Read Attack on Phoenix for Free Online

of your mission. In fact, there will no longer be a record of any of you. When you leave for this mission, you should be prepared to return only if you are victorious. If you are not, then no one will be able to question why."
    Torsten could only assume the others had no living relatives like Leila and himself. Otherwise, they would be missed. He also couldn't help but note the convenience. If they failed, the military kept the reparation. There would be no one to inherit it in the event of their deaths.
    Torsten reluctantly opened the folder. The paper tickled his fingertips. He was so unused to the feel of it. No one used paper anymore. There weren’t enough resources on Phoenix to mass produce it like there was on Earth. Everything was kept in digi files. He thumbed through the first few pages. It was just biographies of the team members. Torsten knew everything he needed to about them already.
    Mellok’s parents died in a flight training incident when Mellok was a baby. They'd lived their entire lives in the military; he was raised specifically for this life. Andessa's parents had been over fifty when they’d had her, and died a few years ago on a hike in the desert. Torsten closed his eyes, burning their faces into his memory. He skimmed Leila's page. No surprises there. He flipped the page with the pictures of his parents. He remembered all too well what they looked like.
    It was his page that gave him pause.
    Torsten was surprised to see many things listed he thought he'd kept secret. His days spent in the library and which materials he’d read, including the pieces he'd read multiple times. A warm blush crept up his neck. Great. His fellow team members already knew he was different, but now they had proof of just how much. Yes, Torsten had been chosen to lead the mission because of his knowledge of the Key. Still, it chafed to see this evidence of his oddness written in black and white.
    Torsten lifted the corner of his bio, only to find there were no other papers below it.
    He looked at Commander Bartok. "Where are our orders?"
    "As soon as everyone is done with the biographies, I'll give the official briefing." She rested her elbows on the table, forming a triangle with her fingertips and thumbs. Her expression was unreadable, and Torsten suddenly felt fear run its bony finger along his spine.
    Something wasn't right. The disposable biographies. The lack of written orders.
    "Are they on a digi file?" Torsten waited for a response. They didn't move.
    "No." It was a simple answer conveying a very complicated meaning.
    Torsten reached out, snatching the folders from each of the defenders. Only Leila was quick enough to slap a hand on hers and resist Torsten's pull.
    "What are you doing?" Mellok stood and yanked his folder back from Torsten's grasp.
    "There's nothing but bios in here. I've known all of you for the six years Leila and I have been here. I don't need to read these. Neither do you." Torsten waited, glaring at Leila. She patted Mellok's hand apologetically and then passed the folder to her brother. "Thanks."
    Torsten pushed the folders back to Commander Bartok. "We need to know why we’re being sent on a ridiculous mission."
    Commander Bartok blinked twice. A small smile twitched at the corners of her lips. It was the only indication Torsten was on to something. Relief coursed through him. For a brief moment he'd doubted his instincts.
    Commander Bartok straightened out the messy pile of paperwork, tapped it once on the table and sat it back down, her hands folded on top of it. "I knew I chose the correct leader. The other defenders may tease you for your awkwardness, but you are very intelligent, Torsten."
    Matthe stood behind the commander, his hands fidgeting with the buttons on his jacket.
    "Tell us what's really going on," Torsten said. "I don't believe for one second the Key exists, much less that it can magically win the war against the dragzhi. And if you’ve been watching me as closely as that