R-328
To all those of you still here, congratulations. You've made it through the first day.
The ones who still had some breath left in them cheered.
R-328
You may now go eat.
Gradually, everyone but Junior went back inside. He stayed behind, lying on the grass, looking up to the sky.
He soon diverted his attention to R-328 and X-466. They were conversing together out of Junior's earshot. Even if Junior could have heard them, he wouldn't have been able to understand them. After all, the only word he knew in their language was "spira"...
Once he had left enough time pass, Junior got up, made his way inside, and took his place as last in line for lunch. He finally joined Lwazi when the South African boy was almost done eating.
LWAZI
Here you are! Where have you been?
JUNIOR
I was resting...
Said Junior, evasively. Lwazi insisted.
LWAZI
I think you hung back on purpose. You let everybody else eat before you could...
JUNIOR
What if I did?
LWAZI
I'd advise you stop it.
The sudden change in his tone of voice alarmed Junior.
JUNIOR
Come again?
LWAZI
Do you think that anyone here really cares about you?
Exclaimed Lwazi, gesturing at the room.
LWAZI
We are all competing against each other! Today we got lucky, but if you keep caring about the rest of them you'll never be..
Junior snorted with derision.
JUNIOR
Don't you get it?
LWAZI
Get what?
JUNIOR
It's what they want us to do!
LWAZI
Who?!
JUNIOR
The clones... they want us to think we have to compete, but instead we have to work together! That's the only way to be selected!
Junior started eating, and even though the food was worse than anything his mother had ever cooked, his tiredness and hunger made it taste delicious.
JUNIOR
Haven't you been paying attention?
He continued between bites.
JUNIOR
If everyone keeps working alone, we are just going to be kicked out one, by one, by one...
Junior's words seemed to have made an impression on Lwazi, as he remained silent until Junior had finished eating.
LWAZI
I understand that working together is how we got through today, but it won't always be like this! There will come a time when you are going to need to be selfish.
JUNIOR
You are mistaken, Lwazi.
LWAZI
And you are so naive!
Lwazi hit his fist on the table.
LWAZI
Don't you think it's strange that a "colored" like me was selected to represent South Africa?
JUNIOR
Is it strage?
LWAZI
Yes it is! Why do you think they did it? My government wanted to make itself look good in the eyes of the world! They think that because they have chosen me to represent the country, they can get away with all the crimes they've committed...
JUNIOR
And why do you think I'm here? They want to exploit my relationship with Konos to poach his secrets!
LWAZI
So you get what I'm saying! Selfish people like your government and my government run things, so we have to play their game to stand a chance!
JUNIOR
First of all, our governments don't run things here. They do.
Said Junior, gesturing at the clones.
JUNIOR
And second, it does not matter why we were chosen, it only matters what we choose to do now that we're here.
Junior was getting impatient.
JUNIOR
Should you really answer to selfishness with more selfishness? Not so smart if you ask me... Besides, we don't want to prove him right, do we?
Junior was pointing at X-466, who was marching to the middle of the room.
X-466
Unfortunately there are still many of you present. I hoped nobody would make it through today, but I guess we don't always get what we wish for...
He looked around the room, disappointed at what he was seeing.
X-466
You get the rest of the day to recover your weak human bodies, but tomorrow the real deal begins. Through our first test you are supposed to have learned a valuable lesson. Put it into practice or surrender.
As X-466 abruptly left, Junior turned to Lwazi.
JUNIOR
That's exactly what I was talking about: teamwork! It's the only way to go forward.
LWAZI
Junior, it will come a time when people won't work with you. What are you going to do then?
Unbeknownst to both of them, that day would come much sooner than expected.
