Chapter 29. Switching sides

Arriz had finally understood what Karajo's secret was. This discovery was so unexpected that he had been doubting it for a while: could it actually be that simple? He wasn't even trying to find it this time, he just watched her fight with Iutah! But that turned out to be enough.

The amount of the hybrid matter in her system was the same as with the other students. She just used what she got differently. She didn't let those twenty percent be absorbed by her body, she forced them to remain whole, and she learned to move that foreign material within her blood.

That way she could use the hybrid matter to strengthen certain muscles. If she wanted to strike with her left arm, she guided all her power into her left arm. If she had to jump, her energy floated into her feet. That was exactly what Arriz managed to see: the movement of cells under those bandages of hers, so slight that it was nearly impossible to notice. It supplied her with maximum level of strength in the part of her body that needed it.

There was a catch in this technique though. Concentrating her whole power in one body part meant leaving the rest of her body with a human level of vulnerability. If she didn't manage to move the hybrid matter fast enough, she could get lethally hurt by something that would only scratch her teammates.

Karajo didn't let that stop her. Her mastery over the hybrid matter was unbelievable. Perhaps that's what made her unique, a one of a kind experiment of the Second Breed… Her control on level two was as flawless as Octavia's.

Her burns didn't heal because of that. She accepted this sacrifice as a payment for her supremacy. To heal those wounds she'd have to assimilate the hybrid matter fully, losing her advantage. But she chose a different way: to remain a freak and an outcast, becoming a powerful warrior through that.

The poison that Iutah used couldn't harm her. It was impossible to see the moment of injection from the platform, but most of them saw Karajo raise her hand, letting her blood leak onto the ground. At least, the others thought it was blood, and were puzzled by her gesture. Arriz knew she was removing the poison this way. She was pushing it with her human blood, so it couldn't touch the hybrid matter directly.

And then she won. Arriz heard Iutah's earth-shattering scream that ended abruptly: the hybrid was out cold. The teachers and Dr. Deshanti were already running towards him, and Karajo walked away from the hall. The fun was over for her.

Arriz wanted to follow her immediately, but he didn't dare to. He still felt guilty about Iutah's fate, and he had to know what happened to the hybrid.

"He'll live," Dr. Deshanti announced while still on the arena. "It doesn't look like a hybrid block. More like a case of mutation, similar to Norman's case. We need to get him to the infirmary as fast as possible!"

That meant she injected him with only half of the poison. That was quite merciful on Karajo's behalf… Or was it? Both of them knew that abandoning this project would bring disgrace to Iutah among the ranks of "One Breed". No-one could tell how they'd react to his failure! But Arriz was glad she didn't kill him.

He found Karajo on the same evening. She came to the cherry orchard where he'd been talking to Olivia some days ago… She wasn't gazing at the stars though, she was practicing.

"Other halls are occupied," she explained. "The exams are nearly over, and most hybrids don't know what to do with the abundance of energy they have. They are stuck in those gyms till late at night, and I need peace and quiet."

"I wanted to talk to you."

"Oh, and I expected an invitation to dance with me!" she laughed mockingly. "What do you want to talk about?"

"You."

He told her about the conclusions she made. Arriz knew it wasn't too wise on his behalf, but he wanted to be honest with her. From now on he was starting his new companionship with hybrids, free of the Organization's values. And he wanted to make it right.

Karajo listened to him carefully. He'd been monitoring her emotions during his speech, but he didn't sense anything like anger in her aura. She wasn't too shaken by her secret being revealed. That was good, because Arriz knew how easily she could end his life.

"I just want to know… how?" he asked after finishing his story.

"Do you really expect me to answer? Why would I?"

"I don't know…" he admitted.

"You see? I don't have a single reason for it. I'm not going to tell you the truth, but keep doing what you've been doing: observe, listen, analyze. My past is full of coincidences – and mistakes. You can know it, but not from me."

She had no reasons to trust him indeed, but she no longer hated him – Arriz couldn't have missed that feeling if it was still there. But it wasn't…

"May I ask you something I will never learn myself?"

"You can try, but I promise nothing," she replied.

"The burns that you decided not to heal… Do they still hurt?"

She didn't laugh anymore. Karajo continued exercising without even looking at him. Arriz decided she was going to ignore him when she finally answered.

