Chapter 16—Always Gambling

  Administrator Justine stood in front of a heavy stone gate in what could be considered the basement of her office. Characters she couldn’t read were etched into its arch, glowing dimly as if to tell her it was starting to turn on. She knew they spelled out names, and though she couldn’t read them they filled her with trepidation. They were the names of the ones passing out the grades, and she didn’t know enough about them to have any hope.

  Frankly, she didn’t even want to open the grading grounds up. Even without Trefor’s input, it wasn’t a simple thing, not when there was no guarantee of success but failure was final. After Silas came back three limbs down, she still pushed this gate to the back of her mind, more than willing to gamble with Judge than be the first to come knocking. That was one of the few things her predecessor actually taught her. This gate was better ignored unless the knocking came from the other side.

  “But it didn’t,” She murmured to herself. “Like we’re both playing a waiting game, except you all know more about the city than I do.” She looked at each name like a tribunal, preceding over the ruins of New York in clandestine meetings. “And these god damned conditions.” Every number from 1 to 400. Every one, when she wouldn’t even throw seasoned scouts at it. “What’s the end game here? Are we allies, or is this just a show for you!” She wanted to kick it or punch it, but even a truck couldn’t move those gates until the names wanted.

  She let out a tired sigh and ran a hand through her hair. Gambling away Judge still left a sour aftertaste. Her chips were down. She needed his graduates to make it all worth it, even if she lost everything up until the final hand.

  Turning away from the gate, she stepped up to a control panel and started pressing buttons and pulling levers. The basement jerked suddenly, then started moving, sliding up on rails until it was level with the ground floor. She gave the gate one final exhausted look before heading into the lobby, where she found Trefor waiting.

  “Do I applaud you for being punctual?” She said as she strolled past him.

  He followed, with three others on his tail. They said nothing as she stepped onto the elevator, but Trefor held her eyes with the certainty of someone who knew the city. He was graded after all. One of her gleaming successes handed back from the people on the other side. It made her let out another sigh and lean against the wall.

  “Well, get to it, no point waiting till we reached my floor.”

  “These are the three I’m choosing.” He said.

  “Only three?” Justine looked at them then pulled a tablet out from behind her back. She took each of them in its camera and flicked down the dossiers that popped onto the screen.

  It started with Number 34. At 68-years-old, he had no business being a Number, not simply for the fact he should have graduated by now, but for the fact that he was too damn old. She could hardly say he looked it, however. While olive skin had already wrinkled and long hair had already grayed, he stood with poise and a strong foundation, looking like it’d take an army to knock him down. Despite the overcast, he maintained a broad form, and his dark eyes belayed a keenest she couldn’t even see in Trefor’s.

  “34, why you?” She asked.

  “I’m old, right?” He gave back a smile. “I recognize I’m not as spry as all those kids out there. I recognize that this is a young man’s job. But, before the world ended, admin, I had already dedicated my life to fighting. It was either MMA or Marines. When they started recruiting Scores, I was quick to throw my name in. I live to fight, admin. I’d like to die that way too.”

  She laughed. “Not interested in rotting in a bed, are you?”

  “Not at all. I’ve been waiting for my name to come up in the lottery, in fact, but I’ve kept up with my training.”

  “Why are you only ranked 34 then?”

  “Because I don’t have to take tests anymore. All the proctors and trainers recognize where I stand. Even the grades do.” He gave Trefor a nod and got one back. “I’m ranked 34 because I choose to stay at rank 34.”

  She looked at his dossier again. None of his scores were below 20 cycles. His Combat and Leadership scores were among the highest, but what really blew her away was how high he had gotten his mental. 30 cycles…well, she guessed he was in his right mind.

  “You have every right to choose how you die. So choose to live for another twenty years. Die in your bed regardless because you kept fighting till there were no fights left.” She nodded to him firmly, then looked at the second Number to come up.

  Number 66 stood at a head with her with shimmering dark skin and a head completely shaved. The woman was nowhere near as old as 34, coming in younger than Justine at a ripe 32. She didn’t have a lot of muscle on her either, but there was something about the way she stood that reminded the admin of a cat. Whatever lay beneath the skin was honed for precise movement, every tendon and sinew meant to guide a deadly pounce. Sure enough, her agility score seemed to prove that, with her combat score coming second and…her mental coming third. Justine looked at Trefor, wondering if this would be the trend.

  “You’ll find that each profile says enough by itself. I didn’t think you wanted me to waste time selling them to you.” He spoke.

  “No, I didn’t. But now I’m wondering if you spent any time on this at all.”

  “Not recently, no. While this wasn’t my original plan, I’ve been keeping my eyes on Numbers and Scouts for when the grounds opened next. I was always going to recommend them. I just had to narrow down my choices in these past few days.”

