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[a s h e s.]

๑۩۞۩๑

Amanda Chaffer couldn't help hoping it was really Ender, but after three years thinking he would never come back, after not hearing from him at all, she didn't want her heart broken again. She saw Aaron approach and wasn't surprised. He probably had others nearby just in case. She was relieved in a way, but also worried. When Ender was gone, Aaron was the one who tried to get Amanda to be happier. He saw how depressed she was all the time, and she doubted Aaron would be very happy to see his old enemy. If it was him. She followed Aaron to the end of the alley, annoyed by his shouting. Still, she knew that was the way he did things. With force and yelling. She took her mask off at last and gave Aaron a fierce glare. "Enough yelling, you're killing my ears. You're right, none of us has admitted who he is. Would you, if it were someone you-" She stopped herself, breathing sharply. She looked at Ender, examining every inch of his face, still not believing he could possibly be back. "You said you'll only answer to me? Well then answer. Are you Ender Wiggin?" It was a different question, not just 'who are you'. She wanted to be absolutely sure. If he said no, if he honestly was someone else, she would leave. Take Will and Scarlett back to HQ and let Aaron and Brooke handle this. Because if he said no, she would just be crushed again. If he said yes...well, she was still trying to figure out that part.

๑۩۞۩๑

William Habbatt leaned against the brick building wall, secretly relieved. Aaron and Amanda would handle this now, all was well. He took his hand away from his arm and tore a piece of his uniform shirt away. "Scarlett, can you help me tie this? Gotta get the blood to slow down." He held the piece of fabric out to her. Amanda would kill him for not leaving to get actual medical attention, but things were too risky. Even if it wasn't Ender, they had a rogue soldier on their hands, and he could obviously fight well. If he surprised Aaron, he might be able to get away. Not that Will could probably do much with a shot arm, but it was better than nothing. He sighed angrily, looking down to where the three were going through the interrogation process. "Wish I could hear them," he muttered. Looking at Scarlett he said, "You okay? You took a few hits to the stomach, you might have internal bleeding." Frowning he said, "Let me see your stomach." If there were internal injuries her skin would be purple from broken blood vessels inside. If it looked normal she was probably fine. Will liked to make sure everyone else was okay before taking care of himself. He hadn't always been that way, but when Ender left he had to train a lot of new Dragon Army launchies, and matured a lot. Not to mention his training, and his close bond with Amanda and the others.

[park.]

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tagged } scarlett // mood } depressed // location } home, streets // position } the hunted // status } single, not looking

Ender Wiggin watched her take her mask off. It all came to him in slow motion it couldn't seem real. The more she revel the more positive he was. Thin jaw line, thick lips, pointed nose, bright eyes, always furrowed eyebrows, and then her hair. It was longer now but he would never forget her face. He breathed in deeply and looked down at his hands suddenly feeling bad. Not bad horrible; like a monster. She finally spoke to him directly and her question was different from the others. Not who was he, he would have responded Andrew. But she asked him his name. He wanted her to say his name again. "Yes. I am Ender Wiggin." he muttered then looked up frowning and saying it more clearly this time. "I am Ender Wiggin."

Ender looked up at the boy who had attacked him and he too took his mask off, Aaron. The boys fists were clenched and he was getting irritated. They went after him why are they so surprised to see him? "Leave." ender demanded. At first it seemed like he was telling her to but he turned to Aaron glaring. "Now." Aaron's mouth dropped and he looked at Amanda. But when she did not object *hope that's okay* he turned around and walked away grumpily. Ender swallowed and looked up at her. It wasn't his fault he told her. He might hurt her; like he did Aaron. he couldn't tell her good bye. they were rushing him, forcing him out. Plus he would want to stay if he saw her face and listened to her plea. Look how well she was doing without him. He closed his eyes a sensation filling his minds. the world was spinning. He shook his head and he was back to normal. Stupid red head gave him a concussion. Ender did not have to many wounds. Scrapped knees, a small little bullet graze then this annoying concussion. nothing he's never seen before.

