Is this destiny?

In the basement of the Chateau...

Everyone gathered in the room with computers which members of the Sigma army are using for their showdowns.

Mishi is standing next to the long table and explaining the rules to Marija and Oni who are sitting at the opposite ends with computers in front of them. 

"For this showdown, your task is to create and destroy: each of you will start with data that needs to be protected and you have 30 minutes to set up your defenses. Once 30 minutes is up, you will have 10 minutes to deploy your solution to your designated servers." Mishi gestured toward the towers on his left. "The third step is the attack phase. Each of you will have 30 minutes to find flaws in defenses and retrieve the data."

Sarah stood next to Mishi and continued: "To even out the odds, you are not allowed to use any previously made tools for building defenses or for attacking." 

Sarah was about to say more, but she stopped at the sight of Mishi who is giving her a stinky look. She remembered that he likes to do these battle announcements, so she gestured to him to take over before moving few steps away.

Mishi cleared his throat and gestured toward the wall where text was projected as he spoke:

"It is one battle, with three points to win: 

1: you score a point for being the first one to retrieve and read contents of your opponent\'s file. 

2: code optimization is worth one point, which means that the one who wrote the smallest code for attacking and defending will get a point.

3: another point is given for finding and exploiting the largest number of flaws in your opponent\'s defense.

Battle ends when the time runs out."

Emir\'s eyes were shining with excitement. "That means that you can write no code and score a point."

Petar looked at Emir in disbelief. "Only you would think of that as a way to score a point. You need two out of three to win. If you have no code, you are losing by default because your data is exposed, and your flaw is that you are stupid, so opponent gets two points immediately."

Lucija looked at these rules and summarized her observations: "So, even if you are first to get to the file, that does not guarantee the win, because if your opponent has the smaller code and has found more flaws… you lose."

"Do you understand these rules? Do you agree with them?", Mishi asked Oni and Marija who were already seated in front of computers on the opposite sides of the large table.

Oni nodded in agreement. 

Marija pursed her lips. She is not happy about that addition Sarah mentioned. Why can\'t she use her tools? And she does not like points 2 and 3. Usually they only go to crack opponents defense and retrieve the data. What is with these complications? But she can\'t say that at loud and not appear whiny. 

After few seconds of delay, Marija agreed as well.

"In addition to wining bragging rights, the two of you agreed that the loser will leave the Chateau by end of the day and not come back.", Aiden reminded Oni and Marija (and everyone else present). "Oni, for you that means that by end of the day you will leave the Chateau and even if you have something in this area later, you will never step onto this property. Is that OK?"

Oni nodded. 

Aiden turned to Marija: "And you… that means the same: leave by end of the day and no more access to this property. Since this group is meeting here two times a year, that implies how you will be unable to attend the meetings of the Sigma army going forward."

Marija narrowed her eyes at Aiden. "Are you saying that I need to leave Sigma army? What about Ceresc Solutions?"

"That is part of the Sigma army as well.", Sarah responded.

Silence filled up the space and suddenly the computer fans sounded disturbingly loud.

Marija\'s eyes darted aimlessly for some time, and her eyes flashed when she understood that this battle is heavier than she thought it will be.

"You are kicking me out?", Marija asked in disbelief.

"Why are you putting this on them? This is between the two of us. Are you admitting a defeat already?", Oni asked with a smirk. 

"No. I am just noticing that the conditions are not fair. You have an inconvenience of staying in a hotel while I need to leave the group I\'m associated with for the last six years and I lose a very promising job.", Marija said angrily.

"Only if you lose.", Oni reminded her. "If you are not confident in your skills, we don\'t need to do this…" She turned to Michael. "With Marija forfeiting, we can get ready for our date and get a head start. Did you add to the plan going to that bakery which makes the best macaroons? Oh, and the café with that espresso where they make sculptures out of cream…"

Michael leaned closer to Oni and tapped her nose. "No espresso for you. You are not a coffee drinker and it will make you hyper. But you can have the cream from my coffee, or we can ask them to make a sculpture on the hot chocolate for you…" Michael chuckled when he saw Oni pout in protest.

Marija was boiling from anger. How dare they flirt in front of her so openly? Don\'t they have any shame? And did Oni say that Marija forfeited? Why is Oni standing up? If they just leave, isn\'t everything she did since this morning for nothing? 

Marija bolted up from her seat. 

"Where are you going?", Marija asked Oni.

Oni turned to Marija and blinked at her. "Oh… It sounded like you are not willing to engage in a match with the additional wager. I am not interested in scoring points without anything else attached to it so unless you are OK with the conditions of the bet, you can have the win. I am fine to admit that you won 3-0 and go on with my date." Oni ended while wrapping her arms around Jesse\'s left one.

Marija\'s face darkened. "I didn\'t say that I\'m not OK with the bet. I only said that it\'s not fair."

Oni paused and looked at Marija mockingly. "You want to modify the wager? I heard that all of you are skilled in coding, and that you are one of the best in this group. If you are afraid of facing me, I guess you are not so good. Or maybe I am good."

Marija clenched her teeth at this provocation. "I will defeat you and wave as you drive away in the cab."

"You agree to a match? Aren\'t you afraid that you will lose and need to leave this group?", Oni asked.

"Why would I be afraid of a sprout like you?", Marija said smugly and sat back in her seat.

Oni shrugged and took her seat.

"If you lose, you will not go with the cab.", Michael whispered only for Oni to hear. "And I will go with you."

Oni glared at Michael and whispered back: "What happened with believing in my skills?"

"I believe that you are the most fantastic girl I ever laid my eyes on, and the only one deserving of my love. As for the skills, I look forward to see what you can do."

Oni was thrown into a daze. Did he just say that he loves her? Kind of? He definitely used the L-word.

She inhaled a choppy breath. "You want me to lose?"

"What makes you think so?"

"Because your sweet talk is turning my brain into a mush.", Oni responded with hearts in her eyes.

Michael chuckled. "It should give you a boost to continue fighting and do your best. But know that even if you lose, you are the best one in my eyes and I will be right by your side."

"You are doing it again…", Oni giggled.

Marija thought that she is going to vomit blood. She can\'t hear what they are saying, but she can see that they are flirting again!

"When are we starting?!", Marija screamed.

"I need two more minutes to set up the servers you will use…", Emir said timidly. Why is she yelling at him?

---

If you are not reading this at \'W e b n o v e l .. c o m\', then the content you\'re reading is stolen! Please support the author by reading this novel from the original source.