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Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Raina nodded, somewhat confused by the odd kid in front of her. The younger Drake showed a gift for pushing her buttons that seemed to be deliberate. If what he was saying was true, then she would be able to train at a rate that would be nothing short of insanity but... had he been listening to a word she said? "What's the point in me hiding? It's not like you'll be able to tell how it works for your simspace, I thought we would use it for other skills that should work well with Invisibility?”

The boy gave her a level look, “First, there are ways to detect you through invisibility without sensing your psi. Second, I don't know if I can't detect you and figure out the method you use for invisibility until I try. Third, we won't get anywhere with your training if I need to explain everything to you, ask what's the point again, and we're done.”

Raina thought several words that would probably end the younger Drake's cooperation if she said them out loud. He's trying to get to you. Calm down. She took a deep breath, calming herself, if he doesn't train me, Drake will probably call the op off. A kernel of suspicion formed in her, does he want me to lose my temper? It would certainly explain his constant barbs. She filed the thought away for the moment until she could find a way to confirm her suspicions. Giving the younger Drake a nod, she stood up. "So how do you want to do this, Sensei?"

That finally got a wince out of him. So he can be annoyed by something. It was immature of her, but she couldn't resist the temptation to needle him just a bit.

“Go invisible and hide.” Drake-sensei – as he would now be labeled in the privacy of her mind – answered, “ I'll give you thirty seconds to hide, then I'll find you.”

She glared at him, “Good luck with that.” She spat, fading from his vision and moving as silently as she could away from him, heading towards the sitting room.

“Fifteen seconds.”

Raina took a calming breath, keeping as quiet as she could, standing by one of the couches.

“Time.”

Raina froze, not making a sound.

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A man appeared in front of her, his hand flashing towards her throat. Raina jumped back, screaming as her invisibility broke. I'mdeadI'mdead. Panicking, she fell back, tripping over her feet. She barely noticed the hands that caught her, lying her down on the couch. OhGodhe'sgoingtokillmehe'sgoingtokillme. Voices that she couldn't understand said something. Raina curled up into a ball, shivering in terror.

“Raina. Calm Down.” Jim. What was he thinking, telling someone to calm down? Had anyone in the course of human history ever-. Huh. She was calm.

Slowly, Raina uncurled herself, "Sorry," she muttered before she realized that nobody was paying any attention to her. Leila and Jim were glaring at each other from opposite sides of her.

“It wasn't his fault.” Raina surprised herself by defending Jim. “He didn't know that that would happen.”

Leila broke off her glare, turning to Raina, “I guess that whatever trauma that was, is why a weak three was able to create an ability that would make fives die of envy?” She asked, her eyes softening.

"I was a one," Raina replied quietly.

Leila nodded, not pushing the topic. ”The Dawson's should arrive in a couple hours. Let's use that time.” She turned to her brother, obviously telepathing him something.

Jim cleared his throat, “We'll go to the gym, Leila will use the apartment.”

Raina nodded, standing up. “Lead the way, Sensei.”

Jim winced, walking to the door.”Let's go.”

Raina stood awkwardly, trying to think of what to say after her little performance in the apartment. Sorry I just had a panic attack? So what did your sister tell you to do? "So who are the Dawsons?" She blurted out.

“Mine and Leila's adoptive parents” Jim replied, “Leila want's to tell them what she's planning and ask them to help with fake backgrounds and general intel.”

“How can they help?” Raina asked.

Jim hesitated, “They are some of the founders of Xcution Action Group.”

Raina gaped, the XAG was a mercenary and bounty hunting organization. She had met some agents who had worked with XAG hunters, and the one thing that they had all agreed on was that all the active XAG members were powerful psions in their own right. While nobody knew exactly who sat on its boards due to some interesting legal tricks, anyone who had that kind of firepower at their disposal was not someone to cross. "What makes you think I won't tell anyone what you just told me?" Anyone with that sort of power, whose identity wasn't known, probably didn't want it publicized and had probably taken precautions against her identity leaking.

Jim shrugged, “It's probably known to the national security types, Mae just doesn't like people bothering her more than they already do.”

Wait a minute... “Mae Dawson? As in the CEO of Saber Initiatives? She's founded XAG?"

“Among others, yes.”

The elevator pinged, opening to an empty gym. Jim walked out, followed by Raina.

“So, how should we start Sensei?” Raina asked.