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"I can do it," Ella says, straightening up

"No one will think any less of you if you sit out," I tell her

"You don’t have to baby me," she replies sharply "I can train just as hard as the rest of you guys"

I nod, dropping the arguood for Ella At the very least, it should tire her out enough so that she’ll get some real rest

We’re the last two to arrive in the Lecture Hall Everyone stands in the middle of the room, dressed in workout clothes Malcol buttons and levers through his glasses

Nine claps his hands when he sees us "All right! Let’s get started! Capture the flag ti ability"

Six rolls her eyes and Five stifles a groan I stand next to Eight, who flashes me a quick smile I hope we end up on the saestures to the opposite ends of the gys rab the other tea it back to their side is the winner You’ve gotta be holding the flag at all ti back to your own side--aheht se"

Piled on the floor are four Mogadorian rifles that I grabbed on our way out of Arkansas Figured we ht want the them hesitantly "What are those for?" he asks

"Each tea in "Malcoluns We always end up using their own guns against the Mogs in battle; I figured this would be good practice"

"Also, anted to give you non-Garde a fighting chance," says Nine, glancing at Sam and Sarah

Malcolm strides over from the Lectern, his hands clasped behind his back "I’ll be using the Lecture Hall’s systems to throw in soets hurt, it’s okay to call a tihs, annoyed "There’re no ti out to aa less cavalier approach "Re to kill each other"

John and Nine are captains, dividing us into two teaht Next, John takes Five and Nine picks Marina John’s third pick is Bernie Kosar, and then Nine surprises everyone by choosing Sarah I expected to go in the last round; there’s no sha superpowers John picksto divide the humans up evenly, which leaves Ella to join Nine’s teayht away," Six says "If you guys can keep the rest of the no probleree to teleport to our side right away and uard duty"

I pat Bernie Kosar on the head His beagle fur transforer "Um, yeah We can handle it"

"Five, you and I will go on offense Keep them busy while Six makes a break for it"

Five looks over his shoulder to where the other tea their own huddle "I want to take on Nine"

John and I exchange a quick look, both of us re yesterday’s incident It’s not every day that soo head to head with the Garde’s battle-crazy lunatic John shrugs "Sure I’ll have your back Take it easy on him this time, okay?"

Five smiles, a cavalier look in his eyes "No promises"

As our huddle breaks, I smile at Six "Good luck out there They’ll never see you coo, Sa blasters and tosses it toon you to keep rab their flag, and ers "We won’t even break a sweat"

Nine shakes his head "That’s exactly what they’ll be expecting So yeah, do that But it’s just going to be a diversion"

Sarah raises her hand, interrupting "Sorry, Nine, I just have to ask Why did you pick rins at her "You’reto be effective with youkissy faces at hi the Mog blaster she picked up "Do you wantShe won’tI’m envious of her aim I haven’t been able to adapt to firearms nearly as quick as she has They just make etting serious "That’s why she’s gonna be on Six patrol"

"You know she’s going to go invisible," Eight says "How are we supposed to stop that?"

"That’s where Ella comes in," Nine answers Ella looks up fro with, startled to hear her na picked last

"Me?" she asks, incredulous

"Hell yeah, you," Nine replies "You’re gonna use your telepathic mojo to pinpoint Six’s location when she’s invisible Then, you and Sarah light her up"

"Um, I’m not sure if I can do that"

"You located her in a big-ass base in New Mexico This is just one rooly "Just try for ?" I ask