S119

Lev, Obel, and Drake drive my team to a giant hangar near our campus. It’s a facility guarded by every security layer you can imagine. I drive by it every day to work. Never thought I’d go inside.

The team is equally awed as they walk down the security tunnel. Pavov has hold of Mary Beth’s hand as they whisper to each other. Cord and his fellows have taken up a wedge formation at the front, as if they were advancing into battle. Ezebel pretends disinterest as Genni and Billie gawk and gasp. In the back, Mikhail and Mose walk along silently. Mose’s smirk is stretched farther than usual.

We enter into a dimly-lit staging area with the tallest ceiling I’ve ever seen. The far wall has the largest door ever.

Mission Coordinator Obel turns back to us. “Are you ready for the next phase of Dropkick?”

My athletes are excited but nervous. They feel like I do, that something is... unusual.

In front of us, the mega-door begins grinding opening...

Congratulations, you didn’t get fired! You have succeeded at guiding Dropkick through the first phase of training.