Whose Got A Match?

[Kira & Lee Norris]

Kira hated being scared.
She really did. It made her kinda mad, actually, that she’d gotten so scared this time round. Not that she hadn’t been scared before- she had- just not like this.
Was it cruel of Kira that Lee wasn’t on her mind?
Lee nor Madeleine played any major role in her life anymore. Obviously, she wanted them to be safe. Lee was a wreck when he heard the news about Madeleine. He couldn’t stop shaking. When he woke up, he was gonna kill Kira for what she’d done, but she’d had to, for his own good. If he'd been left alone, Lee would have flown across the field and thrown himself into some kind of stupid face-off with the enemy commander, and gotten himself shot or maimed in the process. At least this way he’d still be alive by the end of the day.
Kira had secured some supplies from a friendly Carer, and she had sedated Lee.
Her super speed had made it easy- quick- she’d jumped him and jabbed him in a matter of seconds, and it was only a matter of seconds more before his eyes closed and he was being carried off by the Carers to Nurse Gornray. Perhaps afterwards they’d say Kira was favouring her cousin; unfairly putting his safety above that of others.
She wasn’t.
This was strategy.
Because Lee would have fùcked everything up, the angst-ridden fool. No-one could deny that. It was something she’d discussed with Jack beforehand, and although neither had liked it, they’d had to agree.
Lee couldn’t do this.
So, screw him.
He’d have to deal with it.
Kira’s legs were aching with the power of the force she was putting into them. A water whip- her classic trick; and a worthy weapon- flew from her wrists. She cracked it as she ran, controlling the water flow so that it rushed in a smooth jet of water, tripping up countless enemies and felling them to the ground. She’d been working like this for a long time now; she’d had virtually no engagement in actual combat so far, which accounted for the lack of injury to her body, and she had not taken a single life.
Yet.
The tripping up tactic was working… better than she’d expected, actually. As the enemies were felled, students dived, taking advantage and plunged their swords- immobilizing, maiming, killing.
Her Spies were holding their own, thank God. According to the Academics, there’d been a few injured Spies taken in by the Carers- but their numbers were similar to the Warriors. Her Spies were less skilled, but the Warriors were more reckless- fuelled by the power of revenge.
Jack was holding his own. Kira was… well, more impressed than she liked to admit. So far, he’d acted like a true Warrior. He hadn’t shirked his responsibility; he was scared, that was obvious, but even so, he’d come into his own.
He was thinking with his head, too, not his heart.
It was like… Lee backwards. Lee, usually so calm, so logical, went over the roof when he discovered Madeleine’s fate. Jack, usually much more impulsive, had not gone over the edge, though he'd been the one to witness the enemy commander holding Madeleine at gunpoint. In fact, Jack had reverted to a… if not quite calm, strong and brave leader.
He hadn’t put a foot out of step. He hadn’t done anything rash, or impulsive.
Lee would’ve faced off with the bloody enemy commander!
Jack… Kira wouldn’t have been so certain before… but now she knew… Jack was wiser than that.
Her shadows flew beside her, updating her; coupling her information with the information sent out by the Academics. Jack may be doing Orchid Hill proud, but the fact was, right now-
They were losing.
“Kennedy Delaney- out.”
“What?!”
Kira came to a dead stop, overbalancing slightly as her body adjusted to the sudden stillness of the world. Her leg muscles instinctively pulled her forward, and her vision doubled. For a few, frustrating seconds, all she could do was stay still, and willed the blood flow to return to normal throughout her body.
Her shadow, stretched across the bark of a nearby oak, crossed its arms impatiently.
“What?” Kira repeated, shaking her head slightly. “What did you say?”
“Don’t get touchy with me; I’m just the messenger,” it hissed softly. “Thought we were doing you a favour.”
“You are,” Kira said, slightly desperately, “thank you, I mean that, but what did you say about Kennedy?”
“Magic word?”
“Shadow,” her voice grew hollow, her eyes hardened, and for the first time in her entire life, a shadow stiffened, and stood to attention, “don’t you dare speak to me like that. I am your master. You must obey my every command. Tell me now- what happened to Kennedy?”
The shadow’s edges blurred slightly. Kira had never exerted this sort of control over it before, and she could tell- it didn’t like it. Not one bit. It took it a few, stuttering seconds to answer, and when it did, there was an odd rigidity to its usual hiss-
“Kennedy Delaney has been shot. His sister has removed him from battle to bring him to the Carers.”
With the force that news hit her, Kira may as well have been the one who was shot herself.
Her shoulders dropped, and for the first time in battle, the full weight of grief threw itself onto her. Perhaps it was wrong but…
This wasn’t grief for Kennedy. She barely knew him.
It was grief for someone else- empathy for what he must feel-
“Only reason you care so much is cause he’s your boyfriend’s best friend!” the shadow scoffed. Clearly, the shock of the news had released Kira’s control over it once more.
She ignored it. “Where is he?”
“We know; we see it now; want his shadow? We’ll bring it to you. Maybe it's a shadow that won't last much longer!”
“Not Kennedy,” Kira felt oddly guilty as she spoke, “Arihant. Where is Arihant? Is he okay? Does he know?”
“Who knows?”
“You will,” her voice lowered to a growl, and once more the shadow stiffened to attention, “tell me where he is.”
The shadow didn’t respond; perhaps it felt a little too angered by her dominance over it to respond; but it did as it was told. It melted into a pool of black, and slinked off into the distance, darting between trees until it disappeared out of sight. Other shadows rustled round Kira; whispering and laughing, but again, she ignored their words.
Their stupid, stupid words.
Had Kira not been so lost in the news she had just received, perhaps she might’ve started running again. Perhaps she might’ve taken out her sword, or her gun; whipped out her water whip or done... something- anything to defend herself.
But as it was, so immersed in what she’d just been told, Kira didn’t even here the warning crack of a twig behind her.
There was a sudden silence; the shadows watched, but did not call; waiting with bated breath.
Something you should know about shadows-
They don’t like to be ruled. They don’t like their masters. They enjoy freedom. They enjoy flitting in and out, chasing the light and hiding in the dark. But their masters take away this freedom; trapping them into mundane, human tasks.
Most of all, you should know that shadows are disloyal.
They watched with interest as their master was stabbed in the back.
Kira’s body crumpled, and a girl’s triumphant cackle sent a tremor through the trees.
“Look at this, Gritty! Easiest hit so far, right?” The girl grinned, leaning over Kira’s body, and with one sharp kick, rolled the Head of the Spies over onto her back.
Kira’s vision blurred; the shock of the moment had rendered her speechless; and she was given no moment to prepare for the second stab.
Straight through her chest.
The girl kicked her again. Scarlet splattered the ground around them.
“Is this who I think it is?”
A large male sidled up behind the girl wielding the sword. An almost comical frown creased his brow. “Naw. Couldn’t be.”
“It is!” the girl, barely nineteen, from the looks of it, was beside herself with glee. “Head of the Spies! It is her! I’d know that face anywhere.” She leaned in a little further, a long dark ponytail snaking over her right shoulder as she did so, “Christ, Norris, when’d you cut your hair?”
The male tugged on the girl’s sleeve. “I hear noises. People are coming.”
“Let ‘em come.”
“Nessa, I-”
“Fine,” the girl rolled her eyes, “first, let’s make sure this one is dead.”
The crimson blade plunged once more into Kira’s chest, and the world went black.
They say the last thing you lose is the sense of sound.
The last thing Kira heard was the music of murmuring titters. Her shadows were close; watching... and laughing.