"Yes. Every day. Every time I move."

"But you still won't heal them?"

"I could. But that would require uniting at least part of the hybrid matter with my skin and muscles. And I only have twenty percent, I can't use it so primitively. I might heal them when I have more, but not now."

She wasn't the person he used to think she was… not the one other hybrids saw in her. To them Karajo was the embodiment of pure talent. And it was true, but only part of it. Her success was mostly based on eternal patience and courage she had even before she turned into a hybrid.

"By the way, Iutah knows you told me everything," she warned him.

"What?! But… why did you tell him?"

"He would've learnt it anyway, and I don't like lying. He must understand what I punished him for."

"Aren't you afraid he'll give me away?"

"First and foremost, I don't care. Second, I doubt he'll do it. His hatred for hybrids only grew after today, he wouldn't want to help them. And third, his memory will be wiped out before he leaves Ceres. He won't be able to tell anything to your former buddies, that's your problem."

"How do you know he'll leave Ceres? Maybe his powers will return! Norman's did."

She finally stopped stretching and stood straight to face him. Her amber eyes were gravely serious.

"Norman wouldn't have made it if his hybrid matter wasn't stabilized on time. Iutah won't get this sort of assistance."

It took Arriz a couple of seconds to realize the true meaning of her words.

"You?.."

"Yes," she nodded. "Norman Reeze is a good warrior, he's got a noble soul. It would've been a shame to lose someone like him."

"How did you do it?!"

Her control over the hybrid matter in her body was mesmerizing. But to think she could control it in someone else… it was just surreal!

"It wasn't too hard," Karajo shrugged. "I pushed him in the right direction, that's all. I don't have enough power yet to do more. I know what you want to ask and here's an answer for you: no, I couldn't save Olivia. And I'm sorry about that."

"The teachers who work here… do they know what you can do?"

"Lady Laura knows most things, the others don't. It's none of their business, and none of yours. Now leave me alone, the exam is still going for me."

She didn't need such amount of training, but it was a good excuse to get rid of him more or less politely. He didn't insist. He had already heard a lot, he needed time to think it over.

Naturally, he didn't plan on telling any of this to the Organization. He didn't feel any connection to "One Breed", he just left it in the past when he asked Karajo for help. Although he hadn't decided what to do yet. If he told the truth to hybrids, he'd be exiled from Ceres!

He couldn't handle it. Ceres was his planet too from now on! He belonged here.

And to stay at the base, he had to make sure Iutah wouldn't start talking too much.

That night was tough for the telepath. He barely managed to fall asleep, but when he did he was tortured by nightmares. He barely waited for dawn to leave his room. Karajo's final battle was scheduled for noon, and he wanted to attend it. But before that he had to see Iutah.

In spite of the early hour, Dr. Deshanti was in the medical office. Judging by the tired look on her face, she didn't get enough sleep either.

"You again?" she smiled. "I didn't expect you to form such a close bond to hybrids… You came to see Norman, now Iutah… Iutah needs it the most, because I don't think he'll get too many visitors. Most hybrids are still angry with him because of Olivia. Aren't you?"

"I don't want to talk about it, if you don't mind."

"I understand. I used to think you're more of an observer here, like me. And you became their friend… I admire that, I really do."

Arriz was looking at her and thinking that her negligence allowed Iutah to steal those syringes right under her nose. If she'd noticed it, informed the management, maybe he wouldn't dare to act so openly! But she didn't.

"Can I see Iutah?"

"Of course. He woke up at night and hasn't slept ever since. I gave him some painkillers, but…" Dr. Deshanti lowered her voice, eyeing the door to the infirmary wearily. "I don't think I can really help him. Norman's tendency for recovery was clear after his first night here. I wasn't sure then, but there were improvements. And Iutah… the hybrid matter is dying in him. I just hope it'll be enough to cure the spinal trauma he received!"

"So can I see him or not?"

"Go…"

She didn't join him. Dr. Deshanti was afraid he'd ask her something – and she'd have to give the horrible answer.

Iutah was sitting in his bed by an artificial window, playing with its settings: he changed seasons, weather and sites. There were less medical droppers around him than Norman had. That meant a lot… Those chemicals were supporting his life and saving him from the pain, they couldn't heal him.

