Taking Things Into Consideration

“Blink? He’s okay?” Aaron asked, stunned by Arie’s revelation.

“Yes, he’s doing fine, thanks to you and your friend.” She nodded.

“Miche.”

“Was she the young woman sitting with you at the table?” she asked.

“That’s her. I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for her. She’s either saved me or helped me since I met her.”

“Ah, then we are all connected,” Arie gave a faint smile and turned around.

Aaron shrugged and followed her. “So, is Blink still on campus?”

“I believe so,” Arie looked over her shoulder. “I met him as he was escaping from something. I’m guessing it was the event that led you to save his life. He almost ran into me, and I asked him what was going on. He was so wound up that I could barely follow, but what he was saying matched rumors that had been going on around campus. About you.”

“Rumors?”

“Yes, that the stuff of your American comic books was coming true.”

“I can’t be the only meta known to the public, though.”

“You aren’t, but the existence of people like us is still on the level of myth. Not everyone believes these stories, and they aren’t always documented.”

“Come to think of it… I never really grew up with stories of any metahumans, even though I am one.”

“Which is why it wasn’t easy to find you. Whenever I heard the stories, I’d ask the students if they knew who was involved. Most of them had heard these stories from friends whom they did not believe.”

“Even though Rouge uprooted a tree?”

“Right. I finally found out who you were when a young student saw a picture of you in one of the buildings. I heard him mention to his friend that he saw you right before he suddenly went unconscious one day.”

“Oh… The freshman…”

“I guess so. At that point I figured you might be the one I’m looking for, so when I saw you in the cafeteria, I knew I had to act.”

“And now we’re here,” Aaron said, sighing.

“And now we’re here,” Arie responded, resolute.

They both walked in silence until they reached a small group of buildings on the outskirts of a city.

“This is the base for our camp. I have been keeping in touch with them since I left Talakh. As you can imagine, things have not been going well. I am the one of the few metas, as you call them, supporting this revolution.”

“There are millions of people within your nation. Why are you one of the few metas?”

“The men employed by Xeloc demonstrate their power on a regular basis, which whittles away at the courage of my people, even the ones who might be strong enough to fight them.”

“I cannot understand that fear…” Aaron stepped closer to her.

“It is all that so many of us here know,” Arie looked down for a moment, then raised her head and walked to the closest building. She raised her hand to knock, then turned to Aaron and smiled. Soon, Aaron realized he was inside the building.

“Am I going to get used to that?” he asked her, shaking his head.

“No,” a man’s voice spoke near a set of computers. The man rose and walked to embrace Arie. “We’ve missed you, sister.”

“I’ve missed you, too, Kiehr.”

“Are you two siblings?” Aaron asked.

Kiehr shook his head, “No, but we are all family in this struggle. My name is Kiehr,” he nodded at Aaron.

“And I’m Aaron. Nice to meet you.” Aaron smiled.

“Maybe.” Kiehr turned and walked to the computers. “Arie, you could have given us more warning.”

“I had to seize the opportunity to bring Aaron here.”

“Well, at least you have someone that can help,” Kiehr turned to her, “And nice to see you aren’t an urban legend,” he turned to Aaron.

“I’m glad I’m not either,” Aaron laughed. Arie and Kiehr gave him a blank stare. “Well.”

“Where is everyone else?” Arie asked Kiehr.

“They are resting in the lower levels,” Kiehr responded.

“Not all of them,”Aaron said, turning to a door in the room. Another young man entered.

“Kiehr, have you made any more plans for the next mission?” the man asked before turning to look at Arie and Aaron. “Who are they?”

“Juhl, this is Arie.” Kiehr motioned to her.

“I’ve heard stories about you,” he gave a sly smile.

“And this is Aaron,” Kiehr nodded in Aaron’s direction.
“You are a stranger,” Juhl seemed wary.

“You might as well be, too,” Aaron said, lowering his voice, his eyes glowing slightly. He sensed Juhl’s apprehension.

Kiehr gave a scowl and interrupted the tension, “Juhl, yes, the mission is almost finished. I need to consult with everyone before we carry it out. Can you bring them here?”

“Certainly,” Juhl turned to leave.

