𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗛 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧  ♱  ─────
012. Squad Battle.
word count:  4237

❝ I need your support in knowing my Joanna will be looked after in the Quadrant. I know how these things end. ❞
— Recovered Correspondence from
Liora Harrigan to Professor Carr

FEBRUARY BLURS TOGETHER in a flash. Between training with Emetterio and Carr, and the ever looming threat of the Squad Battle, she can feel the burn out of simple survival edging closer. She's managed to keep her signet classified, thanking the Gods Rhiannon and Violet can keep secrets. Garrick and Xaden were furious when she told the two of them and Imogen before she told them.

     "I'm never saving you from near burnout again." Xaden had said, punching her in the arm.

Garrick was just glad she'd confided in someone— and that he was included. He had reassured her she hadn't made him do anything, and that it was simply because he wanted to. He was afraid to admit how infatuated he'd become with the blonde over the years ( and was afraid to admit those feelings had they been unrequited ).

Her squadmates, especially the senior cadets, teased her along with being proud she was coming out of her shell now. It was refreshing.

She still felt butterflies at the sight of Garrick— a rare occurrence at Basgiath. She was thankful to have something out of the ordinary; her future seemed less dim when he was around.

Then February turned into March, and the sparring matches for Squad Battle end today. Jodi had won hers that morning, her win jumping their squad to top ten.

     "Tap out!" Rhiannon screams as a rider out of Second Wing fights to drag himself forward on the mat, his hands splayed wide, his fingernails digging in as Liam holds him in a leg lock, forcing his back into what should be an impossible arch. If Liam wins, it'll boost their squad to third.

Jodi's walls were tight in her mind, a technique she'd finally mastered so she didn't become overwhelmed by the pulses surrounding her. Her mind was easily distracted, but Garrick had given her a few tips to help her out.

Mikael cries out in pain, the sound sharp, near earsplitting, and pulling her attention back to the action in front of her. Liam holds fast and presses his advantage.

     "Fuck me, that looks like it hurts," Violet mutters over the cheering first-years.

     "Yeah, he's not walking for a while," Ridoc agrees, cringing as the arc of Mikael's back looks like a broken spine waiting to happen. With another cry, Mikael slams his palm into the mat three times, and the crowd roars.

     "Yes! Go, Liam!" Sawyer screams from behind them, and Liam drops Mikael to the mat, where he sprawls out, exhausted.

     "We won!" Liam rushes for them, and Jodi is swept up into a tangle of arms and shouting and joyous squadmates. She wonders if Garrick or Xaden had been there to witness the undeniable happiness of their squad. She'd not seen them most of that morning.

     "Your winner!" Professor Emetterio shouts, his voice ringing through the gym and quieting the zealous energy as Liam steps out of their crushing hug.

     "Liam Mairi from Second Squad, Flame Section, Fourth Wing!" Liam puts up both hands in victory and turns in a small circle, and the sound of cheering makes Jodi's ears ring in the best way.

Commandant Panchek steps onto the mat, and Liam joins the rest of the squad, sweat pouring off his skin. "I know you were all expecting the last portion of the Squad Battle to happen tomorrow, but the cadre and I have a surprise."

He has every single rider's attention now. "Instead of telling you what the final, unknown task will be and giving you tonight to plan for it, your final task will begin this hour!" He grins, throwing out his hands and turning just like Liam had.

     "Tonight?" Ridoc whispers.

Jodi's stomach hits the ground. "Dain isn't here. Neither is Cianna." Violet mentions.

     "Oh shit," Imogen whispers, looking over the crowd herself, locking eyes with Jodi. Garrick and Xaden were missing too.

     "As you may have noticed, your squad leaders and their executive officers have been...shall we say, sequestered with your section leaders and wingleaders, and no, before someone asks, your task is not to find them."

He continues to walk in a small circle, addressing each side of the mat. "You are to break into your squads and accomplish a unique mission this evening without the leadership and instruction of your squad leaders."

     "Doesn't that defeat the purpose of having squad leaders?" someone asks across the mat.

     "The purpose of a squad leader is to form a tightly knit unit that can carry on with a mission after their demise. Consider your leaders...demised." Panchek shrugs with a gleeful smile. "You're on your own, riders. Your mission is simple: find and acquire, by any means necessary, the one thing that would be most advantageous to our enemies regarding the war effort. Leadership will serve as unbiased judges, and the winning squad will be awarded sixty points."

