“No, just leave it.”
“Okay,” Kia said, letting it go.
When Desh got back to his room, he lay back on his bed, scrolling through the computer at the foot of it. He used a flexible casing on his finger, with sensors on the tip to slide or click his commands. “Come on,” Desh said under his breath while he scanned the Federation News. “Where are you?”
He froze the screen and double clicked on a news report, prompting a Lucian female to start talking into his earpiece.
“Another Eminite commander was assassinated today, after leading an attack on the Agrinathia planet. Witnesses say an unidentified Mindeerian female was seen leaving the battlefield, though the Agrinathians insist that the Mindeerians were not helping them in the war. Both the Eminites and the Agrinathians are asking for the identity of the woman, as it still remains unknown…”
Desh grinned at the picture of a silhouette of a woman, which the reporter displayed next to her during the report. He turned the news off to show a blank white screen that projected one thing, “21.” Desh traced the number “1” with his finger, erasing it. He double tapped on the screen prompting a list of commands to appear. He tapped on “Draw” and clicked out of the command menu, then wrote a “0” next to the “2” with his finger. He stared at the number, “20.” Thinking. Calculating. Waiting for the day when he could change it to “19.”
“Soon, Brother,” Kia said, watching Desh.
Desh nodded. “Come on, let’s play again.”
Kia got up and turned Desh’s desk sideways, tapping on a square screen that lay flat on the desktop. It illuminated a hologram display above it that read, “Battle of the Species - War Games.”
They sat down as a woman’s voice resonated from the screen. “Choose your fighters.”
“Eminites and Aranea,” Kia said, prompting a hologram Eminite and Aranea to hover above the screen.
“Mindeerians and Torans,” Desh said, playing the game they would play until the number on Desh’s screen read, “0.”
CHAPTER 15
Allies
The boys’ dorm was full of excitement as the students prepared for another game of BOTS. Most of the students ran out the doors to get good seats, while a handful of First Years stayed to change into their combat suits.
Desh dressed for battle while his roommates, Kia, Etienne, and Grus, ignored the commotion outside, not as excited as the others for the game. Desh looked over at Kia who was at his desk, watching an intergalactic battle game on his tablet.
“Are you going to fight?” Desh asked.
“I don’t know,” Kia said, not sounding very enthusiastic about the idea. “I don’t want to fight with some random partner who’s going to get my wings blown off.” Kia thought about it a second and turned to Grus. “Hey Grus, you got a partner for the battle?” Kia asked.
Grus shook his big green head.
“You want to fight with me?” Kia asked.
Grus smiled. “Yeah, yeah, would like to battle with you, Kia.”
“Good, get your suit on. Ava, sign Grus and I up for today’s game,” Kia said, getting up.
Etienne sat on his bed designing a new robot on his tablet when a pair of large pants was thrown at his head. He took the pants off and saw Grus throwing clothes out from the drawer under his bed, scattering oversized uniforms around the room.
After the last battle, Grus had buried his battle suit deep down, not wanting to remember the experience. He hadn’t felt like battling if it meant that he would just be fighting with another partner who would make him feel even more alone than he already did. Kia was different. Kia wouldn’t leave a partner behind. Grus found his suit and put it on. He got one leg halfway in before he realized he had yet to take off his school uniform. He yanked his leg back out and stripped.
“I don't think I've ever seen a Zorgre so excited,” Desh said to Kia, smiling.
In another part of the dorm, Dylan and Renn were both changing into their simulation suits, and Renn looked over at Leo, who once again watched them get ready, unable to hide his frown.
“Leo, get ready,” Renn said. “You gotta come with us.”
“Renn, you know I'll get sick,” Leo said. “I'm sorry guys, I just don't want to spend another night in the medical bay.”
“That's okay, Buddy. We'll tell you all about it,” Dylan said.
“We won't have to,” Renn said with a sly grin. He walked over to the closet and pulled out a white suit with a thick gel lining. “I made you something. Now, I'm no tailor, so it might not fit right, but it should do the trick,” Renn continued, handing it to Leo.
