Chapter 11. Play enemy

"Arriz, you'll make a great terrorist!"

Arriz was about to ask what today's training was about, and Damian's replica caught him completely off guard. He froze on the spot with his mouth open, trying to figure if he was hearing things or his identity was truly revealed.

Dozens of questions were invading his mind all at once. How did they find out? When did he make a mistake? Or was it simply a test? Or another provocation on Iutah's behalf? How was he supposed to get out of that one if he really was a terrorist?!

Luckily, he didn't have to start with his hastily created excuses, because Damian continued:

"What, surprised you're asked to participate in a mission again?"

So it was just a mission, he wasn't really accused of anything! He allowed himself a sign of relief.

"Surprised, but not too much. I've already been part of your missions before."

Damian was the only one who dragged him into practical training. Other teachers sympathized him, but they weren't planning on including him into their classes any time soon, he could just watch from aside. Arriz didn't know how to react to such attention properly. On the one hand, it was useful – he could learn more about hybrids that way. On the other, he sensed that Damian was suspicious about him, and that teacher was an acting warrior of the Second Breed!

In addition, this mission looked like an unusual one. None of them knew what it was about, but three teams were united in the lecture hall at once, and that was rare.

"Would you mind coming here?" Damian called.

The telepath took a seat in one of the top rows to observe everything. He didn't want to act like a terrorist, even as a joke, but he decided not to argue with Damian; he walked down and stood beside the teacher.

The older hybrid addressed his students:

"As you have probably understood, today we'll be dealing with terrorists. It's one of the most urgent threats to us today. Last month One Breed attacked a residential area for hybrids. Luckily, no-one got hurt, but it was another warning to us. We can't relax with those psychos around. So the training programs considering the terrorists will be regular from now on."

"Sounds useful, but what does it have to do with me?" Arriz dared to ask.

"You're a human, and the only one here who's not part of the staff. You've received proper training which is equal to military one. I have all the reasons to believe that you think differently from hybrids. And you're not a civilian! So today you'll head a group of terrorists."

"Head?.."

"Exactly," Damian confirmed. "You may choose two students who'll act as your subordinates. Terrorists usually attack in small groups, because they know they'll most likely get killed, therefore three of you today… All the others will try to break into your fort and destroy you."

The division of strength was impressive: three "human terrorists" against twenty-two remaining hybrids from three teams! But Damian was right, One Breed never sent more than ten people on a mission.

"Terrorists have weapons," Arriz reminded. "They've never fought hybrids with bare hands!"

"You won't either. You'll get special training weapons. That's why I'm asking you to act as a leader: unlike hybrids, you'll have to concentrate your attention on using weapon, not physical strength."

"In other words, I'll improve the reality of this experiment?"

"You may put it that way if you like," Damian smirked. He went to the teacher's desk and took three suitcases from under it. "These are your toys for today."

He opened the suitcases, showing their contents to the students. The collection was cinematically remarkable: pistols, machine guns, a sniper rifle, mines, grenades and even sensor bombs. It was a perfect copy of everything One Breed normally used: Arriz had visited their hideouts in the past, so he was sure about that. Damian and his colleagues had been fighting the Organization for years, and it was only natural they knew what they were dealing with.

"Don't tell me that's the real thing," Arriz said, with dread clear in his voice.

"That would've been entertaining, but no. Level two hybrids are still too weak to train with real weapon."

"They're weak… and me?!" the telepath fumed.

"And you wouldn't participate in such a case. But you can now, because these weapons use paint instead of bullets. The pistols shoot paint, grenades explode in paint and so on. Students, your honesty will be crucial for this assignment. The part of your body which got paint on it is automatically considered paralyzed, you can't use it anymore. You should remember that back on Earth terrorists use chemical weapons a lot, and this script is more or less realistic. If you got hit in the head or chest, you're out, same thing with your back. Remember: if you simply got "killed", you won't get any points and that's it. But if I catch you cheating, you'll lose the points you've already got."

The students weren't too happy about it, but, just like Arriz, they were in no position to negotiate. Training halls were full of cameras, and any claim of cheating could be checked easily.

"You still haven't told me what to do," Arriz pointed out.

"You and your subordinates will go to the ninth hall. You'll have three hours to set up as many traps as you can and work out some strategy of defense. You'll get the instructions for the guns with you, but you've studied these models in your tech classes, nothing new to you here. After that other students will enter the hall. Their task is to capture you or pretend to kill you."

