Chapter Seven

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 After she and Walker had come back to the dorm, Adlai made good on her announcement of how she felt and sprinted into the bathroom, where she emptied the contents of her stomach into the toilet bowl.

When she'd finished throwing up, she wiped her mouth with a shaking hand, stripped and stepped into the shower, turning the water pressure up quite high. The steaming jets of hot water pounded against her shoulders and arms, relieving some of the tension and pain. Adlai winced in relief as her muscles unwound.

She finished showering, dressed in her other uniform, since this the one she'd worn was sodden with sweat, and stretched gently so her arm muscles wouldn't seize up. She'd have to stretch again before she went to bed, but, honestly, she'd put this much effort in, working the factories back on Lares. She'd felt worse pain.

As she stretched, the telescreen on the wall flickered to life, and Aquamarine training group's individual rankings popped up. Adlai's jaw dropped when she saw that her name now topped the list, Walker's right below her.

"Holy shit," Walker murmured from where he'd been stretching. "Well, I guess half-killing ourselves paid off."

Adlai laughed, wincing as she pushed herself deeper into a stretch. "I guess so," she said. The clock in the corner of the telescreen read out 10:55, so she stood, dusting off her pants. "We should go," she added. "It's almost time to be back in the training center."

They returned to the arena where the rest of Aquamarine was just finishing up with the weights with plenty of time to spare and waited in a corner so they weren't in the way. Adlai took the opportunity to look around. To her surprise, she saw that, yet again, the Ranger lieutenant sat in the stands that ringed the arena, watching the cadets train. Aquamarine was the only group there at the moment, and Lieutenant Reid's gaze was fixed upon them. His gaze darted to Adlai and Walker when they entered, and something along the lines of curiosity crossed his face.

But he looked away before Adlai could be sure.

Walker elbowed her, once, sharply and jerked his head at the telescreen opposite them. Aquamarine had risen from third to second, and, when the rankings of individual cadets appeared, ten of the top twenty spots were filled by Aquamarine trainees, including, to her shock, Adlai's own name, and Walker's, and Solberg, Sutter, Darcy and Harper. The girls made up only four of six women on the list; the rest were guys.

"Well done," she whispered to Walker, who grinned from ear to ear. "You, too," he murmured back.

Major Kramer called out, "All right, cadets." Adlai and Walker went to join the others who had gathered in a knot around him. "Time for some hand-to-hand combat training."

For two hours, he drilled them in basic blocks, kicks, punches, holds and throws, including how to fall without breaking bones. For Adlai, most of what he taught them was second-nature, the kind of thing everyone who grew up in the Fringe knew in order to protect themselves. Adlai let her mind wander, since the movements were already muscle memory to her.

At the end of the two hours, they moved into the classroom for their first tactics and strategy lessons. Adlai had thought that the two words meant the same thing, but Kramer dispelled that idea as soon as everyone was seated at the wooden desks that filled the room.

"Now," he said as the board at the front of the classroom came to life. "You may think that tactics and strategy are the same thing." As he spoke, words appeared on the board. "You would be wrong. Strategy is the general planning for a battle or mission, while tactics is the actual movements as they happen, not the long-term plan. Now, could somebody possibly give an example of the difference?"

Solberg raised his hand, and, when he was called on, said, "So, strategy would be, say, a plan to circle enemy forces and cut them off, while tactics would be the what the commanders actually did to get there once different variables occured, like enemy scouts or maneuverability, sir?"

Major Kramer nodded. "Essentially, yes," he said. "But I was thinking more of a real-life application of the differences between strategy and tactics."

Nobody raised a hand, but Adlai had an idea, so, hesitantly, she put her own hand up. "Sir," she said, when Major Kramer gave her permission. "Would strategy be, say, the plans for the Allied landing in Normandy during World War II as a starting point to invade Nazi-held territory from the north of France. In that cade tactics would have been the plans come up with once they realized the difficulty of storming the beaches while under fire and had to find a way to keep their troops alive?"

Major Kramer nodded. "Very good," he said. "Solberg, you were right in general terms. And Fletcher, well done for applying Soberg's definition to a historical battle."

