But she wasn’t going to give up now.
“Test two.”
****************
Sarah started to panic. “Where is she? Where is Laura?” Caitlin’s eyes widened and she let out a series of grunts, but then she burst into a bunch of sobs and curled back up in her blanket. Sarah hoisted herself up. Pain racketed through her mind, and she toppled off the bed. She saw the door in front of her, but couldn’t reach it. A burst of strength gave her enough fuel to scoot forward a bit, but her energy was depleting. She just barely saw the door swing open before she blacked out.
****************
Armaan saw the agent sprawled out on the floor and immediately recognized her as Agent S. West, the other one’s sister. He grabbed her and hoisted her up, carrying her back to the bed. His side hurt, but he had to do this quickly. He knew the other agent, Agent Merkley, didn’t have very much time. She was slipping further away every second, and soon there would be nothing left to pull back.
****************
Jace smiled. He’d beat the first three tests and had hardly broken a sweat. It seems like Rebecca was putting more effort into this than he was. He could beat all the tests. He was sure of it.
****************
Rebecca was angry with everything that was going on. She left the HIA for one day and in the next week all this happens? She was tired of all this. She knew she had to stick to the HIA, but it was so crazy she wished for a minute she was back at home, being lazy on the couch, writing stories of her own. She could even be typing one up about herself right now. She knew that if she were going to make a story up about her life, it would definitely not include this crazy agent stuff.
****************
“When you wake up, you will remember nothing about the incident. You will only remember that your plane had been sabotaged by the terrorists. After Laura landed, the plane started shaking. Something else was clinging to your plane. It was a small plane with such advanced technology that they were able to connect to an empty hatch and open it up. They invaded and attacked. One grabbed hold of Laura—the gray-haired one with the scar under his left chin—and started punching her over and over again. Xarissa, you tried to stop them, and another one grabbed your hair and yanked you back. Sarah, you put the plane on auto pilot and jumped to the back. You grabbed a pole that was attached to the ceiling in case of anything like this and smacked the guy who was attacking Laura on the head. Caitlin, you fought the third one off as Xarissa elbowed her captor in the face and brought him to the floor. After the three were unconscious, Xarissa and Caitlin, you guys hoisted them back into their plane and Sarah had no choice but to close the hatch and eject it. You were over the Atlantic Ocean at this time, so it didn’t hit anything. It sank into the water, long gone. After that happened—you only remember this, nothing else—Rebecca met you at the plane. You were surprised she was back, then you saw Director Bowers and Agent J.T. Ray behind her with a stretcher. You only remember those agents, no others. Hey carried Laura off to the infirmary and put the rest of you in here for minor injuries. Agent Jake West and a man you do not know are in the infirmary right now. You do not know the man, but you are very happy to see Jake. You have told no one what has happened yet, but soon the nurse will come back in. You will say that you are ready to tell the Administrator what happened. That is all. You remember only this. Wake up.”
Armaan sighed and the three agents awoke, even Sarah. Suddenly, all three sprung up and enveloped Jake in a group hug. “Um…” Jake started, and looked to Armaan for help.
Armaan gave him a half smile. “I’m going to talk to the nurse, then I’m going to find Imraan and get out of here.
****************
It was time for the last test. Rebecca knew what this meant. The trainee always fought the trainer. Only when the trainee beat them did he/she have clearance to be commissioned into becoming an agent. The wall opened, showing a variety of practice weapons. It consisted of a few wooden poles of different sizes, boxing gloves, numb chucks, and other things. “Usually I would be the one to choose the weapon,” Rebecca said, “but I’m feeling abnormally generous today. Pick your poison.” She gestured to the wall, and Jace walked over to it. Without pausing, he grabbed a long wooden fighting pole, much like the ancient monks would use. “Very well.” Rebecca picked the identical one, and the wall closed. “Begin the final test.”
****************
Finally, Laura walked over to the Administrator’s office and knocked on the door. “Come in,” he answered, sounding stressed.
“What’s going on?” Laura asked. “Who were those twins and why is Jace here?”
“Oh, Laura. You’re doing better.”
“You could say that.”
“I’m glad you’re better,” the chief said, nodding.
“You haven’t answered my question.”
The chief sighed. “I’ve been trying to evaluate this from the beginning. It seems Jace is not a terrorist anymore. I don’t think he ever really wished to be.”
“And what of those boys?”
“They said they were here to help the others.”
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. “Chief Administrator Taylor?”
“Yes. Come in.”
The door opened and the three agents stepped in, all smiling. Laura’s jaw dropped. “What—”
“We’re here to tell you what happened on the plane,” Caitlin said.
Laura sat back speechless as a strange tale unfolded.
******************