"I hope they remember about the "pretend" part…"

"Don't worry, if they actually kill you, they'll lose all of their points, and they don't need that," the teacher grinned widely.

"I'm not sure I like your priorities," the telepath grumbled. "Or theirs."

"I'm just being pragmatic. Your task is to hold the fort for as long as you can… or kill all the hybrids that come for you. That depends on your agility and their stupidity. Now choose who you want to work with, the rest of the teams will stay here."

There was a catch in that instruction, and a huge one! Damian really wanted to know whom he'd choose. It wasn't an easy decision for Arriz! Calling Iutah seemed like the easiest option, and the hybrid was waiting for that too, it was clear in his eyes. Their communication had been tense lately, and participating in a mission together might've been useful. But Arriz didn't want that: he felt that working with Iutah would become torture.

At the same time, if Iutah wasn't chosen, he'd be pissed off… Well, Arriz could always lie that he wanted to hide their partnership from Damian. After finding the right excuses for the future, the telepath named the students he really liked.

"Norman and Alex."

"Cool!" Alex hit his palm on the desk in excitement. "That's gonna be interesting!"

Norman was more reserved in his reaction, it looked like he wasn't sure that portraying a terrorist was the right thing for him to do. But he didn't say anything, and soon both of them stood next to Arriz.

The telepath kept repeating to himself that they weren't really his friends. He was just an agent on a mission, he wasn't allowed to have friends among his enemies! But he couldn't deny that dealing with these two was much easier than with any other hybrid – just because he liked their personalities.

"Good choice," Damian approved. "Though you could've chosen stronger ones."

Those were no mere words. Even though the official rates weren't announced yet, everyone knew who the top students were. Red and Black Teams initially had the strongest hybrids, and now even among them the leaders became clear. Iutah was one of them. Furthermore, the invincible Karajo was also here… and his presence freaked Arriz out. Always. So he decided to stay away from that monstrously strong mummy.

"The hybrid strength has no meaning here," he noted. "They're supposed to act like humans anyway."

"That's not what I meant. If you took the strongest ones with you, they'd be on your side – and now they're your opponents."

"True enough. But the stronger the opponent, the more fun it is, right?"

"I guess so," the older hybrid shrugged. "Well, gentlemen, you'd better get going. We'll see you in three hours. Make it as fun as Arriz promised us!"

They didn't hesitate, because they knew that three hours weren't such a long term. Each of them took a suitcase and they headed for the platform.

Alex was openly enjoying the game. Norman, who accepted his new role, was calm and collected. And Arriz hoped he looked the same on the outside, though he was fighting an inner struggle. What the hybrids didn't know was that he wouldn't be pretending, he'd actually become what he was meant to be! What his father wanted him to be. From the point of view of One Breed, dying in an attack like that was the best death a human could have. But Arriz was almost physically sick at the idea.

"I need to calm down," he thought. "It's just a game. Alex is the one who acts appropriately! It's a simple military strategy. No-one gets hurt."

No-one would get hurt now. But what would happen after he got back to Earth?

"Why are you so gloomy?" Norman inquired. "You think I'm mad at you or something? Nah! I just don't like to stand out too much. But I like the idea of a game."

"No, it's not about you. I don't like the fact that Damian appointed me as the main terrorist!"

"He explained his decision," Alex said.

"I know. But… curators' communication with hybrids is already tense, that's why I was sent here. I don't want to be turned into an enemy, even for a training session!"

"Oh, can the whining!" Alex slapped his shoulder cheerfully. "All of us know that you're not an enemy! Guys, it's just a strategy game, and we need to win it! You know what we should do? We should pretend that they're terrorists and we're level two hybrids, that's why we have to use guns!"

"I think your imagination got too involved in this," Norman mumbled. "Does it matter what we think?"

"Sure it does! It's easier to win knowing you're doing the right thing! And terrorists are scum; even pretending to be them is disgusting!"

"If you keep taking it as a child's game, we won't last an hour against them!"

"I can't take shooting paint at them tragically, sorry!"

Watching them made the storm in Arriz's soul lose its destructive energy. Alex was right. It was just a game – like in his childhood, when he and other boys were pretending to be soldiers. Their mission was not actually killing someone, but covering fellow students in bright paint!

