“I think we should wait,” I say. “Hopefully, he’ll be better when we’re back this fall for our next tour.”
“Sounds like the right choice. And anyhow, Gedney mentioned something about the winning pod taking the first free-bound before we even left for the Paleo Planet.” Waters’s smile tells me we’re not in trouble for breaking into the cellblock.
“I wish things were different, Jasper,” he continues. “You kids shouldn’t have to bear this burden. And it’s only going to get worse. When you return for your next tour of duty, the situation will have escalated. And your responsibilities will be greater. I’m glad this tour is ending. You need a break. We all need a break.”
I’m only half listening. My mind has leaped ahead. I’m on the launch platform, running to hug Mom and Dad, finally seeing Addy, taking a bite of a chocolate chip cookie.
Waters shakes my shoulder. “Did you hear me?”
“Huh?”
He laughs. “I said get some rest. Tomorrow you’re heading home.”
25
“HE’S WAKING UP!” LUCY SHOUTS AS she runs into the mess hall with Mira. All morning we’ve been taking shifts sitting with Marco. First we switched off packing. Cole and I shoved Marco’s stuff into his duffels after we’d stowed away our own. Then the girls had an early breakfast while we kept watch. They came to relieve us not too long ago. I shovel a last bite of waffles into my mouth and take off for the med room.
Sure enough, Marco is sitting up in bed when we enter. His leg is still suspended, but the head bandage is off. Aside from a nasty bruise, he doesn’t look that bad.
When we walk in, he raises his hand in the air for a high five. “Ace, I heard about your jump off the spaceship. You really are the Red Baron!”
I smile and slap his palm. “I’m glad you’re okay, dude. You had me worried. That was one extreme kamikaze mission.”
“It worked out, right? I mean, we’re here. This isn’t a repeat of the Incident at Bounding Base 51.”
“Actually,” Cole says, “since this conflict involves the same parties, it has a lot of similarities to the Incident at Bounding Base 51.”
Lucy laughs. “Yeah, with the key difference being our atoms aren’t adrift in space.” She gives Marco a gentle hug. “Happy you’re safe, Marco.”
“Happy we’re all safe,” he says. “I got lucky. My leg is broken, but that’s it. Some of the Bounders are a lot worse off.” His voice grows soft. “And two of the Tunnelers didn’t make it.”
“Is Charkeera okay?” Lucy asks. “I heard she was hit by a boulder.”
Marco shakes his head.
Whoa. Charkeera was killed. I don’t even know what to think.
Mira covers her face with her hands.
Lucy crosses her arms against her chest. “I hate those horrible aliens.”
“The Youli,” I say.
“What?” Cole asks.
“That’s what they’re called. The Youli.”
“What kind of ridiculous name is that?” Marco asks.
I shrug. “I think it suits them.”
One of the doctors rolls a wheelchair alongside Marco’s bed. “Can you kids take him down to the closing ceremony?”
I grin at Marco. “Definitely.”
“I don’t trust the two of you with that chair for a second,” Lucy says. “I’ll push.”
“Fine,” I say.
The doctor helps Marco into the wheelchair, and we walk as a pod to the lecture hall. By the time we arrive, the hall is brimming with cadets, aeronauts, and other Earth Force officers. Ryan waves us over. He saved seats near the front. Lucy parks Marco’s wheelchair at the edge of the row, and the rest of us get settled in our chairs.
“Admiral on deck!” Ridders shouts from the front stage.
As the honor guard escorts Admiral Eames to the podium, we all stand at attention. All of us except Marco, that is. I bet he’s secretly happy he has an excuse for defying military decorum.
“At ease,” she says. “Bounders, this is a momentous day—more momentous, perhaps, than your induction into Earth Force—for today we acknowledge the magnitude of your coming contributions to your planet and its defense.”
Here we go. Is she going to disclose the true purpose behind the Bounder Baby Breeding Program? Operation Ultio?
“These are perilous times for Earth,” she continues. “These aliens—who we’ve learned are called the Youli—seek to destroy us. But you, Bounders . . . you have stared at the face of our enemy, and you did not cower. You have what it takes to defend your planet. In you, the Youli have met their match. Today we celebrate your first victory in battle!”
The admiral claps, and cadets leap to their feet, peppering the air with hoots and whistles. When the Earth Force officers join in, our pod stands. Even Marco knows to clap. Waters and Gedney slowly rise.
