The Rain: The End, Marietta Standlee [year 7 reading list TXT] 📗

I'm not sure why. I don't think we've given them any reason to hate us; after all, they were the ones who attacked us. I shrug it off, though.

Our teams just take the abuse. I'm so incredibly proud of them. Of course, we have to have a few winners to not make it too obvious, but for the most part, our men and women just let the aliens literally beat the shit out of them.

Colin is one of the lucky ones who is allowed to show off his moves and kick some Gorongiath butt; it would be too suspicious to have our leader lose. No such luck for me, though. I'm eyed closely since all the aliens appear to be well informed about my escapades on the space station, I still am to lose since we want them to think I'm only second in command because I'm sleeping with the boss. The more they think us incompetent, the better.

Losing on purpose is not only a lot harder than it sounds and extremely painful, but there is also a risk to pick up bad habits and slowing one's reflexes. Since the aliens take joy in particularly hurting me, I force myself to delay my reaction time, and hold back my punches. Everything I do goes against every single one of my fighting instincts.

By the time we eat dinner, shower, and are ready to go to bed, my entire body hurts in ways I haven't experienced in a long time. Colin applies creams and salves to various parts of my body as well as ice packs.

"You did well," he says and winces with me.

"Yeah, I'm the champ in getting beaten to a pulp." I state sarcastically.

I regret my words instantly when I see his stricken face. Each punch I take hurts him not physically but mentally. His instincts are to protect me, not to stand by and watch.

"Hey, it's okay. I can take it." I soothe.

He smiles, lopsided, "I know, I'm just not sure I can."

"We both knew going in this was going to be the hardest part." I try.

He sighs, "Knowing and seeing it.... it's hard, Viv, seeing you all beat up." He sighs deeply, letting the sentence hang.

Unfortunately, we both understand that there is nothing we can do about this. We'll just have to forge through somehow. I snuggle into his chest and suppress the urge to moan in pain as he pulls me closer. He sees me flinch, though, and grinds his teeth. I put my hand on his cheek. "You were the one who told me to learn how to handle pain."

"Yeah, but in combat, this is not what I had in mind." He asserts.

"I'm not the only one." I remind him gently.

"That doesn't make any of this easier; I'm starting to think this whole plan was a bad idea." He confesses.

I don't like seeing him second guessing himself and point out, "It was a great idea, and you know it. We're learning so much. They're actually modifying their weapons for us, and Briggs told me some of her pilots are close to flying the smaller spaceships by themselves."

He sighs into my hair, and I feel the small breeze stir it and smile into his chest, content for the moment. "This too, shall pass." And in an attempt of humor, "at least the food is better."

And that is true. I don't know what Derek did or said; our food situation has improved tremendously, a lot more fitting to the level of physical activity we're exposed to. Not even close to what we're used to, Alfredo has all of us spoiled but adequate.

More days pass, and my body begins to get used to the amount of physical pain it's being subjected to. I have so many bruises I don't even count them anymore. I try to hide them from Colin as good as possible, but the ones on my face are especially bad, a split lip, a black eye, and a blue-green cheek.

I've noticed that he is not sleeping much, and when he does, I hear him grind his teeth. At this point, I think he'll break a lot sooner than me.

But tonight at least will be different, we've been invited to a party. The Council has nominated a new Shadow, and the High Commander is throwing a party in their honor. I don't know who the Shadow is, and I couldn't care less. All I care about is that Colin and I have been invited, along with eight people of our choosing. Among the eight are Briggs, Derek, and Major Dimitrov, who surprised us by asking to join our team. In hindsight, I shouldn't have been too surprised though, I bet he is here to spy for the Russian President. Oh yes, I'm learning my politics as well.

We also asked Kat Smart, Alex, Sean, and two of Brigg's pilots, Captains Ian McGregor and Quincy Martinez. Ian is actually from the English Royal Air Force; he got stuck in the states on a training mission and never made it back to England.

When it became clear that the island refused to join forces with countries that resisted the aliens, he decided to stay in the States. England's preference to make deals with the Gorongiath, went against everything Ian stands for, especially since the island is so far up north that there wasn't any imminent danger to it.

Shortsighted, sure, but it worked in protecting the vast majority of its population. Ian, however, does not feel like his home is holding up their end of the stick and, in typical Scottish fashion rebelled against all commands to return home. I've heard rumors he's trying to recruit members of his previous teams to mutiny and come to join either Russia or the States.

Thankfully General Pheng insisted on sending dress uniforms with us, even though none of us had seen a point in it back then, turns out Pheng is more foreseeing than any of us. Otherwise, we'd be