Tim does learn a new thing in Basic Coding. And it really helps Tim when he’s encoding his information on his watch later that night. Strategic Studies on the other hand, really piques Tim’s interest. It’s his second favorite so far.
“Welcome to Strategic Studies,” Elite member, Adonis, says in his serious, gruff voice. Tim’s met him once, the Elite ranked Fighter’s gaze so intensely trained on Tim that the only thing that he said to Tim was “Interesting necklace you’re wearing,” before leaving.
Tim had almost forgotten about the star crystal pendant that lightly knocked against his chest. Thankfully, seeing Chris always reminds Tim. How much risk Chris took to smuggle some star crystal to give to Tim.
“I see some new faces here, so I’ll briefly go over the basics before resuming our lessons from yesterday. I recommend the newbies to pay attention,” Adonis’s tone is clipped and there are snickers, both amused and mocking, around the room. At least three other teams, A, B, and even C ranked Cadets, sit around the oval table. In front of them are slim hologram monitors.
“Being a Fighter means to fight swiftly and tactfully. Even for Elites, there are rarely any solo missions and if there is one, consider it a vital recon mission. Because Novian aliens, along with their distant alien families on Earth, are smarter and faster than us. Which means, we as ever-evolving humans, need to be more discreet. That is why every Cadet of any rank is required to take Strategic Studies,” Adonis says.
“You will learn how to plan ahead, how to act alone if ever separated from your squad on the field, how to act quickly like second nature, like instinct, and use them to be a precise thinker. On the field, you will always have a partner, someone to watch your back and work with. You should be trained until your movements are just instinct. Today, we’ll work on planning,” Adonis, standing in front of a screen, taps on the corner, and a map pops on the screen, showing a quick bird’s eye view of the map.
Tim flinches, glances at Chris across from him, whose face has slackened. They know this part of the map. They know this part too well and Tim can just visualize where this is, can just see every detail.
“This is a sector in Genecis,” Adonis says and Tim feels cold all over.
“Hey, look,” Someone whispers in Tim’s ears. “It’s your home.”
Tim feels goosebumps under his skin and a chill travels down his spine. It’s not home, Tim wants to say. But he stays quiet...except for Chris.
“Sorry,” Chris says loudly, interrupting Adonis. He doesn’t look at anyone. Not even Tim who’s starting to feel concerned for him. “I need some air if I could have your permission, sir,” Chris says.
The room was more silent than before and Tim glances at Adonis who looks coldly at Chris. He looks annoyed and he sighs. “You have 5, go,” He says before resuming. “You may go too, Hawthorne, if you need to.”
Chris turns on his heel and leaves the room, eyes watching him go and Tim considers it. Chris might need time alone. But Tim also feels the unsettling feeling coming up Tim’s stomach to his chest. Like there’s something bottled up. After a brief moment’s hesitation, under Adonis’s piercing stare and eyes around him, Tim stands and leaves after Chris.
Tim could use a moment too.
When he pushes the heavy glass door open, he sees Chris squatted across the hallway, safe from prying eyes. Tim joins him cautiously, sitting down beside him. There’s a look of defeat in Chris’s face and Tim can’t help but feel the same way.
It seems while they were trying so hard to leave Genecis behind, they can’t. And it occurs to Tim that Genecis will always follow them like a shadow.
“Do you remember we would always walk home on that street because it was so empty and we would laugh and be as loud as we could?” Chris asks, staring at the ground.
“Yeah,” Tim says, lightly smiling. “I remember. You always carried me home after waiting for me outside the workshop.”
Chris huffs in amusement. “Seeing that just made me realize how afraid I still am in Genecis,” Chris admits. “I had to take a breather.”
“Seeing you made me realize too,” Tim says and they stare at each other before their lips formed a smile. “Come on, Chris,” Tim says, standing. “Let’s go back in.”
Chris stands and rubs his face before Tim goes back inside, Chris behind him. They both sit down respectfully quiet as Adonis explains their assignment. Tim catches on pretty fast, connecting the points he’d heard earlier and the points he’s hearing now, but when he looks at Chris, he’s scratching his head, looking confused by the screen in front of him.
