The S-Force

38: Kylie

We all watched in shock as the android stood up and retracted its sword hands back to normal human hands. The android started to retract the rest of its body, going from a giant metallic machine to an unusually tall human.

"Catherine?" Jacqueline gasped.

Catherine extended an arm to the other corner of the room and picked up a thick robe from behind a weapons' display. She retracted her hand back to its initial length and human form and draped the robe around herself at the same time.

"You've always been a slippery one Candidate 19X." Catherine said as she fastened up the robe.

"Are we in trouble?" I asked, dread taking over me.

"Are you?" She fixed her gaze on me.

"I-"

"You're not necessarily in trouble." She began to walk away.

We followed her without being told to. She walked into her office and closed the door behind us.

"Trainer Catherine if this is about us using the training room after hours. We didn't think we were breaking any rules." Yvonne spoke as Catherine sat behind her desk.

"It's not about that and please stop calling me trainer Catherine. It's real annoying." Catherine said as she reclined in her chair.

"About time someone called you out because of how annoying you are." Jacqueline snorted and slightly elbowed me on the side.

"Well I've been observing all four of you for a long time." Catherine said, ignoring Jacqueline's remark.

"You have?" Yvonne asked, clearly surprised.

"That shouldn't surprise you." Catherine furrowed her brows.

"You just had to say something." Jacqueline sighed.

Yvonne elbowed her on the side in response.

"As I was saying." Catherine sat up and placed her elbows on her desk. "I have been observing you four for a very long time."

"So we're not-"

"Yvonne!" Toni bumped her hip against Yvonne to shut her up.

"You are not in trouble." Catherine sighed. "People secretly train in here all the time."

We all sighed in relief.

"I know you all have questions. Some of you are going to ask them anyway." Catherine fixed Yvonne with a pointed look.

"Don't!" Toni warned.

Yvonne pressed her lips together and averted her eyes to the floor.

"I would like to preface this by saying, everyone who was selected to join the Super Force was selected for a reason. Some were selected for their leadership skills or potential." She looked from Toni to Yvonne.

Then she looked to Jacqueline. "Some for the exceptional potential of their abilities."

Finally, her eyes turned to me. "Some had both exceptional abilities and could follow orders damn near perfectly."

"There are those who were selected because they were brave and could think of their feet. It's not just about how powerful you are but how you can contribute to the Super Force. How useful you can be."

"Which is why you will only have one final test, as opposed to two, before you will be considered for the Super Force. You have been promoted to senior trainees as from today."

"Oh my gosh!" Toni gasped.

"Don't celebrate too soon." Catherine interrupted the celebration in our heads. "We will not take it easy on you with this last test. You will be tested on all fronts. Your powers, your combat skills and your mastery of weapons will be tested extensively. If you pass, you will officially join the Super Force. If you don't..."

I swallowed, already knowing exactly what she was going to say.

"... it's the end of the road and you can kiss the S-Force goodbye."

This was definitely not going to be easy.