November 30th, 978

Patrick was twelve. And he was aware that he had graduated at the top of his class. He was also aware that he had just received a piece of mail from the academy. He opened the letter and read it by himself; it told him to evaluate his classmates and rate them according to his standards and opinions. At first, he wasn’t sure what the point of this sort of letter was, but he quickly came to the conclusion that the academy had to create four-man teams at the end of next month so they were probably trying to find out who each student would be most compatible with.

Patrick knew that when it came right down to it, the teachers would make whatever decision they deemed was most appropriate, but he did appreciate being given the opportunity to have a say in the matter. He found a pen with plenty of ink, sat down at the kitchen table and took all of the forms from the envelope. There was a packet for each other member of his class; all eleven of them.

They were put alphabetically by their first names, which Patrick found a little strange. This put Apple right on the top. Patrick never really had any particular opinion towards Apple until she started hanging out with Swann more often and giggling too much. He thought of her mostly as a mediocre fighter, though her healing abilities had become quite extraordinary in the recent years. He didn’t know what he was supposed to write about her specifically, so he only commented on her power, poor physical fighting skills and how he wouldn’t really find it an honor to be on the same team as her.

Blake was next; he was a trouble maker in the class but, aside from that, he was a strong fighter and also had a unique ability. He was able to manipulate and create small or large explosions, and Patrick suspected he would only continue to develop this power in the future. Therefore, Patrick decided, Blake would not be a bad person to have on his team. Though he was one of the louder and more rambunctious boys in the class, strictly from a Change point of view, he would be a good asset. Patrick made sure to specify that detail.

He moved Blake’s paper to the side and found Anne’s was next. What could he possibly say about Anne? She was an excellent friend and he enjoyed spending time with her. To have her on his team would make him happy from a social standpoint, but when he was in a bind, he would rather have Blake. She had little control of her fantastic ability, but he thought if she had the right motivation then she might become even better at it. Patrick tried not to have a bias when writing her evaluation, but he found it nearly impossible and ranked her much higher than anyone else probably would. Was it so strange to want to spend more time with her? He didn’t think so.

The evaluations continued in that manner as he flew right through Hugh and Swann’s evaluations. Swann would have been a good teammate, but frankly Patrick would not stand being alone in the same room as her for more than a few minutes. Hugh, on the other hand, would be a nightmare to have on his team. Patrick used those exact words when he wrote on Hugh’s evaluation and did not write anything else. He felt bad, but not bad enough to write a real evaluation.

Sarella’s was next. She had still not discovered her ability but she was very tenacious. Of the girls, he definitely thought she had the best physical fighting and strength. He suspected they were going to put at least one girl on each team, so of the four, she would be the best choice. Not to mention the fact that she seemed to like spending time with him. Patrick spent time with her, but he didn’t really have an opinion on that. He wrote her evaluation stoically and professionally.

As he finished up Ronin, Rout, Ryan and Rowan’s evaluations, it just occurred to him how many people in his class had names that started with an R. Ronin would have been a great teammate, though Patrick didn’t know how to feel about his young age, though he knew it would be good to have him as inspiration to always get better. Patrick didn’t care one way or the other with the rest of the R’s and felt they were basically interchangeable as far as their abilities went.

Finally, he finished up with Teak. He would have liked to have Teak on his team because the blue eyed boy was very proficient in his hypnotism abilities and very dedicated to his training. Patrick had occasionally trained with him and he felt they balanced each other well. In the end, Patrick simply that he would most like to share a team with the following people: Blake, Teak, Ronin.

He felt like he needed to have a girl’s name. Apple would be useful because of her healing abilities, though Swann was always ranked as the best girl in the class. Sarella was the best physical fighter and could possibly have a very wonderful special ability. But, he reasoned to himself, Anne was his best friend.

As much as he regretted it, he wrote down two names; Lousia, Anne.

He knew that if he ended up with either girl then he will have sealed his fate anyway. Swann would be a good teammate but he wouldn’t be able to stand her, while Anne would be a deadweight but he would enjoy her company. He wasn’t sure which was more important.

“Don’t write it down if you regret it.”

Patrick turned his head slightly to see Frost hovering over him with the others.

“I’m surprised you guys kept quiet for as long as you did.”

“We know you like your privacy.”

“So much so that you all want to be a part of it.”

“We just don’t want you to make any decisions that you’ll regret later. If you want Anne to be on your team, then write it down. You don’t have to write Swann’s name just to make yourself feel like you’re doing the right thing.”

“I know what I’m doing. Give me some time by myself for once, will you?”

They didn’t respond, but Patrick knew they had retreated to the ceiling to watch him from above.

He put all the papers back into the envelope and left them on the table so he could remember to mail them in the morning.

Just when he was about to put on a jacket and go into the backyard, he heard his mother enter the house from her trip to the grocery store, so he waited to help her.