[misa]

Cold, he was so cold.
Well, of course he was - he was Reuben fúcking Knight; cold was his...thing.
Christ, where had all his eloquence gone?
It'd probably escaped through the bullet hole, leaking out of his spinal cord around the small ball of metal that had just screwed over a lot of his plans.
Huh, so fluidity of speech was stored in the spinal fluid. Who knew?
Jeez, the ground was awful close all of a sudden...he was on his knees, how in the hell had that happened?
If he could just get warmer, a little bit of heat then maybe he'd be able to think straight, or at least, straight enough to figure out how Trove had made such a lucky shot.
Seriously, what were the odds?
Also, it would leave him clear enough to work out what it had been about her that had made him walk away?
Was it the love, the pain, the uncanny echo of his own expression at the sight of Her...
Did it really matter?
All that mattered was he had let go, he'd walked away and now he was paying for it.
Paying for it with this dámn cold.
He could feeling creeping through his whole body, like someone was doing a jig on his grave, which was most likely soon to be made.
It was strange. That cold, he realised - with an unexpected calmness he had put past himself - was death.
Come to claim him.
Funny sort of way to go, really.
The grass suddenly shot skyward to meet him. It felt oddly warm against his arms and forehead. Like the earth, so full of vibrance and life and death and the sweetness in between and the bitterness it used in careless balance, like it were mocking him.
Strangely enough, Reuben took this as the moment to realise his eyes were still open and he wondered if it were possible to try using them. It wasn't much use, there wasn't much to look at anyway.
Just the green and the red that was slowly spreading.
Clumsily - how odd, since when did he move clumsily? - Reuben pushed out his arm into the red. It flowed through his fingers, like a stream...like her hair would've done.
Strands of rose petals, bound with the boldest sunshine: with the rays that dared to shine red.
Her hair.
His angel's hair.
Shame. Maybe he didn't deserve his angel's help this time.
He wasn't going anywhere an angel could follow anyway.
How strange, how slow this was...it didn't seem right?
Maybe he didn't deserve the quick death he would've given Trove or anyone else who required relinquishing from life.
Seemed there were a lot of things he didn't deserve anymore.
Her memory...
His angel.
Reuben closed his eyes, closed his eyes and waited patiently.
Waited for what he did deserve.
He wondered would anything at all come?

[/color]

[K. Scott]

Scott rounded the trees and the sight that met his eyes turned his stomach. In the crater was two bodies, one headless dumped on top of the other, drowned in blood, dead. Scott moaned in disgust and anguish and walked slowly toward the bloody mess. He would identify if the person underneath was an Orchid student. He wasn’t going to look for the head of the other. He stepped carefully into the slick hollow and hunkered next to the bodies. He held his breath as he carefully rolled the headless body off the one beneath. The lifelessness and the gore of the body nauseated him and he was forced to bow his head and close his eyes and with clenched teeth breathe slowly in and out through his nose. He forced himself to look into the blood drenched face of the gi… Isolde!?
All feeling left him as he stared into the face of his girlfriend. He was filled with shock, panic and adrenaline. There was a deep sword wound in her front. He reached out hesitatingly and gently wiped the blood from her eyes, mouth and nose.
“Isolde?” Scott whispered.
His knuckles gently nudged her chin.
Nothing.
He drew his hand away and clenched it. This was his fault.
“Shít.”
He wiped his face with the blood covered hand and looked to the sky drawing his eyes away from Isolde’s face. He should have told her to stay put.
“Shít.”
He shut his eyes tight preventing tears and buried his face in the crook of his elbow. How could he have been so stupid? Why was he so completely incapable of focussing or thinking ahead?
“Shít!”
He opened his eyes and looked once again at Isolde. He’d have to leave soon the battle was still raging beyond the trees and every able body was needed.
There.
He was beginning to think ahead.

