I do not own Lorien Legacies or any of the characters.
Rest
Our guests weren't Mogadorians. That's about the only good news. The visitors were government agents, led by one named Walker, the bitch responsible for me and Six's imprisonment in New Mexico, followed by our battle with Setrákus Ra. She claims to be on our side now, though none of us trust a word she says. She and the other government agents are all staying in empty houses in the suburb, and they're planning with John on how to stop the invasion. As of yet, they're plans involve the Secretary of Defense, who seems to be working with the Mogadorians.
"Do you think we can trust them?" Marina asks me.
"No," I say. "I think we should shoot them all. but I've been trained to shoot first and ask questions to anyone we miss. So for now, I think I'll take your diplomatic approach."
Marina smiles and nods, before looking across the street to the building where the access to the underground tunnels where Adam and Malcolm are watching recordings of Malcolm's time in Mogadorian custody, apparently in this place. As of yet, nothing incredibly helpful. But, he's likely going to be watching it all night, if his lack of interest in anything else is any sign. We could all use a bit of rest. Especially the Florida group. Especially Marina. However, she's determined to have the conversation I had dodged earlier. Well, partially dodged.
"I'm not confused, James," she says, breaking the silence that had settled in the room.
I sigh, staring at the floor. I really don't want to talk about this. I know she doesn't want to accept my decision, and I can't let myself be selfish.
"Marina..." I sigh again. "I know you're not confused. But...you're hurting from Eight's death. You're hurting and you feel alone without him."
"No, I don't," Marina says. "Yes, I'm hurting. We all are. But I don't feel alone. Because I have you."
She walks over, standing in front of me, turning my face toward her.
"Look me in the eye and tell me you don't want this too," she says.
I can't. I can't say it, because it's a lie. There's almost nothing I want more. And she can see that. I never could hide anything when I look people in the eye. She starts to lean in, knowing I can't say it. I feel myself leaning in too. Maybe Six is right. Maybe some things are worth the risk. Maybe I can protect Marina even if I'm with her. Just an inch away now. But, then my chest constricts. I can't. Visions of Marina, broken and bloody, lying in my arms flash through my head. I can't do it. I stop, turning my head, teeth clamping down, hard.
"I'm sorry," I whisper, feeling tears stinging my eyes. "I can't. I can't be with you. I can't watch you die too."
Before Marina can say anything or stop me, I slip past her and hurry out of the room. I go two rooms down the hallway and climb out onto the roof then up to the main roof, climbing to the peak and sitting down, staring up at the stars. The tears start to fall finally, despite my best efforts, and the pain in my chest simply gets worse. After a moment, I hear Marina sobbing. The pain grows still. It tears me apart to her her cry, especially since I caused it this time. But I'd rather hurt her and have her live than to make her happy and watch her die.
"You really are a piece of work, you know that?" Nine's voice comes from behind me.
I hadn't heard him approach, but it doesn't startle me like it might have if I was in a different state of mind.
"You can protect her just as well from her side as from a distance," Nine states.
"No," I say. "I can't. I'm trained as a sharpshooter, shooting enemies that are so far away they're barely a speck by normal sight. I'm trained to kill, and to fight. I'm not trained to protect. I've never been trained to protect. That wasn't our job or our problem."
"Never too late to learn," Nine states. "You can hear her too, right? And you're just going to stay up here feeling sorry for yourself? Letting the girl you love cry? Over you?"
I don't answer.
"Fine," Nine sighs. "Stay here. I'll go comfort your girl for you."
He turns, walking away, down the side of the house. I don't move. He's right. I shouldn't be up here. And I shouldn't be feeling sorry for myself. But I can't protect Marina and be with her. No one understands. But that doesn't matter. I do. And even if no one else will listen, I'll do what I have to to keep her safe.
Eventually, I head back down into the house. I walk to the door to Marina's room and stop. Nine's still there, comforting her. Telling her things like, "He'll come around," or "Hang in there. He's just being stubborn," but his words sound almost hollow to me. Nine knows I'm not just being stubborn. I silently head back down the hallway to my room, slipping my shoes and socks off and collapsing on the bed, burying my face in the pillows. I hear footsteps in the hallway, heading to my door and stopping. I sigh. Probably Nine coming to lecture and scold me more. I roll over. John.
"Not you too," I groan.
"Me too what?" John asks. "I came to tell you that you need to come to the tunnels."
I blink in confusion before looking out the window. It's early morning. I must have passed out as soon as I hit the pillow.
"Did you wake up the others?" I ask.
"I got Adam already," John says. "I'm about to go wake up Nine and Marina."
"I'll do it," I sigh. "You go get Six and Sam."
"The chimæra are on it," John says. "I'm going back to the tunnel, I guess. Meet us down there. And hurry."
With that, he turns, leaving. I leave the room, checking the other rooms. Marina is sleeping peacefully in her bed but there's no sign of Nine. I walk in and stand beside Marina. I have to grit my teeth for a moment to keep my emotions from last night from resurfacing. I give her shoulder a gentle shake, enough to wake her.
"Marina," I say as she stirs. "We've been summoned to the tunnels by our fearless leader."
Marina stares at me for a moment before nodding, face emotionless. I open my mouth to speak but can't find anything to say. After a moment, I stand, leaving the room and climbing out onto the roof. Just as I do, a hawk flies away from the peak above me, where Nine's stretching.
"Too late," Nine says. "Already got the message. And I'm not the only one."
"Don't," I growl. "Just don't."
I walk to the edge of the roof and drop to the ground about ten feet below. Then, I head over to the house where the tunnel's access point is. After a few minutes and a couple wrong turns, I step into the room where Malcolm has been watching Mogadorian recordings. He looks like he didn't sleep the night before, unsurprisingly. Adam stands beside him with John, and a few minutes later, Hawkeye, Rookie, Marina, and Nine are also present. All that's left is Six and Sam.
"Where are they?" Hawkeye asks.
"i saw them go into one of the abandoned houses last night," Nine grins and Hawkeye chuckles. "End of the world, you know, Johnny."
"I doubt they..." John trails off as the two walk in.
Six looks fine and well rested, though it would seem she didn't get to sleep too early, judging by Sam. He's a mess, to put it nicely. He's blushing, his hair is sticking up at odd angles, and his shirt is buttoned all wrong. Before he even has time to register that we're all staring at him, Hawkeye "woop woop"s and John and Nine grin. I can't help but also grin, and see a smile flash across Marina's face as well, though it disappears as quickly as it comes. Sam turns blood red and Six glares at Hawkeye.
"You probably shoulda seen the reactions coming, eh Sam?" Nine grins.
Hawkeye opens his mouth but I beat him to speak first.
"Don't you even," I growl, pointing at him.
"He can say it if he wants to," Six says. "Of course, I might want to kill him too."
"I'm sure a lot of people want a lot of things," I say. "But a lot of people are going to be very unhappy for a very long time."
I realize I've misspoken even before the temperature drops a little, though it rises again almost instantly.
"Look, we're all aware of you and Marina's little...disagreement last night," Six says. "We're also all against you on it."
"Good to know," I growl. "Can we get back to the reason we're hear now and leave that subject alone?"
"He's right," John says. "We brought you all here because Malcolm has something to show us."
Everyone else moves to stand behind Malcolm, me at the back, since I really only need to hear the words. However, only part of my brain is listening. The rest is thinking about last night.
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