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tagged } ender // mood } determined, ashamed // location } streets // position } the undercover // status } single

Scarlett Hampton walked over to William. Scarlett, unlike Brooke, was treated like a boy amongst the group. She earned her right to be at a boys status and everyone treated her like one. When someone compared her to a girl they were comparing the power and fierceness of a man to her. So, touching William was normal to her. "Clench your teeth not your lip. This is gonna hurt." she warned ripping the sleeve of his uniform off. She could have asked him to take his shirt off but just wanted to *tick* him off. Usually there would be full medical aid but the group was not for that. Scarlett spoke the group saying. "Air it out, put some dirt on it." she grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground and threw it in his cut.

She then stepped back to let him wince it out. "Can we get a moan from you this time?" he held it in and she smiled. "not today. Mr. Williams tough." she smiled and then when he mentioned her stomach she shrugged. "If I had my uniform and vest on this would not have happened. This stupid thin woman's shirt thingy is horrible. The only thing it can protect you from is ketchup falling from your burger." she sighed pulling her shirt up revealing her stomach. It was a little red. Scarlett was well build. Her arms weren't too manly or beefy, she looked like a girl. but when she lifted up her shirt abs were clearly visible. little small one's. normal for a woman. "I think I will be okay. maybe limping for a while no bleeding or rib broken." she smiled. "I don't even feel it yet. hearts still thumping." she saw Aaron come out grumpy. "what are they doing?" she said not so comfortable with her commander being unguarded. "its him. he won't hurt her. Not in a million years." Aaron muttered sitting down in the dirt against the wall.

[a s h e s.]

๑۩۞۩๑

Amanda Chaffer felt the world spinning faster, her lungs weren't working. Her brain was like a broken record, just repeating those words, Yes, I am Ender Wiggin, it was him it was him it was him. She wanted to scream and laugh and punch him and cry all at once. Instead she just listened to Aaron's retreating footsteps, staring at his blue eyes, such wonderful blue eyes. "I didn't want to believe," she said, her voice a tiny whisper. "When Scarlett described you on the radio, I just didn't want to believe it was you." For years she had imagined what she would say if she saw him again, and now all she could do was reach up and gently touch her fingertips to his face. His hair was messy from the fight and just slightly damp with sweat. She pushed the hair- was it longer now?- away from his forehead and just looked at him. She knew she should take her hand away but it felt like her fingers were glued to his skin. Skin which was surprisingly cold and smooth, like he was a ghost or something. To her, he almost was. When he left she spent every day thinking that he could die. If his ship got attacked on the way to the planet where he went to organize the attacks, or if he somehow failed and was destroyed by Formics. But no, he was here, and she realized why that number sounded familiar. #0098132. Andrew "Ender" Wiggin.

๑۩۞۩๑

William Habbatt nodded, glad Scarlett was okay. When Aaron came back and confirmed that it was Ender, Will just laughed. Not like it was funny, just that he couldn't believe this was happening. darn* it Ender," He muttered, grinning like a weirdo. "Figures you'd come back this way. Always knew how to make an entrance." He knew he sounded crazy, laughing and talking to nobody, but everybody reacts differently in weird situations. His situation was finding out his hero/commander was on Earth. Will had spent forever tracking this soldier, finding the location of his home, learning everything he could. Now it turns out he'd been stalking Ender *freaking* Wigging. The world was strange. Will closed his eyes, silent again. He put his head back against the wall, knowing his temperature was rising now that the adrenaline was wearing off and the shock was kicking in. Whenever he got wounded, he got a fever. It usually made him a little delirious, and he fought hard to keep from sitting down and passing out.

[park.]