He was glad he didn't take Iutah with him. Now that was someone who'd never relax and take things easy! The very name of One Breed was holy to him.

When they reached the hall number nine, the gates were already open, though there was no-one inside. They were greeted by a pine forest drowning in warm sunlight. Above the tops of century-old trees they could see the roof of a tower – not too high, made of pale yellow stones, wide and perfectly fit for sieges. Its walls looked very solid, and the windows here so tiny that nobody could get inside through them, even a child. Arriz expected to see something more modern, but he wasn't disappointed. A construction like that would be much easier to protect!

His mood got even better at seeing this. Here, among the sun and the smell of pines, he didn't want to think about real terrorists and his late father. He came here with his friends, they'd play a game and then leave unharmed! He was where he belonged, and that was all that mattered.

He and Alex wanted to go straight to the tower, but Norman stopped them.

"Where do you think you're going?��

"Getting ready for their attack," Alex replied. "What, you want to enjoy the nature first?"

"Very funny! The preparation should start right here. If we let all of them get to the tower, no guns will save us!"

"Yeah, but the forest is too big, we don't have enough traps for all of it!"

"That's why we must think before setting those traps! If we figure the main ways they'd use to get to the tower, one trap can take a couple of people down."

"But those ways are impossible to guess!"

"Typical words of a city folk," Norman grinned. "Maybe I haven't read too many fancy books, but I grew up on a farm and I know how to hunt! Actually, this ridiculous assignment suddenly got interesting…"

Arriz could only agree with that, because he felt his own excitement growing. He'd make Iutah pay for the stupid robot setup, and the great Karajo would lose for the first time!

Norman opened his case and bent over it, choosing the best weapon for this place.

���This will do!" he decided, observing a wide flat mine that reminded of a toad slightly. "If we put it here, someone will step on it for sure, and then the paint will cover at least five meters around it. How many of those have we got?"

"Four."

"Then we should install four of them in the forest, they're not as useful inside the tower."

In spite of his previous skepticism, Norman was the first to start truly enjoying the game. To Arriz it was a challenge in a way: would he be worse than his subordinates and fail to create a proper strategy?! He was the leader after all!

Even in his thoughts he wasn't calling himself a terrorist. It made things easier – as if avoiding the word gave him an official permission to have fun.

After setting the traps among the forest roads they reached the tower. It looked like a huge chess piece – wide and powerful. The sole gates that led inside were made of solid wood covered with metal plates. There was a bar lock on their inner part.

"It's a bit old-fashioned, but they sure have style," Arriz commented. "I don't see any signs of paint anywhere. Are we the first to deal with this script?"

"You're kidding, right?" Alex chuckled. "The halls are repaired and cleaned after each training. Things wouldn't be half as real if we were bothered with keeping the decorations intact!"

"Told you there was no reason to worry about broken floors," the telepath said, turning to Norman. "Okay, people, we've got a bit more than two hours left till our opponents arrive here. We need to set the rest of the mines. One is for the door, that's obvious. The small ones with motion sensors should be left on the windows, they'll get lost anywhere else. The jumping mines are for the staircase, they won't be able to pass it. And we must put one behind that turn – I bet they'll relax by the time they get there!"

"Damn, you're one hell of a field commander!" Norman clapped his hands once. "They teach you that at those curator academies?"

"Nah, that's a natural gift."

They spread around the tower to save some time. Arriz noticed that the building literally had nothing in it – no computers, or those treasures one would expect in a tower. Just five empty rooms, each taking a separate floor, and winding stairs between them.

But this training facility, unlike the burning house, didn't need any accessories, because they couldn't influence the outcome of the battle. The fewer things were left in the tower, the easier it was to clean it from the paint!

Norman went to the first floor, Alex was preparing the roof, and Arriz was studying the third and the fourth floors. When he reached the fifth one, Alex had already been waiting for him there.

The hybrid was obviously in a very good mood. He found a set of camouflage paint in one of the cases and now his face looked like he fell into a swamp. Though in his mind he was probably the picture of a perfect soldier, not a child first drawing with crayons.

Arriz wasn't bothered by his gimmicks. He simply noted:

"You look like you're enjoying this!"

