The Circadia Chronicles: Omnibus: The Complete Colonization Sci-Fi Series by Heather Heckadon (books to read to get smarter .txt) 📗

that video, they saw someone with courage and reason to rise against it. It made them feel empowered. You tried to take away that power they felt by confiscating their guns because you were scared, but that won’t help. It only made matters worse. That's why you have a war on your hands." I sat quietly and waited for her reply. Her eyes were wide, and her face wore a shocked look.

She composed herself and looked at the camera. "Thank you. I think we're done here." I watched as the light on the camera faded.

"That's it?" I asked.

"Yep! That's all we needed. Thank you so much for coming out here, Aella! We really appreciate it." She shook my hand and walked out of the room. The camera crew wouldn't look at me as they filtered out behind her. I walked out to see the Herrold brothers and Jane seated on the bench outside the room.

"How'd it go?" Jane asked.

"I think we need to leave," I said.

ON THE JET RIDE BACK to India, one of the brothers approached me with a video on their phone from CNSTV. I took it in my hands and pressed play. It was my interview with Mrs. Brach, but it was edited and cropped. It was exactly as it was, with the major difference being when the interview ended. On the video, it ended with her confronting me about people being upset. They had completely cut off my rebuttal. Then the video cut off and switched to other newscasters who said, "Looks like someone finally called Ms. Toms and her team out and she didn't like it," while the other newscaster lightly laughed at the scene. The entire snapback from me was missing.

I shot a sideways glance up at Ross, who stood beside me to watch the video. The frustrated tears welled in my eyes. "I said more than that," I choked out.

"We know. We didn't realize the mainstream media was controlled by the government now. This was our fault, not yours." He rubbed his forehead with his hand. "We have to figure out another way to get your name out there."

"I know a guy," Jane said.

CHAPTER SIX

We gathered around Jane holding Ross's phone in her hands. She’d already pulled up YouTube on it and typed in “Axel Cason.” A man in his late twenties with an athletic build and three days worth of stubble appeared on the screen after a distinct tech intro complete with flashing lights and flying words ending with his name on the screen and fading to black. He stood in front of an enormous riot with hundreds of people behind him screaming. "Hey guys, this is Axel Cason, and I'm here at the Capitol to record the riots and interview people from both sides of the onslaught. Let's go!" The man led viewers through the riot with him and conducted interviews without bias. He talked to riot control from the Divinity and the rioters equally. He didn’t ask leading questions. He asked the hard questions and did it with class. I was amazed and amused. Compared to what I'd just gone through, he seemed perfect. Axel wasn’t scared to say what needed to be said. That was all we asked.

"I used to watch him all the time before Circadia. He's super interesting and somehow always seems to be wherever something is happening. I thought he would be a good way to get the cause out there to the people," Jane said.

"He's perfect!" Ross exclaimed. "I've been doing research. Looks like our guy has become extremely popular after the government uprising. Everyone is calling his channel the only honest source of news. We need to find him."

"How are we going to do that?" I asked.

Jane looked at me. "Uhhh... I commented on one of his videos that he should interview Aella Toms from Circadia, and he replied. He said he would get in touch with me."

"How's he going to do that? Did you give him your info?" I asked.

"No, I didn't. I don't know how he—" Jane stopped and looked at the phone she held. "There's an e-mail here from Axel Cason. It says confidential."

"Go ahead," Ross instructed. "Open it."

"It reads, Dear Ross Herrold. Sorry for the intrusion on your email, but I’m very interested in your comment. You said I should interview Aella Toms. Do you happen to have contact with her?" Jane read the email aloud. "If you do and she’s agreeable to an interview, please reply promptly."

I looked around the cabin to see everyone was as shocked as me. "Whoa. That was quick."

Jane snorted. "He isn't news leading for no reason. He's always on-site, pronto. I guess now it makes sense." She looked at Ross. "What should I reply?"

Ross held out his hand for the phone. "I'll tell him where we’re located and see when he wants to meet and where." Jane handed over the phone and Ross began typing.

"This is a good idea, right?" I looked at Jane and Ross sitting next to each other.

Jane pressed her lips together, then spoke. "I heard what you said past the video clip on your last interview. I had my ear to the door. People need to hear what you have to say. It's not about you anymore. Do you understand?"

I let out a big sigh. "Not really."

"The fact she tried to twist the words on freedom and tyranny is enough reason for everyone here to rise up. It's not only about Circadia anymore. Of course, Circadia will be a big part of helping people, but if we solve the problems on Earth, we solve the problem on Circadia. This is for everyone." Jane sat still and held my gaze until I couldn't take the intensity of the moment anymore.

"Okay, he knows where we are in India. He says he'll be in contact shortly," Ross announced.

I found a seat and settled in for the ride “home.” My mind played over and over what Jane said. I had to make