“Oh, hi, Patrick,” she said cheerfully as she put a bag on the table.

“Is that all?” Patrick said, pointing to the bag.

“This is it,” she answered. “We didn’t need very much.”

Patrick’s mother was only about a head taller than him and she hadn’t changed much over the years, aside from gray hairs. Her face still looked young, but her hair made her look old. Patrick didn’t mind much as long as it didn’t bother her. The last thing he needed was for her to fret about something else.

“Did you hear what happened today?” she said in a voice that suggested tragedy.

“What?” Patrick said.

“A member of the Fourth Level Squad was killed in a mission last week,” she sighed. “And we’ve only just heard about it.”

Patrick silently took the bread out of the bag. Every time he heard something about the Fourth Level Squad, it reminded him of meeting Riley in the woods. His mother looked forlorn for only a moment longer and then she said, “Well, that’s that,” and continued on her way.

“Who was it?” Patrick asked.

“Oh, I can’t remember his name…”

“So it was a man, then.”

“Yes Patrick. Oh, not even a man. A boy. A young boy. I don’t think he could have been much older than you are. That is what I hate about the Fourth Level Squad. Do they have to be so young? It’s a shame.”

“So they’re probably moving his things out of the Fourth Level Squad house,” Patrick said.

“I never thought about it, but I guess they have to.”

Patrick imagined Riley walking up and down the stairs with boxes; some to throw away and some to return to the families. And then he imagined her hiding in the woods. He couldn’t be sure which one she was actually doing.

“Frankly, I’m glad you aren’t part of that Squad,” said Patrick’s mother. “Though it certainly would have been an honor. I wouldn’t have been able to stand you being so far away all the time and all those dangerous situations you would be put in! I don’t know how other mothers stomach it. I guess the honor is enough for them.”

She folded the empty bag and looked up at the ceiling, still thinking.

“Well,” she said. “A month until you’re an official First Level. Are you excited?”

“I guess,” Patrick shrugged.

“I wonder whose team you’ll end up on,” said Mrs. Leary. “Maybe Sarella’s.”

“Maybe,” Patrick said, trying not to sound uneasy. He knew his mother liked Sarella very much. It was only natural; their personalities were very similar. That happened to be the reason why Patrick tried to avoid Sarella if he could.

“Mom, does anyone ever visit the Fourth Level Squad at their house?”

“I don’t know the answer to that!” Patrick’s mother said with a laugh. “I certainly never have visited them. I don’t think I’ve ever even met them.” She looked over at Patrick who had a rather serious expression on his face. “Why do you ask?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“I suppose,” Mrs. Leary said, putting her hand on her hip. “Who do you know on the Fourth Level Squad?”

“A girl,” Patrick answered. “A little girl. Her name is Riley. I met her once last year when Chesline Chase was killed. I just want to see how she’s doing.”

“That’s very thoughtful of you, Patrick. I don’t think there’s a rule against visiting them so you should go. Do you want me to come along?”

“No, I want to go alone.”

“All right, then you’ll be back by dinner, I hope?”

“Yeah, I will.”

Patrick took his jacket and found that he had something to do for the day. He gazed up at the four bugs in the corner of the room and summoned them to him and they followed after him. His mother watched him leave and then closed the door behind him, carefully observing him through the window until he was out of sight.

Patrick liked to jog, and so he jogged. He hoped he didn’t see anyone he knew because he didn’t want to feel obligated to speak to them, but that’s how he felt most of the time. Today was different, however, because he especially didn’t want to see anyone in his class due to the evaluations. Little did he know that every single one of his teammates had put his name down as their first choice for their teammate. Perhaps Patrick would have been flattered if he had known that, but he won’t ever know that.

The Fourth Level house was right behind the Head Change building, which was right on the east side of the village. He always thought the Head Change’s house should be right in the middle of the village, but that place was reserved for the Haarts, which he felt was ludicrous. Who was he to question the most respected families in the village, though?

He circled the Head Change’s building until he saw the three story house behind it. The front door was propped open with a chair and, for a few moments, he only watched and wondered if he was welcome or if he was even allowed to be there.

After a minute or so, a man appeared in the doorway with a cardboard box in his hands. He didn’t look startled by Patrick and, instead, just looked unimpressed by not reacting to his presence at all. Patrick, on the other hand, was in amazement of the man’s tall form and freshly showered hair. There was something so majestic about him that Patrick finally realized he must be Alexander Orion, the leader of the Fourth Level Squad.

Patrick only watched as Alexander put the box down next to a small pile. He knew the box contained either things that would be thrown away or things that would be taken back to the family.

“You want something?” Alexander said suddenly, piercing the silence so Patrick almost jumped with surprise.

“I…well,” Patrick began. “I just wanted to see Riley. Is she here?”