  Justine made a non-commital sound at that, respecting the work he put in even if it put her own opinion aside. Rank be damned, she couldn’t tackle this all alone. A second-in-command was desperately needed, but putting everything on one person was the perfect way to make a scapegoat. Or, maybe it’d be better to say a sacrificial lamb all things considered. Could she hate Trefor for giving her one less reason to go toward a ceremonial death?

  She turned back to 66. “Why take him up on the offer?”

  The woman saluted. “Because I don’t think being a scout would ever be enough. Unlike 34, I was happy I didn’t win the lottery. It only ever sounded like I’d be checking the back alleys, not going out to find the right targets. I believe that New York isn’t just about dealing with the Grays. I’m sure there are more important targets to aim for, and the best way to do that is by being graded.”

  “So, you’re looking to be a hero?” The admin cocked an eyebrow.

  “No. I’m looking to be a kill shot.” 66 lowered her hand.

  “And what if the shot misses?”

  “Then at least it was taken.”

  Justine let out a cackle at that. It was a good response, and she wished more of her bullets were prepared to be misfired. She sized 66 up one more time then flicked to the last dossier.

  Number 12 probably could have demanded her action sooner, considering how much space he took up. He was a big man, in multiple senses. His strong brown body was wide with muscle, and at 6’6 he towered over them all. Long and shimmering hair pulled back into a puffy ponytail, making a backdrop for his shoulder and head. His eyes said nothing of his prowess, but as stacked as he was, she wondered if there was anything left to say at all.

  She checked his scores. Endurance ranked at the top, to no surprise at all. Then came his combat, which didn’t blindside her either. Finally, of course, came his mental, similarly as high as the other two, speaking volumes before she could even ask a question. Still, she asked one either way.

  “And you?” She looked up as if it was easy. 12 put on a charming smile.

  “I’m a big man, ma’am.” He let out a chuckle. “My folks came from the islands y’know—dah was a big man too. He spent his life hauling fish before he came up to New York for mah, who wanted a life in an office even while her coworkers dreamed about going to Hawaii. She used to say that it ain’t paradise when you live there, so there wasn’t a reason to hold on.”

  Justine caught herself chuckling again. Nothing in the dossier prepared her for the big man to be so family-minded. It made her look for his age, and sitting at 28, she wondered how his parents preserved this innocence in such a wretched world.

  “Mah didn’t think New York was paradise either, but I think she wants to go back to it. Maybe she’ll head back to the islands and have a different outlook. I figure, if it wasn’t for the overcast I’d be out hauling fish myself. Hard work comes easy to me, admin, so I’d rather do the hardest work there is.”

  Justine gave him one more look then flicked through her tablet again. She brought up a screen for elevator controls, and ever so slightly, its momentum changed, actually rising to her office instead of playing pretend. She probably wasn’t going to deny this group, but she wanted to make sure she knew them before she pulled them in. It was easy to trust Trefor, in the same way it was easy to trust a drink to ease her nerves. But, they were walking into something sobering and it paid to keep her wits. She did keep them, as she led their group into her office, giving away absolutely nothing as Trefor let out a gasp.

  Someone was waiting inside.

  She was a young woman—the youngest amongst them—sitting in a chair across from Justine’s seat with two swords laid across her lap. Her hair was long and black; her eyes, the type of brown people liked to call hazel. She sat in what could be considered a uniform, except for the purple mantle draped over her shoulders. She looked over those shoulders as Justine came back, wearing a demure smile that might have hidden her nature, if the admin hadn’t spoken to her already.

  “Who is this?” Trefor asked as Justine headed to her seat.

  “My contribution.” The admin sat and gestured, letting his group sit down as well. “I told you that I had to call in some favors, she’s what I got back.”

  Trefor brought up a tablet of his own, captured the girl, and then glared at it confused. “She’s not in our database.”

  “Of course I’m not,” said the girl, “I’m not from the Enclave.”

  “Not from the enclave?” Trefor threw a look at her. “I wouldn’t believe that normally, but I definitely don’t believe that right now. Admin, you shouldn’t either.”

  “Truth doesn’t require our belief, Trefor. This girl crossed the city to get here before the grounds opened.”

  The grade’s mouth dropped and he shook his head vehemently. “With respect, ma’am, that can’t be possible.”

  “You don’t think I cut my way through the yokai out there?” The girl’s smile shifted, letting a bit of her true nature show.

  She lifted the shorter of the blades from her lap and slid it from its sheath. Justine thought it might be a tanto, and the most interesting part of it was its edge. It was so deeply purple one could almost think the metal was dyed. It wasn’t, not in the traditional sense. Dying it was a test in and of itself and this girl had passed with flying colors. Even if Trefor didn’t fully get that, she could see he understood. The girl was still smiling too, belaying that she saw the clarity in his eyes.

