Children of Chaos

Chapter 22

The next morning Evana wakes us early to prepare for the meeting. We walk together to a line handing out food rations, which seems to be leftovers of what we ate on the ship plus cans and packages of other non-perishable food. Then we're led to more traditional public shower areas where we wash, with no amount of comfort I might add as there was nothing to stop an alien from walking in on me. We toss our light lavender jumpsuits from the ship to trade for a deeper amethyst shade that matches the underground members.

Afterwards, there's not much to do except wait for the meeting to begin, and I spend time on my tablet searching for news stories to find information on the Noxians and the Tybarans. I'm attempting to use the translator tool Evana downloaded for us to read from Western Almnerixi Daily, but I'm not sure it works entirely. One headline translates to Councilwoman Andrae Denies Noxian's Horse Feet, and another claims Diamond Forces Try Sushi On Haran.

I put the tablet down and massage my temples with my eyes closed, my head pounding in a similar rhythm to the pulses in the air that started ever since we entered the Realms. I try to force myself still, to stop the buzzing, but it only exacerbates the feeling. Although I haven't had another dream from the necklace since the night I saw my mother die, I can almost feel the stone pulse in time to my heartbeat.

I lean over to Evana, who I'm sitting next to as his "assistant". Nobody is around except for Bekah and the others, so I can break being mute for now. "I'm not sure your translator program works all the time," I say, holding out my tablet to Evana. "What does this headline say?" I show him the article that says Councilwoman Andrae Denies Noxian's Horse Feet.

Evana squints at the screen. "'Councilwoman Andrae Denies Noxian's Research Grant.' Our public force is working to begin new research in some key powers, and Andrae is increasingly taking Tybara's side in ignoring or denying the value in new powers. Where did you get this article from? We don't call ourselves the Noxians publicly." He grabs the tablet out of my hands and scrolls up the screen. "Western Almnerixi Daily? This is a Tybaran news site, it's completely biased. Try United News, or even a different planet's news if you want to be informed." He looks up at me sharply. "Looking at Tybaran news site will look suspicious in our records you know."

I take back my tablet and don't explain that Sofie and Bekah are working on a way to hide our activity on the tablets. Evana doesn't press me further, as he receives a message on his tablet that apparently indicates we're ready to join the meeting. He leads us a few halls down and stops at a door, where Evana knocks in a particular pattern before entering.

I expect to join a conference room similar to the one on the ship, with a dozen or so Almnerixians seated around a table, but instead I enter to see at least fifty Noxians seated in a large circle, with dozens of other aliens standing in corners or sitting on the floor in the center of the circle. I recognize some faces from the ship, like the pilot and a few elders, but most members are sitting poised in their chairs, different pins and patches of significance on their jumpsuit lapels, looking to us expectantly. My heart starts pounding and I catch the eyes of Janab standing in the back. He doesn't show any signs of recognizing me in my disguise.

"Welcome, children," a deep voice booms from one side of the circle, speaking in the Noxian language with a slightly different accent. I turn to the voice and find an Almnerixian with rich forest green skin, smiling with his arms open wide. There are six empty seats around him. "Come, we saved our guests of honor the best seats in the house." I share a look with Willow and stare tentatively towards the green alien in a room of red- and pink- skinned Noxians. Evana is the first to step over, taking a seat next to Magra and Keptana in the circle. He motions to me, and I forget that I look like a Noxian and am supposed to be his assistant. I hurry over and grab the seat next to Evana, but the others are still hesitant to move.