Rivals

by Derek Alan Siddoway

  The woman in the middle had a stern look chiseled on her face as she scanned the crowd without any hint of a welcome. The few small talk conversations that had picked up between the doors and the field died as the tamers spotted the woman. They filed in before her without being asked — nobody felt brave enough to incur the woman’s attention with silly questions, apparently — then stood, waiting. The woman held them under her scrutiny for another long moment until the last person filed in to the back of the group.

  Jackson glanced around at his peers and saw about twenty in all. Geography had never been his best subject but he knew the Granite Region had well over one hundred and fifty towns and cities. Maybe they were being brought in by group? Either way, he didn’t recognize anyone in the crowd — no Fiona and no Akamu.

  “Tamers, welcome to the Bronze League Training Camp for the Granite Region!” the woman barked. “My name is Coach Karen Harcriff. I’ll be one of the quality control trainers here at camp. That means I’ll be assessing you and your Djinn over the course of the next month to ensure you’ve got what it takes. There are roughly two hundred tamers who reported to this facility yesterday and today. By the time we’re finished in a month, that number will be down to twenty. That process begins tomorrow. In just a few moments, you’ll hear from our logistics coordinator, Rex. As soon as Rex is finished with you, I suggest you find your lodging, get some food and rest up. You’re going to need it.”

  CHAPTER 14

  Jackson wondered if there’d been some sort of mistake and he’d been drafted into the military — this certainly didn’t seem like a training camp, and it sure didn’t do anything for his nerves. Even so, he squared his shoulder and tried to feel brave. It didn’t matter how many other tamers were here. All that mattered was that he’d made it. And unlike last year in the Vance McAllister Invitational, he wasn’t going to blow it.

  Coach Karen Harcriff excused herself after the less-than-inspiring pep talk and another man stepped forward. He was middle-aged with a slight build and a pair of too-big glasses that amplified his eyes.

  “Greetings, new tamers,” the man said. Jackson had expected him to have a high, shaking voice, but instead it was a low baritone that sounded just as sure of itself as the Karen woman had. “I am Rex Golding — I’m in charge of camp logistics: making sure you’re where you’re supposed to be when you’re supposed to be there and with plenty of fuel and rest for you and both of your Djinn.”

  He held up his holo-watch and turned it side to side so that everyone in the semi circle around him could get a good view. “In the next few moments, I will push your welcome pack onto your holo-devices. This will show you which barrack you are assigned to and will also give you important information like where and when to go for meals, your training and assessment schedule, and any other information you need for your staff at camp. Any questions?”

  Most of the people in Jackson’s line of sight had the same Deerun-in-the-headlights look that he did. A few tamers shook their heads and some mumbling went around, but nobody said or asked anything directly.

  “All right, then,” Mr. Golding continued. “If you are in need of anything, you can also access camp resources from within the app I have sent to your devices. Remember, we want you and your Djinn in tip-top fighting shape! If you feel any type of illness at all, or if you notice any illness or injury in your Djinn, please report it immediately. During the duration of your stay at the Training Camp, you and your Djinn are insured members of the Djinn Battle League — take advantage of the excellent staff of trainers and therapists available to you and your Djinn.

  “Speaking of which, that brings me to my next point. We’ve already vetted your sponsorship — private or township — through the DBL application you were requested to complete prior to the beginning of camp. That’s how all of your individual welcome packets were delivered to the correct individual. But one item still remains — your Djinn must go through a quick bio scan to ensure they are in good health to compete and to prevent the spread of any disease throughout the camp. You might think it’s a pain in the ass now, but you’ll thank us if we uncover any cases of mange, Djinn cough, or any other maladies. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact a member of training camp staff through your holo-device. Exit through the doors behind me and you’re all set!”

  As Mr. Golding finished speaking, Jackson felt a pulse on his wrist. He looked down at his watch screen and saw a notification for a new program installation. He allowed a moment for the files to finish downloading. A couple of seconds and a beep later, a folder the size of Jackson’s hand appeared in the 3D holo-screen area above the phone. Jackson flipped through the projection with his finger, scanning the packet of documents. Realizing that most of the other tamers were already clearing out, Jackson did a quick search for the Day One Guide and located his assigned room in Barrack 4.

