Valentina Martinez or Val as her friends called her was double checking all of her calculations. Everything must work perfectly if her entire guild was going to get into the Prestige Program.
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She wrote on the chalkboard vigorously. The sound of the chalk scraping against the board sent chills down her spine and she loved it, loved solving complex equations with ease. She was happy to feel useful.
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"I just got word from down stairs that two people have entered the building," her sister said as she paced back and forth.
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"Excellent," Val replied.
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"Did you just say excellent? Maybe you shut yourself in your lab for too long because that's not even enough eliminations for even one of us to pass. Would you care to explain how that's excellent?" her sister said now standing only a few inches away.
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Adriana, the older of the two girls was the leader of their guild, the White Diamonds, not because of her leadership skills but because of her social status. She acted like a leader, but in reality she was nothing without Val.
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"More people will come soon," Val responded, not looking up from her chalkboard.
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"For your sake I hope you're right," Adriana threatened.
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"My calculations are always correct," Val responded.
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"They've entered the building begin phase two," she said through her earpiece to the rest of the White Diamonds.
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"I only take orders from Adriana," the girl on the other said.
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She looked to Adriana who was just standing there looking smug. Val let out a frustrated sigh as she plopped herself down into the nearest chair and opened up her laptop to check the cameras she installed downstairs.
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There were two competitors, just like she had predicted. There was a girl with blonde hair who had a sword attached to her belt. She was clearly aiming to be a warrior. There was also a boy. He was wearing some sort of googles on his head and he had several devices strapped to his belt. She couldn't tell what they were from her vantage point. She'd have to be ready for whatever he might try to use against them.
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Adriana finally gave the orders for the White Diamonds to begin phase two. A girl, with a slingshot in her hand, crouched down on the on the roof of the house directly next to the one Cora and Zyler were in. She was ready to snipe the intruders.
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Her first shot broke straight through the glass window almost hitting the blonde, but she dodged it effortlessly. It was clear to see she practiced. She was obviously going to need something stronger.
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"Use the stun grenade," Val said over her earpiece. There was nothing but silence on the other side.
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"Do as she says," Adriana said through her earpiece.
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The girl threw the stun grenade through the broken window. After a brief electrical shock, Cora and Zyler were both frozen in place. The boy was just out of her view but she had a perfect shot at the girl. She fired her second shot hitting the dead center of the target giving the girl her first strike. They'd have to hurry, the effects of the stun grenade would run out soon.
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Val checked her screen again but all she could see was grey smoke.
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"What's going on down there?" Adriana asked.
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"They must have used a smoke bomb of some sorts," Val replied. Val had to admit the smoke bombs seemed to be very good quality. She couldn't help but wonder what the boy used to make them.
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"I'm sending the troops downstairs." Adriana said.
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We have no idea what we're up against. If we send the rest of the girls down there it could leave us at a serious disadvantage," Val protested.
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"You're not the one in charge here and if you have a problem with how I'm running things,you can try to pass this test by yourself!" Adriana snapped.
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That's exactly what Val was about to do as she walked down the hidden staircase she had found earlier.A loud voice came over the speakers almost causing Val to shriek and give away her position.
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"Our 50th competitor has just passed that means half of our spots are taken time is of the essence."
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Val had a clear shot at the intruders and as far as she knew they had no idea she was here. Even if she managed to take both of them out she'd still have to take out one more person to pass but it was a start.
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"Do you think Scarlet passed? the boy asked. Val had a perfect shot from her hiding place behind some old boxes. She plotted out her trajectory and took the shot hitting the bulls eye and giving him his second strike.
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Now they both knew she was here. They pulled out their swords and began to charge towards her. Even though Val preferred science and mathematics she had become relatively skilled at sword fighting since her father insisted she learned self defense.
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Val took a swing at the girl but she dodged. Val realized there was no attack that she knew that the girl couldn't counter in some way, so Val swung the sword at her again and again. The girl took a step back every time. Val noticed this pattern and used it to her advantage. Val had the girl backed into a corner.
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She was prepared to make her next move until she felt something cold on her skin. The boy placed his sword on her neck.
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"Listen lady, we've got swords and aren't afraid to use them we suggest you surrender now," he said.
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Val tried to think of a way to escape but it was too risky. She had no choice.
