deep brown skin and even darker eyes takes his place beside me. While the rest look to Ian for the next set of instructions, I find myself scanning the faces of my fellow students. Ian said the captains will have to choose their teammates. That means the success or failure of my team rests squarely on my shoulders.
“Captains will choose one team member at a time in the order in which they were announced until all students have been placed on a team. Griffin will start.”
Griffin wastes no time making his choice. Raffe. Not a surprise. I’ve seen the two of them hanging out in between meals. Their team will not lack strength or smarts. The giggle is gone as Olive announces her first team member. A tall blond named Vance. My turn.
I look from face to face. This is a team challenge. To work effectively in a team, trust is essential. If only Tomas were here. No matter what he might or might not have done, I know he is on my side. Now I must decide who else is.
The obvious choices are the colony-born students, Will and Rawson. They are my natural allies. I may not trust them, but I have known them for months. Gone to class and studied with them. They are both smart and resourceful. But I don’t call either name. Not yet. Though Will and Rawson will be more inclined to help me due to our shared colony status, this is also an opportunity to follow Michal’s directive and make allies among the Tosu students. Allies will be essential long after Induction has ended. So, I opt for one my gut says is smarter, has worked harder to get here, and is less inclined to side with the others from his city than the rest.
“Enzo.”
A number of students give Will and Rawson smug looks as Enzo walks toward me. Though the Tosu City students have not appeared friendly toward Enzo, this choice has no doubt confirmed their suspicions about my fellow colony natives’ lack of abilities. Good.
Three Tosu City students are chosen in succession.
“Will,” I announce. Do I trust Will? No. His actions during The Testing make it hard to place my faith in his hands. But he is smart and willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. It’s better to have those qualities on my team than working for another. Otherwise, I would be constantly watching over my shoulder to see what danger he might inflict on me.
“Kaleigh.”
“Drake.”
“Rawson.”
Olive’s choice makes me blink. I had been so certain the other captains would shun the colony students that I hadn’t considered selecting anyone else. Rawson frowns as he takes his place at Olive’s side, and I turn my attention to the two remaining students, whom I know next to nothing about. A girl named Juliet and a boy whose name I’ve never learned. I look from one to the other, hoping something in their expressions will help me decide. Both refuse to make eye contact. Neither has brought a University bag. Nothing I see aids my decision. If I want to avoid an uneducated choice, there is only one other option.
“Enzo will make the last choice for our team.” I ignore the gasps around me and the anxiety that takes hold because of them. Do people think I am indecisive or weak because I passed the choosing to another? I tell myself it doesn’t matter what they believe. This is the smart thing to do. Enzo might not be close friends with these two, but he has attended class with them. He is better suited to pass judgment on their collaboration skills.
Enzo doesn’t hesitate in his selection, and we are joined by Damone, who stands at least a foot taller than me.
“The first location on your team’s list is somewhere behind me,” Ian says. “Waiting inside your bag is a clue to the specific spot where you’ll find your first task. When you are done, return to this location for transportation to the next site. We wish you luck and look forward to seeing all of you back at the residence. Don’t get lost. We’d really hate to have to come find you.” With a wink, he and the
“Captains will choose one team member at a time in the order in which they were announced until all students have been placed on a team. Griffin will start.”
Griffin wastes no time making his choice. Raffe. Not a surprise. I’ve seen the two of them hanging out in between meals. Their team will not lack strength or smarts. The giggle is gone as Olive announces her first team member. A tall blond named Vance. My turn.
I look from face to face. This is a team challenge. To work effectively in a team, trust is essential. If only Tomas were here. No matter what he might or might not have done, I know he is on my side. Now I must decide who else is.
The obvious choices are the colony-born students, Will and Rawson. They are my natural allies. I may not trust them, but I have known them for months. Gone to class and studied with them. They are both smart and resourceful. But I don’t call either name. Not yet. Though Will and Rawson will be more inclined to help me due to our shared colony status, this is also an opportunity to follow Michal’s directive and make allies among the Tosu students. Allies will be essential long after Induction has ended. So, I opt for one my gut says is smarter, has worked harder to get here, and is less inclined to side with the others from his city than the rest.
“Enzo.”
A number of students give Will and Rawson smug looks as Enzo walks toward me. Though the Tosu City students have not appeared friendly toward Enzo, this choice has no doubt confirmed their suspicions about my fellow colony natives’ lack of abilities. Good.
Three Tosu City students are chosen in succession.
“Will,” I announce. Do I trust Will? No. His actions during The Testing make it hard to place my faith in his hands. But he is smart and willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. It’s better to have those qualities on my team than working for another. Otherwise, I would be constantly watching over my shoulder to see what danger he might inflict on me.
“Kaleigh.”
“Drake.”
“Rawson.”
Olive’s choice makes me blink. I had been so certain the other captains would shun the colony students that I hadn’t considered selecting anyone else. Rawson frowns as he takes his place at Olive’s side, and I turn my attention to the two remaining students, whom I know next to nothing about. A girl named Juliet and a boy whose name I’ve never learned. I look from one to the other, hoping something in their expressions will help me decide. Both refuse to make eye contact. Neither has brought a University bag. Nothing I see aids my decision. If I want to avoid an uneducated choice, there is only one other option.
“Enzo will make the last choice for our team.” I ignore the gasps around me and the anxiety that takes hold because of them. Do people think I am indecisive or weak because I passed the choosing to another? I tell myself it doesn’t matter what they believe. This is the smart thing to do. Enzo might not be close friends with these two, but he has attended class with them. He is better suited to pass judgment on their collaboration skills.
Enzo doesn’t hesitate in his selection, and we are joined by Damone, who stands at least a foot taller than me.
“The first location on your team’s list is somewhere behind me,” Ian says. “Waiting inside your bag is a clue to the specific spot where you’ll find your first task. When you are done, return to this location for transportation to the next site. We wish you luck and look forward to seeing all of you back at the residence. Don’t get lost. We’d really hate to have to come find you.” With a wink, he and the
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