Rebel Heart

"Elise," she said in disapproval.

"Someone has to protect you," Elise replied with a smile. "Let's get some food."

"It doesn't bother you?" Lana pressed. "Wearing their colors? Betraying your country?"

"That's the harshest thing I've ever heard leave your mouth. Good girl!"

Elise strode away. Lana followed. They grabbed food from the small cafeteria that was devoid of people at the late hour of morning. Lana hadn't expected to sleep in so long but was grateful Elise had thought to leave her alone for the full night. Elise straddled a chair, and Lana sat across from her.

"Elise-" she started.

"I don't see things as simply as you," Elise said. "This isn't a case of good guy, bad guy. I agree with Dan-someone in the government wants to start another civil war. What do you think?"

Lana listened, nibbling a pastry. It was impossible for her to think anything different. Her thoughts went from Brady to Greenie and the communications she'd forwarded to her micro. She itched to have her micro again, to look at the logs and hack into whatever she could to find the answers.

She flushed despite herself. She'd paid her one night with Brady and still didn't have her micro or the vault. He seemed immune to most emotions remotely human. What more did he want from her?

"Well? You're the analyst," Elise prompted. "I'm a grunt because I couldn't pass the fed tests, you know."

"You don't give yourself enough credit, Elise," Lana chided. "I don't have any empirical evidence to suggest-"

"Don't use that fed speak on me," Elise said with an exasperated sigh. "I asked what you think, not what you know."

"I don't think the PMF did it," Lana said at last.

"That was painful. Remind me never to ask your opinion on what I'm wearing."

Lana half-listened, thoughts on Greenie and the Horsemen. The weight of those secrets robbed her of her appetite and made her feel tired again, even after a full night of rest.

"I think someone in the government was working with some very powerful partners who had the funding, operational planning, and corrupt government officials in high enough places to execute," she said.

"Is that close to what I said?" Elise grinned.

Lana nodded.

"Awesome."

"I still don't consider the PMF an ally."

"If you want to stay alive, you better learn to adapt," Elise advised. "Something we learned in my training: survive then worry about fighting another day."