Arriz closed the door tightly, hoping it would keep Dr. Deshanti from hearing their talk. Iutah heard the lock click and turned to him.

There was no emotional expression on the hybrid's pale, tortured face. Arriz expected to see wrath, but even that was missing. The poison drained Iutah's powers, leaving nothing but hatred in his soul. He was exhausted, not broken.

"You're here, huh…" Iutah said quietly. "You know, when I first saw you I thought you're the type to become a traitor. But I chased those thoughts away. I assumed it wasn't a way to treat my comrade. And my intuition was right about you… I can't believe you're the son of Derek Songo!"

"Me neither."

Arriz sat on an empty bed. He hoped no-one would be using it this year.

"What did they buy you with?" Iutah inquired. "I doubt I can understand this, but at least I'll hear it from you."

"Nothing."

"Oh come on!"

"They didn't try to buy me," the telepath clarified. "They were being themselves, and that was enough for me. They don't do it in "One Breed". Back there, you either do what is right or you die."

"I can hear hybrid thinking… One Breed teaches you universal values!"

"Their values, not universal values," Arriz corrected. "They turn you into a slave."

"We protect humans!"

"Hybrids are humans! They might be more human than you and me… Because they pursue a dream they've chosen. They want to protect people from real threats: natural disasters, wars, criminals. And the Organization is trying to protect them from the threats it made up!"

Iutah kept looking at him with disappointment and even mild compassion. He didn't react to anything Arriz had said.

"They zombified you so much…" he shook his head in disapproval. "It's just like our masters have warned us: they find a weakness in your soul, a break in defense they can use."

"Forget about those damn masters for a moment and think with your own head! Just look at the name of the Organization… One Breed – why should it be so?"

"Because there should be only one breed of humans created by nature and God Almighty," Iutah sounded like he was reading it straight from the book. "The rest is an illusion created by the forces of evil."

"Yeah, I've been taught that too. I asked for your opinion, not for the Organization's ideology! Why is it so? Who said that only one breed of humans has the right to exist? Talking about nature is useless since nature created many species on Earth, all of whom manage to coexist somehow! Even the First Breed humans… they're different too! In the past, they were discriminating each other by skin color, remember that!"

"It's not the same. In spite of their skin color, height, weight or whatever else is there, they're still humans inside. They're allowed to walk the face of Earth. But the hybrids have wicked essence that should be eliminated as soon as possible!"

"What gives One Breed the right to decide who can live and who must die?"

"Someone has to oppose that evil! We took that mission upon us, which gives us certain privileges."

"That's what you think!" Arriz rolled his eyes in irritation. "You made yourself believe that you have the right to kill anyone you don't like! Hybrids, humans… even kids, just remember the hospital attack that killed my father! And if we're talking about the essence… did yours change after you became a hybrid? No! I think that's the best proof that the hybrid matter is not some devil's blood you imagine it is!"

"It doesn't prove anything. Before getting to Ceres I received special training. My spirit became strong through the ideals of the Organization, so I could stay myself and continue serving the interest of humankind. You've seen what happened to the hybrids who didn't have such training! They turn into monsters. Look at Karajo, for instance!"

"You killed Olivia, but Karajo didn't kill you," Arriz reminded him. "Though she could have. Now who's the monster here?"

"You don't understand… You'll never be your father. You are lost for the Organization."

Arriz couldn't agree more. He saw that his former partner lost all trust for him, like he was hiding behind an invisible wall. In that state he wouldn't listen to any arguments, no matter how valid they were.

However, Arriz made one last desperate attempt to reach him.

"Think of what the Organization will do to you back on Earth! They may execute you for your failed mission, even though you've done everything you could for them!"

"I deserved that execution," Iutah claimed. "I failed them, it's a crime against humanity."

"Do you even realize what you're saying?!"

"I realize everything and I don't take orders from hybrids. They can't manipulate me."

"I'm a telepath, I can't be manipulated!"

"You're pathetic, Arriz. But I have some good news for you: I'm not going to tell your new friends the truth about you. I don't think that's necessary. You've already passed the point of no return, and soon you'll destroy yourself."

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I've never been as confident in what I'm doing as now!"

"Leave," Iutah closed his eyes in exhaustion. "I feel sick already, and you're making it worse. You'll be punished for your treason soon enough."

