A/N) Hi dudes! I am back after two days of hiding and working...ok so I'm not that famous yet for you to care but hey, someday. Anyway here it is! The first chapter of my sequel to my story 'Can't Be Normal'! DUN, DUN, DUUUUUN! Ahem anyway I'd like to dedicate this story to the bets reviewer I've had, ! AceShadow! *Applause* Come on up here and give us a bow. Thank you, thank you, I hope you all like this story, because I think I'm gonna have fun writing it. So enough jib jabber, let the story commence! ENJOY
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but this new story line, oh and a comic book I'm working on! ;-P
It was a silent night.
Nothing moved, no sounds except the occasional twitter or hoot of a nocturnal bird. Everything else was silent. No stars in the sky, no moon, just the faint whisper of the summer breeze. Nothing broke the peaceful silence of nature at night...
Nothing...except...a huge flaming explosion shattered all the silence with one fell crack. A large boat house at the docks where the night life was most peaceful blew up sending mountains of wood and fire in all directions.
Two silhouettes ran from the burning mess, jumping over the no trespassers fence, they headed for the motorcycle that awaited them.
One was short and thin, the other tall and well-built. Both wore masks, and both were out of breath.
"Phew, that was way to close for comfort." The shorter one spoke pulling of the black mask to show a beautiful face of a young girl.
"To close? Really? What gave you that idea? The smoke and flames falling over your head maybe?" The other one said sarcastically while pulling off his mask. Underneath was a young boys face, a handsome young boys face with a set of piercing silver-blue eyes.
The girl laughed and shook her golden hair out, "Nah, the fact that Cree got away sort of ticked me off though."
The boy rolled his eyes, "She always gets away...and that stunt you pulled back there was not cool." He crossed his arms sternly.
"Aw come on Chad, it got the job done, besides your plan was about flattened by the time we got to phase two."
"Yeah well that was a unessential dangerous thing to do Rachel, your just a cadet and-"
"Ah, ah, ah, you forget, I graduate today." She tusked.
The boy rolled his eyes again, "Until then, I'm still your mentor and I say-"
She flipped her golden hair over her shoulder, "Yeah, yeah...sorry Chad gotta go."
She passed him and jump on the motorcycle. She revved the engine and zoomed down the street as the sun began to rise in the distance leaving her companion in the dust.
After the dust cleared Chad looked where she zoomed down, "Hum, show off." He shook his head, stuffing his hands in his jean pockets and started walking towards the agency.
Despite the confidence that Rachel showed to Chad, she was completely nervous. Sixteen year old Rachel McKenzie had now been in the secret agency for a year. She completed basic training and had even reached top cadet. She'd gotten on the top mark for cadet missions and the highest leadership score.
Everything had changed within the span of a year, she'd gotten older, she made new friends in the agency and so many more things. What seemed ridiculously unreal before was now perfectly normal to her.
She still remembered Nigel, and every time she thought about him her heart let off a sharp ache. Sure she'd talked to him through E-mail and the occasional post cards but still...it wasn't the same, he didn't seem real so much anymore, like a sad, painful memory slowly fading but just the slightest trigger could bring it rushing back like a hurricane.
Rachel sighed as she rolled the bike up to the tree, and to think she was terrified of this thing before, her training had taught all cadets how to handle all matters of vehicles. At first she was reluctant to try the motorcycle but after actually learning the basic steps on how to control it. It became easy and she actually excelled in it better than any other vehicle.
She wheeled the bike in the tube-shaped elevator and pressed the button the way down troubling thoughts whirled in her mind.
First about the mission they were just on. Shortly after she'd joined the agency she'd found out that Cree had joined the enemy side, so now she really was Rachel's worst enemy. Cree went home normally now, just like all the other agents but the savage way she fought when she encountered Rachel weren't normal at all.
Technically Cree was Maurice's and Chad's mission to deal with, but since Cree always went for Rachel...she became like their partner in training. Though after today she would be her own agent.
