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

Chapter 5

Kahless peered down from her hiding spot between two towels on the clotheslines above the infamous Nightmare. It was the same girl she'd seen talking to Adrian earlier that day. The girl didn't seem to be in any regret about her actions. It was intriguing, Kahless realized, that this girl seemed very much sane, but yet she was working against the Council. What was in her past that prompted her to retaliate against the innocent Council?

The fingerprints matched, but Kahless had a hard time connecting this 16-year-old girl with the cruel villain she'd seen. How could one person do that much damage and not regret it?

But then, Kahless had to remind herself that this villain was not indeed cruel. She hadn't killed anyone, and it was only the Sentinel - with a red R on his chest, no less - that had done the worst damage at all. So, then... What were her motives?

Finding no answers, she thought back to the second girl she'd met. Was it unusual to be able to resist Nitrana's persuasive writing? Kahless hadn't had time to tell the Council any of this.

She retrieved the scan she'd done of the girl back in the alleyway. She zoomed in on the fingerprints, matching them to a profile.

MARA UMIDORE

RESIDENCE: 728 TSUNAMI ST.

CLOSE FAMILY: HAMEL UMIDORE, FATHER; JEFFERY UMIDORE, BROTHER; ARAMI GREEN, MOTHER

BIRTH: 5, JULY.

Kahless read through the notes, comparing them to the girl she'd met three times now. She was struck by how little information was available about Gatlon's citizens. How was it that four lines of text were supposed to explain exactly what a person would be like? She grimaced. This was how the Council treated its citizens. Four lines. Nineteen words. One hundred forty characters. That was it.

Kahless ground her teeth. Maybe the Council should know more about their citizens. And maybe Kahless would be the one assigned to the task. She let out a breath. Yes, it was worth it. It might prevent rebellions because the Renegades would know about threats before they became so. And Kahless had the right power for it.

She heard the panting of a dog and watched it investigate the villain. It shook off the water on its coat, and Nightmare grunted and sat up, groaning. She stood, shaking, and pushed the dog away. She then started to slowly walk through Gatlon's streets. Kahless followed, a safe distance away, before Nightmare descended into an entrance to the abandoned subway tunnels. Kahless knew she wasn't going to get any information when the tunnels were dark and five super-villains were guarding them. Instead, she opted for leaning over the opening and peering down into the blackness. There wasn't any light to be seen inside, and Kahless knew that it wasn't useful. She'd have to return some other time.

With a sigh, Kahless sat up. She scanned the surrounding area, memorizing it for later reference. She stood and headed back to Renegade HQ.

Kahless kept her head down as she walked through HQ's revolving doors. She had ditched her ninja suit, favoring her Renegade uniform as she strode through the doors. Everyone's eyes were drawn to her orange hair hanging over her eyes. Her eyes themselves also drew attention. They were a dull red, the least attractive shade imaginable. They were too far apart, anyway, and nothing could hide that.

"Alice!" It was Max, waving from his quarantine. She looked up and smiled. She headed towards the glass.

"Hey, Max. You want to know what's happening?" Kahless was his main source of news. She was everywhere, listened to everything, and could regurgitate it upon request.

Max grinned. "You know what I want you to tell me."

Kahless smiled a little. She'd been talking to Max daily since she'd joined the Council, and that was 5 years ago. Max was the only person other than the Council that she'd confided in about her power. Kahless sighed, then smiled. Max always seemed to be able to lighten her day.