Together

Chapter 8□ Ender

When I get back from morning Battle Room training I see a notification on my desk. I quickly change into my uniform, then open the message.

"Ender Wiggin you are to report to Colonel Graff's office immediately. Color code orange red orange."

I put down the desk and step out into the hallway. I see Amy coming down the hall on my right. I think about walking over to say hello, but then the walls light up with my code. The colors go in the opposite direction of Amy. I look back over to find her waving at me. I wave back, then turn and walk down the hall, following my code.

□□□

When I get to Colonel Graff's office, I find him sitting at his desk, typing something up.

"Hello, Ender," says Graff without looking up.

"Good morning, sir," I reply.

"You've done well. Top test scores in your class. But you seem to have a habit of upsetting your commander."

"I find it hard to respect someone just because they outrank me."

"Puts you in a difficult position, doesn't it?" I nod. "You don't like taking orders from Bonzo." It's phrased more like a statement than a question, so I don't respond. I don't have to. Graff knows my answer.

"Would you prefer to give orders yourself?" I'm confused.

"Sir?" I ask tentatively.

"How would you like to command your own army? Dragon Army?"

"Sir, I've never heard of Dragon Army."

"We discontinued the name four years ago. No Dragon Army ever won a game."

"Then why not a new name, sir?"

"Because we already have the uniforms."

□□□

I follow Sergeant Dap out of Graff's office. He leads me around the school, and shows me my new quarters. There's a bed, a desk, and a chair. I open my locker and look at my uniform.

"Your army is being notified now. You will address them in fifteen minutes."

"Do you think they'll follow me?" I ask Dap, uncertain of my abilities. He salutes me. I salute back. It's strange how much better that simple gesture assured me of my capabilities.

★★★

I think Ender got reassigned. It happened to Dink as well. I sit down and log on to my desk for class, and I see a notification. I haven't gotten any mail the whole time I've been up here, so I'm curious. I open it, and see a man pop up.

"Amy Thompson you are reassigned, Dragon Army, Commander
Ender Wiggin. Color code orange red orange. Take nothing with you. Go now." Ender is a commander, I think. It's about time, Graff.

"You too?" Says a familiar voice behind me. Petra. I turn and see her standing at the foot of my bed.

"Yeah. You didn't get reassigned?"

"No," she replies sadly. She's losing all of her friends. First Ender, and then Dink, and now me. I don't see Fly either, I guess he's in Dragon too.

"They probably think the rest of the school would have zero chance of beating Dragon if you were there." She laughs, but her heart isn't in it. I see a tear fall down her cheek as she turns away. I walk up and give her a hug.

"I'll miss you, Petra." I say. She hugs back.

"I'll miss you too, Amy." She says. I know Petra well enough to know that part of this is her friends not saying goodbye. I walk into the hall and the walls light up with my code. I turn left, and walk down the hall.

I also know Petra well enough to know that most of her tears come from not being chosen to be in an army that promises to be the best of the best.