The Chapters

Chapter Sixteen

Rey hasn't looked at me once today.

That's one way to start a chapter. I guess you guys are back at the North Titanium Kin?

You should be able to figure that out.

He's upset about Vettie, isn't he?

Well, think about it. Imagine you sent a group of your friends to bring your girlfriend back from a neighbouring Kin, only to be brought back a group of ragtag survivors of an attack, news that the Death Towers attacked another Kin, and news that your girlfriend is now being held captive at a terrorist Kin because the people you sent out couldn't save her?

Sounds like you're blaming a lot on yourself.

Only what is my fault.

Is there anyway you could have foreseen these events, and in that sense, stopped them?

Not... exactly. But I should have been able to predict something like this might happen.

You guys drew up a plan in, what? Five, ten minutes? Right, you don't remember. But the point is, there was no time for you to 'predict' every possible outcome. You did fine. It's not like she's dead, right? That's a good thing.

Then how would you explain everyone ignoring Keon and I?

Well, how are they ignoring you?

You want an example. Alright, how about I go talk to Ivo over there?

I stop stacking the boxes of supplies I was handling (stop writing, I'll get to that in a minute) and stalk over to where Ivo is working, sorting and packing a variety of things into the boxes, then handing them off to someone else to be sealed. He looks at me and raises an eyebrow as I approach, but doesn't say anything.

He sounds busy, not ignoring you. You comment as a take a seat on a cement ledge in the courtyard. You sound like you're being a bit of a creep.

I am not.

You're being paranoid. No one's really ignoring you.

This is Ivo, Fangirl. When he's not saying anything, you know something's up.

I guess that's true. So maybe people are upset.

I look at your pencil and see that it just stopped at those words. What, nothing else to say?

I lost my train of thought.

You have nothing else to say.

Can I ask a question if I can't say anything?

Sure, go ahead.

What's with the packing and boxes and stuff? You guys aren't moving, right? I mean, if the Death Towers come after you next.

Oh, that. Yeah, that's what everyone, or at least half the Kin, has been focusing on as of late, since we got back. We're not moving. We're mobilizing. A larger-scale rescue mission.

For one person? I know Rey's got influence, but that seems like a bit much...

Two people, actually. Keon spotted someone else just before he closed the gate. Based on the attack the Death Towers launched on the Frozen Turf Kin, this is a confrontation as well as a rescue. If possible, we want to solve things without anymore loss.

I'm guessing you're part of that half going out.

Not that I'm aware of.

Really?