"Sure I do! I liked this kind of games even before I got here! I mean, strategy games. Me and my friends have been doing that a lot – pretending to be the police, and we played war, and of course, we were hybrids. Mostly hybrids, and for my friends it was no different from everything else, while I understood that it's really my thing. I wanted that to become my future!"

"Wait a second… You mean, you actually wanted to become a hybrid?"

This sphere of knowledge was still limited for Arriz. And not only that one! He didn't know as much about their history as he wanted to, his only success so far being the legend Olivia had told him. But she was being too romantic about it, and he wanted pure facts. Iutah generally kept his mouth shut… and even he knew only his part of the story.

This story was unique for each of them. Arriz had rarely though about the things that brought those kids into the world of hybrids – but he was starting to.

They were on a mission together, and that seemed like the best occasion to discuss such things. In addition, Alex was definitely not the most reserved hybrid around!

"Yes," he nodded. "I've always dreamt about it, for as long as I can remember. When I first saw hybrids on TV… I was just gone! They were so cool, like real-life superheroes… They were brave, strong, and most importantly, unusual. Their life was crazy and surreal! And… they were helping people like nobody else could. I understood I had to be one of them. My parents didn't believe I was serious at first… They wanted me to become an engineer!"

"I like the difference in your career ideas," Arriz laughed.

"There can be no such thing as different career ideas, because I'm the only one who can decide that. It's my life after all! I knew that there were special tests held in school, the ones that showed who's fit to become a hybrid."

Arriz knew that part: the Organization had studied everything that the Second Breed did openly. Not every human could become a hybrid even on a physical level. The transition required a rare combination of a blood type, bone structure, general health level, absence of genetic anomalies and other factors. Plus, there were psychological tests meant to show whether the child could bear such responsibility.

"So you went to those tests without warning your parents?"

"Yep," Alex confirmed, not even a shadow of regret in his voice. "I didn't need their permission for that! I was scared that I'd fail completely and then I'd have to forget about my dream!"

"But you succeeded – that's classic."

"Actually, no… I didn't pass. I was told that my physical characteristics were okay, but I failed the psychological tests. For some reason, I didn't feel upset. I knew I'd have another try in a year, I was young enough for that. I spent the following twelve months preparing… I was told I'm too kind and not serious enough to become a hybrid. I wasn't really trying to become cruel, I don't think I can do that. People say that life is cruel and full of sorrow, but I don't believe that. Life is a great thing and you must adore it! If that's what my so-called kindness is about – fine, I'm ready to live with that! So I was improving my concentration abilities, I had to be more thoughtful and collected. And then I passed! They told me I wouldn't make a good warrior and that I'd end up in the rescue team. That's exactly what happened later, when I was assigned to the Green Team. I'm glad! I know that warriors usually get more attention, fame and even money… But I don't need that, I chose to become a hybrid to help people!"

"Hold the heroic speech, will you? Better tell me how your parents reacted to that."

"Ah, things were pretty bad there…" the hybrid immediately became gloomy. "When I showed them the invitation I got, they started a scandal. They had the right to keep me on Earth: I couldn't join the Second Breed without their permission. I had never had any serious fights with them before that, but I couldn't let go of my dream! It lasted for four days… They were screaming at me, locking me in my room, then trying to convince me calmly. I was screaming right back at them and started a hunger strike. I got a pretty bad fever… These things made them treat me seriously… My mom was crying when she signed that permission, and I felt sorry for her, but I knew I was doing the right thing. I know they're missing me now – and I miss them too, staying away from them for so many years is tough. But when I'm finished with my studies, I'll make them proud for me, you'll see!"

His devotion to this idea was truly impressive – a mature feeling, contrasting greatly to his general childishness. He knew exactly what he was doing. He accepted the fact that he wouldn't see his parents for at least four years, and that probably upset him, but he was good at hiding his feelings under the mask of eternal good mood. He knew his priorities and followed them without hesitation.

Those were all typical human qualities. But in the Organization they said that the poor kids were lured into the Second Breed and underwent major brainwashing here…

"And what inspired you to become a curator? That's not a typical job too, curators risk every day!"

He didn't expect that question and was now confused. Somehow Arriz didn't think of anyone being interested in that, he didn't know what to say. He could skip the answer, and the hybrid probably wouldn't push it, but that would harm the trust they already had. Alex opened up to him – and received silence in return, that wouldn't do!

