Bounders (9 page)

“You gotta be somewhere?” I ask.

“What?” he says.

“You keep looking at your watch. What gives?”

He shrugs. “It's time for lunch. On Earth, I mean. After lunch on Saturdays, I watch
Stellar Rangers
. Always. I know I have to miss it, but it sucks.”

“Yeah.” What else can I say? I'm not upset about lunch and web shows, but this is all pretty overwhelming.

“I'll get used to it,” he says. “The new schedule, I mean.”

As we finish eating, Florine Statton enters the mess hall, flanked by Earth Force officers. One of the officers I've never seen before, but the other one is the guy with the bad breath who knocked me down this morning. Florine wears black sunglasses and a black business suit that look identical to the sunglasses and suit she wore yesterday.

Giggles erupt at Lucy's table, and the energy in the room swells. Heads swivel to the rear entrance where a group of Earth Force officers is filling in.

Cole bumps me on the shoulder. “Those are the quantum aeronauts.”

I can barely believe it. We're in the same room with the actual aeronauts. There's Edgar Han. And Malaina Suarez. It's like watching EFAN, but it's happening right in front of us. Soon a whole line of aeronauts stretches across the back of the mess hall. They're young and lean and fierce-looking. Well, except for the older guy at the end who isn't wearing a uniform. I recognize him from last night. He's the man who calmed Mira down.

Another officer strides in alone. Sharp intakes of breath ripple through the mess hall. A girl at the next table says, “Ohmygoodness-ohmygoodness-ohmygoodess.”

Please. Spare me. Maximilian Sheek has arrived, fashionably late, of course. His hair is even higher in person. Lucy whispers to the girls at her table, and they all burst out laughing.

“Good morning, Bounders,” Florine says. For the first time in maybe ever, she actually sounds enthused. She continues talking in an odd, lilting voice as she hurries across the mess hall. “It is my greatest pleasure to introduce to you the true stars of Earth Force, starting with this gentleman right here, Maximilian Sheek.” She grabs Sheek's hand and drags him back through the crowd of Bounder-filled tables to the front of the mess hall.

Screams and applause echo through the room. Even Florine squeals. Maybe that's why she bonded with Lucy. They both shriek for Sheek.

“It is very exciting, I know,” Florine says. “Our aeronauts are the true face of Earth Force.” She beams at Sheek. “I mean, will you look at that face?”

More shrieks. I catch Marco's eyes across the room. He shakes his head in disgust.

“Okay, now breathe,” Florine says. “Let's review, Bounders. Your Earth Force tour of duty lasts six weeks. It will end with a field trip to the Paleo Planet. We expect you to be great ambassadors for our tourism program starting this summer. And of course, you'll need to be on your best behavior, because EFAN might just be filming during the field trip.”

More squeals. Lots of clapping. My head is going to explode.

“Pay attention, puh-
leeeze
,” Florine continues. “Here at the EarthBound Academy, some of your classes will be full-attendance lectures, others will be in small groups, and—you've probably heard this already—some of your learning will be in pods.” She raises Sheek's hand in the air and shakes it. “Yes, that's right! You'll be assigned a pod just like the real quantum aeronauts!”

Florine keeps talking, but I only half listen. She describes the teaching format. Every day we'll have a full Academy lecture taught by one of the quantum aeronauts or a special guest. Ridders is teaching a Technology class. Malaina Suarez is teaching Subsistence. All the bounding instruction will take place in pods.

I scan the aeronauts at the back of the mess hall. Which one will lead my pod?

One thing that really stinks is that Bad Breath, whose name we learn is Chief Auxiliary Officer Wade Johnson, is teaching Mobility. At least it's only one class. And it doesn't sound like a very important one. I mean, how much can we possibly need to learn about being mobile?

“Later this week I'll give you details about the pod competition. . . .” Florine says.

Competition? Now that will be interesting.

“But let's not waste another minute. Pod assignments!”

The cadets clap. Lucy winks at me and raises her hand to show her crossed fingers. I don't want anyone to see, so I cross my fingers under the table.

