Ender Wiggin's Last Game

The Package

The meeting went as planned. Morgan got angry at even the idea that someone had gone under is nose to let some unworthy government official have access to IF files. He was baffled, but with his mood swings, Ender could never be sure that would last. So here they were, Ender, Penelope, and Valentine (who had joined not long after the recording software was disabled), watching silently as Morgan flailed around for an answer.

"The only person who has the authority to do that kind of thing is you, Wiggin. I knew I never should have trusted you. You even had that ansible call not a day ago. That's what caused this." Admiral Morgan had been going on like this for quite a while and was getting nowhere.

"If you're talking about the call MinCol put me up to, I can assure you that's not it. Leave Oacha out of this."

"You mean to say you've had more than one ansible call in the past twenty four hours?! This, Just after that idiotic call with that other Wiggin boy? I should put you under arrest! How do I know that this Oacha person isn't the one who stole the files!" This was fair for the most part. How could Morgan know? Hell, Ender would respect him for the work he's putting into keeping this ship safe if it weren't for the constant cussing and verbal attacks on the Wiggin family. Not that it bothered Ender, but it was definitely unprofessional.

"Dabeet Oacha is a ten year old boy in Fleet School. He has his hands full with other things and his father is watching him like a hawk. It's very unlikely he would have anything to do with this incident." Morgan glared at him.

"And no, I haven't had more than one ansible call in the last week, Admiral. You are in charge of the records, you know I'm not lying. I, however, have no idea that you aren't the one lying. Because, as you said, the only person with the power to do something as stupid and endangering as this, is the admiral."

"HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE ME OF SOMETHING SO VOLATILE! I AM THE CAPTAIN ON THIS SHIP, YOU WILL NOT HOLD COUNSEL AGAINST ME!" Valentine nearly rolled her eyes, but stopped herself.

"Admiral sir, Andrew din't mean any of that. He's simply pointing out facts. Just as you had been earlier before. Let's try to have a civil conversation." Ender shot her a look. He had meant every word. It was almost fact now that Morgan had been the one to do it. It's not like Andrew did it, and he was just as much admiral as the piss-head sitting in front of him.

Valentine nudged him with her foot, telling him to follow her lead.

"Bottom line, we know Andrew couldn't have done it. Why on earth would he bring it to your attention if he had let the perpetrator in? That seems counterproductive to me." Morgan, still fuming, calmed himself enough to only speak threateningly.

"To blame it on me, to make it look like I did it so they would put me in stasis and he could have the whole ship for himself." He sneered at Ender, who didn't shrink back. Ender didn't dare answer either, knowing that it was exactly what Morgan wanted.

"Blaming it on each other isn't going to help either." Penelope finally spoke up, tired of the fighting.

"And who told you to speak, girl." Morgan snapped at her. Ender wasn't having it.

"I did. her opinion is important."

"Her opinion is equivalent to that of a bugger. I won't have a traitor roaming around freely on my ship and I have no way of know which of you three did it, so I'm putting all of you in stasis this instant." he said it, but he didn't make any move to call security. Penelope saw Ender tentatively lick his lips before he answered.

"And yet still letting the true traitor roam freely." Valentine's eyes widened as if in shock as she turned to look at Ender. Her foot nudged his calf again, but he ignored it. His heart was racing. He could very well be putting all of them in danger by saying this. Even worse, he could be killing them all by saying this. But it had to be said if they were going to find a way to fix this.

"I came here to tell you about a threat to the ship and quite possibly you as well, but now I see that I was wrong in doing so. I now know that you are the only traitor on this ship, and that information is going directly to MinCol for the safety of not only the passengers," Ender saw a slight shift in Morgans movements and knew that he had notified security. "but myself as well."

"Is that so? After this, boy, you wont be able to do anything. I've called security and they'll be here to put you in stasis shortly." Morgan asked, unaffected by Andrews words.

"You've dug yourself into a hole, Admiral," Penelope whispered. Officially, she was addressing both Ender and Morgan, but her words were directed to Quincy.

"We'll be put in stasis and you'll have the illusion that you've won this battle. You'll have the illusion, but it won't be true. You'll have shifted your power onto some earth-sider. Some power hungry government official who's only task is to retrieve Ender from your hands."

Morgan rolled his eyes. "Somehow, I really doubt that. Even if the ship turns around right now, whoever turns it will be dead long before we get there."

Ender spoke up again. "Yes, assuming they haven't sent a ship to come get us and they are twiddling their thumbs back on earth, waiting patiently for their packaged warlord to arrive. Assuming you haven't sold the Battleschool graduates to some political big guy down on Earth." He said it almost scornfully, but there was a flicker in Morgans eyes. A sign, telling the three in front of him that that's exactly what was happening.

Ender's breath hitched and Penelope felt anger well up inside her. Valentine snapped at the unfairness of it all.

"How could you! How could you betray the IF like that?!" The door behind them slid open and officers poured in. Valentine was screaming at Morgan now, the officers taking her by her arms and restraining her.

"DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE!? HOW MANY LIVES WILL BE LOST!? ENDER CAN'T GO BACK HOME, OR ELSE-" At that point she had been knocked out, hit in the head by an aggressive hand. Ender would have yelled, fought back to save his dear sister, but they had already sedated him. He had been caught in a state of shock and before he could react, the chemicals they exposed him to knocked him out cold.

Penelope didn't dare struggle, seeing the other two go down so fast. She backed herself into a corner, but they were already on her. The same chemicals that put Ender to sleep working their way into her system.