[Isolde Moore]

She had tried but the pain coursing through her body was just to much. It was unlike any other pain she'd been through. The excruciating physical pain from her disease was nothing compared to this emotional one she now had. She could deal with a deep wound in her front and an agonizing pain of lying on a jagged rock. But the emotional pain of leaving behind the ones you loved?
Who could deal with that?
Who could cope with that?
As Isolde lay motionless and barely breathing all these things were by passing thoughts. Scott was the one who was the main star in her mind. He was the one she was going to miss. He was the one that kept her anchored down to earth when the pain was to much to handle. He was the one who- and somewhere in all these thoughts it suddenly became easier to breathe.
"Isolde?"
Where did it come from? Surely she was dead. Right?
"Shít."
Now that was just rude.
"Shít."
Scott?
Was her mind playing a game? Was she just imagining his voice? Was the pain just to much and this was the last thing to imagine before she went? Having a cruel game? Was someone in her mind making her think this?
"Shít!"
And in that last colourful word the most horrible mixture of emotions came from it. Pain, guilt, anger, despair, loss....or so she thought. She still wasn't sure if someone was in her mind and controlling it. Her head felt like it was tightening with every word she thought. It was going to explode.
If he was there, she would have to say it. Say it before it was to late. Would he leave her here if she did die?
No. Not my Scott. He would never do such a thing. Why would you even think like that? she needed to say something. Move something. Do something. She was to scared to die alone if she wasn't already. Every breath took her closer to being dead. And that meant she'd be leaving Scott.
No!
She'd do everything and more to stop that and be with Scott. What ever it took.
Taking what felt like a gigantic breath to her she tried to speak but all that came out was a faint groan. Come on Isolde. Say something damñ it!
"Sc-Scott?" it came out in not more than a sigh. Was the earth shaking? Had someone with the power of ice or water been fighting somewhere close to them?
"I...I...lo-love you," she opened her eyes a tiny bit and looked for him. Why was it so dark? Why couldn't she find him? Her lids were to heavy and they closed again. Moving her hand she reached out for him, "Don't l-leave me."

[K. Scott]

Scott's ears were humming. The beginning of a headache. Like the violent ones he used to get at home when his dad got really bad. Yet despite the pressure a tiny voice reached him.
"Sc-Scott?" Barely a whisper but he felt sure he heard it.
He lifted his head and stared at Isolde not daring to blink. Not daring to breathe in case he missed anything.
"I...I...lo-love you." Isolde's lips parted the slightest degree and her eyes flickered open for the tiniest moment. It was enough. Scott's headache exploded and for the first time in a long time, he sobbed his heart out.
Isolde reached out to him and he took her hand in both of his gently. "Don't l-leave me."
Scott knelt over her, "No no. I'm not going anywhere," He spoke softly to her, "Isolde, do you think I ca-AAH!"
Something heavy came down abruptly between Scott's shoulder blades. He had to drop Isolde's hand to stop himself falling on her. He turned round to face his attacker. How the hell had he snuck up?! Some weakling boy had tried to wallop him on the back of the head with a hefty tree branch and missed. Mistake.
Not on your life.
Scott ducked as the boy swung again, grabbed his ankles and pulled sharply causing the boy to topple over. He hit the ground hard but without a sound. Well, that would explain the sneaky bugger's skill. It was then, however, that the two others arrived.
He saw them coming this time and he drew his sword whilst simulataneously standing up and kicking sound-proof boy in the temple into unconciousness. The first to reach Scott was the girl. She slashed at his face with the claws sprouting from her fingers and let out a lion's roar loud enough to deafen him. Scott's thick skin meant he bled as if the gouges were paper cuts and he had just enough time to slip his sword under her ribs before the big guy was on him. Suddenly Scott's sword was not in his hands and he took a blow to the jaw. He grabbed the guy's fist coming in for a second punch and began to squeeze. The other guy was having none of it and grabbed a handful of Scott's hair and pulled in an attemped to break his neck Scott guessed. Scott bared his teeth at him and wrapped his own hand around the guys neck, driving his thumb into the throat of his opponent. Panic rose in the guys face and he quickly copied Scott's tactic and shoved. Scott slid back to within a foot of Isolde.
No! Not good!
Scott shoved back with all his might. But although Scott was muscular this guy was pure brawn. Inch by inch Scott was pushed back. It was a race against who could keep this up with limited breathing. And for Scott a race to get this guy down before he hurt Isolde anymore than she already was. Scott was rapidly running out of energy there was no way he could keep this up for much longer. Finally, feeling light-headed, he felt Isolde's broken body against his left heel. Somehow Scott pulled the strength from somewhere and stepped his left foot over Isolde and spun Mr. Brawn over his left shoulder, swinging them both over Isolde and onto the ground three feet away from her. Scott was on his knees almost immediately, while Mr. Brawn was still disorientated. Scott used this to his advantage and brought down one knee into the middle of the guy's upper chest. The more body weight Scott applied, the more crunches he heard from beneath his knee, the less pressure on his throat, the more air he was able to gulp down. After what seemed like hours of stuggling Mr. Brawn gave up and let go of Scott's throat altogether to cough up blood and grunt in air.
Scott stood and walked shakedly toward Isolde. No time now to checking for spinal injuries, he could see the pain alone was killing her, never mind the actual injuries. He needed to get her to a Carer and fast. And besides, he couldn't afford another attack. He scooped her up and carefully as he could and tried to walk steadily around the main battle straight for the Carers.
"Isolde? Can you talk to me?" Scott spoke trying to keep the wobble in his voice to a minimum as his exhaustion kicked in.