Leo squished the gel lining. “It's cold!” he said bursting with excitement.
“Pfff, it's freezing! I just about got frostbite making it. It's made with Prodlinhide. Prodlins are nasty animals, but their hide is usually used for keeping things cold like medicine, organs, and well, codfish,” Renn said with a laugh. “I thought, if it can keep fish cold, it can keep you cold. Try it.”
“Would you mind telling me how you know how to sew?” Dylan asked grinning.
“It's an Earth thing,” Renn said. “In school, we had to learn everything we needed to survive on our own. Grow our own food, sew our own clothes, and build our own houses, that kind of thing. It's mandatory in schools on Earth.”
“Oh,” Dylan said, disappointed. Practicality never was a good source material for jokes.
Leo separated the suit. It came with a jacket, pants, boots, gloves and a cap. He put them on, feeling as cool as if he were lying on his bed of ice. After he finished getting dressed, the only thing visible was his translucent face. “It's like being on Crystalline,” Leo said. “It's amazing. Thank you!”
“No problem,” Renn said. “I was thinking, if it works, maybe you could give it to other Crystallians. You know, the ones who want to go to other planets.”
They all scrambled out of the room, running to the simulation room. “Who’s your partner?” Renn asked Dylan on the way.
“I don’t know. I put myself in the system, for a partner. I hope I don’t get Ivan. I’m so not in the mood to hear how he can do everything better than everyone else,” he replied.
They walked into the simulation room and parted with Leo who went up into the stands. Leo smiled and sat down next to the warm-blooded creatures, for once not having to worry about their warmth killing him. The students next to him scooted away, shivering from the sudden temperature change. Leo found himself rather isolated, but continued smiling from ear to ear nonetheless. Nothing could ruin the moment for him.
Renn and Desh waited in the holding tank, occasionally glancing at each other, but avoiding eye contact as best they could. They had to wait five games before their names came up and they began stretching while “Terminated” was stamped over Dylan and Sargus’ photos from the previous game.
Dylan walked up to Renn in the holding tank. “All right, so, you're fighting against a Zeanup,” Dylan said, while Renn unfastened Dylan’s shoulder pads. “Don't bother shooting if you don't think you can kill them, because they’ll just re-heal and you’ve let them know that you’re now trying to kill them.”
“Gotcha,” Renn said.
Lux came up behind them, having already changed back into her uniform.
“We'll be up in the stands. Knock 'em dead,” Dylan said.
“Thanks, man,” Renn said.
Lux and Dylan walked up to the stands and sat next to Leo. “Thanks for saving us seats,” Dylan said, looking around.
“What?” Leo asked, confused.
Renn and Desh were announced, fighting against Pacus, a female Janiun they had in their physics class, whom everyone liked, and Ulrich 71, a snotty male Zeanup, whom only Pacus seemed to be able to stand.
“The planet is Elnot,” Ava announced on level one.
Renn was sure he knew enough about Elnot to survive, having just studied one of the species in species class, and knew there was a species called Noycans, that illuminated and
were very docile. He just didn’t know how many species on Elnot could illuminate. Earth only had a handful, mainly fish and insects, but the majority of species on Mindeere had some type of glow to them.
The battlefield changed to a green swamp-like planet. Renn looked up through the trees and could see light trying to shine through, but the trees were so thick, he was grateful for the white swamp water that lit up its surroundings. Ava’s scoreboard hid itself in one of the trees, enough for the boys to see it, but not enough to create more light.
“Fighters, prepare,” Ava said.
Desh and Renn glanced at each other, nodding, neither too excited to be fighting with the other.
“The game will begin in five, four, three, two, one,” Ava said, prompting swamp water to begin moving and creating ripples that glimmered light all around.
The Noycans were easy to spot approaching in the dimly lit area and Desh and Renn lifted their hands to wave.