“This is how we'll proceed,” Florine says. “I'll introduce these fine aeronauts”—pause to flash her toothy smile at Sheek—“and then they'll read off which five of you have been assigned to his or her pod. There will be twenty-six pods in total, twenty-five led by aeronauts and one led by a . . . civilian.” She spits out the word
civilian
like it tastes bad. “Once you're called, you can leave with your instructor to go find your special pod room. First up, Captain Malaina Suarez.”

Yet more clapping as Malaina Suarez, the officer we met last night at the chutes, steps next to Florine. Her dark brown hair is cut short, and she looks like she could pummel Florine—or any of us—at a whim.

“Captain Suarez is our newest aeronaut,” Florine reads from a tablet. “She hails from the mountain region in Amazonas. She received several advanced degrees from the Combined Ivies University in Americana East before being directly recruited into the Earth Force quantum aeronaut officer training protocol. In the fall, she'll be featured in her first prime-time EFAN documentary, which will focus on her research into off-planet food production. . . .”

Suarez places her hand on Florine's forearm. “I'm sure that's enough on the bio. They'll learn plenty about off-planet food production in my Subsistence class.”

“Very well,” Florine says, clearly irked by the interruption. “Read the names for your pod.”

“Okay. If I call your name, follow me.” Malaina reads off five names, and the cadets jump up and exit the mess hall with her.

Florine clears her throat. “Attention, puh-
leeeze
. Next we have Captain Edgar Han, a real Renaissance man. He's fresh back from a personal sabbatical at Oxford in his home region of Eurasia, where he spent a year studying classic photography. Perhaps some of you caught my exclusive interview about his return to Earth Force.”

I clap along as Han crosses to the front of the mess hall. He seems cool, and his photography is pretty great. I'm really hoping he calls my name.

When Han reads off the cadets in his pod, Regis and two of the guys from the back bunks join some girls from Lucy's table at the front. They leave the mess hall as a group.

Well, that stinks.

Florine introduces a few more aeronauts, who read through their pod lists. The
Stellar Rangers
guy shuffles out along with another cadet at my table.

“Here's a name you all know,” Florine says. “Captain Maximilian Sheek!” Screams again. Lucy's lips are moving. I can't be sure, but I think she's mouthing
please, please, please
.

“Quiet down, now,” Sheek says. “Why don't we let Miss Statton do her job?” When he throws a dazzling smile back at Florine, she fans her face.

“What can I tell you that you don't already know about this true Earth hero?” Florine says. “After a childhood in front of the spotlight as a web actor, Sheek left Americana West and studied opera at the renowned Metropolitan Institute of the Arts in Americana East. There, he showed extraordinary prowess for the unique intellectual and physical demands of the quantum bounding protocol and was hand-selected by Admiral Eames and other senior leaders to represent our great planet in Earth Force.”

“Florine, you flatter me. . . .”

“Truth is not flattery.” Florine slides her pink-nailed hand around Sheek's waist. “Despite his unmatched success in Earth Force, he's kept his finger on the pulse of style and trend. I'm sure you all watch his weekly EFAN show,
Chic with Sheek
. Am I right?”

Screams. Squeals. Please. Make them stop.

Cole taps my shoulder. “What does she mean ‘unmatched success in Earth Force'?” he whispers. “I don't think he's actually done anything more than the other aeronauts, at least in terms of bounding.”

“Well, he managed to keep his hair in a pouf during the atom replication process,” I say. “So there's that.”

“Without further ado,” Florine continues, “I give you the one true face of Earth Force, Captain Maximilian Sheek.”

Sheek pauses—or more like, poses—for a dramatic moment before reading the names on his list. I don't know if Ryan is excited or mortified when he's called for Sheek's pod. Frankly, it's a relief when Sheek and his cadets leave the mess hall.

“Less exciting, but no less important,” Florine says, “let me introduce the acclaimed scientist, Jon Waters.” Florine's words sound nice, but her tone says she's entirely underwhelmed as the guy in civilian clothes—the one who helped Mira—steps forward. The mess hall hums with hushed voices. Forget the fact he's not an aeronaut; he's not even in Earth Force! He doesn't even have a bio! Whoever gets him as their pod leader is out of luck.