[Isolde Moore]

Distant.
Everything was so distant.
Sounds, feelings, sightings. Everything.
"No no. I'm not going anywhere," Oh, Scott..."Isolde, do you think I ca-AAH!"
One minute she had been anchored down to the spot just barely able to talk and move. Her hand had been held in both of his and he was talking to her and the next...he'd gone. She heard very faint whisperings of shuffling going on around her. Fighting?
Was fighting really worth anything?
If all it did was bring pain and death... was it really worth it?
Something nudged her on her right thigh. Physical pain.... didn't matter. Emotional pain didn't matter. She was leaving it all behind her. Should she?
What about Scott? Would you leave him?
And she was now floating in mid air. It was quite a strange sensation, floating in mid air. It's like you're there but you're not. An outer and inner body experience at the same time. She could barely hear anything anymore. Except the music she heard next. Her angel had saved her.
"Isolde? Can you talk to me?" his voice...if she could smile she would have.
As much as Isolde would try to answer him, it was no use. She was just to tired. To out-of-it. The pain was lessening now. And as the blood continued to fall steadily but quickly from the gaping wound her attacker had given her. She felt sorry for every single person who had lost their lives. For they had belonged to someone once; she had belonged to Scott. The last thing she managed to do was open her eyes the tiniest bit to look at his face while reaching her hand up to his collar bone and touch him on last time.
She coughed once more and then went limp. She was soaring through the sky, effortlessley, weightlessly. Such a sensation. So peaceful. But the one memory she would keep.
Scott had saved her from dying alone and scared. He had given her comfort and peace. Scott..... or had she said that as her last parting gift?

[Ailith Rayner]

Ailith always kept one eye on Jack Trove whilst she battled. He was the one person who needed to be alive after this otherwise the morale of the entire school would suffer and she could make sure he was safe. Well reasonably. She relaxed into her environment causing her to be unnoticeable. She had strapped under her armour the one weapon that Orchid Hill frowned upon. A 10mm handgun with silencer. Given to her by Corporal Linnens at Christmas, it seemed as though he had done his research on Orchid Hill Academy and he felt that despite Orchid’s disapproval he needed to give Ailith, and himself, some sort of safety line. Ailith suspected he thought of her as some sort of goddaughter since he was the closest friend her father had and after all Captain Rayner had done for him perhaps he felt he owed it to his best mate’s memory.
After a dodgy moment when Ailith was sure Jack had been wounded badly found the strength to speak to an Academic even if he did seem a little fazed. He ran off suddenly with purpose. This could be it. Ailith sprinted after him reaching through her chain mail, bending the metal aside. She pulled out her gun, cocked it and screwed on the silencer as she ran side-stepping people’s tussles. She had no time now.

When she caught up with Trove she followed his line of sight and it was clear that the boy, moving at the speed of something really really fast, that Jack was staring at fiercely was someone important. Perhaps this was the boy that captured Madeleine. Ailith slipped quickly into some cover and waited until the boy was still for there was no chance that Ailith could snipe him at that speed. The boy spotted Jack and a face off began. Except, “Jack what the hell?!” Ailith whispered under her breath urgently. She stared in disbelief as Jack shed layer upon layer of armour revealing that that earlier hit had caused a serious injury. His shirt drenched in blood. The fact that Jack was still standing was highly commendable and Madeline would be proud.
“Well sod you and your honour.” Ailith muttered again and raised her gun. She held it steady as a rock supporting her wrist and aim with the other hand. She stood feet apart and shoulders reasonably loose ready for the re-coil. A milli-second before she could pull the trigger Jack had jumped him. Ailith lowered her gun immediately breathing heavily. She had nearly shot him. That could have been awkward. She vowed mentally that she was going to punch him so hard when he was clear of that chest wound.
The two boys struggled fighting with everything they had. It was a match not for the weak stomached. Jack though was losing. If Jack’d stop fighting for five seconds before he died and stay out of the way maybe Speedy would be still enough and Ailith could get a shot in. Finally Jack lay on the ground with barely the strength to raise an arm and Speedy stood over him. Oh beautiful, thank you so much for obliging. Ailith raised her gun and aimed just under the skull where the nerve centre lay. Jackpot. And once again just before she could pull the trigger, her eyes twitched. No it was more than twitching it was like they had a mind of their own and had decided to rave or something. Her focus was being screwed with too and she felt dizzy. To try and combat the serious disorientation Ailith lowered her centre of gravity by kneeling and shut her eyes tight. Too late and her eyes showed no sign of slowing and her nausea only grew. She felt herself topple over onto the ground and only then did her eyes cease to roll. She opened her eyes and found she couldn’t focus she didn’t even know what she was looking at. A tree? The sky? Then it started again. Ailith nearly cried out in frustration but she knew that she’d be sick if she moved anything. After what seemed like endless torture it finally stopped. She remained conscious long enough to think, Sorry Jack, mate.

Is it possible to feel you hand going numb? Technically you’d think not. Ailith didn’t really care but it was irritating. She opened her eyes and stared at something large and grey in front of her. She could hear cries, shouting and lots of clanging. SO the battle was still going on. And then she remembered. She shot up urgently and just as promptly vomited between her knees.
Ailith mumbled and wiped her mouth before standing up slightly slower and supported herself on a nearby tree. She peered through the vegetation at where she remembered a boy about to break Jack’s neck, expecting to see a blood-stained defeated Jack lying with his neck at an impossible angle.
Well she saw him alright. But he was sitting. Just. Being held by Sophie, his girlfriend, both of them were splattered with blood. How the hell had he survived? Sophie must have… but there in Jack’s hand was a gun. A pretty nice one too by the looks of it, good quality. Ailith staggered at first through the vegetation before drawing herself upright to ask Jack if the not a very nice person got away when she spotted him.
There was Speedy lying on his front, barely breathing, with a poppy coloured pattern blossoming on his back. Ailith walked to and stood over the boy.
“Not so quick now are we?” Ailith squinted at the boy severely.
“L-Laila?” The boy rasped.
Ailith squint turned rapidly to wide-eyed surprise. “What did you call me?”
“So m-much for your rev-enge plan.” The boy tried to laugh but coughed up blood instead. “You didn-n’t even get to g-get your hands on y-your daughter.” Another amused cough.
Ailith didn’t even think about it. She pointed the gun at his head and fired three shots.
Hate, fear and a strange urge of bloodlust coursed through Ailith. He knew her mother. How the hell did he know my mother?… What did she want with me?..
Ailith took a few moments to calm and collect herself before turning to face Jack. “You and your d**ned pride Trove!” She kicked his discarded breastplate and then remembered he was her superior and added a quick, “Sir.” Before smiling an apology.

