5/6/18

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Cursed

Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Assignment

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October 25, 2012

"Attack Pattern Gamma, go!"

"Stop! Switch to the Delta Formation!"

"Now, Attack Pattern Omega!"

Maybe I'm being too paranoid. Maybe I'm being obsessive. Maybe I'm taking this too far. But everything has to be perfect. Four years ago, I graduated from the Junior HIVE Academy with Mammoth and Gizmo by my side. In two months we will once again walk across the stage, leaving the HIVE Academy behind forever. But only if we pass our final exams.

Mammoth wipes the sweat from his brow, leaning against the wall of the HIVE Academy's personal training center. We're all exhausted- after all, we've been training for the past five hours- but we have to keep going. Graduates aren't allowed to talk about their final exams, but from the snippets of conversation I've heard I can tell they're nearly impossible to pass. Each graduate, or group of graduates, is given their own unique task to complete. And for those who don't pass? Well, I'd rather not think about it…

"Can't we take a break?" Mammoth groans.

I'm about to protest, to argue that we'll never pass our exams unless we keep training, but one look at the clock changes my mind. It's been three hours since our last water break. It can't be good for us to overexert ourselves like that.

Gizmo looks up at me pleadingly, and I nod my head in agreement.

"Oh, okay then. Just make sure to meet me back here by five! I don't want anyone to take our spot."

The boys nod, Mammoth uttering a thanks as he passes me by. I walk to a nearby water fountain and take a drink, then leaning against the wall to watch the other students train. I can't help but feel like I'm being paranoid, but I can't help but feel worried about what will happen if we fail to show our Headmistress what a great team we are. If she doesn't decide to keep us together once we're officially on the field, there's a good chance I'll never see them again. And after what happened to Jade and Roy…

I shake my head, forcing myself to think in the present rather than the past. Of course she'll keep us together. She'd have to be an idiot to split up a team as great as ours, and she's anything but unintelligent. I'm sure she'll see things my way. In the meantime, I should get in a bit of solo training before Gizmo and Mammoth come back.

I begin to make my way to my favorite treadmill, only for an unwelcome presence to beat me to it.

"Jinx," she says, lips curling into an unnattractive smirk.

"Angel," I sneer.

Angel feigns innocence, as par usual. "Oh dear, isn't this your treadmill? What a shame. You know, I'd ask you to join me, but unfortunately the weight limit is 2,000 pounds."

Our eyes lock, her souless yellow irises daring me to fight back.

"Well seeing as your already 30 pounds over, I don't see how it would make much of a difference," I say smugly.

Angel is absolutely enraged. "See-More! Tell her to buzz off!"

"Well, I-"

"Look," I interrupt. "There's really no point in arguing today. You have my treadmill, and I have a codename that isn't one letter off from my real name, but I don't have time for this today."

The intercom buzzes to life, cutting me off before I can say anything I regret.

"Attention students! I need Mammoth, Jinx, and Gizmo to report to my office immediately. Tardiness will result in punishment. Thank you."

Angela fake-pouts. "Oh dear. I guess this means you won't get to have your treadmill back."

"Shut up," I snap, leaving the room.

Random summonings to the Headmistress's office have become more common since graduating from the Junior HIVE. While being sent to the office was usually punishment back then, the prognosis for being summoned is much brighter these days. The reasons are often for simple things, such as to critique our fighting styles or to rearrange schedules, but if you're lucky she'll call you in because she has a mission for you. While helpful, these visits to the office usually come at inopportune times, such as now.

I find that I don't mind as much, however, when I walk into the office and see the thick manila folder sitting on the desk- a sure sign of a mission.

"Have a seat," the Headmistress says.

I take the chair between Gizmo and Mammoth, who must've gotten here before I did. Sparing a quick glance at the folder, I focus my attention on the Headmistress.

"I have decided, after much consideration, to send the three of you on one final mission before your graduation. As the three of you are among our school's top graduates, I have decided that this mission will double as your final."

I look at Mammoth, silently asking him if I heard her correctly. The traditional final exam, albeit a mystery to us, is supposed to be a comprehensive way to test everything we've learned thus far. While I feel immensely relieved that we won't have to go through all of that, I'm not sure how a simple mission can test all of that.

"Do not be mistaken," The Headmistress warns. "This will be no ordinary mission. In fact, it was originally assigned to a group of Level 7 agents who graduated several years ago. The only reason a group of students as young and inexperienced as yourselves was even considered is because we're running out of available agents. I'm anxious to send you out onto the field, especially since you operate so well as a team. The HIVE needs less solo agents these days."

On one hand, I feel relieved that Headmistress plans to keep our team together. I would feel so lost without Mammoth and Gizmo by my side. Yet at the same time, I feel sick to my stomach at the thought of taking on such a daunting task. Who knows what the consequences will be if we fail?

"So who's the snot-train that hired us?" Gizmo asks, crossing his arms impatiently.

The Headmistress smiles. "A very old friend of mine. These days, he goes by the name Slade."

…..

Hi again! Sorry it took me so long to post this. I've had it written for a while, but I wanted to update alongside my other TT fanfic, for which I promptly received writers block. An incredible feat really, considering that I have a very detailed outline to follow for when I get stuck. As always, thank you everyone who has followed, favorited, or reviewed! Next chapter starts Season 1!

Quote of the day!

"The plot may be a circle, but it's Zendaya's circle." -a friend, about The Greatest Showman

May the odds be ever in your favor,

Spectrobes Princess