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tagged } amanda // mood } tiered // location } streets // position } the hunted // status } single, not looking

Ender Wiggin felt her finger tips barely touch his cheek. The look in her eyes. The pain, hurt, sadness, joy, anger, confusion all mixed together. Her lips twitched and it made his eyebrows furrow and eyes almost shine he hurt so badly. "It's me." he whispered. "It's you. Your here. " he said almost trying to confirm himself. Ender was horrible, it was his fault. He hurt her. he can see they shock in her face. As if this was all a dream to her. That shouldn't happen. He should have stayed, at least tried.

Ender moved his head away from her hand not wanting to hut her anymore and lowered his head to his feet. He looked back up grabbing her hand. Just her hand holding it right like he would a weapon. To make sure he never let go. "I am sorry." he said letting go of her hand and stepping back. "I should have said something. I know it's nothing to forgive but I'll be even far gone if I didn't try." he said slowly and sadly. He would just have to get over her. Never touch her again, never lock eyes, never hurt her again. Staying away is the best thing to do. It's worked so far; look at her now. "Why did you come after me? Do you still... work for them?"

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tagged } William, aaron // mood } in pain, annoyed // location } streets // position } the undercover // status } single

Scarlett Hampton sighed. "Yeah well, I Scarlett Hampton. Who's talked to the guy like twice. Kicked his *butt*." she smiled feeling proud. Aaron spoke up from further away. "From the looks on the computer screen you were the one on the floor, you were the one almost getting hit by the car, you are the one clutching your stomach. I hate that kid but he sure doe's know how to fight. Took three of you to take him down?" Scarlett looked over glaring at Aaron. "You big pain in the..." Scarlett heard something fall and glanced back at Ender and Amanda.

She noticed ender slowly sitting down, he must be tiered. He was speaking his mouth barely moving but she could tell they were saying something. Ender did look beat but he put a big fight. "Is he good? In zero gravity?" she asked Aaron. He replied with. "even better. he taught amanda. that's why she's our leader. not only is she good but her personality fits best. You too laid back, I am too mean, will's too nice, Ian's not skilled enough, broke too girly. " Scarlett agreed. Amanda was serious, and listened to everyone point of view, her modo could be No man get lefts behind, and she didn't get hurt. Not physically but emotionally. If someone in her group died in front of her she would still get the job done and grieve later.

[a s h e s.]

๑۩۞۩๑

Amanda Chaffer hated the empty space between them. She wanted to hug him or something, but she knew she couldn't. It had been so long since they were the little soldiers training in the battle room. She knew she would always feel like a Salamander, and always remember the amazing Dragon commander. But now they were adults, and he may not even like her that way anymore. "it's not your fault you had to save the world," She said. Answering his question she replied, "Yes, we work for them. Me, Scarlett, Will, Aaron, Ian, Brooke, and Andrea. But out Boss never told us who we were chasing. If I had known it was you, you wouldn't be injured right now." Her eyes widened, and she wanted to slap herself. "God, I'm an idiot. See, this is what happens when I see you, I can't even think straight." As he sat down she bit her lip and crouched beside him. "Your head, you have a concussion?" She guessed from the way his eyes shone, and he couldn't seem to stand. Not to mention he already had a bullet wound. It was bleeding, but not gushing. She tore a piece of her shirt away and gently fixed up his arm as best she could. "We can get you real medical treatment, but that means you coming with us. To our base." She sighed. "They said we were chasing a soldier who didn't want to fight. Which means if we took you back they would make you lead our army through World War III." She looked at him, her eyes flitting quickly across his face. "But you know if you asked me to let you go, I would. They would fire me, but I would let you go." It was true. It would be easy to take him to a hospital, ask to take him back to headquarters personally, and then just let him walk away. By the time her team realized he would be gone. Aaron could take over the team. Easy as breathing. The only reason she was a good leader was because of Ender. Without his training she would have been just another puny Salamander playing Laser Tag.

