Don't Freak...

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

She'd been working non-stop all morning, and Madeleine's head was slowly starting to hurt.
After the news at 3 in the morning, she hadn't been able to sleep, and nothing but plans had been running through her head. Even her recent thoughts about Lee had left her mind - she was in battle mode.
Now, it was noon, and she had sent an announcement through the school's intercom:
All Warriors and those who have been taking Battle Training, to the Training Room now.
Now, the room was slowly filling up, but not quickly enough for her. She'd been fighting the impulse to tell them all earlier, because they needed to be prepared, and she wasn't sure that they were.
She started pacing up and down the stage, tuning out and ignoring all the anxious and confused chatter around the room.
Could they do it?
They'd try their best, she knew that. And she knew that she'd been training them as much as possible in the past few months. And that they had won last time - but this time, the positions were completely reversed.
But they could still do it.
Eventually, everyone was there, and Levi came up to Madeleine, an eyebrow raised. "What is it?"
She waved him away, before clearing her throat, waiting for the noise to stop.
As soon as the sound left her throat, the hall became silent.
She smiled weakly, before raising her voice and saying:
"Guys, don't panic, but last night some of our Spies infiltrated a meeting. They managed to get a copy of the leader's speech, and Macy was able to translate it. Now, don't freak, but... we're going to be attacked."
As she expected, no one looked particularly worried, and she felt a rush of pride, before continuing.
"Tonight. At midnight. In exactly... eleven hours and fifty-six minutes."
This was when the worried looks and murmurings started, and she spoke a little more loudly.
"We can do it, so don't worry. I know we can do it. But what's happening is..."
As she told them about the 'Youth Revolution' and the suspected plan, she started to feel a little more confident, and her eyes were glinting with the anticipation of battle, just like they had before.
"... so we'll need a real defense line. I don't want any arguments here, guys - all non-Warriors in defense."
The sounds of outrage were silenced by the look in her eyes as she stared at them. It was a simple message - shut up. No arguments. Just do as I say.

[Jude Dorrian]

Four Spies in a hall of Warriors stood stock still, their faces frozen like masks. Tameron was to the side of him, her hands curling into fists as she glared up moodily at Madeleine. Her resemblance to Kira on the other side of him was uncanny. Even Lee- probably the most gentle of the four- looked quite aggravated. Jude frowned at Madeleine, letting her words wash over him.
"Lee, what are you gonna' be for Halloween?"
His friend didn't even think. "Demon. Definitely. I have the wings and everything."
"Cool," Jude said absently, his eyes flickering over to Kira. "Pixie?"
"Sure," Kira grinned wryly. "Very good. I'm impressed."
"Tameron?"
"A god-forsaken tabby cat, that's what, you dingbat."
Aah... what fun would be had when she learnt how to swear.
"Excellent," Jude said, rubbing his hands together. "I did wonder... what sort of trouble could the demon, the cat, the pixie and the hobo get up to?"
Tameron's eyes widened slightly. "Oh, Jude..."
"You don't mean...?" Lee looked a little lost as he looked back and forth between Madeleine and Jude.
"I do mean," Jude said cheerfully. "Easy enough. What do you think, Kira? You are our Head, after all."
Kira didn't look particularly worried by the idea, as Tameron and Lee did. On the contrary, Jude rather thought she welcomed it. It was the perfect form of rebellion- a way of dealing with her feelings with a deadly force. A simultaneous revenge against Madeleine; and a chance to do something, and be part of the war.
A village boy swam to the surface of his mind... one he knew only by gossip.
"Kira?" he prompted.
"Oh, yes," she said serenely, turning to watch Madeleine with the merest shadow of a smug smile. "I am your Head, aren't I? Great idea, Jude. I owe you one."

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Madeleine could see the mutinous faces of the four Spies. "Like I said, I don't want people wasting time arguing with me. We've got enough to deal with right now. So, what the now plan is - you're going to practice for the next hour or, so, then, you're all off classes for the rest of the day, I've sorted it with Professor Hoodham. After practice, I want you all to try and get some sleep; this could go on for a long time, I can't have you all being tired. Meet back here at seven exactly."
And with that, she walked off the stage, to face Levi shooting the questions she knew that he'd ask at her.
"What do you want me to do?"
There it was.
"You're commanding the defense line," she said, making to brush past him before he could argue.
"What?!" He looked outraged, a wildness forming at the back of his eyes. "You can't be serious. I'm in front. You need me in the front line!"
She turned to him, staring him out. "I said no arguments! You're doing defence, that's it. Don't argue with me."

