Changed

Chapter Two

The next day Veda fiddled with wires nervously as she attempted to detangle them for her boss. She came to a stop when the jarring sound of footsteps echoed closer and closer causing her heart to beat quicker and quicker.

"Get it done yet, Allaway?" Veda's boss's voice boomed in the small room and she flinched from surprise before quickly shaking her head in response as she lifted the jumbled mess of wires as proof, producing a dramatic sigh from her boss.

"How are you able to reprogram a computer and battle impossibly hard viruses after only a year yet still not be able to untangle five computer cables?" Boss inquired as he plopped down beside Veda and plucked the wires from her hands. Veda responded with a shrug before sitting back to watch him pick apart the wires swiftly and effectively. When he finished they worked to plug them in and were half way done when all of the screens in repair shop promptly lit up with the leadership emblem of a green star with a sword jabbed through the center of it, announcing a public service announcement.

"Attention, all citizens united under The Broken But United Truth, standby for an update on the rebel attacks and new regulations concerning the citizens of cities nine through twelve and rural towns three through five."

The unpleasantly shrill voice filled the air and both Boss and Veda collectively shuttered as they dropped the wires to get closer to the screens. Veda risked a glance nervously at Boss who glared at the screen in his show of concern.

Veda chewed at her cheek nervously at the thought of new regulations being added to her city, city nine. She couldn't think back far enough to a time when any regulation implanted on her city had been good. Most of the regulations just ended up taking resources for the fight against the dreaded rebels that you couldn't stop hearing about but never saw.

Veda was jolted from her thoughts when the screen jumped back to life with a crystal clear video of a woman and man facing off in city two which is made evident by the shiny oil that covered their skin to protect them from the poison that plagued cities one through five and suburbs one and two.

The woman was clearly a soldier with her tight black uniform and green arm and headbands. Likewise, the man looked normal, a bit slouchier than someone should in suit and tie but he could still pass for an upper class businessman who had been working all day, but a single red string wrapped definitely around his wrist told everyone who he truly was.

A red string, among other things, was a sign of the rebellion. It was subtle enough not to be noticed by anyone who wasn't looking but still common enough to become a symbol and an outlawed accessory throughout the entire world.

The video shook a bit, letting Veda know someone was videoing it manually, like a show. Veda bit her lip as she watched the man draw a gun, rarely seen since the last earth-shattering war. She watched him aim but the woman was too quick and dashed at him before he could pull the trigger. The man was dead before he could even try to counter her sword.

"It's all staged. No one could beat a knife with a sword." Veda winced and risked a glance to see Kai staring at the screen beside her. She quickly looked away and glanced at Boss who was still gazing at the screen intently as it went blank to prepare for the next announcement that would no doubt come from Leader Greene himself.

"Oh, you're trying the ignoring tactic again? We had such a good day yesterday!" Kai shouts and Veda quickly began to fiddle with her fingers in order to distract herself from the tall figure standing next to her.

Boss is quick to provide a distraction, although he doesn't even realize it as he turns to raise an eyebrow at Veda. "You'd think those rebels would be able to do a little better considering they have better weapons." His comment sends Kai into a laughing fit which caused him to lean on Veda. Veda did well to not let his weight or presence disturb her as she turned to Boss.

"Do you ever think they stage things like this? You know, to ease fears." Veda inquired and her Boss snapped a disturbed look at her before shaking his head in disgust. "I don't know where you get these ideas, but I'm beginning to think you side with those traitorous rebels." He spits every word and Veda quickly looked away in fear.

"Of course not, Boss. It was just a thought is all." Veda murmurs before going quiet as the screen sprang back to life with the dark brown eyes of Leader Peter Greene. His face was sharp with hallow cheeks and pointy bones in the jaw and cheeks. An assassination attempt left him with a long, puffy scar that stretched from his nose, across his forehead, and all the way to the back of his head, though most of it was covered by his straight, dark brown hair that cut off right above his ears.

"Good afternoon citizens of The Permanent Star. This is your Leader speaking to inform you of our current status with both the rebels and the..... updates to the rules and regulations of the cities, and rural towns stated previously." He paused for a moment to give the citizens an extra moment to stop what they were doing if they hadn't already.

Veda took this pause as a chance to stretch and take a swat at Kai who was quick to dodge. Veda had tried to hit or touch Kai before but it was always with no luck, he would dodge or disappear before she could. That didn't stop him from leaning on her or prodding her at the most inappropriate of times.

"Rebel sightings have decreased majorly but we must all stay vigilant in these times of turmoil, though, again, there is absolutely no reason to lose hope or panic, these rebels will be found and extinguished before Christmas time next year!" Greene pumped his fist in the air in a show of confidence and excitement that spreads to Boss as a wide grin spread across his face.

"That's a load of crap. First they throw a staged victory in our faces and then He feeds us the same lies he's been feeding us for, like, ten years now. It's clear the rebel forces are only growing, otherwise all of this would be done by now." Kai spat his treacherous words and Veda couldn't help but wince in fear despite knowing Boss couldn't hear him, no one could.

"Now it's time for the new regulations to be set in place immediately after this announcement." Veda tensed and unconsciously moved forward to possibly hear better than she already did. Veda's hands began to sweat and a growing pressure began to build as she anticipated the new regulation that she doubted was good news.

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Ooooooh what could the regulations be???? That's exciting! We're about to get to the good stuff I hope everyone's as excited as I AM!! And I know this is early but I figured that I'd provide a more exciting chapter than the last to keep y'all interested ;).

I've been preparing this book all summer so I'm hoping it will end up being good no matter what anyone says or how well this book does I'm already proud of it and I'm not even finished with it yet!

Okay, next update soon, see y'all then!!