“Gods, I thought that last interview would never end,” Erik groans as he stuffs a whole bread roll in his mouth. He’s still adjusting to being able to eat full meals after the rebels’ months-long shortage of food, and we all have to remind him to take it slow. At least his and Peter’s giddy food fight from earlier is over. I had to put my foot down and send Peter away after he nailed Erik with a tomato and gleefully shouted, “Tomato surprise!” But I have to admit, it was nice seeing Peter joking around again. I haven’t seen that side of him since Paul died.
“Why were we even chosen to represent the gifted in the military, anyway?” Al asks. “Weren’t we kicked out?”
“Likely as a way to restore our credibility and reputation within the sector,” Jay says thoughtfully. He blows on his soup. “Otherwise we’d still be traitors. Besides, we were closest to the action in the end.”
“As long as they don’t ask us to actually come back to the military,” Al snorts. “Like hell I’m fighting for them again.”
“Idiot, the war’s over,” Erik says around another bread roll. “There’s no need for you to fight again period.”
His words hit heavier than I think he meant them to. We all sit there in silence. It feels unreal. This is really it. We won. We don’t have to fight anymore. We were able to help negotiate real laws for protecting the gifted.
I can’t imagine living a life in which I don’t have to fight. I fought on the streets as a kid. I fought in the military as a soldier. I fought as the leader of the Order. I have been fighting every day of my life for as long as I can remember, and now, all of a sudden, that’s all over. I don’t know how to live without fighting. What am I supposed to do now?
I look down at where my right arm used to be and brush my fingers against the edges of the bandaging. I wish Luke could have seen this day. It’s everything he ever wanted. And Paul and Fiona—did they die thinking this future we have so close at hand would never come? Did Fiona think it’d be impossible for the Order to recover after that ambush she lost her life in?
No. No, she always knew we’d pull through. That’s why she saved me. Her belief saved us all.
And I won’t let it be in vain.
“We’re going to be fighting in different ways now,” I say. “There’s still a lot to do, after all. New laws aren’t going to erase discrimination overnight. The Order still needs to spread peace.”
Not to mention the matter of the ex-rebels. Ellis is still being interrogated, but the death sentence has already been decided. All the rebels who surrendered at the final battle were arrested. They’re currently being questioned while Austin and the new Legislators, who’ve replaced the Councilors, decide what to do with them. It’s a tricky situation because the Legislators are trying to create a sense of peace in the sector, especially with the wronged gifted. Many rebels only became rebels because they had nowhere else to go. But they still killed. They still waged war with the goal of genocide.
And then there’s the children. With the help of Joan, Cal, and Gabriel, the Order was able to sneak all the rebel kids out of the underground home base and into Regail Hall. Our members are looking after them, and though the kids are obviously suspicious of us, they’re safe. They keep their grief and confusion close. I can’t imagine they’ll ever trust us completely after our major role in the death and imprisonment of their friends. But at least they won’t get wrapped up in all the politics taking place.
The older rebels who’d remained at the underground base peacefully surrendered to the military. There was no point trying to resist. After that, we had to hand custody of the remaining rebel leaders over to the military. Due to their significant parts in ending the final battle and their leading the peaceful surrender of all the remaining rebels, I don’t think the Legislators will kill them. At least, I’m hoping they won’t. I’m arguing their cases, but it’s going to be a long fight.
One good thing is that Gabriel’s been returned to us. Not only did I ask it as a personal favor to Austin, but apparently Cal and Joan teamed up to try to get him cleared. They told their questioners that the only reason Gabriel joined the rebels was to try to stop them from the inside. He’s never killed anyone. He’s even the reason we were able to capture Ellis in the end. Between their determined insistence on his innocence and Austin’s influence, Gabriel’s been cleared of all charges.
I catch sight of him across the hall, surrounded by former rebel children. They cling to his arms as he laughs and swings them gently around. I have a feeling he’ll find an excuse to come over and pull Erik away soon. Things were tense between them for a while, and Erik kept avoiding him, but they must’ve resolved things, because they’re nearly inseparable now.
“I can’t believe it’s really over,” Al says. “I mean, I know there’s still work to do and not everything’s going to be fixed right away. But still. No more war. Crazy, huh?”
“Pretty sure you mean relieving,” Erik says. He elbows her side. She retaliates by shoving a chicken bone in his face, and he swats it away.
I can’t help but laugh watching them. I’m so glad they’re here. I’m so happy we’re all together.
On the stage, an impromptu band is starting to form. It’s an odd collection of trumpets, trombones, a few saxes, and an oboe. The musicians have no conductor, but they start playing, and all of a sudden, everyone is pulling one another into the center of the floor, twirling around to mismatched melodies that sound purer than centuries-old classical pieces.
When Jay stands, grinning, and offers me his hand, I take it. “I hope you’ve practiced since last time,” he says.
“Of course,” I say. “Every waking hour of every day since. I had to fill my time somehow.”
We laugh as he leads me spinning into a dance. Al and Erik tease us from the sidelines. At least until Gabriel comes over and asks Erik for a dance, and then it’s his turn to be teased, with Al saying, “Hold on, I don’t remember giving you permission to date my brother.” When Trist, Peter, and Syon come over to join us, we all take turns leading one another around in ridiculous pretenses of dancing.
Eventually, I have to take a break from it all. Jay and I sit on a bench together, residual laughter still on my lips as we kiss. I can’t remember how many times this makes it, but neither of us can seem to stop trying to sneak them in today. I can’t get over the feeling of victory surging through me—in ending the war, in getting rights for Nytes, in being surrounded by my friends. There’s still a long way to go, but for now? I couldn’t ask for anything more.
“So how’s it feel?” Jay asks when we pull away. He leans his forehead against mine, peering at me over the rims of his glasses with eyes that reflect my own giddiness. “Achieving all you set out to?”
“Pretty damn good, I have to say.”
“And now? Now that you’ve conquered the world, what do you want to do next?”
It’s something I’d been thinking about a lot lately. Ever since the war ended, I kept wondering what I’d do from now on. Obviously there’s still a lot of work to be done before discrimination between the gifted and ungifted is completely gone. Just because the Council was exposed doesn’t mean the people who hate us will suddenly become understanding. There are still people who fear us or want to use us. I’ll continue to lead the Order so long as they’ll have me—this time, truly with the intent of spreading peace. But there’s something else I want to do, too. Something just for me.