Two days earlier

Calista had lied in her bed for longer than she intended to. The only thing that forced her out was her sister asking to spend some time with her. She wouldn’t see her until they got to Vorax for the first stage of the Versus, so she forced herself to go.

Catalina waited at the Entertainment District, where the Sky-coasters were. The sight of the place gave Calista a sting of unwanted nostalgia. She really did enjoy herself with Rosalina and the girls.

She needed to talk to her. Hopefully she could catch a moment alone and hear her explanation.

Catalina hugged Calista tightly. “You good? You’re all pale.”

“I’m fine.” Calista faked a smile. “Just got out of an SD tank.”

“I hate those.” Catalina looked at the Universe Sky-coaster. “You want to get on one?”

“Uh… please, no.”

She laughed. “Okay, okay. You want to go on a kid one?”

“Cat.”

“Kidding. What do you want to do?”

“Just walk around. I haven’t seen the whole Arena. I’m always training.” They headed out of the district. “Where’s Mom and Dad? And Carter?”

“Carter’s playing and Mom and Dad… I think there’s some cultural dances going on and they wanted to see it. I didn’t feel like it, so I looked for you.”

“Aren’t any of your friends here?”

“Yeah, but I don’t feel like looking for them.”

The Medley sisters walked around the Food District, the View District, and the Museum District. Calista didn’t realize how huge the Arena really was. The Museum had all sorts of footage and artifacts from the very first Versuses, way back when the Utopia formed.

Once they were tired of walking, they went to a Japanese restaurant to eat. Calista chose some pork-filled Gyoza dumplings while Catalina went for the classic sushi.

“My least favorite game… it was Battleship. We couldn’t see what was going on inside that well. That was stupid.” Catalina took another bite, continuing with her mouth full. “We want to see what the fighters are doing, like in the train.”

“Cover your mouth, slob,” Calista chided.

“Don’t call me a slob.” She swallowed. “Also, that annoying Tarzan guy was driving me crazy.”

“Don’t even mention him. Thank God he’s not on the team.”

“Amen,” Catalina agreed. “Oh, and my favorite game was Prison Train. You did incredible. You should use those sashes more often.”

“Coded.”

Catalina covered her full mouth this time. “What about you?”

“Um… least favorite was definitely Kidnap. Gave me nightmares while I was in SD. And my favorite was Dance Freeze.”

“You had nightmares in an SD tank? I thought you couldn’t do that.”

“It was just really… on my mind.” Calista put her food down. “I’ll be honest, Cat, Bark and Hillary are… really weird. They scare me.”

“Yeah, they have it out for you. What’s their problem?”

“Human hate, I guess?”

“But just you? There were plenty of other humans on your team.”

“True. Maybe Socializer hate. I don’t know.”

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“What did you dream about?” Catalina asked, having swallowed.

Calista paused. She couldn’t tell her she was in the dream. She didn’t want her to live in fear. “Just… the game. Being kidnapped. By them.”

“I mean, they said lots of fighters get freaked out by that game, so you’re not the only one.”

“But I’m scared of them, Cat.” Calista looked up at the glass ceiling covering the food court they were in. “Everyone has it out for me here. I have friends, but everyone’s always trying to glitch me up. Rosalina was talking to me just to spy on me.”

Catalina put down her drink. “What?”

“Yeah, she came into my room drunk yesterday. She said Reilly sent her to spy on me and Harrison so they could frame us for cheating.”

“She said that?”

“I don’t know what to think. She said she genuinely wanted to be friends. But Lílitha warned me- she told me, ‘She’s using you’. And she should know, they have a lot of bad blood. I don’t know what to believe.”

“Have you talked to her?”

“No. I’m gonna try to.” Calista sipped her cream soda. “Sorry I didn’t tell you before.”

“No, I get it. I wouldn’t know what to do, either.”

“But now I don’t know. What if Lílitha’s using me? What if everyone turns on me? With all this stuff…”

“Hey.” Catalina reached out, taking her older sister’s hand. “This is the world we live in. People aren’t going to like you. But there’s always people who are going to stand by you. Like Cam and Belinda. And Harrison. You have great friends, Cali. And if ever… you always have us. Your family.”

