by Amy DuBoff
“I’m afraid I can’t offer any insight due to the test parameters,” Wil said from behind her.
“I guess I’ll stick to what I know.” Saera picked up one of the blasters from a middle shelf. It was heavier than she remembered from class.
She aimed it toward the empty wall, testing the feel. She pictured lining up the enemy in the scope, pulling the trigger—
No, there has to be another way. I don’t want a firefight. She set the blaster back on the rack. “Never mind. Let’s go.”
Wil looked surprised, but he held out his hand to gesture for her to lead the way.
Once back outside, Saera brought up the map again. There needs to be a way through without violence. She stared at the map, confounded. They had to make it through the hostile territory one way or another. Wait, what if… “Are all of the ‘hostile territory’ indicators referring to the same enemy group?” she asked.
The corners of Wil’s mouth twitched toward a smile. “No.”
Oh, so there is a trick! “Do I have access to intelligence on which territories belong to which group?”
“Yes, that information can be provided.” Wil took the handheld from Saera and made some adjustments. The red territories broke into three different color groups: blue, green and yellow. Saera saw an open path with no hostile territory that would take them as far as the river, but they would need to cross through at least one hostile territory once they got to the other side.
“Are the territory lines firm, or is there a neutral zone along the borders?”
“The borders are firm on land.”
Saera studied the map. “And in the river?”
“Water is neutral.”
There was still no way to get to the destination coordinates using a strictly water route. “Is there a precedent for a diplomatic arrangement with any of the hostile groups?”
“The Green territory has previously granted passage through their territory.”
The Green territory wouldn’t provide the most direct route to the destination, but in conjunction with travel across the river, it was feasible. “What is the location of an appropriate representative for the Green group? I would like to request permission to pass through their territory.”
Wil appeared to be holding back a smile. “Because this is only a simulation, a console has been set up for that purpose at this location.” He illuminated a point on the map.
Saera beamed. “Then that’s where we’ll go.” She oriented the map to the landscape around her and took off up the hill. Wil followed her.
After walking for some time, Saera stopped. “May I speak to you off the record?”
“Yes.” Wil took the handheld and paused the recording, which simultaneously started a five-minute countdown clock.
“So this exam is why you had me leave so abruptly,” Saera said.
Wil relaxed, taking a step closer to her. “I’m sorry to have pushed you out like that. But, this was the only way I could guarantee you placement in the Command track. Your scores are high enough that it would all come down to this field exam. I was worried that the other Junior Agents wouldn’t take you as a serious candidate.”
“But why the late arrival today?”
“We will both need to sign affidavits at the end of this examination stating that there was no unprofessional conduct during the testing period. Let’s just say I found some loopholes with the timing so that the other night wouldn’t void my recommendation. I know it was awkward, but I needed to make sure it had been 75 hours since we last talked.”
Saera wanted to hug him, but she held back. “You did that for me?”
“I’d do a lot more than that, but, you know…. Rules.” He gave her a playful grin.
“I don’t want you making any recommendation that you don’t support. If I make it into the Command track, I want it to be because I earned it.”
“I would never have it any other way.”
Saera looked at the countdown on the recorder. “Well, there’s no reason to max out the time here. We may as well get this over with. You can resume the recording.”
Wil took the handheld and un-paused the recorder. “Recording resumed. Three off-the-record conversations remain.” He handed it back to Saera.
She checked her course on the map. “This way.”
* * *
Wil followed Saera across the forested terrain. Regardless of his feelings for her, her performance was impressive. By identifying a diplomatic workaround, Saera’s approach would save them a long walk around the perimeter of the “hostile territory.” Others would surely just take up arms at a weapons cache and fight their way through. I’ve never seen someone pick the right questions to ask so early on. She’s the kind of person I need by my side.
Saera’s navigation was accurate, and they were making excellent time over the hills. According to the map, they were in the final descent toward the river. In the distance, Wil could hear rushing water. Eventually, the trees opened up to reveal a shallow canyon with a river ten meters wide at the basin.
Saera stared at it with dismay. The river was too deep to wade across and far too wide to jump. There were no natural forms to function as a make-shift bridge. “We should be directly across from the Green territory, close to the communication console.” She looked at the water and then back at Wil. “We were instructed to use any resources at our disposal. Are you, as the tester, considered a resource?”
Where is she going with that? “Yes. I am considered a member of your team.”
“Then please create a bridge over the river.” She smiled at him.
That’s an odd request. “I can’t build you a bridge.”
“I didn’t ask you to build a bridge. I asked you to create one. Can’t you use your abilities to freeze the water or something?”
Brilliant! No one has ever asked their tester to do that before. I suppose it’s not against the rules… “Yes, I can do that.”
“Please proceed.” Saera stood aside and made a grand gesture toward the water.
She can bend the rules almost as well as me. Wil walked up to the edge of the water and sent out a small telekinetic stream toward the river. The water crystallized where he focused. “Have you ever been around unrestricted telekinesis before?”
