How Much I Know - a Renegades | Marissa Meyer fan fiction

Chapter 1

Kahless's alarm went off noisily. She stirred but didn't get up. The alarm kept blaring. She had purposely placed the clock on the other side of the room - the one adjustment she made to the room before she crashed - just for this purpose. Groggily, Kahless stood up and pushed "snooze". A huge relief came over her ears at the sudden silence. She sighed and blew a piece of yellow-orange hair out of her eyes. Today was the Renegade Parade, her least favorite day of the year. She had to stand on her float with a bunch of other Renegades and show off her power. She wasn't allowed to cover her bright hair, either, to make it worse. Ugh. She always drew attention to herself, whatever she did, either the only person with bright yellow-orange hair or the only person wearing a hat. She hated her hair. And, for that matter, most of her features. Crooked nose, slightly-too-far-apart eyes, and low cheekbones made her the talk of Renegade HQ.

Kahless padded to the bathroom and ran a comb through her hair. She glanced again at her face, seeing exactly what she had yesterday. She could remember. Remember exactly. That was her alias, after all. Memo, with the power to remember every last detail of her entire life. She could scream. Her ability sounded great, but in reality, it made her go insane. Every single fault she'd made in her life she regretted bitterly. But that was also why the council took her along to everything they did.

She sighed. No use contemplating problems that had already been contemplated. Exactly 8,273 times.

Kahless dressed in her Renegade uniform as usual, gray with a red R. The color didn't compliment her hair. Nothing did, really.

She gathered her things and left the guest room. This was her residence, she supposed. She hadn't ever had a home, not really. She left the guest room and made her way down the hallway to the game room. She braced herself for the disapproving glances aimed her way. Everybody, whether they knew it or not, looked at her with disgust. She hated it. The only time she felt truly free was when she wore her fitted black ninja outfit. She loved that thing. Her face was covered, and her eyes were hidden under dark glasses. Nothing to give away her identity to those who might want to kill her. The Council's idea, obviously, although she may have suggested it originally.

Kahless took a deep breath and raised her head, pushing her way through the thin crowd of Renegades. She kept looking around herself, not out of defense, but in an attempt to feel more powerful. When she was making the most of her memory, she felt like she could be a hero, instead of just a bystander to the Council. She did a full 360 before entering the elevators.

When the car rocketed skyward, Kahless's stomach dropped. She had this feeling every day when she got into the elevator. Still, it didn't mean it felt any better. She stepped out into the beautifully decorated hallway she had seen millions of times before. Sparkling lights shined down from the ceiling, and to either side Tsunami had placed walls of water. It looked grand and, in Kahless's opinion, it was a bit overkill. At the end of the hallway were the five Council members. Thunderbird, as always, was the most menacing. She sat on her chair, studying Kahless with suspicion, as usual.

"Ah, Miss Loen," Captain Chromium said, "we've been expecting you."

"What is it you needed?" Oh great Council, she wanted to add. She knew they were protecting the city, and didn't have - to her knowledge - any ulterior motives, but she still thought that it was just ridiculous to be seated on none other than thrones, wearing their uniforms. That disgusted Kahless, but at least that was better than the Age of Anarchy.

"For today," Tsunami said, "we need you to do surveillance during the parade. It's a good time when our people are out-of-doors and in our sights. Update our catalog of citizens. It's high time we do that."

"Don't forget," Thunderbird added, "if you see anything suspicious, anything, tell us immediately over communicator. Understood?"

"Yes," your majesty. Again, Kahless thought this whole 88th floor was unnecessary, but she had never said that aloud. Who would she say it to? And would it be taken as a show of disobedience if she did?

Only one way to find out, her mother had said, in those many times when she had talked to Kahless before bed. Suddenly, the memory overwhelmed her. She felt her mother's body pressed against hers, the warmth of her breath on her cheek, and the voice that was so familiar.

Kahless doubled over, the grief of her mother's death still raw in her memory. She could still feel the pang of loss. She would never forget it. Her power wouldn't let her.

"Uh, Miss Loen? Are you still with us?" The Dread Warden's voice was only a whisper above her memories, but Kahless stood up shakily and willed the vivid visions away. They left a slight shimmer to her surroundings and were hard to shake off. Kahless knew that she would eventually succumb to them. It was inevitable, after all.

The Dread Warden cleared his throat. Kahless realized that she had been lost in her own thoughts and spacing, so she hastily said, "Yes, I'm quite fine, I just had one of my signature memory overuses. I think they are getting more common, although that is to be expected, since the longer I stay in a place, such as Renegade HQ, the more memories I have of it to draw from."

The Council members nodded sagely. Thunderbird glanced down at Kahless, no doubt wondering why she would be doubled over in grief for headquarters. "In any case, you need to go get a look at the floats and find a suitable hiding spot. The parade starts at noon."

"I'll remember."