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

Chapter 32

Kahless placed her head in her hands. She wasn't going to win the battle against her mind. She had been naive to think so. There really wasn't anything to do.

"What if you change your perspective? Maybe it's not even a battle after all," her mother had said once. A feeling of warmth flowed through her as she remembered her mother's face. Kahless smiled.

Maybe it wasn't.

The crash of glass breaking and a gasp interrupted her thoughts. Kahless spun around, eyes wide. Max was sitting with blood seeping from his hand. His Gatlon City model was destroyed around him. He was staring at Nova with wide eyes.

Kahless tried to scream, but no sound came. She could only study the wound. The tower didn't seem to have touched an artery or vein. It wasn't bleeding in bursts, it was only bleeding because it was right after the wound. If he could apply pressure he could stall until the medics got there. It was nothing serious.

Nova was already running up the stairs to the quarantine. "Nova! Don't!" Kahless yelled, Max echoing her, but Nova kept running as if she couldn't hear them.

Kahless pulled up the emergency setting on her communicator band and briefly explained what was happening. She glanced up at the quarantine and saw Nova lying face down on the glass floor. She typed faster.

After sending the message to the night staff and med staff she switched to sending the message directly to Mara. She would probably be asleep, but it was worth it to wake her up.

The doors opened, but instead of Mara, Adrian Everheart entered. He was holding in his hand a large paper bag. Kahless watched, having done all she could, as Adrian dropped his burden and raced up to the quarantine.

Kahless mentally urged Mara to run faster, to get there sooner. She doubted that even with his Sentinel abilities Adrian would be able to get Nova out of Max's power.

Adrian ran into the glass room, grabbed Nova by the arms and dragged her out of the airlock. Kahless heard a muffled scream a while later. She smiled a little. That was Nova.

Slam! The doors burst open and Mara entered, breathless. Kahless shouted, "Help Max!"

Mara got the message and nodded, heading for the glass enclosure. She was soon inside, and grabbed a first-aid kit from the wall and tended to his wound with instruction from Kahless, who was outside of the glass at that point.

"I know, Kahless," she replied softly to Kahless's instruction.

Kahless nodded. "All right."

--------

"Why didn't you tell me?" Nova whisper-screamed. She didn't want to alert anyone else in the med wing of their argument.

Kahless clenched her teeth. "It would have been too obvious. Anything more to give you away would be too clear for even their dense minds. Besides, you're still awesome without your powers."

Nova still looked angry, but said, "That's true. But... Ugh! I'm so stupid! I failed!"

Kahless shook her head. "Nova, if anything, that stunt just made you look loyal in their eyes. It didn't hurt you, either. You still have your power. One minute, forty-six seconds won't do much to you, just a good bit of adrenaline."

"Really? I still have my power? You're sure?" Her tone took on an element of desperation.

"Yes, Nova."

----------

"Why were you up so late?" Kahless asked Mara. It was morning and they stood in Mara's house. Everyone was much calmer than late last night.

"As you very well know, my father's suicide means a lot to me, and I can't sleep or I will hear his voice or..." Mara broke off, unable to finish. After a few moments, she blew her nose and continued, " Phobia decided to visit me last night. I don't know. He mentioned that my fear was low, and asked why. I didn't bother using my power. Instead, I played his game of threats and power. It surprised him, I know. He left after that.

"Oh, Kahless, how could I have played his game? I didn't think I could fall to those standards!"

Kahless smiled sympathetically. "I think you did just what you needed to, Mara. He won't mess with you again. But that makes me think..."

"What?" Mara asked.

"It's probably nothing, but I was wondering if your power is so much resistance as it is understanding, and with that using weakness." It started to make more sense the more Kahless thought about it.

Mara seemed to have the same reaction. "I think you're right, actually. Wow, that makes sense. I have to sense a person's power before I can resist it. I guess I've always been able to feel what other people feel. I guess I know how to manipulate them. Wait - that sounded wrong. I mean, I know how to make them feel better." She smiled sheepishly. "I would never manipulate someone."

Kahless surprised herself by wrapping Mara in an embrace. "I know you wouldn't." Mara placed her arms around Kahless and nodded.

"I hope so."

"I know so." Kahless smiled.