“No more than in practice sessions.”
That was good wording on her part—no hint that it was practice sessions with me. “This is an open place, but you may still feel some pressure.” Wil focused on the water and envisioned a bridge arching just above the water’s surface over to the other bank. He pictured the beginnings of the bridge—a white glowing band of water, a meter across, spanning the width of the river. He commanded the glowing water to rise into the air, letting the river flow on beneath it. With the framework for the bridge set, he redirected the thermal energy from the water, freezing it in place.
Saera staggered back as the energy released, and she brought a hand up to her head.
“Are you okay?” Wil asked, keeping his attention on maintaining the ice bridge.
She lowered her hand. “Show off,” she said with a smirk.
“This was nothing.” She’d never be standing this close to me if she knew what I could really do.
Saera tested the bridge with her foot. “Is it safe to cross?”
“As long as I maintain the hold.”
“Then let’s get going.” She took a deep breath and stepped onto the ice bridge. It was slick, but she found her footing.
Wil followed behind, ready to catch Saera if she slipped. The bridge looked fragile under foot, but the bonds holding it together wouldn’t break until Wil released them. Water manipulation was one of the first skills Initiates would practice, and it came effortlessly to him.
Saera sighed with relief when she stepped onto solid ground on the far bank of the river.
Wil jumped off the bridge behind her. As soon as he was on the ground, he released the bridge and the ice liquefied, splashing back into the flow of the river.
Saera shook her head with wonder. “Well, that was fun! Now let’s find that console.” She consulted the map and led the way into a stand of trees.
They wove their way through the maze of trunks. It was difficult to follow a straight path, but Saera deftly compensated for every detour. It was a peaceful walk, quiet and still aside from dried leaves crunching underfoot.
Saera paused at the opening to a small clearing. “There’s the console.” In the center of the clearing, a black four-sided column was planted in the ground. The edge of a computer terminal was visible around the corner on the right side. “Wait here,” she instructed, extending the handheld toward Wil.
He grabbed it from her. She’s taking this very seriously.
Saera set down her backpack and slowly stepped into the clearing, holding her hands away from her body so they were visible. “I am here to request passage through your territory,” she said to the terminal. The terminal didn’t respond. “My intentions are peaceful.” Nothing. “May my companion and I continue on our journey?” She stared at the terminal, then glanced at Wil. “Is this thing even active?”
You just have to touch it. But this is far more entertaining. He kept his amusement to himself. “The terminal appears to be functioning properly.”
Saera studied the terminal for another moment, and then placed her hand on a glossy rectangle at chest-level.
“Authorization granted,” the terminal announced, and a memory chip popped out from a thin slit.
The color on Saera’s cheeks was visible even from a distance. “Oh.” She took the chip.
Wil gave her a reassuring smile. Better to overdo it than the other way around.
Saera jogged back to Wil and retrieved the handheld from him. She placed the memory chip in the handheld’s expansion slot. The Green territory on the map turned beige.
“Free travel is now allowed through this territory,” Wil informed her.
Saera smiled. “Let’s do this.”
The rest of the hike passed quickly. The terrain was flatter on that side of the river, and the trees were less dense the further they went. They walked in silence, hearing only the occasional bird. By the time the sun was approaching the horizon, they were nearly at the coordinates for their destination.
“It should be right up ahead,” Saera announced.
We should see something by now. “May I take a look at the map?” Wil asked.
Saera handed it to him. Sure enough, the coordinates were no more than ten meters ahead. “Hmm.”
“What is it?” She looked concerned. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No, not at all.” Maybe they put the camp underground this time so it couldn’t be spotted from a distance. “Proceed.”
Saera led the way to the exact position of the coordinates. “We’re here.”
Wil confirmed on the map. “So we are.” He looked around. Where is everyone?
“What are you looking for?”
There definitely was nothing here. Wil couldn’t sense the presence of anyone. “Anything. The end point should have someone to receive us, or at least a beacon to activate.”
The alarm was apparent on Saera’s face. “I led us to the wrong place? But the map…”
“No, it wasn’t you. Were the coordinates wrong?” They wouldn’t…
“Can you find out?”
Wil logged into the handheld and went through several layers of authorization code. It did look like something was overwritten. He dug deeper into the system memory and found a data archive from immediately before the examination commenced. “I can’t believe it.”
“What?”
Wil shook his head. That bastard. “Trintar, that Junior Agent distributing the handhelds, changed the coordinates when he handed it to me.”
Saera looked ill. “What does that mean for the exam, exactly?”
“You did everything correctly. As far as I’m concerned, you have completed the assignment. You navigated to the coordinates given to you.” And I won’t let someone’s issues with me screw up this evaluation.
“Why would he do that?” Wil looked at the recorder. “Off the record,” Saera added.
