Five's Legacy

CHAPTER TEN

WE’RE IN THE HELICOPTER FOR WHAT SEEMS like a long time. It’s small, but fast. I don’t know who the pilot is and I don’t ask. All I know is that we have to wear these big noise-canceling headphones with radios built into them, and that’s the only way the three of us—me, Ethan, and the pilot—can talk to one another. None of us does, which is all right with me. I’m too busy trying to remain calm, focusing on the grass and roads flying by beneath me. Pretending the cars and trucks are toys.

Ethan keeps grinning, like he’s just won the lottery. I imagine the Mogs will reward him somehow for helping to recruit me. I start to pick apart everything he’s said and done in the past year, but I have to stop. Every time I start doing that, I begin to second-guess myself. So instead I just stare at the clouds and cities and pastures sweeping by beneath us, trying to steel myself for whatever’s coming next. I take deep breaths and keep my hands clasped together, trying not to freak out about the fact that I’m heading to Mog central.

For some reason I think they’re going to take me to some kind of alien ship or even an old Gothic mansion, but we land at a big, sterile-looking building. It’s still dark outside, but from what I can tell the place looks like a big office—not at all the HQ I would have expected the Mogs to be using.

Men in black suits meet us at the front doors. They look human enough, and nod—almost bow—to me in reverence when we approach. I try to keep my body from shaking, which takes a lot of effort. Everything is new and different and terrifying, and for a few passing moments all I want is to be sitting on the beach on my little island, even though by this point I probably couldn’t even find it if I tried.

“Welcome, sir,” they both say.

Inside, we’re escorted past a front desk and around security. I notice a placard on a wall as we pass: Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“Is this, like, a government facility?” I whisper to Ethan.

“I told you,” he says. “They’ve got eyes all over the place. They’ve got resources everywhere.”

He winks at me, though this fact is both impressive and unsettling. I’m beginning to see just how useless all the hiding and moving was.

We continue to silently wind through a few halls, down a set of stairs, and into what must be an underground level. Finally, we come to two doors next to each other.

“You’re in here,” one of the men says, motioning from me to the first door. Then he turns to Ethan. “You’re in the other one.”

“Wait,” I say, stepping forward. They can’t separate us. I don’t want to be alone in here. Panic starts to rise up in me. I can feel my skin start to change, taking on the properties of my duffel bag handles, all leathery and smooth. “Why can’t we—”

“It’s fine,” Ethan says in the most soothing voice he can. It works, because I start to calm down. “They just want to talk to you. It’s probably classified info or something like that. It’s okay. You’re their VIP. Don’t worry.”

I nod reluctantly. Ethan disappears into his appointed room. I stand in the hallway for a few seconds before one of the men clears his throat. I shoot him an annoyed look and then go inside.

It’s the kind of room I recognize from watching too many crime shows on cable over the last year. It’s empty except for a swinging light, a few chairs, and a big metal desk in the center of the room that looks like it could double as an operating table. An interrogation room. I swallow hard.

“Please, have a seat,” someone says.

I turn to see the Mogadorian Ethan was videoconferencing with last night standing in the corner. His gleaming black hair reflects the swinging light, black eyes twinkling. His lips spread across his gray teeth. He has to be seven feet tall, at least.

“We’ve been expecting you, Five,” he continues, his voice rich and low as he waves towards one of the chairs. I hesitate, and then take a seat. The Mog sits across from me.

I’m sitting across from a Mogadorian.

Suddenly, all I can remember are stories Rey told me growing up. About how the Mogs invaded, and about all the terrors they brought with them to our planet. You’d think that they were monsters—and though this guy is definitely creepy and intimidating, he doesn’t look all that different from me, all things considered.

Still, it’s hard for me to keep my fingers from drumming on the table. I pull my hands back, crossing my arms. That’s when I feel the Loric glove and its hidden blade.

Rey always told me that if I was caught I’d be tortured. If that’s what this is really about—all one setup to try to torture me—will I be fast enough to use the blade to escape? Either by destroying the Mogs or myself?

“We’re very pleased with your decision to join us, young Lorien,” the Mog says.

“I don’t have much of a choice if I want to live,” I say.

“An intelligent boy. I always knew we were correct in placing our bets on you. If only more of your kind were able to see the true extent of our might and the inevitability of the Mogadorian rule, we might have saved many casualties.”

“You’ve been in contact with the others?” I ask.

“In some ways.”

“What’s your plan? Are you going after Four next?”

