All right, so we're going to the graduation! Enjoy, people!


Chapter 6: The Final March

The annoying, continuous ring of the alarm clock made the four students in the room groan. One got their knife and quickly threw it at the clock. The clock shattered, smacking the unfortunate soul beside it with multiple clock insides.

"OH MY GOD THAT IS COLD!" Keith jumped as he smacked his head against the headboard.

"Perfect precision right there, Atom. Well done." Rogue yawned as she sat up and stretched her limbs.

"All in the day's work." Atom said as he walked over to Keith and took his knife.

"What's the day today?" Piri yawned.

"Let me see…" Rogue glared at her digital clock, "… December 19. Gradu… OH MY GOD!"

Rogue jumped out of bed, successfully tripping on her blanket. She cursed in Russian and hopped out of it, grabbing her white bathrobe and dashing to the bathroom. She was followed suit by the others. Sounds of the shower being opened were heard.

"WE OVERSLEPT!" Keith yelled as he splashed his face with hot water.

"DEFINE OVERSLEPT, THE CLOCK WOKE US UP!" Atom yelled through the hissing of the water.

"I SET IT TO THE WRONG TIME, THAT'S WHAT!" Keith yelled.

"SO WE HAVE HOW MUCH TIME NOW?" Piri asked while soaking her shampooed hair.

"15 MINUTES BEFORE WE ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE AUDITORIUM!" both boys said at the same time.

"WHY ARE WE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION?!" Rogue yelled as she scrubbed her face.

"MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHY ARE WE YELLING?!" Keith yelled.

"BEATS ME." Piri yelled.


The door of Dormitory 014 slammed open as 4 students ran out.

"How many more minutes?" Piri asked, who was hastily tying the knot of her tie.

"5 minutes!" Keith said while fixing his belt.

"Rogue! Now is the best time to help us!" Atom said while buttoning up his vest.

Rogue, who was at the back, said to Atom, who was up front, "Hold on!"

She hopped, trying to get her heel in her stubborn high heels. Her tie was barely tied, and her vest was slung to her shoulder. Her hair was also black, and longish.

"2 minutes!" Keith yelled.

Finally putting on her vest, fixing her tie, and tying her hair to a high ponytail, she grabbed all three of them. She carried Piri and Atom in her arms, and slung Keith on her shoulder, despite his protests. Quickly, she dashed out of the corridor, and all the way to the other side of the campus.


Rogue finally slowed down in front of the doors of the Auditorium. The place was deserted. She set them down.

"What's wrong?" Piri asked a nearby fellow graduate.

"Ah, you don't know." He said, turning to look at them, "The ceremonies will be in the afternoon. We are being called to eat breakfast first. The General seems to be busy, apparently."

"Oh." Rogue said.

"Rogue?" the boy asked.

"Uh yeah. It's me, Jason." Rogue said, rolling her eyes.

Jason smiled, "Come. Let's go."


They went in the Cafeteria.

"Out of all the foods, Rogue. You always get the hot chocolate. I swear, every breakfast, that's all you do." Keith shook his head.

"What's wrong with that?" Rogue raised an eyebrow.

"It's not healthy." Keith said.

"If only you knew, Keith. If only you knew…" Rogue smiled.

"Then tell us. Why do you only take hot chocolate?" Atom asked.

"It began in the Red Room…."


"Dorogaya. Ah, you have grown."

The blonde man observed her in all angles.

"Spasibo." Rogue – or Natalia – mumbled.

"Well aren't you a pretty face now, huh?" he asked, lifting her chin.

"D-Da." Rogue said.

"Why ever do you stutter? Don't stutter around me, dorogaya. You really are beautiful." He said.

"Alright then." Rogue said, slightly hesitant.

"You look hungry, dorogaya. I don't want that little face to wilt." He said and gave her a glass of brownish liquid; "We need you in your prettiest form, so that we can train you to manipulate it. Here, dorogaya. Have some of this."

Rogue took it gladly, and nodded her head, as if to thank him. She took a sip, shivering a bit at the heat. She then relaxed.

"It tastes… gut." Rogue said, applying her knowledge of German.

"It's called hot chocolate." The man said, laughing before turning serious, "Dare to mention it to the other girls, I will not hesitate to shoot you. Don't get used to it."

Rogue hastily nodded, and was dismissed.


"… That's why I like hot chocolate." Rogue said.

"You're telling me that you drink hot chocolate because… it keeps you pretty?" Piri asked, tilting her head.

"Apparently, they placed a bit of this in the hot chocolate." Rogue said, holding up a small packet of white powder, "No, this is not drugs. I know what you're up to, Roberts. It enhances the taste, makes the color brighter, etcetera."

Keith, who was immediately flustered, asked, "Specifically, what is it, then?"

"DX-98. It's a special powder used by the Russians to enhance their Red Room agents." Rogue said, then copied in her best impression, "Dare to mention it to the other girls, I will not hesitate to shoot you."

