We all paused in confusion.
"Each SIT compound with Elite ratings has been asked to send a team of four SITs to California to stay at a one month long camp and each team will compete in this 'Spy War' and try and win. The winner gets several prestigious awards for themselves and the compounds."
"So wait." Glory knitted his brow. "You're saying that four of us are going to the camp, and compete against the best SITs in the world and it's, like, summer camp?"
Chief nodded. "Basically. Our compound wants to send four of you and try and win. If we win we'll get back in the favor of Agent One."
Agent One is the highest ranking SOA (Spy of America). It's always good to be on his good side. Chief used to be, but then he made a blunder when International Enemy Number One, the Assassin, was able to hack into our compounds computer system. If it hadn't been for my laptop the whole compound would have been toast.
"So, how prestigious is this?" Delta asked.
"Major. Winning is basically an automatic number one résumé in itself."
What was pressing on my mind was who was going! Wait, Glory and Delta are shoe ins. They're the best SITs ever to hit this compound. That leaves Heat, Cannon, and I for two spots.
And I'm the only girl.
I grimaced. "How are you guys going to decide who's going and who isn't?" I asked it bluntly. The guys blushed for beating around the bush.
Chief smiled. "Always too the point Silver, very good." He took a breath. "Basically. The bracket has all ready chosen Glory and Delta to go. It's quite obvious they're the oldest and the most experienced. They have two and three years of experience on you and Cannon and one on Heat. And you guys know how much you can learn in one year."
"Are you saying this is determined by age?" Cannon asked sharply.
"No. But we can't do it by grades, obviously. Some teams out there only have one ten star SIT. They can't even compete!"
"So, how are you going to pick?" Heat asked anxiously.
"Like this." Chief picked out four slips of paper and two pens. "Glory, Delta. You have two votes each."
My eyebrows flew up.
Heat was closer in age. Glory didn't even recognize me when I walked in. Cannon was the strong buff and popular. I was well known with my accomplishments and Maxell.
"We just decide?" Delta glanced Cannon, Heat, and me over in turn.
"You can ask each of them one question." Chief sighed. "The bracket had their personal decisions. But the Spy War rules are that the bracket can select two, then those two must select two."
"Well." Glory nodded. "I have a question."
"Shoot." Cannon nodded.
Heat shifted from foot to foot nervously.
"'K guys. Tell me why we should pick you then."
Cannon shrugged. "My reputation speaks for itself. I know just about everything I think we'll need. I've got a lot of good marks in the virtual room challenges, and well, I'm rather a people person."
Heat smirked. "I'm a lot easier to get along with. I'm more experienced then these two and you guys have worked with me before."
I shrugged a shoulder. "Three points. Maxell. Second fastest assault time, and I'm a girl. You may need that."
Delta sucked the end of his pen. "All right. Who do you think I shouldn't pick and why? Cannon?"
Cannon sucked his lip. "Heat. 'Cuz he's too cocky. We're going to be working together for a month. We have to be comfortable together or tempers are going to fly."
Heat glared. "You're one to talk Cannon!"
Cannon just raised his eyebrows in "See?" gesture.
Heat sighed. "Silver. She's a girl. And she might slow us down."
I was careful not to look like I might KO Heat. "Heat. He underestimates people. And Cannon's point. We're together for a month."
Delta and Glory wrote without a second thought.
Chief took the papers. "Ready?"
I sucked in a breath of anticipation.
He looked at the first paper. "Silver."
One.
"Cannon."
One-One-Zero
"Silver."
Yes! Glory and Delta both voted for me! I'm in! I didn't even try to smother the little grin.
"Good job Silver, you're off to the Spy War."
I looked thankfully at Glory and Delta. Delta winked and Glory nodded in approval.
"Cannon."
I'd forgotten about the last vote. Cannon was coming too. Heat didn't get a single
vote! I had to smirk at that.
"Cannon and Silver." Chief nodded. "Fair choices."
"What!" Heat glared. "I'm older then these two bozos!"
Glory shrugged. "Silver's got stuff on a lot of 19 year olds. She's only 16."
Heat scowled and looked to Chief. "Am I dismissed."
"Yes."
He stalked out the door and jetted toward the dorms.
"Good choices." Chief nodded. "Off the record, you four were the initial choice."
"So, now what? When do we leave?" I pushed back a lock of hair.
"Now."
"Now!" Delta grinned. "Wowee!"
"The compound will know about the competition and who went tomorrow morning. You can each take one luxury item. If you tell me what you want, then I will have it sent on your pod with you."
"My laptop." Cannon immediately replied.
"Laptops are standard. You're all taking your laptop, air board or air scooter and a dart gun. You can take one invention of yours."
My whole team cheered involuntarily. "Does that mean we can take Maxell!"
Chief just seemed to realize this. "Yes!" He said without thinking. "I had forgotten! Yes, you may take Maxell!"
"Then I want my laptop, my air board is outside, my stun gun dart gun, Maxell, and my silver pendant for my luxury item."
Glory grinned happily at me. He knew what kind of asset Maxell would be. "I want my laptop, air board is outside, antidote dart gun, and my invention of Johnknife. And my Ipod" Johnknife is a like a Swiss army knife, only the blades respond the touch instead of yanking them out the red casing, and the blades are so sharp they can cut through glass and chains and a lot of other things.
"Laptop, air board, electric dart gun, Ipod for my luxury item. And for my invention? Ha. I think the only things I invent are pick-up lines. So I'll take that design for laser bullets I made. I might perfect sometime up there."
Delta shifted. "I want my antigravity boots for luxury item. Laptop, yeah. I am so bad on air boards. I'll take my air scooter, and a knock-out dart gun, and my invention of ever loading knock out dart solution."
"Good choices." Chief surveyed us critically. "We might have a chance at this hm?"
"What do we do about clothes?" Cannon asked.
"Your wardrobe is a uniform you get there. Each of you will get a pattern that represents our compound. I think we're silver and blue."
Cool.
"So, now what?" I looked at the three boys, then Chief.
"This is where it gets fun." He rubbed his hands together. "The school can not know till your gone. Part of the rules and we don't want people begging to go. So you will all proceed to the docking bay and board the GreenHorse jet, it all ready has stations to get to the camp. You just need to begin strategizing. That's all I can tell you!"
We looked at each other and headed toward the docking bay.
