Chapter 13 Continued

I could still smell his lingering scent on Bug, irritating both my nostrils and my nerves right along with the remnants of that fucking metal. However, I couldn’t help the smug smirk that overtook my lips at Bug’s words, confirming that I was still number one in his mind. 

Not that I was… doubting my place there or anything like that, but I couldn’t deny that I was experiencing an overwhelming urge to rub my victory in that enforcer’s ugly ass motherfucking face. 

‘Next time’ I assured myself, the promise allowing my tense muscles to finally relax. However, just as they relaxed, the PA system’s unexpected voice sent me right back into defense.

“Attention: Inhabitants of Housing Pod negative six-hundred and thirty-four. Elder Edergan is requesting front door entry." 

My brow furrowed. 

‘What the fuck could he want, and at this time of day no less?’ I wondered, brain whirring with possibilities as I pushed myself to my feet.

“I’ll get it. Stay here.” I ordered as Aria moved to stand. He was in absolutely no condition to talk to an elder, let alone lie if we needed to. This was a situation for me, and me alone, to handle. 

I made it to the door in record speed, tapping the control panel to open the door and stepping back at once as the salt-and-pepper face of Elder Edergan greeted me. He was smiling, as usual, and I forced one onto my own face as I spoke through my teeth, bitterness flaring at the sight of the same man who gave me my first strike following the Soul Mate Ceremony. 

“To what do I owe the pleasure, Elder?” I rasped, forcing sweetness into my voice as he stepped inside of my pod, tablet snugly tucked into the crook of his folded arm. 

“Ah, hello my friend. It has been a while.” He responded, completely ignoring my question. My jaw ticked with resentment as he shifted his unsettlingly penetrating gaze to take in the state of disaster that the housing pod was in, and I held my breath as he reached out a single, knobby finger, dipping it into a puddle on the counter beside him before lifting it to his nose. After a moment of silent deliberation, he finally answered my question.

“The Elders were notified of an… Altercation that transpired in this Housing Pod last night. Consider this a wellness check.” Edergan flashed me a smile that was an alarming combination of ingratiating and terrifying as he lowered his hand, “Speaking of, where is our little miracle? I would like to speak with him as well.” 

I sucked in a breath. ‘Just keep smiling, just keep smiling,’ I reminded myself. 

“Oh, Aria? He’s uh…” I trailed, trying to think of a good lie on the spot.

“I’m right here!”

I whipped around, eyes wide at the sight of Bug, face flushed and brown hair a disaster as he stumbled his way into the corridor. 

“Ahh fuck…” I mumbled under my breath. This whole situation just got a lot more complicated, all because this little mutant couldn’t follow a simple fuckin’ direction.

“Hi, Elder Edergan!” Bug smiled, although it was a pained one as I’m sure he was still experiencing all of the symptoms of a hangover. Edergan seemed to realize as well, as he raised a brow at the sight of the tiny man.

“You look worse for wear, Aria. Are you sick?” He inquired. 

“Oh no, I’m not sick, Elder.” He waved the elder off, as if he were saying something ridiculous, “I just have a umm…” He paused to word search, eyes brightening when his brain finally found what it was looking for “... a hangunder!” 

I audibly groaned, pressing a palm to my forehead. 

Yeah, we were dead meat.

“I see.” The Elder mused, giving Aria one last look before shifting his gaze back to me, “I believe it is safe to assume that you are the guilty party in this situation, Mister Axton.” 

I sighed. Even if I tried to pin the blame on Aria, I knew he wasn’t gonna buy it, especially since he was already familiar with my track record.  

“Yeah, fine. It was me. But it was just a harmless party, I swear.” I admitted. Elder Edergan just stared at me for a few, agonizing moments before he began tapping at his tablet without another word. 

“I do not believe that one can call something ‘harmless’ when it almost ended in a physical confrontation, don’t you agree?” He finally inquired after a long pause, not looking up from his precious tablet. I opened my jaw to argue my case, but somehow Bug beat me to it.

“It… It was my fault! I got him angry, don’t punish him for what I did!” He cried, pressing a self-accusatory hand to his chest. 

Huh? 

Bug was lying.

But how? How was he doing this after he so very clearly demonstrated that he was literally worse at coming up with lies than a toddler? I had to admit, I was pretty damn shell-shocked. 

“Aria, Aria, Aria,” Edergan clucked, eyes softening as he turned them to the small man, “There is no need to cover for Mister Axton’s discourtesies. You are a feat of the very best engineering that our great Society has to offer, you could never do something so distasteful.” His smile faded, “Next time remember that, as The Elders do not appreciate being lied to.”

Oh hell no. 

This dude obviously had a few screws loose, because if anyone was the ‘very best feat of engineering’ our Society had to offer, it was me. 

I went to argue, but as I did so, the PA system crackled to life once again. 

“Attention, Society members: The time is now six AM. Morning schedules will commence in T-minus thirty minutes. Please report to your assigned Work Units. Those who are late will be punished as Society laws regulate. Good morning and remember, long live The Society of the People." 

“Oh, no!” Aria exclaimed with frantic eyes, hands flying to cup either side of his cheeks as he panicked. “I haven’t made lunches, ironed your uniform, or gotten anything ready for this morning! I can’t be late, I can’t get a strike, I can’t -” He catastrophized, but was cut off by Elder Edergan, who held out a hand to place it gently on Aria’s shoulder.

“Mister Toulsend, you are in no position to report to your Work Unit this morning. I will submit a Medical Absence Request on your behalf.” Edergan smiled, patting Bug’s shoulder gently before stepping back to his previous position and shifting his intense gaze right back to me.

“However, as for you, Mister Axton,” He began, icy blue eyes peering deep and voice somewhat menacing, “This… partyof yours is not enough of an infraction to warrant an additional strike on your record. However, due to the fact that it hascaused multiple personnel to turn in Medical Absence Requests this morning, as well as provoked undesirable chatter among Society members, you will still receive consequences.” Flashing me one last glare, he finally fixated his stare back down on his tablet as he tapped around on it. 

“For the infraction of provoking undesirable dialogue among Society members, your biweekly nutrition rations will be cut in half for a duration of one month. For the infraction of multiple Work Unit personnel loss, you are ordered to report to the Construction Unit on your Free Day, for the duration of one month.” Edergan pushed up his glasses as he finished, finally looking up from his tablet to take in my wide-mouthed expression. “Any questions?”

What the fuck? I wouldn’t have a day off for an entire month?! And with fewer rations?! 

Suddenly, I wanted to hurl, not unlike how Aria was twenty minutes prior.

But, I couldn’t. I had to keep up the act. Smile. Smile. Smile. 

My teeth hurt as I forced them shut so hard I thought they might crack, instead simply nodding in The Elder’s direction. I knew that if I spoke I would curse him the fuck out, and that would definitely not go over well with The Elder Council. 

Luckily, my nod seemed to placate the old bastard.

“Very well. I expect you to report to your Work Unit promptly this morning, Mister Axton. Although, you do seem to be quite the glutton for punishment, so I would not be surprised if we cross paths again sometime soon.” Edergan noded in my direction before shifting to Bug, 

“... And Aria, do rest. We need you in tip-top shape if you are to perform well for us. The Elders do not respond well to damaged goods, especially one of your… caliber.” 

“Yes, Elder.” Aria nodded, bowing his head much further than necessary. 

Only after flashing me one final, infuriating glare did Edergan finally take his leave.

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