Whelp, here's a short chapter. But a chapter nonetheless. Halo 4 comes out tomorrow. Can't wait.

KND Arctic Base

Cadet Training: Day 03

'The Board' Carol thought to herself as she looked up to an electronic board on the wall. The board had the names of every cadet; it ranked them from one to fifty-five. Currently, all were ranked fifty-five. 'I'm going to be at the top of that board.' Carol smiled.

"Pariuhs! You and your team are up!" Carol turned away from the board and walked into a room with five cages with locks. Carol kneeled beside the cage in the middle, finding a Rainbow Monkey within and an old fashion padlock keeping the cage closed.

Thomas, Josh, John, and Nolan, each took up similar positions around the remaining cages. "Your task is simple, using these tools" Numbuh 68.06 began to hand out lock picking equipment to the five cadets. "You will pick the locks. Keep in mind, this is timed and will affect your overall score on The Board."

Carol examined her equipment and then the padlock. "You all may now begin." Carol quickly got to work, using the pin and tumbler she was given, she unlocked the cage in a matter of seconds.

"Done!" Carol exclaimed.

"Good job, Pariuhs." Numbuh 68.06 smiled. "You did it in nine seconds…you broke the record."

"Done!" Josh shot his hand up.

"Done!" John exclaimed.

"Finished." Thomas spoke softly.

Numbuh 68.06 smiled, seeing that most of the cadets finished in less than twenty seconds. Except for one. "York, mind telling me why you're taking your time?"

"This ain't a job you want to rush." Nolan muttered as he turned the tumbler, unlocking the cage in the process.

"Well, aren't you a locksmith." Numbuh 68.06 rolled his eyes. "Josh, you completed in twelve seconds. John, you completed in seventeen seconds. Thomas completed in nineteen seconds, and you completed in twenty-six. As far as I'm concerned, you're at the bottom of The Board."

"Alright, clear out, and send Rachel and her team in." Numbuh 68.06 motioned to the door.

Carol exited the room, immediately going to work and searching for Rachel and her team amongst the other fifty recruits. "You see Rachel anywhere, Virginia?" Carol asked a girl with brown hair in pigtails.

"She's over at The Board with her team." Virginia motioned to The Board.

"Thanks." Carol walked past the crowd of cadets, eventually reaching Rachel. "Rachel, you and your team are up."

"Thanks." Rachel smiled and turned to her team. "Alright guys, we're up."

Fanny, Patton, and Abby nodded before following Rachel to the lock pick training room. Only Molly remained, watching intently as The Board was updated. Carol was now shown in the number one slot, followed two slots down by Josh, four down by John, seven down by Thomas, and Nolan in dead last.

"Looks like you got the worst on your team." Molly smirked as she bumped passed Carol.

"You haven't even tried the test yet." Carol quipped as Molly walked through the crowds. Carol looked up to The Board, smiling at her name in the slot it was currently held in. "Number one."

"You have to be the best dear." A voice rang through Carol's mind.

"You only truly succeed when you're the best."

Carol sighed. She moved a strand of hair away from her face. Carol looked back up to The Board, back to where her name was. Her eyes shot wide open. She was no longer number one on the board, but number two. Rachel had just surpassed her.

"Way to go lass!" Fanny exclaimed as she and the rest of her team exited the room.

"Five seconds. Five seconds! That was amazing!" Patton jumped into the air.

"Girl, that was amazing." Abby smiled as she began to applaud Rachel.

"Thanks guys." Rachel smiled.

"Hey, Rachel." Molly smirked as she pointed to the board. "Looks like you're number one on T Board now."

"Cool." Rachel's smile grew wider. "I honestly wasn't even trying."

Carol's hands clenched into fists, she gritted her teeth as she glared at the ice floor. "You alright, Carol?" Carol turned to see Nolan standing beside her with a concerned look on his face.

"If you aren't the best, you're the worst." A voice echoed within Carol's head.

"Yes. Yes everything is alright Locksmith." Carol muttered before walking off.

Nolan frowned as he watched Carol walk off back to the crowd of cadets. "…I hope that name doesn't stick…" he sighed.