“Actually, I’ll take care of this one,” Aaron spoke, his eyes glowing as he sent the message to the other members of the rebellion. His broadcast was met with disbelief, anger, and some curiosity. Juhl cut a malicious look at Aaron, one he quickly remedied but hoped Aaron wouldn’t notice, not quite understanding his present company. Soon, each member of the rebellion filed into the room, moving toward the computer screens.

“Everyone, this is Aaron,” Kiehr brought Aaron next to him. There was mixed company: three women and four men, each of different sizes and complexions.

“Why is he here?” a young man with tan skin frowned at Aaron.

“Because I thought he could be of use to us, Porehl,” Arie narrowed her eyes at the man. Aaron sensed negative feelings between the Arie and Porehl.

“He actually will help serve as a surprise weapon in our plan,” Kiehr asserted himself.

“I am not a weapon.” Aaron disagreed with the idea.

“You will be soon,” Kiehr stared at him, unwavering.

“I can make this a lot harder for you,” Aaron said to him telepathically.

“But I know that you won’t,” Kiehr thought back to him, sending Aaron images of exactly why he was involved in the rebellion. Aaron had to hold back his own emotions and could barely comprehend the rage and anguish within Kiehr’s heart and mind.

“Kiehr, we need to discuss the plan,” a young woman offered.

“You’re right, Syleh.” Kiehr turned to face her. “Everyone, this mission may turn the tide for the rebellion. Some of you will need to stay here as support. Syleh, Arie, Aaron, Kilep,” he turned to a short, medium toned man, “and I will be going to Xeloc’s hideout.”

“Say what now?” Aaron cocked an eyebrow.

“You all are metas and I am the most proficient in combat,” Kiehr responded. “This will be a strike mission, hopefully with the effect of crippling Xeloc’s forces and resources. Kilep, you will be responsible for sneaking in and disabling Xeloc’s security and providing scouting. Aaron, you will keep us linked and serve as one of the main forces. You and Syleh will be responsible for taking on the strongest soldiers. Arie and I will place bombs around the compound, taking out whatever soldiers are in the way.”

“Won’t we cause too much of a commotion?” Aaron asked.

“Not if you use your psychic abilities to cloak us,” Arie added.

“You know a lot more about me than you let on,” Aaron replied.

“Blink spoke fast, but I could still understand him,” she responded.

“Before she knew who you were, she gave us as much information on your abilities as she knew, which was apparently enough,” Kiehr said.

“Noted,” Aaron spoke.

“When will the mission take place?” Porehl asked.

“We will leave—“ Kiehr began.

“Stop. Don’t say another word. You may be compromised,” Aaron said to him telepathically.

“What do you mean?” Kiehr thought.

“Someone is hanging on your every word. He’s going to tattle. He may have already leaked some information.”

“Who is it?” Kiehr asked in his head.

“Juhl.” Aaron narrowed his eyes at Juhl. He had sensed apprehension from him before, and now understood why.

“Arie, we need to speak with Juhl. Take us outside,” Aaron said to her telepathically. She questioned him in her mind, but ultimately went along with his idea.

“Give us a moment,” she said to Kiehr before she, Juhl, and Aaron disappeared and reappeared outside.

“You have one chance to talk before I dig into your mind myself,” Aaron spoke, more angry than he expected to be.

“I don’t know anything…” Juhl began to walk back to the compound.

“Wrong answer,” Aaron’s eyes glowed as he raised Juhl off the ground, probing for the information he needed.

“He’s been slowly leaking information to Xeloc. He hasn’t released anything of importance, though they do know about me. Luckily, he hasn’t heard much,” Aaron said before he knocked Juhl unconscious. He stared hard at the ground, angry at Juhl, angry at Xeloc, angry at the fact that bad people existed at all.

“Campbell wouldn’t be proud of me for that,” he finally spoke.

“But what you’ve done has been great for a nation of people,” Arie put a hand on his shoulder.

“I’m so sorry,” he said before embracing her, crying into her shoulder.

“Why?” she held him close.

“Because I don’t understand why this is happening. Why your mother had to die. Why Kiehr’s family had to suffer.”

“But Aaron,” she held him to where they could look each other in the eyes, “at least you have the power to help.” Arie lowered her guard and let herself cry in front of Aaron. If he used his telepathy, he would have known the significance of such a human expression of emotion from her.