A Noycan nodded acknowledgement and Renn looked up to see Ava award them 200 points for identifying the species as benign. The Noycan stopped walking towards them, looked to his left, then back to Desh and Renn.
All right, here we go, Desh projected. He motioned for the Noycan to go the other way and headed in the direction the Noycan had looked.
Renn followed close behind, picking up a branch off the ground, and carrying it with him.
Desh stopped behind a tree, motioning to his ear.
Renn listened and could hear thoughts, but couldn’t recognize the language.
There are two of them, Desh projected. We’ll jump them and take them down at the same time.
Renn could have sworn he heard three. Renn shook his head. There are three.
No there aren’t, Desh replied, clearly irritated. Come on, get it together. Let’s charge, on the count of three.
No! Who made you captain? Renn asked, regretting his choice of words the second he projected it. He knew that was a sore spot for Desh and didn’t mean to hit below the belt. I didn’t mean…I meant… he began before Desh cut him off.
You know what, do whatever you want, Desh projected, ignoring Renn from then on. He walked around, until lowering himself behind a fallen tree.
Renn heard one of the voices move and then realized that there were indeed two. He closed his eyes, kicking himself. When he opened them again, Desh was gone and thumping could be heard on the other side of log.
Renn charged, finding Desh hitting a large brown creature that looked like a fanatical canine covered in moss, blending in well with its surroundings when it wasn’t moving.
“Get this Bayton off me!” Desh yelled as a second canine gnawed at his leg.
Renn ran up, hitting the Bayton away. He looked up at the scoreboard. They only had 900 points, having to earn a hundred more before they could even consider eliminating the pain.
The Bayton tackled Renn, causing him to lose his grip on the branch. He wrestled with the beast, trying to keep its snapping teeth away from his face. The animal had him pinned down and he could see Desh hitting his own attacker over and over with a rock.
Renn put his knees up, squeezing them underneath the Bayton, and then got his feet to its chest. He kicked as hard as he could, sending the animal flying. He took off running, glancing back to make sure it was following him and not ganging up on his brother. It was one thing to leave Desh alone; it was another to leave him alone outnumbered.
Renn ran towards the swamp, where there was more light, but the Bayton was closing in on him. He was almost to the swamp when the canine jumped, landing on Renn’s back. Renn took advantage of the beast’s momentum, grabbed hold of it and pulled it over his shoulder and into the water.
Let’s see if it can breathe white swamp water, Renn thought. He took the Bayton’s face, stuffing it into the shiny white liquid. He threw himself on top of it to stop it from moving and breaking its head free. While he struggled with it, he heard splashing and looked up to see Pacus and Ulrich run into the water.
Two Baytons ran to the base of the swamp, but stopped at the water’s edge. Pacus and Ulrich just stood there, waiting it out until the five minutes were over.
Ah crap, was that all we had to do? Renn thought while his Bayton stopped moving. He threw the lifeless beast into the swamp and turned back for Desh, but found him leaning against a tree, watching.
His legs were covered with bloody scrapes and gashes and the look on his face told Renn that he blamed him for it. They had the choice to keep looking for more threats or to wait out the remaining minute and fifteen seconds till the level was over, choosing the latter to conserve energy for the next level.
Renn looked up to the scoreboard and saw that they were up to 2,250 points against Pacus and Ulrich’s 500. His eyebrows rose at the small amount of points the other team received for running away as opposed to fighting.
The players found themselves back in the empty arena when the swamp disappeared along with their scrapes and bruises.
“Players have advanced to level two,” Ava announced, causing the crowd to cheer and stamp their feet.
Desh was still sulking when level two began, no longer willing to acknowledge Renn’s presence.
Renn still felt like walking up to him and apologizing, but didn’t want his brother to misunderstand what he was apologizing for. There was still so much Renn was angry and confused about. If Renn’s prophecies were to be trusted, Desh was still going to kill him.
Ava announced the planet as Clyness.
Renn and Desh tried to remember the story Professor Zaneer had told Remi about which species to kill on Clyness. “Don’t kill the one that growls,” was all either could remember.