The instructions he got at the Organization were simple: no truth. But that wasn't fair; Arriz just couldn't lie cold-heartedly to someone who viewed him as a friend! Although he couldn't be honest either. So he chose what appeared to be the next best thing…

"I became a curator because my parents wanted it."

"Whoa, looks like your situation is opposite to mine! But that's not too cool if they forced you into this…"

"They didn't force me," Arriz objected. "When I was little, I didn't quite understand what they wanted from me. My father was a curator, and I admired him. To be fair, I'd never wanted to be like him, but I could tell he was doing something very important and useful for everyone. And then he died… He was killed during a terrorist attack."

Alex, who was listening to him with his typical curiosity, was clearly upset by the last sentences.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked…"

"Relax, your question didn't insult me or anything. It happened – and I see no sense in denying reality."

"Well, now I understand why you were so negative when Teacher Damian asked you to pretend to be a terrorist," Alex said quietly. "I was thinking: why did he make such a big deal out of it? But if they killed your father… Even posing as one of them is really creepy. I think if you told Teacher Damian that, he wouldn't make you take that role!"

"He didn't make me do it, I agreed. I know that my initial reaction was more emotional than it should've been… But that's not a reason for excuses! No excuses in reality, remember? When my father died… I wasn't afraid of those who killed him, I wanted to avenge him. I'm not going to start avoiding challenges now!"

"I'm sure your father was a great man!" the hybrid claimed confidently.

"Many considered him a hero. When he was gone, my mom didn't cry… At least, she didn't let me see her crying. She was making me believe that Dad did the right thing, and I should be like him. She wanted me to take his place…"

"But did you want it?"

"I can't say I had a choice. Everyone around me kept repeating that it's the right way to follow. I believed that back then and I still do. When I entered the Academy, I did everything I could to become the top student. And if I succeeded and I'm here now, then it's really my way."

"I guess so," Alex pronounced thoughtfully. "Though I think that you can find your way without any advice…"

The sound of approaching steps interrupted their talk, making them turn to the doors. Norman was walking the stairs slowly, careful not to disturb the traps, though half of them wasn't activated yet.

"What are you two doing here?" he asked in surprise. "Less than an hour left!"

"We've already done everything we can," Alex waved him off. "We've just been discussing how we came into the world of the Second Breed. I told Arriz I really wanted to become a hybrid. What about you?"

"What?" Norman became alert.

"Why did you decide to become a hybrid?"

Norman was controlling himself perfectly and didn't give his emotions away, but the telepath could sense the pain that throbbed in his heart. It was an old one, it started many years ago but didn't lose any of its power…

To Alex, becoming a hybrid was an adventure, while something dark hid in Norman's past. Arriz expected his companion to lie or to change the topic – and he guessed it correctly.

"It's not slumber party, you know!" he grumbled, rolling his eyes in irritation. "They'll be here soon!"

"Will you stop being so serious? It's just a game!"

"I remember. But I don't like losing any kind of game in three minutes! Let's defend this place for as long as we can, that's a good kind of practice for us too!"

"But what do you expect us to do now? We've already set all the traps!"

Arriz didn't want to let go of the previous topic. He was intrigued by what he had sensed, and he knew instinctively that this secret was truly important. Not only to Norman, but to him as well, he needed it for the better understanding of the Second Breed.

However, he left like he had no right to insist. He could only hope that he'd have a chance to return to that topic. Arriz decided to concentrate on the game instead.

"Norman's right, we can't just sit here waiting for the traps to work! We've got enough guns to keep them away from us."

"Now you're talking!" Norman nodded in approval. "I'll stay on the first floor. There are a couple of good niches there, I can shoot from them. Nice surprise for them, huh?"

"Take the remote control for the mine we left on the stairs," Arriz recommended. "It'll allow you to move to the second floor safely and then activate it. It's weird that we weren't given any means of communication…"

"Nah, it's normal. During real terrorist attacks any type of connection is usually blocked, even the old-fashioned walkie-talkies don't work," Norman explained. "If the terrorists didn't prepare any special equipment, they'd be left without connection. And since we weren't given anything like that, our case is a typical one. We won't know what's going on with any of us until it's all over."

They wouldn't know. Arriz was more optimistic about it: he always had his telepathy!