Calista smiled at her. “Thanks, Cat.” She squeezed her hand.

“I, uh… actually have something I wanted to talk about, too. I haven’t told Mom or Dad yet.” Catalina looked around her before leaning in. “Could you not tell them yet? I’m planning to, but I’m waiting until I have more info. And don’t tell Carter. At all.”

“Obviously not,” said Calista. “What is it?”

“Okay. So… a few days ago, I got this message from a ‘new fighting school’ in Greenland.”

“In Greenland?”

“They said that because they were new, their message would be flagged as malware— which it was. They reached out to relatives of fighters and said they were a rising school looking for students so Greenland could compete. Apparently their old school shut down, so they haven’t competed in years.” Catalina finished her meal. “I don’t know if they’re legit or not, though.” She swallowed. “I haven’t told our parents, because…”

“They would shut it down before you had a chance to see if they were real,” Calista finished for her.

“Exactly.”

“So they’re looking for students?”

“Yeah. They want their ‘first Versus Legends’. They’re only accepting 200 to start training for next Versus, and they said to reply within 10 days. Well, five days now. I could just say to get more info, but I keep thinking, what if it’s not true?”

“Where did you get it?” Calista asked her.

“Here, where we’re staying. In my inbox. I’m thinking maybe I could try and answer.”

Calista half-smiled. “I’m not really the best person to go to when it comes to ‘who to trust’. You’re a better judge of character than I am, Cat. Just ask them for more info, and don’t give any of your personal info, like your ID or whatever. See what happens.”

“Yeah… I never thought I could be a fighter. I never had any interest. I only cared that you became a fighter.” She paused. “But then I see you in the games, and I imagine how exciting it could be. Although, if I decide not to, I could tell one of my friends. I know plenty that would want a chance to compete.”

“Don’t you need to be a Greenland citizen?”

“Nope. Because they’re new, they’re accepting anyone.”

“Try it, Cat. What if it’s an opportunity? Maybe it’s a sign. And if I could learn how to fight, you totally can.”

“Okay.” She smiled excitedly. “I’ll reply tonight.”

“Go for it, sister.” Their cups refilled and they clinked them together, drinking their sodas.

“Ladies.” Harrison approached them. “Sorry I took so long. I guess I missed your parents.”

Catalina’s mouth hung open and she rose from her seat. “Ha… H-Harrison… Smith…” She pointed at him.

“Yes, Harrison Smith.” Calista’s face reddened. “Harrison, this is my younger sister, Catalina. Cat for short.”

“Nice to meet you, Cat.” He stuck out his hand. Shakily, the teenage girl took it, absolutely starstruck.

“Yeah… that’s pretty much what I expected.” Calista rolled her eyes.

“What can I say?” Harrison ran a hand through his messy brown curls. “Girls love me.”

“Oh, quit being such an admin.”

“Y-you… you’re amazing. Um…” Catalina glanced at her sister. “She… she couldn’t fight. Well, she could, but not that good. Then-”

“Hey!”

“I’m just saying. You’re a great teacher. She’s amazing now! What did you tell her?”

“Oh, you know… secrets of the master.” He smiled again, his ego visibly swelling.

“Great. Now he won’t stop that stupid attitude of his, and that stupid smirk- thanks a lot, Cat.” Calista lightly shoved her.

“But he’s so amazing…” the girl said dreamily.

“You want a freeze shot?” he asked her.

She stared at him, her mouth wide open. “Y-yes! Yes. Ahem.” She smiled calmly.

“Alright. Zylak, take a couple freeze shots of us, huh?” His Pet detached from his belt. The girls posed next to Harrison, flanking him.

“You know, Catalina might be a fighter soon.” Calista briefly smiled for the shot. “She got an invitation from a school in Greenland.”

“In Greenland? I didn’t know they were still in.”

“They’re new. They’re reviving, apparently. So they’re accepting students from all over the world.”

“Great. Go for it.” He nudged Catalina’s shoulder. “Then you’ll have people look at you the way you’re looking at me.”

The girl blinked out of her fan daze. “Pfft! Yeah, um… I’m looking at you totally normal.”

“I can see it. The Medleys, a family of fighters,” Harrison said.

That gave Calista a warm feeling in her stomach. That sounded stellar.