"I'm sorry things ended up this way," Arriz got up from the bed. "But this thing that happened to you is another proof to me that One Breed is wrong."

"Get out!"

"I'm leaving… But I wish you to recover. No matter what."

Iutah showed no reaction to him. Arriz hoped that this talk would make him feel better, but it didn't. However, his confidence wasn't shaken, and it filled him with energy to move on.

Olivia's death brought sorrow to the base, while Iutah's defeat went unnoticed. Nobody cared. His fight with Karajo was widely discussed as an example of great technique, and nothing else. The hybrids seemed to sense that there was something wrong with Iutah and preferred to stay away from him.

Even Alex, who ended up with a broken arm, wasn't mad at Karajo. His only regret was not dealing with Iutah personally.

Arriz wasn't avoiding them anymore, but he couldn't relax either. It was still hard for him to accept the new goals of his life. He needed time.

He went to see the final battle at noon. This duel attracted more audience than all the previous ones. Arriz was slightly worried that the platform wouldn't handle this load and fall down. There weren't even enough seats for everyone!

He knew what it was about. To these students, the exams were over, they'd accepted their defeat, and now they wanted to see the strongest warrior of their generation. Someone even tried organizing the bets, but the idea failed in a matter of minutes: everyone betted on Karajo.

The hall took a fitting shape for this fight. It reminded of an ancient coliseum greatly with a wide arena covered in yellow sand and stone columns around it.

"I think the whole gladiator fights idea is creepy," Arriz whispered to Norman.

"I don't know… Looks cool to me. Better that fighting on a flower field!"

"Better than fighting on a lava field!" Alex shuddered. "Now that was freaky! And the coliseum thing is kindergarten level!"

"I don't think the ancient romans would appreciate the comparison…"

"They're dead – sounds like a more important reason for concern to me!"

The opponents entered the hall almost at the same time. They stood a sharp contrast to each other: petite Karajo in her black jacket and white bandages, and tall, broad-shouldered warrior in a black uniform and white jacket. But there was something similar, if not identical in them… It was a feeling locked in the way they moved, the feeling of confidence surrounding them.

They stood in about ten steps away from each other. The gladiator arena fitted them will.

"Daniella Karajo, Black Team, versus Immanuel Cuyo, White Team."

Arriz had seen a couple of Cuyo's fights and knew this hybrid was good. His techniques were sophisticated, and his movements were perfectly controlled. He knew how to anticipate his opponent's attack, but he had never been too cruel.

That wasn't enough to change the outcome dramatically, but it could add time to their fight. Cuyo's only reason for fighting her was getting extra points… Though he already had more than enough.

The hybrids gathered on the platform expected to see a glorious fight. They stood still in tension, like something depended on them in this moment…

"You have the right to deny or stop this fight whenever you want," Lady Laura reminded traditionally.

She always repeated that, because it was part of the protocol. Nobody used this right though. Considering this, the audience was in for a surprise when Cuyo raised his hand suddenly.

"I deny," he said calmly. "I give this victory to Daniella."

A disappointed gasp flew across the platform.

"Cute," Karajo folded her arms over her chest. "Why?"

"Common sense. I'm not afraid of pain or risk, not even death, though I know that sounds too dramatic on my behalf. But I think our time is precious, and it should be dedicated to things that make sense. I know I'm worse than you so far. If we fight, I'll lose."

"Not too optimistic."

"Optimism and stupidity are not the same. I give up because I know the result of this fight in advance. Everyone knows it."

"Immanuel has this right," Lady Laura interfered. She sounded relieved. "The victory goes to Karajo!"

The hybrids weren't happy about this – they expected more than that! The teachers were clearly amazed, because they knew it wasn't like Cuyo to simply pass the challenge.

But Karajo wasn't surprised, and neither was Arriz. They both knew what happened.

Through his denial to fight Cuyo might've lost some points, but he won on the big scale. He didn't let Karajo study his fighting technique personally. He must've felt their levels became really close. He wanted to keep his advantages secret until they met on the battlefield again.

His attitude to this fight illustrated his supreme intelligence. He had his priorities and he didn't give a damn about what the others thought of him.

That made Arriz realize that while he was analyzing his own feelings and watching Iutah, he forgot about the other hybrids completely. So he knew next to nothing about Immanuel Cuyo.