To Overthrow the Guardians

Chapter 14: Yet

Beth tried to not glare at the brown-haired man in front of her. She was getting in her work for the morning before she could go home for the rest of the Saturday if she wanted, so she sat in Mallory's office doing one of his jobs, and this job in particular was hard.

"So, why have you not been showing up for work lately?" she asked him. Both he and she were dressed in the baby blue L.E.R. uniforms that matched the walls, though hers had a silver stripe that ran from each shoulder down her arms. She had taken a moment to admire it in the bathroom when she changed, but she didn't like how it made everyone stare at her as if she had stolen it. And she didn't like how it reminded her of her vulnerability.

"I've been sick, ma'am," he said.

"Then why haven't you just called in sick?"

"I..." He opened and closed his mouth as if doing so could make him bite down on just the right words. "I...I've been scared, okay? Where's Agent M. Bennett? Why isn't he here? Why are you in his place?" So, the word hadn't spread yet?

"He's been put on leave," Beth replied. "He has some personal issues he needs to settle. I'm here because I was promoted to his position until he can return." If he could return. Beth wasn't sure how exactly he was supposed to "get rid" of the voices in his head. "Now, why have you been scared?" The words felt overly nice and professional for Beth. She wasn't qualified for this job, anyway, even though Matt had assured her that this part of it wouldn't be too difficult most of the time. There was no one else he could hire on such short notice, he had said.

"The Fearling and Nightmare attacks are getting worse," the man across from her said. "I was afraid that many might come and attack the headquarters. I'm over it now- I realize that this place is safer than most- but it just had me freaked out for a couple days."

Beth nodded. "That makes sense." She knew what it was like to be afraid of the Fearlings and Nightmares. While she had never been so scared that she hadn't shown up for work, she could guess at how that felt. "You say you're fine now?"

"Yep." He gave her a smile.

"Good. You are dismissed."

He walked out of the room and shut the door behind him. Beth took a deep breath, opening her laptop. It was amazing what records she had at her disposal now. There was the record of everyone's names, addresses, and Power-Inducer abilities for one. If she wanted, she had the information to be able to show up outside someone's house unannounced. Not that she would do that. That sounded illegal.

Knock knock.

"Hey, Howard. It's me, Graham."

Beth's heart leaped at the sound of his upbeat voice. "Come in."

Graham opened the door and shut it behind him. He stunk a little from exercising, but it wasn't too bad.

"How am I doing on your record?"

Beth blinked. "My what?"

"Have you been able to forgive me yet?"

"Oh. Not yet. It's not that you haven't been good to me, it's just that..." Beth let her words trail off. She didn't know what to say. Her heart still hadn't healed yet and been able to forgive him for his past crimes.

"I understand," Graham said, but a bit of the happy glow left his cheeks. "Is there anything I could do to make it better?"

"Not that I can think of."

"Okay. Well, I mostly came in here to tell you that Seymore's about to make an announcement in the training room. We have to go there now."

Beth closed her laptop and rose from her desk, then followed Graham down the hallways, past the E.A.D. boxes- which she realized with a start was what had felt missing from the L.E.R. building plans when seeing them back in the summer before her senior year of high school- past the creepy empty tanks that honestly freaked Beth out a little, and into the training room. People had stopped exercising and shooting and were looking at Seymore, the Director of Defense, near the door. Beth and Graham joined Irene near the back of the room.

"I have an announcement to make," Seymore said, raising her hand above her head. "I just wanted to let you all know that we're on your side when it comes to the big decision we'll be making soon." She cringed on that last word. "You don't have to form a rebellion. Our goal is to keep everyone safe. We'll be making a decision based on what's best for everyone, not only what's best for the Guardians. So don't worry, we'll be putting everyone in as little life-threatening danger as possible. That is all. Please go back to work. Thank you. Agent X. Curry, I'll be right over to help you with your personalized training. We'll start with some target practice." Rumor had it, Seymore hadn't known how to shoot until her senior year of high school, when she decided to learn so she could teach it to others.

Murmuring swept through the room as she went back to her job. At first, Beth couldn't hear what they were saying, but she was soon able to pick out a few sentences from among the many.

"Keep everyone safe? Does that mean the Guardians too? So we're still in danger?"

"There's no way the Sloans will sentence the Guardians to their death. We have to do it for them. If we overthrow the Guardians, then we can take over their jobs and be safer."

These phrases and more danced around Beth, Graham, and Irene as people began training again.

"The Guardians are people, too," Beth tried to interject into several conversations, but it didn't work at all.

"And so are we," one dark-haired man said.

"They've lived so long compared to us. It's only fair that our lives get prioritized," said a brunette.

"There's only five of them and hundreds of us. It's only reasonable."

But all of the voices sounded tense, high, afraid. Most of the L.E.R. agents were still scared for their lives.

"This rebellion needs to stop," Beth tried shouting at one light-haired woman.

"Beth..." Irene whispered.

"You have no power over me!" the woman replied.

"Look, I'm sorry," Beth said. "But how must the Guardians be feeling right now about all this?"

"The Guardians are Guardians for a reason. They're brave."

"But so are L.E.R. agents."

"No, we weren't chosen. The Guardians can deal with this better than we can."

"Howard, I don't think this is working," Graham said. "We need to come up with something else."

Inside Beth, a storm of frustration grew. Couldn't the rebels just see how wrong they were? They weren't thinking straight! It reminded her of her campaigns, how she could never convince her target that she was right about whatever it was. In a way, this was just another campaign except that this time, she was on the other side of it. She was the authority trying to quell those who had opinions that opposed her own. And how she hated it. Why was it that this rebellion was successful when none of hers had been?

There were more people who cared about it; that was why.

"We need to come up with something else," she repeated back to Graham. "Like what?"

Graham scratched the back of his neck. "Like...I don't know. I wish I had something to tell you, but the only thing I can come up with is force. Shock them into submission. And I don't think either of us wants you to do that."

"No, we need another passive way," Beth said with a nod.

"What could possibly convince them?" Irene asked.

"I don't know," Beth replied. "The Sloans already probably tried their best. We'll need to think of something better."

Irene frowned. "I think we need to get back to work. You, too, Beth. How about we think and then talk about it tonight?"

"That sounds like a good idea."

"Where?" Graham asked.

"At my apartment," Beth responded.

"Where do you live?"

"I'll pick you up. I have a list of everyone's addresses now."

Graham laughed, a light joyful sound. "That's a little creepy. See you there."

Beth cracked a smile as her chest tried to glow through her twisting worry. "See you there."