Ah, the reedited Chapters 3 and 4. Four Chapters in one day. I think I'll hold off going through the rest of them, just for now. Big test which I need to study for. Chapters 5 &6 will be up tomorrow.

If you couldn't tell, italics show inner thoughts, and solid lines show a change in character perspective, or a flashback. Enjoy.

Chapter Three

Alex's head spun as the entire temporary population of Athena Pierce's lawn was transported into a spacious, empty room. Not, completely empty, considering there was an indigant man scowling at everyone.

That a person could scowl at ten thousand strangers at the same time is an accomplishment in itself.

"Find a seat. Quickly."

His gruff voiced matched his body language and facial expressions.

"He's cute,"

A blonde girl standing next to Alex giggled to her friend. Alex shook her head at the nonsense. The turbulent man had dark brown hair, light brown piercing eyes, and a scar on the right side his face. The old battle wound, which nearly blended in with his slightly tanned skin, ran from his jaw line to his chin, and then bent up towards his mouth at a 135 degree angle, centimeters before his chin. He appeared to be in his mid-twenties. He had the rugged, disgruntled look that some ditzy girls fell for instantly.

See exhibit one, to my left.

Positioned at an orbicular table in the center, the examiner motioned to the tables. These particular desks were constructed in a circular manner as well as their axis table. Each row formed a halo, growing in size correlating to the distance from the center table. The first held one thousand, and each ring after held one thousand more then the previous, until the fourth. The fourth held fifty extra chairs. Alex and her new acquaintances took adjacent seats and looked at the papers in from of them.

The cover sheet of the first packet of papers read: National System Assessment Standard (NSAS). The second group's title was: World Placement and Job Assessment Standardized Test (WPJAST). The NSAS and WPJAST are the two required exams for any trainee trying to graduate. The NSAS test is very similar to what those on other planets called an "IQ" test. It is also very commonly used in the workplace and for interviews and promotions. The exam is modeled on questions testing general knowledge. The remainder of the test depends on which occupation it is being administered for. For the trainees, this portion contains basic survival knowledge, and an accumulation of information based on the previous seven years of school they have already attended.

On the other hand, the WPJAST is a test solely created for trainees looking to advance. No other job in the galaxy is known to use it. It starts off similar to the NSAS, but has drastically different types of questions. It challenges trainee's common sense, intelligence, knowledge of all jobs, government and political standings, and physical strength in a non-written installment judged by the Four Great Job Instructors.

"Put your World Placement and Job Assessment Standardized Test into your section of desk."

A small slit opened and all of the students silently dropped the thick packet inside. Brad tried to open it and take a small peak. Alex let out a noise of disapproval, as she looked to the examiner for further instructor. He was scowling in her direction; then he was gone.

"What!? Where'd he go-" Alex held a look of amazement on her face.

Suddenly, he appeared at Brad's side, grabbing his wrist until the shocked boy let the paper go. It disappeared into the slot. The malice in the instructor's eyes kept Brad silent as he growled

"Listen here, punk. When I tell you something, you do it, unless you want to start your Basic school all over again."

Alex smirked. She liked this unorthodox teacher already. No one wanted to go back to school with the eight year olds.

"O-Of course, sir. Anything you say, s-sir."

"Shut up."

Faster then the normal eye could see, the man returned to his center table as if nothing had happened.

"You have one hour to finish your Nation System Assessment Standard. This exam is sixty questions long. Begin now. Bring it up front when you finish. No music players, communication, gaming devices or books are permitted, magical or electronic." With half of the test time left, Alex brought her test to the front. It had consisted of a variety of questions, ranging from easy to mid level in difficulty. She returned to her chair to sleep for the remaining half hour.

"Testing is complete. Put your pencils down."

The additional test papers flew to his outstretched hand. That set Alex's critical mind to analyzing.

He has the speed of a Master Thief, yet he can use a mage summon. I've heard of some who can use two skills, but that in itself is range. So either he is one of these rare folk, or he is a lot more powerful and important then he leads on to be.

"Alright, punks, now it's time for your WPJAST. Move your arms and hands off your desk, unless of course, you don't want to keep them."

He laughed at his own joke as the slit in everyone's desk shot the unwieldy package of papers up and onto the desks. The written portion of this test will take approximately two hours. You will only move on when all four members of your new teams complete the test. Just because you're in groups of four, does not mean all of you have passed. As you step into that room your tests will be graded. You're only permitted to enter that room from when there is twenty minutes left to when there is zero minutes left. I will tell you when the twenty minute left mark comes. Also, remember, just because your in teams does NOT mean you can share answers or talk. Same rules as last test. Begin."

All through the evil man's lair were computers, magically hooked up. Considering it was hidden in a cave, in the chamber of one of the deepest and darkest caves to be exact, could they work any other way? Twenty spies sat in front of twenty computers, working away furiously.

"This is stupid and easy. Why do we have to-?"

A malicious backhand cut David off mid-sentence, throwing him clean of off his chair and onto the damp cave floor.

"Stupid insubordinate child. I do not need to explain myself to you. Get back to work without a sound whilst I'm still in a good mood, or I'll slit your throat and watch your blood slowly spill out."

The wicked man spat at David. David jumped to his feet and scrambled into his chair to complete his work. He mentally shouted at himself for letting his feelings fall out of his mouth. Doing something like that here could get you killed. He had seen people die for less.

Chapter Four

Alex nearly fell back asleep waiting for her colleagues. She had finished her test with a half an hour to spare, and waited for the examiner to give the twenty minute warning. Now she lay sitting in a ten by ten room, furnished with two durable, stationary benches, waiting to meet her new teammates. The cubicle had four distinct emblems painted on the wall, but was otherwise void of colors, designs or any other forms of decorations.