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"I surrender," she said dropping her sword on the ground and raising her hands. "But you should know there are 9 highly trained warriors in this building and 3 more standing guard outside. If you have any chance of beating them, I'd suggest using some sort of diversion to separate some of them from the group. You will have a better advantage if they're in smaller groups."
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"Why are you telling us this?" the blonde girl asked.
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"Because I recently quit that guild and nothing would bring me more pleasure than seeing them fail," Val responded.
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"I don't trust her, Cora," the boy said.
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"Do you have a plan to defeat them?" Cora asked.
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"Yes." That was a lie. She had part of a plan but that would have to do for now.
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"Let her go Zyler," Cora said, placing her hands on her hips.
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"Are you serious?" he asked.
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"She has a plan to beat them and we have no idea what what we're up against. She's our best chance at passing this test," she said.
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Zyler removed the sword from her neck.
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"So what is this plan of yours?" Zyler asked, not removing his hand from his sword.
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"There are 12 members of the White Diamonds not including myself. There are 3 guards outside and 3 guards on each floor. My plan is the barricade the door so the outside guards can't get in. Then, we each take out one guard on each floor," Val explained. "We'll need to figure out a way to separate them from each other. I suggest we use some of Zyler's tech. If the rest of his inventions are as advanced as his smoke bombs, we should have no problem passing."
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Zyler still refused to let go of his sword, but Val swore she almost saw him blush.
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"I created these shock devices. if you place them on someones skin it will give them a small shock but it will knock them out cold," Zyler said reaching into his pocket and pulling out the devices and distributing them evenly. "These are similar to the stun grenades you used on us earlier," he said, gesturing towards Val.
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"That means we'll have to fight them in close range," Val said, glancing at the stairs. Val wasn't sure she was ready to fight her own guild-mates, even if they never were fond of her. But she knew she had to. They could hear several sets footsteps upstairs. they all anxiously glanced at the staircase
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"Who's is going to go first?" Cora asked.
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"I'll go," Zyler said. "I already have two strikes. I was the least likely to pass anyway. You two are so talented and you deserve to make it into the Prestige Program."
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"You don't have to sacrifice yourself for us. You deserve to be here as a much I do," Cora said placing a hand on his shoulder.
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A wide smile spread across his face. "What are we waiting for?" he asked.
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The trio ran up the stairs.
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"We need you to create a distraction," Val said to Zyler.
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"What should I say?" Zyler asked.
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"Anything we only need a quick diversion," she replied.
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"Quick catch that that cat it stole my wallet!" Zyler exclaimed pointing out the window.
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They all stare at him with a look of pure confusion, which gave Val and Cora enough time to sneak up behind them. Val managed to get a shock device on one of the White Diamonds knocking her out. She tapped the target three times giving her her first elimination. She only needed two more.
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"You filthy traitor!" One of the girls shouted as she pulled out her sword.
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She swiped at Val. Val quickly dodged. She reached in her pocket to grab a shock device when the girl sliced open the pocket spilling them all over the floor.
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She backed Val up into the wall.
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"What are you gonna do know?" she asked.
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Suddenly the girl collapsed on the floor. Cora had placed a device on her and had taken her out. Now they each had one elimination. The sound of footsteps echoed through the halls.
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"Hello sister" Adriana said looking as arrogant as ever. "You have a lot of nerve betraying us for these imbeciles."
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"I can take care of her, guys. You just worry about taking out the rest of the guards." Val said picking up a shock device.
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"Are you sure?" Cora asked.
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"I've got this," Val said.
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Adriana let out a faint laugh. Cora and Zyler went up to the next floor. Adriana swiped the sword at her face so quickly she didn't have time to react. Val's face stung with pain. Adriana held Val by the collar of her shirt.
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"How dare you betray me! I was the one who protected you all those years! I was the one got you into this guild! Everything you've accomplished is because of me," She said. "Don't you understand? You're nothing without me.
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"You're wrong! All you ever did was hold me back. I never asked you to do those things for me and I don't need your protection!" Val declared.
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Val jabbed her knee into Adriana's stomach causing her to double over in pain releasing Val from her clutches. Val placed the shock device on her neck knocking her unconscious.
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"I'm sorry sister," she whispered as she struck her out.
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The voice came over the loudspeakers again. "Only ten spots remaining."
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