Jason places a call to Bill asking for a quick meeting in the morning about agreed upon criteria for Piper. Jason got straight to the point during the talk and said he just got some info. that could potentially give one trainee both criteria. He explained that Alex had actually been recruited into the program because she had excelled with a previous real-world placement. She was offered employment upon the successful completion of the certification program. He showed Bill a file from that placement plus her current marks as a trainee. Bill carefully studied the materials and agreed that Alex did in fact meet both. Jason thanked him and said that Piper seems quite impressed with Alex and he feels Alex will probably be selected based solely on her trainee merits. Bill said he could tell Piper that someone qualified for both, but not who. That he didn't want that detail affecting his daughter's selection process
Piper had finished her 'work' last night and felt well prepared for what today would bring. She spotted a very happy Jason in the hallway. He motioned for her to follow, barely containing the news he was excited to share.
"So Piper, I got some news yesterday that I think you'll be quite happy to hear."
"What's that Jason?"
"I've learned that one of the trainees actually meets both of your father's criteria. So all your detail assignments could potentially come from these trainees."
"Wow. That is exciting. Who is it?"
"Actually I'm not allowed to say who. Your father doesn't want that detail to take away form your process."
Piper's face frowns briefly "Jason, 'cmon how can you excite me and then not tell me?"
"Honestly I was more concerned with getting your hopes up if your father didn't feel they qualified, than being asked to keep one detail from you for now."
"Fine," Piper sighs. "So what's in store for the trainees today?"
"First they have a subjective test on threat assessment and situation diffusion. That quantifies some of what they showed yesterday. After that is a course that once again includes you and actually builds upon the last course yesterday. It lets you further explore the building communication with the trainees. We'll be watching how they respond to your verbal and nonverbal cues."
"That explanation confuses me a little. Can you add some more context or examples?"
"A scenario will be whispered in your ear. The trainees have no idea what it is. You try to clue them in without specifically saying what it is your wanting them to catch. If someone has a good read on you, then the more scenarios they will correctly respond to. It shows if they can read looks, expressions, and body language with any kind of accuracy
"I see how that could be useful in a situation where your not trying or wanting to blurt out commands." 'I wonder how well Alex will fare. We did seem to be picking up each others' clues yesterday. Is she really that good? Can she once again blow the competition out of the water?'
Piper found the performance of the first few trainees rather disappointing. She was starting to wonder if it was too much of an ask for someone to mesh so soon. Alex was next. Piper was whispered the scenario. Her face immediately reacting to what she heard. Alex easily picked up on the feeling and saw the discomfort. She then proceed to calm Piper with gentle touches, making sure her actions crossed no professional lines. She felt Piper beginning to calm and smiled at her until the blonde's breathing was back to normal. Piper nodded at Jason to let him know Alex had correctly read and remedied the situation. In fact Alex was accurate on most every scenario, diffusing all but one with great ease. 'She really is that good. It's like I'm an open book to her. Like she can see way deeper than anyone ever has.'
Alex watched Piper deep in thought and knew that she nailed it. What surprised herself was that the more she saw within Piper the more she wanted to know. 'I'm totally thrown by this. I'm not the kind who deeply cares and I'm certainly thrown by wanting to comfort. What the hell is this woman doing to me?'
Jason dropped the news about who exactly Piper is after the course finished up. She noticed the biggest smile briefly grace Alex's face before reverting back to her cool and collected self. Piper also saw how the guys reacted to the news. A few had the demeanor that she hated seeing in a guy. The ones that viewed her in a role or a way that wasn't her. She carefully noted the offenders. She also saw which trainees seemed happy about her picking team members right into a long-term detail, something all trainees had heard was a rarity.
With a breathtaking expression in her baby blues, Piper takes command. "I will be cutting my list once again. Be back for one more day of courses, then select the members and team roles for MY detail. Continue to do well in your testing. Good luck in your certification and hopefully being named to my detail."
Piper made a call to her current detail for pickup, telling them what to retrieve from her old room. Then had a few conversations with trainees that stuck around. Alex thanked her for her consideration and said she looks forward to being a part of her detail.
"I haven't chosen anyone yet Alex."
"No, but I'm feeling my odds are high." Alex gives her a hug, smiles and walks away.