Chapter 10

Keegan Beck picked uneasily at her food. She was one of Jewel's colonels, directly beneath him. She, along with Brigid and a quintet of Chinese mercenaries, ate in their own private room, where she was currently alone. As a colonel, Keegan never wore armor, making her easy to identify.

Jewel slipped into the room. "Oh, hey, Beck," he said.

Keegan saluted nervously. "Master Jewel. What's going on?"

Jewel sat down across from Keegan and stared deeply at her with the giant diamonds that somehow worked as eyes. "I'm trying to figure you out," he said. "Why do I trust you so much? Love you, even? I'm not used to that kind of weakness."

"Love isn't a weakness, Master," Keegan said. "Have you never loved before?"

"I don't think so," Jewel said. "Who do you love, Keegan? Somebody, for sure. I can tell by the way you carry yourself."

"Niles," Keegan said dreamily. "Niles Chore is my boyfriend. I love Niles. He went to school with me. I wear his ring." She showed Jewel the green plastic trinket. "It's pretty simple, huh? But it symbolizes eternal commitment."

"Eternal?" Jewel said. "Aren't you fourteen years old?"

"Yeah," Keegan said. "But you'd be surprised. Niles loves me very much."

"And where is young Mr. Niles Chore now?" Jewel asked.

"I brought him in as a lieutenant," Keegan said. "Sometimes we meet up on the hilltop." She took a bite of her meal.

Jewel nodded. "So… how does one obtain a relationship like you and Niles have? Mutual affection, how does it happen?"

"I… I really don't know," Keegan said honestly—more honestly than Jewel could ever have comprehended. "Sometimes, two things click together in just the right way."

"A lot of things click together for you, don't they, Keegan?" Jewel said. "Kind of strange, how so many things can go right for one human being. What is your secret?"

Keegan shifted. "I don't know, Jewel. Sometimes a person is lucky. Can… can I go see Niles now?"

"Absolutely," Jewel said.

As Keegan left, Jewel called out, "You know, I can spare Niles if you like."

Keegan turned. "Hmm?" she said.

"As a colonel, you were to survive the purge either way," Jewel said. "I have thirty thousand soldiers, and I figured I should just eliminate all of them from the contest to make it easier. But I can make an exception if you like. Would you like Niles to be one of the hundred?"

Keegan nodded. "Yes. Thank you, Master Jewel."

Outside, she met up with Niles.

"Why did you do that?" Niles said curiously. "Was that necessary? I thought you knew I would survive anyway."

"I didn't do anything," Keegan said. "Mercy must have been within him all along."

Niles stared at her stonily. "But if he hadn't found it himself, you would have brought it out. You would do anything to make sure I survive. Then why don't you take Jewel's potential for mercy and have him spare the entire human race?"

"I can't," Keegan whispered. "It's dangerous! If I alter reality, it could launch a million unforeseen things… and with things that messed up, even I can't repair them. You know this, Niles. I've explained it."

"Yeah," Niles said. "Yeah, you've explained it. But what about me? I was dead. Bringing me back to life—I interact with other lieutenants every day. Wouldn't that set up 'unforeseen things'?"

Keegan sniffled. "Niles, are you complaining? Would you rather have stayed dead? I kept you with me because I love you with all of my heart."

"You love Max, right?" Niles said.

"Max is my best friend," Keegan replied.

"If Jewel succeeds, Max will die," Niles said. "You and I will live, but Max won't. Jewel wouldn't allow it. Why would you let Max die and not me?"

Keegan blinked rapidly. "Jewel won't succeed," she said. "Max will win. It's her destiny."

"I know," Niles said. "But it was my destiny to die along with everyone else at the Day and Night School, am I right?"

"Niles, don't pretend you understand the workings of space-time," Keegan said. "I see the entire universe, you know. And it's… it's awesome."

"It's 'awesome'? What, like a hot dog?"

"Like a hundred billion hot dogs," Keegan said solemnly.

Niles laughed. "Keegan, I love you. I'm grateful for all of the things you've done for me. I'm just saying, if you can see the universe, you should make it a better place."

Keegan hugged Niles. "Well, the universe is only a good place if I can be with you."

He kissed her behind the ear. "Your personal universe, yes," he said. "But there are other people who have universes of their own. Just think about it, Keegan. Think of improving everyone's universe, not just yours."

Keegan giggled, kissing Niles back. "You haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about," she muttered. "You're only a mortal. The mortal I love."

She wouldn't even admit it to herself: the mortal she loved knew exactly what he was talking about, and had touched upon the truth that Keegan had been denying for a very long time. She was too scared to admit that she had obligations to the world.