Max stood as the head teachers called out the three new teams. He exhaled with a groan at the mention of working in a team. He never was good at working with other people in such a big group.
The first two groups of five were called out. The teams were a mixture of all three schools; it wasn’t just a school-on-school event any more.
Max slouched over to the last remaining students; three boys and one girl. His attention turned to the young woman standing next to a red-haired boy, whom Max assumed were schoolmates.
A cough from the microphone drew everyone’s attention to the stage as Alexander stood.
“Welcome to this fine day of the second Assessment. All you students have been split into three different teams, which will utilise teamwork until the very last Assessment. The placings from this Assessment will determine how many Elite students will participate in the final event.
The objective is to retrieve a flag that has been well hidden in your selected environment,” said Alexander.
Max looked at the screen above Alexander. Three different locations were highlighted.
“Let’s select the first team’s environment,” called Alexander and the crowd responded with a roar.
A representative of the first team joined the Head Master on stage.
“What is the name of your team?” he questioned.
“Force Tight,” she replied.
“Well, Force Tight select your environment,” he said indicating a button.
She pressed the button and watched as the screen cycled through the three environments.
“Ocean,” said Alexander to loud applause.
“Bugger. That’s the best one,” said the young girl in Max’s team.
Max wagged his head in disagreement; there was one choice that he knew he must have.
A young man joined the Head Master on stage and the crowed awaited his team’s name.
“CC, please,” he answered.
“What does that stand for, young man?”
“Crusaders Club!” he yelled, with one finger held high. The crowd erupted in laughter as a big grin settled on his face. The Head Master nudged him over to the button and he pushed it with no hesitation, looking up to the screen with the crowd.
“Sand Dunes,” he called out.
“That means…”
“Momentum!” yelled Maximus, quieting the crowd.
“That means Momentum has the forest.”
The crowd erupted with applause for the last time. Max could feel his teammates’ eyes on the back of his head. He had made the choice of name without consulting them. He coughed and shuffled his feet.
Alex was saying: “Teams will be placed by timings; all teams are to get their flags as fast as they can. Good luck and remember - teamwork is key,” this last remark directed at Max as he caught his eye.
Alex nodded to the staff and sufficient food and water supplies were given to the teams.
“You have ten minutes to prepare,” ordered Alexander.
Max turned to the group. The red-haired boy was busy talking to the girl while the other two looked over the crowd, seemingly uninterested in the task at hand.
“Maximus,” said Hilary, tapping him on the shoulder. He turned to her and the task no longer mattered.
“You came,” he replied with a huge smile that made Hilary grin.
“Of course I did, just to say good luck,” she replied, drawing close. Normally in this situation, Max would freeze completely, but this time he had no hesitation in returning the warm hug.
“Please don’t come last. Jonny is in the Elite group fighting against that team,” she warned.
“He doesn’t scare me,” replied Max, thinking about the revenge he still owed him.
“Well, he should. He’s angry and he won’t hold back if it was you standing in front of him.”
“Why is he angry?”
“I told him I like someone else,” she admitted, turning a light pink.
“About time,” said Max, his mind in turmoil.
“Sorry, Hilary, you have to beat it,” said Stuart, pushing his way in to Momentum.
She waved her goodbye, and Max lightly thumped Stuart for interrupting.
The ring of the bell set the teams off with their teleporting guides, teleporting them to their environments as the second Assessment began.
“No point in running,” Max voiced as the team tried to set a fast pace.
“He’s right,” replied Toby, the red-haired boy who had taken the burden of carrying the supplies pack first. They slowed their pace and the group made their introductions, making a list of what powers they had between them.
“Two earth users, two water users and one electricity user,” Max whispered to himself, counting them with his fingers. He had not expected Toby to be a water user and laughed at the idea that the girl could control earth. A perfect match. He grinned.
The forest was thick with trees and vines, with heavy moss and random plants scattered throughout. A thick cloud of mist covered the surrounding trees, making the team draw closer together as they pushed forward.
Max ran his hand down a tree and noticed that the tree trunks were a lot thicker here, with richer bark. He breathed the fresh air as if for the first time. The memories of his home town began flooding in, leaving him at the back as he navigated his way between the tree trunks.
It wasn’t long until the sun began to have an effect, with no hydration controlling points, the team would surely fail, forcing them to extract the weakened student.
“We must take a break,” said Jacob, curling his orange hair around a finger and calculating the team’s energy levels. Max had labelled him as being just as energetic as Jimmy, and listened to him with joy.
“Why?” queried James.
“Because I don’t want to be carrying you all the way to the flag if you fall over dehydrated.”
“He’s right,” said Kate, with authority.
“Who made you the boss?” snapped James, approaching Jacob. Max could see that Jacob felt threatened as he took a step back.
“That’s enough!” yelled Max, stepping between the two. “Now, I don’t mind coming last - it just means more Elites for me to defeat - but what I don’t like to see is bullying, so step back and take a break,” he demanded.
