Stronger Read Online Free PDF Page B

that seem to suck in the light like black holes.
    Yelled orders and marching feet grow louder as I move past the fenced building. Bright lights flood the large exercise grounds that the warriors and students share. I stop in the shadows of an outbuilding. The fence ends here; nothing but fear separates me from Zac and his men. This late, only his troop remains on the field, illuminated by the rows of floodlights shining down out of the darkness. I watch in awe as Zac leads his men through a series of drills, taking the time to show each man how to improve.
    Seeing him like this reminds me of all the times I’ve seen clips of him in battle on the holo-screens. Men like Zac make it impossible to hate all Vals. He is one of those who truly believe they are saving us from invasion, not quite realizing it’s already happened. Ty said Zac wouldn’t deal with a Deb, but a tiny corner of my heart hopes he’s wrong.
    After another half hour, Zac dismisses the men. He holds a tight salute as the warriors move off, only snapping his hand crisply down as the last one passes him. Once alone, he does a few reps of the same drills himself. I’m about to call out for him when the tinkling of an Orion’s wings comes from above.
    “Well, done Zachary,” Eclipse's voice says.
    No! I want to shout a warning to Zachary but my tongue won’t work. Eclipse is the worst of the lot, the Orions’ resident assassin, and his methods are brutal. I consider running from my shadowed hiding place and throwing myself between Zac and the Orion sent to kill him. If I tried to fight Eclipse, my death would be quick, and probably futile, but I long to do something.
    Zachary stands at attention. “Can I help you, sir?”
    “I just wanted to thank you for the service you have given your planet.”
    “Just doing my duty, Sir.”
    Eclipse walks around Zac, his wingtips brushing the ground. “I wanted to see some of your training. Show me what you were demonstrating.”
    Zachary draws the knife at his hip and swipes the blade through the air in a series of moves that practice blocks, slices, and stabs.
    “We’ve been worried about you.” Eclipse smiles as he watches Zac throw the knife from one hand to the other, catching it with obvious precision.
    “Have you?” Zac’s smooth movements continue as he speaks.
    “Yes. We’ve noticed how sad you’ve been since returning home. We believe you’ve been contemplating taking your own life.”
    Zac rolls the knife across the back of his hand and catches it in a firm grip. “No Sir; no thoughts of suicide.”
    “But you lost so many men, good men, under your command. It would be so easy to end that pain, to make all that guilt disappear,” Eclipse says. “All you would have to do is Put. Your. Weapon. To. Your. Throat. And slice.”
    Eclipse sends power through his words and I watch Zachary struggle against his own hand, shaking his head while his hand draws the knife closer to his throat. Even with the filters, I can hear how persuasive the voice is, how tempting it must be for him to kill himself. To put away all of his worries.
    I want to help but what can I do? I think back to the videos shown on the history loops of the great Orions in battle. They prefer to compel and control, but when they choose to fight, they are quick, powerful, and deadly. I wouldn’t stand a chance.
    Zac’s knife is at his throat. His eyes—wide and pleading—follow Eclipse as he circles his prey. “I don’t want to do this.”
    Eclipse touches Zac’s forehead. “But you do. Because it would please me.”
    Zac’s expression changes from pleading and fear to one of reverence and awe. It frightens me. I have to wipe that daze off his face. I need to. I’m dying anyway, right? What difference would staying alive one more night make?
    I move out from the shadow and walk straight toward Zac. I have no plan, no idea whether I can help, but I have to try, even if it’s the last thing I ever do.
    “Commander Collins,