6

As the two walked through the arena door a masculine voice came over an intercom. "Recruits, Taylor Nelson and Cobie Fells, My name is Professor Kern and I will be your proctor." The two reached the center of the arena. The ground was cement with dirt scattered around on it. The area was dark, but Cobie could make out a window opposite of the entrance. It was on the second story, it was something you would see in a football stadium. "You will be tested on your combative capability. This test will determine which stage of training is required for both you and your partner. Are you ready?"

The question hit Cobie as he was looking around at his surroundings. He looked over at Taylor and nudged her with his elbow. She looked back at him with a serious face that could kill. The look shook Cobie. How was he going to be able to give the same kind of seriousness in this kind of situation he wasn't prepared for? It kind of felt like a final he never studied for.

She nodded and Cobie watched as a small shimmer went over the both of them except his right arm, just as he planned. "Yes, we're ready," Cobie replied looking up to the window.

"Very well, good luck recruits," lights from the ceiling illuminated the rest of the arena. People sat in the arena ready to watch the entertainment, probably to evaluate the newcomers, or maybe just to have a little entertainment for their work day. On ground level, Cobie saw three large doors with gates over them. He readied himself when the entrance closed and they opened.

Taylor pulled out her spear and took what looked like a trained pose. She put her leg back and with two hands on her spear, ready to strike, she bent her knees. Her serious face never left her face as she gave a small frown and furrowed her brow. Cobie tried to copy her stance slightly. He bent his knees and prepared to start running.

The first bot came out of the open gate, it was sporting a shield and sword. It looked like a human but had a crude smiley face drawn on it. Cobie waited a little bit before he charged, "only one?" He asked.

"It starts off easy and will get harder. This will not be our only opponent," Taylor said with an exhale.

"Well, let's get started," Cobie said with newfound confidence. He ran forward to meet the bot head on. It raised its sword to strike and Cobie held up his left arm. The sword came down and hit the shield. "It worked!" Cobie spun around to the right to get on the outside of the bot. He put his hand on the bot's shoulder. He felt a release like a static shock and the bot twitched.

With his left hand, Cobie pushed it away, but it came right back at him. Instead of using the sword, the bot smashed into him with its shield knocking him to the ground. Taylor's shield absorbed the impact and Cobie rolled to a stop. When he looked back he saw the bot dropping to its knees twitching. After a couple of seconds it fell on its face, dead.

There was a confused sound from the crowd as they saw this, they didn't know Cobie's ability. They didn't know how much it reminded him of his mom. He stood up and saw two more coming from the gates. He clenched his fist as the thought of his mom dying in his arms. The two bots wielded maces. Cobie hated his ability, it killed his friends and his mom. Why was he forced to use it to save others, when it was made to kill? The two bots closed in on him. He closed his eyes and pictured his mother, smiling giving him his car keys for his birthday. How happy he felt. A tear fell from his eye and he smiled. That changed when the image turned to her in him arms, twitching in pain until she died.

Anger filled him and tears streamed down his face. "Cobie!" He opened his eyes to see the two maces bounce off of Taylor's shield. He ripped Pravus from his side and pushed it into the throat of one of the bots. It dropped instantly and Cobie smiled. He pulled the sword from the bot and its face turned into the face of Darren. He dropped the sword just in time for the other bot to swing at his legs. The mace hit the shield, but it still took him to the ground.

"This can't be happening," Cobie whispered to himself. He couldn't use the power without seeing their faces. How could he fight? He saw the bot raising its mace to smash him in the face but a spear tip went through its face. Cobie looked up to see Taylor holding her hand out for him. He took it and stood up.

"Are you okay?" She asked him.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Cobie lied to her.

"Don't lie. Not here," Taylor said as she looked to see three more bots coming out.

"I can't do this. I can't fight. I see them when I do."

"Cobie, you have to or else all this was for nothing." She turned to look at him. She smiled and he felt the tug on his bond. He nodded just as an arrow bounced off Taylor's shield. The arrow was aimed at her head. She flinched and her hand went to her head, "ow, dammit!" She pulled her hand away and it had blood on it. The serpent in Cobie sprang. "It penetrated my shield somehow. Cobie, you have to be careful now."

Cobie barely heard her, he was angry. The sight of his partner's blood threw the serpent in him into a rage. He will not see he partner hurt. He felt lightheaded as he looked at the three bots, the two on the outside had broadswords and the one in the middle had a bow. He thought he counted a fourth but stopped when he saw who it was. He saw his mother standing behind the archer. Even though she was far away, he could still hear her three words clearly.

"Kill them, Honey," Cobie lost it. He ran forward like an arrow. He thought he could hear Taylor's voice, but the words were muffled. When he reached the swordsman on the right, he slapped the sword with his left hand and knocked it out of the way and punched it in the chest. Cobie felt a huge release through his fist and saw a green flash. The bot was pushed away from him. It stumbled over itself and fell on the floor dead.

Cobie instantly turned and ran at the second swordsman. When he reached the bot it swung at him. Cobie caught it with his left hand and pulled the sword from the bot's grip. He flipped it around and with both hands he ran the bot through its chest. The bot shuddered and simulated a human dying. He saw an arrow fly by his head. He turned to see the bot drawing back another arrow.

"Yes, that's the one that hurt your partner," He heard his mom say to him. "Kill it for me, Cobie."

"Anything for you," Cobie said, clenching his fist. He ran forward at the bot. An arrow bounced off his chest and he laughed as he reached the archer. He punched it in the face and the same light appeared and the bot fell to the ground shaking.

Cobie jumped onto it and punched it in the face again. His mother was standing by him. "Kill him, Honey," She said. Cobie punched it again and felt his knuckles open. "Kill!" He punched it again, blood showed up on the bots hard face. "Kill!" He punched again. "KILL!" This time it wasn't his mom's voice. This one was deeper, darker. A snake was on his arm that struck at the bot when his fist came into contact with the dead bot. The deep voice laughed, "KILL THEM ALL!"

Cobie screamed as he kept punching the dead bot, tears streaming down his face. He sharp pull in his chest stopped him. It was almost painful, but he knew that feeling. It was fear. He looked over at Taylor who was watching him. Her serious face was replaced by wide eyed fear. The snake and voice disappeared and Cobie looked at his busted and bleeding hand.

"Taylor, what . . ." Was all he was able to say before he passed out.

Cobie opened his eyes to see a dull light. When he looked around he saw that he was in a hospital room. A TV showed a muted football game. On the left of his bed was an open window letting in a nice breeze. He could see the city during night. Lights from buildings, cars, and traffic lights lit up the outside world. He put his head back and sighed. His head was pounding and he was having trouble remembering what had happened. Something moved by his right arm and he finally noticed Taylor's head on his bed. He looked at his hand and saw that it was wrapped and bandaged. It hurt to move it making him wonder what happened during the test. He put his head back and tried to go back to sleep.

The more he tried the more it became obvious that he wasn't going to be able to fall asleep, Cobie opened his eyes and watched the muted game. The cool breeze helped with his dull headache. The more he tried to remember what happened to put him in the hospital the more his head hurt, so he gave up. He probably just got hit in the head or something.

The door opened and Cobie jumped waking Taylor up. Price walked in with a cool smile. "Cobie, you're awake! Good, it's time you told me the rest of your story." He said as he pulled up a chair next to the bed.

"Now?" Cobie asked sitting up. He hated this man.

"Yes, no negotiation," he said with a smug smile as the door behind him disappeared. Taylor looked at him with hatred too, which surprised Cobie. "So where did we leave off?"