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Things Change	By : kaguyahime Category: A through F > Ender's Game Views: 3255 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters or have anything to do with the Ender's Game series or its author, no profit is being made from this

Chapter List
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"What do you thinks up with him?" Bean hissed across to Dink as they prepared themselves for the morning's game.
Dink shrugged but said nothing.
Ender had a glazed look in his eye and his mind was focussed entirely on winning, the noise around him was a low, constant hum and anything anyone said to him was not received. His temples ached and a cold sweat dampened his hair beneath the helmet.
It was as if he had a force field around him, no one could get to him if they wanted to but when he was like this no one did anyway.
Ender soon found out what Graff had meant when he said he had not faced two armies like this. Centipede was the first the fall but before Dragon could have a chance to feel more relieved Rabbit army joined in their place.
"Get into formation!" Ender yelled as he dragged the remainder of his team behind the nearest stars "the only way to do this is to get one person through and let the rest of us be frozen!"
The others surrounded him allowing the lasers to strike, Ender held his breath as he felt the muscles of the other tense as they froze up and did not breathe properly until he pushed himself through the gate.
Whilst the others congratulated each other Ender dress quickly and exited annoyed with himself. He should have read more into what Colonel Graff had said. He could quite have easily cost them their win.
And that win meant nothing as it was luck more than effort.
'Let the others be pleased' he thought 'I'm not there to cast a shadow on it...'
He headed toward the classroom, he was fifteen minutes early but it would give him time on his own. He paused as he heard footsteps and looked round, half expecting it to be Dink or Bean looking for him.
Instead Mazer Rackham appeared; he noticed Ender but made no sign of acknowledgement.
"That battle was completely unfair, Sir" Rackham stopped and looked at Ender evenly
"Since when was war ever fair? I certainly never remember any battle having any equality in it and the tactics I came up against were a lot more unfair than what you have just faced."
Ender could say nothing to that and wondered why he had said anything...except to be in the presence of his hero and feel the need he did in his dreams. Or nightmares as they were becoming as it felt as if they haunted him.
Beautiful nightmares.
As Rackham started to leave Ender spoke again
"Can't you tell me anything more, Sir? About your battles, I could learn a lot from you"
"If you listened you would learn a lot anyway, and no, you don't need to know anything more that you don't already."
'I knew you'd say that' Ender thought but said no more.
Rackham walked away and Ender followed a few paces behind until he reached the classroom door. He paused outside until Rackham was out of sight wondering how he would react if he dared to tell him the extent of his feelings.
'Soon' Ender promised himself 'but now if not the time'
When the right time was he had no idea but knew he would somehow know when it was, he pushed open the classroom door and wandered in, heading for his normal chair.
"Petra?!"
The girl sprang to her feet, her face flushed with embarrassment, the boy she was with even more so.
Her brown hair was out of place and her uniform partially undone, the boy quickly yanked his pants up and dashed out the room.
"Please don't tell!" Ender couldn't speak, he knew he should report her unseemly behaviour but despite being unforgiving in battle he hadn't the heart to ruin her.
"Ender please..."
Ender finally found his voice which came out in a mousy squeak
"Where'd you see that?" Petra gave a relieved smile, she could read Ender well and was well aware he would have turned on his heel and done his duty straight away if he was going to. Ender Wiggin didn't waste time.
"Some ancient movie I caught my father watching" she glanced at the huge screen that dominated the front of the room "not something you'd find here."
She started up the steps adding as she went "I wouldn't go any further...I was just curious" she chose a seat in the far corner indicating she didn't want to talk about it.
"You're lucky it was me" Ender called over "I don't think Colonel Dap would be as forgiving!" Petra gave a small laugh but there was no amusement in it.
"He would have had me thrown out of here with no oxygen" she replied flatly, relieved when she saw the door open and others trudge in. The boy Petra had been with came in last and took a seat as far away as he could from both Petra and Ender, his eyes cast down.
'She could do better' Ender found himself thinking critically as he flicked a glance over 'he isn't the best in battle or in looks, in fact I'm not even sure why he's here...'
The rest of the morning passed without incident, the usual mix of carefully cut films and vague teachings.
Then after lunch Ender found Rackham waiting for him outside his room
"About time, Wiggin" he said as Ender saluted "Waiting is not one of my favourite pastimes as you well know."
'I wouldn't have kept you waiting if I'd known' Ender thought crossly but said nothing as he followed Rackham down the corridor and into a room reserved for shooting practice. It was a plain area with nothing adorning it except a control panel. When used lifelike targets would appear and unless you hit them first the game was over. Unlike the battle room there was nothing to hide behind and was meant to test ability in certain situations.
"Since your battles are becoming harder it has been decided to train you with different weapons, in some circumstances what you use would be primitive and ineffective."
Rackham bent down opened the hidden door beneath the panel and pulled out what looked to Ender to be a laser exactly the same as he already used. Rackham noticed his sceptical expression
"Don't ask, Wiggin" he said roughly handing it to him "this is a double barrelled laser, it will shoot two targets at once. It stretches to a ninety degree angle, obviously no more or you would shoot yourself...although I daresay you could manage that." He tapped the keys and the holographs of two buggers appeared
"At the moment I'm using stationary targets but that is for today only" he stepped back and gestured for him to shoot.
Ender raised the gun but Rackham's eyes felt heavy on him and his thoughts drifted as he pulled the trigger.
Both lasers missed by a mile.
Rackham said nothing but Ender would tell he was taken aback, so was he; normally he could grasp what was forced on him straight away.
The targets still stood and he raised the gun again...and missed. Rackham came over and stood behind him, still saying nothing he supported Ender's arms from behind, setting them in the correct position.
Ender felt his skin flush at the closeness but the feeling of his mentor beside him, steadying him was calming, his next shot was perfect.
When Rackham stood back Ender still felt his touch and support and his aim was spot on.
"Not exactly up to scratch" Rackham said as they finished "your mind needs to be focussed on the matter at hand."
"Yes, Sir" Ender kept his eyes on the floor, not wanting his eyes to give anything away "I'll prove I can kill every single target tomorrow and hold my ground."
"Perhaps not tomorrow but very soon after" came the offhand response "now go."
Ender practically ran out, not noticing the strange expression on his teacher's face.
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Things Change