I cross the fingers on my other hand.
Don't call my name.
I glance at Cole. He scoots his chair back. What? If he's farther away, he won't get called?

Waters wears wrinkled tan chinos, a blue oxford button-down, and a corduroy blazer. Standing among the crisp, clean lines of the uniformed officers, he looks really out of place.

He clears his throat. “Good morning. The following cadets are in my pod.” He looks down at the crumpled paper he holds in his hand. “Cole Thompson.”

That stinks. Cole's face falls as he walks to the front of the mess hall.

“Lucy Dugan.”

Bummer. I'd wanted Lucy in my pod. At least Lucy and Cole are together. I doubt he's too thrilled, but she's a familiar face.

“Marco Romero.”

Marco slaps hands with the guys at his table before sauntering to the front. He stands next to Cole, who inches closer to Lucy.

“Jasper Adams.”

Whoa. I can't believe they actually placed me with my friends. I wish I had a different instructor, but I'm psyched about my pod mates. As I walk to the front, Lucy and Cole part, and I step between them. Marco leans over and shakes my hand.

“And finally . . .”

Lucy bounces on her toes beside me, and whispers, “No, no, no, no . . .”

“Mira Matheson.”

Ahhh. So that's it. The girls at the table in front of us giggle.

“Okay, kids,” Waters says. “Let's head out the back. We'll pick up Miss Matheson on our way.” He crosses through the crowd at a brisk pace.

I turn to Cole, hoping to get his read, but his face is vacant. Marco and Lucy tail after Waters. I punch Cole on the shoulder to get him moving, and dash after them.

Mira's eyes are fixed on the porthole, even when our group surrounds her. Waters grips her shoulder with one hand and takes her slender fingers with the other. As he eases her away from the window, Mira turns. Her gaze darts around, landing on each of us for an instant, then traveling on. As her eyes light on Waters, she stands and allows him to direct her from the mess hall.

We trail after Waters down the corridor. No one speaks. Waters still has Mira by the hand. He ushers us to the nearest chute cube.

“You kids learned how to use the chutes yesterday, right?” he says.

We nod.

He holds open the door and gestures for us to enter the cube. We exchange glances.

“What's the problem?” Waters asks.

“It's one at a time, sir,” Cole says.

Waters laughs. “Do you think we have time for that? Come on. Let's go. And knock it off with the ‘sir.' That's for officers only.”

We crowd into the cube. There's just enough room for all of us to fit.

“Good,” Waters says. “I was beginning to think you had a problem with directions.”

Lucy makes a face behind Waters's back. I press my hand to my lips to stop from laughing.

“I'll punch in the override,” Waters says. “Then you kids step up one after the next.”

Cole shifts and watches the override over Waters's shoulder.

The chute sparks to life, and the sound of rushing air fills the cube.

“Let's go! Let's go!” Waters says.

Marco jumps onto the grate and—
whoosh!
—he's sucked in.

Waters presses a hand on Lucy's back, and she stumbles onto the pad.
Whoosh!

I step on behind her. The suction yanks me up. Before I can blink, I'm flying through the chute. I pick up speed and soar around the corners.

I will never get bored of the chutes.

Thud.
My head slams into something firm and rubbery. Was there a malfunction?

“Hey!” Lucy's voice calls out in the darkness. “Who is that?”

Lucy? I inch my arms upward, keeping them close to my body to fight through the drag. When they clear my head, I grab at the rubber. Sure enough, Lucy's shoes.

“Let go!” Lucy yells, and kicks with her foot.

“Cut it out!” I shout over the rushing air. “That hurt.”

“Jasper?”

Before I can answer, something slams into my feet.

“Ouch!” Cole hollers.

I have an idea. “Cole, grab my ankles.”

It takes Cole a second, but he manages to slide his fingers around my socks. I adjust my hands around Lucy's ankles. “Good. Now straighten out as long as you can.”

I push down with my feet and up with my arms, and I sense the others doing the same. As our chain elongates, we pick up speed. We stretch out in a lean line and race through the chute.

“Wahoo!” I shout. Soon we're all hooting and hollering as we soar even faster.