The roar echoed through the canopy, shaking leaves and sending smaller creatures scattering into the underbrush.
Juli's eyes lit up like fireworks. "Did you hear that?"
"Yeah." Kade's grin stretched wide, showing fangs. His tail swished behind him. "That's definitely a Thornback."
"I'm gonna kick its teeth in!"
"Not if I get there first, idiot."
They both shot forward at the same time, boots crunching against jungle floor.
Two hands reached out and grabbed their ears.
"OW OW OW OW!" Juli yelped, yanked backward.
Kade hissed, claws flexing uselessly as Pam dragged them both back to the starting zone like misbehaving toddlers.
"Idiots," Pam said calmly. She released them and adjusted her transparent glasses. "Did either of you think for one second before charging into an alien jungle full of creatures designed to eliminate us?"
Juli rubbed his ear, pouting. "I mean, kind of?"
"No you didn't." Pam crossed her arms. Her silver eyes seemed to look right through him despite being blind. "Listen carefully because I'm only explaining this once."
Kade and Juli exchanged glances but stayed quiet.
"We need a formation," Pam continued. "Juli, you're front line. Your instincts are good even if your brain isn't. Kade, you take the rear. Your enhanced senses can cover our blind spots." She paused. "No pun intended."
"What about you?" Juli asked.
"Middle position. I'll coordinate and provide support." Pam turned toward where Tessa stood nervously clutching something in her palm. "Tessa, you're our ranged specialist."
"M-me?" Tessa's voice barely rose above a whisper.
"Show them."
Tessa nodded, her pink hair bouncing. She held up a small metallic ball and pressed a button on its surface. The sphere unfolded with mechanical clicks and whirs, pieces extending and locking into place until she held a sleek pink and white rifle with glowing magenta chambers.
Juli's jaw dropped. "WHOA!"
Kade's eyes went wide, his tail going completely straight. "That's so cool!"
"RIGHT?" Juli grabbed Kade's shoulder, shaking him. "She just turned a ball into a gun! A BALL!"
"I know! Did you see it unfold?"
"The pink and white colors are sick!"
They bounced around Tessa like excited puppies while she turned bright red.
"That's standard ARMADA tech," Pam said flatly. "Compact plasma railgun. Military grade."
"I still mess up loading it sometimes," Tessa mumbled.
"You're doing great," Pam assured her. "Now, if these two idiots are done fanboying, we need to discuss our approach."
"Wait wait wait." Juli held up a finger. "Before we do anything else, we need a team name."
Kade's ears perked up. "Oh yeah. Every squad needs a name."
"I already thought of one," Juli announced proudly. "We'll be Team Super Awesome Explosion Punch Crew!"
Silence.
"That's terrible," Kade said.
"YOU come up with something better then!"
"Fine. Team Crimson Claw Strike Force Alpha."
Juli made a gagging noise. "That sounds like a disease! Who names a team Alpha?"
"It sounds way cooler than explosion punch whatever!"
"Does not!"
"Does too!"
"Does NOT!"
Pam pinched the bridge of her nose. A vein throbbed on her forehead.
Tessa raised her hand timidly.
They all stopped.
She then tapped her wrist and a small hologram flickered to life. Team details scrolled across the blue display.
TEAM 9
Members: Julian Weiper, Kade V, Pamela Vors Kiel, Tessa Merlin
Status: Active
"Team 9?" Kade's eye twitched.
"NINE?" Juli's face scrunched up. "That's such a lame number!"
"We don't even get single digits that sound cool," Kade groaned.
"Team 7 sounds way better!"
"Even Team 6 would be cooler!"
"Idiots," Pam muttered. "The number doesn't matter."
A scream pierced the jungle, followed by a mechanical beep. Juli looked up and finally noticed the massive holographic dashboard floating above the canopy. Red text flashed: TEAM 7 ELIMINATED.
"Wait, there's a scoreboard?" Juli squinted at it. "How long has that been there?"
"Since we landed, moron." Kade smirked. "You seriously didn't notice?"
"Shut up!"
A loudspeaker crackled to life. Instructor Vela's voice boomed across Verdara. "Attention all cadets. The creatures on this planet have been trained not to deliver killing blows. However, if any member of your team surrenders or is rendered unconscious, your entire team will be eliminated. Plan accordingly."
Another scream echoed from somewhere east. TEAM 12 ELIMINATED flashed on the board.
"We need to move," Pam said. "Standing here makes us targets."
A shriek split the air above them.
Juli looked up. A winged creature dove through the canopy, leathery wings spread wide. It had a long neck, razor teeth, and eyes that locked onto their group with predatory focus.
"Pterravore!" Kade shouted. "Formation, now!"
Juli jumped forward, fists raised. Pam moved behind him, her head tilting as she tracked the creature's movement through sound. Kade circled to the rear, golden eyes scanning the treeline for additional threats.
The Pterravore opened its jaws and dove.
"Tessa, clip the wing!" Pam commanded. "Juli, wait for my signal. Kade, watch our six!"
Tessa dropped to one knee, rifle aimed upward. A magenta bolt screamed through the air, the sound like a miniature railgun firing. It clipped the creature's left wing.
The Pterravore shrieked and veered right, adjusting its trajectory.
"Now, Kade!" Pam pointed.
Kade launched himself upward, claws extended. The Pterravore snapped at him.
Juli grinned and sprinted forward. "Perfect!"
He jumped and planted his boot on Kade's back mid-air, using him as a springboard. Kade's eyes went wide as Juli launched higher, leg cocked back.
"You're gonna get your head kicked in!"
His heel connected with the Pterravore's skull with a sickening crack. The impact sent it spinning into a tree trunk where it collapsed in a heap, dazed but alive.
Juli landed in a crouch, grinning. "Did you see that? Perfect form!"
Kade hit the ground and immediately wrapped both hands around Juli's throat. "Did you just use me as a STEPPING STONE?"
"You were in the perfect position!" Juli wheezed, still grinning.
"I'll show you perfect position!"
"Idiots," Pam muttered, but there was the ghost of a smile on her face.
Tessa giggled nervously, pressing the button on her rifle. It folded back into a compact ball with smooth mechanical precision.
Pam adjusted her glasses and pointed deeper into the jungle. "The artifact signatures should be scattered across three zones. We'll start with the eastern sector and work our way through systematically."
"Sounds boring but smart," Juli admitted, rubbing his throat.
"For once we agree." Kade released him, brushing dirt off his uniform.
They looked at each other, then at Pam and Tessa. Something clicked into place. The four of them moved forward in formation, footsteps synchronized.
Juli's eyes blazed with determination. Kade's grin showed all his fangs. Even Tessa's nervous expression hardened into focus.
Team 9 was ready to hunt.