Stronger
death.”
    “But we knew nothing of the rebellion then.”
    “Ah, but they didn’t know that. It’s usually in our grieving that we start to suspect the truth. Hiram’s death was that point for me.”
    “And so you what, pretended that Lexie died?”
    “They were coming for her in a matter of days. Nothing you did could have stopped it. Only her death. But your parents couldn’t have planned it. They were too upset. You all were. And when they questioned her death, and I knew they would, your loss had to appear genuine.”
    “It was.” Ty hugs me again.
    “It’s time to start the meeting. We’ll discuss this after.”
    Charlie pushes off the wall and walks to the meeting room. Ty holds onto to my hand, keeping us in the corridor alone.
    “Can you really read and write and hack?”
    I give him a grin. “I can. Uncle Charlie thought the battle to overthrow the Orions needed to be fought on every front. And that even a Deb could make a difference. Especially if that Deb could read and see documents most people wouldn’t be allowed to.”
    “I’ve never heard of a Deb who can read.”
    I tuck a piece of my hair behind my ear. “The ones who can are usually killed. It’s the real reason for the aptitude tests they give us when we’re kids. They want to keep things the same.”
    Ty looks away with a curse. “It’s hard for me to believe they are even more evil than I thought.”
    “They like their slaves the way they are. They’re afraid of change.”
    “Are there more like you?”
    I shrug. “We haven’t found any alive, but we hope so. We only know about the others because of Uncle Charlie’s work in the labs after he retired from the military.”
    “And you’re able to heal? Is that why your nose stopped bleeding?”
    “No. I’m not sure how that happened. Bleeding has always been dangerous for me. Little scratches take forever to go away, and break open again, just like with other Debs. The thing with my nose, that’s… new.”
    “I always thought you were special.”
    “Thank you, Ty.” I smile up at him. “I’ve followed your training. I’m so proud of you.”
    I know we should be in the other room, that the fate of the world could come to what they are discussing, but I can’t make myself care. I have my brother back and he seems to accept me, Deb and all. It feels like the twelve years we were separated didn’t matter.
    He scans my wristband, making notes of all the information it contains. He lets out a low whistle. “You’ve gotten in a lot of trouble.”
    “Yeah, I know,” I say with a cringe.
    “You work in the Information Center. I see how you’re able to get information for us.” He scrubs his hand over the back of his head. It reminds me so much of him as a little boy it nearly brings tears to my eyes. “And you work in the greenhouse? Why would you agree to work there?”
    “They were going to assign a ten year old girl who could barely lift the shears there. I couldn’t let her work at such a dangerous place. She had a family.”
    The corners of his mouth pinch together.
    “And it pays well.”
    “You barely have enough credits here to survive. I’m getting you transferred.”
    “Don’t. I’ll have a good job once I graduate. Besides, I usually have more points than that, but I got in trouble for touching a Val.”
    Ty startles. “You touched a Val?”
    I bristle at the coldness in his voice. Beloved brother or not, apparently he still doesn’t think I’m worthy touch a Val. “He was dying from working in the dome. He was falling and I didn’t want him to land in the snow. I know a Deb shouldn’t touch a Val, but—”
    “No.” He raises his hand to stop me. “It isn’t that you shouldn’t have. It’s just I’m surprised a Deb would be willing to help a Val after the way most of us treat you. That you’re brave enough to help one.”
    “It was instinct. The Vals aren’t the true enemies; it’s the Orions.” I study the shadows on the wall

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