“Does your electric affect my rock?” challenged James, turning to Maximus.
“You saw the first Assessment, didn’t you?” Max winked, itching for him to attack.
“The sooner both of you stop measuring your egos the sooner we can continue,” said Kate, coming to the aid of Jacob. They were from the same school, which gave her a need to protect her own.
Jacob smirked and used his water bending ability to flick water at James. His fury was instantly dispelled as the group burst into laughter.
Time passed much more quickly than when Max was alone; if it wasn’t the talking of the group it was the pace that was set. Deep down, Max didn’t mind facing Jonny. In fact, it was a battle he was longing for. Every nerve and vein in his body was pumped to fight Jonny; the warning had just spurred his intentions, rather than smothering them.
The group decided to carry on throughout the night, making up for lost ground. Having Kate and James construct a little rock hut to protect them from the night was the smartest idea of the day, alongside the brilliant concept that Toby and Jacob create a pool to drink from, giving them ample supplies.
They all huddled up as darkness approached, listening to the sounds of nature echoing through the forest as the night animals came to life.
“What have you done to contribute?” asked James unpleasantly, hoping to rile Maximus.
“I have collected that wood,” he replied, calmly.
“Would good is that if we have no fire users and no tools to start the fire?”
Toby tried and failed to hand-start one with a stick and moss.
“Watch,” replied Max, trying to hold back his laughter at the feeble attempts.
The whole g
roup except Toby looked up, jumping back five paces as a huge stream of electricity flowed through in a bolt, hitting the pieces of wood and starting a fire instantaneously.
“Wow, wow, wow what was that?” Toby yelled, jumping up and ducking behind a log.
His thunderous heartbeat was heard around the whole team as they cuddled in closer to the heat.
“What power,” he shivered, joining the rest of the group.
James avoided Max’s stare, knowing that his attempts of becoming alpha male had failed.
To test one’s determination and courage, these Assessments were designed to estimate the individuals’ and team’s skills on tasks that are essential to a group’s success. This was imprinted on Max’s mind as he drifted to sleep, thinking of a variety of plans for future use.
Max led the squad though the forest, hoping that he would come across some sort of track that would lead to the flag. He held up his fist for the group to halt.
“What do you hear?” Jacob whispered.
“Quiet.”
“Over there,” Maximus pointed out.
Max had seen it; a figure lurking in the shadows. His senses sparked with energy as he counted the shadows.
“There is no trouble here,” Kate said, throwing her arms wide in front of Max and Jacob.
The figure’s palm began heating, emitting a low glow in the darkness and the team tensed, waiting for something to happen.
“If you set this forest on fire I will be furious,” Max cautioned.
Five other palms beamed in the distance and suddenly fireball upon fireball twisted towards them.
The team’s defence was solid as the water and earth benders blocked each fireball. The water created a cloud of steam as it confounded each attack. The rock absorbed the fire, providing a counter attack as Kate and James flung rock into the darkness. The fireballs were relentless, heating the defensive area as the team blocked with all their power.
“Create a rock wall!” yelled Max, as he flung himself from side to side.
Kate struck the ground as her palms vibrated with power.
“I need help!” she called to James.
Max created a barrier to protect the entire team.
“Hurry,” he groaned. Sweat covered his face as the fire consumed his barrier.
James shuffled next to Kate and the wall rose rapidly from the ground. It finally stood ten feet tall around the team and provided enough protection for Max to release his barrier.
“Water barrier over the top,” said Max.
Jacob and Toby worked together to form a water layer on top of the wall, creating a cold roof over their heads.
“What do we do now?” asked Kate, resting against her wall.
“We wait. It’s getting dark and who knows what is out there,” replied Max, taking a seat.
James roamed around as if walking on eggshells.
“We are hiding like school kids. Maybe the Pillar is like that, but not the Main,” complained James as he banged his fist against the rock.
“Be my guest and go out there,” replied Kate in Max’s defence.
“Eat this,” said Toby, passing an energy bar to James.
He took it grudgingly, frowning at Kate. The team ate in silence as their fort continued to be tested. The fireballs had little effect on the fort, as the temperature on the inside remained constant: Jacob and Toby had continually sprayed the inside with water, trying to make it as comfortable as possible for the team.
“What do we do?” asked Jacob, looking to Max for advice.
Max looked at Jacob, again reminded of Jimmy, thinking of the way forward.
“We scout the way ahead and run as fast as we can to the flag,” he replied.
“I can do that,” said James as he touched the ground. The team looked on as rock birds rose from the ground.
“How can I do that?” breathed Kate in wonder. She had never seen or tried something so complex.
James looked at her cautiously, questioning whether or not to pass on his secret.
“She’s not from the Pillar,” Max added.
