Intermix Nation

The truck rolls to a stop. Nazirah stepsoutside and stretches. A soft breeze caresses her cheek. The scentsof pine and grass saturate the air. Valestream is breathtaking, anarchitectural wonder. Impossibly large oak trees abound, a legionof bark and leaf. An entire village, built high into the trees andsurprisingly modern, co

The villagers swing axes effortlessly,bringing down timber without ceremony. Nazirah closes her eyes,inhaling, turning her face upwards. She can almost feel Kasimir’spresence floating somewhere in the treetops.

Aldrik stands beside her, cracking his neckand rolling his shoulders. “They expect us to sleep in a damntree?” he grumbles. “We’re not a bunch of monkeys.”

“I think it’s amazing,” Nazirah sayscandidly.

Adamek snorts. “Good luck crossing thosebridges on your own.”

Nazirah glares at him. “Somehow, I’m sureI’ll manage.”

“I’m sure you will.”

“Irri!”

Nazirah whirls around. Lumi and Taj wave ather, smiling and sitting on a bench carved into the base of a tree.Nazirah abandons Aldrik and Adamek, ru

“Who are you, and what have you done withNazirah Nation?” Lumi asks. She pulls away, taken aback byNazirah’s friendliness, making room on the bench.

Nazirah smiles widely, never happier to hearher dulcet tones. “What are you doing here?” she asks breathlessly.“It’s so good to see you!”

“I was called back from assignment a weekearly,” Lumi responds. “I traveled through Valestream last night,where Taj was. We heard you were passing through today and decidedto wait for you.”

“You did?”

“We needed a ride.”

Lumi hits Taj’s arm. “We may have alsodesired safe passage into Krush, considering the currentcircumstances.”

“You mean your uncle’s troops?” Nazirahasks.

Lumi sighs. “Yes,” she says. “My uncle iscompletely incapable of doing anything right. But with the troopsalready breaching Krush, set to reach the compound within a day,it’s best to take precautions. He’s psychotic andunpredictable.”

“Why would Gabirel send him in the firstplace?” Nazirah asks. “And to burn everything on foot? Why not sendthe Medi troops in choppers?”

“Because,” Lumi scoffs, asif it were the most obvious thing in the world, “this isn’t thefight yet, Nazirah. It’s afight … but not the fight. It’s meant to intimidateus, instill fear. Or maybe overconfidence, knowing Ivan’sineptitude.”

“How have your travels been?” asks Taj,trying to lighten the mood.

“It’s been unreal,” she replies. “It was sogood to go home, even for a little while. And the Red West wasfascinating … once you got used to the dust. The music, the food,the dancing … everything was intoxicating.”

“I know,” Taj jokes. “You Eridians ca

“Hey!” Nazirah says. “I’m only halfEridian.”

“From what I’ve seen,” he replies, “theOseni aren’t much better.”

Adamek and Aldrik climb some stairs as theytalk, entering one of the larger buildings lower in the trees,Valestream’s visitor lodge. Nazirah doesn’t move to follow. There’snothing on the agenda until tomorrow morning. And right now,Nazirah could not care less about campaigning.

“Zima was so beautiful, Lumi,” Nazirahcontinues. “We were in Shizar for less than two days, but it wasworth it. I got to see snow for the first time, and themountains.”

“It’s wonderful, isn’t it?” she says.“Returning to Zima and working in the hospital was exactly what Ineeded. Helping those people grounded me … after everything.”

Nazirah nods in understanding. Walking downthe streets of Rafu centered her, too. Seeing the slum put herupbringing into perspective. And Lumi does seem more at peace.Although Nazirah knows the grief from Aneira’s death still lurkspainfully below the surface. “That’s great, Lumi,” Nazirah says.“Although it wasn’t so wonderful to learn about the intermixsituation in Shizar. I wish you warned me.”

“I know,” she sighs. “But I wanted you togive Zima a fair shake.” Nazirah only shrugs. “Tell us though,what’s been happening with the campaign?” Lumi glances briefly atTaj before continuing. “There have been so many rumors circulatingabout you! No one knows what’s fact or fiction.” She lists thejuiciest gossip on her delicate fingers. “You and Adamek Morgen areforbidden lovers … you were caught in some insane fire … you wereattacked by a psychopath.…”

None of these are just rumors.

Nazirah coughs, voice strained. “Well,” shebegins, “Morgen and I obviously aren’t together … like that. Aldrikthought it up to garner more support on campaign. We’ve just kindof been going along with it to appease him.”

Taj smirks triumphantly. “Told you so!”

Lumi shrugs, reaching into her jeans andpulling out a wad of money. She counts off a few notes and handsthem to Taj, who pockets them happily.

“You bet on that?” Nazirah screeches.

“Sorry,” Lumi says, not sounding sorry atall. “I thought it might be possible.”

“How could that ever be possible?”

“Please, Nazirah. You and Adamek have moreprimal tension than two NoZimans trapped in a cave during ablizzard.”

“Lumi!”

“I’m just being honest.”

“Even Cato didn’t believe me,” Nazirah says,immediately feeling guilty about mentioning him. But Lumi doesn’tseem rattled in the least. It seems these past few weeks reallyhave changed her.

“He did have a few choice words for you whenwe last spoke,” Lumi states.

Nazirah groans, putting her head in herhands. “We’ve never fought like this before,” she says.

“People fight, Irri,” Taj says, “so they canmake up. That’s what we do.”

“I think Cato just needed a friend,” Lumichimes in, unusually supportive. “He really didn’t say much.”

“How is he?”

“He misses you,” she says. “I can tell.Don’t worry. You can hash it out once you finally talktomorrow.”

“Unless we all get killed,” Taj jokesgrimly. Lumi glares at him.

“Right,” Nazirah says slowly. “So anyway …that’s that. We were in a slum fire in Rafu. But I think thecampaign has overall been relatively successful. Although, I’m notsure how much I’ve helped.”

“Are you kidding, Irri?” asks Taj. “I can’tspeak for the other territories. But in Osen, no one has stoppedtalking about you since that fire. Hearing your name inspirespeople, gives them hope and strength. They rally around you.”

“Honestly?”

“It’s true,” Lumi agrees. “In Zima too. Idon’t know if you’re aware, but Niko organized this entirepropaganda campaign to promote you. Your face, your story, yoursuffering has been plastered all over the news, the television, thestreets. Glumindo and Badoomi even managed to hack into the Medistations a few times. People seem to find you relatable … theidiots.”

Nazirah laughs. She can always count on Lumito tell it to her straight.

“And don’t forget about the carrier rebels,”Taj reminds Lumi.

“Carrier rebels?” asks Nazirah,overwhelmed.

“Niko dispersed dozens of them throughoutthe four territories,” Taj explains. “Their sole purpose for weeksnow has been to instigate propaganda about the rebellion and spreadrumors about you. You know, drum up support and stuff. Just theother day, I was taking a leak in the woods and a carrier told me–”

“Enough about me,” Nazirah says quickly.“Lumi, I know you’ve been working in the hospital. Taj, you’ve beenhere the whole time?”

“Yes,” Taj says. “Isn’t Valestreamunbelievable? The entire village gains altitude every year as thetrees grow.”

“I’ve never seen trunks so wide,” Lumi says,looking around.