  “Who are you?” The Grade asked, trying to level his voice.

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  “You can call me Tomoe. Though I’d normally go by Princess Tomoe.” Tomoe rose and bowed.

  “Princess?” Trefor looked from her to Justine.

  “Tell me something, Trefor, do you remember the shogun?” The admin asked in response.

  “The who? The what?”

  “I remember her,” 34 replied. “She was a frightening young lady who always kept the scouts in line. She was their leader, and had them organized in ways that’d make the marines proud. People called her the Shogun in part because she filled the role of a military leader well.”

  “What’s the other part?” 12 asked.

  “She demanded they call her Shogun,” 34 answered. “But…she’s been gone forever…maybe around fifteen or so years ago. She led a group of scouts out and never came back. Admin, are you saying this girl is related to her?”

  Tomoe chuckled. “My mother has always been dramatic like that, hasn’t she?” She gave 34 a look, as if to say it couldn’t be clearer. “She survived. I don’t think the city could kill her even now. She didn’t just take scouts, however, she took my older brother and me too. Actually a lot of kids.”

  “She took children out through the grays and—

  “Yokai?” Tomoe offered as Trefor paused, either not aware or unconcerned about the secret he was trying to keep.

  Justine might have told her it was a secret, but if his Numbers were going to be graded, there was no point in keeping secrets. Trefor met her eyes and understood, swallowing the word as if he didn’t like the taste.

  “Yokai…sure…she took children out through that?”

  Tomoe chuckled again. “Those were hardly the worse things we had to deal with out there. Besides, Mother kept us protected. In her domain, learning the blade is crucial.”

  Nothing the girl said seemed to ease the man’s frustration, but that was where being the admin came in handy. She didn’t need Trefor’s approval to send Tomoe into the grounds. She only introduced them some his team wouldn’t be blindsided.

  “You came through the city by yourself?” 66 asked suddenly.

  “Yes. It’s gotten worse than it normally is. Or better if you ask my brother.”

  “How did you do that? And what are you calling yokai? I’ve heard that word before but…you’re not talking about the grays, they’re more like zombies.”

  Tomoe gave 66 a grin. “Yokai are monsters that haunt specific places in Japanese folklore.” She said. “So think along those lines. New York is full of monsters.”

  66 turned her attention to Justine. “And that’s what we’re fighting?”

  Justine nodded firmly. “That’s what the grading grounds will test you to fight.”

  66 turned to Trefor next. “This is why you always recommended we focus on our luminance training.”

  He nodded. “Luminance is your greatest weapon against the city.”

  “You call it luminance, do you?” Tomoe said. “We’ve been calling it ki. But I guess the name doesn’t matter that much.” Her eyes widened as if she shocked herself. “Where are my manners? I forgot to ask your names.”

  “We don’t have one.” 66 replied.

  Tomoe chuckled. “Having a name is as important as training a Luminance though.”

  “Go ahead and share your names. There’s no point being numbers with your allies.” Justine said.

  “I’m Sione,” 12 spoke first. “Given to me by my mah. I’ve been trying to earn it back.” He let out a laugh.

  “Vega,” came 34, offering Tomoe a hand. She shook firmly and his eyes glinted with approval. “I remember your mother and I’m prepared to work with any of her soldiers.”

  66 took in Tomoe again. Her gaze was intent, and Justine wondered, was that doubt in her eyes? Was it directed at the girl or herself? It was hard to imagine the latter, but when 66 answered it made complete sense.

  “Call me, Arrow.” A name for a kill shot.

  Tomoe smiled. “That’s a good one.”

  Justine nodded. Arrow spoke volumes, saying that this woman would hit her mark. She had no reason to doubt any of Trefor’s picks, but if she had to bet on one of them, she’d put all her chips on Arrow. The thought made her want to laugh, however. Maybe she shouldn’t think so much about gambling on people.

  “Why did the Shogun send you here?” Trefor asked and broke her chain of thought.

  Tomoe looked into his eyes, then closed her own and smiled. “You already know that the city has become more dangerous, right?” He nodded. “Well, my mother says its time to prepare for war. The training we’ve had isn’t going to be enough, so Shoto and I are looking for ways to get stronger. When your administrator contacted us asking for some assistance, I saw my chance.”

  “Why two kids instead of a seasoned soldier?”

  Tomoe chuckled. “You can call them samurai you know? It’s all spears and Japanese swords over there. Mom is very serious about her title.”

  “Samurai. Soldiers. Either or. Why her kids instead of them?”

  Tomoe’s eyes opened and when she met Trefor’s this time there came a sudden charge in the air. It wasn’t figurative either. Justine felt something clash in the room, almost so palpable that it bowed her and the numbers over. The two held each other’s gaze—had a silent battle—and despite all of her authority she felt like she couldn’t stop them. She opened her mouth despite it, but the matter just as quickly solved itself.