Once she graduated Chad could resign from being her chaperon and she could be free to deal with her own situations. True she wouldn't see Chad or Maurice much any more once she was assigned to her first real sector but, it wouldn't be that bad.
To tell the truth, she and Chad had bonded in a weird friendship, she still found him irritating and beyond comprehension, and he still found her stubborn and bratty, but they had grown close.
Maurice and Rachel had a nicer friendship, more normal than her and Chad. They talked and laughed like friends and he was always giving her helpful advice. Maurice had somehow become like the older brother she never had.
As for the rest of her friend, Wally and Kuki were now dating for the past three months. It took Beatles that long to tell Kuki. Abby was elected student body president and Hank, he had his hands full with being head of the science committee and dealing with an insane little brother that wanted to be just like him and a cranky grandmother.
Over all they were all great.
Neither knew about Rachel's new secret life, and sometimes it was hard for her. But she knew her place where she was now put in.
The elevator dinged and opened to the ever busy lobby. Rachel walked out and parked the bike in the vehicle section. Waving to the many new people she knew she headed for the cadets chamber.
Some waved and congratulated her, wished her luck, or just smiled, all liked Rachel and all agreed that she was indeed a valuable addition to their side.
Rachel nodded and smiled back, but inside she began to freak out.
What if I don't pass?! What if they say I'm not worthy?! What if...what if I DON'T PASS?!
She slowly entered the crowded room where hundreds of new cadets were waiting for their chance to shine. Many were talking, few were shivering and breaking from nervousness, others were boasting how they would be promoted as their sectors leader after the first day.
Rachel was simply freaking out.
She went to her cubicle to get her cadet uniform. She looked in the small mirror. A brave face, a different face, stared back at her.
Rachel sighed running her fingers through her blonde hair. It was still cut the same, it reached right above her shoulders with a small side bang. But her face and eyes were different. Somehow not as young but just as beautiful.
Her eyes held the glowing determination she always had, yet they seemed to shine with more responsibility. Her face had shaped more in a heart-ish shape then it was a year ago, some people said that she could beat Miss universe. And, she'd noticed, she got a lot more attention from boys...a lot more. In fact it was too much attention.
Sometimes she'd have to wear a disguise to get home and away from all her admirers. She sighed again, now this problem could only be fixed if she had a boyfriend, at least they'd back off some. But that solution itself was a problem, there were no boys she liked that way, sure some where irresistibly cute but none had that something she was looking for.
Not that she was picky it was just that, she didn't really know any more. She was sure that the thing she felt with Nigel was the something she was looking for. And nobody else could give it to her. But then...She groaned. There I go again. Ugh!
She laid her head in her arms, she could handle fires, motorcycles, heck now she could even handle laser guns, but she just couldn't handle her own feelings when it came to thinking about this certain topic.
"Ahem, Um I don't mean to interrupt but...aren't ye supposed to get ready?" A familiar accented voice said behind her.
Rachel sat up and turned to see a pretty Irish girl. But don't let that fool you, Fanny Fulbright from the day Rachel had met her was literally a girl with fire for a temper, and a voice that could deafen the already deaf.
She had burning red hair that flared out in frizzy waves to match her temper. Her eyes were a beautiful emerald Irish green and she had many little freckles sprinkling her face.
From the first day of training, when Rachel first met her, the girl showed a strong dislike towards boys...towards the male population. She never said why but it was obvious she disliked, er, hated boys.
Fanny had always striven to be better, especially better than any boy. She was a strong 'girls can do anything boys can but better' believer.
And even though Rachel agreed on some of her point of view, Fanny could be a little extreme in her boy hating ways.
At first Rachel didn't like her, she thought Fanny was a loud mouthed annoyance. But after a training session with her it changed. Fanny was really nice and under all that rough and tough armor she put up. Fanny Fulbright was really sweet. The girls had become very good friends after that very quickly.
