Together

Chapter 34 ★ Amy

Today... was rough. To say the least. Our battle simulation today was harder than ever before, and it sickens me to think of the lives we ended.

Both light-years away, and here on Eros.

Petra had us in tight formation. Ender gave her a place to be, then went off to help command other parts of the battle. Petra pushed us too far, leaving us exposed.

They saw, and they rushed us.

Ender's call to pull back came too late.Everyone was taken out except for me and Wolf. Ender called for Petra to move us, but she couldn't. I looked up at her, and saw her stare blankly at the screen, tears dripping down her face. Tom took me and Wolf in, and Ender salvaged the battle. Barely.

I turn around after the sim went out to find Petra full on crying and clutching at Tom's uniform, trying to get her comms unit back.

"I'm sorry, Ender!" she sobs. "It won't happen again! Tell him I'm sorry!" she stutters out, leg giving underneath her. I see Lou and Allie already climbing up, so I follow suit to help get her safely back to our dorms.

★★★

One by one, they broke. Ender's jeesh. They never were quite as good again, after they failed. Never as fast, or as quick, or daring. Still good soldiers, but no longer efficient commanders.

My squadron was reassigned to Alai's command.

★★★

I was headed back early from dinner. The battles took more of a toll on me, now that I knew we were ending lives with every battle we fought.

I was expecting to have some time alone.

I was not expecting Ender to be sitting in my chair.

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"Hey," Amy mumbled upon discovering me.

"What, no quip about this being your chair and me needing to get up?" I choke as an attempt to lighten the dark mood she now seemed to carry with her everywhere. Nothing. No mischievous glint, no half smile. She just walks over and sits quietly in the chair next to me.

"What's eating you?" I say softly. I hope she'll open up and not see it as me ordering her around.

"Something's wrong Ender. Very wrong."

"No joke." Ah, there's her grin. But just as quickly as it's there, it disappears.

"The adults are hiding something. They're lying to us in order t-"

"What're you doing here, Wiggin? How'd you get away from your tutor?" Graff interrupts her, appearing from nowhere. Amy's head flies up, eyes shimmering with fear.

"I-"

"No. Just... get out Wiggin." He says. I shoot a sideways glance at Amy and sigh.

"Yes, sir," I say, getting up to head out the door.

★★★

No, don't leave me! I think yell at Ender as he walks out the door. Graff stands there silently for a minute, watching until Ender is a satisfactory distance away. He steps in and shuts the door.

"Miss Thompson?"

"Yes, sir?"

"You are aware that what you have done is treason?" I gulp and nod. "Tell me what you think you know."

"You have a device capable of near instantaneous communication. Formic flight patterns in our simulations are too similar to ones from the First and Second invasions to be computer programmed, or even for humans to mimic. Conclusion: you have effectively lied to us, or at least only told us part of the truth, to have us fight and win a war that you cannot," I list quickly, voice quivering the whole time. Graff looks thoughtful for a moment, then moves to leave.

"You will not tell anyone else. If you do, you will be silenced by whatever means necessary. And also, you will not be allowed to contact Ender again until the war is over. Focus on your job," he demands, turning on his heel and walking out the door. I walk over and sink on my bed, feeling my heart and morals quiver as my tear ducts empty.

I curl up and don't move til morning comes, and we are called back to our neverending stream of battles.