I lean back on the couch, tears streaming down my face. I push my bangs back out my face and wipe my eyes.
So much makes sense now. I don't whether to be mad, happy or just sad in general. I can understand why Annie kept most of this stuff a secret for my safety, but to keep that I had a brother, a twin to be exact, a secret is a little harder to forgive. At least I know who it is and it explains why I missed him more than anything. I knew I had some kind of relationship with him, but now I can label it. I start to wonder if Setrakus Ra knew of our connection and used it to his advantage.
I place the letter beside me and just cry for a bit. I'm more sad for my brother than anything else. He turned against us and murdered another Garde. I cry for the fact my family was really broken and my grandparents hated their own daughter and grandson. At least it explains the vision I had with my dad and why my grandfather forced us apart. Hate has never been something I like to focus on, but it seems my entire life revolved around it. I tried to focus on the good in people and thought love and honesty were very important.
"Christina?"
I knew he could tell when I wasn't there.
"Hi," I say softly.
"What's wrong?" he asks, sitting next to me.
"This." I indicate the letter. "I finally read Annie's letter."
"And...?"
"Why don't you read it yourself?" I offer it to him.
Blake takes the pages and leans over to the lamp. I wait patiently as he learns to the truth. Everything I thought I knew was a lie. I place my hands on my eyes and just relax.
When he's done, he leans back and wraps his arms around me.
"Christina...I can still call you that right?"
"Of course," I say softly.
"I'm so sorry," he says. I lean my head on his shoulder and let more tears fall. There's a brief pause.
"I like your name...Aralia really suits you."
"Thanks, but that's not the part I'm upset about."
"Is it because Annie lied to you?"
"God no, Annie did everything to protect me..."
"Is it your twin brother?"
"Yeah..." I grimace.
"Which number do you think he is?"
"Five..." I sigh.
"Is he...?"
"Yes..."
We don't speak for a little while. I keep my head on Blake's shoulder and we just embrace the quiet. I only cry for a little bit longer, I just need to let the truth sink in. Aralia, the forgotten Loric Elder, Number Ten, whatever you want to call me, at least I have my identity back.
"Where do you think the others are now?" Blake asks.
"Divided, my brother's still alive I know that much."
"How can you tell?"
"The visions," I explain. "I am the Garde in their last moments of life. I see everything that's happening, so I'd know if he'd be dead. We may have been separated at birth, but we've had this special connection." I clasp hands with Blake, showing him what I mean. "I've always been close to him. We shared a womb for nine months and a year on the ship. There are some ties that can't be severed no matter how hard they try."
"So does this mean you're still an Elder?" he asks.
"I can't really say. Our birth was supposed to be some sign that there were supposed to be ten, but we don't really know why they kept it a nine."
"I guess it's because of the fallen Elder."
"I guess so. Anyway Elder or not, I was chosen to help protect Lorien. I need to find the others, but I have a feeling that they're in trouble."
"Visions?" he asks
"You know me so well, but since my...brother killed one of the Garde, I only saw two or three others with him. I don't know if they haven't met up fully yet or... From what we saw in Chicago and what I saw in the vision, they're not in the same place."
"So you think they're divided?"
"Most likely."
"They probably left Chicago if they are anything like you they know when to make themselves scarce."
"But which ones, who are still alive..."
There's a pounding on the door. I race over and open the door. Jason's standing there with his laptop, breathless.
"What's wrong?" I ask, pulling my balls from my bracelet and scanning behind him.
"We need to do something quickly!" he sputters pushing past me into the room. I shut the door and lock it, pulling the drapes with my mind. Jason makes his way to the kitchenette and sits down at the scratched up table.
"What's going on Jason?" I ask again.
He still ignores me as he types furiously at the keyboard. I grab the collar of his shirt and practically drag him out of the chair so our eyes can meet.
"What's going on?!" I say again.
"The invasion is happening sooner than you think," Jason says as I let him go again.
"What do you mean?" Blake asks.
"Reports are pouring in about unidentified flying objects appearing all over the world, but the big thing is this guy." He clicks a keyboard to bring an article to my attention. "JOLLYROGER182 has been posting articles about Mogadorian corruption in the government, and something called MogPro."