“She’s inside,” Alexander replied. “Now’s not really a good time. We’re really busy.”

“I know,” Patrick said.

“Fine then,” Alexander said. “Please leave.”

With that, Alexander turned around and went back into the house. Patrick watched him go and, despite his rudeness, Patrick was still very impressed with him. Though, now he did feel rather silly for thinking he could come and interrupt them while they were performing such a heartbreaking task.

He backed up slowly from the house and, just as he turned his back to it, he heard someone call his name, “Patrick! Patrick wait!”

He spun around and saw a face up in the window of the third floor. It was Riley.

He hesitantly raised his hand to wave, but she disappeared from the window. He paused confusedly for a bit and, just when he was about to leave again, he heard her call him again and saw as she ran through the front door. She sprinted up to him but wasn’t even close to being out of breath.

“Patrick,” she said. “Hi.”

“Hi Riley.”

It had been a while since he had seen her though she didn’t look very different. She was just a little taller and her hair was a little longer. She also wasn’t wearing her uniform so she didn’t particularly look like a fighter just then.

“You remembered my name!” she exclaimed happily.

“I remember most things.”

“I don’t. I have a horrible memory.”

“You remembered my name.”

“True…” Riley said. “But to be honest, I’ve thought about what you said every day since we talked! I’m trying very hard to be just like you.”

“Just like me?”

“Yes,” said Riley. “When I first heard Owen had been killed, I cried. But I only cried for a little while, and then I stopped. I wanted to be strong like you and I had to support Jordan. He’s new and he’s just a little kid.”

Patrick didn’t remember saying anything about being strong or supporting others. But then again, Riley did say she had a horrible memory.

Instead of shattering her image of him, he nodded and said, “That’s good. I’m glad you’re handling things well.”

She turned around just as Alexander came out of the house with another box. He only glanced at them briefly and then went back inside.

“We’re moving Jordan into Alexander’s room, too,” Riley said more quietly. “Because we don’t think he should be alone now that Owen’s gone. He’s still really young, after all.” She tugged at the ends of her hair and looked up with her eyes. “So why did you come by?”

“I just heard about what happened and I thought of you.”

“Really?” Riley said, her eyes lighting up.

“Well, just because of what happened last time,” Patrick said, turning red.

“That’s so nice,” Riley said with a smile. “I don’t have any friends except for the others on the Squad. In fact, I don’t really know anyone else. I’m glad I met you. We should be friends!”

“Well—yeah, okay,” Patrick said, feeling inexplicably nervous.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’m sorry. Am I scaring you? I’ve never done this before.”

Patrick actually smiled a little. “It’s okay.”

“So…” Riley said, drumming her finger tips against each other and resting her chin on her thumbs. “I don’t want to be rude. But I guess I am a little busy right now. But I want to hang out with you! We don’t have another mission scheduled for another two weeks. Can we do something?”

“I guess we could.”

“I’m excited. Will you come here tomorrow?”

“I have to train tomorrow.”

This only seemed to excite her more. “Can I come?”

“Why?”

Patrick only said this because he was fully aware that Riley was a Fourth Level and therefore she was far too skilled to train with him, Anne and a few of the boys. When he explained that to her, she seemed surprised he was still a student, so he quickly pointed out that he was actually officially graduated and was going to be getting his team in one month.

“That’s fun,” Riley said. “Do you get to pick your teams?”

“No, not really,” Patrick explained. “I mean, we get to say who we’d prefer to be on our team, but in the end our teacher decides. I think they try to balance out our skills and abilities and all that.”

“And how long do you stay on that team? Sorry, I just don’t know how the whole system.”

“Just until I become a Second Level. The teacher stays with his students until they’re all Second Levels or quit.”

“Oh,” Riley said with a nod. “Well good luck with that. But I would still like to train with you and meet your friends!”

“If you want to.”

“Where do you train?”

“In a clearing in the woods—actually, it’s the one right near where we met that time.”

“Oh, I know just where that is,” Riley said, grinning. “You don’t mind me tagging along?”

“No. I think everyone will really like you being there. I bet you could give us all a lot of tips.”

“I’d be like a teacher,” she observed.

Alexander came out of the house again and gave them a dirty look this time. Riley uneasily turned back to Patrick as Alexander departed.

“I have to go,” she said.

“All right,” said Patrick. “I’ll see you tomorrow. You can come by whenever you want. We’ll be there all day.”

“Okay,” said Riley. “I can’t wait.”

She back stepped a bit and then turned back to the building. She darted inside. Patrick watched for a moment, and then he saw her head in a window of the first floor, waving vigorously at him. Casually, he waved back to her.

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I make an effort to carefully read and review 3 stories a day, so if you want me to review yours then send me a PM, put it in a review or go to my c2 archive called "Get Read" and I'll definitely do it. I'm always looking for new material to read and review.