[Jude Dorrian]

Awh, hell no, she was running again.
Jude couldn’t keep this pace up. It was bad enough he’d had to pay an Academic to open up a psychic link with him to be able to keep up with Kira, but this was just ridiculous. Jude had not engaged in any face-to-face combat whatsoever. Every so often, a sly bullet would apparently spontaneously catapult itself from mid-air and soar straight through the skull of an enemy. But he could leave no trail, nor could he fire these bullets frequently, for fear of alerting his Head to his presence. Thank god for invisibility or he’d have been killed by now- or worse, spotted by Kira.
His girlfriend was a tactical genius.
Orchid Hill was held by four pillars in the form of the four Heads; Head of the Warriors, Head of the Spies, Head of the Carers and Head of the Academics.
These four Heads were the school’s leaders. They rose the morale of the student body, gave them someone to look to in times like these, and were the lifeforce of the school.
Of course they were freaking targets.
Macy.
Now Maddox.
It was a cruel, bloody truth. To kill the body, the enemy only need cut off its head.
Now the students still had Jack. A stressed Jack, yes, but a Jack, nonetheless. Macy and Will were in no danger. Will was near the combat, yes, but she was protected and surrounded by Warriors. Macy was with her Academics, somewhere on the roof.
But Kira and Jack- particularly Kira, thanks to her goddam superspeed- were running straight toward the axe of the enemy.
What Kira and Jack didn’t know was that they had their own personal bodyguards in the form of Team Ultra-Spy… Team Ninja… okay, their team name didn’t really matter, the point was, Jude and Ailith made a good one.
This battle was gory.
It moved at almost as fast a pace as Kira herself. A burning enemy ran screaming past Jude, who spat a metal bullet at him as he ran past.
The enemy fell as a corpse, and continued to burn.
“Where the hell is she?!”
“About eighty metres north-west of you, mate.” His corresponding Academic sounded almost entertained.
Jude cursed softly inwards as he bent down and forced his metallic feet (he’d turned metal so as to increase his defence) to move faster. Every so often, thanks to his sharp eyes, through the trees he would catch a glimpse of her white blond hair, and Jude would know she’d stopped for whatever reason. Perhaps to fight, or to scout, or to-
“Hello, Jude.”
He nearly fell backwards from the force of his shock. One blink, and bam! There she was.
Determinedly, though- even Jude knew- pointlessly he stiffened and straightened and pressed his mouth shut.
Don’t breathe.
“Jude,” Kira’s gaze was alarmingly accurate, “Jude, I know it’s you.”
Don’t breathe.
“I can see your shadow.”
… dammit.
Jude’s figure materialized into view, and Kira looked distinctly smug. He could also hear the distant laughter of the Academic- that guy was not getting paid- witnessing his humiliation.
Jude grinned weakly, but the grin froze under the icy glare of Kira’s eyes.
“You were following me.” It wasn’t a question.
“I… y’know, this looks bad-”
“Jude, why were you following me-?”
He wouldn’t rat Ailith out. He cleared his throat. “Look, okay, I just… y’all are my Head.”
Her eyebrows rose. “What?”
Jude sighed. “You’re my Head. And Maddox is gone and I figured you’d be a target. And Kira, the school can’t afford to lose anymore.”
Her expression softened. Well, by that, Jude meant her eyebrows lowered slightly and her mouth unwound, but that counted for something, right?
“You were trying to protect me?”
He nodded. He hadn’t expected it to come out like this. Maybe, years later, perhaps when they met again outside of Orchid and were discussing old times, Jude would've slipped it in casually…
“I was.”
“Alright, Jude,” Kira’s eyes rolled slightly, “next time you try to follow me, I need you to remember something.”
He frowned. This wasn’t been the response he had expected.
Kira sighed. “I am Head of the Spies[/b] and I know you very, very well. Did you think I wouldn’t notice your shadow following me? Did you think I wouldn’t spot your trademark spittle bullets? Did you think I wouldn’t recognise your step?”
Jude was sure he hadn’t been this red since the first time Ailith had kissed him.
Now she smiled. “It’s alright. Actually… I appreciate it.”
His eyebrows now rose. “Yeah?”
“Don’t get me wrong, Cowboy, I don’t need the help,” she smiled, “but yeah… I get why you did it. Honestly, though, Jude, I’ll be okay.”
“Kira, I-”
“But if you do follow me again… I’ll know. And I won’t be happy.”
There was always something that slight bit more terrifying about someone unassuming like Kira exercising authority. Unlike Maddox, who was a good, solid leader… y’all never knew quite what to expect from Kira. Jude knew he could read people well- Kira was an exception to this to an extent. Perhaps it was the disconcerting sharpness to her blue eyes; perhaps it was her skill of keeping her face a dreamy blank- he wasn’t sure.
What he did know, though, was that she was proud. Independent. And had a fierce temper.
“Understood?”
He didn’t like it. “Understood.”
“Oh, and Jude,” Kira might’ve been smiling as she turned her back on him, “go help out Ailith, yeah? I’m guessing she’s following Jack.”
Jude blinked. “Kira, she’s not-”
“You’re a good actor, Jude, but again, I think you’re underestimating me. Ailith’s fingerprints are all over the plan of yours. Go find her. She’ll be with Jack.”
Jude nodded, and watched her run.

