Rebels (John Bates) by Scott Powell, Judith Powell Read Free Book Online Page A

advantage of eight to one, which should make the odds more than acceptable. So let’s get this party started, boys!”
     
    At first, I am relieved knowing we now only have to fight three of them against twenty four of us. But I look over to the side, where I watch one of the Steel members pick up one of the metal pipes we use as practice to defend from an attacker and bend like it was nothing! Another literally back flips standing in place but lands in a perfect handstand. I can barely swallow and almost forget to breathe because of what I am seeing.
     
    Three of the Team Steel men go into the center of the circle, but I don’t have any of the confidence I had moments ago when I think about the eight to one odds. I hear David whisper to me.
     
    “Did you see that? Are these guys even human? We better hit them hard and fast or we won’t have a chance.” I nod in agreement. The horn sounds off for the exercise to begin. It’s funny how fast rivals can become allies.
     
    As we try to figure out what we are going to do, the three Steel members rush us! This is not something we are exactly trained on. I watch as one of my fellow team members takes a hit to the body and then is kicked in the torso and flies back twenty feet and lays unconscious on the ground. I don’t have time to wonder if he is okay. These guys mean business and have no concern for us, except to win. Another of my team members attempts a kick to the head of our enemy—to no avail—and finds himself swept by his leg and put into a choke hold, which leaves him incapacitated within seconds. Before we know it, eleven of our twenty-eight are hurt, knocked out, or have tapped out of the exercise.
     
    “We must regroup, come to me now!” I yell, and my army gathers to me quickly.
     
    “We must stay in a tight formation and not allow our fears to take us out of this exercise, you five will take him, you five will take him, and you three will come with me to handle what appears to be their leader.” As I finish my order, our enemy comes for a second onslaught, but this time we are better prepared.
     
    Sarge had said there were no rules, and so I immediately take in my surroundings to see what could be used as a weapon. All I find is a broken broomstick and a water hose still attached to its spigot, but it is all I need. As my three other team members try to combat what appears to be someone more machine than man, I realize this is an impossible task. I pick up the broken broomstick as three bodies go flying in three different directions. Now it is my turn.
     
    With stick in hand, I calmly approach my opponent. I know I have only one shot of making this work. I see my opponent has a smirk on his face. Obviously, we are good entertainment, but I have no time to play. I take the broomstick and quickly fling it like a boomerang toward my assailant, and he veers out of its reach with a backhand spring. He continues to spring toward the water hose. I sprint and pull on the hose in a swing motion toward my new “friend” as he is coming down. I catch him by his knees and slam him into the hard clay earth. He is stunned. We jump him and within moments, he is subdued. Silence is upon us. We look around and see his two comrades staring directly at us their eyes alive with a dark fire.
     
    I assess. Only ten of our twenty team members are left, but now we know they can be beaten. It is time to use this to our advantage. For the first time, the two remaining Steel team members are allowing their emotions to override their logic. Now I know their weakness—they are arrogant.
     
    “Hey! Is this the best you got? I thought you guys were supposed to be the best! Maybe you are back home but not in our town!” I yell. I am looking for a response and I get one. They rush toward me, not focusing on anything but me. If I was the only one fighting them, that might be okay. But when I have two super soldiers coming at me and the rest of my team is looking to me, I