  The exit Mr. Golding pointed them to was on the opposite end of the fieldhouse they’d entered. Jackson saw two lines set up that went out each door. He recalled a trip he’d taken with his grandma to visit his great aunt when he’d been fourteen. They’d flown to another region for the visit, and the setup at the end of the fieldhouse reminded Jackson of the security scan at the airport. Tamers filed in to one of two lines, each of which had a small silver conveyor belt that went through a scanning machine about the size of a lunchbox. When it was their turn to proceed through, the tamers in front of Jackson pulled off their Djinn rings and set them down on the conveyor belt that ran them through the box. After a couple of whirring sounds and a few beeps, the interior of the box flashed with a green light and the next tamer followed suit. When Jackson reached the front of the line, he pulled off Asena and Scrappy’s rings and then passed to the other side of the scanner.

  “Looks like we’ve got a Lyote and a Magglecaw,” the middle-aged balding man behind the scan booth said. He gave Jackson an impressed look. “Nice work, kid. There’s not many tamers out there that could snag a Lyote with a Magglecaw.”

  “It was the other way around, actually,” Jackson said. “The Lyote was my first Djinn.”

  The man stared at him with a confused expression. “So…you had a Lyote and you went with a…Magglecaw for your second Djinn?”

  “Yeah…” Jackson felt his face flush and wondered if he’d be dealing with this on a daily basis. The fact that the Magglecaw was his second Djinn was probably one he wouldn’t have to share with everyone he met. At least not right away.

  The man blinked, and an awkward pause followed. Luckily the machine beeped and the tray with Jackson’s rings slid out. Jackson put them back on his fingers and left, hoping none of the other tamers had overheard the conversation. Jackson tried to avoid eye contact, surreptitiously watching as many tamers as possible while exiting the fieldhouse. Like him, most had their projections open with a map directing them to their assigned living quarters at camp. Jackson followed the dotted line on the small holo and soon came to one of the long, rectangular buildings located beyond the training facilities.

  As he strolled through camp, Jackson couldn’t believe the scale of buildings and the amount of wealth that had undoubtedly gone into raising the training grounds. The Granite Region camp was more like a miniature city than any type of facility. Fountains and flower arrangements filled the middle of the pathways between building and grounds. Tall, flowering trees rustled in the light breeze. Although there were hundreds of people in the area, it felt more like a quiet, advanced school campus than a proving ground for future professional tamers and their Djinn.

  After a short walk, Jackson arrived outside of the barracks marked 4 high above the double doors. The DBL didn’t allow any outside media into Training Camp, so Jackson had never seen this side of the sport before. The barracks — or, more accurately, the super expensive apartment complex — before him looked almost brand-new. Jackson guessed they conducted seasonal renovations to update building tech and it certainly showed. Even without going inside yet, he doubted any b
uilding in Tyle — including the famous Sato Breeders — had cost anywhere near this much to build.

  The double row of glass doors whisked open at his approach. Jackson found himself in a lightly air-conditioned common area complete with a variety of plush couches, tables, a few holo-game tables like pool and foosball, holo-visions, and a small kitchen area. A handful of tamers were spread throughout the living area, chatting in small groups, swiping through various apps on their watches, or watching a classic match on holo-vision. Jackson didn’t see anyone he recognized, so he made for the elevator in the middle of the long, rectangular recreation area and punched in the fourth floor.

  After a quick elevator ride up in solitude, he came to his door — 4413. Jackson held his watch up to the scan area on the handle and the lock clicked. The door swung in on its own and Jackson stepped inside the dimly-lit quarters that would be his home for the next several weeks.