All this feels false, like it’s just another piece of Earth Force’s grand propaganda machine. How come everyone is so jazzed about fighting a bunch of aliens? Why did the admiral imply that Earth Force just found out about the Youli? And why did she call the battle a victory? That’s not exactly how I remember it. I catch Marco’s eye, and he shakes his head.
“In a few months,” the admiral says, “you will return for your second tour of duty. Be prepared. Your training will intensify. Your obligations will increase. You may again be called to defend your planet. Make no mistake, defending Earth is your birthright.”
No joke. We were bred to be soldiers. We were literally born to fight the Youli.
The admiral scans the audience, making eye contact with each cadet. When her eyes reach mine, I hold her gaze. She spreads her arms wide. “Be safe. Be well. We will see you soon.”
She gives the podium to Ridders, who reviews our confidentiality obligations and mentions that the first free-bound will be deferred to the second tour. Then each pod leader says a few words about what a great success the first tour of duty was. Waters is grumpy but brief, which is good because all the cadets care about is saying their good-byes and boarding the craft for home.
Finally Florine takes the podium. No one is too interested in what she has to say. I can hardly hear her above the chatter in the lecture hall.
“Quiet!” The microphone screeches with feedback from her scream. “Quiet, puh-leeeze.” She smooths her black suit and adjusts her sunglasses. “The EarthBound Academy is off to a successful start. And we owe a lot to you, Bounders. However, we owe even more to our aeronauts who taught you everything you know.”
Uh, yeah, sure. Sheek was teaching us an awful lot when he hid in the hover during the battle.
“Don’t forget to tune in to the next episode of Chic with Sheek on EFAN,” she continues. “The special guest will be none other than your Director of Bounder Affairs, herself. Me! Isn’t that right, Sheek?” She flashes her teeth at him across the lecture hall.
I bet she’s blackmailing Sheek into featuring her on his show. She’ll stay quiet about the battle in exchange for a guest spot. If there’s one person from the EarthBound Academy who I won’t miss, it’s Florine Statton.
“If you can make your way to the passenger craft,” she says, “your belongings have been loaded, and we are ready to depart.”
Now those are the words we’ve been waiting to hear. I take the handles of Marco’s wheelchair and race up the aisle. We’re outta here!
As soon as the captain disengages FTL on our flight home to Earth, the plebes come through the aisles, collecting our gloves.
“Can’t say I’m sad to see these go for a while,” Marco says. He sits beside us in the aisle, his foot elevated on his wheelchair.
“I am,” Cole says. “I would have liked a chance to practice before our next tour.”
“You’re fine,” I say. “You bounded, remember? That’s more than most of these clowns can say.” I look at Regis. He’s on the other side of the craft, entertaining his groupies with some riveting tale. Probably a lie. “Just enjoy the break.”
�
��You know what I’m going to do on break?” Lucy says. “I’ve got it all planned. First I’m going shopping with my friends. I have to get caught up on everything I missed while I was gone. Then I’m going for a manicure. Florine shared the name of her favorite pink polish. I’m no fan of Florine, but she has great taste in cosmetics. And then I’ve got to call my acting coach and try to hit a few auditions. You never know . . .”
Cole rolls his eyes. I laugh. A lot has changed, but a lot hasn’t.
“Look!” Marco says. Out the front window, Earth comes into view.
Seeing Earth from space on the day we left for the Academy was probably the coolest thing I’ve ever done. But somehow it’s even more powerful now on the trip home. I know our planet is threatened; I hadn’t known that then. And I know I have to defend it. I have no choice about that. It’s what I was born to do. But it’s a job I would have accepted on my own, even with all the Earth Force secrets.
As the craft touches down at the Earth Force Aeronautical Port, I try to spot my family in the crowd. I think I see Addy jumping up and down, but I can’t be sure. It’s hard to see out. Everyone is trying to find their families. I’m not the only one relieved to be home.
As soon as the clearance bell sounds, Mira leaps from her seat and slips to the front of the line. So much for good-byes. Before she steps off the craft, she spins. For a split second her eyes find mine, then she twirls back around and is gone. In my mind I see her dancing in her blue tank top and silver chain, just like the day we left for the EarthBound Academy.
As we wait to disembark, Marco grabs my arm from his wheelchair. “Ace, I’ll catch you on the next tour. Be ready for some blast pack races.”
I shake Marco’s hand, and he pulls me down for a hug. “You, too, Wiki,” he says to Cole, dragging him into an awkward three-way hug. Hugs aren’t Cole’s thing.
