Jason stifled a laugh. “Cam and Alpha Cornell must have their reasons.”
“Mm,” Daryl grumbled but didn’t elaborate further.
As the lodge came into view, Rachel jogged up to them. “They didn’t say where this information would be. D’you reckon our rooms, living area, or kitchen?”
“Well, she said, ‘Betas will be issued with an itinerary.’” Daryl replied. “So my best guess would be our rooms.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” She left them to go talk to Jenn and a few minutes later called everyone to a halt outside the front doors to the lodge. “We think the info for today’s events has been left in our rooms, so while we go look for it, everyone else please wait in the living area. If you need to return to your rooms for anything, please be back here in ten minutes.” She jogged back over to Daryl and Jason. “Can one of you stay with them just in case?”
“Yeah,” Jason nodded. “I’ll stay.”
“Thanks.”
While Rachel, Jenn, and Daryl headed up to their rooms, Jason led the others through the main double doors and into the living area.
“No TV?” Luke asked as they filed in.
“No. And no game consoles either, before anyone asks.” A collective groan filled the room and Jason grinned.
“I guess you’ll have to actually sit down and talk to each other.”
Predictably, the group immediately separated into two smaller ones as they found seats. Jason sighed. It was going to be a long two weeks.
Conversations ebbed and flowed around him. He kept an ear out for anything interesting, but the majority of the chatter was speculation about the day ahead. When the other betas arrived back, papers in hand, all talking ceased as everyone focused on them instead.
Rachel and Jenn glanced at one another, and Jenn nodded. “Right,” Rachel began. She waved the sheet in her hand. “I’m pretty sure you’re not going to like some of what it says on here, but please keep your objections until the end when we’ve finished speaking.”
Jenn stepped forward. “There will be two teams: one defending their base, the other attempting to steal their flag. But it won’t be my unit versus Rachel’s. They’ll be mixed.”
Jason caught the surprised looks on most faces.
“For this task, Alpha Cornell has already chosen who’ll be on each team.” Jenn paused and glanced around the room. Jason sensed the concern rolling off her as would everyone else too.
“Rachel and I will head the teams. With me will be Luke, Tasha, Clive, Kevin, Rufus, and Neal.”
So three from each unit; that made sense. He winced as he realised who was in Rachel’s team.
“That means my team will be Nathan, Kara, Will, Rob, Tom, and Simon.” Rachel glanced at Daryl, then Jason. “Alpha Cornell has also requested that Daryl join my team and Jason join Jenn’s.”
Oh. Not just observing then. Suddenly he wanted to get a look at the sheet Daryl was gripping ever so tightly.
Rachel reached into the large bag sitting at her feet and pulled out what looked to be a vest-type thing. “Each of us will wear one of these.” She flicked up a panel on the top right-hand side of the vest and pointed to the button underneath it. “If this gets pressed twice within a five-second interval, then you are out and the edges of the vest will turn red. You can observe the rest of the game but will take no further part in it. Anyone who tries to carry on or who attacks someone wearing a red vest will be heavily penalised, at the alpha council’s discretion.”
“The start time for this event is eleven o’clock.”
“Who’s guarding the flag?” Nathan asked, and Rachel grinned.
“Good question.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a coin. Turning to Jenn, she asked,
“Heads or tails?”
“Heads.”
Rachel flipped the coin in the air and caught it again. “Heads it is. Jenn, what do you want to do?”
Jenn smirked, some of the tension eased from her shoulders. “I think we’ll guard.” She checked her watch. “It’s nine thirty now. Be back here in an hour dressed in clothes and shoes that allow you freedom of movement.”
Jason glanced down at what he had on. He could run and climb easily enough in what he was already wearing. That’d do.