* * *

“Ailith just shot the enemy commander.”
“What?”[/I]
Jude slammed to a stop. Ailith… whatever he’d been expecting, it hadn’t been that.
“Thank you. I’ll take it from here, Riley.”
“And, Jude- about Jack-”
“Yes?”
“Get some Carers.”
He grinned. “Way ahead of y’all.”
Jude materialized out of the air, terrifying several Year 11 Carers out of their wits. They spun, squealing, arms flailing in what Jude could only assume was basic Carer combat. When they realized they weren’t being attacked, their flailing limbs fell sagging to their sides, and they blinked up at him.
The tallest was the quickest to get her wits about her.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing, sneaking up-”
“Jack Trove has sustained several serious injuries. He needs immediate medical attention.”
In unison, their three mouths opened. The first girl spoke again, “I- you’re serious?”
Jude rose a single eyebrow. The three girls paled.
“You know where he is?” a second spoke up.
“Yes,” Jude bowed his head, “he is with Ailith Rayner and Sophie Mathieu. Follow me.”
The four sprinted through the forest, ducking and diving and weaving. Jude had to had it to the girls; they kept up with his pace well. They were only about 50 metres or so behind him when he burst into the clearing. He saw his girlfriend immediately- she was with Jack- as was the French Spy.
“Ailith!” he called, hurrying over, and was rewarded with a loud groan from Jack.
“Oh, great, did he just save I disagree, too?”
Jude stopped abruptly and then, turned to Ailith, and kissed her forehead. “No,” he spoke down to Jack, who was something of a wreck, “you owe your life to Ailith, and no-one else.”
Jack looked at the small blond girl for a moment. A smile suddenly creased his lips, and he said softly, “Yeah… I figured as much. Ailith.. Thanks. Y’know?” Even now, broken on the battlefield, Jack was shy about apologizing. Jude sometimes had to wonder if Jack had any real perspective on the world.
The three Carers swept down on Jack, and Ailith, Jude and Sophie took a step back. Jack groaned- perhaps in pain, perhaps in relief- as they set to work about his injuries.
Off in the distance, Jude could see a corpse facing upwards. A young male.
No doubt the man his girlfriend had just killed.
Hell, and Jude couldn't have been prouder.

[Jack Trove]

