The Hidden End [Ender's Game]

+ Chapter 07

PART 01 || CHAPTER 07

His Goodbye

Three months into the program, the Launchies' combat sessions in the gym became much more intense and tiring. Morgan's body ended up being covered by bruises, and she would spend a lot of time in the shower, trying to count them all. She got up to twenty-seven.

Ender and her talked occasionally, but she felt closer to him than she'd ever felt to anyone. Sometimes, they would go to the game room together, where Ender learned of how Morgan defeated the Salamander boy, and he ended up making a name for himself too. Other times, Ender and Morgan would sit next to each other in the bunk room, and they'd try to come up with unusual but efficient solutions to their Aeronautics homework. It was because of this that Morgan found out Ender wasn't as brilliant in rocket science as he was in other subjects. 

It was perfect; they were thriving off each other, learning how each other's minds worked, and they were quickly beginning to turn into a powerhouse. People knew it. Morgan knew it too. It was only a matter of time until one of them got promoted. After all, there was no reason not to promote them.

Ender would spend part of his free time writing letters to his sister back on Earth, Valentine. Morgan thought her name was extremely beautiful--and if she looked anything like Ender, then it fit her perfectly. When he wrote his letters, he wanted to be left alone, so Morgan decided to clean her laser gun in the meantime. She took it apart, quickly beginning to wipe it down and polish it. It took her a while to put it back together, and by the time she finished, Sergeant Dap walked in. 

"Attention on deck!" Dap exclaimed.

Everyone took their usual spot behind their bunks. Colonel Graff walked in shortly after. "Evening, Launchies. At ease," he said. "I'm pleased to see that most of you are performing well. As you know, competition for Command School is tough." But I'll get there, Morgan thought. Both me and Ender. "Some in the higher ranks have failed to meet our standards and are being sent home. So, I may have the opportunity to promote some of you. Look to your left." They did. "Look to your right." They did. "These are not your friends. They are competition."

Morgan knew that Graff must've been keeping really close tabs on her friendship with Ender. He knew that they were close, and he either didn't want it to go on at all, or he wanted to see whether their friendship was strong enough to last even once one of them got promoted. Morgan was pretty sure it was the latter he seeked. 

"Keep up the hard work," Graff said.

"Attention!" Dap shouted.

As Graff got ready to leave, Ender spoke up. "Sir," he said. "Is our e-mail being blocked?" When Graff turned around, Ender continued. "It's just that none of us have received any replies from home."

"All communication is being temporarily held back," Graff said. 

"Why, sir?"

"Launchie," Dap warned. "It is not your place-" But Graff motioned for him to be quiet and advanced towards Ender.

"Your families will not understand what we're doing here," Colonel Graff replied. "And none of you need the distraction of their replies."

Morgan prayed Ender would shut up, but he kept on going at it.

"I thought our privacy rights had been restored, sir."

This angered Graff. "You have the right to privately think whatever you wish, Wiggin. But there's too much at stake to allow your unfiltered thoughts to leave this facility."

"Yes, sir," Ender said. There was a look of resentment in his eyes, a look that Morgan didn't like seeing from him. 

Graff walked out, and it was Dap's turn to chew Ender out. "Keep it up, snot, and you will never make it to Command School," he threatened.