All around, though, the HIA was so much better than other facilities. Because it was a school, there were still those odd times where they had to act it out. She couldn’t stop herself from laughing every time the alarm came on for code white and all the “students and teachers” had to rush to their places when a possible student came to check out the school. These students thought that they were attending a regular school when really they weren’t. Not every student at HIA was an agent. Sometimes it was hard for the HIA to maintain the appearance of a school, but somehow they did it. It was always kind of nice to have the brainwashing technique available in the seventh grade science room.
Kalyia thought it amusing that even the parents didn’t know what really went on in the HIA. She wondered what would happen if an agent never came back from one of their missions and a “student” never went home at the end of the day. She guessed that the school really trusted their agents to stay alive and not do anything stupid. She found out later that when an agent got kidnapped, the family that didn’t know about the secret HIA went through a form of hypnosis all the while. Kalyia wasn’t sure how that worked, but the HIA hadn’t had any problems yet, so it must be proficient.
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It had been several weeks since Armaan had started his training, and Lionell could see that he was starting to get better. The boy was getting stronger and much more intuitive. This kid learned extremely fast, even though he tried to relate everything to math, physics, and anything else computer or science related. It got kind of tiring, but Lionell could see progress. In a few more weeks, Armaan might even be good enough to go up against one of the HIA agents.
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"So this is all that we do? Training?" Kalyia asked Laura while they were doing some abdominal work.
"Well, the first few weeks of your training are to get you used to the work-outs and start you off on an FPP, a fitness progression program. Don't worry, in a few months, you'll be able to go out in the field with me."
"But is this all that you do?"
"No, we go on all types of missions constantly, and if we have a trainee with us, we go on simpler missions first and take long breaks afterward for specific reasons. If you're really good and learn quickly, you might even go on your first mission in a couple of weeks."
"I wish that I could be that good." Kalyia replied.
"Oh, you're good just by making it in. Do you know the percentage of students that makes it through the first test?" Laura asked. Kalyia shook her head.
"Less than 10% of the people who try to get through the first test make it through. Only 5% of those ten even make it to the last test. Then, it's a 50/50 chance to beat the opponent. I'd tell you the trick, but you're still new. I'll tell you in a few months."
"Ok, I'll try to live."
"You'll probably figure it out after seeing some testing for yourself. It's not required to watch them, but they're great entertainment and reminiscing."
“How do they keep the cage secret from the rest of the school?”
“Easy,” Laura answered. “First, nobody expects there to be a cage in a basement beneath the basement of their school. Second, although it’s required for certain agents to attend certain tests, it’s easy for the students to pass by unnoticed.”
"Ok, do you know when the next one is?" Kalyia asked.
"No, they're unexpected."
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"Attention all agents. There is another victim ready for testing. Tester: Agent Tyler Ray. Victim: Irmaan Helvik." The announcer announced.
"Oh, well, would you look at that. Do you want to see this?" Laura asked Kalyia.
"Sure." She replied. They walked to the cage.
"Let's see... Over there! That's a nice spot. Great view." Laura commented. They sat down and watched Tyler looking for a booby trap program.
"What's he doing?" Kalyia asked Laura.
"He's looking for a certain kind of booby trap to lay down for the victim."
"Are there different levels of difficulty?"
"It depends on who you are."
"OK."
"Oh, I know this kid. He tried a few months ago to get in. He and his twin didn't make it through."
Kalyia saw the boy and recognized him.
"That's the boy that kidnapped me!"
"No, Armaan kidnapped you. I know because I saw him when I woke up in the plane. I also saw you knocked out."
"But he didn't make it."
"They were allowed a chance at a mission because they saved three friends of mine from mental madness after they tried to get in. They have their strengths, but their weaknesses are greater."
"So you don't think that Irmaan will make it?"
"I saw their first try. They might make it through the booby traps, but I don't think that they'll get past anything else."
Kalyia began to see how well she did once she saw this poor fellow try to get through the booby traps. He didn't get to the platform.
"Poor guy."
"Well, that's how we weed out the weaker ones. Sounds harsh, but in case of an STW mission…"
“STW?” Kalyia questioned.
“Save-the-world. In one of those, we need to have the best.”
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