Nobody really could’ve predicted what happened next.
Jude’s expression changed. “Kira.”
“What?” Jack pushed himself up, but was forced back down by the Carer attending to him.
Jude wasn’t looking at him anymore. His brow was furrowed, and he looked like he was concentrating very hard. Jack watched him intently under the crook of the girl’s elbow.
“Jude?” he prompted him.
“Kira’s been stabbed several times,” Jude said softly, and his eyes rose to Ailith with a look full of meaning. “I… she caught me out. She told me to come here. She said she’d be okay.”
“Norris?” one of the Carers spun around, “oh! God! Should I-?”
BANG.
And Sophie was down.
The Spies jumped back in shock.
The Carers screamed.
The Warrior flinched.
“Sh- she-” the Carer girl who had been speaking clamoured over Jack, and pawed at Sophie’s hanging head. It lolled back, her blue eyes blank.
Jack stared at the corpse, and waited.
Waited.
Waited.
Nothing happened.
“Jack, you okay?” Jude was staring at him.
“… yeah,” Jack blinked, “I’m fine.”
The Carer girl Healing him started sobbing, “Oh this is horrible- horrible-”
“Where’d the bullet come from?” Jack asked Jude sharply.
Jude looked at Ailith. “To our left. I can’t see a lot through the trees. I don’t know where the person is-”
“Jack, you’re alive!”
“Yes, Riley, well done. But Sophie Mathieu isn’t. Who shot her?”
“Wait- who? I don’t see-”
“Get off,” Jack muttered, pushing the Carer girl aside. “I’m better now. Thanks.”
The other Carer girl was still pawing weakly at Sophie’s head. The sight was gruesome. The gunshot wound was dribbling down her forehead and bubbling into her lips. There was no doubt that the girl was dead, this time. It felt strange… Jack wasn’t sure what was wrong with him. Why he felt so empty when he looked at her body.
Maybe it was shock?
“We need to move.”
Jude opened his mouth-
“Orders, guys,” Jack clapped his hands together. “Leave Sophie. She’s dead, we can’t help her now. You-”
“Lucy.”
“Lucy, you go find Kira. Get moving.”
“Yes sir!” The Carer moved immediately, with all the grace of a good soldier, disappearing into the forest.
“We don’t know if the shooter is close by, guys,” Jack spoke directly to Ailith and Jude, now. “We don’t know if they know Knight is dead. Riley-”
“Sir!” The telepathic voice was painfully eager.
“Let everyone know he’s dead.”
“As in… the Academics?”
“Yeah. Spread the word. Girls,” Jack swerved to face the two remaining Carers, who between them kept glancing at Sophie lying between them. “Can you… would you spread it, too? Let people know Knight is dead.”
“S-sir.”
“Yes sir.”
They, too, ran. Jack was left alone with the two Spies. The back of Jack’s neck was prickling. He had little doubt the shooter was hovering nearby, and didn’t want to waste anymore time.
This battle was bad.
People were dying.
And they weren’t winning.
Madeleine was still gone. Nobody had prepared for this. His Head- Jack’s heart filled with emotion- was missing. Another was lying, badly wounded, on the battlefield. God knows about Will, or Macy.
Sophie was dead.
Knight was dead.
Dead. Dead. Dead.
It didn’t matter who they were. Enemy or student- this battle was going nowhere. Jack himself was lucky to be alive. No, it needed to end quickly now. And Jack needed to figure out how.
“We have to end this,” he said softly to the two Spies.
“I know,” Jude muttered, running a hand through his hair. “… how?”
“Kinda hoping you guys would work it out,” Jack half-grinned, but there was no real humour to it.
Jude looked at Ailith. “I… well. Their commander’s dead. They may start to pull back anyway if they know that.”
Ailith was chewing her lip. “Yeah… but that’ll take several messengers before the whole of the Forces know. You need something fast and definite like some sort of signal.”
“A signal? What- like smoke?” Jack frowned.
“Or fire,” Jude interjected.
Jack’s eyebrows climbed. Now. There was a plan.
“That’d work,” Ailith was speaking to Jude, “but you’d also need to make sure that everyone knows what it means-”
“I’ve fire power! Genius, Ailith!” Jack felt like laughing. It was simple- but it was brilliant. Why wasn’t this girl a Warrior, again? “We can drive the Forces back, and-”
“Jack-”
“Quiet, Jude.”
“But, Jack-”
“Quiet. Riley!”
“Sir?”
“I need you notify everyone- I’m burning down Blueberg-”
“You’re WHAT-?!”
“Hang on, Jack,” Ailith interrupted, and Jack swerved to face the little Spy again. “I didn’t mean burn down the whole bloody forest! What if someone gets trapped?”
Jack shifted. “Well… if Riley’s notifying them-”
“Ailith’s right, Jack,” Jude shook his head. “Y’all can’t burn the whole thing.”
“Unless…” Ailith looked up, and Jack turned to her again, “you send out a water bender and a few flyers b-”
“To sorta… control the flames?”
“Yeah,” Jude nodded, “and what if we only burn down part of it? Besides, Jack, wouldn’t Will kinda gut you if you burned it all?”
Jack grinned slightly sheepishly. “… yeah.”
“Well,” Ailith clapped her hands together, “how ‘bout it?”
Jack couldn’t really believe this conversation was happening. This whole battle was crazy. He could only imagine the look on Madeleine’s face if she knew-
Actually. Best not imagine that.
Shaking the image from his mind, he stepped back, nodding. “Part of it, then? Maybe… an area clearer than this- I can check with Riley for one?”
“And that’s our signal?” Jude nodded.
“Should do the job,” Ailith muttered. “If it doesn’t it’ll at least get their attention for a few moments. Riley might scrape together a few messenger mates and we should be clear by dinnertime.”
This was still insane, of course. But it was starting to really make sense.
“Riley,” Jack spoke, “you following this?”
“You guys are nuts!”
“That’s an affirmative,” Jack said to Jude and Ailith. He felt oddly cheerful, all of a sudden. A touch of pyromania never did anyone any harm, he supposed.
But it wasn’t even that.
Relief was coursing through him now.
The end was finally, finally in sight. After a day that seemed to have none. The man with hell in his eyes had closed them forever, Sophie- though he why he felt relieved by this, he wasn’t sure- was out of the picture, and dinner…
Jack hadn’t eaten in hours.
“Alright, Trove- everyone now thinks you’re nuts- but the message is going out now. You’re actually in a good area, further South. People aren’t nearby. I think you can do it there.”
Jack needed no further prompting. His hands lit up, and Jack fired.

[Ailith Rayner]

Jude's swift kiss to her forehead settled something in Ailith mind. At least she had someone who loved and cared about her and who she in turn adored. Ailith had faithful support. Laila could surely never have that.
Ailith wasn't ready to take full credit for Knight's death. Jack had him pretty much got by the time Ailith reached him but she appreciated Jack's gratitude.
Jude voiced suddenly. “Kira... Kira’s been stabbed several times,” Jude said softly, looking at Ailith. “I… she caught me out. She told me to come here. She said she’d be okay.”
Well he did have the more difficult assignment she was a spy it was trained into her to sense a follower. What's more she was his Head so when she put her foot down Jude would've had little option but to obey.
“Norris?” one of the Carers piped up, “oh! God! Should I-?”
The Carer was interrrupted by the heavy bang of a gun. Sophie slumped to the ground and Ailith spun to the left where Jude had slightly turned his head. His super sensitive ears had pin-pointed the sound and Ailith fired her last two bullets into the undergrowth one up and one lower down and to the side It probably hadn't killed the low-life sniper but it certainly would have deterred them from that spot. Maybe even freaked them into leaving.
Wishful thinking. They may have missed Jack, but Sophie was a goner.
But Jack once again took it on the chin. The lad was invincable, or so it seemed. He didn't phase-out, instead he stood and pulled together the small gathering inculding the gaggle of Carers and started dishing out commands. Once everyone had scattered to their duties. Jack approached the Ailith and Jude who waited dutifully for an order.
"We have to end this."
I'll say!
When they agreed that Jack should burn down part of the forest, Ailith couldn't help but stare at Jack's hands burned. She wasn't and arsonist but she admitted there was something oddly fascinating about watching something burn. Right now though if she didn't move she'd be watching herself burn. She took Jude's hand and without a word passing between them they ran from the smoke and flames. Other people were running too. Others had stopped fighting to gaze at the dark mist of smoke rising from the treetops. Job done Jack.

