The Gender Fall (The Gender Game #5)

“Without the ticker, we are flying blind here! We have no updates on anything remotely helpful, and no idea what Elena is planning. Tabitha’s death won’t set her back. It might if she had a heart, but…”

“Even with a super brain, it still takes time to coordinate things. Messages have to be sent, people have to be accounted for, troops have to move… We have a window of time here, Viggo. Let’s take the opportunity, the chance. We have to—the people we care about are going to die if we don’t.” Amber’s eyes shone with sincerity and determination. I could almost hear what she meant: Violet was going to die if we didn’t go.

I looked into her eyes and exhaled slowly. “Are you sure about this? Do you think the Liberators will actually hear you out?”

Amber nodded, her red locks bouncing atop her head. “Desmond told them we were traitors, but I know people in there. They’re my friends. They’ll hear me out. Me and Owen. We’ve just got to get them to watch the video.”

“You’re placing a lot of faith in that video,” I replied, and she gave me a stern look.

“Violet almost sacrificed her life getting us that video,” she said, her voice brittle. “Because of that, we have something tangible to show people. We have proof Elena is behind the attacks on Patrus. That counts for something.”

I tilted my head up toward the ceiling. Amber was right. I was letting my own personal hatred for the contents of that video override my logic. Truth be told, I didn’t want anyone to see that video. I hated to imagine what they might think of Violet. After all, it also provided clear evidence that she was behind the bombing of the palace, and I wasn’t sure that would go over well with anyone from Patrus, no matter her rationale behind it.

Yet I knew pictures spoke more to people than words ever could. I could shout at the top of my lungs that Elena was behind everything, and nobody would listen. But if we could show them evidence… then they might come around.

Amber held her hands up, palms together, and gave me a big-eyed, pleading look. I rolled my eyes, but a smile crossed my face. “Okay,” I said, and she gave an excited squeal, clapping her hands rapidly together. I waited for her excitement to die down, giving her a sardonic look. “For the record, it was your well-thought-out and carefully reasoned argument that won, not the puppy dog eyes.”

Amber shrugged. “Don’t care, still won,” she practically sang as she turned, heading back into the dining room.

I rolled my eyes again, but I was still smiling. Amber had an infectious way about her, and I felt slightly revitalized as I headed back into the dining room, stifling a yawn behind my fist, ready to do damage control.





7





Viggo





I bent over, picking up the chair Violet had knocked over in her panic, and then sat down in it. Ms. Dale looked up at me from across the table, and I gave her a small nod and a tight smile. Then I realized everyone else was also looking at me expectantly, waiting for news about Violet.

“She’s fine,” I assured everyone. “She’s resting. However, I’ve decided to send Owen and Amber into The Green, hopefully to convince the Liberators to switch sides, but, more importantly, to bring back Dr. Tierney and medical supplies.”

Owen gave me a grateful look, a smile curling at the corners of his lips, and I nodded in acknowledgement. Ms. Dale leaned forward, her face impassive.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” she asked.

I shot a glance at Amber, who raised an eyebrow at me. “Amber made some good points earlier, and I think it might be our best chance. However, before you two go”—I fixed Amber and Owen with a look—“would you mind staying for this meeting? Your insight would be helpful, and I have something to talk about with both of you afterward.”

“Of course,” said Owen, nodding. “We don’t want to leave you in the lurch.” Amber raised one eyebrow, but nodded.

“Good,” I replied.

“Not good,” contradicted Ms. Dale. I gave her a questioning look, but her focus was on Owen and Amber. “Not that I doubt you made good points to Mr. Croft here, but I just want to be clear—you’re going to the Facility?”

“Oh, no.”

“Not even remotely.”

Amber and Owen exchanged chagrined looks as they spoke over each other, and Amber waved a hand, indicating Owen should take the lead. Owen met Ms. Dale’s gaze with an earnest smile, before explaining they’d be going to their home base, hidden on the Patrian side of The Green.

“Amber and I talked about this, and we figure Desmond will be paying closer attention to the Facility than our base—because it looks like she kicked the Liberators out of it and gave the Matrians full control—and all the research for the boys is based there.”

Ms. Dale met his gaze, then leaned back in the chair. “In that case, I’m satisfied,” she said with a nod, though her eyes were still cold, probably at the thought of the poor boys’ plight.

I felt myself smile at Ms. Dale, shaking my head in amusement. That woman was like a bloodhound when it came to finding flaws in plans, and I was once again impressed she had thought to ask that question. I hadn’t thought of it until Amber had brought it up herself—I’d had no idea the Liberators even had another base. Then again, most of my time with the Liberators had been spent either in convalescence or training the boys. It hadn’t left a lot of room for talking.