Ender's Game Page #3

in the direction it's moving.

That way, we benefit

from its energy of motion.

ls something funny?

Go on, Alai.

Of course, there's

a moon we have to pass here

and that complicates things.

Because the moon's moving in

the opposite direction to us,

we get a gravitational braking.

Who sent this?

Who sent what, Bernard?

Nothing, ma'am.

Oh.

If you can't take it, Bernard,

don't dish it out.

Yes, ma'am.

Welcome

to Games and Recreation.

Cerebral control enabled.

One is poison. One is not.

Choose right and you'll

go to Fairyland.

He's found the Mind Game.

Decide or I'll bite your head off.

Bad luck.

Who authorized his access to this?

- I did.

- Try again, little mouse.

To what end?

Not every battle can be won,

Hyrum.

The way he plays a game

reveals his state of mind.

If you won't let me

assess him one on one,

I need some other way

to know what he's feeling.

I don't care how he's "feeling."

I want him to toughen up

and learn how to lead.

Well, before we make him a leader,

let's see how he deals

with frustration.

Come on!

Oh, dear.

What you doin'?

Playing a stupid game.

No matter what I choose, I die.

It's rigged.

You're back.

One more time.

Can I watch?

Sure.

One is poison. One is not.

Choose right and you'll

go to Fairyland.

- Which you gonna choose?

- Neither.

Come on little mouse, come on.

You killed him.

Why?

That's what they want from us.

Follow the rules, you lose.

Choose violence, you win.

I've never seen anyone do that.

Perfect.

He's perfect.

Ender Wiggin,

you are assigned to Salamander Army,

Commander Bonzo Madrid,

effective immediately.

Orders of Colonel Graft'.

Follow the green lights.

Take nothing with you. Go now.

What are they doing?

They're promoting you.

Ender...

Yeah?

Peace to you.

- Throw!

- Come on!

- Ball...

- Strike two!

- Give me the ball.

- It hit the wall!

- All right. Strike two.

- Play ball!

You lost, Launchie?

I'm Ender Wiggin.

Supposed to report to Bonzo Madrid.

So you're the replacement?

- Ender Wiggin.

- Petra Arkanian.

Only girl in the Salamander Army.

With more balls than anybody

else in this bunkroom.

Ooh! Mama Petra, she talking!

Wiggin?

Sir, yes, sir! Ender Wiggin.

Reassigned.

I ask for a replacement for O'Reilly

and this is what I get?

A useless, skinny, untrained snot!

- I'm a quick study.

- Let me be clear.

I intend to trade you ASAP.

My army is undefeated

in the last 21 battles.

I'm on track to make it to Command

School within six months.

You can get your training

at someone else's expense.

- He's all heart.

- Shut it, Petra!

Easy, Bonzo...

Watch your mouth, Dink.

Here's the deal, snot.

When we go into battle,

you will not pass through the gates

until all my soldiers are through.

Then you will remain

just inside the gate

with your weapon

undrawn and unfired,

until the game ends.

So, lam to do nothing?

You are to keep out of the way.

You bunk at the back of the room.

You know, Bonzo

doesn't like to lose.

He doesn't want an

untrained Launchie

screwing up his perfect maneuvers.

But the Battle Room is open 24/7.

During free time,

I could show you some moves.

You ready?

In three, two, one...

Impressive.

Your turn.

Okay, you can't just keep

your thumb on the trigger.

You need half a second to recharge.

At least you don't

have any bad habits.

I don't have any good ones either.

I'll give you those.

Relax.

The further your target,

the longer you have

to hold the beam.

Fire.

Even longer.

It's the difference between

a tenth and a half-second.

But in battle that's a long time.

Aim, fire, hold, recharge.

That's it.

Learn where your trigger

actually fires,

and ride the edge.

Now you're gettin' it!

In three, two, one...

Go! Let's see who'll beat me!

Come on, Dink!

You can do it!

Once.

Just beat me once!

- It's over.

- Come on.

- You can do it.

- You got this!

That's five in a row!

- Who's the boss?

- You the boss, Bonzo.

That's right. I'm the boss.

Let's go again.

I'm gonna make this six.

Ready?

You'll get better with practice.

Yeah, let's do it again sometime.

Mmm-hmm. That was fun.

- Where were you?

- Practicing.

In free time.

You don't practice with her.

In fact, you don't practice at all!

May I speak to you privately, sir?

Hey...

Wiggin!

Hey! Pendejo!

Don't you ever turn

your back on me!

If I'm gonna be useful in this

toon, I have to practice!

You will do what I tell you!

I will follow all commands

you are authorized to give.

But if you take away my free time,

I will get you iced.

Are you threatening me, snot?

No.

Listen. I know you want to trade me.

But no one will take me

if I don't know anything.

Let me practice.

You can get rid of me sooner.

I already gave you an order!

I know. In front of everybody.

And you don't want

your soldiers to think

that you backed down.

So, for tonight, you can say

that you won this argument.

Then tomorrow,

you can tell everybody

that you changed your mind.

You'll look generous,

I'll get to train,

we both win. Deal?

You'd better watch

your back, Wiggin.

Wake up!

Wake up, mis pendejos!

Battle with Leopard in 10 minutes!

- Hey, Wiggin!

- Yes, sir!

I changed my mind.

Maybe by watching my toons,

you'll learn something

and I can trade you easier.

Yes, sir. Thank you, sir!

Move! Everybody, let's move!

Salamander is number one!

There's no one like us under the sun

'Cause Salamanders,

we're on top

When it comes to winning,

we never stop

Salamander halt!

At ease.

What's the play?

Four winds.

Toon A, up,

B left, C right, D down.

You, Wiggin. You hang

back near the gate.

Bonzo, my toon'll be a

man short without him.

He knows nothing about

our formations, Dink.

He'll only get in the way.

You come out last.

Hang back and observe.

We don't need you.

Step aside.

Go, Salamander!

Go! Go! Go! Go!

Go, go, go, Salamander!

Go! Go!

We gotta break them up.

Fly, you lock with me.

Petra rides chariot!

- Got it?

- Got it!

- Ready?

- Ready.

In three, two, one...

- I'm hit!

- Me too!

Keep shooting, Petra!

Body hit her!

- Take her out! Go!

- I'm on it!

Wiggin!

What are you doin'?

I told you to stay back!

Are you okay?

What are you doing here?

Bonzo will kill you.

I can't go back now.

Well, then get in the game.

We're losing.

They've got half their

toon back near their gate.

Put your feet to mine. Redirect me.

Play dead.

Don't draw your weapon

till you know you have a shot.

Got it.

In three, two, one...

Smart move, holding Wiggin back.

Where'd you learn all this?

I had a brother.

- Had?

- Have.

Come on. Let's go again.

But use your arms,

not your hips.

Officer on deck!

A-ten-hut!

I thought I told you not to

train with her.

I thought we'd agreed

that free time was free, sir.

At ease.

Stop it, Bonzo!

Try making me look

like a fool again

and I'll kill you.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

What do you want me to do?

Valentine?

How can you be in my game?

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