The squad would have to practice a lot more before they were ready, so practice they did. They went over situations they might encounter as a group and worked out a system for navigating through the maze. By the end of the training period they had a rough idea of the formations and signals they would have to practice, and what roles each squad member would have to play. Dmitri, who had been conversing with the other instructors, came over to debrief. “Well, I hope you came up with something important. Otherwise you just wasted an entire training period.”

“We have a plan.” Cavaar spoke up.

Dmitri raised an eyebrow and grunted. “It'd better be a good one. Go on let's hear it.”

He went over the details. Dmitri grunted a few times, and raised his eyebrow even higher, which Cavaar thought was a good sign he was listening.

The instructor grunted a final time when Cavaar finished. “It might work, might. If you can get there fast enough and if you're well drilled enough.” Dmitri turned to look at squad one, who was laughing at something their instructor had said. “Still, I'd like to see the look on Geoff's face if you pull it off. Very well, you will drill, but not during the training period.”

“But-” Cavaar protested.

“You cannot risk the other squads guessing at your plan. You will drill during meal time, so learn to eat fast.” The students grumbled. Dmitri held out a hand to silence them. “Do you want to win?” They nodded. “Then you will drill during meal time, starting now. Go eat.”

Dmitri dismissed the squad and Cavaar fell in next to Yarik. “I think we can really pull it off!”

Yarik grunted in response.

“Are you okay?”

Yarik laughed out loud, but there was no joy in it. “Okay? Look at me Cavaar. I'm half blind, can barely walk, and even Horace is better with a blade than me; and Maria's-” Yarik stopped walking, “Gone. So tell me, do you think I am okay?”

“I don't-”

“No, you wouldn't know.” Yarik was surveying what was left of the gate. Cavaar examined the burn marks that indicated the blast radius of the explosion. In the slight orange glow of early morning, he was amazed that Yarik had survived. “She stood right there.” His friend pointed to a spot within the deep black scars left by the blast. “And now she's dead.” Yarik turned to look at him. “She's dead and we're just training.”

“Mareth said-”

“I know what he said!” Yarik yelled. Students turned to look at them. He huffed and lowered his voice. “I want to see them. I want to see the person who did it. Look into their eyes. Watch them die.” He sighed and shook his head at the realization of the words he had just spoken.

Cavaar put a hand on his shoulder. “Listen Yarik.” His friend met his gaze. “Whoever it is will get justice, Mareth made that clear. I need you focused for the evaluation. We can win… for her. I really think we can pull it off - but we need everyone at their best.” Cavaar could feel his friend tensing with every word while taking in a long breath. “Are you with me?”

Yarik held himself tight, his eye moved back and forth, searching the burn marks on the ground of the training yard for answers. Finally he exhaled and focused on Cavaar. “I'm with you.”