REVOLUTION: A Rebel Among Monsters ✔

Thirty-Two••Truth Bomb

"Lexa, take number two-hundred to the Infirmary," declared the male Monster, after endless minutes of discomforting quiet. "Number one-hundred-and-eighty-eight... stay here."

Melaynia looked like she wanted to retort something, but too weak, she crumbled into Lexa's arms. The latter inclined her head and dragged Melaynia off.

Valnia returned to the Eldians, persuaded this was their way of announcing they were going to let Melaynia die.

"Valnia." The male's muted timbre startled her; they rarely used her actual name. "We believe she's lying. Working with and for the Impians, who manipulated her into coming here and planting seeds of doubt in us. There was a degree of... acting in her behavior that wasn't hard for us to detect."

Blood boiling, Valnia battled the hordes of insults infesting her mind. "You think she put on a show?" She scoffed. "They may have influenced her to some extent, but she wasn't lying."

And if she was... she sure convinced me.

"Why would she lie?" She balled her fists, wary that without Lexa there to stop her, she might assault her leaders.

"She did." The male showed no sign of distress or worry at her tensing extremities. "They used her to make us think these plans are real. To keep everyone occupied, thwart us, while they attack us, instead of the other way around."

He was so nonchalant, so calm; speaking of Melaynia lying to them, the highest authorities of Cerule, to fool them? How could they believe this?

"So you're saying the likelihood of your horrible siblings producing a new race, exploring space, and sending us out there so they can repopulate is slim?" She huffed. "You seemed so convinced a few minutes ago. Were you acting, too? These acts aren't things you've considered before?"

Their hesitation confirmed her growing doubts.

They knew. This was no lie on Melaynia's part... it was real.

But why would they deny it and call Melaynia a liar?

"We've considered all options." The female's voice was raspy, cruel, curdling Valnia's blood. She had such spite and hatred in her eyes that Valnia stumbled backwards. "But this one is too far-fetched, too... specific. It's at the bottom of our list, which is why we fear they implanted it in her mind to make her tell us. To get us thinking, to trick us. But... it didn't work."

Despite her anger, the female was too obvious for Valnia. She'd trained to read expressions, to decipher potential threats and rebellions... and this being's intonation drew a red flag. "Well... I believe Melaynia. I vouch for her, and will continue to do so until the end. Is she hiding some things? Sure, all teenagers do. Does she have some agenda we're unaware of? Maybe. But it's not linked to the Impians. She told you the truth and doesn't deserve to perish for it." She bit her tongue before spilling out that they were the ones duping everyone.

I don't want them aware that I'm on to them.

There was more to it all. More to Melaynia's claims and the Eldian's reactions to them.

They swiveled their massive bodies to face one another and conversed in their language. The female yelled, the male unleashed long grunts. The former clearly had the upper-hand; she was the one pushing for Melaynia's punishment.

The male swerved to Valnia. "You won't like this, but there's only one way to determine her true intentions. She... needs another procedure."

"The procedure?" She chewed the insides of her cheeks when curses and cruelties developed in her head again. "Is that not dangerous?"