Morning light filtered through the barracks window. Juli sat on his bunk, staring at the holographic display on his wrist.
EXAMINATION RESULTS: PASS
OVERALL SCORE: 67%
He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"We all passed," Pam announced, checking her own wrist. Her score was predictably higher. 90%.
Kade flexed, his wrist showing 74%. "Acceptable performance. Though I expected no less from my intellectual capabilities."
"You barely beat me!" Juli protested.
"Barely is still superior, peasant."
Tessa showed her score shyly. 71%. "I... I actually did okay!"
Juli grinned at her. "You did great!"
He glanced at his score again. 67%. Barely passing. But passing nonetheless.
"Guess I should thank that vampire girl somehow," he muttered.
Pam's head turned sharply in his direction. "What was that?"
"NOTHING!" Juli's face went red. "I said uh... I should thank my... natural intelligence! Yeah! My big brain!"
"Your 67% big brain."
"Hey, passing is passing!"
Kade's tail swished. "Indeed. Though one must wonder what methods were employed to achieve such miraculous mediocrity."
"I studied!"
"With questionable supplementary materials, perhaps."
Pam's expression was unreadable behind her transparent glasses. But Juli could FEEL the judgment radiating from her.
"Moving on!" Juli said quickly. "We passed! That's what matters!"
But underneath the banter, something was different. His smile didn't quite reach his eyes. His shoulders carried tension that hadn't been there before.
The confrontation. That word. Bastard.
It still echoed in his head.
Kade noticed. Of course he did. His golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"You know," Kade said, his formal tone taking on a competitive edge, "when we inevitably face that red-haired fool in the tournament, it shall be I who delivers the decisive blow. Not you."
Juli blinked. "What?"
"You heard me correctly. I will be the one to kick his posterior across whatever arena we find ourselves in. Your emotional investment clouds your combat efficiency. Therefore, I claim the privilege of teaching him a lesson in humility."
"Like HELL you will!" Juli's energy sparked back to life. "If anyone's kicking his ass, it's ME!"
"Your argumentative skills remain as primitive as ever. Clearly, the superior warrior should handle such tasks."
"Superior?! YOU?!"
"Indeed. My refined combat techniques combined with my tactical acumen make me the obvious choice for—"
"You can't even beat ME in sparring!"
"That is a temporary circumstance! My growth trajectory far exceeds your stagnant development!"
"STAGNANT?!"
They were nose to nose now, foreheads nearly touching.
Pam sighed. "Here we go again."
But she was smiling. Just a little. Because this was normal. This was them.
And Juli arguing with Kade meant Juli was coming back to himself.
Tessa giggled softly. "They're always like this."
"It's exhausting," Pam agreed. But her tone was fond.
The holographic communication device in their barracks chimed.
An image materialized. Instructor Vela, still recovering but looking stronger. Her arm was out of the cast now, though her shell still bore medical patches.
"Team 9," she said, her yellow eyes warm despite her strict expression. "Congratulations on passing the examinations."
"Instructor!" they all said in unison.
Even Juli and Kade stopped bickering.
"I'm pleased with your progress. All four of you demonstrated competence." She paused. "Especially you, Juli. 67% is... passable."
"I'll take it!"
"Don't get cocky. The next challenge will test you in ways exams never could." Vela's expression grew more serious. "Do you know about the Crucible?"
Pam nodded. "I've read about it. I can explain to the others."
"Good. I'll let you handle the briefing. But know this—" Vela looked at each of them in turn. "This is where it gets real. This is where most dreams end. Don't be among them."
The transmission ended.
Pam turned to face the others, her blind eyes somehow capturing everyone's attention anyway.
"The Crucible," she began, "is a survival battle. All remaining teams will be dropped into a designated combat zone. It lasts 48 hours or until only sixteen cadets remain, whichever comes first."
"Sixteen?" Tessa's voice wavered. "Out of how many?"
