Chapter Fifteen

  CHANGE

  We spent the next few months buried in relentless training. The sessions were brutal, designed to toughen us for whatever came next. Vey, surprisingly, was recovering faster than anyone expected. The medics said she'd be ready for deployment soon.

  I was in the training room, locked in a sparring match with a combat dummy, sweat clinging to my skin, when her voice echoed from the doorway.

  “Hey guys!!”

  I paused, lowering my stance.

  “Vey!” Keisha dropped the dumbbells mid-set and sprinted across the room.

  Liv was right behind her. “You’re supposed to be in recovery!” she said, nearly tackling Vey into a hug.

  The three of them huddled together in a tight embrace, laughing and chattering. I powered down the dummy and walked over to them, slower but relieved.

  “You're okay,” Liv said, her voice catching a little.

  “I’m fine,” Vey said with a dismissive wave. “It was just a bruise. You guys act like I lost a leg.”

  “It wasn't a bruise,” Keisha muttered, squeezing her again. “You had us all worried.”

  Of course… I sighed. "How are you feeling?”

  “Much better.” She raised her hand. “My back feels slightly sore, but it's healed up now. I'm ready to go back out, but the medical chief refused.”

  “You need to take your time and heal.” I advised her.

  “You don't seem to be taking your advice, Jett.” They looked me in the eye.

  “What?” I was caught off guard.

  “You still blame yourself over what happened. You're not healing..."

  “I…” I didn't know what to say. I turned around and walked away.

  “Jett..." I heard her call me, but the door swung open.

  “Vey? You're up. Seems like you're back to your old self.”

  “Happy to see you too, Levi.” Vey snorted.

  I froze. Levi… I turned around to face him.

  “We’ve got a meeting.”

  “Now?” Vey asked.

  “In an hour.” Levi waved a slim file in the air, then tucked it under his arm with a smirk. “Something about team rankings.”

  “Guess we better clean up then,” Keisha said, giving me a brief glance.

  “Yeah.” Liv nodded. The three of them walked out, leaving me to follow.

  As I passed Levi, he spoke—low, casual, but loaded.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  "Why is he in charge? He’s ranked fourth in the facility.’”

  I stopped.

  “That's what's going through your mind, isn't it?”

  “Does it matter?”

  "Well, that's what the room’s temperature is right now. Everyone’s wondering, "Since you’re not the leader anymore, why isn't Nolan in charge?"

  I turned halfway to face him. “And?”

  He paused, then he grinned widely. “I’m not the great Jett, nor am I the mighty Nolan,” Levi said, “but I know how to lead. And I don’t break down when it matters.”

  That one landed.

  I clenched my jaw but didn’t move.

  He leaned just a little closer, his voice barely above a whisper now. “Maybe that’s why I’m the one holding the file… and you’re the one chasing behind.”

  I glared at him.

  “Don't worry, you'll have plenty of opportunities to see what I can do.” He waved his hand as he walked away.

  He wanted to get under my skin—and damn it, he did.

  ***

  “Now that everyone is here,” Commander Darren spoke up, “General Ralph?”

  General Ralph stood up. “We've decided to assign each of you into squads according to your skill level.”

  More rankings?

  “The enemy hasn't made its move yet, so we need to make ours. The Darchaid Empire boasts of many fleets that are also ranked in strength. Each of you needs experience, but throwing you out there against an enemy stronger than you would be detrimental. Thus, you will be assigned rankings according to your strengths.”

  “First off, team Alphys.”

  Our team?

  “Levi Smith as team leader.”

  I grit my teeth.

  “Olivia Robyn as deputy leader. Jett Kaimana, Keisha Hickman, and Vey Amarin.”

  “Second is team Betrix with Nolan Crey as team leader. Maya Trenn as deputy leader. Then Eris Vance.”

  Three members…

  “Third, team Gameth: Kairo Ventz as team leader, Jun Sato as deputy leader. Mira Kael, Cress Vale.”

