The Nibiru Effect

Memory 75

Arko. Anna's brother. Kara's uncle. Jonn's former friend. The man has many titles, but none prove his true allegiance. Is he good or evil? Did he knowingly guide us into a trap or was it an accident?

"I can help you," he says, his scowl evaporating like an early morning mist, but Jonn isn't fooled by the sudden change in attitude.

"Why should I trust you? It didn't work so well the last time."

Arko winces.

"I thought I was helping you," he says. "I only later realized Avalon had fed me false information and purposefully caused the mind jacker to malfunction. She was counting on me to find you. I... I'm sorry."

I can't tell if he's sincere. Neither can Jonn.

"Do you have proof?"

Arko seems hurt by the lack of trust.

"What happened to us?" he asks. "We used to be friends."

Jonn scoffs. "You betrayed us. That's what happened."

"I wasn't myself."

"Prove it."

Arko turns around and pulls down his shirt collar.

"How's this for proof?" he asks, revealing the nasty wound on his neck. It's fresh, but it has already started healing.

"What's that?" I ask.

"That's where the mind jacker was attached," says Jonn.

"So... does that mean he isn't evil?"

"Of course he isn't evil."

"Glad to hear you say that," says Arko as he turns around.

The two men smile like old friends reunited after years of feuding.

"You're still a smartass," says Jonn jokingly.

"And you're still a dumbass," retorts Arko.

I half expect my companion to knock him out, but he starts laughing. Perhaps he has a sense of humour after all.

"How did you remove the mind jacker?"

Arko's expression grows dark.

"There's no time to explain," he says. "Kara's in danger."

"Then what are we waiting for?" asks Jonn. "Let's go!"

The two men head off, leaving me behind. I hesitate for a moment, then hurry after them.

"How did you get rid of the mind jacker?" repeats Jonn as Arko leads us along a narrow path.

"It was damaged," he explains. "For real, this time," he adds when he notices Jonn's skeptical expression. "I managed to tear it out before Avalon realized what happened."

"How did you get away?"

"Avalon surrounds herself with a squad of highly-trained arkane guards, but they didn't know I had switched sides. I walked right out the front door. By the time they realized their mistake, I was long gone."

"When was this?" asks Jonn.

"A few days ago."

Jonn skids to a stop.

"How did you know Kara was taken if you escaped days ago?"

I hadn't thought of that.

"Surveillance," says Arko. "I was watching Avalon's tower when a couple of guards dragged Kara into it."