     "That's enough to put us into first!" Rhiannon whispers, linking her arm with Violet and Jodi's. "We could win the glory of going to the front!"

     "What are the boundaries?" someone to the right asks.

     "Anything within the walls of Basgiath," Panchek answers. "And don't you dare let me see you trying to haul a dragon back here. They'll incinerate you out of sheer annoyance."

The squad to the left mutters their disappointment.

     "You have"—Panchek pulls out his pocket watch—"three hours, at which time we'll expect you to present your stolen treasures in the Battle Brief room."

They all stare at him in silence. Out of everything Jodi imagined the third and final task to be...well, this wasn't anywhere near that list.

     "What are you waiting for?" Panchek shoos his hands at them. "Go!"

Pandemonium ensues.

     "Second Squad!" Imogen yells, putting her hands up. "Follow me!" Sawyer and Heaton make sure they're all ducklings, following in Imogen's wake as she leads them across the gym to the weight room.

     "You did great," Violet tells Liam as he walks at her side, still struggling to catch his breath.

     "It was epic." Ridoc hands Liam a waterskin, which Liam promptly drains.

     "Let's go, let's go," Imogen says, ushering them through the open door. She does a quick head count and then closes the door, wielding to lock it. Jodi settles in a seat between Liam and Quinn.

"First thing. Who wants to be in command?" Imogen asks, looking at the eleven of them. Ridoc throws his hand in the air.

Rhiannon turns and forces it back down. "No." She shakes her head. "You'll turn this into some kind of prank."

"Fair point." He shrugs.

"Liam? Jodi?" Quinn asks, lifting her eyebrows.

"No." He shakes his head, but his gaze darts in Violet's direction, giving his reasoning away.

"No one is going to try and off me while we're out tonight," she argues. He turns back toward Imogen and shakes his head one more time.

Imogen looks to Jodi, "Pass."

"You keep command," Rhiannon suggests, looking at Imogen. "You've gotten us this far."

A murmur of agreement goes around the room. "Emery? Heaton?" Imogen asks. "As third-years, it's your right."

"No thanks." Heaton leans back against the wall.

"Nope. There's a reason neither of us wanted to be in leadership," Emery adds, sitting next to Nadine. "Any reason you wouldn't be all right following Imogen's command for a few hours, Nadine?"

Every one of them turns to face the first-year who hasn't been remotely subtle about her hatred of marked ones. Knowing now that she's from a northern village on the border of the provinces of Deaconshire and Tyrrendor, Jodi can understand her reasoning, but she is at least civil in group settings.

She visibly swallows, her nervous gaze skittering over all of them. "I'm fine with it."

"Good." Imogen folds her arms across her chest, the wrist with her rebellion relic peeking out from under her tunic. Jodi smirks at the sight. "We have a little less than three hours. What are your ideas?"

"What about a piece of weaponry?" Ridoc suggests. "A cross-bolt would be deadly to any of our dragons in the hands of our enemies."

"Too big," Quinn says decisively. "There's only one in the museum, and honestly, it's not even the bolt that's deadly, it's the launching system."

"Next?" Imogen glances at each of them.

"We could steal Panchek's underw—" Ridoc starts before Rhiannon slams her hand over his mouth.

"And that's why we don't let you lead." She arches a brow at him.

"Come on, guys! Think! What's the most useful thing to our enemy?" Imogen's brow puckers over her pale green eyes.

"Information," Liam answers. He swings his gaze toward me. "Violet, what about stealing the news missives from the Archives? The ones that come in from the front?"

She shakes her head. "It's after seven. The Archives are locked, and it's the kind of vault that even wielding isn't going to touch. The whole room is sealed up airtight in case of fire."

"Damn." Imogen sighs. "That was a good one."

The entire room breaks into conversation, each voice louder than the next as suggestions are hurled into the open.

Information.

Jodi's mind whirled as she thought of a few documents her father had kept in his office, knowing they'd been left somewhere that couldn't be burned or discovered by an outsider. She knew Aretia would be too far to get back in time and was out of bounds, but it didn't stop her from wondering if she'd be able to find it again someday.

"What are you thinking, Sorrengail?" Imogen asks and the room falls silent. "I can see the little gears turning in your mind."

"It's probably nothing." She looks around at the squad, biting her bottom lip.