"What the hell is MogPro?" I ask leaning over his shoulder.
"Genetic testing, injections in the body, like Botox only much more dangerous. It can make you look really young and fit again. It's basically like the Mogs are promising immortality..."
"Which obviously has side effects." Blake finishes.
"Check these out," Jason says clicking hard on a key.
We see two pictures. One of a man elderly, but fit with silver hair and strong cheekbones. The one next to it is I think the same man only he's a lot faster, there are tonnes of wrinkles that hang down into his second chin and he's almost completely bald. If it wasn't for the eyes, I'd never had guessed it was the same man.
"Who is that?" I ask.
"Secretary Bud Sanderson, who is apparently a test subject for these injections. This..." He indicates the ugly one. "Is what Sanderson looked like before, but thanks to MogPro he's now a new and improved version of Donald Trump."
"So he's in contact with the Mogs?"
"More than that he's about to hand earth over to Setrakus Ra in less than two days."
"TWO DAYS!!" I screech. Time really is ticking.
"He's going to hand Earth over peacefully."
"We have to stop him!" I say. "Where is he now?"
"New York City."
"Okay pack your gear, we need to leave now."
"Christina what about the other Garde?" Blake says.
"I'd advise against it," Jason says politely.
"Why?! we need to stop the Senator? Or Secretary or whatever, before he loses the battle for us!" I say, exasperated.
"Calm down Christina, we need a plan first."
"I've already started one," Jason says calmly.
"What do you have?" I ask, deciding to hear him out.
"You can go to New York, the sooner the better, but I think it's best if I go meet up with JOLLYROGER182. I'll be more help there than on the battlefield."
"How are you going to find him?" I ask.
"I've been working on that. I believe someone took over my Guard persona while I was abducted, so I've come up with a new profile and I am working on trust with him and JollyRoger. I've shared information about Dulce and what I was able to dig up about the Mogadorians. I told them that I've seen what the Garde can do and let them know they can trust me. "
"How long do you think it'll take for them to trust you?" I ask, tapping my foot impatiently.
"It'll be difficult, trust is a huge issue for them, especially on the Internet."
"We don't have the time!" I say anxiously. I slide the laptop away from Jason. I open an email on the website to JollyRoger and begin typing.
This is to everyone out there who are for our cause against the Mogadorians. There has been a mistake in how many Garde are out there. There is one more. I am Number Ten. My identity will no longer be a secret. I have been hiding long enough and am ready to fight back. To the remaining Garde out there, we must unite and finish this battle. I am heading to New York City to stop the Senator from surrendering our planet. This is a legitimate post if you don't believe me..."
I stop, realizing I need some way to prove the trust. I think back to a childhood memory, something that only the other Garde would know.
I can recall a time when the ten of us would sing and dance despite the fact that our world was ending. I decide to add something else, from the jumbled thoughts that I heard in New Mexico. Dulce was the scene of great battle, the interior crumbled as I escaped with my allies. I heard the thoughts of one Garde trying to save another and another wounding the leader, Setrakus Ra with someone called Sarah. I know who is to be trusted.
I sit back and read over what I've read. My finger hesitates over the ENTER key. For the first time ever, my identity is going to be revealed to someone other than trusted allies and the government. I just hope JollyRoger knows the truth when he sees it.
"Is there any way to make this private?" I ask Jason.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that only JollyRoger can read it."
"I might be able to do something..." Jason trails off, as he takes the laptop back and begins typing. I suck in a breath and feel wobbly on my feet. I run to Blake and kiss him.
'"You sure you want to do this?" he asks.
"Yes," I say, sounding surer than I actually am. "It's time, everyone including my brother needs to know and if it gets Jason to somewhere he can be of use and safe, I'm all for it"
We embrace again before Jason turns back around.
"Here, it's not guaranteed privacy but only Jolly Roger can open it."
"Perfect," I say. My finger hovers over the key again. I bite my lip hard, thinking about what Annie would do.
You must make the decision yourself, you are the warrior now Aralia.
I press down.