Fanny talked to Rachel about things she'd never mention to any one else and Rachel did likewise, it was nice to have such a good friend in the same secret you are in, an agent. Aside from Chad and Maurice that is.
"Oh, hey Fanny, Ugh yeah I know but...I don't know Fanny what if I don't pass?"
"Now that's a bunch of blarney, of course ye'll pass. Ye're the best cadet out there. Now come on, here's yer uniform." The red-headed girl handed Rachel a crisp light blue one piece suit.
Rachel sighed once again and took it. She went behind the screen that was in the cubical, "Come on Fanny, aren't you at least a little worried you won't pass?"
Fanny had a thoughtful look on her pretty freckled face, "Of course not, why would I...Yes, maybe just a little...but that's why we'll do our best and pass."
Rachel smiled, it was funny how her friend could go from confident to confidant and back to confident in the same sentence.
She shook her head and zipped the suit on all the way up. She walked out and Fanny handed her a pair of dark blue combat boots, "Ye'll do fine." Fanny reassured her again.
Rachel stood up, "Thanks Fanny," A loud horn sounded from the training room, Rachel took a deep breath, "Well, here I go, wish me luck." And she was off.
"Good luck." Fanny called nearly deafening passer byers. Then pleased with herself, she skipped away to get ready for when she had to pass the test.
Rachel stretched her legs and arms preparing for her go on the training course. Only ten more minutes and it would be her turn to show what she could do.
She had already taken the writing part of the test and now came the combat part, Rachel excelled in both in training. She just didn't want to get her hopes up. Already ten out of twenty-five failed, Rachel felt bad about them, but she was more afraid for herself at the moment.
She gasped as she watched one of the simulations robots fling one cadet out. She gulped, that could be her next.
"Don't worry you'll be great." Rachel jumped around at the sound of the voice.
When she saw who it was her muscles relaxed, "Oh Chad, it's just you, um, thanks." She averted her eyes and rubbed her arm.
Chad tilted his head and smirked, "Your forgiven."
She looked up quickly, "What?"
"I said, your forgiven for leaving me behind to walk two miles."
Rachel laughed sheepishly, "Oh yeah, um sorry Chad, just got caught up and.."
"Yeah, yeah, I know anyway, like I was saying, those rookies got nothing on you, you'll pass, piece of cake, I mean come on how couldn't you? I trained you."
Rachel rolled her eyes and punched him playfully, this guy never ceased to amaze her. Every chance he got, he'd tweak his own ego. Oh well, he wouldn't be Chad without it.
"Ok man, first I helped, and second, she was great before we trained her." Maurice came forward a huge bright grin on his face, "Hey Rachel, you'll do great, we're proud of you kid." He tousled her hair as she laughed.
"Yeah, tell me that if I pass."
A loud horn blared in the back, "Rachel McKenzie, please report to the simulation room."
Rachel took a deep breath, "Well, here I go." And she sprinted away.
"Good luck." Maurice said after her.
Chad shrugged and chuckled, "She's going to beat my record and I'll never hear the end of it."
Maurice laughed, "Hey man, you've been the best for a long time...let someone else have it."
"They have to earn it but, I hate to say it, if anyone earned it it's her."
"Yeah, one of a kind, that girl."
They watched as the simulation started for Rachel.
Rachel took a deep breath as the controller pressed the button, she closed her eyes and focused on the quiet moment right before the battle. It calmed her down so she could go through with a calm leveled mind, something most Cadets weren't capable of.
In the next instant an army of 40 robots came forward and it started...
Rachel ran everything she'd learned through her mind in a split millisecond, then jumped out-of-the-way from one of the bots lasers.
She rolled away to her feet and jumped on the back of another one. She rode it like a rodeo hose for a minute making it shoot other robots trying to get her off, then she collided it with the wall making it explode and taking five more robots down.
She rolled to her feet and landed in the middle of the remaining robots. They were all armed, Rachel's brown eyes scanned for a way out, she saw it and jumped straight up, the robots shot and hit each other, she back flipped over the still standing ones.
