Objective Consequence (Book Two of the Subjective Justice series)

Chapter Two: Trust No One

"Did you manage to find all of the refugees? Or were some missing?" Indra asked, focusing on the sensation of the ground beneath her good foot rather than the physical contact that made her want to hurl.

Sali sighed. "According to the elder, ten were killed during their capture. The scouts should've been there, then we could've stopped--"

Indra awkwardly patted Sali's back. "It's in the past, there's nothing we can do about it now. We need to focus on the survivors and move on."

Back muscles tensed beneath Indra's hand. "Some scars can never be healed, Indra. Under this new leadership, we're allowing multitudes of unclosable wounds to be opened." Sali's voice dropped low. "Are you certain we can trust Akio? Or will she murder us all in our sleep like Claude?"

No words would come. How could Indra assure Sali of something she herself was still questioning? She wanted to believe that Akio was incapable of such horrors, but her past said otherwise. Even as Indra held her in her arms following each breakdown from the things that haunted Akio's dreams, she questioned whether her girlfriend's mind would flick a switch and revert to who she once was. A killer. A weapon. A murderer. An apathetic sociopath. 

So she lied. "Akio would never betray us. I trust her."

"That's why your oi'ek are drooping?" Sali whispered, her voice breaking.

Indra swallowed, knowing it was impossible to lie to her past best friend. "After what happened, I don't think I can ever trust anyone."

Claude's actions destroyed the trust Indra had worked the entirety of her free life to gain. A piece broke inside of her that night as she held Nanon's corpse in her arms. Nothing could change it. Nothing could aid it. No one could be trusted.

Better to be honest and cry than happy and lie. Akio knew where Indra stood and she respected it. She understood it, and that was one of the many reasons Indra adored her. Even without giving reasoning of her past, Akio listened and adhered to Indra's requests. She trusted her. A misplaced and foolish trust.

"There's talk among the others. Having a weapon as a leader makes many restless. It's one thing to allow her within the mansion walls, it's another to have her oversee everything. . . " Sail paused, lifting Indra slightly a second time as they transitioned to the rockier terrain. "Are you sure she didn't blackmail Haim into giving her that position?"

Indra shook her head in disbelief. "Do you really think Haim, stars bless his soul, the mind reader and potential manipulator, could have been blackmailed into anything?"

Scoffing, Sali stopped for a moment. "Anything is possible. Akio worked for the government--still might be working for the commanders. All those articles could be a rouse to trick us into trusting her. A large organization like that having dirt on our leader isn't far-fetched."

"If discourse rips through our group, there will be nothing left. Do you want the Lizz's to win?" Indra asked, her tone cold. "Fighting amongst ourselves is exactly what they want. Regardless of trust, no matter the risk, we must stay united--it's all we have."

It hurt to admit that the group was in no way prepared for the turns ahead, but it was the truth. The delicate balance Haim had maintained between contacts and keeping the group from inward fighting was unattainable now. No one had the sort of power he did. Indra knew the contacts, but without being able to visually identify, what use was she in that regard? If they disguised their voice, she wouldn't know the difference.

"Your body may be weak, but your heart--your will, is unbreakable. That's what makes you stronger than a thousand soldiers, Indra."

A stray tear escaped from the corner of Indra's eye, leaving a wet trail down the side of her face. She missed Haim. All she had left was her memories of him, that wasn't enough. It would never be enough.

But I still have Hawke and Akio. . . Unless I lose them too.

Indra listened intently for more footsteps to join her, hoping if only for a moment that the next thing she would hear was the nearly missable whirl of Akio's equipment.

Nothing.

Not a sound.

Sali started moving again.

A foreboding settled in Indra's gut, churning it into unbreakable knots, harder than the metal of a Drexi coin. What if Akio didn't make it back? Did Indra abandon her to die?

An explosion rang through the air.

Indra cried out, the intensity of the loudness like a hammer to her skull as both her and Sali were thrown away from each other with a wave of heat. 

An audible crack sent stabbing pain up Indra's right arm when she landed hard on the stone ground. Our transport. Someone rigged our transport.

The charging of guns hummed in the air.

Indra was barely able to hear it over the ringing in her ears. She felt around the ground, her left hand gripped the handle of her cane.

"Don't move, we have you surrounded," an elderly voice commanded.

The elder. . . This was a set up.

Reaching up quickly, Indra clicked on her ear piece. "Akio, it's a setup! Get out!"

An object slammed into her gut, cracking several ribs.

Indra cried out, the burning agony coursing through her body like a river of hot metal.

A warm barrel pressed into her temple. "You tell your leader to surrender or I'll break you piece by piece."