On the wall opposite of Alex, the crests of the Warrior and Thief classes were displayed. On the opposite wall, where Alex's head was currently residing, were the Magician and Archer crests. Each one was hand painted in their traditional designs. The Warrior device held a rich red shaded "W" in an ancient block font. Spears, pole arms, swords, maces and axes interlocked to create an astonishing background.

Next to the magnificent banner was an equally breathtaking one. Right next to the breathtaking image lay the Thief "T" in its deep blues, and gold pattern, accented by throwing stars and pricy daggers. As in all the other emblems, an undecipherable phrase in an unknown language hung above the beautifully drawn character.

She knew that behind her, the blue and white Magician "M" was framed by bolts of magic and a crossed staff and wand. And right outside her peripheral vision an elegant Archer "A" was colored in gold outlined in black, surrounded by a forest green square. This one held the pictures of two bows, one a normal bow, the other a crossbow. Alex's eyes were fixed on the blood red warrior "W". She sat unmoving, remembering the last time her eyes had scoured it.

Just like when…….

when…..

when…………………

ten years ago

"Promise me honey, promise me you'll stay here Alex."

"I promise, mommy"

"I promise you I'll come back. Do not follow me."

The young girl rushed at her window to watch her mother run out of the house, out of the lawn, out of her sight, and out of her life. She sat down on her family's couch, staring at the wall. A large crest was painted there, Daddy's deep red Warrior banner.

He used to always tell me stories of how the legendary crested were forged, by the Four, the most powerful beings in the world. And in other worlds, too. The red in the "W" inspired many youths, giving them a cause to fight for, a burning desire to live and serve. Little Alex looked hard at that red, and what it meant to her father. "It's not just a pretty letter, honey. That red represents the true freedom our ancestors have earned. It is the blood spent in fierce war. It is our youth, our strong, our elders, and our future. It is life."

Her upper lip trembled as she remembered that speech. She stared hard at the W, the red her father was willing to give his life for. She blinked back tears, water clouding her vision. When it finally cleared, she gasped in horror. The blood red was streaking slowly down the wall, through the black outline to land on the giant pole arm. It was similar to Daddy's pole arm. The red seeped onto the tip and spread down, like its name entailed, like blood.

Suddenly, the phone rang. The connection was poor and full of static.

"Hello?"

"Alex! Tell --- mother not ---- come! Its ---- dangerous"

"Daddy? Daddy! I can't hear you well!"

"Alex, listen. Go find you mo----. Bring --- back. Don't l--- her come! He --- strong---- gahhh!"

"Daddy!"

Alex screamed, tears running down her face. The phone line went dead. Taking deep, slow breaths, the younger Alex ran to the door and down the path her mother took. The normally peaceful streets held malignity, malice seeping from buildings, walkways, and even the air she tasted. She coughed on invisible bile, choked on an intangible thickness coating her throat. Even with these hindrances, she pushed pass her fear, and continued to hunt down her mother and eventually her father.

"We meet again!"

The cheerful voiced belonged to Jackie. Alex smiled warmly at her. Taking a seat next to her, Jackie stared up at the emblems.

"They're so intimidating."

"That's funny, some find them influential, awe inspiring and a national symbol,"

Alex replied bitterly. Jackie raised her eyebrows questioningly, but then continued as if nothing had happened.

"Intimidating. They show what your supposed to be, what's demanded of you. What you need to be, what you can be and what you must be. Intimidating"

"That's…. a different look at things."

"Different bad or different good?"

"I haven't decided yet."

Jackie giggled and pushed her lightly. Alex rubbed her arm inconspicuously where Jackie's touch had landed, it felt unusually warm. She then coughed. Rick walked through the door next, and a knot in Alex's chest unraveled. She had been worrying about the quite Rick, hoping he was placed on a good team.

"Hey,"

He smiled shyly. Rick was a good guy. They sat and once again chatted, this time about the tests they had just taken.

" Well, I just hope all of us pass."

"I wonder who our fourth will be…" Jackie thought out loud.

"Well, I'm sure it will be someone-"

The fourth team member strolled through the doors.

"Never mind," Alex muttered under her breathe. Jackie elbowed her in the side.

Jackie had walked through the door to see Alex sitting there. She smiled with pure happiness. She had prepared herself for the worst possible partners, and Alex was a pleasant surprise. She was intelligent, quick-witted, strong, fast, stable, but reserved. She could handle Alex's complex emotional state, and maybe try to open her new teammate up. Something horrible lay in her past, sealing her off, for that Jackie was sure, but for now, she would remain friends with Alex. Jackie was confident with Alex's ability and skill level, and was sure her new friend was an ideal trainee to be paired with.

She engaged with Alex in small talk, evoking a small, but real, smile. She also received small details of Alex's life and past. And, finally, she found her new friends sense of humor, playfully pushing her. A small shiver crawled up her spine and warmth spread through her body which she took as a reaction to the bonds of friendship.

Rick finished his test with ten minutes to spare. He held his breathe as he walked into his new future. He looked in to see his rescuers. He felt a small smile on his lips as his cheeks flushed red. Rick's eyes dropped to the floor. He looked up to see the dark haired girl,

Jackie was it? I think that was her name.

smiling sunnily. His eyes finally met the blonde haired girl's, Alex's, eyes. He remembered her name with certainty; sure her face would never leave his mind. She smiled encouragingly.

With newfound boldness Rick sat opposite to her and entered the conversation. He let his guard down, inch by inch, until he finally let go completely. It felt nice to just talk, not worrying about how people will judge you. These people already accepted him as he was. And then, He walked through the door, like he owned the place.

I bet you could guess who Rick was talking about. I'm not very good with surprising, but I try. Once again, Chapters 5 and 6 will be out by tomorrow afternoon. I hope this has kept your interest long enough, cause we are just getting started.