"Hundreds." Pam's tone was matter-of-fact. "Each cadet has a tracker that monitors vitals. Get knocked out, you're eliminated and teleported to safety. Top sixteen individuals with the most points advance to the finals. Not teams. Individuals."
Kade's ears perked up. "So even if one teammate falls, the others can continue?"
"Exactly. Teams can work together, but ultimately, you're competing for individual placement."
"What kind of planet?" Juli asked.
"A desert world near Ganfall. Similar environment. Harsh conditions, dangerous wildlife, and whatever environmental hazards the organizers decide to throw in."
Juli's grin returned. This time, more genuine. "A desert planet? Near Ganfall?"
He stood up, affecting that terrible drawl. "Well now, reckon this'll be like a good old-fashioned shootout in the dust. May the best gunslinger come out on top, pardner."
Kade LOST IT. He doubled over laughing, his formal composure completely shattered. "THAT ACCENT! IT'S SOMEHOW WORSE THAN BEFORE!"
"I reckon you're just jealous of my authentic frontier speech!"
"AUTHENTIC?! You sound like a dying engine!"
"That's what Jango said too!"
"BECAUSE IT'S TRUE!"
Even Pam couldn't help the smile that cracked through her stern expression. Tessa was giggling behind her hands.
Another chime. This time, a different hologram.
Ruskovitz appeared, his deer antlers impressive even in miniature form. His scarred black and white face split into a jovial grin.
"Well well, if it ain't my favorite batch of troublemakers! Heard you kids passed them exams. Proud of ya!"
"Unit Head!" Juli straightened up.
"Now listen here, youngsters. The real tournament's started now. No more warm-ups. The Crucible's where legends are born or broken." Ruskovitz scratched his chin. "The squad captains will all be monitoring, but not in person, I'm afraid. We're stretched thin as it is. Raiders been actin' up something fierce lately."
Juli's face fell slightly. "They won't be there?"
"Not physically, son. But trust me, they'll be watching. Every move. Every decision. This is their chance to scout who they want for their squads."
Kade leaned forward. "So this is our opportunity to impress them directly?"
"Exactamundo, kitty cat. And here's the kicker—" Ruskovitz's grin widened. "It's gonna be broadcasted galaxy-wide. Every major media network's already salivating over the ratings. Trillions gonna watch this."
"Trillions?!" Tessa squeaked.
"Yep. So try not to embarrass yourselves, eh?" He chuckled warmly. "But between you and me? I got a good feeling about you four. Especially you, Juli. That stunt with the dancing? Legendary. You're already famous, kid."
"I am?"
"Oh yeah. You're all over the newsfeeds. 'The Blonde Brawler Who Survived Ragnar.' Got a nice ring to it."
Juli rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed.
"Alright, I gotta run. Got about seventeen fires to put out before lunch. You kids take care now. Show 'em what Team 9's made of!"
The transmission ended.
Silence fell over the room for a moment.
Then Juli stood up properly. Looked at his team. His family.
"I'm back in business," he said simply. "Don't worry about me anymore."
Pam studied him. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah." His red eyes burned with determination. "That bastard said some things. Hurt like hell. Still does." He clenched his fist. "But you know what? I'm gonna prove him wrong. I'm gonna show everyone what that man meant to me. What he taught me."
"By kicking his ass?" Kade suggested.
"Eventually. But first?" Juli's grin turned fierce. "By making it to those finals. By surviving the Crucible. By showing the entire galaxy what Julian Weiper can do."
Tessa smiled. "That sounds like the Juli we know."
"Damn right." He extended his fist. "Team 9. Let's do this."
Kade bumped his fist against Juli's. "For glory and personal superiority."
Tessa added hers. "For... um... not dying?"
Pam was last, her fist completing the circle. "For proving we belong here."
Their fists touched.
Outside, the preparations for the Crucible were already underway.
Transport ships were being fueled.
Arena sectors were being finalized.
Cameras were being positioned.
The galaxy was watching.
And Team 9 was ready.