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the entertaining vision of Kitai struggling for air. For the first time Kitai was actually feeling self-conscious. He stoppedstruggling and put up both hands in a submissive fashion.
    Even then, the RI was still obviously pissed off over Kitai’s aggressiveness. He glanced around at the rest of the cadets and said sharply, “All of you! Out!”
    Just like that, the exercise was over. The rest of the cadets headed out toward the next one, removing their helmets as they did so. All of them relaxed, chatting with one another. No one bothered to speak to Kitai or even help him up. Bo gave him a single annoyed glance and then shook his head.
    Kitai sat up, rubbed his throat, and coughed a few times. It restored his breath as he got to his feet, and then he set out after the others. They continued to ignore him. He continued to be convinced that they were jealous of his aggressiveness and determination. Well, that was fine. The bottom line was that the people in charge would know who and what they were dealing with. They would see his abilities for what they were and praise him accordingly.
    In the end, that was all that mattered.
iii
    The rock face was a pleasant diversion for Bo.
    He’d climbed this particular obstacle a number of times in the past and was utterly confident in his ability to handle it without a problem. The thing towered nearly two hundred meters in the air, but Bo knew the best way up and was certain that no one in the troop could cover it as quickly or with as much assurance as he did.
    And “no one” most definitely included Kitai Raige.
    Bo didn’t have any strong feelings against Raige. In point of fact, deep down he actually kind of admired the kid. Not that he would admit it, of course. That simply wasn’t how it was done. But there was a greatdeal to admire about Kitai Raige in terms of how he handled himself and his determination to be first at everything.
    With any luck, Kitai would outgrow that mind-set. Surviving as a member of the Rangers was about so much more than who finished first and second. Surviving meant getting through to the end of the day and still being in one piece. Over time, Kitai would learn that and potentially be a valuable member of the Corps.
    Assuming they let him into the Corps, of course. That was by no means certain. Not if Kitai kept having the mini-breakdowns that he was experiencing during these tests.
    Well, that was Kitai’s problem, not Bo’s. Bo, for his part, had to focus on the rock wall.
    The harness around his chest provided the additional support and certainty required for climbing something such as this. It was secured into ropes that had been set into the wall ages ago. It wasn’t as if Bo really felt he needed them. But they were there and they offered security, so why the hell shouldn’t he take advantage of them?
    Suddenly he heard something coming up below him, moving much more quickly than he would have thought. Given the speed at which he was moving, it was hard for him to think who could possibly be catching up with him.
    He looked down and could actually feel his heart tightening in his chest.
    It was Kitai. Of
course
it was Kitai. Even more alarming, he was free climbing. Ignoring the drop that awaited him if he lost his grip, Kitai was practically sprinting up the rock face.
    “Cadet!” Bo shouted down to him. “Click into harness!”
    Kitai was gaining on him. “Slows me down!” he shot back.
    Bo tried to redouble his efforts, but it was no use. Kitai shot right past him. It was nothing short of astoundingto Bo. Moments earlier he had been in the lead; now he was behind Kitai and fading fast. Even the part of him that warned against worrying about such things as finishing first was losing its dominance. His inner frustration and sense of pride drove him to try to pick up the pace so he could overtake Kitai once more.
    It didn’t happen, didn’t even come close.
    Instead he watched.
    Kitai had reached a point near the very top of the