Chapter One
Fifty years ago,
an alien force known
as the Formics attacked Earth.
Tens of millions died.
It was only through the sacrifice
of our greatest commander
that we avoided total annihilation.
We've been preparing for them
to come back ever since.
The International Fleet decided
that the world's smartest children
are the planet's best hope.
Raised on war games,
their decisions are intuitive,
decisive, fearless.
I am one of those recruits.
My name is Ender, Andrea Ender Wiggin. I am fifteen years old and have been attending the Academy for the past ten years. I am intelligent and analytical. I don't have much physical strength but my talents lay else where. I am a genius when it comes to creating battle strategies and I can adapt easily to any situation a simulation can produce.
I am small for my age, standing at exactly 5 feet or 152.4cm, I have long brown hair that is in a pulled back in a ponytail, as per regulation and blue eyes. I am average in appearance, my body is athletic and a my curves are enough to prove my gender to anyone but are not a distraction in anyway. Some girls in my squad are more developed, others less. The only thing special about me is my intelligence and my talent when it comes to the war games, oh an I am also a third.
Due to restrictions set by the government families are only allowed two children, however because my brother and sister were exceptional my parents were granted permission to have me. However they have both since left the academy. My brother Peter was too violent, to uncontrollable where as my sister Valentine was too gentle, she didn't have the heart for war.
I have managed to succeed in a few short weeks we would find out who is getting sent to battle school at at the moment my name is on the list.
I was currently sat in an empty classroom, one of my classmates had challenged my to a game and I was winning, I moved through the asteroid field on the screen and just as I hoped he had followed my flight path but as I predicted he hadn't gotten his flight path correct and was crushed between two asteroids.
"I win" I declared simply, He was furious, angry eyes flashed my way, he jumped up his fists clenched. Time for a tactical retreat.
"You cheated"
"It was a good game, we'll play again tomorrow" and with that I picked up my tablet and headed out of the room and towards my dorm. I had just reached the corridor when a voice filled the narrow space.
"Ender Wiggin report to the infirmary, Andrea Ender wiggin report to the infirmary" I frowned, I wasn't due for any medical checks or treatment. With a feeling of nerves which I fought to control I made my way to the infirmary.
"Ender Wiggin" I announced as I walked towards to nurses station. The nurse looked at me and smiled, she was trying to reasure me.
"Hello Ender, your monitor is being removed today"
"My monitor" we all had monitors, it was so they could evaluate us. They saw and heard everything we did, no privacy. "Am I off the programme?" I asked fear evident. I could feel my heart start to pound in my chest, my voice going up a few octaves.
"Please follow nurse Wilson through to the treatment room and she will complete the procedure" I sighed, I wasn't going to get a straight answer. As I walked towards the procedure room I thought of everything I had done but couldn't find a reason as to why I would be kicked of the programme. I hadn't broken any rule as far as I was aware. I had controlled my emotions skillfully as to ensure I wasn't too violent like Peter. I was strong when I needed to be but gentle when it was appropriate.
It took less than five minutes for my monitor to be removed, they said it wouldn't hurt a bit, that was a lie. I couldn't help but whimper and even scream as the monitor was removed from the base of my skull. It was not pleasant. I walked through the halls towards my dorm room to changed out of the Academy uniform and into my civilian clothes. I also needed to collect my personal items, we were allowed five personal items. I only had two, a photo album, one of my mothers necklaces, a small good luck charm.
Suddenly hands grabbed me and I found myself face to face with the classmate I had defeated earlier and several of his mates. All looking at me with hate filled eyes. They were all at least a head taller than me, stronger too.
"Your off the program you little cheat" he hissed at me, He hands were tugging the collar of my shirt and I was pushed against the wall. He placed his head very close to me, I could feel his breath on my neck, He was too close. "You're nothing special, you are a cheater that why you succeeded but they finally realized it didn't they and now you're out" he hissed in my ear. I brought my knee up to his groin and my head down to his chest before snapping it back up, my head colliding with his chin as I did so. He buckled to the ground and I stumbled that had hurt. I tried to push past them but was outnumbered. I had only angered them. I couldn't win. So I submitted.
"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE" The Admiral was angry as he stormed into the classroom. The attack had lasted less than three minutes. They had managed to land a couple of kicks to my stomach and one to my face. My nose was bleeding and I was sure my ribs were bruised badly if not broken. I scrambled to my feet.
"Wiggin?" A female officer was behind him, she looked at me in concern, I recognized her as one of the Psych evaluators.
"I'm fine ma'am" I said assuring her I was ok,
"Yeah she just got taught a lesson" smirked one of the lads
"No, I didn't, I already knew this lesson"
"Oh, did you" smirked the ring leader
"What lesson?" this was the Admiral
"To not be a a stuck up bitch" snapped the ring leader
"To know when it is better to stay down, sometimes its more tactical to allow yourself to loose the battle to win the war. I couldn't fight all of them. However they have their monitors I knew that someone who be watching and would come to stop their attack. The better option was to allow myself to be defeated. To wait for reinforcements" I explained, the Admiral and his co worker was looking at my stangly before the Admiral nodded.
"That was smart of you, now I suggest you get yourself to the Infirmary. Your off to battle school in two days and I want you in fighting condition"
"But she's off the programme"
"No the finale test is to see what happens when the monitor come off, but you five are all off the programme, You will report to the infirmary and have your monitors removed and I will escort you all there myself to ensure there are no more incidents" I was shocked, the boys were horrified. I knew that some of them hadn't wanted to attack me they had just gone along with it. But every solider needs to know when to follow orders and when to stand against them. Not all orders are the right ones.
I sat in my dorm room later that evening and video chatted with my family. Luckily the nurses had treated my injuries. My ribs were not broken and a simple hypodermic injection had healed all my bruises. I had not informed my family of the fight. My brother Peter was always beating my up it was through those fight I learnt to take a beating until Valentine or my parents came or until Peter calmed down. He didn't want to kill me but he had come close of seven different occasions. Most when I was a small child. He was ten years older than me and often forgot that.
They were pleased that I had been accepted into battle school, Valentine had failed within two years, Peter within six. Valentine was pleased for me but she was worried about what would happen to me, Peter stormed off he was angry and jealous.
I wondered what would happen to me, would I come back different, would I end up like Peter or was I more like Valentine and would fail because I couldn't handle it.
Sleep did not come easy to me that night, It was early morning by the time I finally got to sleep and less than three hours later I was woken by my alarm.