Adlai saw Solberg glare at her. He probably thought she was taking credit for his ideas, even though Kramer had praised him, too. She ignored him and, as Major Kramer began to explain the concept in more depth, Adlai turned her attention to writing notes down on her tablet.

The class went quickly, and Adlai found it oddly fascinating. School had never been particularly interesting for her, but this particular subject appealed to her, though she wasn't quite sure why. At the end of the lesson, Major Kramer assigned them a reading to do for the next day on the First Robot Wars, and then it was time for lunch.

They ate quickly, another nutrient-rich meal of meat and vegetables, then they had their field skills class, which was exactly what it sounded like. Survivalism, tracking, hunting, etcetera. For two hours, they moved through the woods in camouflage, tracking game and each other, building fires and setting traps. Lares was mostly industrial and desert wasteland, so Adlai enjoyed spending time outdoors without practically melting in the heat or choking on smog.

At four, they had their history and geography classes, and were set the task of memorizing the names of the Inner Network planets–child's play, and something they had all done in elementary school.

Then, at five, after an hour-long class, Adlai thought they would head to the Simulation Room, but, instead, Major Kramer led them back out to the woods. "Okay," he said, drawing them to a halt at the edge of the forest. He pulled something out of his pocket–an aquamarine-colored flag. "We're going to play a game of capture the flag. Our enemy is the Violet group. The rules are simple: capture the enemy's flag and get it across the dividing line between the two sides, which has been demarcated by a white line. The borders are the edge of the base and the river ravine approximately two miles out from here. Whoever gets the flag across the line first wins."

He picked up a duffle bag and dumped it onto the ground before them. He reached in and pulled out a slender, black gun. "Your weapons," he announced. "This is a stun gun. It shoots darts that temporarily stun the victim. Depending on where you hit them, they'll be out for a longer time. We also have crossbows with stunning tips, knives and staffs. All of them are made to stun, not kill. Each team also has a supply of stun grenades. Again, they act just like regular explosives, except they release a sedative, so get as far away as you can before you launch them.

"In your gear bags are vests that I want you to put on. They act like bulletproof vests. A glancing shot will just bounce off; a direct hit will knock an opponent back, but won't take them out. For that, you need to hit them in the neck or on their limbs. If you hit an artery in an arm or leg, they'll be out longer than if you just hit flesh. Got it?"

"Yes, sir," the cadets chorused.

"Good," Major Kramer said. "Now, I'll leave it up to you lot to come up with a plan. Major Hunt and I will referee. Pick out the gear you think you'll need for a forest operation and leave your bags."

He strode off, hands in pockets, and left the cadets to obey their instructions. Adlai selected her items, hooking some onto her belt and pocketing the rest. She bounced up and down a couple of times to make sure nothing could rattle and give her position away. When she was satisfied that nothing would, she joined the other cadets, and, together, they moved off into the darkening woods.

Already, the cadets were bickering about what to do. Everyone seemed to have their own strategies, and they all wanted to use them. Their voices made a cacophony in the silent forest, and Adlai wondered how they hadn't realized that the other team could just follow the noise they were making.

"We need to hide the flag so well the others can't find it," Sutter announced, and a few other cadets nodded their agreement.

"No," one of Solberg's friends, Wilder, protested. "We need to keep it moving, storm them before they have a chance to react."

On and on it went, until Adlai wanted to bash her head repeatedly against the nearest tree. Her gaze roved over the others, and, though most of them were engaged in the argument, she noticed that Solberg leaned against a tree, his head buried in his hands.

She sidled up to him, her mind racing. "Hey," she said, studying him carefully.

"What do you want," Solberg asked wearily. "Please tell me it's not to pitch your fucking idea."

"Nope," she said, leaning back against the tree beside him. She smoothed her hair back and went on. "So. They're all going to make us lose." Solberg just rolled his eyes. "Look, I'm just going to come out and say it," she announced. "You're the best in tactics and strategy. What do you suggest?"

Solberg started, staring at her askance. "Well," he said slowly. "We should figure out where they're hiding their flag. Then, we split in two groups: ten to guard our flag, ten to take their flag. Yeah?"

"Okay," Adlai said, shouldering her stun gun. "Let's go. Darcy, Sutter, Ilse, Wilder, Walker, Jeremiah, Lance and Kerr, you're with us. Everyone else, hide the flag and guard it. But don't be obvious."

