�And, uh, now, we�ll start with a lap around the track.� Nenona picked up her helmet and approached Erik.
�Shouldn�t we start with safety rules, and give them all a run-down of the controls, emergency procedures?� Aimee looked at Nenona, and with a sneer, said, �Maybe you should just keep your mouth shut, kid.�
�I was just offering a suggestion.�
�What are you, the motorcycle queen all of a sudden? Might we remind you that you have the least real-world experience of anyone here?� Nenona opened her mouth to retort, but Bryan jumped in.
�How do you think you can lead, little girl, and just how old are you? You�ve never mentioned your age to any of us?� The group leaned in toward Nenona, anticipating her answer.
�I�m seventeen, eighteen in a few months, but�� a flurry of comments cut her off.
�WHAT?!?!�
�You�re not even a full adult yet, you�re a minor.�
An argument started, Erik and Andrew on one side, who attempted to defend Nenona and Aimee, Bryan, and Marco on the other. It quickly elevated into a shouting match between all of them, Nenona off to the side, watching, waiting.
�She can�t fight! She can�t ride a motorcycle! She can�t do anything that we can do! Why is she even here?�
�THAT IS ENOUGH!!!� Michael bellowed from the side of the track.
�All of you, cell phones, now.� He held out his hands. The guardians looked at each other quizzically, but did as bidden. Michael threw the six phones into his briefcase and pulled out his own from his coat pocket.
�Hello, I need James, tell him that we�re going to Canada.� He spoke into the cell, apparently talking to someone in his staff.
Nenona stood off to one side, still apart, worried about what was to come.
Two hours later, they were on a flight from the base they had been given their powers at, Located in the Rockies, on their way to the Canadian Shield, one of the few true wilderness places left in the world. Each and every guardian was bound with smart-plastic cuffs, and gagged so they couldn�t argue. Aimee�s eyes still blazed with anger, though. They had been allowed to change into clothes that had been set out for them. Hiking clothes, Nenona and Andrew had both noticed that, supportive boots, long pants that converted into shorts, a light jacket, and a t-shirt in their respective color. Nenona sat quietly, surmising a test, something that Michael would have no doubt come up with in case his team was less than cooperative.
James came up and smiled at Nenona, bending down to whisper in her ear.
�Now, when we drop you guys off, we�re not giving you your supplies. Michael told me that you know how to hike and navigate, and we�re dumping them near enough for all of you to reach them by nightfall, if they listen to you. You�ll have a week to get to the spot designated on the map, after getting through several other obstacles Michael and I have set up.�
�They�re a way for us to keep track of you. Also they�re power containers. They�ll keep all of you from killing each other.�
Karis continued onto everyone else, putting Aimee�s cuff on her left ankle, and everyone else�s on their left wrist.
The plane slowed down, and the back cargo door opened. With a shove, Nenona fell out of the still-moving plane, followed by her comrades. She jumped up once she rolled to a stop, and brushed the grass of the field off her clothes, her arms freed from the plasti-cuffs, and the gag loosening and dropping off. The other guardians, however, took this to mean that they had been deserted, and immediately began fight amongst each other while Nenona watched as their packs, in crates, were dropped nearly a mile away, over a small ridge. She marked this spot in her mind, remembering the exact drop over the hill.
She turned around and patiently waited for the others to notice her, a smug smile on her face.
�What are you smiling about, brat?� Aimee asked.
�Do any of you want to survive the next week, or at all, I think? I don�t know if they�re coming to pick us up if we don�t meet at the pick-up point in one week�s time.�
�What do you mean, Nenona?� Erik asked.
