Together

Chapter 6★ Amy

I am awoken by Bonzo yelling.

"Wake up! Battle with Leopard Army in 10 minutes! Hey, Wiggin! I changed my mind. Maybe by watching my toons, you'll learn something, and then I can trade you easier."

"Yes sir, thank you, sir," is Ender's reply. Bonzo looks very generous, probably, to all of the soldiers who don't know about the deal. Which is the point. Very smart, Ender.

We all immediately get into our Battle suits. Petra informs me that I am in Aiden's toon. He is toon B. We get into formation and start jogging down the hallway. Bonzo starts singing some spirit song or something. I don't join in and neither does Ender.

"What's the play?" Petra asks when we reach gate B.

"Four wings," says Bonzo."A right, B up, C left and D down. Wiggin, step aside."

"Bonzo, my toon will be a man short without him!" Exclaims Dink.

"He knows nothing of our formations. Stand aside, Wiggin. We don't need you." Ender steps aside. The gate opens and out we go. The battle begins. I reach out and flip up. I don't try to stay oriented the way I came in, I know it's useless to even try. Rectangular room, rectangular gate, two points of reference, one obvious orientation. The enemy's gate is down.

I launch towards them and play dead. I see seven Leopards clumped. Obvious remains of a ten man toon. Gotcha. I open fire, immobilizing six and freezing one's shooting arm. Sorry boys.

I feel my suit tighten around my left leg. I play dead immediately. I look to my left and see the battle raging. Ender. He left his post by the gate, probably to help Petra. Those two couldn't be more obvious. This is not the place, nor the time. They push each other away, and he floats through a large clump of Leopards, immobilizing 15 or more. He is frozen however, after a matter of 36.886 seconds. Amazing to see.

★★★

After the battle, we head to lunch. I sit with Petra, Aiden, Fly and Dink, but with one addition. Ender. I smile at him as he sits down. Petra smiles at him too. He smiles back, and soon we are all smiling.

"Not bad, launchy." This from Fly. Ender looks confused.

"That's a compliment, Fly style," I whisper across the table.

"Don't get too used to it though, they only come along once in five million snarky comments," Aiden chirps, and we all laugh.

□□□

After lunch, Petra offers to spar with me before class, and I take it. Armlock. She spins, putting me in armlock. I twist, and we flip positions. She steps back, spinning, and now our positions are reversed. Aha. I twist one final time, puting her in armlock, and she can't twist out of it.

"Where'd you learn all this?" She asks.

"I had a brother," I say.

"Had?" Oops.

"Have." I correct myself. I spin her out of armlock. "Let's go again, but this time, use your arms, not your hips." She nods and we get ready to spar again, when we hear something behind us.

"Ten-hut! Officer on deck." Bonzo and two others walk in.

"I thought I told you not to train with her," says Bonzo sharply.

"I thought we agreed that free time was free, sir," I say.

"At ease." Bonzo punches me in the stomach. "Better watch your back, snot." he whispers in my ear. He turns and walks out, his buddies right behind him.

"You okay?" Petra asks. All I can do is nod.