Chapter 50
Brian
Being Used

The young boy looks at him and smiles, he isn't sure who the human child is. The boy says, "I can tell them you are here."

Brian is about to ask the boy his name when the dust begins to swirl around him and he feels like he is being pulled away. The boys face becomes blurred and he puts his hand on the glass wall, he can see someone dressed in a red Regime uniform who appears to have collapsed. Then there is nothing, but the swirling dust. Brian now remembers where he is and turns around knowing exactly who he will see.

"Mother."

"It is good to see you."

"I am ready," He lifts his head and smiles at his brother and his father. For a moment he frowns, he doesn't see his sisters. Then he smiles, this is good they have not passed over. "I have missed you all very much," Brian holds his hand out to her and then as he begins to take that step forward to her, he feels like he is being pulled back into swirling dust and the pain comes. Unrelenting pain.

He is suddenly awake and screaming.

"You okay?"

He sits up trying to catch his breath, "Yeah." He looks around, "I thought you would be on your shift by now."

"I don't like this, you had that dream again." Kelly is looking very concerned.

"I am fine," He pauses for a moment, it has been awhile since he has had this dream. In fact, he honestly thought he was done having the death dream and it never had a human in it. Who was the boy? Again he asks Kelly, "Aren't you supposed to be working?"

"In a few. Sorry you're having the dream again." Kelly walks over to his bed and picks up his jacket and puts it on. "So you aren't feeling weird or anything."

As of late Kelly has been acting very strange, almost like a stalker. Always asking how he feels, is he angry, is he feeling lost or questioning anything like the Regime or the reason for being here. "Again I am just fine."

"Just concerned is all. I want to be there for you if you ever need someone." Kelly shrugs and pauses for a moment, "Well. . .I better go." He just stands uncomfortably for a moment. "Ah, okay. I will go."

"Sure, have a great day. Unusual that you are going to your shift before I go to mine."

Kelly smiles, "Early shift sucks."

He gives a quick smile and watches Kelly leave and knows he needs to get going or he will be late for his Youth Corp meeting. One thing he likes is the memory of his first time with Diana. How could you not be in love with someone that wonderful. As he remembers that night the thought of Robin comes to him. Why can't she just go away. She was the one that didn't say no, she is the one that didn't protest, why didn't she. He didn't do anything wrong, well except lie and use her. With a shrug he prepares for the Youth Corp meeting and leaves.

…... x …... x ... x

The Youth Corp meeting was just like any other meeting. He sits on his bed and looks at his device checking out any schedule changes. Then he feels it, looking around the room he simply goes to the place of white haze. "Gailey, I have work. I must leave so be quick."

Standing with Gailey is Angeis'Ark. She nods to him and quietly says, "It appears that nearly all have come out of their bonding. We thank both you and Alfred for the speeches you gave, everyone understood to act as expected or face another bonding. We hope John will not begin the forty day bonding again, but if they do our hope is that it won't have the same affect on you. If they do then we will do as we had planned previously"

"Thank you for the information, I hope they don't do the bonding again." Brian has a deep fear that although there has been no more schedules setup for another bonding they will. His concern shows as he says, "I fear we or you won't be able to get us out again. Also, you are welcome the speeches that we gave previously actually seemed to have an affect on those who came out of bonding immediately."

"I agree the previous speeches certainly laid the ground work for everyone." Gailey says nodding his head in agreement.

Brian finds he is making a fist and then releasing it and then doing it again. He needs to know, " It is time to tell us what the plan is. You did say the plan was to bring us out of the bonding. So you must have something planned. A way to use the Youth Corp. This wasn't done for our benefit, it was done for someone else s benefit."

"Gailey told me that you have been relentless in wanting to know. First, have you found out yet how this happened, meaning how you came out of this before preparations were ready?"

"No, I have no idea. Others don't seem to know either. Still there was a plan for us to be used by someone else on Avena."

Angeis'Ark looks first at him and then to Gailey, "The plan is that those on Avena want to leave the Regime. Your parents agreed to this. . ."

Gailey interrupts her, "My parents knew of this. Bri'Lar's parents knew of this?"

"Yes," She looks at both of them for a moment. "Think about it. You went to school at the temple, your parents if you think hard on this wanted you to learn things and ensured that you knew and understood what you were being taught. That is because you are their legacy. They knew," Angeis'Ark looks down for a moment and with a sad tone says, "They had an idea that they would not live to see their own escape to Avena."

Brian can hear her and Gailey speaking, but he feels ill. Things are making sense now of some of the things that his father was always pressuring him to learn. Still, what was the plan. He turns and gives Angeis'Ark a harsh look, "What was the plan?!"

She walks over to him and places a hand on his shoulder, "To take a ship. The skills you are learning are the skills that we need. The Regime will train you, they will teach you how they think and you will learn how to defeat them. However, this was not supposed to happen now, you're not ready." She gives Gailey a heartfelt look, "I am so sorry, but this is too soon. They fear you are not only not ready, but you may give the ones on Avena away for their plan to separate."

Gailey frowns and he gives her a stern look. "By those we would give away, you mean Secoery, Our Leader's brother."

"So what are we supposed to do now?" Brian asks as it feels like there is now no plan at all. They are simply being left to fend for themselves until they figure out how to do what needs to be done. He feels the anger swelling up in him, "The Regime uses us and now those in charge of Avena, who by the way serve Our Great Leader have used us, our parents have used us. Who else, will get to use us. When do we get to be the ones in control of our own lives. When do we really get to be adults in charge of our own lives? And who said we want to go to Avena, our parents, not us. Anyway that is what you are saying, we can't talk to our parents and verify what they wanted for us."

Gailey has crossed his arms and is looking as angry as he feels. "Yes, when do we get to be ourselves? I am tired of being treated like some grown child. How do we trust, we just want out!"

"Please be patient," Her voice is pleading. "Remember this wasn't supposed to happen now. You two with this gift seem to be the ones most capable of leading and making the needed decisions. So again, we ask you. . ." She shakes her head, "Please."

Gailey takes a deep breath, "We'll try. However, be mindful that there are so many of us and it only takes one to give us away."

Brian feels like he really doesn't understand, but maybe that this is all there is. He really doesn't want to remain in the Regime, but how does he trust those on Avena. There is nothing they can do, but just try to keep everyone in check until the plan comes and make a decision then. He looks up and sees both of them are looking at them. "I will work as hard to ensure that everyone stays calm, do as commanded. . . no matter how much we don't want too. We will be just as we were before the bonding ended. However, you must understand that without a goal, people will be demanding something, anything that will give them a chance to be themselves."

"I understand. I thank you both and I know you both have schedules to keep." She nods to each and disappears. Then they leave as well.

He can feel the stern look hardening on his face. Anger, a whole lot of anger the only good thing that he has is his love for Diana. For a moment he holds on to that thought as he walks down the hall for it is time to start his own shift. When he looks at his device he already has several messages from those that he is now in charge of. He is finding that rising in ranks sounds good, but it comes with a lot of irritation and stress. While reading the messages he gets one from his cousin Shy to see if they are still on for today. It is a happy thought as he has been given permission to spend the afternoon with his cousins Brighton, Shy, George and of course Gordon. He is concerned his friend will still not be speaking to him. He had told Gordon what had happened with Robin and since that morning he has refused to speak to him. Perhaps there may be just a little adventure today. Then he groans for they may actually want to confront him about their confusion and what he knows. Stress, seems like his new friend and he must ensure everyone stays calm.