  Four…

  “Fourth, team Delvix. Rylex Vaan as team leader, Alya Glenn as deputy leader…”

  There was a tiny gasp.

  “Kaia Solari, Mac Fisher, and Jaron Lox.”

  “Then finally, team Epsira: Renn Dravik as leader, Ivy Fenlock as deputy leader, and Carmen Voss.”

  There were murmurs around the room, so Commander Darren silenced the room by hitting the desk.

  “Now, the Darchaid Empire is divided into ranks, with rank E being the lowest.”

  Rank E was the lowest? And we struggled that much against them? Damn it!!

  Commander Darren must have seen my face. “Officially, that is. There are unranked members of the Darchaid Empire.”

  “So how does each team rank against the enemy?” Levi asked. I lost my authority; as such, I lost my privileges to ask questions or engage in discussions with the commander.

  “Currently, Team Alphys is on par with Darchaid’s rank D.”

  What?? My eyes widened. We're done for…

  “Thus, you'll all be engaging in more training, more gruesome and more intense than you've ever undergone.”

  I exhaled.

  “Now, let's get to work.”

  As the year rolled by, we all grew stronger. Our training regime was harsh, but it sharpened our senses; our battle IQ increased as well when we sparred as teams in mock battles.

  Then it came, the first fleet to our universe. Almost a year after our first deployment.

  Nolan and I were sparring in the training room when the alarm blared out.

  “What's going on?” Nolan asked mid-swing. I flung my blade at the door and warped over to it.

  “Wait up!” He ran behind me. When we got to the debrief room, others were trooping in.

  “What's going on?” I heard Vey ask. The monitors turned on, and the generals appeared through them.

  “We've got a situation. Planet Rimura in the fifth sector is being invaded.”

  Invaded?

  “What rank?” Commander Darren asked.

  “D.”

  I felt goosebumps, but I did my best not to show it.

  “Alright then. Team Alphys, get ready to engage.”

  “Roger.” Levi turned around, and we followed him.

  We got set and boarded the jet. Levi sat in the pilot seat, and it made me wince. I felt Keisha touch my arm.

  I looked at her, and she had eyes that seemed to say, ‘Don't worry about it.’ I sighed and went over to my seat.

  Levi went over the jet’s diagnostics, and pretty soon we lifted off.

  “We've got intel on the intruders. There are two of them. Both are rank D.”

  “Alright then.” Levi said with a calm demeanor. We landed on planet Rimura and stepped out.

  “I can't get a lock from this distance.” Vey muttered as we jogged over to a crevice.

  “Don't worry about it.” Levi strapped on a backpack.

  “What's that?” Keisha asked.

  Levi adjusted the pack and took out a gun. “It's a gun.”

  “I can see that," Keisha retorted. “Why do you have a gun?”

  “Really?” Levi looked at her like she was stupid or something. Then he pointed at his eye. “What? You expect me to fire laser beams with my eye?”

  “What does that eye of yours even do?” Keisha retorted. “I’ve never seen you use it. Ever.”

  “And you never will.” Levi turned to Vey. “Scout the area.”

  She looked over towards the enemy direction. “The ship isn’t much of a threat; I’m getting two heavy energy signatures beside each other and minor robots around, but that shouldn't be a hassle.”

  Levi loaded up his gun.

  “Keisha, Liv, and Vey. You guys take the bigger guy…”

  “What?” Vey asked.

  “Relax, you can take him. Vey, you remain at a vantage point. Don't let them see you; you're our trump card. Once you get a clear shot, take it.”

  “Makes sense.” Vey nodded.

  “Sure thing.” Liv asked.

  “Kay.” Keisha punched the air.

  Levi looked at me. “The smaller guy looks like their boss. He's got an axe, which means…”

  “Less speed," I muttered.

  “Exactly, you'll overwhelm him with speed. I'll be your backup. Is everyone good on the plan?”

  We nodded.

  “Alright. Let's go!”