The Holographic Trickster

Chapter 9 - Together

Four days...

Dad, you always used to say: "The reason why soldiers fight wars, is not because they hate the people in front of them, but loves the people who are behind them." I have been working hard my whole life to become like you. You were a legend, beloved and well known by many, but along with your gifts also came a curse. One life to save many, is that how you say it?

The screen on the wall is starting to count down from 30. I glance over at Elliott who is giving a pep talk to Gibraltar. These two are my teammates, Makoa Gibraltar and Elliott Witt, who now goes by the name Mirage. We have been training and preparing ourselves for Apex. Four days non-stop, and now we are close like family. As I continue to watch them, Elliott notices me. I'm not looking away, not this time. Gibby is like a brother to me but Elliott, he is something else. My thougths seemes to be pulled back into the past, drifting through my memories, taking me to our first day of training.

"Y/n, you're doing great!"

I smile over at Elliott, surprised but also happy.

"I can't believe I hit the target!" I say while lowering the longbow.

"You are a natural talent, but then you have me."

He nods in the direction of three target dials that are penetrated with bullet holes. He picks up his wingman and spins it around his finger a few times.

"Show off," I whisper, quietly.

"Sometimes I even surprise myself, nah not really, I'm just too good."

"Give me a break already." I start chuckling. "Do you ever think about anyone but yourself?"

He puts down his wingman and exhales.

"You."

He stayed silent for a few seconds before coughing and after that he added, "And of course big guy over there."

He gestured behind him in the direction of Gibraltar, who is sitting on the ground ten meters from us. He's attaching a persistent choke to a peacekeeper. I cross my arms and tilt my head to the side. Elliott turns towards Gibraltar.

"Keep up the good work, bud", he shouts.

Gibraltar raises his head and notices Elliott who is waving at him. He lifts his hand to wave back but when he does, the persistent choke bounces off the peacekeeper. I could hear Gibraltar curse in the ditance, and I am pretty sure Elliott heard him as well. Elliott turns his head back to me, placing his hands on the back of his head.

"All we need is a little bit of training."

"Yeah, a little," I say with a hint of doub.

A confident smile appears on his face, "We are gonna do this, together."

Elliott reaches out his hand. I hesitate a little, before firmly grasping his hand within mine. We exchange looks. A sudden feeling of courage fills my body. We're going to win this!

Suddenly, I hear a familliar sound echoing in te distance, and my flash from the past gets abruptly interupted by a well known voice.

"You ready, lucky charm?"

"Huh?" I raise my head in the direction of the voice.

"Y-yes," I answer, realising that Elliott had moved closer to me, oh sorry, I mean Mirage.

"Good, because we are soon about to dive."

Gibraltar stands up from his seat.

"Let's go brothers!"

I take a look around and see a lot of people preparing themselves for skydiving. The screen on the drop ship wall is now showing the number fifteen. I stand up, followed by Mirage and we are both checking our jetpacks one last time before moveing towards the dropship door with Gibraltar. I look down at my zero gravity boots. The switch is on and everything seems to be working. I remember when Mirage told me to bring them to the games, just like his Holo-Pilot devices, I can use my boots to my advantage. He also told me that like us, all the other participants has their abilities as well, so I have to be careful.

"Are we going to jump right away, or? I ask and look over at Mirage who is adjusting his goggles at the top of his head.

"We are going to jump a little bit after the others. Most of the squads are going to jump right away and make a bloodbath down there", Gibraltar answers me.

"Oh, alright".

Thinking that so many lives will be lost today is sending a shiver down my spine. Am I going to become one of them? I jolt slightly as the signal of an alarm rings in my ears, it's time to jump. The drop ship door is opening and some of the squads are already standing in position. One squad after the other, the amount of people has just been halved.

"Wo-ah, look at them go!"

Mirage looks so excited where he is standing. He is really ready for this. I look over at Gibraltar who is at my other side. How can it be that they both look so calm, so prepared.

"This is our stop," Gibraltar says as he walks over to Mirage and bumps his shoulder. "Ready?"

"Yeah, I am so ready for this," Mirage says while streatching out.

I let my hand get grabbed by his. I didn't realise for a moment that my hand was within his, but I quickly raise my head and met his warm and welcoming gaze.

"Together?"

His touch makes me relax and his eyes makes me feel safe. I haven't felt more alive. Maybe also because I am probably going to die soon.

"Together," I answer him, more confident than ever.

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Authors note

Hi, I'm back with "The holographic trickster"!
I'm really sorry for not finishing it before. I stoped writing for a while but I'm here again. Here to write more stuff :D Hope you still enjoy my work and thank you for reading it. I hope you will enjoy!^^