๑۩۞۩๑

William Habbatt snorted at the "too nice" part, but didn't disagree. He watched as Amanda knelt down to help Ender. His mind leaped happily just thinking the name, Ender. The hero was back, he was just sitting right there in the alley. WIll frowned as he watched Amanda. "She may be a great leader, but she already looks different. Seeing him. You weren't here yet, Aaron, but when she saw Ender she just froze. I'm surprised she even fought back. When he put that gun on her head, she didn't even move. She would have just let him kill her." He shook his head. "I don't know if she'll be able to do this. Hand him over to the Boss, I mean. She still cares about Ender, she won't just give him up to the people he's been hiding from all this time." He winced when he accidentally moved his arm, and couldn't help thinking angrily that they should just hurry up already. He thought about what Aaron and Scarlett had said about Amanda. They were right, she was strong. But her strength had come from her broken heart. He knew that she wasn't easy to hurt because she'd already been destroyed. Now the break was healing, she couldn't be so strong. He was thrilled Ender was back, but he also feared how it would affect their leader.

[park.]

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tagged } amanda // mood } tiered // location } streets // position } the hunted // status } single, not looking

Ender Wiggin sighed deeply. His head will filled with confusion. She was willing to loose her job for him to hide? He didn't want that to happen to her. but he didn't want to go back. The worse time of his life was being there. The thing that hurt him the most was because of those people. Destroying that whole race. But it's still growing and he had been forgiven. Ender looked up at her. "I might but I've had concisions before." he said knowing that was the least important thing. Amanda knelt down and started to patch up his wound. When she put the shirt on his wound he would have winced but he was too focused on her touch again. He looked down at his shoulder and her hands wanting to take it again. Ender was almost sure he was over her. Just a teen crush that meant nothing at all but seeing her face he knew there was more.

"What's that?" he asked looking at her pocket and trying not to answer her question right now. Ne needed to think about it, talk about it. With her. How could he get her alone that long? He reached towards her taking the gun from her waist. "I've never seen this kind of gun." he said looking inside it if he fired it would hit his head. Ender unloaded it and put all the bullets back except for one to examine it. Green liquid was inside. "Wait, I know what this is." ender said almost shocked. "Your group must be very good fi you were given some of these." then it popped in his head. He knew how to get her alone. "I am going to do something and I don't think your going to like it." Ender pulled the gun up aiming and shot at Will, Scarlett and Aaron. Hitting them with the bullets. All three fell to the floor falling into a deep sleep. Ender couldn't help but smile at where he hit Aaron, in his butt. "There's they should be asleep for a good eight hours." ender wondered how she would react.

[a s h e s.]

๑۩۞۩๑

Amanda Chaffer watched wth wide eyes as he examined her gun, almost aiming it at himself. Then he turned it toward the opening of the alley and fired it three times. For some reason all she could think to say was, "Since when do you like shooting people so much?" She frowned, knowing it was a stupid thing to say. She was a team leader, serious and professional. Looks like Ender ruined that. She was making silly comments, acting like a teen again. She pushed her thoughts aside and looked at Ender. "Well, now we have to move. Ian and Brooke will be here in two seconds, no doubt." She would never leave her team, but Ian and Brooke would take the others back to Base and get them cleaned up. Andrea was still at Headquarters, watching their progress and reporting to the Boss. So he would know Amanda had Ender, and he would know that she was about to sneak off with him. Yep, she was fired. Oh, well. But then she heard Ian's voice in her ear. "Chaffer, come in, Chaffer. Do you copy?" Amanda put her hand to her ear and responded, "Yes, I copy. All is well, trigger miss-fire. Over." Ian responded, his voice full of suspicion. "If you're sure, but we've got collapse and low heart-rates." Amanda cursed under her breath and replied with a fake laugh. "You should get some better equipment, Agent Thorne. Questioning the target, I'll be finished soon." Ian grumbled, but didn't object. Amanda let go of her earpiece and looked at Ender with worry. "If you want to be alone, we have to hurry. He won't believe me, and Brooke's sure to come looking."

[park.]