The screen in front of them was now showing the sector map with a group of surrounded green figures by red figures. It’s a simulation, Tim realizes, and the assignment was to make a plan on how they would break through the surroundings and be able to escape.
Tim reads over the instructions on the main board one more time before his mind raced through all the possibilities. Adonis was walking around the table, glancing at every Cadet’s work, his face impassive and unresponsive. Tim ignores his growing intimidating presence and gets to work.
In the simulation, there’s a group of six people. Meaning, if every Fighter has a partner, they could be grouped into three pairs. Tim taps on each green figure to put them into pairs before a pop up appears, showing stats. This figure has an excellent offense and low defense. Tim checks every stats on the green figures before he begins to think how he’ll group them.
There’s three excellent offense, three excellent defense. Tim tries to think how he’ll pair them. According to Adonis’s points, being a strategist requires knowing every Fighter’s specialty and putting them together is also key because their combined teamwork could be a great asset to the plan.
In this case, Tim thinks, if my plan was to break through the surroundings, putting two offense in the front, putting two defense in the back, and one defense, one offense together would be more effective. Two offense would work on the breaking through while two defense would watch their backs. The one defense, one offense pair would just be backups.
Tim puts his plan into motion. He pairs them up according to his idea and presses the simulation button, watching intently how his plan would work. The simulation shows his offense pair fighting through with his defense keeping their backs covered. The other pair is making sure no one gets close. There’s a series of vibrations and Tim breathes in relief and surprise as the green team breaks free and escapes. STRATEGY SUCCESS marks Tim’s assignment complete.
“Well done, Hawthorne,” Adonis drawls and Tim looks behind, startled to see him right behind him. “First one to finish.”
“Th-thank you, sir,” Tim stammers.
Adonis leaves him with a brief nod, making another round.
Tim looks over at Chris who looks stumped and still confused.
The day is finally over when Tim stretches his body as he and Chris, along with many others, leave the room.
“Hey, did you even get that assignment?” Chris asks, scratching his head. “I didn’t get anything out of that.”
Tim laughs. “I’ll explain it back at the dorms.”
“Thanks, Timmy,” Chris thanks, grinning sheepishly.
Just before they were going to head back to the dorms for a quick change of clothes, there’s a tap on Chris’s left shoulder which Tim notices. The two turn and see two Cadets, their badges reading Class A. One of them have blonde strawberry hair that's wildly stylish and the other, standing silently, has his black hair tied into a low ponytail, his bangs sweeping across one hair.
“Oh, you two are in my group,” Chris remembers, smiling nervously. “What’s up?”
One of them waves, grinning friendly. “I’m Bart,” He chirps. “Thought we could be friends since you know, we’re in the same group and all!”
Tim smiles knowingly and slaps Chris on the shoulder, gaining his attention. “I’m going to head somewhere so I’ll see at the dorms later tonight,” Tim says. “Make some friends, Chris,” He says and Chris chuckles shyly.
“Sure, see ya later,” Chris says and Tim turns, walking to the cafeteria. He dials Thieves through his watch, pressing his earpiece into his ear. Moments later, Thieves’s tired voice greets him.
“Hey, Timothy, how can I help you?”
“Thieves, hi,” Tim says awkwardly. “Two things. One; have you eaten dinner yet? And two; do you mind if I pop into the workshop?”
Thieves takes a moment to answer. “I haven’t eaten dinner yet so it’d be really great if you could pop in with some dinner for me.”
Tim grins, entering the cafeteria. “Sure thing,” He says. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Lifesaver, Tim,” Thieves says and the line drops, leaving Tim alone as he stands in line. Tim hooks his finger into his mouth, pushing out the chip from his back teeth as he slips it into his watch where Tim had found a small compartment to store it in. It’s a perfect fit which makes Tim slightly suspicious.
Tim has two takeouts in hand as he walks out and toward Thieves’s workshop.
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