I do not own MI High or its characters. Just borrowing.

Do spies sit exams ? Who makes a good spy ? The rules have changed and the team have to apply to be spies again. Will they all make it through the latest challenges or will some have to leave forever ?

The team stood in front of Frank looking shell-shocked. "What ?" asked Aneisha.

Frank sighed. He knew this wasn't going to be easy. Judging by the looks on his team's faces, they weren't taking this well. "The whole of MI9 has been through a restructuring exercise," he repeated. "There has been a comprehensive review of personnel within the organisation and as a result of that review the whole MI High Project has been revised. MI9 want a different structure to the MI High team and this means that you will all have to apply for your place on the team and go through a series of exercises and tests to determine if you fit the new criteria for your jobs," he explained carefully.

"Haven't we been any good ?" asked Dan, looking faintly hurt.

"Yes, of course you have. The team has been highly successful," said Frank. He sighed. There was no easy way to say this. "It's just that they want it to be the best it can be. They want us to be the best we can be and they're looking for improvements," he added.

"What sort of improvements ?" asked Zoe.

"Well, they're talking about flexibility of roles. They want all round performers who can meet the physical fitness requirements, operate in many different roles and be technically savvy," said Frank.

"Didn't we do that before ?" asked Tom.

"Well, to an extent yes, but when we recruited you, we looked for specialists within the team too," said Frank. "Hence, Tom for your technical skills, Aneisha for her infiltration and disguise skills and Dan for his physical skills. Primarily obviously !" said Frank, trying to sugar the pill a little. "I'm not saying that you're not good at your jobs !" he said despairingly.

"But MI9 are, aren't they ?" asked Dan, sulkily.

"No, not at all !" said Frank firmly. "Look, this should be a simple formality. You are all going to be referred for some tests and exercises to check that you meet MI9's new criteria. I am absolutely confident that you are all going to pass with flying colours. I'm sure there's absolutely nothing to worry about," he finished, with the best big smile he could muster. The silence which greeted his words slowly rubbed the smile off his face. This was going to be hell. "Anyway, lunch is nearly over. You'd better get back to your lessons. I'll call you when you're needed for your first exercise," said Frank quietly.

Tom, Zoe, Aneisha and Dan turned in silence and walked to the lift. The doors closed and he heard the familiar swish of the departing lift. Frank sighed and leaned back in his chair. Footsteps approached across the floor. He recognised the steps and didn't bother to turn to see who it was.

"Have you told them ?" asked Stella.

"Yes," said Frank.

"How did they take it ?" asked Stella.

"Badly," said Frank.

"I'm not surprised," said Stella. "It's going to be tough on them."

"Is this really necessary ?" asked Frank, not for the first time.

"We think so," said Stella. "It has to be the MI High team. It won't work any other way," she said.

As the team walked through the teeming corridors of the school to their first afternoon lesson, nobody spoke. Finally Zoe broke the silence. "It can't be that bad can it ?" she asked. The others looked at her.

"You are good at everything," said Aneisha. "I'm not blaming you Zoe, but out of all four of us, you are probably the only one with nothing to worry about. Your SKUL training makes you unique. I'm an OK fighter and hopeless at technical stuff. It's only the undercover stuff that I'm good at," she said.

"I'm way off a field agent," complained Tom. "I'm never going to be good at fighting am I ?" he asked.

"You did brilliantly on your own with Bobby Bleach and the Germinator," Aneisha reminded him. "You are a good field agent. It's just that you're better at other things."

"At least you can get a bit fitter," said Dan heavily. "I'm never going to get any cleverer, no matter what I do."

"You're not stupid !" said Zoe. "You think of lots of things ! You brought down the phoney Edwin Grosse with a ball of string, and you stopped that RAT with a cheese stick."

"I don't think MI9 count the use of string as technical expertise," said Dan. "I don't know where rubber bands and cheese sticks come on the scale of weaponry expertise either ! Aw, this sucks !" he said despairingly. "What are we going to do ?"

They all walked into Maths. Dan flung his bag on the floor by his desk and dropped into his usual chair. "Right class," announced Mr. McNab. "We're nearing the end of term and to check on progress, we're going to have a series of spot tests. Today we will be starting with a 30 minute spot test on Fractions, Percentages and Decimals !" Dan looked in dismay as a test sheet landed on his desk. Things could not get any worse. "30 minutes class. Absolute silence. No exceptions !" barked Mr. McNab.

Tom finished his test sheet with over five minutes to spare. He glanced around. Aneisha was nearing the end of her test sheet by the looks of it. So was Zoe. He sneaked a look at Dan, who seemed to be only about two thirds of the way down his sheet. Or was that 67%, Tom wondered happily to himself ? Then he mentally slapped himself. This was not fair. Dan was obviously having trouble concentrating, which was no surprise after what they'd just heard from Frank.

Finally they were instructed to put down their pens and hand in their work. "How did you get on ?" Tom whispered to Dan.

"Just don't ask," said Dan, looking away. The normally implacable Dan had a hint of despair in his eyes.

The last two periods were double games. This was Tom's least favourite part of the week. Needless to say, Zoe and Dan both loved it. The boys were given circuit training: a drill of different exercises around the gym. There were press-ups, squat thrusts and things Tom couldn't even remember the names of. Dan laid into the exercises, lapping Tom at least once as he went from one station to the next. He was obviously taking out his frustration in his usual way, with physical exercise. At the end of the session, the boys all piled into the changing rooms, sweaty and tired.

Tom slumped onto a bench. "There's no way I'm going to do this," he puffed. "I'm never going to be like you," he said to Dan.

Dan was leaning his head on his hand. "You'll be OK," he said. "A bit more exercise and fewer biscuits and you'll be fit. It'll be OK." The bell rang for the end of the day. "Come on. Let's go home."

Zoe and Aneisha were waiting for them when they came out. The four silently made their way through the school yard to the gates. Roly ran past them, faster than he'd managed all through PE. "Hey cheer up you lot !" he shouted as he jogged past. "It might not happen !" he yelled over his shoulder with a grin.

"Oh, I think it will !" said Aneisha dolefully.