  As soon as Jackson’s feet crossed the threshold, the ceiling lights came on and a room fan clicked into low gear. Instead of the cramped hotel room he’d been expecting, he found himself inside a mini townhouse. The hallway featured a closet on one side and environmental adjustment panel for heat, cold, and humidity on the other. It ended in a small living area with a couch and personal holo-projector. Continuing past that, Jackson found himself in the suite — a queen size bed, walk-in closet and bathroom, complete with a tub, shower, and full-sized sink. One thing was for certain: if his room back home was any indication of expected behavior, there was no way he’d chance letting Asena and Scrappy out together inside his living quarters.

  Jackson tossed his bag onto the bed and took a deep breath. It smelled like fresh paint, carpet, and clean linens. A smile stretched across his face as a jolt of giddy excitement passed over him. He was here! He’d been accepted as a tamer in his region’s Bronze League Training Camp! Still elated, Jackson parted the curtains and walked out onto his small balcony. The view stretched out over the fields into the endless forest beyond the camp boundary. To his left and right, he saw rows of similar balconies for the other rooms stretching in both directions of the rectangular barrack.

  After one last look around, Jackson closed the sliding door and flopped down on the bed. He sank down just the right amount and felt the smart mattress beneath him make little whirring sounds as it analyzed his posture and position to determine the firmness needed for each pressure point of his body.

  A few minutes passed and Jackson felt himself dozing off after the stressful morning. He’d almost drifted off to sleep when his mind kicked back into overdrive. Maybe he needed to double-check the schedule — was there something else going on tonight? He tried to push the thought from his mind but it had already taken hold. With a sigh, Jackson sat up in the bed and opened his welcome packet up on the watch projection. After scanning up and down the screen three times, Jackson allowed himself to relax a little. There truly was nothing else on the agenda for the day, except…

  A small note at the bottom caught Jackson’s eye. He browsed over the words and felt a stab of panic. There, in fine print at the bottom of the projection, next to an asterisk, was a line of text instructing all hometown and sponsored coaches to be available at nine that night. Jackson had no idea how far away Briggs and his favorite local bar were, but knowing his mentor, there was no way he would be back by nine. Jackson wasn’t even sure if he would be back at nine the next morning…or the following night. He read the whole page again, looking for anything that might clue him in to this strange, barely-mentioned meeting. Finding nothing, he allowed himself to relax again. Then a knock sounded at the door.

  Jackson felt tempted not to answer. He’d just barely settled in and had enough jitters for a dozen tamers. The last thing he wanted to do was get sized up by some of the competition. Although the welcome packet mentioned that each barrack would be partially scored as a team, Jackson knew better than to think they were all one big happy family. Sure, they would have to work together to succeed at some aspects of the camp, but eventually, it was every tamer for himself. The knock repeated.

  Sighing, Jackson rolled out of bed and opened the door. A woman somewhere around her forties stood in front of him, an awkward smile on her face.

  “Uh…hi?” Jackson said.

  “Hey there, it’s good to meet you,” the woman spoke in short, crisp tones that made Jackson think she must be some sort of DBL official. “My name is Avril Harcrow.”

  “Jackson Hunt.” Jackson shook the woman’s hand. At first glance, he didn’t think she was wearing anything resembling a uniform or DBL apparel in general. “So…”

  His voice trailed off but this Avril lady seemed to catch on to his confusion. “Oh, I’m not one of camp staff,” she said in the same clipped, hurried voice. “I’m one of the tamers. I’m from a fringe town on the edge of the region that typically never sponsors a tamer. I’ve always wanted to be one and finally decided to quit the legal field to see if I had what it takes.”

  “Oh, cool!” And Jackson meant it. He respected anyone willing to chase their dreams and sacrifice to do so. Even if they were old enough to be his mother. “Well, it’s good to meet you…”

  He put a hand on the side of the door — what he thought was a clear signal that he wanted to retire to his room. Avril didn’t seem to get the hint or ignored him.

  “I’ve been going around introducing myself to everyone on our floor,” she said. “A few tamers mentioned they’d be getting together in the commons downstairs. Wanna come? I think we’re going to head over to dinner after.”

