Chalice

Chapter 11: Shia

Shia sat in the corner, listening to the others' genius games planning. Normally she would weigh in occasionally with her superior battle experience, but not now. She knew she was going to win. She had practiced her entire life to win in situations like these, because, unlike the others, she firmly believed that science was an enemy to society, so therefore she would have to defend herself if she invented stuff. Such as her gun, which she had on the previous day revised so that the bullets flew even faster. She knew that the others didn't like her as much, but she was OK with that. It meant that if she somehow died, she wouldn't make others hurt too. Only occasionally did she wish that her mother hadn't died, leaving her and her little brother behind with their abusive father. She had had to take care of him until they were adopted by some super rich people and she was able to use her brains for something. Her other inventions were not guns or other weapons, as she had created the gun specifically for the Genius Games. That was the difference. The others didn't plan ahead, think rationally about the present, or generally think about surviving another day. It was all handed to them on a silver platter.
She shook herself. Thoughts like that were dangerous.
"Shia?" Niko looked nervous and apologetic.
"Yeah?"
"Uh, Dias accidentally let slip that you were going to fight with swords. No awesome gun. Sorry."
Shia cursed. She knew how to use a sword, of course, but she'd gotten out of practice. Dias' crony had probably been also beefing up their swordsmanship skills just to make Shia try harder to win. Suddenly she wasn't as confident.

Shia lay awake, that night,thinking. If I try some of those moves......and other strategic thoughts.She was NOT going to lose to a Dias crony. She would bet her life on it, except that she already was. Maybe she should bet a million dollars instead. Much safer. She sighed. She would have to figure this out tomorrow.

She woke up in her bunk and immediately bonked her head on the ceiling. Ouch. Why? Why had she agreed to a top bunk. She searched herself out of habit, and came up with nothing. Again. She Kept forgetting in Dias's world, people were not allowed to own things, especially not her deceased mother's ring. Of course it didn't matter to her. Jerk. 

Niko greeted her with his haggard morning face. Something was up, as he was twitching nervously.

"Uh, Shia. Chalice thought that you would like this to protect yourself with. It's a shield that protects you. From bullets as well as blades." He offered the small square package in his hands.

Shia took it. She carefully inspected it. "How does it work? Does it fit to my skin?"

"I have no idea. She just said to give it to her and to make you use it." He was wringing his hands in agitation."Look, it might be useful. You never know out there. It's entirely possible that your opponent will have a gun and you will just have a sword. Dias does stuff like that."

"Fine. I'll take it. Thank Chalice for me."She normally didn't like help from other people when she fought her battles, but it was nice to know that in the end someone was on your side.She wondered idly whether there would be an audience there to watch her die.She should at least have that.If she had anything.Sigh.