“Based on the charm that protects all of you, that would make sense,” the Mog says, grinning widely, exposing those hideous teeth once again. “Of course, it’s possible that charm has its limits. How many times do you think it will work before it finally fails? We have so many soldiers and scouts willing to test out the spell’s longevity, happy to die in the name of securing our future.”

He’s going to try to kill me, I think. In an instant, I’ve got one glove off and a hand on the table. It’s as if by instinct. I haven’t trained with my newest power, but I take a chance. Sure enough, my skin goes silver as I absorb the properties of the metal. If nothing else it should buy me some time if he attacks me.

The Mog laughs a little.

“Oh, don’t worry. We have others we could test that out on. Isn’t it obvious by now that we have a much brighter future prepared for you?”

“You have other Garde here?” I remember Ethan mentioning Nine being held captive. The idea of meeting another of my kind makes my pulse pound.

I don’t want to do it. Not now, at least. I couldn’t face one of them as someone who turned on them. Not until I’m stronger, until I’ve got my head on right and can really talk some sense into them.

“In due time, you’ll learn about all the ways that we’ve ensured our success in the extermination of the Garde. But we can’t just go around telling you all our secrets, now, can we? Not if you were planning on double-crossing us or were to report back to the Garde. You must prove your loyalty to us before we can continue.”

I hesitate, and focus on my breathing. On calming down. My body changes back to normal, and I place my palms on the table before me.

“A useful power,” the Mog says. “Ethan had not mentioned it in his reports.”

“It’s new,” I say. “Very new.”

He just nods.

“We can help you with that. With all your skills. By the time we’re through training you, you’ll be one of the most powerful players in our ranks. There is not a place on this planet that will be worthy of your rule.”

Something sparks in me. The memory of a place. A destination I never made it to.

“Canada,” I say.

“I’m sorry?”

“Canada. I would want to rule over Canada.”

The Mog looks confused for a moment, and then smirks.

“How about all of North America. To start with.”

I nod. I don’t know how else to respond to being offered a continent.

“But, first, your loyalty,” he continues. “This is the sort of deal that is usually inked in blood.”

Blood?

“What do you want me to do?”

The Mog turns his head, nodding toward Ethan’s room.

“He has served us well.”

“What?” I ask. Ethan? My stomach turns. Surely he can’t mean what I think he means—that he wants me to kill the only person I have in the world. “But you made a deal with Ethan.” My voice threatens to shake.

I start to go on, almost pleading, but the Mog just lets out what might be a laugh, but sounds more like choking.

“No, no, dear boy. We aren’t asking you to hurt Ethan. That human has served us very well. And we honor our deals. I simply point out that Ethan went through some of the same trials you will have to go through in the future to prove his intentions to us. Your loyalty to him is commendable, but we’re going to have to harden your resolve.”

I exhale long and hard.

The Mog places a folder on the table.

“There will be a sacrifice to us. Not immediately, but once you’re ready. When we’ve trained you, and helped you unlock your full potential. There’s a picture of your target in here.” He slides the folder across the table. “Would you like to see who it is?”

I don’t touch the document.

“We are offering you the world, Five. Prove yourself, and we will make you a god on this planet. If you are serious about joining us, this is the way it must be. Not only as proof of your loyalty, but proof that you have what it takes to rule in the name of Mogadore. There is much to come. We have no room for the squeamish.”

And if I don’t do it, he’ll have me thrown into a cell and probably tortured. Ethan too. This he doesn’t say, but I know it must be true.

For a moment this scenario seems strangely familiar. My mind flashes back to our little shack on the island. The hogs snorting wildly, practically screaming in their pen. The scared snake, raised halfway off the ground like a clenched spring, ready to strike. Rey telling me to kill it before it harmed one of us. It was the snake or us. It just had to be that way.

The memory seems so far away. So long ago.

I’d simply stood there, not wanting to have to do anything. Hoping that everything would work out somehow—that the danger would go away on its own.

But that’s not how the world works. It’s no use just sitting around waiting for danger to come to me. At least with the Mogs, I’ll know the danger. I’ll be the danger.

Do whatever it takes to stay alive.

Rey’s last words to me.

“All right,” I say. My voice wavers a little, and I try to even it out as I continue. “If that’s what it takes to show my allegiance.”

The Mog grins.

I stare at the folder. I don’t have to open it, but I realize that this—like so many other things in my life—is a test. To see if I have the stomach for what’s to come. I’m going to have to get used to this sort of thing. Harden myself. The Mogs won’t coddle me—of this I have no doubt. They’re ruthless and powerful. That’s what I’ll have to become.

I take a deep breath and open the folder.