The book he got in the library helped him greatly. Now he knew that he was stuck on the initial stage of his powers: he could sense emotions, the presence of other people, tell truth from lies, but that was it. However, that should be enough for today's game. He'd be able to sense the hybrids from a distance. He just had to figure how to pass that knowledge to Alex and Norman without revealing his secret. He couldn't tell them the truth yet, so he had to improvise.

"Let's begin!" Norman took a machine gun and two pistols from the case. "We're the bad guys today, but our goal is good – we must organize a worthy training for everyone!"

"I prefer to believe that we're the good guys," Alex said while studying the sniper rifle. "I don't know about you, but I have no intention of letting them into my tower!"

"True story, they're not welcome here! Get going!"

They moved to their positions, with Arriz walking to the fourth floor. It wasn't really a big room, but it gave such impression due to the absence of furniture. It had only one small window that could be used for observing the forest, but the telepath opted to stay away from it. He sat in the center of the room and closed his eyes, concentrating solely on his gift.

The hybrids entered the hall right on time – not a minute later or earlier; Damian kept his word. They stayed together for a while, probably to get their final instructions, then they dashed forward… and the first trap was activated.

Arriz couldn't sense the device itself since it wasn't alive. But he knew what happened through the surprise that engulfed most of the hybrids. For five of them, the surprise was changed with anger and disappointment. It looked like they were "killed"! Their reaction was predictable: they just got here and lost already! They didn't move any further, because Damian was still close and he had probably witnessed their defeat.

But the others didn't stay on one spot for a long time. They ran into the forest – and started the chain reaction of the remaining traps. Arriz had to give Norman his due, that guy was an amazing hunter! The students were going the way he expected them to, straight into the mines he had left. But they were quick to learn, and the number of the following "victims" was much smaller per mine – about two or three hybrids. Those were probably the weakest, leaving only the best students to reach the tower.

The telepath could feel their power boiling, it was familiar to him, even though he was far from understanding it fully. All hybrids on Ceres had different level of strength, in spite of getting the same resource during the transition. Unfortunately, he wasn't good enough to identify the exact level of their powers yet.

But he had learned to recognize individual hybrids by their aura. He knew Iutah, that's for sure! But Iutah was staying away so far, observing the progress of the others. Arriz was also familiar with the members of the Black Team that reached the tower without any losses. The Silver twins were busy breaking the gates at this moment. He also sensed the energy of Olivia and was surprised by that – he didn't expect her to get this far.

She didn't last long though. Once the door was broken, the twins jumped back swiftly, and she didn't, she wasn't fast enough. Judging by the momentary fear she felt and the following shame, she was hit by the paint. But she didn't retreat, so she was "wounded", not "killed".

Norman and Alex were putting on a good fight. One was shooting from the roof like an experienced sniper, while the other didn't let his opponents take a step into the tower. They'd already forgotten whom they were portraying and were simply playing.

But the opponents were a worthy match to them. The Silver twins used their favorite tactic: when Light was distracting Alex's attention, Dark managed to get a rope on the roof and was climbing up now. He'd reach the top in no time!

Arriz didn't want the game to be over just yet. He couldn't warn Alex though, and running there would've been stupid. So he focused on putting the feeling of dread into the hybrid's heart, making Alex turn around and see the rope. To hell with the other twin, Light couldn't harm them from the ground! And his brother was almost at the top…

The trick suddenly worked, though Arriz didn't expect that to happen so easily. Alex ran towards the other side of the roof, noticing the rope. Soon Dark was flying down – and that circumstance made him very angry. Judging by his reaction, he got his share of paint and left the game, the first in his team!

But it wasn't such a disgrace since one of his classmates joined him a moment later. Coris Solstice demonstrated untypical impatience by rushing forward. Norman, who was waiting for something like that, activated one of the bombs a second later. Judging by the emotions of Coris, he couldn't escape the paint. But the others used his diversion as a cover to get inside.

It was the end of the game for Norman and he knew that. He didn't feel any wrath about it, unlike some other hybrids, because he remembered it was just a training session and he'd already done more than the teacher was expecting from him. He had enough time to take Light Silver out of the game before he got his shot of paint. It seemed that Clara was the one who got him, and she continued her ascending, she wasn't interested in her fallen enemy.

