Adriana

Return

We changed out of our black pajamas and into our black jeans and leather jackets. We were standing around a table with a holographic, 3D type, map. Strapping my fanny pack around the waistline of my red tee-shirt, I looked up to see Drew on a laptop, researching and memorizing the map. Max was practicing his work on the Bo Staff, his weapon of choice during training. He was practicing striking techniques on heavy bag and worked as hard as he could trying to perfect his striking.

I tried using my mind reading powers on them, but their thoughts were so clouded yet focused on one thing. The mission. This wasn't something we were looking forward to. Missions were dangerous, especially this one. I don't know why they're trusting us - We're 15 year old Jr. Agents who don't know how to fight properly. But at the same time, the more people who know the secrets, the more the whole agency might be in danger. Not us, not Andre, not even Master - the whole agency. And if the 5 of us die, but the agency lives - I'm pretty sure we'll take the risk.

"Adri?" I heard behind me. "Huh? Oh - Hi Andre!" I said happily, "I'm sorry, you looked like you were mind reading?" He said questioningly "Uh- ya. I was just seeing what they were thinking but I think their thoughts are too clouded..." I said pointing back and forth between Drew and Max. "Well - Adriana, let me explain something to you. I think you're thoughts are just as clouded as theirs. If you're going to read their minds, empty your own. Watch the psychology as well, examine their body language and see what happens next," Andre explained. It made a lot more sense. "Now look at Max - see what he's doing. Read more than the thoughts. The every move and how he's feeling as well." He said.

I stared at Max deeper than I ever had. I cleared my mind - almost forgetting the past hour or so - and suddenly everything made sense. I knew his every move that happened at least a second before he made them. I have to admit I was quite impressed. I noticed something else, his thoughts were all based on protecting us as a team. He was thinking things like "If there's multiple people here, than I'll have to strike here to make sure that they wont strike the people over there from our side." Typical mindful Max.

After getting "out of his head" I looked at Andre and gave him a smile. He nodded once slowly raising his eyebrows as if he was praising me without saying anything - of course with a casual smirk. Andre looked over at the stressed-out-looking Max. "What was he thinking about?" Andre turned and looked back at me. Glancing over at Max, I said "He was wanting to defend all of us, not just himself. Every move he thought of was defensive." I looked at Andre and gave a brief smile.

To be honest, I'm not sure if the three of us are ready for this mission. I knew why Drew was memorizing the map, I knew why Max was thinking in a defensive type mode, and I knew why Andre cleared his schedule to help us and train us. We were only juniors, we have never gone on a mission before and this is a borderline agency-threatening case. But if we wont do it, no one will.

"Adri, you should practice your Sai." He said, handing me the pronged dagger. "But- Instead of kata, I'm going to strike with a Bo, and you'll have to mind read what I'll do next and you'll have to defend." Andre added. Suddenly my heart started beating fast. I'm guessing I started to look concerned too, because Andre gave me an empathetic look and said "It'll be fine - I'll start off easy" He sarcastically said while smirking.

I held my Sai in a starting position, standing up straight with my feet planted firmly on the ground. I took deep breaths and thought of all the moves I learned and all the stances I knew. Anything I knew that could help defend me. I gave Andre a quick-yet-small nod to let him know I was ready. The Bo was striking towards me. Using my mind reading abilities, everything felt slower. I used one prong on the Sai to lock the Bo using my left hand. Sliding into a lower stance with my right foot I locked the right Sai on the Bo too. I moved even more to the right which gave me enough time to snap the Bo in half.