�I mean, there�s a week�s walk ahead of us, and our food, and other stuff is across that ridge-she pointed-and if you don�t stop bickering like children, you�ll probably die out here, or at least lose your job.� she paused a second, crossing her arms, then continuing. �Listen, I know you guys don�t like me. Hell, you probably hate me and definitely blame me for getting you here, but I know how to get us out of this mess. I get that you�re not happy about me being leader, but I think I was chosen for a reason. All of you will get your chances to shine, your moment to lead, and your place is also important. We need to learn how to value each other�s input on things. I want you to speak up if you think something is wrong, or if you have any doubts in my plan of action. Now, I think we should go and get our stuff, so we don�t die out here in the cold at night, or starve to death. All in agreement say �Aye�.�
Everyone looked at Nenona, saying �Aye� and following her off the field. She walked briskly, keeping up a pace as she felt her way through the forest, her eyes on the ridge as she made her way up the slope. She held her pace, but Andrew caught up easily.
�What you said, back there, about believing in the reason for you being here, do you really believe in that?�
�Are you a Christian?�
�Yes. Why?�
�My parents were missionaries in�.in continent Five. I grew up there.�
�Oh, wow. And you can call it Africa, I hate the new names for everything�..numbers remove the personality from everything.�
�I agree. Part of something is where it got it�s name from. People too. When the Native Americans were renamed by the Europeans, they said that they felt like they had lost their sense of self, their identity.� He said, stumbling on a rock. She smirked, and watched her footing.
�That you for defending me earlier.�
�No prob. I believe that there�s a reason for everything too.�
They walked the rest of the way in silence, reaching their packs just as it was early afternoon.
Nenona and Andrew both passed out the packs to the group. Each pack was color-coordinated, and Nenona opened hers to find a GPS system and map. She quickly found their position and began planning out the trip in her mind. They could probably make about ten miles or so a day, starting early in the morning and ending in the evening. The lack of tents would make it faster to travel, but dangerous if bad weather rolled in.
�Where are we going?� Erik asked, approaching Nenona and sitting down on the ground next to her. She pointed to where they were, and where they were going on the map.
�Wow.� he said, raising his eyebrows. �Can we make it?�
�I think so, once we get over the fact that a child is leading us.� Nenona retorted, her sarcasm sharp as a razor.
�Nenona, as it is, I�m only twenty, but as far as I�ve seen, you learn faster than any of us, and you know how to shut all of us up already.� He pulled grass up from the earth and began tearing it up. �Plus, you were right, I should�ve started with safety rules and protocal first. I was nervous, and I�m guessing Aimee didn�t like watching a newb to this take the lead. Plus she�s never really been on a team before, and having to submit to training when everything always came naturally to her before is bothering her.�
�Ok.� She said, rifling through her pack, and taking inventory. Sleeping bag. Check. Dehydrated food for a week� .Check. Water Purifier. Check. Soap. Check. Toilet paper. Check. And�.a Whistle�of course, a safety precaution, just in case you couldn�t call for help. She pulled out a lighter. Why would they give her�.she wondered.
Wait, her brain froze.
She called the power, reached for the ability to incinerate and heat things, her left hand lain straight out in front of her, willing a flame to come up.
It didn�t.
Was she still immune to burning though?
She grabbed the lighter, and fumbling to light it, clicked the igniter and held her right palm held directly over the flame. Nothing. Just a friendly warmth. She sighed in relief. At least she had some powers, but it would mean a lot.
If she couldn�t conjure fire, than no one else would be able to use their guardian powers.
Meaning that if they were attacked, they would be helpless.
Well�.almost helpless. She reached the bottom of the pack and pulled out her talis dagger, and quickly strapped it on her left thigh, attaching it to her belt.
She repacked her bag and stood up, slinging it around and putting the straps on, then buckling the waist strap. She put the whistle around her neck, and turned to face the group, who was also rifling through their things for the next week.
�Okay, guys, let me give you the plan for the next week.� Everyone turned to look at her, quickly putting up their supplies from the packs. �First, I get that the reason Michael�s put us out here is so we�ll get along. Second, I�d like to hear any thoughts that you might have before we set out.� She paused and waited. No one spoke, so she continued.
�We�ve got a long way to walk, and only a week to do it in. Now, how many of you have hiked before?�
Andrew raised his hand. Bryan did too. Nenona nodded. �I used to be a hiking director for a hotel. I also used to backpack a lot. I�m asking those who have before to bear with me, and I�ll explain the rules�.� Nenona continued to explain. Shouting �Tree� when you reach a log, etc.
