"Oren." Kane sounds as frustrated as I am.

　　"This is your infiltration and scout specialists?" Targe`s scoff does nothing to keep my abilities in check.

　　We`ve been running through simple tag and bag drills in the converted arena for over three hours. The scientists released a Blaze and a Flyer in the arena and I gave away our position, again. My powers roll in stronger with each run, demanding freedom. I`m too preoccupied hiding the flare ups. Cole is too close. And the General is too observant to focus on the drills. Kane and Luce brought Cole up to speed, and he executes his role with precision.

　　Addy`s eyes are on me, but I can`t bear to look at her. Targe doubts the squad because of me. She walks closer and I give her a head shake stopping her.

　　"Again Elites." The captain says with the same patience she`s managed all afternoon regardless of the general`s snide comments. I wait as she approaches.

　　"Your specialty demands you take point until reaching the CZ." Her hazel eyes settle on mine.

　　She`s telling me to forget everyone else. Reminding me I`m supposed to leave the team behind, be on my own. I lock on to the beat within her chest. Taking advantage of this moment, of her closeness, to calm my abilities. I don`t know why she has this effect on me, but I don`t hate it right now. She gives me a small nod. Did we just communicate like her and Kane do? My lips quirk up in my best attempt at a grin. She rolls her eyes and turns to get back in formation.

　　I roll my shoulders to relieve some tension. I`m the rear point of our diamond ready to move into the arena. The simulated fog has grown thick over the hours. The clank of a metal bolt slides into place as the techs release a new set of demons. Addy moves left and instead of following her I move right. Her steps slow when she sees me break off.

　　"Proceed." The captain`s command gets her moving faster into the trees.

　　I make quick work of creating some distance between me and the rest of the team. Right away I lock onto the rhythmic thwap of a Flyer`s wings closing in on the squad. Clattering clicks come from the Grunts lumbering along the far wall.

　　"Flyer, incoming." Addy`s voice rings through the comm.

　　Fletcher vaults up a tree for the shot. An easy run this time with only a couple of Grunts and one Flyer. The tech team is as eager for us to wrap up here as I am.

　　"Ready." Fletcher signals.

　　"Two Grunts northeast quad." Addy`s voice cuts off as the Flyer lets out a loud screech.

　　Something is wrong. The screech is muffled. I jump up, grab the limb hanging above me, and scramble high up the tree. The captain and Kane are almost to the Grunts to begin herding them to the traps. Iva, Luce, and Cole stand in the perimeter they secured.

　　Cursing the new goggles for interrupting my sight I close my eyes. My powers flood into my other senses. The Grunts follow Kane and the captain. Their rigid carapaces thunder through the trees. The Flyer is close, coming from the opposite direction. The air stirs with each push of its long leather wings. But the air current gusts, more aggressive than it should be. There`s more than one Flyer. They`ve camouflaged their numbers by flying in sync. The squad isn`t prepared for them.The author`s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

　　"Three Flyers incoming." I call into the comm.

　　I resist the urge to jump to the ground. Being recorded means I`d have to fake an injury jumping from this height. There`s no time for that. I scramble down and make a show of looking like I`m falling through the branches for the camera.

　　"Repeat, three Flyers incoming." I hit the ground running.

　　"Roger that." Fletcher says.

　　He can take one, Luce another with her arm cannon. But that leaves Iva to trap the incoming Grunts on his own. Addy`s soft rapid steps fall in behind me.

　　"Oren?" She whispers.

　　"We`ll give them time." I say.

　　The Flyers come into view. The sickly gray of their skeletal wings beating together is hypnotic. Another screech rips out from the leader in the back. It`s protected behind the two in front. They fly in a v formation.

　　"What the hell." Fletcher voicing what we`re all thinking, this formation is new.

　　I run faster than I should to attract the flock`s attention. Their pointed knife-like beaks angle down seeing us on the open trail. Fletcher`s trap arrow sails through the air springing the metallic net over the Flyer on the right.

　　"Shiiit." A second Flyer dive bombs his perch in the tree.

　　He swings down at an impressive speed but the Flyer is faster. I turn to intercept when Addy`s hand shoots out gripping my bicep.

　　"Give them time." She reminds me of our plan and summons her crossbows.

　　The swish of Luce`s cannon deploys. The net stops the Flyer`s serrated teeth from snapping Fletcher in half. Thunk, thunk, thunk sounds from Addy`s crossbows. She has the leader`s attention and it dives towards us. We run back to the perimeter. Addy falls behind and the buzz of energy fills the air when the trap barrier engages.

　　"Secure." Iva reports. The Grunts are bagged.

　　"Taking the shot." Fletcher`s arrow whistles through the air toward the last Flyer.

　　Turning back, I grab Addy around the waist, and spin her back to my front. I throw us backward and we sail low across the ground. Addy gets off two shots hitting the Flyer`s gnarled claws before they sink in. I crash hard into a tree trunk taking all the damage. Fletcher swings down from a nearby branch looking down at us. I clutch Addy tight against me, covered in dirt and leaves.

　　"And that`s why I`m the best." He smirks, flexing his biceps and wagging his brows.

　　A loud puff of air expels from my gut when Addy elbows me to stand up.

　　"You?" She disperses her crossbows.

　　"Fletcher." Kane says his name like a threat.

　　Fletcher straightens up and offers me a hand. I use just enough strength to jerk him down as I stand up.

　　"Gratitude man." He rubs his shoulder and shakes out his hand.

　　"Thanks." I say.

　　Cole walks up behind Fletcher observing us with a calculating look. I step back and drop into my blank mask.

　　"Well done team." The captain is next to Kane with Buckler and an unimpressed general.

　　We drop into a salute.

　　"At ease. This is what you call well done?" He addresses Buckler ignoring the rest of us. "It took four tries and all my afternoon to complete the objective."

　　"Indeed." Buckler`s eyes gleam with excitement. His enthusiasm is out of place, but he goes on like Targe`s question wasn`t rhetorical.

　　"The squad did an amazing job assessing the anomaly of the Flyer`s behavior. Well done!" He claps a hand on Kane`s back.

　　The general`s jaw muscles pump with the effort to keep still. "Well, it was ... enlightening. Warrior Targe, collect the equipment and meet us in the colonel`s office."

　　Cole snaps to attention. "Sir, yes sir." He removes his gear with stiff jerky movements.

　　Targe and Buckler turn to leave with the captain. She clenches her fists behind her back when Targe asks why she didn`t use all her assets. Why didn`t she use Cole? She kept him protected in the perimeter with Luce. He was more of an observer than part of the operation.

　　Cole collects the team`s gear laughing easily with Luce and Fletcher. I hate to admit it, but he is a good warrior. Iva seeks him out any time we have a break to talk tech. And he`s as intense and focused as Kane when it comes to physical training. He would`ve graduated Primus if not for me and my freaky powers forcing me to excel. He would have been nominated to the Elites. The old sting of jealousy I thought I buried bites deep. At least when I`m gone, we`ll both have what we always wanted.