To her surprise, everyone jumped to obey her. "Okay, Solberg. What now?"

Solberg squared his shoulders, nodding at her. "Fletcher," he said. "You and I will find out the location of the flag, then we'll regroup with the rest of our offense. Once we know what they're up to, we'll strike. Got it?"

Adlai nodded, taking a deep breath. "Okay," she said, bouncing on the tips of her toes. "Let's go." She smiled at Walker and Ilse, then slipped off into the trees, breaking into a run, Solberg right on her heels.

Earlier that day, Kramer had showed them the basics of how to run silently, but Adlai had already known how. Heel to toe, this patch of earth darker than the next one and therefore softer. Not there, there was a branch. Avoid the dried leaves, don't dislodge loose stones. Carefully, there was a cliff to the right. Evidently, Solberg knew the basics, too, because he was as silent as she.

Together, they slipped, wraith-like, across the border between their two territories, all senses alert for the slightest sign of human presence. They came upon a flock of deer, moving carefully to keep from startling them. Deer bolting through the forest would definitely alert the Violet cadets to their presence.

They found the enemy team still arguing strategy. The flag hung from the branch of an ancient pine tree, but all the cadets were still in one place. Silently, as they lurked in the shadows, Solberg pointed up at the tree directly above them. Adlai understood and scrambled up the trunk, then pulled herself up, branch by branch, until she was hidden from view, but still could see the other team's goings-on.

Solberg pulled himself up beside her, and they huddled together as a fine mist began falling and fog clouds moved in. After awhile, Solberg stirred, then uttered a hissed, "Shit."

Adlai flinched slightly and cast a glance at him. His sleeve was rolled up and Adlai noticed a long, even cut bisecting his forearm. A few drops of blood fell onto the ground beneath them.

"Here," Adlai said, gripping his wrist. She reached into her pack and pulled out her canteen. One handed, she unscrewed the cap and poured a tiny stream of water over the cut. She prayed the other team wouldn't hear them, what with the wind whistling through the trees. Solberg muttered another curse as the water cleaned the blood and dirt out of the incision. "Don't want this getting infected," she added.

Solberg smiled wryly against the pain. "Thanks," he whispered. When she thought the cut was clean, Adlai capped her water bottle and put it away, then tore a strip from her shirt and wrapped it around Solberg's forearm.

"Okay," she murmured. "You're set." She settled back, leaning against the tree's trunk. "So," she said, turning her attention back to the other team. "Looks like they're using a basic offense-defense strategy."

Solberg studied her for a long while, then answered. "Yeah, looks like it." He kept his gaze on her, though. "You know, you're a puzzle, Fletcher."

Adlai reared back. She didn't know if she should be flattered or insulted. "Um, thanks?" Solberg shrugged and looked away, then said, "So, you up for taking out a few of the enemy?"

Adlai chuckled. "Hell, yes!" she said, her voice just above a whispered. She and Solberg drew their stun guns and aimed. "Okay, let's do this."

Together, they fired on their targets, Adlai choosing a girl who'd planted a particularly painful elbow in her ribcage at the netball game the night before. Solberg dropped a brutish cadet who'd been stalking back and forth, scowling at everything and anyone.

The other cadets looked about them, panicking, searching for the shooters. "Go," Solberg hissed, launching himself from the tree. Adlai pelted after him. Both of them fired a few more shots over their shoulders. "Run!"

They bolted through the trees, Adlai right on Solberg's heels, heading straight for the border, where the rest of their offense team waited. As they crossed the border, Solberg shouted, "Let's go!"

The others took out the three cadets following them, and, together, they all moved back into enemy territory. As they moved, Solberg and Adlai filled the others in on what they'd seen. They drew up just out of sight of the enemy defense.

"Okay," Solberg said. "Coleman, Sutter, Wilder, Lance and Kerr, you go ahead and distract the other team, okay? Keep them occupied, yeah? Walker and Jeremiah, you're with me. We'll slip around from the south. Moreau, you and Fletcher go in from the north. Sound good?"

Adlai grinned at him. "Yup," she said, tapping Ilse on the shoulder. "Come on, Moreau. Let's go." Together, the two girls slipped off in the trees. As they moved off, Adlai cast a last glance over her shoulder, and Darcy gave her a salute.

