Lesson One

2: The Basics

Staring at the screen, she tried not to let her attention falter. In the back of the class Birkhoff sat, a twizzler hanging from his mouth. He chewed on it absentmindedly, focused on whatever was on his screen. “Come on, I can do this in my sleep,” he called out, not even bothering a look to the class. “Five more minutes before your entire team is dead.”

“This is so stupid,” Samson muttered under his breath, scooting his seat closer to Alicia’s to effectively gain her attention. His hazel eyes glowed into hers, obviously displeased.

Her brows drew together as she gave him a pointed look, raising a finger to her lips. “Shhh,” she managed to get out in a light breath. If there was one thing Birkhoff hated it was people who didn’t pay attention during class. Especially when he was giving a timed assignment.

Samson didn’t seem to feel the same level of worry, for he only scooted closer. Peering up at her with hooded eyes he gave her a sour look. “Why do we need to do this?” he asked, his voice a light whisper.

“Just do it,” she snipped at him, wishing he’d just shut up.

That wasn’t the answer he was looking for, but he took the hint, reaching over and pressing a random key on her keyboard before scooting away. “It’s not like I’ll be stuck behind a computer,” he hissed.

Fingers dancing over the keys she squinted at the screen, trying to make sense of the windows that were popping up. Whatever Samson had hit had started a chain reaction and she had no idea how to contain it. “Well the person who is,” she huffed out, blowing a strand of hair from her eyes as she did so, “could very well save your life.”

“Let’s hope that’s not you then,” he grinned wryly, eyes flickering over her screen.

She opened her mouth to say that it was all his fault, but Birkhoff dashed those plans. “Less talking more typing,” he called out, eyes locking onto Alicia’s in a heartbeat. She stared back at him like a deer caught in the headlights, well aware of her screen flashing behind her.

It didn’t take a genius to see that she was failing at the assignment, and he couldn’t stop the disappointed look from crossing over his face. There was no doubt in his mind that the reason behind it had to do with her seating choice. Of all people she’d just had to be share a work station with Samson. If he didn’t know better, and he hoped he was wrong, then he might think there was something going on there. The two recruits seemed to be paired together by almost every member of the staff. Even Michael was on board with the pairing, which rubbed Seymour the wrong way. The young man was clearly a distraction for her.

The look alone made Alicia sink into her seat, snapping her eyes back to her screen. With an air of determination she set about rectifying the problem Samson had caused. It wasn’t easy, but just as the timer on her screen warned her she only had a minute left, she got the dialogue box she’d been waiting for. Not my fastest time, she brooded, relaxing back into her seat, but it’s better than a fail.

“Congratulations, we now have five teams dead,” Birkhoff groaned, lifting himself from his comfortable computer chair. He strode forward, towards the front of the class, eyes dancing over the screens of his students. “How many Agents is that?” he asked, stopping before one of the girls.