“Guess we’re up first,” scowls Carlo.
We take our time walking to our plane, rapidly sorting through who on the team doesn’t have experience. Fortunately, there are only two members.
“Can I get two tandem harnesses?” Lucca asks Dean Christie.
Her brow rises, “Are you sure? That might impact your ability to finish the task.”
“I can’t risk my team member’s lives,” he says coldly, which terrifies me because he’s talking to theDean,who might be ready to break out her power tools at a moment’s notice.
“Of course,” she gestures to one of the guards, who loads on the extra packs. “Good luck,” she says cheerfully, handing Lucca an iPad. “There’s a video with your instructions on the pad. Wait until the flight instructor tells you that you have two minutes before the jump. If you view it before you are told, you have failed the task.”
I can feel my stomach plummet as the Cessna taxis down the runway. Not for me, but for the terror that Steve and Marcel are trying to hide. What the hell is the Deanthinking?This could turn deadly in a hurry.
“Everyone climb into your harnesses,” Lucca said, his voice calm and crisp. “Steve, you’re with me. Marcel, you’re riding piggyback with Carlo.”
How will Kon handle the violent pull on his body when his chute opens?Shaking my head, I try to focus.
“Remember people, you have two parachutes,” Lucca says, “if they’re attempting to fuck with us, the first one might not open. Do not panic, there’s always a backup.” He nodded toward one of the Academy guards. “Zed here is going with us to film the action and he says…” he pauses, eying the man pointedly, “hesaysto help if someone is in serious danger. We won’t let that happen.”
When Zed gives the notification that we’re two minutes away from the jump point, Lucca turns on the iPad.
Fukumoto’s voice blares over the noise from the engines. “This task is designed to build your focus under high-stress situations. A leader may be willing to sacrifice a subordinate in a real-life attack, but astrongleader finds every possible way to make sure his entire team makes it home. One member of your team has a parachute that will not open. You must discover which one of you needs help by finding the clue we’ve left on their equipment. Put on your helmets, it’s time to jump.”
Lucca looks at us levelly. “I won’t knowingly risk anyone’s life on this team. If you want me to scrub the mission, tell me now.”
It’s gloomy and dour Carlo who answers first. “Fuck that. We’re in, all the way.” Everyone nods and we fasten our helmets, checking the audio in our headsets.
“Steve and Marcel, your only job is to do a visual of every one of us and find the clue. Look for something subtle, a small color difference, something about the harnesses. We’ll make sure you’re safe.”
It’s too late for a pep talk, Zed is cheerfully shoving everyone out of the Cessna.
My stomach tries to surge up into my throat during the freefall, that perfect, weightless moment after leaving the plane, before I reach terminal velocity and the wind slams into me. A quick visual check shows everyone kept their wits, pulling in closer to stay in range.
“Does anyone see the clue yet?” Lucca yells into the mic. At least our reception’s good.
Athena is nearest to me, and we check each other over carefully. There’s nothing that stands out, we’re all wearing the same black jumpsuits, standard harnesses, and white helmets. Trying to scan the next closest three, I can’t find a thing.
“Steve, do you spot anything? Marcel, what about you?” Lucca’s maneuvering beautifully, even while flying tandem with Steve strapped to him.
I risk a glance to the east and see that one of the other teams just jumped from their plane, buffeted by the winds and they’re trying to pull together. They’re too far away to make out who it is, but one of their guys has already panicked and pulled his ripcord, they’re out.
“Mariya! Fucking pay attention!” Lucca’s voice blares into my earpiece and I wince. I deserve that.
“Sorry. Let me switch positions with Haneul, maybe fresh eyes on that side will help.”
Haneul has already shifted his body, spreading his arms and legs wider to veer to the right. As he moves past me, I see it: a yellow tag fluttering on the back of his container.
“It’s Han!” I shout, “Yellow tag on his container.”
“Mariya, you’re closest,” Lucca says, “lock your harness straps onto his grippers. You’re going to need to use your Drogueimmediately to control your descent, the winds are heading west and you don’t want to get swept out past the drop zone.”
“Got it.” Haneul is already reaching for me. His eyes are huge behind his goggles, but he’s not panicking. A violent gust of wind almost rips him loose from me, and I wrap my legs around his waist to keep steady while we try to connect our straps and buckles. My fingers are clumsy from the cold, the gloves only do so much against the wind chill.
“Move faster,” Lucca says, his voice urgent, “I’m getting a signal from my audible that we’re reaching the predetermined altitude.”
“Shit,” Haneul groans. If my parachute deploys from a notification from the AAD safety device before he’s strapped in, the force could rip him free.
“No, I’ve got you, I’ve got you, Han,” I shout, “I’m just getting the last strap…” This fucking thing is fighting me and I don’t want him to panic. “Wrap your legs and arms around me, too. Just a precaution, we’ve got this.”
