Nazirah walks sluggishly into the sharedgirls’ lavatory on her floor, thankful to see no one she knows. Shequickly brushes her teeth and splashes water on her face, trying toerase the red from her bloodshot eyes.

She has her mother’s eyes: honeyed irises,almond-shaped, heavy-lidded with thick lashes. She also sharesRiva’s olive skin and slender build. As a child, Nazirah hatedbeing compared to her mother. She always thought of Riva as weak,and longed to be like the strong Kasimir.

Riva was never weak.

Nazirah didn’t realize that until it was toolate.

Now, Nazirah likes to think a part of Rivalives within her – and that, every time she looks into a mirror,it’s her mother who stares back.

She can’t quite convince herself. Riva wasalways smiling.

Deep in thought, Nazirah braids her hairnimbly down her back, the strands bleached with copper highlights.“Cato’s looking for you,” someone behind her says.

Nazirah jumps and whirls around to faceAneira. “God, Ani, you scared me! You can’t sneak up on people likethat!”

“Sorry.” Aneira shrugs half-heartedly.

Aneira is fifteen, and has not yet growninto herself. She is tall, but gangly and flat-chested. She hasLumi’s beautiful blue eyes, but her facial features look out ofproportion, their angles not quite working.

Nazirah feels unusually protective of her.Aneira seems lost too. Sometimes, Nazirah wants to give Aneira ahuge hug and tell her everything will be all right, even though shedoesn’t believe it herself.

“It’s okay,” Nazirah sighs, the annoyance inher voice gone. “I just get startled easily. Do you know what hewants?”

“I think he wants to make sure you’re okay,”Aneira says. “You weren’t in Territory History tonight, but hecovered for you. Again.”

“Great,” says Nazirah, making a mental noteto visit Cato after speaking with Niko. “Thanks for tellingme.”

“Sure.”

Nazirah should ask Aneira how she is doing.Aneira is so unlike Lumi or even Yuki, both social creatures bynature. Aneira is quiet and introverted, and that’s probably whyNazirah likes her so much. But Nazirah really is late now, so sheexits the bathroom without another word.

Nazirah walks quickly towards Nikolaus’soffice on the other side of the building. She hopes that whateverthis ‘matter of extreme importance’ concerns, Niko will make itshort. It’s late, and it’s Friday, and Nazirah wants to sleep.Could Niko know about her and Cato sneaking tequilux from thekitchens last weekend? She doesn’t think it’s likely.

She smiles a bit, remembering. A few of theyounger recruits gathered around a bonfire, drinking and laughingand dancing. Nazirah was happier that night than she had been in along time, if only fleetingly.

Nazirah hopes Niko won’t try to convince herto sell their cottage again, before the government seizes it.Intermix are forbidden from owning property. Their cottage waslisted under Riva’s name, because she was technically still anEridian. But now it belongs to no one. Niko mentioned selling it afew months ago. Nazirah was so blindsided by the suggestion, shewent berserk on him. He hasn’t brought it up again.

Nazirah also hopes Cato is wrong, and thatNiko won’t get on her case about missing class. She has a feelingthat might be where this is headed, but it still doesn’t explainthe urgency. Unless the rebels already have her bags packed and outthe door or something, which Nazirah cannot say she would hate.

Arriving at her destination, Nazirah walksin without bothering to knock.

Most people would never guess Nikolaus andNazirah are siblings. Unlike Nazirah, who resembles Riva, NikolausNation is the spitting image of Kasimir. Nikolaus is tall and builtlike a tree, with bulging arms, broad shoulders, and a wide trunk.His skin is pale, eyes a deep, earthy brown. His hair slightlycurls at the top. Nikolaus is reserved, but not quiet. He is kind,but not compassionate; he is calculating, but not deceptive. LikeKasimir, Nikolaus has a laugh that can win over the greatestenemy.

Nazirah has not heard it in a very longtime.

Nikolaus is currently hunched over his desk,deep in conversation with a group of strategists, advisors, andfellow commanders. The other two commanders are a pair of stalwartRed West twins, Glumindo and Badoomi. Nazirah and Catoaffectionately refer to them privately as Gloom and Doom. Gloom andDoom are usually holed up in the control tower, in charge ofweapons technology, defense, and surveillance. Nikolaus isresponsible for strategy, offense, and reconnaissance.

Nikolaus looks abnormally stressed. From theback of the room, Nazirah can see his left eye twitching. It is atic he developed as a child whenever he got anxious. Nazirah hasn’tseen it occur in years. It’s very unsettling.

Niko’s desk overflows with loose papers andbooks. Some files spill onto the floor as he rifles through them.Nazirah quietly sits in the back of the room, listeningcuriously.

“I don’t care if he’s on leave,” Nikolaus issaying. “I need to talk to him. Bring him in.”

Nazirah’s attention drifts around themakeshift office. A huge, inked map of Renatus, divided by colorinto five regions, is pinned to one wall. Thumbtacks are pushed inat various locations, and certain cities have been circledemphatically in red. A large projector hangs near the corner,constantly looping government propaganda speeches, currently onmute. Stacks of yellowing newspapers from every territory, in everylanguage, are piled floor to ceiling.

Sergeant Patch – Aldrik – scribbles Niko’sramblings vehemently on a ledger. Even from a distance, Nazirah cansee his writing looks illegible. She idly considers having a talkwith Niko about recruiting some new, younger strategists. With hisgrizzled beard, ancient face, gnarled fingers, and haggardappearance, Aldrik appears to already have one foot in thegrave.

As if reading her thoughts, Aldrik spotsNazirah with his functional eye. He shoots her a dirty look andleans into Nikolaus, speaking privately.

“Unfortunately, we must finish this tacticsmeeting tomorrow,” Nikolaus tells the room, glancing at Nazirah.“My sister and I have a personal matter to discuss.”

His tone is indecipherable and Nazirahremains seated. There are a few moments of unorganized mayhem ashalf a dozen rebels stand, scrambling to collect their papers andfiles from around the room. They clear their throats awkwardly,peeping at Nazirah. Everyone knows that the Nations are siblings,but rarely do people see them interact.

The rebel leaders shuffle outside asNikolaus shakes hands with Gloom and Doom. From the bewilderedlooks on their faces, Nazirah guesses they don’t know why she’shere anymore than she does. Aldrik sneers as he walks past,intentionally bumping into her as he ushers the remainingstragglers out the door.

The door closes with a heavy thud. Nazirahand Nikolaus are finally alone. Nikolaus’s back is to her as hestudies a wall map of the bullet train system. Nazirah slowly risesfrom her seat.

“You’re late.” He diverts his attention fromthe map, turning to face her.

Nazirah walks up to him, rubbing her armwhere Aldrik knocked it. She plunges into a mock curtsy. “Myapologies, Commander,” she says breathily.

“Quit it.”

“What’s Aldrik’s problem, anyway?” Nazirahasks, arm still smarting. “Old age getting the best of him?”

“You are, I’d guess,” Nikolaus says. “Idon’t imagine he’s very fond of you.”

“The feeling’s mutual,” Nazirah scoffs. “Idon’t imagine I’m very fond of him either.”

“You’re eighteen years old, Nazirah,”Nikolaus chides. “Stop acting like a child.”

“I’m not acting like a child!” she says,crossing her arms. Nikolaus raises a bushy eyebrow and Nazirahquickly uncrosses them.

“Yes, you are,” he says emphatically. “And Idon’t just mean right now. Lateness, missing meals, skippingclasses, not turning in assignments … your ingratitude here islegendary.”