MI High is coming to an end. What is going to be the future for the team ? Is there a future for the team ? Will everyone go their separate ways or will they stay together ?
Okay, I need to clear up any confusion. Someone was concerned whether real people had been killed. The word "simulation" does appear three times in the last chapter. The people who died were not real. They were part of the simulated test taken by Dan.
Thanks for the lovely reviews and especially J.4.5.M.1.N.3. Your comments are very true. I do update as often as I can but like everyone there are sometimes more important things I have to do.
So, some fluff before everyone starts shooting each other again.
And relax !
Sitting back on the stool, he stretched his aching body, pulled out the earpieces and looked at his watch. It was after 6pm.
"Oh ! I've gone on too long," Dan apologised.
The professor looked at him in amusement. "Exactly long enough I would say. You'd better go home. I'll see you here tomorrow. We need to catch up on some of your official studies," he said.
Keri looked up as Dan came in. He looked calmer than she was expecting. "Hey you ! How did the simulation go ?" she asked. Dan opened his bedroom door, flung his bag through it and closed the door.
"I passed. Apparently," he said, flopping down on the sofa next to her.
"I killed everyone when I did it," said Keri.
"Me too," said Dan. "The Prof said you're not expected to succeed."
"Yes, that's what Mac told me," said Keri. "I'm not sure what I think about that," she said.
Dan looked at her. "I didn't think very much of it. I was kind of, shocked, you know ?" he said.
"So what did you do ?" asked Keri.
"The Prof took me back to the music school and got me to beat the hell out of a drum kit," explained Dan. He laughed. "It worked too."
Keri thought about this. "I wish I could play drums," she said thoughtfully.
"You could kick the shit out of the boxing dummy," suggested Dan.
"Hm. Not a bad idea," said Keri. "Mac made me run round the park four times. I guess that has the same effect."
The door opened and Tom came in, looking exhausted. "Oh God, I hope this is worth it," he puffed, flopping into an armchair.
"So, how's the training going ?" asked Keri.
"I have kicked, thrown, punched, chopped and gouged," said Tom.
"Gouged ?" asked Dan, grimacing.
"Yeah, well that one was a bit of a last resort," admitted Tom, wincing. "Still didn't work," he added, easing a notepad out of his back pocket. "I ache, and I mean ache, everywhere !" he groaned. "Oh, and he's given me these," he said, pulling a couple of sticks out of his backpack and holding them out in front of him. There was a buzzing noise and a faint bluish glow appeared around the sticks.
"Okaaay. So what are they ?" asked Keri.
"Stun sticks," explained Tom. "They carry a high electrical charge, kind of like a taser, except you can use them lots of times and they automatically recharge. Agent Hunter thought I might find it easier to defend myself with them," he said, looking doubtfully at the sticks.
"Right," said Dan warily. "Just make sure they're not pointed at my arse alright ?" he asked.
"They scare me to death," admitted Tom, waving them gingerly in front of him. "I mean, what if I forget and stick one under my arm or something ?" he complained, before turning them off with a sigh of relief and putting them back in his bag.
The door opened and Aneisha came in. She flopped down opposite Dan and Keri. She looked round at the others. "Long day huh ?" she asked. They all nodded. Aneisha sighed and rested her head on the back of the chair. "I actually did medical training today," she said. "We're starting off with field first aid."
"That might come in handy," said Keri. "They've given Tom a weapon," she said.
"Worse still, they've given one to me," said Dan, slumped down on the sofa.
"Did you die again ?" asked Aneisha sympathetically.
"No, but everyone else did," said Dan glumly. He started to giggle. "That's not funny," he said, but couldn't stop giggling. "I mean, I climbed a damned rusty metal tower, tip-toed across a rotting metal girder 10 metres in the air, and then I shot everybody, including the victim !" he said, laughing hysterically.
"I spent half an hour crawling across the ground on my belly, and then shot the wrong people," said Keri, before she too was howling with laughter. "The safety of the nation is in good hands !" she spat out between laughs. By now, Tom and Aneisha were laughing with them.
Once the laughter had died down, Tom said, "I can't be bothered to cook. How about pizza ?" There was a chorus of agreement and Dan was dispatched on the motorbike with Keri on the back to fetch pizza for the team.
After their meal, Aneisha got up saying she had preparation to do for the next day's lessons. Tom agreed and they both went to their rooms. Dan and Keri filled the dishwasher. Dan was humming a tune. "What are you humming ?" asked Keri.
"That ? Oh, I have to perform a piece at the end of the month on my main instrument. Everyone has to do it. It's part of the assessment process," explained Dan.
"Can I hear it ?" asked Keri. Dan took her to his room. It looked like a bomb had gone off. There were clothes everywhere. Dan quickly dashed round the room, tossing the clothes into a pile near the door.
"I'll stick the laundry on after," promised Dan. "I ran out of tops two days ago."
"How did you get anything to wear today then ?" asked Keri.
"I showered with my clothes on last night," explained Dan.
Keri stared at him in disbelief and laughed out loud. "You didn't !" she yelped.
"Yeah. Had to improvise didn't I ?" said Dan. He pulled out his guitar. "So do you want to hear the music or do you want to talk dirty laundry ?" he asked with a grin.
Keri smiled back. "Hmmmm," she said, putting a finger to her lips. "Let me think about that."
Dan laughed and started to play. He softly played a Spanish melody, which grew louder and louder until he was strumming and tapping the side of the guitar with his hand. Keri watched in. amazement. She had never seen Dan playing classical guitar music before. When he finished she clapped enthusiastically.
"Wow ! I mean, wow !" she said, too stunned to think of anything else to say.
Dan looked pleased and shy at the same time. "Was it alright ?" he asked.
"Dan ! It was fantastic !" said Keri. How could he not know ? "I didn't even know you could do that !" she said. "Why do you hide these things ?" she asked him gently. "You've got real talents Dan, you just never seem to share them with people," she said.
Dan looked at her fondly. "Well I don't like to. I just like sharing them with you," he said softly.
Keri stared at him. He could not possibly have said anything more adorable ! She felt like screaming. Maybe not a good idea. Ooooh ! Keri leant across the bed and kissed Dan on the lips. Yeah, that was good. Dan wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a much longer kiss. Keri pushed the guitar neck out of the way and wrapped herself around Dan.
They both rolled on the bed, kissing, their hands exploring one another's bodies, before Dan pulled back and looked at her smiling. "I should get the guitar out more often, if this is what I get," he said.
"You don't get that guitar out for ANY OTHER GIRL !" warned Keri, wagging a finger at him. Dan laughed and saluted her. "And I'm armed and dangerous !" warned Keri. "Mainly to myself and those closest to me," she admitted wistfully.
Dan laughed. "God, I love you Keri Summers," he said, pulling the delighted girl in close for another long, lingering kiss.