Ilse and Adlai moved silently through the trees, stun guns raised, but they didn't encounter anyone else. They approached the tree where the other team had hung their flag just as Darcy and the others began shooting. Adlai ducked as one shot nearly hit her and slipped behind a nearby rock formation, dragging Ilse with her.

"Okay," she said in a low whisper. "We have a straight shot to the flag. Let's go."

They bolted from among the trees, and Solberg and his companions appeared out of nowhere, laying down a cover of gunfire for them. Adlai reached the tree, shimmied up and pulled down the flag. She tossed it down to Ilse, who bolted for the cover of the rest of the forest.

At once, the Violet cadets swarmed her, and Ilse darter frantically left, then right, before lobbing the flag to Solberg, who was immediately surrounded by the enemy team. As soon as they'd left Ilse open in favor of blocking Solberg, who now had the flag, Adlai's perception of their strategy crystallized. As Solberg ducked behind a tree to avoid the enemy's fire, Adlai made her first play, running ahead, back towards their line. As she did, she shouted back, "Solberg! Netball!" Because, like in netball Team Violet was blocking the person who had the ball, or, in this case, the flag. And, better yet, Walker and Jeremiah ran to cover Solberg, leaving Kerr wide open.

Solberg's head snapped up as he understood her meaning, and he nodded frantically, then shouted, "Kerr, go long!" Kerr sprinted ahead just as Solberg tossed the flag and leapt when the projectile was overhead, snatching it down. As the other team converged on him, Kerr flung the flag to Adlai, who sprinted deeper into the woods and was outstripped by Ilse, who she passed the flag to, just as the enemy drew closer, all while ducking the darts from the other team's stun guns.

One Violet cadet was right on Ilse's heels, and, given Ilse's formidable speed, none of their other teammates had been able to get clear and outstrip her. Adlai shot the cadet in the back of the head, and he tumbled to the ground, tripping two of his teammates. Adlai darted both of the fallen cadets to keep them from getting back up, and it seemed someone else had had the same idea, because, before her second shot hit its mark, two darts sprouted from the cadets' biceps.

Then, just as Ilse was forced to take cover because the Violet team had cut her off, Darcy raced ahead, snatching the flag from Ilse's grasp and dodging the enemy as she ran. Adlai put on an extra burst of speed to cover Darcy, but none of her shots connected. Jeremiah and Solberg had more luck, both choosing the same target and taking out a girl who was closing in on Darcy.

Jeremiah high-fived Solberg and sprinted ahead, pulling the flag out of a tree Darcy had shoved it in to keep it away from one of the enemy cadets. Kerr and Wilder closed in around him, firing randomly and rapidly over their shoulders, making it impossible for the enemy to approach the flag-bearer without getting shot. Adlai and Ilse ran around the barrage of darts, but Walker got there first, and Jeremiah threw him the flag before getting taken out by a well-placed dart. Kerr swore as his gun emptied and cast the useless weapon aside. Adlai flung one of her stun-grenades right into the heart of the group of cadets pursuing them, just as one of them aimed at Kerr. The shooter fell, as did several other cadets, leaving only two still in pursuit.

Adlai put on another desperate burst of speed, Ilse matching her step by step. They were so close to the dividing line. Walker flung the flag at her, and she fumbled it before catching it properly. So close! One of the two remaining cadets closed on her and she wondered vaguely why neither of the enemy had shot her yet. The trees were thin enough around her that they would have had a clear shot. Then, she realized that their weapons must be emptied.

The cadet chasing her snagged the hem of her jacket. She could make it–she had to! As the cadet pulled her back, she realized that Ilse was wide open, only a few feet away from the line into their territory, and, behind her, their defense was covering the rest of their retreat, Harper in the lead.

She made a split-second decision and flung the flag wildly in Ilse's direction before the Violet cadet pulled her down. But then Ilse was sprinting across the line, and the cadet who held Adlai down froze as a whistle rang out, loud enough to be heard across the entire court.

Lieutenant Reid, the Ranger, emerged from the trees, holding his whistle aloft. "Aquamarine wins!" he announced. A few seconds later Major Kramer and the Violet trainer emerged from the forest,

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