"Get up here and work it out in your head," Imogen orders.

"Seriously, it's mad. Like, undoable. We'd get thrown in the brig if we're caught."

Imogen's eyes sparkle with interest. "Get. Up. Here. And. Work. It. Out," she orders, making sure she knows it's not a suggestion.

"We can wield, right?" She stands, brushing her hands down her sides.

"By all means necessary," Heaton repeats, nodding.

"All right." She rocks back on her heels, "I know Ridoc can wield ice, Rhiannon can retrieve, Sawyer can manipulate metal, Imogen can mind-wipe recent memories—"

"And I'm fast," she adds. Violet looks to Jodi, who gives a subtle shake of her head.

"Heaton, what about you?" She asks instead.

"I can breathe underwater," they answer.

"Awesome, but I don't think that's going to come in handy if we do this. Emery?"

"I can control wind." He grins. "A lot of wind."

Her boots squeak on the floor as she nods and turns. "Quinn?"

"I can astral project. Keep my body in one place and then walk around somewhere else."

Her mouth hangs open, matching about half the squad. Jodi shakes her head with a laugh. Hers would've been more useful— and less concerning. Jodi can feel her heart beat against her rib cage, her fingers tingling. She checks her walls, reaching out for the bond with Kaida.

Her heart calms as she realizes she's sleeping, and turns her attention back to the squad.

"I know, it's pretty awesome." She winks, pulling her curls up into a bun.

"Yes. That we can use." She smiles.

"What are you thinking, Sorrengail?" Imogen prompts, tucking the short hair on one side of her shaved head behind her ear.

"You're going to tell me I've lost my mind, but if we pull it off, we'll win for sure."

"And?" Jodi prompts.

"We're going to break into my mother's office."

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

"You are so fucking creepy." Ridoc squirms two hours later, leaning away from Quinn's astral form. Her body is currently with Heaton, guarded in the weight room.

The rest of the squad is sneaking through the hallways past the Healer Quadrant. They've already run into a squad from Second and another from Third, but none of them had time to question or deter the others.

They'll rise or fall on their own merit with this timeline, and they've wasted the last two hours waiting for night to fall so it would even be possible.

     "I've never been farther than this," Emery says as they pass the last door to the clinic.

     "You've never even been to the Archives?" Jodi asks.

     "I avoid that duty like the plague," Emery answers. "Scribes freak me out. Quiet little know-it-alls, acting like they can make or break someone by writing something down."

Jodi grins to Violet, who nods in agreement. "Infantry is still out camping." Rhiannon points out the windows to the
dozens of campfires illuminating the field below.

     "Must be nice to get a break," Nadine remarks, but there's no snotty tone this time. "Scribes will all go home for the summer. Healers get to spend their weekends on those mind-body-health retreats, and the infantry might have to practice making and breaking camp in the snow through winter, but at least they spend those months around a campfire."

     "We'll get to go home," Imogen argues.

     "After graduation," Rhiannon retorts. "For what? A couple of days?" Jodi twitches at the idea of stopping by Dealy's, hoping she could just skip over it and visit Aretia.

They come to a fork in the path, where they can follow the tunnel down to the Archives or climb into the fortress of the war college.

     "There's no turning back from here," Violet says to the group, looking up the spiral staircase.

     "Lead on!" Quinn orders, and they all jump about a foot in the air, forgetting she was there.

     "Shhh!" Imogen hisses. "Some of us can get caught, you know."

     "Right. Sorry." Quinn cringes.

     "Everyone, remember the plan," Violet whispers. "No one deviates. No one."

They all nod, and begin the silent climb up the dark stairs, then cling to the shadows as they cross the stone courtyard of Basgiath.

     "It's six flights straight up," she whispers when they reach the next set of stairs, and  continue to climb as fast as they can without making any noise. Jodi's blood tingles, as they reach the top of the steps, and Liam leans out just far enough to see down the length of what's always felt like the world's longest
hallway.

     "There are mage lights in sconces," he says, leaning back behind the wall.

     "There's only one guard stationed at the door." Jodi reports.

     "Was there any light under the door?" Violet asks Liam.

     "No." He turns to Quinn and Jodi. "The guard looks about six feet tall, but he seems pretty athletic. The other stairwell is down the hallway to the left, which means you'll have to get his attention and then book it."

     Quinn nods. "No problem."