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tagged } amanda // mood } tiered // location } streets // position } the hunted // status } single, not looking

Ender Wiggin smiled at her worry and when she popped the joke he smiled even more. "It's all I had I swear." ender knew what was next "They are sleeping their heart rates are back to normal. just tell him their wounds were fixed up, that might be what worried him. Everyone's taking a break. I take it your using GeoTron 5.8.1? It's the latest tracking device and know areas where you can't be signaled. " Ender stood up taking a deep breath. "I am going to run, or try to run with this concussion. Tell Ian, I think it's Ian that I made a run for it. Tell him I am Ender Wiggin, giving him feed back. Warn him what streets I am going down because your going to chase me. Then when I start to head too far for him to track you because of satellite issues warn him, don't make it seem odd that you just ran in not problem." Ender realized he was taking charge again.

Why can't he just do things without being the boss? She was boss now. "I am not trying to control. Just popping you with an idea." he added. "Like it's the only thing I can do to keep you from getting fired. " Ender smiled sheepishly wondering if she would say yes. "By the way. Aaron wouldn't come alone. I think he might have Brooke with him. She's probably going to be here within five seconds." Ender stopped when he heard someone voice. "Chaffer what happened? Request to fire." Ender looked up to see Brooke on the roof. "Crap." he muttered. Thank god he still had the gun. Ender kicked down hard on Amanda's knee making her collapse to the ground and knees her nose, it was bleeding within seconds. Ender ran hoping Amanda would get the plan and follow. Sorry he thought.

[a s h e s.]

๑۩۞۩๑

Amanda Chaffer listened to Ender's plan with a nod. It was strange to be following orders, after giving them for so long. She didn't really mind, that was just Ender. He was always the leader, he was chosen to lead at the age of six. Not his fault he was trained that way. The plan did sound good, but then came more trouble. "Request to fire." Then Amanda was on the ground, her nose gushing. She cursed in pain but stood and ran, remembering the plan. She pinched her nose and responded to Brooke. "No need, I've got him. Just stay there, I'll call for backup if I need it. He may be fast, but I'm faster." Then she switched to Ian. "It's Ender, in case you hadn't figured it out. He's trying to run but I'm following him up Seventh street." She ran quickly, lengthening her stride and breathing evenly. She was close behind him, but not close enough. "I'm close to him, but my gun fell out of the holster when he hit me. Turning onto River Avenue." Ian let her know that he heard, and had Brooke waiting. Amanda wondered if Brooke had noticed the three passed-out team members. Probably. She felt her nose stop bleeding, and she let her hand fall to her side as she ran. Her fingers were sticky with blood, like the rest of her face. She gasped for air, unable to breathe through her nose now that it was clogged with the blood and swollen. "Warning, heading into a no signal zone. I've still got him." Ian cursed. "Alriht, but try to get him back into an area with signal again." Amanda lied and said she would, but as soon as she lost Ian she called to Ender. "He can't hear me. Slow down." When Ender stopped *hope that's ok* she leaned against a wall to catch her breath, cleaning her face with a sleeve.

[park.]

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tagged } amanda // mood } tiered // location } streets // position } the hunted // status } single, not looking

Ender Wiggin dashed off heading down a crowded alley then into an alley that ended in a dead end. That's what he did last time but scarlett still followed him. Ender turned around and halted a little disappointed to see her bleeding that much. "*darn* i think I might have hit too hard." Ender walked over to her and placed his hands on her face, examining her nose. He didn't realize how close his face was to hers. He was just trying to get a good look. "My turn to help you." He said pulling off his shirt and stepping back. Ender handed her the shirt. "For your nose. I literally haven't worn this over an hour so it's clean. I am sorry. But it's not broken at least." Ender said crossing his arms and examining his sjoulder wound while his shirt was off.

Ender looked up at her. "Okay tell them the truth when you go back, that i stole your gun and shot them with darts. Plus..." Ender paused. "I am going to be honest. My life's sucked without you guys; really just you and if i wasn't in such a hurry to get you alone I would have hugged you the moment I saw you.