She adjusted her pack and set off, the group following her in the line that she assigned them to. All the newbs, Aimee, Erik, and Marco were in the middle, Nenona lead, and Bryan and Andrew brought up the rear.
The hiked until just before sunset, when Nenona stopped the company at a suitable spot and announced that it was time to set up camp. Everyone pulled out their sleeping bags and settled down, with Nenona taking out her position-finder to figure out how far they had gone.
Barely a mile. She did a rough calculation in her mind. Hours to distance, cross out the opposites�.They wouldn�t make it. There was no way. Not unless people picked it up. Hopefully after a few days of it, they�d toughen up. Nenona rubbed her knee where it had been skinned a little, jangling the bracelet on her wrist. She sighed and made her dinner, using the water purifier and a nearby stream. She fell into a restless sleep.
The Next morning, she awoke to the smoldering remains of last night�s fire. Morning dew was on her hair, and the outside of the bivvy bag. She closed her eyes to get her bearings, then opened them and sat upright, getting out of the sleeping bag. Her stomach grumbled and she reached instinctively for her pack, pulling out the purifier, then going down to the stream and filling it for a breakfast of reconstituted eggs and tofu bacon. Nenona had camped a little further away from the rest of the group, who chose a flat spot in a tree clearing. She was one of the first up, and Andrew came and sat near her as she ate breakfast.
�Morning.� he said quietly.
�Morning to you too.� Nenona said.
�Our powers aren�t working, are they?�
Nenona almost choked on the forkful of food she was eating.
�No, they aren�t. Some aren�t, but some are. I can still see heat, I�m still immune to getting burned, but I can�t start fires or make a fireball.�
�Same here, I can get info from my surroundings, but I can�t affect them like I usually do.�
�It�s the bracelets. They�re blocking them. James said that they would wear off as soon as we got along, though.�
�Aren�t we?�
�I believe he was referring to the team as a whole. I think Aimee still resents me for being the leader.�
�She won�t for long. She doesn�t get camping, nor does she have the ability to get people�s attention like you do.�
�I�m sorry that I�m so young, but that can�t be helped. Maybe once she sees that I�m not a complete idiot when it comes to leading.�
�Aye, she prolly will come around, especially once she sees what a natural you are at this.�
�How can you tell?�
�You�re not afraid to walk alone, and you listen.�
�Thank you.�
�It�s the truth.� Andrew got up and went to wake the others. Nenona finished her breakfast in silence, packing up and readying the group for their first full day of hiking.
That night, their camp set, the Group sat in a tight circle, telling childhood stories and really talking for the first time.
�So how was it, being a street racer?� Andrew asked Erik.
�It was okay, you go into it for the rush, the feeling of such rebellion, and the adrenaline, not the money. I used to live in a loft near the Industrial district. I had like zero friends, but plenty of allies. I got caught by the cops, and that�s how I got here.�
�Me too.� said Marco. �My gang got raided, and I was in jail. They offered a clean record for joining the PO.� He threw a stick into the fire.
�My family was attacked. I knew that I couldn�t have done anything without help.� Andrew added, �I wanted to fight.� He looked down at his feet.
�I was kicked out of the elite club of surfers in Oahu. I survived something that no one else did, and I pissed off a few people with my ideas.� Bryan admitted quietly.
�I wanted Adventure. No matter what, I couldn�t figure out what was missing about me, I always felt like a huge chunk of myself was missing.� Aimee held out her hand, and unclenched and clenched in into a fist. �I feel so�..right now.�
�I lost all my apartment, and I found out that I was a freak. I had no life left for me back in Mississippi. After Demons destroyed my life, I wanted to destroy them.� Nenona explained.
�Same here.� agreed Andrew. �I knew that I had to do something.�
Everyone was quiet. Nenona pulled out her dagger and tossed it to Erik.
