Together

Chapter 12★Amy

Once Ender has us all situated in front of him, he starts talking.

"I watched all of you during practice. I saw some good training going on. And for tonight's practice, we will battle each other. Amy's toon did this during their practice, dividing in half. Team A launched a surprise attack on Team B and won with no fight from B. Morning practice will be mostly focused on training in maneuvers, aim, normal fighting in Nullo. Evening practices will be primarily battling each other, half toons, whole army, and most other combinations."

"But wouldn't it make more sense to practice battling in the morning when we have energy?" I look around to see who said that. Crazy Tom, Toon E's leader.

"Yes, but I think it would be more beneficial to practice pushing your strategizing and physical limits. Yes, you will be tired, but this will teach your brains and bodies to keep going even when all you want to do is stop. I have a feeling Graff won't take it easy on us. Now, I will try to keep you and your toon mates on different teams, for smaller battles. Off you go."

I start to head back to the bunkroom, but someone grips my arm and pulls me to the side. I turn to see who it is. Ender.

"Hey," I say. "What's going on? Is something wrong?" I think he might make someone else toon leader instead of me and I feel a surge of hope.

"No, no. Nothing's wrong, it's just.... I just....how am I doing? Do they like me? You at least know what you're doing, I don't have a clue and-" I cut him off with a hug. He stiffens at first, but then he hugs me back.

"I don't know about everyone else, but I like you, and so does my toon. We'd follow you to the ends of the universe. And for the record, I don't have the faintest idea of what I'm supposed to do either." I step back and salute. "Commander." He's smiling. I smile back. He pulls to attention and dismisses me.

★★★

I eat breakfast and lunch with the rest of my toon. Tom, Dink, Fly, and the other toon leader eat together, and shoot looks at me every once in a while. I ignore them. I meant what I said. Trust is imperative.

Wolf and Bean both come from someplace called Rotterdam. It doesn't sound very pleasant. Every street was filled with orphans. Sandy comes from a small town in New Mexico. He is an only child, and his parents miss him lots. But they have a dog. David is from New Mexico as well, and is good friends with Sandy. He was a First, and his parents wept when he was taken for Battle School. But they still have his younger brother.

Alai is from the Middle East and he is a second. His parents are proud that he made it to Battle school. Sammy is from Ireland and has a really cool accent. He lived in Killarney with his mom and his older sister. Aiden is from Chicago. He lived on the 51st floor of an apartment building with his mom, dad and twin younger brothers. Chicago, despite its size, has not had a cadet reach Battle School since the first few years after the Formic Wars. His parents and siblings told him to make sure and kill some formics for them.