"Alright Cadet, are you ready?" Kira nodded standing at salute, but in truth she was nervous as hell. "Good. Your test starts now. Get ready. I expect good results from the granddaughter of Commander Free." Kira was cursing herself for showing off earlier that week. Gulping she looked at the handles of her flesh pairing blades that doubled as triggers for her 3D gear. Taking a deep breath she turned to the trees awaiting her.
If I fail I'll be a laughing stock. She thought bitterly to herself. I won't let you down mom.
She fired the gear taking off. Her comrades watching with envy and amazement. Kira swung through the trees clumsy at first, but quickly getting the hang of it. The trainer's hurriedly scribbled down detailed notes on her actions. She was already ahead of her class, they looked for anything that could knock her down a few notches.
The General watched fondly as Kira worked her way around obstacles. The look in her eye. The drive. She looked perfectly at home. She was a warrior through and through. He was sure she'd excel greatly if she could stay alive.
One of the trainers pulled the rope, swing out the titan cut out that they'd hidden in thick tree branches. He smirked. Kira was too close to dodge, but his jaw dropped when she flipped out of the way missing the cut out by a hair, but dodged it none the less. Perhaps the trainer wouldn't have been so shocked if it weren't for the look in her eyes. He knew it was impossible for her to have seen the obstacle before he swung it out, so he knew it had to be that she had quick reflexes. He wrote it down.
He hadn't really understood why people called her Kira the Killer. Rumors spread that she'd killed two men before entering the military had been a conversation starter at many dinners, but nobody really thought they were true. Now he had no doubt. The look in Kira's eyes had been one of a pure blooded killer calculating her target, fixated solely on survival and fighting. He wrote these thoughts down.
Cheering could be heard as Kira's comrades watched. Michael crossed his arms smiling proudly.
"That's our girl! Show 'em how it's done!" He yelled. Jessica cheered beside him jumping with her fists in the air.
"Go, Kira!"
Kira gained respect that day. She was offered a chance to advance to the next year, but she declined smiling back at Jess and Michael who told her she should.
"No thanks, Sir. I believe my place is here with my comrades and family." She smiled.
That was the first time Kira had referred to Michael and Jess as her family and not simply friends.
"Family." Michael stuck his fist out.
"Family." Jess agreed slapping her hand on top of Michael's larger one.
"Family," Kira smiled laying her own hand on top. "nobody gets left behind or forgotten, always and forever." They nodded a new determination to complete the next two and a half years together forged between the three.