  Failing to think of an excuse, Jackson found himself in the elevator down to the ground floor with Avril. The woman didn’t stop talking during their walk down the hall or the descent.

  “This is completely crazy, don’t you think? I mean, I always knew the DBL had big money — I’ve even represented some Silver League tamers before but this — this is crazy! This League generally doesn’t even make money for the DBL. It’s essentially a program meant to groom the next batch of tamers.”

  “And apparently spoil them,” Jackson said. “I know it’ll be hard going back home after this.”

  “And even that’s a part of their strategy,” Avril said. “To keep us reaching for that carrot no matter the difficulty. At least that’s what I’ve been told.”

  The elevator dinged as they reached the first floor. The common area had a handful of tamers in it now, all separated off by themselves in groups of two. They stopped and stared at Jackson and Avril as they entered, but Avril didn’t seem to mind at all. When she started talking to a tamer off by himself near a window, Jackson slid away to a nearby couch. He flipped open his Djinncyclopedia out of habit. Whenever he had a spare moment, he read through the stat sheets of all the Djinn he’d had Asena and Scrappy fight in the past. He wasn’t sure how useful the extra info would be, but he figured some of the same Djinn were bound to pop up again and wanted to be ready. That lasted for a few short seconds until Avril and the other tamer joined him on the couch. Soon all the new arrivals gathered round.

  As each one introduced themselves, Jackson tried to remember their names. In addition to Avril, there was a sort of odd dude named Miguel who hailed from the eastern part of the region. He’d been city-sponsored just like Jackson. Then there was Hayden, who had a private sponsor but wouldn’t say who. He kept up a stoic expression throughout introductions and didn’t have much to say after the conversation moved past names to speculation about camp.

  The last person in the commons was a girl around Jackson’s age named Lucia. She had a bubbly personality that Kay would’ve rolled her eyes at but seemed to know quite a bit about taming just from the first few things she said. Jackson was listening to Avril and Miguel guess about what their first day would be like in the morning when the doors to the barracks whisked open and the last person in the world Jackson expected to see at Training Camp walked in.

  CHAPTER 15

  “Well, well, well, Jacky boy — how the hell are you?
”

  Tak Rito sauntered up to Jackson, ignoring the other four tamers. He held out a grease-lined, callused hand. Jackson wasn’t sure if he should grab it and throw Tak to the ground or just punch him in the nose. Tak’s cocky smile faded when he saw the look on Jackson’s face. He lowered his hand and took a step back.

  “Whoa — good to see you too. Hey, man, nothing personal, right?”

  “You cost me and my grandma our house, Tak!” Jackson snarled. “It doesn’t get any more personal.”

  Tak shrugged. “All right, you got me there. But, for what it’s worth…sorry?”

  Jackson ground his teeth together. The only thing holding him back from pummeling Tak’s face into mush and then letting Asena fry his bloody remains was the realization he’d probably be kicked out of camp before the first day even started.

  “What are you even doing here?” Jackson asked instead.

  “I’ve gone clean, man!” Tak said with a wink that made Jackson think his old cohort was anything but. “Besides, I’ve always dabbled a little in taming on the side — when I moved out of town to Jasper, they didn’t have any applicants. I figured hey, why not me?”

  “Yeah…why not you?” Jackson muttered. He wondered how Tak had managed to bribe or cheat his way in but didn’t think he wanted to know the answer. In fact, he didn’t want to have anything to do with Tak. Aside from his friend’s betrayal that had cost Jackson all of his savings in the Underground fights — savings he had put in in hopes of paying off the bank so he could keep his house — if Tak got caught for something shady at camp, Jackson had no doubt he’d try to pin it on his old pal, Jacky boy.

  Further conversation was saved when the doors opened yet again. Jackson was torn between delight and frustration at the sight: Fiona Sato. Though he had nothing personally against her, the fact that she had come in with Vance McAllister as her sponsor wasn’t something he could easily look past without envy. She flashed an unexpected smile when she spotted Jackson — a smile that immediately turned into disgusted loathing at the sight of Tak.