[Ailith Rayner]

Ailith watched Madeleine walk off stage, a sense of annoyance settling over her. No way was she in defence, the only time she was in defense was in sport. She wouldn't miss this. Besides, no way was there enough people here to make front line. Against the crowd Ailith saw at the meeting plus the people who could not attend it was close enough. Despite the whole gifted thing. Quickly, she made her way across the room, trying to ignore Levi and Madeleine's conversation.
"Madeleine, I need to talk to you."
Hopefully, she'd realise Ailith wasn't going to mess about. They were both short; they were both strong.
Maybe they could see eye to eye.

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Madeleine turned away from Levi, grateful for the excuse to ignore him. "I'm sorry Ailith, but I said no arguments, and no exceptions. I know you're good at this, but I can't let you do it and no one else."

[Ailith Rayner]

"Do you know how good? Come on, Madeleine!" She was really getting annoyed now. "Please! I've worked hard for this."
For her dad. It was going to finish it off. Justice would be done. Eventually.

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Levi was still standing behind her; she could feel it.
"I'll talk to you about this later, Levi, okay?" she said pointedly, rubbing her temple wearily. "Look, Ailith, everyone in this room has worked hard for this. I need people at the back, it's as simple as. And it's safer to put you guys at defence because you haven't been training with me as long, okay? Please don't argue with me, we're only wasting time."

[Ailith Rayner]

Ailith folded her arms and raised one eyebrow. A pure expression of stubborness.
"You need people at the front too, Madeleine. There's not enough people here. It's as simple as." Wow Ailith, getting cheeky. Mind your tongue. "Let me be in the front line. I've had way more experience than most of the people in this room. Years of it."
Ailith sensed it. She would have to tell Madeleine. Bugger.

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

"Unless you were a child soldier, I doubt that..." she replied, but tailing off as she suddenly remembering Ailith's display of power and their subsequent conversation.
...unless you worked for a circus, or something...
She'd been joking, and it was definitely not a circus. But what if Ailith had been something like a child soldier?
"Unless there's something you want to tell me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and matching Ailith's look. "Because if there's something I need to know, Ailith, this is a d*mn good time to tell me."

[Ailith Rayner]

She'd just have to be blunt. Best way at the moment.
"Does 6 years of training as an assassin qualify for the front line?"
That and the spy stuff. But let's not go OTT with details.

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Assassin?!
She shouldn't really be surprised.
"I guess that explains a lot," Madeleine answered, silently assessing the risk. She didn't think Ailith would lie about it - after all, it was a bit of an elaborate lie just to get on to the front line. And Ailith was good - as good as Levi. If she was putting Levi in defence, then...
"Fine," she answered, rolling her eyes. "Just make sure that the others don't try and get round me, it's the last thing I need right now; I'll get hell from Levi for this as it is. Happy?"

[Ailith Rayner]

Ailith nodded, not happy as such. Merely satisfied. She would be put to far better use at the front. As Madeleine marched off in an almost-military manner, she caught Levi's eye. Suddenly, feeling a lot lighter, she stuck her tongue out at him.
Cheeky and childish, yes, but so worth the look on his face. I'm such a kid sometimes. Maybe the dope's taking it's time getting out of my system.
As she turned and swiveled her way through the crowds, suddenly she heard a familiar voice calling her.
Jude.

[Jude Dorrian]

Jude stood on tip toe, staring across the sea of heads before him. He knew that blonde one anywhere- even if they only really known each other briefly.
Tameron followed his gaze with a steely eye. "Who's that Madeleine's talking to?"
Both Kira and Lee tuned in at the mention of Madeleine's name, albeit for very different reasons.
"That's Ailith," Kira said, frowning. "Looks like she has her own ploy to get on the front line."
Jude laughed. "Does everything for herself, that one."
"She got lucky," Tameron decided stubbornly, watching Ailith's tongue wag at Levi.
Jude had to really fight now to keep himself laughing. "Hang on, guys..."
The whole way across the hall, he could feel Tameron's eyes boring into the back of him. He rolled his eyes. Typical.
"Ailith! Hey, Ailith!"

[Ailith Rayner]

"Hey Ju... Hi." Ailith smiled at him as Jude approched her. "Sorry. I will get out of the habit one day."
Jude laughed too. Seeing him smile like that made Ailith feel the dope come back. She was happy and she felt completely at ease. That's gotta stop my girl. She reprimanded herself.

[Jude Dorrian]

"I like the 'Hey, Jude,' thing," he admitted with a grin. "Hell, if there were a 'Hey, Ailith,' song you just know I'd sing it every time I passed you in the corridor. Badly. With a Texas twist. How'd you feel about cowboy hats?"
No, he didn't sound weird at all...