He walked over to her and whispered in her ear, a smile of pure pleasure dawning on her face. She followed the instructions and a bird half the size rose. Her power limited her to two, and they all watched as her birds bounced around with energy.
“Now go,” said Max and the birds took flight.
It was the middle of the night when Max was shaken awake by James.
“We have located the flag five miles from here,” he said with pride. Max wiped the sleep from his eyes and rose to his feet. He looked through the water roof to see darkness.
“We leave at first light,” Max replied.
He tried to find his comfortable spot and drift back to sleep, but was disturbed when their fort shook vigorously.
“Get up!” he shouted as he shot to his feet. There quickly followed two more attacks from each side.
“What is it?” cried Toby, checking his water roof.
The whole team looked up to see a rock wolf looking down with hunger. It was a huge figure, twice the size of a real animal. Its claws and teeth were sharply carved with rock and it clawed at the water, causing a ripple to cross from side to side.
“I count four of them!” called Kate.
All of the Momentum team looked to Max for leadership as the beasts repeatedly bashed the structure.
“On my direction, open a pathway in the direction of the flag,” he ordered James. “Jacob, I want you to release the water, so they can enter the fort,” he continued.
“Then…?
“Then we trap the beasts and run as fast as we can to that flag.”
“It’s too dark. We’ll never make it with those beasts on our tail,” whimpered Kate. The beasts had taken a toll on her and she gripped Jacobs’s sleeve in fear.
“I will take care of that,” said Max, nodding his head.
The doorway opened at the same moment as the roof collapsed. All four beasts pounced down towards their prey. Max was the last through the doorway as the roof and door closed behind him. The pack howled at the trap as they clawed at the foundation.
“Run!” shouted Max. He could see the beasts frantically trying to escape. Kate was right: it was pitch black and Max could barely make out the team member running in front of him. His electricity was in use at last and he shot lightning bolts every two seconds to light the way. James had jumped at the first, landing inches away from his foot before he pushed on.
As they ran, the team found time to watch in wonder, this being their first time up and close with Max’s power. Their heavy breathing was loud as they increased the speed of their dash through the forest.
“They have escaped!” Kate’s hold on the fort had diminished and the walls had collapsed.
“The flag is in the clearing right in front of us,” panted James as he pushed on.
The beasts had caught up to them with frightening speed and Max ordered the group to continue as he turned around to face the threat. He knew if he didn’t intervene, the group would be quickly torn apart.
“Max! What are you doing?” screamed Kate as she swung around to get him.
“Get everyone to the flag! I will be there!” he replied.
He jolted to the first beast, emitting lightning from his fist, which punched it between the eyes, forcing it back into the beast in its wake.
The third wolf had flanked him, attacking as the other drew close. His lightning hit both with little effect. He flung himself out of the way and began his sprint to the flag.
He swung his hand around and flashed small electric particles, trying to slow the beast down. Up ahead, Max could see the team surrounding the flag.
“He’s not going to make it,” said Toby, glaring at the animals behind Max.
James focused his energy into one more attack. A wave of water sprang from behind the tree line, hitting the beasts as Max ran faster. Then Kate took lead and flung three rock rods at the beast, which was only inche
s away from Max. He had mere seconds to respond and he dived forward, angling his body in mid-air, dodging all the rods. He hit the ground hard and struggled to recover, rolling over to watch as the rods struck the last beast.
The other three were rapidly gaining on Max as he grabbed onto the flag and the team caught a last glimpse of the pack as they pounced for them.
Max believed they had lost, but then the flag uplifted them from the forest, transporting them back to the school.
The sudden shift from darkness to daylight stunned the team as they appeared, screaming, on the field. Max covered his eyes as the sunlight overwhelmed him.
The crowd cheered and chanted their return as the team drew together to congratulate one another. Max felt the tension from the Assessment leak out of him as he embraced the team in a delighted hug.
“I can’t believe we pulled it off!” howled Jacob as he waved to the crowd.
“Not too bad, Pillar,” said James.
The whole team now looked at Max in a different light. Kate had Max in a gripping hug, kissing him on the cheek as she jumped around with joy.
“We did it!” cried Toby, jumping into the crowd.
Max was surprised by how well the group had come together over the couple of days, completely changing his attitude towards teamwork.
His friends separated from the crowd to praise Max on his achievement. His grin grew big as Hilary caught his eye.
“You could have been a bit faster. It’s your fault I’m as red as a cherry,” whispered Stuart.
“How did you go?” asked Max as he embraced Chris with one arm and shaking his hand.
“First, but I wouldn’t want to handle those sea serpents again. Nasty stuff,” he laughed as he sidestepped for Hilary. Her smile replenished his energy as she hugged him.
“Maximus, your leg,” she sighed as she inspected the claw marks.
“Those rock wolves,” he laughed as she led him away to get cleaned up.
Dozer had enjoyed the growth in the squad, surprised at how skilled the boys had become.
Maximus Thatcher Page 22