"Oren, I`m glad you`re here early." Iva pushes off the wall as I approach, to fall in step beside me.

　　We round the corner, and he pulls open the door to the mission room stairwell.

　　"I have to run a scan on the equipment used during your test."

　　My steps falter, and he takes the lead up the stairs. I check the cargo pocket of my pants and relax, feeling the outline of the extra set of regulation goggles.

　　"We need to determine if the malfunction was in your gear or if the atmosphere caused the disruption."

　　"Okay."

　　How many more malfunctions will I get away with? Kane is already in his seat when we enter. Iva points to an electronic wand and a digital tablet connected to the holographic display. I pull out my comm link and the regulation goggles.

　　"Set them down here. I`ll pull up the log from when you first entered the arena and check the equipment."

　　Servers clad in pristine white aprons file into the room with trays of assorted meats, vegetables, fruits, and breads.

　　"Dig in squad. We have a lot to cover and little time to do it." The captain takes her seat.

　　The servers lay out place settings and water goblets for our meal. I push my powers deeper inside, so they don`t lock onto her. She leans into the closest server and gives quiet instructions.

　　"I`d clear that scowl off your face before she finishes up if I were you." Kane`s gruff command is low enough for only me to hear and I take my seat.

　　He turns his attention back to the filled plate in front of him. I`m being careless. I can`t go on like this. I kept stuffing the crazy effect she has on my power to the back of my mind, ignoring it to make it through each day. Because none of it would matter once I was gone. I kept skipping sleep because I could rest later. And I kept ignoring the odd attention the demons give me because no one would notice when I was a Guard back home. But I`m not going home. And everything I pushed back is rushing forward.

　　I check out the rest of the squad and wonder how much I`ve let my guard slip around them. After ten years all it took was a few weeks to lower my defenses. A few weeks away from my old choking existence. A few weeks under the Elite`s doomed shroud of normalcy. And now I`m a damn spinning compass. I can`t exist here and I can`t leave. Warriors serve the wall to protect the nation. Only death or time served gets me out. If I run I`d be hunted. I`d have to live in the remote wilderness. It`s the last resort plan. The one I made if my powers were discovered. The captain gives me a slow study. Her face as blank as I hope mine is.

　　"Ready to start E?" Kane`s soft question and familiar address cause her to look away.

　　"Squad, you`ve got five minutes for chow. Fuel up. We`re in for a long afternoon." Kane barks his order and the chatter turns to clinking utensils.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

　　The captain begins her debrief of my test as the servers clear out. She gives her account up to the point she left the arena. Then I recount using the trees to scan the area for signs of the captain while I moved to her last position.

　　"We monitored when the Flicks blinked on the map from their trackers." Kane gestures to the replay of the test on the table top screen.

　　"From the map, you were here." He points to my position. "Then, the Flick trackers popped up here." His long thick finger slides across the monitor to where they appeared before me. "It looked like they stood still, together, side by side." His eyes bore into mine.

　　"What were they doing?" He`s asking, but thinking out loud too. What can I say? They were studying me and it`s not the first time that`s happened.

　　"It was hard to make out much through the fog."

　　"And you ran towards them." It`s a statement but sounds questioning.

　　Because what sane warrior would rush two Flicks who can teleport and deliver a death bite? The room is still, all attention on me, and mine`s on the map.

　　"He didn`t rush toward them. Why would he?" Iva taps on his wrist device and zooms to my location.

　　"Plus, he reappeared behind the Flicks. He`d have to teleport to pop up behind them that fast." Fletcher adds with a laugh.

　　"Right. His tracker malfunctioned well before he came upon the Flicks." Iva`s brows furrow. "But, it`s in perfect condition."

　　"Iva, be sure you give Dr. Quinn the results of your equipment test. We can`t afford to have any errors out in the field,"

　　"Yes, captain."

　　I`m fixed on the loop playing on the monitor. It shows me in front of the Flicks, and in the next second, I`m on the other side of them. I can`t think about how I was able to move so fast, not now, not here. I jam the question into the overstuffed space in my mind threatening to spill over.

　　"Let`s move on." The captain stands up. "Warrior Rain Oren is officially inducted to the Elite Squad."

　　Everyone stands and I`m slow to my feet. She walks over to my side and Luce follows holding a small golden box. I turn to face them.

　　"Warrior Oren, you are now part of the most successful class of warriors in our nation." Her thin fingers make quick work of removing the name plate on my uniform. "You join our ranks not in pomp and ceremony but in sacred kinship."

　　Luce slides the metallic lid on the box and holds it out for the captain. She reaches in and pulls out my new Elite badge, attaches it to my uniform, and steps back.

　　"Welcome our new brother in arms!" The room erupts with applause and a couple of whoops from the twins.

　　My throat is tight, and there`s thunder in my chest that has nothing to do with my abilities.

　　"Now for your specialty assignment. Each member of the team has given their final review of your training and performance."

　　I sabotaged all my skills and held back as much as I could to be sent home. So I have no idea where they decided I`d be useful.

　　"It`s clear that while you lack proficiency in technologies, you have a gift for adapting to every specialty. It is with this in mind that we designate you as Infiltration Specialist."

　　Infiltration? I`ll be expected to maneuver on my own, to learn the enemy, move among them, to sabotage, and gather intelligence. With my powers it`s a perfect specialty for me if it wasn`t for the fact it`s too dangerous. Every time I`m close to the demons their behavior is unusual and my powers strengthen, take over. It`s a dangerous combination for my secret and the safety of the squad. But it`s the perfect cover to escape.

　　My powers flare up in reaction to my rising pulse. I take a deep slow inhale and plaster my calm mask into place to gain control when the mission room door flies open. I choke on my breath when General Targe`s imposing frame fills the entryway.