Free Awakening on Orbis by P. J. Haarsma Page B

I was going to do, and I didn’t need others trying to change my mind. Despite the odds, I was even more resolved to have it my way now.
How dare they do this to me? How
dare
they?
    When I felt ready, I ventured out into the building. The first person I wanted to find was Max. I found her in her room with Grace and that other kid, whatever his name was.
    “Hi.” I waved from the doorway.
    “JT!” Max shrieked, and bolted to her feet. Grace got up, too, and kicked the other kid to do the same.
    “We were just on our way out,” Grace declared. “Good to see you up, JT. Max, we’ll talk about it more later.”
    “Sure,” she replied, looking anxious for them to leave.
    I nodded at the other kid as he and Grace slipped out of the room.
    “What’s his name now?” I whispered to Max.
    “Dante,” she replied.
    “What were you guys talking about?”
    “Nothing. Sit. Are you all right? Theylor said you got sick in Murat. He told us not to disturb you.”
    “Was that you who knocked earlier?”
    She smiled. “Yeah. I’m sorry. I just needed to apologize about the other cycle. Knowing you were here and I couldn’t talk to you — well, it was driving me crazy. Ketheria is your sisterand that
is
precious. I had no right to say what I did. It was horrible. Can you forgive me?”
    “You don’t need to be forgiven, Max. I was the one who was acting like a malf — to everyone. I know that now, but that’s going to change — I promise. It’s just like you said: one more rotation and then we can do whatever we want. We can even leave the rings if you want. I’ll lead the way.”
    “Really?”
    “Really,” I assured her.
    Max just stood there, smiling. “So, now what?”
    “Let’s have some fun.”
    A large furry knudnik with thick arms appeared at the door. It was a Garin, and they were only assigned to Trading Council members. “Queykay sent me to retrieve you. Your sister has requested you.”
    I looked at Max and then back to the messenger. “Tell Queykay I’m sure the Council can deal with the Scion. Tell Ketheria I’ll come by later. Much later.”
    I grabbed Max’s hand and pulled her out of the room as the Garin stepped aside. I really don’t think he knew what to do, but I didn’t care.
    “You do not have permission to leave,” he challenged me.
    I turned and faced him, Max’s hand firmly in mine. “This is not your fight. Are you going to stop me?” Max stepped next to me.
    The Garin sucked the air through his teeth, and I adjusted the controls in my arm just in case.
    “Well?” Max said.
    He glared at us for another moment. “I must report this,” he spat, and then stormed off.
    “You should get sick more often,” Max teased.
    I could only smile. The fact was that my stomach had been doing backflips ever since I refused to go to Ketheria, and I was afraid to open my mouth in fear of what would come out.
    Live with it,
I told myself.
That’s your new motto.
    Typical of Max, she had already found a secret route into Murat. I followed her through one shortcut that was nothing more than a crack in a concrete barrier. The maze of trading chambers and living quarters was like second nature to her.
    “Where are we going?” I asked.
    “It’s a surprise.”
    I followed Max down a series of steps that ended in a small amphitheater carved into the foot of one of Murat’s superstructures. The building’s green glass bathed the entire courtyard in its reflection of a distant, dying sun. Max found a spot on the stone seats and settled into the eerie afterglow. I must admit, the effect did a pretty good job of masking the city’s decay.
    “What are we doing here?” I whispered as we sat among other aliens, some of whom seemed to be sleeping.
    “This is a special cycle on the Rings of Orbis. Not one that everyone celebrates, but quite a few do. Look up in the sky.”
    Max pointed down ring and up about sixty degrees. I followed her finger to see what she was pointing at. “See it?”