"Easy, I get it." Keith said, holding her hands up in surrender.

Rogue only laughed, and rested her back against the white walls.


Rogue glared at herself in the mirror. Tie? Check. Vest? Check. Skirt? Check.

"Hurry up, Ms. Tvarkov. We need to print those yearbooks soon." The woman said.

"Uh… yeah sure. I'm just finishing up here." Rogue said.

Rogue marched into the room. There was a stool, with a black screen behind it. In front of the stool was a French-looking girl. She wore a black beret, which held down her long, curly blonde hair. She wore a green turtleneck, and dark purple tights. She also wore ballet flats.

"Sit down." The woman said, to which Rogue obediently followed.

"So… what's the plan now?" Rogue asked.

"Tilt your body to the right. Then, look at me. Smile me your best." The girl said, "My name is Felicia, by the way."

"Alright then, Ms. Felicia." Rogue said, angling herself and smiled.

Felicia walked to her, and angled her more a bit.

"There!" Felicia said, "Stay put."

"Oh it." Rogue said.

After the picture was taken, Rogue stood up.

"Thanks, Ms. Felicia." Rogue said.

"Ah, no problem Ms. Tvarkov." Dorothy said, "You'll get your graduation pictures after your graduation. Congratulations, by the way. "

"Alright. Thanks!"


Rogue strolled in the gardens. The roses were slowly protecting itself as the cold was approaching. Rogue felt as if she was the winter. Helada. That was her former surname. She went to the heart, the circle part of the gardens. She sat down on the edge of the fountain. The statue was of a beautiful maiden holding a pitcher of water, where the water spat out.

"Anxious?"

Rogue looked up to see Atom, donning his graduation outfit.

"Hey-hey, Atom." Rogue said, standing up and adjusting his tie, "Not bad. Looks good on you."

"Yeah. The women's fitting line is shortening. Why not you go in there and get yourself fitted for your graduation outfit?" he said.

"I need to think." Rogue sighed, walking past him and staring at the rosebushes.

"Hurry, Piri sent me to look for you." Atom said, "Should I tell her?"

"Sure." Rogue said, "Go on."


"Next!" The woman said.

Rogue stepped forward. She stretched her arms, as the woman did the measurements.

"You're small, but so tall…" the woman observed.

"Yeah." Rogue smiled.

"The name's Dorothy, by the way." Dorothy said.

She was a blonde girl, with a short bob. She wore a purple, zipped-up jacket and a pair of denim jeans with her purple sneakers.

"Hello then." Rogue said.

"Here. Try size 14." Dorothy said, handing her a graduation suit.

Rogue nodded, and dashed to the changing room.


"… Do you have a half?"

"What's wrong?" Dorothy asked, looking at Rogue in all angles.

"The sleeves and the skirt were hard to get in." Rogue explained, showing the limited movement she can do with her arms.

"Luckily, I do. Here." Dorothy said, handing her another suit.

Rogue nodded, and slid the door shut.

"It fits."

Dorothy looked up from her clipboard to look at Rogue.

"Alright. Well, you're a Weapons major, right?" Dorothy asked.

"Right." Rogue nodded.

"You'll need to wear brown." Dorothy said, handing her a brown graduation suit.

"Will do." Rogue said and got the suit. Quickly, she changed into the brown suit.

"You don't mind if I ask, but aren't you the Red Room girl?" Dorothy asked.

"Yeah. I am." Rogue said.

"You barely sound Russian. Your surname gives you away, though."

"I know, right?" Rogue said.

"Well, enough chitchat. You need to go." Dorothy said, and shooed her off.


"Hey Rogue you're finally- Whoa."

All three glared at the Weapons major, who just walked in.

"You look… good." Piri said.

Piri wore a pale yellow blouse. She also wore a rich yellow tie, and a tight yellow business skirt. She also wore gold colored high heels.

"Yeah. I'll have to agree." Keith said.

Keith wore a light green, long-sleeved polo. He wore a green tie. He wore green dress pants, and black dress shoes.

"I'm still an Alpha in this!" Atom yelled, going askew.

Atom wore a pale red, long-sleeved polo. He also wore a red tie, and red dress pants with his usual black dress shoes.

"Oh, shut it." Rogue rolled her eyes.

Rogue wore a pale brown polo. She also wore a very dark brown colored tie with her dark brown skirt and mocha high heels.

"So. I just realized… we never asked Atom where he'll go." Piri said.

"I'm going to the PSA." Atom said.

"Alright. We're all going to the PSA." Keith said.

"Well, people, it was glad knowing you." Atom said, "We had a whole year of insanity, and probably more awaits us."

"Agreed. You guys may be a pain while I try to read To Kill a Mockingbird, but you guys are still awesome." Piri said.

