"I agree," said Trix.
"What's plan B?" I asked, massaging a flare of pain in my upper jaw.
"Wait and see," said T.R.
Smoke surrounded their van until they were obscured entirely by white. As it cleared, the van drove forward, and a new truck, a black and red Bruiser, turned right.
So they had one of their own and they were using it to get Trix away. The van was a decoy.
But…
It was too obvious.
"Your plan's not going to work…" I said into my e-Glass.
"What on earth you know?" argued T.R.
"The Bruiser is just a distraction. Trix is still in the truck."
"That…" T.R. didn't finish his sentence, because he knew I'd guessed their plan. A double decoy.
"The Inquisition is closing down all roads off Manhattan… they were ready for you." My voice rose with urgency. "Your plan failed before you even started. But… there's one way. Listen to me, and I'll get you out alive."
"You'll just lead us into a trap," T.R. said, and I wanted to smack him through the e-Glass.
Before I could respond, Inquisition vehicles surrounded the black and red decoy Bruiser. It crashed and was instantly swarmed with Officers checking to see if anyone was inside.
"Bruiser down," said one of the rebels through the e-Glass.
"Damn it," said T.R.
"You're already trapped," I told him.
"We'll do it your way," said Trix.
"But—"
She cut T.R. off. "But nothing. She's been right about everything, and we need to get out of here." Trix sounded tired, in pain and when she coughed I remembered the beating she had recently taken. She needed a doctor. "What's the plan, N?" she asked, after a coughing spasm left her breathless.
And so I filled them in on my idea, my brain spinning fast as it weaved through the ins and outs of what I wanted them to do. I tried not to think about the lives on the line, about how this was treason and I could be executed if I was caught. Instead, I pretended this was another game from my parents to test my skills. I could do this. I had trained for this my whole life.
"We'll never have enough time," T.R. said when I finished.
"I'll give you time," I said.
"Fine, let's do it," said Trix. They turned the truck around and headed toward the center of the city instead of out.
I drove my damaged Bruiser back to the sleeping Officer and then pulled him into the back of the truck. I expected it to be harder to lift him, between the bulk of his body and the weight of his gear, but he turned out to be surprisingly light and it only took a few moments, hidden within the truck, to pull off his uniform and slip it on over my own borrowed clothes. I put his helmet on and could see a display of the action through the e-Video all the Officers were looped into. The Inquisition had the rebel van surrounded. They had no way out.
Disguised in the Officer's uniform, I ran toward the portable command center the Inquisition had set up. A giant Bruiser, big enough for more than a dozen people, with a cannon on top. My body ached and the blood around me, pooling under dead bodies and leaking through fabric, should have made me sick. All those lifeless victims. Instead, I felt a deep hunger despite my anger and outrage, and I felt physically weak, shaky, and so tired, but I kept pushing myself toward the command center.
I climbed into the back, faking a calm authority I did not feel in that moment. Remember, little Star, if you look like you know what you're doing, people will assume you do.
My dad's voice in my head gave me the confidence I needed to pull this off. There were half a dozen other Officers in the command center, each actively engaged in surveillance. None of them stopped me.
The Head Inquisitor sat in the very back at his computer, an Officer guarding him.
On my e-Video, the Inquisitor's voice spoke as Bruisers filled with Officers surrounded the rebel van. "There's no way out. Surrender now."
I walked toward Ragathon, who was still speaking into his e-Glass, broadcasting his voice to the rebels and his own troops.
The Officer guarding him tried to stop me, but I grabbed his arm and focused my powers, giving his mind just a nudge, enough to make him forget about me. I'm not important. I'm supposed to be here. Disregard my presence.
It worked, but it cost me. I slumped against the wall as a wave of dizziness threatened to topple me over. What was happening to me? And why now? At the worst possible time.
The Officer moved to the side and ignored me. I looked at the Inquisitor. He sat without his helmet, and I could see the blood pulsing in the vein of his neck. The sweat staining the collar of his uniform.
My stomach clenched again.
He looked up at me, but I knew he couldn't see my face. "What are you doing here, Officer?"
I had to make contact before he had time to get away, to take me out. I didn't speak. Didn't think, just lunged for him, flipping my body over the table that stood between us until I had him pinned against me.
I could hear an Officer in his e-Glass speaking. "Sir, the rebels have surrounded the truck with smoke. Should we move in, sir?"
I pushed my will into him, waiting to feel that control I'd felt before.
It didn't happen.
Instead, Ragathon fought back, knocking me to the side.
My helmet fell off and he looked down at me as recognition spread on his face. Then he smiled. "You."
Oh no. This couldn't be happening. Not only had I failed the mission, but he now knew who I was. I would die for this for sure and there was no way Jax could save me.