A village in a forest ascended with huts and little hairy men frozen in animation. They looked rather ape-like, except their facial features were shaped more like toads than apes.
Renn looked around and realized Desh had walked off, fully prepared to fight each battle alone.
“They're not working together,” Lux said, watching from the stands.
“Oh gawd, they're gonna die,” Leo said, throwing up his arms in defeat.
“No, they've got this,” Dylan said, focusing on the game.
“Fighters, choose your weapons,” Ava beckoned.
Renn didn’t need to ask Desh which he wanted to use, since Mindeerians always chose the electricity blasts as their primary weapon. The Zeanup and the Janiun chose laser guns, wherever they were, but at the last minute chose a snake antidote as an accessory. Renn tried to request it as well, assuming they knew something he didn’t, but they had waited till the last second for good reason. Once Ava started the countdown, it was too late to add. Be on the lookout for poisonous snakes, Renn noted.
“The game will begin in five, four, three, two, one.”
The hairy men walked around the village as Renn kept an eye out for Tolx, Picrognas, and Zekrians. He walked towards the forest, thinking the dangerous species would be deeper in, but the bustling village fell silent. Renn slowly turned around, looking at the ape-like men staring at him.
Oh gawd, Renn thought, realizing why he was the only one there. The little hairy men took out large knives and charged him. Renn put up his hands, showering them with lightning blasts, then ran towards the trees as fast as he could.
He could have sworn he caught a glimpse of Desh hiding behind a bush near the village, but didn’t have time to check. He continued running through the forest, with the sound of angry voices following close behind.
Renn ran for four minutes and fifty seconds until the level was over, making it to the third level alive, but out of breath and energy. When the level descended into the floor, Renn could see that Desh had indeed hidden near the village and forest border.
“Seriously?” Renn said to Desh.
“Hey, don’t snap at me if I tell you what to do and then snap at me if I don’t,” Desh replied. “Make a decision. You’re driving me crazy.”
All right, Renn thought. I might have deserved that.
The brothers looked up at their score and saw that they were now 2,000 points behind Pacus and Ulrich who had climbed up into the trees and slaughtered dozens of the mean, hairy men. They then received extra points for giving themselves antidotes when Othaler tree snakes bit them.
“Okay, I’ll give,” Renn said. “I’ll follow your lead.”
“Really?” Desh asked, with a distrustful glance.
“Yeah. Really.”
“This’ll be interesting,” Desh mumbled.
“Players have advanced to level three,” Ava said.
Renn stood closer to Desh, ready to trust him and see where it took him.
“The planet is Pathalion,” Ava announced.
Slabs of gray stone rose high into the air from every direction and the fighters found themselves in a large maze of chiseled rock formations, which went on as far as the eye could see. The sky was a beautiful blue-gray, with a massive moon that filled half the sky.
“Fighters, prepare.”
The fighters looked at the board, which displayed a variety of beetles, millipedes, and slugs.
“We’re fighting insects?” Renn asked.
“Insects can be just as deadly as anything else.”
“Still seems kind of easy.”
“Does it?” Desh replied. “Look at the gravity.”
Renn looked back up to read the gravity as 4.30771 m / s2. “Oh gawd. We can’t walk on the planet,” he said.
“Fighters, choose your weapons,” Ava announced.
Desh chose an Albright Sap gun and told Renn to choose a Splevites gun.
Renn obliged despite having no clue what either gun was, but comforted in the thought that he still had his lightning blasts to fall back on. “Can you tell me what we're doing?” he asked.
“When I shoot something, you shoot it again after I'm done,” Desh replied.
“Okay...” Renn said, taking a deep breath and trying for once to take a leap of faith.
“The game will begin in five, four, three, two, one.”
On “one,” they began floating, and grabbed onto the slabs of stone with their free hands.
Renn almost dropped the gun when he got the feeling that something alive was moving inside of it.
Galileo (Battle of the Species) Page 26