"Sure, Rogue may try to hack my laptop and play the chicken dance song every time I click my mouse. Sure, Piri may bedazzle my laptop with pink glitter. Sure, Atom may even hide my precious laptop, but you guys are still awesome. Take it from Piri." Keith said.

"Well uh… where on earth do I start?" Rogue said, "Thanks, guys, for everything. Thank you for testing my patience, Piri. Thanks for making it easy to hack your laptop, Keith. Thanks for being my Alpha buddy, Atom. Yeah. We may be separated, but we'll always go beyond the call of duty, am I right?"

"Yeah! Go Batch 207!" Keith said, fisting the air.

"Hey guys?" a muffled voice said at the other side of the door, "As much as I loved hearing your montages, we need to go to the Auditorium. Now."

"Oh, hi Ria!" Piri said, "What's your major?"

"Technological."

"Ah right, she's in my Programming class…" Keith said.

"Let's go." Atom said.


"Welcome, graduates. Today, you all go to the next phase of the world of espionage: work. May we all rise to sing the Academy anthem."

As they all stood in attention, Rogue glanced to the bleachers. There, Agent Mike Prisma sat. He had a large smile on his face as he too rose. As the final chords of the song ended, everyone sat down.

"Good afternoon, students. We shall now hear some words from General Calvin Trigs." Ava said.

Everyone clapped as the General marched to the podium.

"Graduates, parents, guardians and etcetera, I welcome you to Batch 2007's graduation. Here, in the Academy, we call them Batch 207. I can guarantee you that we trained the cadets thoroughly, ensuring that they will be willing to go beyond the call of duty.

"We are all going to separate. Some will go to the United Nations. Some will go to the Central Intelligence Agency. Some will go to the People's Secret Agency. Some might even think of becoming private investigators. The list is long, and the world out there is dangerous. I can guarantee that we prepared them for this.

"The road to peace is long, and these cadets are going to undergo that. Some will fail. Some will rise. Some will die in the hands of their enemies. Yet, some will still see the end of the road to peace.

"That is all, cadets. I wish you a blessed graduation. Go beyond the call of duty."

The cadets – or students – applauded as their principal, Ava, walked to the podium.

"We shall begin the diploma handing ceremony soon. For now, let us see a video compiled by our Technological majors…"


The orchestra played as the principal announced the names of the graduates.

"Jason Antonio P. Laurenson, graduating cum laude in Weaponry. He also receives a special award, for excellence in Reconnaissance." Ava said as Jason marched in. He shook hands with the General, and received his diploma and special award. It was pinned to his polo's pocket.

"Harriet Olivia J. O'Hara, graduating summa cum laude in Weaponry. She also receives a special award, for excellence in Gymnastics." She said. Harriet also marched in, and shook hands with the General while receiving her diploma and special award. Her medal was pinned to her polo pocket.

"Rogue Alyssa T. Tvarkov, graduating summa cum laude in Weaponry. She also receives a special award, for excellence in Analysis." Ava said.

Rogue stood and marched up the stage. She shook hands with the General, and received her special award.


The graduation ended.

"So. See you guys around?" Piri asked, while stuffing her clothes into her suitcase.

"I guess so." Keith said, stashing his laptop into its bag.

"I'll miss you idiots." Atom chuckled, looking at his gold medal and putting it inside a box provided by the Academy.

"Same here." Rogue said, stacking her books in a box provided by the Academy.

"I hope to see you guys in next time's homecoming, in one piece." Keith said.

"Of course." Rogue smirked, "Why not?"

All of a sudden, there was a knock on the door. Atom walked to the door, and swung it open. Julia stood there.

"Here you go, guys! Your graduation pictures." Julia said.

She wore a dark blue jacket with the PSA logo on her left breast. She also wore a white t-shirt, and grey cargo pants with her black sneakers.

"You're PSA?" Atom gasped.

"Yeah." Julia said, "It's awesome there. Warning, though. Mystery meat every Tuesday is… really a mystery."

"We'll take note." Keith chuckled.

Atom was handed four envelopes.

"Okay. I have mines. Rogue, yours." Atom said, tossing the girl her graduation pictures. She caught it, and began to look through her photos.

"Keith, heads up!" Atom said, tossing him his graduation photos. Unluckily, he missed and got a paper cut, much to the dismay of Keith.

"Piri, catch!" Atom said as he tossed the envelope to her.

"I look… handsome." Keith said while cradling his cheek, where the paper cut was.

"I look good." Piri smiled.

"Not bad, Ms. Felicia. Not bad." Rogue said.

"Guys, can we get one picture from each other?" Atom asked.

"Deal." Three voices said as one.


So they graduate after all…

They are going to meet again… in the next chapter.

THE TRANSLATIONS:

Dorogaya – Russian; darling

Spasibo – Russian; thank you (formal and informal)

Da – Russian; yes {formal and informal}

Gut – German; good