Psion Alpha Read Online Free PDF Page B

well,” Hefani admitted. “I am my parents’ only child.”
    Sammy
glanced at Jeffie, but did not catch her eye.
    “We’re
needed here, I tell you,” Brickert said. “The resistance can use us. And rather
than risking our lives to cross the ocean into a warzone, we should stick it
out and help where we’re most needed. I mean, guys, come on, it’s crazy to try
and go back!”
    “I
agree,” Natalia commented, brushing her jet black hair behind her ear.
    Parley
sighed loudly. “I appreciate your opinion, Brickert, but I feel differently.”
    “Our
families need us,” Rosa said. “The NWG needs us. My loyalty is to them, not the
CAG resistance.”
    Sammy
watched as a few more of his friends began to nod along with Rosa. Brickert,
meanwhile, was ready to disagree further. Sammy chose to remain quiet and let
his friend be the dissenting voice.
    “Look
around,” Brickert said, cheeks only slightly pink. “The resistance is just as
against the CAG as we are. What can we accomplish by going home? Hugging family
members would be nice, but the resistance needs us.”
    “They
don’t need us,” Miguel told Brickert. “There’s thirteen of us. Hundreds—thousands
of them. We don’t make a difference.”
    Jeffie
let go of Sammy’s hand and leaned forward. “That’s baloney, Miguel! We’re all
trained to fly cruisers. Ludwig, you’re one of our best pilots. You flew
brilliantly in Orlando. We are hands down the best soldiers and fighters the
resistance has got. The thirteen of us are worth a hundred regular soldiers. No
one can do the kind of clandestine work we can.”
    “Marie
is dead,” Miguel whispered hoarsely. “Domingo, too. My brother was barely
thirteen. He’d only been at headquarters a few weeks! Do you remember who told
him to stay back instead of coming with us to Orlando?”
    No
one answered Miguel because they’d all been there when Domingo had asked his
siblings if he could come along. The answer had been a firm no due to
the high risks involved. Sammy knew the guilt Miguel felt. Nothing they’d heard
from the news reports on either CAG or NWG stations suggested that survivors
had been found after the assaults on Beta and Alpha headquarters, which meant
Miguel, Rosa, and Parley had no reason to suppose their siblings were alive.
And Sammy had no reason to suppose that Al and Commander Byron, his only real
family, were alive, either. The notion that only thirteen Psions remained in
all the world filled Sammy with bitterness.
    “I
don’t mean to be rude, Miguel.” Brickert’s tone softened. “Really, I don’t. But
how could you possibly get back to your families safely? The resistance is not
going to waste resources on helping you leave, I’ll tell you. We can do so much
good here. There will be time for reuniting with families later.”
    “Maybe
that works for you,” Ludwig said, “but not me.”
    “You
think you four are the only ones who don’t miss family?” Jeffie asked. “I’m my
parents’ only girl. Kawai’s younger sisters don’t know if she’s alive. Brickert
is the only boy in his family. His father probably thinks he has no son to
carry on his name!”
    “My
parents think they lost all four kids in one day!” Miguel shouted.
    Jeffie
stood up and got in his face, screaming. “What about Kobe and Kaden’s parents?
Their sons are dead! At least you will be able to see your parents when this is
over!”
    Kawai
and Natalia pulled Jeffie back from Miguel before the argument escalated.
    “I
didn’t sign on for this!” Rosa cried. “I don’t want to be part of any
resistance.”
    Sammy
pointed a finger at her. “You’re wrong, Rosa. You did sign up for this. You
took an oath. You said you would give your mind, your strength, and your heart
to the service of the government so long as the government serves the interest
of the people. Are you saying that the NWG no longer serves your interest?”
    “No.”
    Sammy
could barely hear her hushed answer. “Do you