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sector
will be Combat.  You have been assigned to Master Chief Oren Hines.” I could
see relief flood Lo’s face as she was released from her public prison and was
able to go shake hands with Oren Hines and leave the stage.  I felt relief,
too. If I was going to be stuck in Combat with Dione, at least I would have Lo
there with me. We could watch each other’s backs.
    Just a few more students and it
would be me on that stage.  Being in front of everyone did not frighten me like
it did Lo, especially now that I know there are so many other things in this
world that we should be frightened of like being bludgeoned to death in a
gladiator fashion in front of a heartless crowd.  There was nothing to walking
up on a stage, standing there for a few minutes and then shaking someone's
hand.  I guess Lo saw it differently, though. I wish I could explain it to her
the way that I saw it, so she could rid herself of those senseless nerves.  I
had only pretended to be nervous to explain my erratic behavior lately. That’s
probably why Lo didn’t buy my story in the first place, she knew me too well.
    “Raily Stone, please come to
the stage.”  I made my way up to my mark and looked out into the crowd to see
if I could find my parent’s faces.  I found Dale first, he was crossing his
eyes at me, he probably didn’t know if I was nervous or not, but if I had been
that would have been the end of that. Then a funny thing happened, I heard the
crowd draw in a collective breath.  Mr. Hargrove started reciting my scores and
then I understood why; they had seen my scores posted behind me. “Medicine, 8
Service, 3. Technology, 6. Combat, 8. Science, 7. Education, 5. Command...” He
paused, like he wasn’t sure of what his eyes were seeing. “Command, 10. Raily
Stone, you have been chosen for Command. You have been assigned to Master Chief
Ann Brutus.”

Chapter 5
    Command? Me ? This
couldn’t be right. Hiding the shock on my face was futile, I couldn’t have if I
had tried. For a moment, the well trained audience forgot themselves and muted
conversations were heard around the entire building.  They looked at me, their
faces mirroring my surprise. The ringing in my ears wouldn’t stop. I turned to
face my new Master Chief.  As I approached her I recognized her from her
broadcasts, though, admittedly, I had never paid much attention.
    She flashed a practiced smile
at me that made me wonder if she had ever smiled genuinely before in her life. 
Up close, she looked older than she had from the audience or in her broadcasts.
She had cool gray eyes that had no kindness in them, though her demeanor was
professional. She was wearing a dark gray business suit that only made her eyes
seem more hollow. I decided right then and there that there was something about
her that I did not trust. If there had been a sector for body language and
instincts, I would have scored a 10. I returned her phony smile and headed down
the stairs to my seat. The School Supervisor had continued with the next
student, but it seemed like no one was paying attention to him anymore, all
eyes were fixed on me. No one had ever received a perfect score in Command, a
perfect score in any sector was practically unheard of.
    How in the world had I been the
first person?  I had exactly two friends, who would I lead? I slid into my seat
between Adrian and Lo and she mouthed the word “How?” to me. I shrugged my
shoulders, just as bewildered and curious of that answer myself. Oh, if Ari
could see this.  Oh no, Ari! What would Ari think?  Would he shun me as he did
his friend? It was all that Ari ever wanted, and I had never given it a
moment’s thought, but now that I do think about it I’m pretty sure I don’t want
it at all. I was expecting to hear that I was selected for Combat or maybe even
Medicine, but Command? 
    I zoned out for the rest of the
ceremony.  I had not prepared for this outcome at all, but I would have to get
used to it because there