Author's Note: Hey everyone! I'm back and will be updating more frequently! I'm so sorry for my 4 month disappearance. I was caught up with my after school activities, so many projects that drained my motivation to write. I hope you enjoy these new chapters, and won't disappoint. And as always, I love you all.

Without further ado… x

xxxxx

"Go for it, give it your all. Your last shot and then you can have the rest of the day off just like the others, Kate."

"Royce, I can't…," Kate closed her eyes, trying to catch her breath.

"Yes you can. As your instructor, I'm damn sure you're capable of pulling this off. What if during battle this shield could save someone from death?"

Kate blasted her shield and held it around the target as the machines from around shot at it. Kate was on the verge of tears, but being her stubborn self she held. Royce noticed and stopped the machines from any further damage. Kate felt relief and collapsed, breathing heavily, heaving.

Royce walked over clapping, "You did it kid."

"Yeah, I did…"

"Now you should go take a long shower and go enjoy the rest of the day."

"Thanks Royce. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Anytime kid."

Kate gathered herself and exited the training facility. She open the door to her dorm; it was empty. She sighed. After grabbing her towel, she stripped out her orange suit and headed to the bathroom. Kate let the hot water run over her as she drifted in thoughts.

xxxxx

Rick spent his morning running around the track. After so, he went into one of the battle rings to strengthen his powers with the invincible targets built just recently. He worked his way around the obstacle, hitting each precisely. Satisfied, he grabbed a drink and headed back to his dorm.

"KEV! WHAT THE HELL MAN?" Javi angrily throws his controller.

"I didn't mean to Javi."

"Hey guys. What's up?" Rick asked as he threw his bottle and towel onto his bunk.

"Oh nothing much. Except for the fact that Kevin here sucks at COD!"

"I do not!" Kevin defended himself.

"Yeah, well you do. I had to keep saving you ass!"

Rick reaches for a controller, "Enough guys, let's just play."

Halfway through their session, Rick stands up from the beanbags. "Hey guys, I'm going to see Kate and grab some lunch."

"Bro, you've got it bad!" Javi shouts as Rick shuts the door.

Rick smiles, and heads to Kate's dorm. Just as he was going to knock, Lanie and Jenny opened the door.

"Hey Rick!" Jenny greets him as Lanie is furiously trying to find her pair of sneakers. "FOUND THEM, JEN! Oh. Hi Rick! Kate's in the shower. You can just wait for her here. She shouldn't be too long. We just popped in a minute ago to grab a couple of things before going to help out at the day care center."

"Oh. Alright. Thanks girls."

Rick heads over to Kate's bunk. He was fiddling with stuff that was lying around, just as Kate walks out the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her. "OH MY GOD!"

"Hey." Rick says as he sits on the edge of her bed

"Rick, HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET IN HERE?" Kate questions as she moves towards him.

"Well Lanie and Jenny opened the door just as I was going to knock."

"Oh. They weren't here when I got back from training."

Rick smirks and pulls his girlfriend closer to him. "Yeah? They said they just popped in to grab some things. And by the way, you, a towel and wet hair are a very good combination."

Kate blushes, "Rick…" He sits her down on his lap and kisses her. Kate deepens the kiss, running her hands through his hair. She manages to mumble, "Rick, you're burning again."

"I don't care. You're making me burn."

She chuckles and continues on, unbuttoning his shirt. Rick searches for her towel… "Ah-uh. No. We aren't going there." Kate pulls away to find something to wear.

"I hate you, you tease me." Rick pouted.

Her husky laugh fills the room, as she turns her back to Rick, drops her towel and struts her way back into the bathroom.

"Evil. Pure Evil," Rick groans in frustration. "But anyways, you want to get lunch?"

Kate replies as she opens the door and continues to apply on her make up, "Uh, yeah. Sure."

He smiles, "You look beautiful already."

"Stop, not with this lecture again, kay?"

"Alright."

He wraps his arms around Kate's mid-section giving her a spoon hug. "Hey."

"Hey back," Kate smiles. "Let's go."

xxxxx

The two meet up with Javi and Kevin for lunch. Lanie and Jenny later joined. Enjoying their burgers- fries and milkshake combo, Captain Montgomery interrupts, "Afternoon trainees."

"Hey Captain."

"May I speak to Kate and Rick?"

Kate glances at Rick, "Uh,"

Rick finishes Kate sentence, "Yeah, when sir?"

Montgomery gave them a stern look. "Right now, in my office would be great."

"Okay." Kate mutters softly as she gets up from the cafeteria benches. She reaches for Rick's hand and squeezes it as they walked towards Montgomery's office.

"Close the door." Montgomery says as he heads towards his desk. He grabs a control, pushes down on a button. All the windows are covered leaving them in a very dim lit room. Kate and Rick stay frozen in place. Rick gulps as Kate's breath shortens.

"What is this all about?" Kate finally gathered some courage to ask.

Montgomery turns around to the projector, "You'll see."

On the projector, there was a photo. The photo was of an ordinary high school. "This is another super headquarter in our division," Montgomery began, "but it went under the radar a couple of months back, the capital believe that it has been recruiting members and keeping them hostage for a classified…"

"Why are you telling us this captain?" Rick interrupted.

Montgomery looked down at his desk, took off his reading glasses and merged towards them, "I sent my best agents out there, under the capital's orders, to get information and rescue some of the hostages. The mission was going well, the four we sent figured out who was behind all of this, even rescued some of our own, but they made a dumb move, and now we have no idea…"

"I don't understand why you are still telling us this," Kate spoke with a shaky breath, "Who are the four agents?"

Montgomery closed his eyes, "I'm sorry."

"No. Captain. No. You didn't, they…" Kate shook her head furiously, her vision blurring.

Rick was no longer calm. His knuckles were white. He could feel his body burning up. "Montgomery, if you sent our parents out there…"

"I'm sorry, but I did. They are the best we've got."

Rick could no longer contain. He raged, pining the captain against the wall. He was holding a strong grip on Montgomery's neck with his fiery- ice hands. The captain didn't fight back. He expected Rick to be mad, so he was already well prepared. When Kate realized what was going on she wrapped a force field around Rick, throwing him off the captain and onto the floor.

"Rick, you can't blame him. He was only doing what's best for our division." Kate tried to reason except failing miserably as her voice cracked and tears trickled down her face.

Rick held back his tears, lying on the floor with his hands in Kate's grip. "What can Kate and I do? Do you know who this person is?"

"I was going to debrief the two of you and send you to finish the mission."

"What about our parents? They're all we've got. We need to find them." Kate pleaded desperately.

"We don't even know where they went wrong Kate. I can't send you two into a blind hunt."

"Captain, we are going in blind. How do you even know that the intel you receive was correct? What if it changed from the last interception you've had with our parents?" Rick retorted.

Kate quivered, "Can't other agents go and finish this task? Why do we have to? We are already going into that headquarters blind, why can't you let us find our parents instead?"

Montgomery walked over to the two of them, "The capital is pressuring us to seize that headquarter. With your parents missing, we won't be able to. You guys underestimate your abilities. I watch you two train every day. You are strong, stronger with each other. Your power combinations are incredible. You need to believe."

Kate inhaled a sharp breath, "Alright, if you… think…so. Debrief us."

xxxxx

Next chapter very soon… x

-C