Three more hybrids followed her, two from the Green Team, one from the Black. They were smarter than the rest, they figured how to find and disarm the traps. Arriz knew they'd reach him and he had to concentrate on them. He was bothered by the fact that neither Iutah nor Karajo were too active so far, but with the immediate threat he was facing, he could no longer search for them.

He wasn't worried about Clara, because he had studied her well. She was too impulsive, and after succeeding at something she'd forget about caution. The Green Team hybrids weren't really strong, they were just lucky to get here. But the remaining Black Team hybrids…

When they reached the fourth floor, everything started happening really fast, and Arriz didn't have any time for analyzing the situation. He had to act.

He activated the trap that he installed by the door. One of the Green ones pulled back, covered in bright spots. The second one opened the door widely – which resulted in him being shot straight in the chest twice.

There was nowhere to hide in this room, but Arriz wasn't planning to. They expected him to run, but he wasn't going to play along. He didn't care about losing – it wasn't a tragedy. This training session was by no means a threat to him.

So he didn't even bat an eye when Clara attacked him. His prognosis was true: her previous victory made her act carelessly. She jumped forward like a wild cat, escaped the first shot and thought that would be enough. How naïve! Arriz didn't need his telepathy to predict her movements, they were too obvious. He decided not to paint her perfect face, and multi-colored spots covered her uniform instead.

"Damn!" Clara hit the floor with her fist so hard that little cracks ran all over the stone. "Not fair!���

Arriz didn't pay any attention to her. He was left one on one with the opponent whom he originally considered to be the strongest in that group.

Red Yeremeya was among the most powerful hybrids of this generation. His natural fury could've led him to the Red Team, but his perfect self-control opened the road to the elite Black Team. He wasn't using that self-control during the training though, which usually left his opponents with a set of bruises.

Arriz wasn't a hybrid, so in his case the bruises would turn into broken bones. He didn't dare to come too close, they froze on their spots facing each other. Red's eyes, one green and one brown, made the telepath feel uneasy.

"You've made quite a mess here," the hybrid chortled. "Better than the real terrorists could ever do! I think they'd accept you into their ranks without any trials if they saw this!"

"Did you expect this to be easy?"

"Oh no, I was afraid it would be too easy when you were made part of this. I'm satisfied with how things went. Killing you, or pretending to kill you, without a good fight would've been boring."

"You haven't won yet," Arriz reminded.

"You have any doubts about that?"

"Theory of probability."

"It's on my side, believe me."

Arriz saw no sense in continuing that talk. He made the first shot, firing the machine gun, though he knew his opponent would escape it. And he was right – Red was fast enough to jump aside, and the paint left a long line on the floor. It had to be this way. The telepath wanted his opponent to think that he had lost his cool.

This diversion could've tricked Clara, but the Black Team hybrid was much more experienced. Red still kept his distance, making sure it wasn't a trap. Arriz had to start another attack that looked even more chaotic than the previous one. He knew that such actions were spoiling the fun for Red, making him angry.

But that worked. The hybrid couldn't stand it anymore, he jumped at the human. Arriz blocked him with the gun clumsily, and Red kicked it out of his hands. Then he gave the telepath a chance to retreat while he was picking up the weapon.

"Killing a terrorist out of his own gun… I think that's symbolic!" Red laughed.

"And I think someone should be more attentive," Arriz said innocently, demonstrating his opponent little spheres with paint that served as the bullets for this gun.

Red, who wasn't ready for this, became embarrassed. It was a short-lived feeling, but this second was enough for Arriz to take a pistol from under his belt and make a couple of shots. One stain of paint was spreading across the hybrid's chest, the other smeared his forehead, right above his weird eyes.

Unlike his classmates, Red didn't feel any rage about his defeat. Which was weird for someone like him! But the only emotion coming from him was amusement.

"Bravo, curator, you won," the hybrid bowed his head slightly. "This time. I like people who can surprise me, keep that up!"

He headed for the door. Arriz watched him walking away when he remembered about Alex who might've needed some help! But he didn't have a chance to do anything, because he felt a light push…a ball with paint hit him in the middle of his back, right above the spine.

"You're dead," a cold voice commented from behind his back.

Turning around, Arriz saw the one he expected to see. Beside a ruined little window stood Karajo. Neither his uniform nor the perfectly white bandages had a single drop of paint on them. He had already thrown the pistol that he shot aside and was now watching the telepath with his arms folded on his chest.