[Seth Harris & Kelly Woods]

((This is done from Kelly's POV..Forces))

The students were good fighters. She had to give them that but Kelly knew The Forces were better. They were winning and the school was slowly cumbling. It was quite pleasing to watch. The great Orchid Hill, was losing.
Kelly, were are you?[/b]
In the field. Killing. she smiled.
Yes, but where?
Jared...I'm north east from where you are now.
He was looking for her. She was going to kill him. She had specifically told him not to do that. They both had to find him and they couldn't do it together. They needed to cover ground. And while the Knight's Shining Armour's back was turned was a good way. After all..Kelly and Jared had their own plans to deal with and Battle was the perfect place. Nobody would miss a student.
A slight movement in her peripheral vision caught her eye. Turning she stood there and looked for whatever had caused the movement. A minute had gone by when three shots were fired up ahead. She deliberated. If she went and it was someone on her side she'd turn and go back to what she was doing but if it was someone from the school..
Perfect leverage..or at least I can find out were my dear old friend is and then kill the unfortunate git.
No one was going to see her anytime soon or sense her prescence. She was camouflaged and her shield was to powerful for any of the students to sense her. Coming up to the secluded space she was surprised.
There leading man..whatshisface...Trove was lying on the ground beaten in the arms of some beauty who looked fairly panicked. Her smile grew bigger. Perfect opurtunity. Hit and cause even more damage to their ar-
Then she caught sight of another blonde. A short bloned with a smoking gun in her hand and in front of her, lying on the ground was Knight. Three bullet holes in his head.
So the Knight's Shining Armour has finally faded. About time. she was sad to see him go. He had been a good temp. but Orla had been better. But they were both gone..both horribly dealt with. Kelly had to give it to them. The students were trained and highly skilled and some of them, like the petite blonde who was over by Trove, certainly had knowledge of how to kill. Both sides had been brought down. They were missing a Head, Trove looked on the brink and The Forces had lost two leaders in the space of just over a year give or take a few months. But now, now they had Madeleine Baudelaire. They were lost without her and that much was obvious.
She moved slightly closer to hear what they were saying. But as she moved four others entered the clearing. A boy and three girls who sat down beside or in front of Jack and started to work on him. Three Carers. Pfft. What did they know about healing?
Then the boy spoke.
"Kira." all of them went silent for a second and then Trove prompted him while he got up. The small blonde...Ailith or something of the sorts..they were staring at each other.
"Kira's been stabbed several times." and Kelly tuned out. One missing; one severely injured; one healed. It was enough. She propped up her Cate (a snipers rifle) and looked through the eye whole. She had a clear shot of both blondes, Trove, the three girls and the other guy. But the blonde crumpled on the ground seemed to stared at Trove like a lost puppy. She was in a right state and she had longing in her eyes. She was in love with him and that meant they were together. Taking out Jack would be too easy and feel worthless and so she aimed.
Bang. the hollow sound of the bullet leaving the barell was a happy one. And the blood running down the girls head was even better. A lovely sight. It had been an easy shot. But the boy knew where Kelly was lurking and so did the rest of them.
The short blonde turned and fired twice. The first bullet was high and to her left. The second left a trail in her shoulder. It hurt a hell of a lot but she kept quiet. She was camouflaged. None of them could see her. She didn't move but she did stay and listen for a little bit. Trove gave them orders.
Kelly wasted no time. She shot up and started to run to her left. She had to many plans in store.
Kelly, what's going on?
Jared, where are you?
Heading to where you said you wou-
NO! GO BACK AND RUN FAR AWAY. MEET BACK AT THE CAMP!
Why? What's goi-
Just do it!
Then she heard the roaring of flames. She turned and looked at the thick black smoke.
"So much for Blueberg." she shrugged and kept running back. Neither had won. Neither had lost. When she got back she grabbed one of the Forces members.
"How many have we lost?"
"Don't know."
"Do we still have their Head?"
"Yes."
Kelly let go and smiled. She was tapped on the back.
"Did you see him?"
"No. Where's Knight?"
"Dead. Shot in the head three times. The armour has been faded."
Jared smirked and then caught sight of her wound, "C'mon, get you seen t-"
"No, it can wait. Come on, we've got to get planning."[/color]

[Jack Trove]

ooc: FINALLY! It's finished! Job well done to everyone who took part- it's been a brilliant battle.

It worked. The forest was blazing, and the fire was rolling down the horizon. He could hear the screams of the Forces as they ran through the flames, and he felt hollow triumph radiating from the student body gathered behind them.
Battered, bloody, bruised.
But alive.
Sustained.
Still there.
Just.
Riley needed some kinda medal. The Academic had managed to notify every student in the school of what was about to happen in the forest, and remove them. The Forces- some of them, anyway- had apparently believed the Orchid students were retreating, and ran forward in triumph, only to receive a nasty shock.
Some volunteers had ran out into the forest and were now helping to contain the fire and prevent anymore damage. Jack didn’t like to think of how Will would react next time she saw him. The forest was a sepulchre; a shell of its former self. Jack didn’t know how many bodies lay in there now, burning.
Sophie and Knight were amongst them.
He couldn’t explain the lack of emotion he now felt when he thought of Sophie. Honestly, he currently didn’t care. There was only one real thing on everybody’s mind right now-
They didn’t win.
Nor had they lost. That was something. But if this were supposed to be some kind of victory, it was a hollow one. Madeleine was still gone; still kidnapped. It wasn’t like Macy, who’d been able to escape.
Madeleine hadn’t escaped.
They were no better off than they were before the battle. Actually, honestly, they were worse. Because now, several of their number was dead.
Several more were badly injured, including Kira, another Head.
And their forest was ruined.
The battle was over. Orchid Hill still stood.
But Jack knew as he faced the sea of students before him that he wasn’t the only one who felt beaten.