Wil paused the recording. Did I have this coming? “That day I came into your study room, and you asked me if I was hiding from someone? Well, I had just presented my design for the independent jump drive. Trintar was the head of the reigning champion team. Unfortunately, that was just the start of a string of failures for him, and it would seem that he has come to resent me. It’s stupid for him to take out his frustration in this way, but here we are.”
Saera bit her lower lip and took a breath. “Where does that leave us exactly?”
“Resuming recording.” Wil un-paused the recording and showed Saera the map. “Two off-the-record conversations remain. Here are the real coordinates.” The destination was seven kilometers to the west, on the other side of a jagged hill. “Let the record show that from this point forward we are outside the parameters of the examination,” Wil stated. “But, since the exam hasn’t officially concluded, you are still in charge. How shall we proceed?”
Saera looked lost for a moment but gathered herself. “We are outside of hostile territory, so we should stay here. It’s about to get dark, and I’d rather stay here where we know it’s safe than try to negotiate those cliffs at night.”
“Recommendation confirmed.” This will make for an interesting report.
“Will they come looking for us?”
“I honestly don’t know.” An extraction might void the test, but it’s a risk to leave us planetside overnight. Especially given how protective they are of me. But how far will they go?
“Well, let’s just proceed like we’ll be here for the night. Do you know how cold it gets here?” Saera looked up at the clear sky.
“Not below freezing. We’ll be fine outside with a fire.” Spending the night outside—this will be a first.
Saera took a breath. “Okay. I saw a clearing with some rocks back the way we came. I think it would make a good campsite.”
“Lead the way.” Keep it together, this is still a test. It’s just one night… under the stars next to a campfire, left with no choice but to huddle together for warmth… Wil swallowed.
The campsite Saera had identified was serviceable, with a cluster of boulders to provide shelter and a clear area to safely build a fire. They gathered firewood, and Wil started a blaze as dusk set in. Knowing that the recorder was still running, they engaged in idle small-talk while eating some rations from their backpacks for dinner. The evening wore on, and the temperature dropped under the clear sky. They retrieved some emergency blankets from their backpacks.
Wil compulsively checked the temperature on his personal handheld, but it remained above 5 degrees. Just a little colder and we don’t need to stay apart like this.
“So, you said Agent Katz was your mom’s roommate when they first joined the TSS?” Saera asked, changing the subject from the tedious discussion of Saera’s introductory class on Taran politics.
Wil grinned. “Oh yeah, they go way back. And Wincowski and my father were roommates, too.”
“Oh really? I guess that makes sense. I got the impression they were buddies.”
“They are. They’ve been through a lot together.”
She looked at him thoughtfully. “So, the other TSS Agents are probably like family to you.”
Wil nodded. “They really are. I’ve never had a life outside the TSS. Though I’ve met some of my extended family, I don’t know them. As strange as it is, Headquarters will always be ‘home’ to me, no matter where I end up living. The halls, the freefall chambers—those were my neighborhood, my playground. Being here on a planet with real gravity, fresh air… it feels strange to me.”
“And those are things I just take for granted.” Saera stared into the fire. “I can’t imagine what it must have been like growing up the way you did. Did you ever have a chance to just be a kid?”
I barely ev
en know what that means. “I was trained in combat techniques since I was old enough to walk. My bedtime reading was on military strategy. I officially entered the TSS when I was twelve, and by that time I’d already completed my first dissertation on applied astrophysics. It’s only recently that I’ve slowed down enough to recognize everything that I missed along the way.”
“Do you ever regret not taking time for yourself?”
“How could I? Regret is for when you had an alternate choice. For me, things couldn’t have been any different.” Wil checked his handheld again. Finally! “It has dropped below 5 degrees. You can join me over here to stay warm, if you like.” Wil patted the ground next to him.
Saera hesitated, but then crawled over. “It is getting pretty chilly.” She sat down immediately next to Wil, and they adjusted their blankets. After a moment, Wil brought his arm around her shoulders, and Saera leaned her head on his chest. “That’s much better.”
Her warmth was comforting and she fit perfectly in his arms. Wil wanted nothing more than to stroke her hair and hold her close, but he resisted. This is still a test. Just a few more days and you won’t need to hold back any more.
“You can still make your own future,” Saera said.
“Some of it, perhaps.” Maybe, just enough.
They sat quietly together, enjoying the time away from the demands and stress of everyday life. This was perhaps the best gift Trintar could have given me, Wil thought in retrospect. He checked the time on his handheld. “It’s 22:00 now. We should probably get to sleep.”
Saera looked up at him with questioning eyes.
“We should stay close. It will only get colder as the night goes on.”
Saera smiled at the affirmative answer to her unspoken question, and stretched out on the ground between Wil and the fire.
Wil kept his back to the rock he had been leaning against and lay down next to Saera with her back pressed against him. His body wanted to respond to her every movement as she struggled to get comfortable on the lumpy ground, but he confined the reactions to his mind. If only every night could be like this. Basking in the warmth of the fire and the soft light of the stars, he drifted off to untroubled sleep.