�Speak your mind.� She ordered. �I want ever issue we have to be resolved tonight.�
�Ok. Aimee, you need to back off. You don�t know Nenona at all, and she was just trying to help. Marco, same, give the girl a chance. And Bryan, just because she�s young doesn�t mean anything.� He tossed the dagger to Andrew.
�Okay, I agree with Erik, and I think that so far my biggest worry for you guys is that you�re not seeing the big picture. Someone up there wanted us to be this way. Stuff like this doesn�t happen with �coincidence�.� Andrew threw it to Aimee.
�I worry too, Andrew, I�m worried that I may not do so well with such a big responsibility. Nothing could�ve prepared us for this. NOTHING. We�re all practically kids. And I understand that I�ve been a prat. I�m sorry, and bugger it all if I wasn�t just misplacing my worry.� She handed the weapon over to Bryan.
�I too, worry. I was deserted before, who says that it can�t happen again? Who says that I won�t eff something major up?� He tossed it to Marco.
�Who doesn�t worry? But as long as we share our worry, voice our problems, it shouldn�t be too hard. I�m used to working for a team, sacrificing for the whole, I was just wary of Nenona. I�m still not sure, but if what I�ve seen so far continues, it should be great.� He threw it to Nenona.
�I want to be a good leader. If any of you have a different idea, or think that something is wrong, then speak up. I�ve named Erik and Aimee my first and second command, respectively. If anything would happen to me, you would follow them, and I expect you to listen to them like you do to me. I hope that eventually we can communicate properly, and learn to be a great team. I, like Andrew, believe that we are all here for a reason, and that it is us for a reason. Prove me right.�
That night, it was freezing cold, and the group moved their sleeping bags closer to one another, to keep from losing too much body heat. Nenona cast a circle about them to keep them protected for the night.
She slept next to Erik, curled into a ball, and woke up in the middle of the night to find him close to her, against her back, and she could hear the in-out of his shallow breathing, and hear the beat of his heart, and sense the heat from his body. Andrew had started about two feet away from her, near her head, but had moved closer as the night went on, and she could hear his breathing too. She squeezed her eyes shut and Prayed. Please, God, tell me what to do. I find myself falling for both of them, and I know that if this continues, that it cannot be for good. Please guard me from feeling this, please keep me from these thoughts.
�Sleep well?� Andrew asked, sitting cross legged about five feet outside of the circle.
�And good job on the circle, By the way.� He said, biting into a granola bar.
�Thanks.� Nenona said, dragging her pack out and leaving to go to the bathroom and refill her water purifier for breakfast. When she returned, she sat down next to Andrew and began eating.
�So how much more do we have to walk?�
�Not much. We made good time the past day.�
�Ok. Do your powers work again?�
�Yeah, possibly.� Nenona held out her right hand, palm up, and reached for her powers. A flame sparked up and danced merrily in her hand.
�That�ll never get old. What else can you do?� Andrew asked.
�Not sure exactly, but I know that I can singe stuff or melt it by focusing my power enough. I�m also sure that I could burn things without flame. What about you?�
�I can hear the plants speak. I can make them grow fast, or move from one place to another. I can control their abilities, and listen to their memories, but the speaking thing I�ve had my whole life.� He looked down at his lap.
�What�s wrong?� Nenona asked, looking at his face. Andrew sighed and said, �My parents�..always thought that I was crazy, psycho, you know? I functioned fine, but in reality, they were worried that I�d always be alone because I was so�.different.�
�Oh, Andrew�.I�m sorry.�
�It�s okay. I�m not alone now. I have the team. And you�� Erik stirred and Nenona watched as the rest of the team awoke for the day.
During the week, the team got to know each other, their likes, dislikes, and learned how to trust each other. Nenona kept getting closer and closer to both Erik and Andrew, knowing full well that disaster was coming if she kept on the path.
When they reached the checkpoint at the end of the hike, Nenona led a TEAM. An inseparable group that would give their lives for each other.
As soon as they boarded the Helicopter for the ride home, Michael briefed them on a trip that they would take in a few weeks, to Japan.
�Oh, Joy.� Nenona said.