  “I get it…” Trefor’s words came labored.

  Tomoe smiled again. “Our samurai are a lot like you. They can do as much as you. Essentially, they cannot cross the city by themselves.” The words came gently but each still landed with force. “Any other questions?”

  The Grade shook his head. “No…not for you.” He turned to Justine, reminding her that she was in charge. “It’s there anything else we need to attend to before the grounds open?”

  Again, Justine opened her mouth to cast order over the room, when her tablet beeped. A video feed came up when she raised it, peering into the elevator down the hall. Her brow furrowed as she flicked down her notifications and saw that she missed three from reception. It stayed furrowed as she opened the elevator, and the room stayed silent until the office opened too.

  Stepping inside came a strong brunette, with hair shaved on one side for stitches. The woman hardly looked like she should be walking, dressed in the dull uniform of an off-duty soldier, but with one arm in a sling and a crutch under the other one. Justine couldn’t decide if she was angrier that the woman was here or angrier that the Numbers had seen her, but she was furious either way, especially with the Number the woman towed behind her.

  “Lauren,” Justine said it as if to stab her. “This doesn’t look like bed rest and he doesn’t look like someone who should be in my office.” Lauren was one of the surviving Grade—A’s, who should have been too injured to be in the public eye.

  “The grading grounds are opening today, so I thought you might be preparing something like this.” Lauren looked from Justine to Trefor and back. “I figured you might have asked him to bring you people.”

  “And if I did that’s not your concern.”

  “Furthermore,” came Trefor, “you shouldn’t be concerning yourself with anything at all.”

  “Trefor.” The woman glared. “Should a Grade-B really be taking that tone with a Grade-A?”

  “Don’t try to pull rank on me, Lauren. You were once my subordinate.”

  “Yeah. Before I realized how weak you made us.” She looked at the Numbers he brought along. “Are you even aiming to make them Grade A, or are you going to make them settle for B like you did?”

  “Watch your tone. You know full well it wasn’t that simple!”

  “And I know full well that we don’t need anymore god damned Grade-B’s.”

  “Enough!” Justine roared, bringing this quarrel to a quick close. “Explain yourself, Lauren! Right now!”

  Lauren cleared her throat and her Number strode forward. “I want my brother placed on this team.”

  Justine scanned him and scoffed. “He’s rank 201! What do you expect him to do?”

  “Excuse me, ma’am! I may be 201 but I am one of the best in the upper 200 ranks. My score spread is good and balanced!” There wasn’t even a pause for thought.

  “The fact that you’re saying that is the very reason you shouldn’t be in this room.” Justine didn’t pause either. “Lauren,” she said the name pointedly, “Why did you bring your brother to me?”

  “Because we need a guaranteed Grade A. I’ve been training him specifically for the grading ground. There’s only two others I’d include but none of them are as good as him.”

  Trefor’s brow furrowed and he strode forward. “Training him? Lauren you can’t, you know damn well that’s too dangerous!”

  “He’s fine, isn’t he? Do you see any issues?” She glared up.

  Justine rubbed her forehead, she hated listening to half-spoken conversations. She hated the secrets of the grading ground and whatever she wasn’t supposed to know. She hated that this boy was in her office, and most of all hated that she couldn’t just have a drink.

  Lauren continued, “Tell her, Trefor. He’s going into the grading ground anyway. He’ll get far, but he could go all the way if he had the right team for it.”

  Trefor gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. “She’s…right, admin.”

  Justine’s let out a groan. “Of course she is! So, surely, she’s also prepared for if things go wrong.”

  “If they don’t turn out well, I never had a brother to begin with.” Lauren’s words stabbed deeper than her own, and Justine almost felt bad for the boy who had to take them. He didn’t give much of his pain away, but the way his face went blank said volumes.

  “I agree with this too.” Tomoe said. “I’m a clueless as the rest of us are but…I want to see what type of gamble she’s making.”

  Justine’s tablet beeped again. If she wanted to object or steer this conversation any other way, she had just lost her last second to do so. What should have been a quick briefing ate up the rest of her time. Scouts and Numbers alike were gathering in her citadel, waiting for her to open the grading grounds up.

  “We’re always gambling around here,” She said, mostly to herself. “I’m calling your group Unit Blackjack. Vega, you will be in charge of leading, and I want you to make special exceptions when it comes to Tomoe and combat. The rest of you do not move without his orders. Now, everyone except Lauren and Trefor out of my office. Get to the Gate, if you’re not there by the time my announcement is up you get less than five minutes to make it.”

  The Numbers and Tomoe saluted then quickly filed out of the room. Justine glared at Trefor and Lauren, but knew her interrogation would have to wait. If she wanted answers, it was probably best to make sure the gate was closed tightly first…

  [Chapter 16 ends…]