"That's exactly what I'm implying. I don't want to live in a place that's overseen by a Ucte who's never even been to Earth. Plus, you must ask yourself what's going to happen to you and your family if you lose. Euperian is in ruins, and you know you won't be able to stay on Earth if you lose. As you said, they know your history well."
"Doctor, I'm stunned. From everything I've read about you, I would never have imagined this conversation taking place."
"Well, politics is a dirty business, Mr. Varras. And you have to do what you have to do," the Doctors says solemnly.
Matthew nods in agreement. He watches his older son walk into the room and greet his sister. Khary glances at him and smiles. Matthew acknowledges the glance with a slight smile tinged with sadness.
Matthew's face is expressionless, but his mind is telling him what to do: Do whatever is necessary to protect your family.
Chapter 9
It's the first day of the new school year at Port Jervis High School, home of the Raiders. Floating above the building is a large red hologram of the school mascot lifting his sword in the air with the words welcome back class of 2197.
Zack takes a deep breath and walks toward the main entrance. He slows downs, ignoring the shoves from passing students as he watches a janitor paint over graffiti of a man breaking free from his shackles alongside the words make earth human again. Sighing deeply, he makes his way up the stairs to the second floor, where the student lockers are located. He sees Olivia talking to Brady, the football team's star quarterback. He'd given her a ride to school this morning.
Brady gives Zack the peace sign. "What's up, hero?"
"Um, not much."
"Brady, can you give us a minute?" Olivia asks.
"Sure, see you at lunch," Brady replies with a wink.
Olivia turns to her brother. "We have to figure out what we're going to say to Amy," she says in a low voice.
"Not now," Zack replies. "I'll talk to her, okay?"
Zack is about to take the stairs to the third floor when he sees Amy standing in front of her locker. She looks up and blushes. She's been avoiding him, and it's not hard to guess why.
As he's getting ready to approach her, Mike O'Leary walks up to Amy and gives her a big kiss. Zack looks away and starts up the stairs, but Mike calls him back. He retreats back down the stairs, and Mike surprises him with a bro-hug. "Good to see you, Zack! You ready for our senior year?"
"Hope so. Nice to see you, too, man. I have to go drop some stuff at my locker. See you guys around?"
"Hey, I just want to tell you that if you need anything, let me know," Mike says. "I know I can't ever repay what you did for Amy, but I can try."
"Thank you, but that's not necessary," Zack says with a forced smile. "Besides, she's the one who dragged me out of there."
Later, when the bell rings for lunch, Zack puts on his backpack and is jostled along in the stream of students making their way to the cafeteria. He brought his lunch from home, so he heads straight for an empty table. After a couple of bites from his sandwich — pastrami and sauerkraut on rye from his Dad's food printer, not nearly as good as the ones from Harper's Diner — he takes out his phone and texts Amy. He stares at his phone, hoping for a quick response.
"Who you talking to?"
Zack jumps. It's Olivia. "Nobody," he sighs.
With a frown on her face, Olivia sits down next to her brother. I can't believe she's acting like this after we saved her life, Olivia states mentally.
Whatever, Zack replies the same way. Aloud he says, "You want to play some chess?" Olivia nods.
Zack pulls out a digital chessboard from his backpack and unfolds it on the table. The bell will ring in ten minutes, so he sets the timer to give them twenty seconds per move. He has White, so he opens with Grob's Attack and quickly has his sister flustered. He picks up his bishop and is ready to call checkmate when he hears a loud thud right behind him. He turns around to see Jennifer, an Azhalian who sits in front of him in biology class, lying on the floor while a group of students stand next to her, jeering and muttering racial insults. She pushes herself to her knees and starts picking up her books as the other students look on.
I know it sucks, Olivia says, but we need to keep a low profile.
Blinking back tears, Jennifer stands up and hurries toward the exit.
"Wait," Zack says. He bends down and picks up her biology book. "Why don't you sit with us? I'm tired of beating my little sister, and I can use a real challenge."
"Yes, please. Join us!" Olivia adds. "I'm sick of playing with this jerk. He cheats!"
Jennifer smiles and sits down. "You don't have to do this, Zack."
"Yes, I do, and I'm sorry you went through that."
"It's okay. I'm sure it won't be the last time."
Zack looks around the room while Olivia sets up the board, and sees Amy sitting with Mike and Emma, her friend from the diner. Emma smiles and waves at him. Amy looks up, her eyes expressionless. Zack waves back at Emma and looks back down at the chessboard.
❖❖❖
"Is Olivia ready yet?" Jim asks as he grabs his coat off the rack.
"I doubt it. When has she ever been on time?" Zack replies.
"Olivia, the game starts in half an hour!" Jim shouts. "We're leaving with or without you."
Olivia dashes down the stairs. "Is Mom coming?"
"She might meet us for dinner after. She's covering a double shift tonight."
Olivia stops at the mirror and glances at her outfit.
"If I