Then she ran forward as the robots charged at her, one swung another shoot, Rachel dodged grabbed the robots arm and flung it into the other one.
She hand sprinted forward, but one robot rolled in front and sent her flying into the cushioned walls. She could feel the watching people gasp as the ten remaining robots closed in on her.
Rachel panted and squeezed her eyes shut, she right before the robots could shoot she jumped up and round house kicked five of them down. Then she flipped back to the middle of the room and waited for the other robots, now this was where it got harder. The simulation started to change, Rachel felt the ground move as the piece she was standing in rose into the air, so did several other parts.
Rings appeared from the ceiling so she could monkey bar her way across the large gaps and defeat the remaining robots, but it wasn't just that, she had to avoid falling through the gaps, she had to jump, flip and dodged the obstacles that popped up unexpectedly.
She took off in a sprint the robots on her tail and she jumped the gap grabbing the rings she held her self suspended in the air and swung over, flipped an air somersault and caught the other rings.
Rachel gasped as a huge hoop rose from the ground, she hastily let go of her ring and flipped through the hoops, she jumped over the hurdles that rose and skid under the bars. Finally she got to the end of the course with only two robots after her, she stood her ground in a crouching place.
Both robots were advancing towards her, she was breathing hard, her hair had fallen out of its original pony tail and hung loose and glimmering on her sweaty face. Her eyes scanned the robots every move, her muscles were tense, ready to spring like a cat. The tension in the air was so thick you could almost see it.
Rachel licked her top lip ready to finish this test.
The robots swung forwards, Rachel jumped and somersaulted over them. The robots, which here the most advanced of their group, turned and grabbed her instantly. Rachel gasped as they raised her above their heads. Her mind raced, this was where most of the cadets failed. What could she do?
Her quick mind figured it out. She readied herself as the robots threw her, she instantly grabbed the rings in the air and flipped backwards kicking both bots and sending them over the edge with a loud smash.
Rachel landed on her feet in the middle of the platform and instantly the simulation dissolved. She smiled as the crowd cheered. Though she was tired, she knew this was a very proud moment in her life.
Maurice ran up to her and lifted her on his shoulder, "I knew you could do it!" Rachel laughed, she was positively beaming.
Her eyes automatically fell on Chad to see his expression, he had a huge real smile on his face, now that truly was a rarity. Rachel felt amazing, light as a feather, nothing could ruin this, nothing...
Well, that's what she thought...
Everyone was laughing and hanging around at the after test party. All the agents old and new, they were all there to celebrate the new agents.
Rachel had changed and was now in a simple knee-length light blue dress with a tiger patterned vest. She was sitting at a snack table with Fanny drinking punch.
"Wow, Fanny you blew through that test...literally." Rachel smiled at her red-headed friend.
She had literally smashed her way through the test and passed.
Fanny smirked and shrugged, "Hey, I do thing my way, it may not be graceful and pretty like yer's but it got the job done." She took a sip of her punch as a shadow fell on them from behind.
"Hello girls." A young slightly deep voice said behind them.
Fanny visibly growled, "Go crawl back into the hole ya came from Drilovsky." She went back to her punch.
Rachel smiled at the tall, nicely built polish boy. Patton Drilovsky was one of the best cadets. He was a nice boy, but could be ferocious when needed. He had thick black hair with bangs that fell to on side, his eyes were a dark deep blue that held confidence and determination.
He was almost like Fanny, only not so brash. He had a loud voice almost as loud as her's. He could yell like a drill sergeant, and when he did it could stop any form of chaos in a second.
Rachel liked him, ever since they were paired up on a trainee mission she had learned that this boy was as smart as he was good looking...and he was quite the looker.
Fanny hated him to say the least, she couldn't stand him. Patton was the only boy who could match up to her, the only boy who dared to confront her and to walk out alive. She couldn't stand that he wasn't afraid of her like all the other weakly boys.