Lucy kisses me on the cheek. “Don’t do anything silly, Jasper. You know, like throw yourself in front of a herd of charging wildeboars. We’re counting on you.”
“Good-bye, Lucy,” I say. “I’m sure your friends will be psyched to have you back.”
“Oh, they will,” she says, stepping behind Marco’s wheelchair to push him off the craft.
As we inch to the front, I can see the tarmac. Was it only six weeks ago we stood there, waiting to board?
Cole and I fall in line together. “I can’t believe it’s over,” I say.
“I know what you mean.”
When we reach the door to the craft, Cole turns to me. “Your sister was right.”
“What?”
“She said we’d make good first friends.”
“You heard that?”
“I don’t miss much,” Cole says.
We step onto the ramp. I was right. It was Addy who I saw before. She’s jumping up and down, waving her arms. She says something to my parents, and then they’re all waving.
I probably imagine it, but I swear I can hear Addy’s voice in my mind.
I’m so happy you’re home, Jasper!
Me too, Addy. Me too.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My name may be on the cover, but a whole team of people helped make Bounders a book. I owe deep gratitude to many.
Thank you to my agent, David Dunton, who plucked Bounders out of the slush pile and found us the perfect home.
A huge heaping of gratitude goes to my supremely talented editor, Michael Strother. Michael’s enthusiasm is contagious, his confidence in me is inspiring, and his vision for Bounders was spot-on.
Big thanks to the whole Simon & Schuster/Aladdin team for helping take Bounders from acquisition table to bookshelf, including Mara Anastas, Jon Anderson, Mary Marotta, Fiona Simpson, Lucille Rettino, Carolyn Swerdloff, Teresa Ronquillo, Tara Grieco, Anthony Parisi, Candace Greene McManus, Betsy Bloom, Michelle Leo, Christina Pecorale, Victor Iannone, Rio Cortez, Danielle Esposito, Karin Paprocki, Kayley Hoffman, and Ksenia Winnicki.
I am so grateful for my cover illustrator, Antonio Caparo, whose amazing art truly brought my imagination to life.
Thank you to all my writer friends who have helped in so many ways, through critiquing, beta reading, advice giving, and more. A special shout-out to Debbie Blackington, Julia Flaherty, Erin Fletcher, David Learned, Jen Malone, Lisa Rehfuss, Marilyn Salerno, Melissa Schorr, Neely Simpson, Carissa Taylor, the Yahoo YA/MG Writers Group, the Davis Square Crepes Crew, and the Sweet Sixteens.
An incredible group of young readers gave feedback on Bounders before it was acquired. Many thanks to Ella Benjamin, Hannah Dunton, Lillian Gates, Jenna Stowell, Joey Stowell, and Nathan Tesler.
A big cheer goes out to my fabulous friends who get me away from my computer screen, especially Nicole Benjamin, Paula Drake, Liz Fuller, and Joe Stowell who all indulged me in many conversations about Bounders and the publication process.
I am blessed with a supportive extended family. Many thanks to my parents, Lynne and Richard Swanson, and to the rest of the Swanson, Ogden, Tesler, and Anderson families.
Finally, the biggest bucket of gratitude goes out to the three guys who keep me going: Jamey, Nathan, and Gabriel. I love and appreciate you so much. Thank you for sticking by my side on this wild ride.
Nathan, my firstborn and first reader, you are a delight and an inspiration. This book is for you.
PHOTO BY CARRIE SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY
MONICA TESLER lives in a coastal community south of Boston with her husband and their two boys. She earned her bachelor and law degrees from the University of Michigan, and she has worked as an attorney for more than fifteen years. She writes on the commuter boat, in coffee shops, and at her kitchen table. She tries to meditate every day but often ends up fantasizing about space, time travel, or strange lands, both real and imagined.
ALADDIN
SIMON & SCHUSTER, NEW YORK
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authors.simonandschuster.com/Monica-Tesler
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ALADDIN
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First Aladdin hardcover edition January 2016
Text copyright © 2016 by Monica Tesler
Jacket illustration copyright © 2016 by Antonio Javier Caparo
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Jacket designed by Karin Paprocki
Interior designed by Mike Rosamilia
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This title has been cataloged with the Library of Congress.
ISBN 978-1-4814-4593-1 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4814-4595-5 (eBook)
Monica Tesler, Bounders
Bounders Page 25