into the storeroom. Mr. Smith closed the door. He turned around to face them after he locked the door and pushed a button that would cause a shelf to cover the entry. He also shut off the lights in the storefront. "Boys?" He asked gravely. "Did you install those canisters?"
"Yes, dad." Castor and Pollux said.
"You used gloves?" They nodded. "Cressida?" She nodded. "Your fingerprints are nowhere to be seen?" He asked forcefully. They all shook their heads. He breathed a sigh of relief. "Ok. Well, I've at least taught you something." The twins nodded. Mr. Smith focused his gaze on Pollux who still had a guilty expression on his face. "Pollux. Explain yourself. Now." He said each word packing immense fury behind it.
"I - dad - they used kids' blood!" Pollux yelled completely loosing it. "All over the cornucopia! And NO ONE CARED! No one gave a CRAP that it was real! THAT KIDS DIED! I had to, dad! I had to show them!"
"We - we were just going to hit the prep-team." Cressida explained desperate to get Pollux and Castor out of trouble. "It - It was - my idea - that we - target them - um - mainly - mainly - because - of - that - incident - with - my parents." She stammered.
"Yeah." Castor said. "Um - but - Pollux - little bro - you gave the signal." Mr. Smith seemed to pale. He grabbed Pollux's shoulders and shook them.
"You listen here and you listen good - you never pick targets on the fly, you understand me?" He hissed angrily. "Never ever - EVER target an official! You let Volts and the higher-ups take care of that - you have neither the training or the connections to cover your tracks! You better be glad that I grabbed you before a peacekeeper! You would've have absolutely NO protection! NO back up or contingency plan! Do you understand how serious that is? DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME? DO YOU, POLLUX MICHEL SMITH? ANSWER ME!" Cressida and Castor stood frozen with their arms around each other staring in terror as Mr. Smith shouted at Pollux with his hands wrapping Pollux's upper arms in a vice-like grip.
"Y - Yes - dad - I - I - understand -" Pollux choked out before falling to his knees sobbing. Mr. Smith backed up and rubbed his temples, blinking back tears watching his son. "Dad - I - I didn't get everyone trouble - did I - dad? Please! Please - don't let me get you into trouble!" Pollux said sobbing and gasping.
"Shhh." Mr. Smith helped Pollux off the floor and wrapped him in a hug. "No." Peacekeepers would've come to the store if you have. Still, I want you three staying in here for the night."
"What about - you and mom?" Castor asked. "And Cressida's parents?"
"We'll be with Volts and Wires. We'll be safe, ok?" Mr. Smith said. "Kids - I know you all want to be part of the rebellion - I know - knowing what you do and having - the recklessness of any fourteen year old makes you want to do crazy things - but you've got to do only as we tell you, understood?" The three nodded. "Cressida, Pollux and Castor know how to contact us. We'll make sure your parents are safe ok?" She nodded.
"I - thanks." Cressida said. "Um - Mr. Smith - I'm - I'm sorry." She said biting her lip. "I - you guys - have done so much for me - and - I - I don't know -"
"You didn't ruin it, sweetheart." Mr. Smith said gently. He wrapped her in a hug. "You three sleep tight. You know where everything is."
"Have you guys slept in here before?" Cressida asked unrolling her sleeping bag.
"Twice." Castor said. "Once because Pollux and I turned it into a fort and we refused to leave, and another time a few years ago when we needed it for real." He was hit in the face by a pillow. "Thanks for the pillow, little bro." Pollux grinned and then helped Cressida adjust a pillow under her head. "Oh sure - throw one at me but not at your girlfriend!"
"Castor!" Cressida yelped. "I'm - not - I mean -" She blushed and stared at Pollux.
"I just want you to feel safe." Pollux said. "Um - I hope dad didn't scare you too much."
"No. I - he - I guess he was just really worried about you. About all of us." Cressida admitted. "I - I thought when we pushed the buttons there would be a minute delay."
"Nope. I changed the consoles the last minute." Castor said. "I - I didn't tell you."
"That's ok." Cressida said.
"I'm going to turn off the lights." Castor said. "Pollux - no making out with Cressida in the dark because I'm still here and I can hear everything!"
"Castor - I will get you once we get home!" Pollux sputtered blushing again.
"Mm hm. Right. Good night, Cressida, Good night, little bro." Castor said before turning the lights off. He crawled back into his sleeping bag.
"Night." Pollux and Cressida said. Soon Cressida heard the snores of the Smith twins. She wondered if Tom knew about the prank. Of course he did. She suddenly became worried - what if Tom had somehow gotten blamed - but then she realized that he trusted the Smiths just as much as she did. She realized no news was good news. She was also glad the next day was a weekend, so she could sleep in as long as she would like. Though she felt edgy from the evening's events, tiredness took over as she went to sleep.