"Hey Pat, congrats on your passing." She smiled brightly.
Patton smiled back, "Yeah thanks Rachel, but you were really something, I don't think anyone came close to the way you completed your test...awesomely."
Rachel's smile turned into a grin, "Thanks Pat." Rachel could feel Fanny gagging.
Thankfully the bell for everyone to collect in front of the initiation stage rang before Fanny could do anything else.
"Well that's our cue, later girls." He waved and walked with the rest of the assembly.
Rachel turned to Fanny and giggled, Fanny gave her one of her famous glares which Rachel blew off.
"Aw come on Fanny, I know you like him."
Fanny's face turned almost as red as her hair, she began to shake, Rachel sighed knowing what was going to happen, so before she blew her top Rachel reached for a bucket of ice and poured it over Fanny's head cooling her instantly.
"Sorry Fanny, but you really should learn how to take a joke." Rachel stood up and headed for the stage, "Even if it is true," she mumbled the rest.
Fanny just tore up her napkin and followed.
The leader under the head leaders was announcing the sectors and numbers each new agent would be assigned to. He was initiating Patton now.
Fanny stood next to Rachel, who was eager for her turn, grouching with her arms crossed muttering under her breath.
"I'm sorry I didn't get that Fanny." Rachel said smiling as Patton was presented with his jacket and number.
"I said, I feel bad for the sucker that's going to be assigned with that loser." Fanny enunciated.
"Oh." Rachel said absent mindedly as she strained to listen to the announcers words.
"Congratulations Patton Drilovsky, you are here by granted the number 60 and are assigned to sector 7. Welcome to the life of a full-fledged agent." Patton beamed as applause rose up.
He bowed and stepped off of the stage. Fanny snorted, "Show off." Rachel smiled at her friends ridiculousness.
Finally Fanny was called up, Rachel was listening intently as her friend was initiated, until someone touched her shoulder. Rachel shuddered and jumped, only one person could do that, "Chad? What are you doing here?"
"Hey McKenzie, I see your wild friend made it, congratulations Rach." Chad displayed a genuine smile on his face again.
Rachel smiled back, ignoring the strange feeling she always got when he did that to her, "Gee thanks Chad. I'm especially happy because I don't get to be bossed around by you any more." She winked.
Chad chuckled, "Yeah, you'll be dead within a week."
Rachel opened her mouth to retort when she heard a shrill scream, her eyes widened as she looked towards the stage.
Fanny was standing there red as a tomatoes, "What! I'm in the same sector as him, of all the rotten, revolting, disgusting luck." She ranted and ranted as the announcer led her off the stage.
Rachel sighed she figured something like that would happen.
Then the announcer called her name. her stomach tightened and her head became light.
"Go on McKenzie, let's see what loser sector got you."
Rachel gained her wits back, "As long as the sector is five floors away from you, it'll be awesome." She called over her shoulder.
The announcer went into his speech Rachel was hardly listening she was looking forward to just being initiated, "And now, for your outstanding records in our trainings, and your amazing talents, we initiate you as number 362. Congratulations." The announcer placed the black jacket with her number sewn on it in light blue.
A loud cheer went up, louder than anyone's, Rachel beamed like a star. She couldn't believe this day actually came, she couldn't believe that anything like this could even happen.
Rachel was ecstatic, "Thank you. Thank you." She bit back her smile to keep it from stretching out of her face.
Her face crumpled when she heard the announcers next words, "And because your scores in the training camp were so high, you are to be put in the highest sector, congratulations you are now part of Sector 1."
A louder cheer went up. But Rachel was stunned, her eyes tried to not go there but it couldn't be helped. He was glowing with such smugness and teasing in his own eyes that her eyes just found their way there.
Rachel groaned, "Oh great."
Ok there you go guys! The first chapter of this, I hope, awesome story! As usual, comments, complaints, criticisms, Concerns? All is welcomed! I hope ya liked it, until next time, adios!