"Bonzo could present a problem."

"I agree."

"They're pressing for an answer."

"Tell them we need more time."

"We're out of time.

"We need luck."

"No. We need a miracle."


"Help! We need help in here!" Cayla and Petra heard as they passed the boy's showers. They both stopped. "He's hurt!"

"Is that Ender?" The brunette asked.

"I think so. Wait here. I'll go and find someone." the blonde ran off looking for a teacher, sergeant or anyone who could help. She bumped right into Dap.

"Cadet Parker," Dap growled annoyed. "Watch where you are going next time."

"Apologies, Sergeant," Cayla apologized. "I need your help."

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"Ender was calling for help. I believe someone may be injured," she explained quickly. Dap nodded and pulled out a radio transmitter.

"I need medical staff to meet me outside the boy's showers, stat!" He then ran off, Cayla quickly following.


Ender, Cayla and Petra all stood outside the hospital room Bonzo was in. Ender was almost in tears. Cay saw this so she hugged him.

"Everybody knows he started it," Petra reassured him. Anderson walked up to them, Graff a few steps behind. The two fifteen year olds broke from the hug.

"Ender," Anderson said sadly. "I'm so sorry."

"Major," the Colonel warned.

"We should of never let you-"

"Not now, Major!" Graff glared at Anderson. She turned to face him. "Leave them." She didn't move. "Now!" Major walked away.

Graff then realized that Petra was still there. "You too, Cadet." She too walked away. The older man walked up to the two best friends.

"He's going to die, isn't he?" Ender asked, tears in his eyes.

"No, no."

"Please don't lie to me," Wiggin begged as Cay gripped onto his hand.

"We're sending him home, back to Earth, so he can get better," Graff tried to reassure them.

"I want to go as well."

"I can't let either of you go, Ender. You've both come so far," the older man argued.

"I want to talk to my sister," Andrew said.

"The fleet owns you. The I.F won't allow it," the Colonel explained firmly.

"Send me home, Colonel, or I will resign."

"If Ender leaves then I'll leave too. He's the commander. I'm just the second in command. I'm useless without him," Cayla spoke up.

"Don't threaten me kids. I'm not the enemy," Graff said as he turned to leave. He walked a few steps before a voice stopped him.

"I'm not so sure," Ender glared. "I won't play this game anymore. I quit. What are you going to do? Waste millions on a loser?"


"You wanted to see me?"

"You can't resign. You have a obligation to stay here and keep the girl's trust. If she trusts you then she can convince him to do the right thing. "

"She barely trusts me as it is. If I try to convince her that keeping Ender here is the right thing, then she's more likely to resign with him."

"My father trained horses. I raised them yearly since I was five years old. I know thoroughbreds when I see them. We can't lose them."

"My god! You really don't see them as children, do you? After this war, what will be left of them?"

"What does it matter if there's nothing left at all?"

"We're using these children to win a war. If they come back home, it's my job to put them back together again. Talk to her. She'll know what to do."

"Thank you for all you've done."


"Cadet Cayla Alexandra Parker go to Colonel Graff's office. Cadet Cayla Alexandra Parker go to Colonel Graff's office," a metallic voice rang out later that day. Everyone in Dragon army looked over at Cayla, confused. She shrugged and walked outside the cabin.

"Where do I-"

"Follow the blue lights."

The cadet followed the blue lights and came face to face with the Colonel's office door. She knocked.

"Come in."

"You wanted to see me, Colonel?" Cay asked as she walked in.

"Yes, I did," Graff said looking up from his desk. "What am I going to do about Ender?"

"You're asking me?" the blonde said, confused.

"Yes. You know him better then anyone else. You are his best and closest friend after all," the Colonel explained.

"Well, I would say..." She thought for a moment. "Let him see his sister. Maybe she can talk to him." Graff looked at her confused. "Hear me out. She and him have a different bond. Anyways, if you were gonna try and get me to talk him some sense, he'd know I was here first; that I was put up to it."

"I guess you're right. Thank you Cadet," Cayla nodded and turned to leave. "There's another thing I wanted to say."

"Yes Colonel?"

"When Ender leaves for Earth, you and cadets Bean, Bernard, Petra, Alai and Dink will all leave for Eros. That is where you will be trained. That is command school. But one thing I remind you is that if Valentine can't get through to him, the fate of the world will rest on your shoulders."


When they landed on Eros, the six of them didn't have a chance to settle in because they were sent straight to the simulation room. The room was exactly what it sounded like; a room to simulate battles. They were met there by Mazer Rackham.

"Welcome, Cadets. This is Command school. Here you will be trained how to be in control of an army," Mazer said. "Please take your seats. I shall explain."

They all walked to take a seat but Rackham stopped Cayla.

"You will be the stand-in commander. You shall command the entire fleet but your toon leaders are here to help," he explained.

"But I thought Ender-"

"What did Colonel Graff and Major Anderson agree on years ago?"

"That if Ender didn't succeed, then I would take his place."

"Exactly."


"Squadron five, surround the MD. We can't let it be destroyed. Bean, you know the drill. Bernard, formation A. Alai, formation H! Dink, formation C and keep shooting all of you!" Cayla ordered while playing the simulation for the tenth time that day.

"What should I do?" Petra asked.

"Shoot at the Queen ship on my count. Bean, ease up a bit," Cayla said zooming in on the MD. "Petra! In three, two, one. Shoot now!"

Two particle beams shot out of each barrel. Their screen went black. Blue letters came across the screens.

'Simulation passed.' It read.

"Cadet Parker," Graff spoke up from where he was watching them. She turned to face him.

"Yes, sir?"

"Your commander will be here in ten minuets. Be ready. Rackham's bringing him." She nodded. "And, Cadet, well done."


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