     "Everyone else know what they're doing?" Violet asks. There are nine nods. "Then let's do this. Quinn, you're up. Everyone else, circle back down so he can't see us if he looks this way."

They retreat, and Quinn charges up the stairs. Her voice is muffled by the stone walls, but they hear the guard's pounding footsteps clear as day as he charges past the stairway.

"Get back here! You can't be here!"

"Now!" Imogen orders.

They launch, leaving Rhiannon and Emery in the stairwell as they fly into the hallway. Sawyer rushes toward the opposite staircase, throwing the door shut and twisting the metal joints with his powers as continue down the hall.

Nadine begins unweaving the wards as Liam steps into the spot where the guard stood and lifts his chin in the air,
taking the same posture. "Are you all right?"

"Yep," Violet answers, watching Nadine. "And I'll be fine in there. I have Jodi," she assures him, a smile tugging at her lips. "Which is funny, since I didn't think the same way the last time I was standing here."

"Got it!" Nadine whispers, nudging the door open.

"If you hear me whistle—" Liam starts, worry lining his forehead.

"We'll go out the window or something," she assures him as Ridoc and Sawyer rush past. "Relax." Leaving Liam to stand watch, she and Jodi step into the office.

"Don't touch the mage lights or she'll know," she warns them. "You have to make your own." She flicks her wrist, twisting her power into a bright blue flame and letting it drift over her.

"How nice is this?" Ridoc flops down onto the red couch.

"We don't have time for you to be...you," Sawyer lectures, heading for the bookcase. "Help me search for something useful."

"We'll take the table." Imogen and Nadine start sorting through papers on the six-seater conference table.
"Which leaves Jodi and I at the desk," she mutters, walking around the intimidating piece of furniture. There are three folded missives in the middle, and Jodi freezes as she picks up
a dagger with an alloy-infused hilt and a Tyrrish rune in the handle. She gulps, thanking the Gods she didn't ask her what it was.

Violet unfolds the letter and she and Jodi lean in to read it.

General Sorrengail,

The raids around Athebyne have spread the wing too thin. Being posted beyond the safety of the wards comes with considerable hazards, and though I am loath to request reinforcements, I must. If we do not reinforce the post, we may be forced to abandon it.
We are protecting Navarrian citizens with life, limb, and wing, but I cannot adequately relay how dire the situation is here. I know you receive the dailies from our scribe attachment, but I would be remiss in my duties as executive officer of the Southern Wing if I did not write to you personally. Please find us reinforcements.
Sincerely,

Major Kallista Neema

Jodi's heart aches at the plea in his words— wishing there was more she could do for them. She curses the professors in her mind as she moves onto the next missive, handing it to Violet.

"These are all...numbers," Imogen says, rifling through the conference table papers.

"It's April," Violet answers. "She's working on next year's budget." Everyone stops and turns to look at her, all wearing expressions of varying degrees of disbelief.

"What?" She shrugs. "Did you think this place ran itself?"

"Keep looking," Imogen orders. Violet unfolds the next missive.

General Sorrengail,

Protests regarding conscription laws are growing within the province of Tyrrendor. Knowing that due to Tyrrendor' s size, it provides the majority of our conscripts to replenish our front lines, we cannot afford to lose the support of the people again.
Perhaps an influx of defensive spending on outposts here would not only bolster the province' s economy and remind the Tyrrish how needed they are to the defense of our kingdom, but also ease the unrest. Please consider this solution as an alternative to suppressing the unrest with force.

Sincerely,

Lieutenant Colonel Alyssa Travonte

Jodi lifts an eyebrow, then follow's Violet's gaze to the giant map hanging on the wall directly above them. Unrest isn't new to Tyrrendor, nor is the sentiment against conscription, but they certainly haven't heard any political rumblings in Battle Brief. Jodi makes a note to mention the missive to Xaden when she sees him, and her eyes widen at the same time as Violet's.

The map shows all of Navarre, Krovla to the south, Braevick and Cygnisen to the southeast, and even the barriers of the Barrens, the ruined deserted lands at the southern tip of the Continent. It also shows each of our outposts and supply routes within Navarre.

A slow grin spreads across her face. "Hey, Second Squad. I know what we need to steal."

It takes a matter of minutes for them to haul the map down and cut it away from its frame, then another to roll it, securing it with leather ties Imogen pulls out of her satchel. Liam whistles, and Jodi's heart nearly leaps out of her chest.