"I didn't expect you to do it that way," Arriz admitted. "I thought you'd say something noble, you know, or funny…"

"Wrong."

"Yeah, you don't seem to talk much… You're the winner, you choose the rules."

Arriz used that talk to check on Alex. He wasn't on the roof alone anymore – he was joined by Iutah. He and Karajo had most likely climbed the vertical wall without any ropes, they were strong enough for that.

Iutah succeeded: Alex was feeling disappointed… That slowly turned into surprise and even fear. Something wrong was happening upstairs!

"Get down," Karajo commanded. "Everyone's waiting for you."

"Wait, I need to get to the roof!"

"Why?"

"I think… I think Iutah is planning to hurt Alex!"

"No."

Clearly, that was impossible. Such things were prohibited and punished, and Iutah wasn't a novice. An experienced warrior like him should know better, why would he do something so stupid?

But while Arriz's mind was looking for reasons, his intuition was on the verge of panic.

"If a hybrid falls off that tower, will he be hurt?"

"Likely. Not too much."

The eyes watching him from under the bandages were the color of amber and very attentive. Karajo was different from the rest of his team – and the rest of this generation. He was filled with boiling emotions, but they were hidden so deep within him that even the telepath wasn't able to read them. His soul was hidden as impeccably as the bandages were hiding his body.

"I think Iutah wants to push Alex down!"

"Why?"

"I don't know!"

He couldn't tell that he was a telepath. Not to the strongest of hybrids. But he couldn't pretend nothing was happening either!

"We must help him… Or at least check what's going on there!"

"Stay here."

"Listen, I'm not really an enemy or a terrorist!" Arriz frowned. "I have the right to go where I want!"

"Stay here."

And then it was too late. Alex and Iutah, who were moving all the time, remained on the edge for a couple of seconds, and then the Green Team hybrid fell down.

He didn't reach the ground though. Karajo's movement was so fast that a human eye couldn't possibly track it. He caught Alex by the wrist right on the flight and threw him into the tower carelessly.

The Green Team hybrid jumped to his feet in an instant. He was covered in paint all over and obviously angry.

"He's nuts!" Alex was rumbling. "Out of his mind completely, I'm telling you! That fight wasn't necessary, I've already surrendered!"

Iutah joined them soon enough. He ran down the stairs, avoiding the traps easily.

"Great, you managed to get here!" he announced with demonstrative joy. Although Arriz sensed he wasn't happy with Alex's rescue, he was annoyed. "I'm sorry, brother, I got carried away!"

"You expect me to believe that? You wanted to push me down – and you did!" Alex fumed. "If it weren't for Karajo, I'd break half of my bones for sure!"

"It was an accident, I swear! I forgot about the game and for a moment I believed you really were a terrorist! I'm sorry about that!"

"I wouldn't care if you were really sorry! But you're not, you wanted me to fall!"

"It was nothing like that, I promise!"

"Enough!" Karajo commanded. ��Down, all of you. You'll deal with it there."

They didn't dare to oppose. Even Iutah knew when to keep his mouth shut.

All the hybrids had already gathered by the tower, including Norman. And the only one among them looking pleased was Damian.

"Congratulations!" he exclaimed. "Amazing results! Arriz, can I speak to you for moment?"

Judging by the hybrids' reaction, they expected this training session to be different. Some were excited, others were upset. Alex and Iutah kept glaring at each other, but didn't argue anymore.

Arriz and the older hybrid moved away, further into the forest.

"You keep surprising me," Damian said. "That's a second record you break during my classes. Twenty two hybrids were hunting you and your team down. Two of them remained in the game till the end. We're lucky you're not really a terrorist!"

There was a hint in that phrase, and Arriz caught it easily. But he wasn't worried about it.

"Even if I was a terrorist, it wouldn't change anything."

"Oh really?"

"Exactly. Neither with these two guys nor with an army I wouldn't be able to take down Karajo. He alone is worthy of the other twenty one."

Damian became serious, nodding briefly.

"Yes, that's an exceptional warrior. There was nobody like that in my generation… or among other hybrids I've met. But you know what's the most shocking thing I've learned about Karajo in these months?"

This sudden change of attitude surprised Arriz, but he decided to accept it. It could've been another trap – or the kind of unity that can only be created by common interest. So the telepath chose to play along.

"What?"

"That it's a girl."