Let the game begin

By 8 AM, all the participants had checked in. There were thirty people, and they were divided into two teams of fifteen. It was a small turnout. You and Deshawn were on the same team, but he didn't recognize anyone else on your team.

"Darn, I was hoping that there might be a few old teammates. It is easier to work out a strategy when I have a few friends on the team."

It was a woods match in a ten-acre wooded battleground. Each team had a base and a flag. You win by eliminating every player from the other team or getting their flag back to your base.

Because the battleground was large, all the players had tactical headgear that allowed inter-team communication.

Each team was sent to their base and given 30 minutes to strategize. No participants were allowed to leave the base until the horn sounded. Once at your bases, Deshawn began going over a plan for the battle. Only about half the team was listening.

Deshawn's plan was to divide the team into three forces; Advancement, Response, and Defense. Advancement teams are groups of three people whose task is to penetrate deep into enemy territory, scout, and potentially secure the enemy flag. Deshawn wanted you to join him on one of the advancement teams.

You joined Deshawn on one of the two advancement teams. There was not much time before the battle was scheduled to begin, so Deshawn summarized key advancement tactics:

* Travel in groups of three.
* One person runs forward to cover while the other two members act as spotters.
* Once the first runner gets to cover, the next group member advances to a more distant location.
* Finally, the last person slingshots past the other two to secure a new forward position.
* If you hear a shot from the side while running, sprint forward, a moving target is harder to hit.
* If you see a shoot ahead of you, fire, and change direction.
* The spotters will locate any shooters and eliminate if they have a good shot.
* Spotters should not fire and reveal their location until they have a clear shot.

The horn sounded, and the battle started. You heard the faint sound of drums.

Strange to play drums over the loudspeakers, but whatever.

You, Deshawn, and Kim ran from the base and down the right side of the battlefield. Once you were near the edge of the enemy's zone, you begin your staggered advancement. The drums were getting louder; everything around you looked crisper, more detailed. All your senses were heightened. You ran ahead toward a fallen tree when you heard a twig snap some distance to your right. You glanced slightly to the right and heard the pop of a gun. Your heart pounded; time slowed.