"Shit!" Ridoc and Jodi race to the door and cracks it open as they all prepare to flee. "What's going on out there?"

"He's pounding at the hall door! It's going to give any second. We have to go now," Liam whisper-shouts, holding the door open as they all race into the hallway. The map is too big for one person to carry, and Sawyer and Imogen struggle through the doorway as the guard kicks in the door farther down the hall.

Jodi takes a breath, her fingers tingling. "And we're fucked," Nadine announces.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" the guard shouts, charging toward them.

"We're dead if he catches us with the map." Ridoc bounces on his toes like he's preparing to fight.

"We can't hurt him," Violet protests. The guard barrels past the first stairwell and Rhiannon steps into the middle of the hallway, her arms outstretched.

"Please work. Please work. Please work," Imogen chants.

The map disappears out of her hands and reappears down the hallway in Rhiannon's. "This was not part of the plan." Liam moves to Violet's side. "It's all you, J."

With half a second to register, Jodi takes a breath and practices what she and Carr spoke about. Without moving, she manages to place herself within the guard, feeling his every pulse and blood cell, he slows to a stop.

"What the hell?" He asks, struggling to move. Her head begins to ache as she struggles to hold him for long, Liam's eyes widening suddenly.

"Adapt! Emery!" Imogen hisses to get the attention off of Jodi, and the third-year steps to the front of their little raiding party.

"I'm so sorry, man." He holds out his hands and pushes. A torrent of air rushes down the hallway, ripping tapestries from the walls as Jodi releases the guard and knock into him, sending him flying against the stone wall.

"Run!" They sprint down the hall toward where the guard lies limp.

"Put him in here," Violet whispers, forcing open the next door. Liam and Ridoc haul the guard in, and Jodi nods to Violet, she can still feel his heartbeat in her fingertips, despite being a few feet back. "He just knocked him out. Open his mouth." She snags the vial hidden in the pocket of her leathers, uncorks it, and then lets the tonic flow into the guard's mouth.

"He'll sleep the rest of the night."

Liam's wide eyes meet hers. "You're kind of terrifying."

"Thank you." She grins, and they run as fast as they can.
Fifteen minutes later, their chests are still heaving as they skid into the Battle Brief room, just under the clock. They're the last to arrive, and the tick of Dain's jaw from where he sits in the top row with the other leadership tells Jodi they're going to get an earful about it.

They find their seats as presentations begin in order of squad, giving them enough time to recover from their sprinting session before they have to take the stage.

A squad in First Wing stole Kaori's handwritten manual on the personal habits and flaws of all active dragons. A squad in Second Wing elicits an appreciative murmur when they reveal the uniform of one of the Infantry professors, fully intact with something riders never bear—a name tag. That would grant any enemy access to our outposts, given the rank on the shoulder.

Third Wing's best offering is a stunned, wide-eyed scribe, stolen straight from his bed, and given the way his mouth isn't moving... Yep, someone's signet power takes away speech. The poor thing is going to be traumatized when they finally let him go.

When it's their turn to take the stage, Sawyer and Liam, the two tallest in their squad, hold the top corners of our map so it's visible to all as it unrolls.

Jodi stands beside Imogen, lowering her shields and locking eyes with Garrick as she tracks him toward the back. His gaze laced curiosity, but a smirk grows on his lips.

"It was your idea," Imogen whispers, nudging Violet forward. "Present."

Markham's eyes flare wide as saucers as he forces himself to stand, followed quickly by Devera, whose mouth hangs so wide, it's almost comical.

She clears her throat and gesture to the map. "We have brought the ultimate weapon for our enemies. An up-to-date map of all current outposts of Navarrian wings, to include troop strength of infantry battlements." She points to the forts along the Cygnisen border. "As well as the locations of all current skirmishes in the last thirty days. Including last night."

A murmur rips through the quadrant. "And how do we know this map is, in fact, current?" Kaori asks, holding his reclaimed journal under one arm.

"Because we stole it from General Sorrengail's office."

Absolute mayhem breaks out, some of the riders rushing the stage as professors battle their way toward them, but Garrick breaks out into a grin. Satisfaction fills every ounce of Jodi's being as she smiles up at him. It doesn't matter how the vote comes down. She's already won. 

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How are we feeling? Also I couldn't
find Carr's first name so ignore that :|