The library had become their spot.
Team PKJ claimed the same corner table. Same chairs. Same arrangement. Pamela at the head. Kade to the left. Juli to the right. Familiar. Comfortable. Routine.
All three wore wrist watches. Standard academy issue. Simple displays. Multiple functions. Communication. Data access. Email.
The results would arrive today. To their primary inboxes. They could check from anywhere. Computer terminals. Personal devices. Wrist watches. Convenience at their fingertips.
But they waited together. As a team.
Pamela's silver eyes stayed fixed on her wrist. Her fingers drummed the table. Once. Twice. A rhythm. Nervous energy bleeding through her usual composure.
Kade's arms were crossed. His leg bounced. Fast. Restless. His amber eyes darted between his teammates. Back and forth. Back and forth.
They weren't nervous about the results. All three knew they'd advanced. No question. No doubt. Their performance had been flawless. Thirty seconds. Three bots. Done.
They were nervous about something else. Someone else.
What happened after the qualifiers. The bot going haywire. The threat assessment. The maximum escalation. All for one cadet. One teammate.
Kade's competitive nature screamed questions. Had Juli been holding back? All this time? During the mess hall fight? During their labor week? During the qualifiers? How strong was he really? The thought was scary. Exciting. Fun even. A challenge. A mystery to solve.
But Pamela looked worried. Her face stayed calm. Controlled. But her eyes told a different story. She was unhappy. Juli was keeping secrets. Intentionally or not. She wanted transparency. Trust. Honesty. Instead, Juli was becoming more of a mystery. More unknowable. More distant despite being right there.
Juli sat with his usual grin. Relaxed. Casual. Completely unaware of the tension. The scrutiny. The questions.
He broke the silence. "The tech guys were pretty cool. Hehe."
Kade's response was flat. Distracted. "Yeah. I guess."
Three wrist watches beeped simultaneously. Perfectly synchronized. The sound cut through the library quiet. Sharp. Final.
All three looked down.
The message was identical. Standard format. Official seal.
[CONGRATULATIONS. YOU HAVE PASSED THE QUALIFIERS.]
[YOU HAVE ADVANCED TO PHASE TWO: ENTRANCE EXAMINATION.]
[FURTHER DETAILS TO FOLLOW.]
Kade stood. Extended his hand. Palm open.
Juli grabbed it immediately. Their grips locked. Firm. Powerful. Arms flexed. That same masculine energy. Pure respect. Pure celebration.
"Let's go!" Kade's grin was wide. Fangs showing.
"Hell yeah!" Juli matched his energy. Perfect sync.
Pamela cleared her throat. Loud. Deliberate. Pointed.
Both boys looked at her.
Her face was calm. Professional. "The tournament has just started. Don't get carried away."
Kade released Juli's hand. Sat back down. Still grinning but quieter.
Pamela's eyes moved between them. Measured. Assessing. "Phase Two is the Entrance Examination. Theory. Tactics. History. Protocol."
She paused. Let that sink in.
"How well do you fare in academics?" Her voice was neutral. But the question carried weight. "What did you score on the semester exam?"
Kade leaned back. Arms crossed again. Confident. "I'm fine. Did pretty good. Mid seventies. Not bad."
Pamela nodded. Acceptable. Expected. She turned to Juli.
Waited.
Juli's grin faltered. Just slightly. His face went pale. Sweat beaded on his forehead. His hands gripped the table edge. Knuckles white.
He looked at Pamela. Really looked. Her pale features. Her silver eyes. Her calm expression.
She resembled a ghost. Beautiful. Ethereal. Terrifying.
"Juli?" Pamela's voice was gentle. Patient.
"I..." Juli's voice cracked. He swallowed. Tried again. "I mean..."
Pamela sighed. Small. Quiet. Understanding. "It's okay, Juli. I'll tutor you. Don't worry too much. We'll get through this."
Kade's laughter exploded. Loud. Uncontrollable. He slapped the table. "What did you score? Come on. Tell us. What was your grade?"
Juli looked away. "That's not important."
"Oh it's important." Kade grinned wider. Mischievous. "Tell me. What. Did. You. Score?"
"I don't remember."
"Liar."
"I'm not lying."
"Then tell me."
"No."
Kade leaned closer. Dropped his voice. Whispered. Soft enough Pamela couldn't hear. His grin was pure evil. "If you don't say it. I'm asking Pam on a date."
Juli blinked. His confusion was complete. Total. "What's a date?"
Kade stared. Speechless.
"Like. Are you going to fight her?" Juli's eyebrows furrowed. Genuine concern flooded his face. "Are you going to hurt her or something? Because I won't let you."
Kade's brain stopped working. This couldn't be real. No one was this oblivious. No one. "You're serious."
"Of course I'm serious." Juli looked offended. Protective. "Don't mess with PamPam."
Kade couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. This was gold. Pure gold. But also terrifying. How did someone reach this age without knowing what a date was?
"Just tell me your score." Kade managed. Still processing.
Juli deflated. Shoulders slumped. Eyes dropped. His voice was small. Defeated. "Fine. I got. Ten percent. Hehe."
The world stopped.
Kade's jaw dropped. His eyes went wide. Then he fell. Literally fell. Off his chair. Hit the floor. Hard.
Laughter erupted. Uncontrollable. His whole body shook. Tears formed. He couldn't stop. Couldn't breathe. Ten percent. TEN PERCENT.
"Ten?" Kade gasped between laughs. "You got. Ten. Out of a hundred?"
Juli's grin was sheepish. Embarrassed. "I mean. That's passing. Right?"
"NO!" Kade laughed harder. "That's not passing! That's dying! That's massacre!"
"Kade." Pamela's voice cut through. Sharp. Cold.
The laughter stopped. Cut off like someone hit a switch.
Kade looked up from the floor. Saw her face. The seriousness. The weight.
"If we don't all pass the Entrance Examination." Pamela's words were slow. Deliberate. Heavy. "We're eliminated. Team rules still apply. One fails. We all fail."
The color drained from Kade's face.
His eyes widened. Horror. Pure horror. Complete realization.
"Oh no." His voice was small. Broken.
Juli had to pass. Had to. There was no choice. No alternative. No backup plan.
Juli. Who got ten percent. Who didn't know what a date was. Who probably couldn't tell tactics from breakfast.
Juli had to pass a theory exam. A comprehensive theory exam. Against teams from across the galaxy. Teams who actually studied. Teams who actually cared about academics.
Kade sat up slowly. His hands covered his face. "Oh no. Oh no. Oh no."
Pamela's expression was steel. Determination carved in pale flesh. "We start tutoring tomorrow. Six hours. Minimum. Every day until the exam."
Juli gulped. Audibly. "Six hours?"
"Every. Day." Pamela's tone left no room for argument.
Kade looked at Juli. Really looked. This oblivious. Academic disaster. Beautiful. Warm. Impossibly strong. Completely hopeless blonde boy.
Their teammate. Their friend. Their greatest weakness.
"We're doomed." Kade whispered.
Juli's grin returned. Uncertain. Wobbly. "Come on. It won't be that bad."
Both Pamela and Kade stared at him. Silent. United in their disbelief.
It was going to be that bad. Worse, probably. Maybe catastrophic.