Porter waited patiently as the rest of the students left. His face impassive, finally he was alone with the four failures. thought Sam, her heart weary. she had been hanging on to the feint hope that even though her youth had been utter shite that it was going to be OK because she was going to become one of the secret Magi! It was a weak hope, one she barely thought might be true. But she sat there her dreams crushed. What the hell was she going to do now?

She looked at the other three ...ex? Students and saw a familiar look on they're faces too. Loss, dreams shattered, hopelessness.

Porter suddenly clapped his hands together.

BOOM!

“Agh! Jeez!” Exclaimed Sam in shock and surprise.

The sound that came from his hands equalled that of a thunderclap. Sam's hands shot to her ears automatically. She looked up at the man, angry at such a dick move, but it had the desired effect of getting the 4 distracted failed students attention.

“Come along. indeed time is short. Ah but alas time is always short.”

The four followed Porter to an alcove in which it appeared a lift was fitted and the five stepped in. Sam looked around. Actually the lift was huge. It must be an industrial one, it looked like it could fit a truck into it.

“Sam! “Sam looked up at Porter.

“Yes Porter?”

“When you went to join the group you stopped what? Twenty yards from the main group? Why was that?”

Sam blew out a breath, she shook her head. “I .. er I guess I felt my fight or flight senses kick in so I stopped.” she shrugged Porter nodded. “And when I came back that last time you noticed me before anyone else, but you were facing the other direction how?

Oh lord! How did she know? Fricking questions if he was going to kick her off the damned ship just do it already.

She shrugged. “I felt like someone was looking at me. I turned and there you were, looking at me? I don't know, not really, that's my best guess, sorry.” she shrugged again, not really feeling sorry at all.

“Paul!” Sam looked at the guy who was behind her that had groaned.

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“Am I right in thinking you tried to talk Stevens down after his conflict with Samantha?” the Neo look alike nodded. “Why?”

Paul looked confused. “Why what?” Porter looked at him with more focus. “Why try? Why bother? “He was clearly unbalanced. Not storm haven material at all! Hardly worth the effort.”

Paul shook his head. “He was stirring up trouble. OK Sam has a hair trigger temper and a hell of a right foot.” Sam put her head down as her face flushed with embarrassment. “But I couldn't just stand there and not do anything. I saw Sam had backed off when Stevens wasn't close. He was the ignition point, so I tried to make light of the situation, cool it down a bit.” He looked down at his feet. “Little good it did though.” He shook his head and was back looking into “Now where?” mode, wondering what next.

“Rachel!”

Rae jumped and looked up surprised to hear her name called out. She hadn't been listening to the conversation, she was grieving as much as the other three.

“Yes sir!?”

“Call me Porter child”

Rae nodded. “Yes sir.”

Sam grinned as she saw Porter's face, clearly he was not getting through.

“Child you went to Sam, even though she had just beaten a big strong man-ling and was herself emanating barely controlled rage, she could have lashed out like she did at Stevens and easily beaten you to a pulp. yet you still approached her, why?”

Rae smiled wanly at Sam and shook her head. “No, no she wouldn't I have a knack for that sort of thing. She was in pain. Angry? yes for sure. But not at me, she was fine.” Sam snorted and Rae looked up at her. “You didn't kick out, shout or swear, in the end we finished on good terms, yes?” Sam thought back and nodded. “Yeah I guess we did at that.”

Porter nodded and then looked at Edward who by now was waiting his turn and smiled knowingly, but waited for Porter to ask his question.

“Ah! Hmm... yes it seems someone has an inkling, yes? Well now Mr Fielders why was it when Stevens ran off to the bowels of the ship did you, how to..yes, yes.. why did you erm. “Grass him up” and tell me in what direction he had gone in? Isn't that meant to be bad form and all that? Yes yes definitely! Anyhow usually The case, but not you?”

Edward shook his head. “No sir.. erm Porter. We were given strict instructions not to leave the group, the guy had already caused all sorts of issues during the short time we had been together, even if it's frowned upon there's no way whatever he had planned was going to benefit anybody, let alone him. The guys was nuts. I might have got the cold shoulder from everyone else, but I took one for the team, even if they didn't realise it.”

Porter nodded. “Indeed yes, I agree totally. That's why you four are here.” With that he opened the lift doors and a new vista opened up before them. It looked to Sam like an enormous hanger. There were armoured vehicles of multiple types along side what appeared to be armoured exo suits and a multitude of weapons, from swords and hammers, to pistols, anti personnel rifles and bows with arrows. Sam's mind boggled. She saw in one quarter of the enormous space what seemed to be two dozen marines going through some sort of martial arts class. Sam's mouth just hung open as her mind tried to take in what her eyes were showing her, she looked questioningly at Porter. “We aren't being booted off?” She asked. He smiled and shook his head. “ No my child, just moved to a section that is more suited your inclinations.”

Edward's blew out a relieved breath as he nodded his head. “Well thank god for that! there's no way I wanted to go home if I failed the entrance exam, my dad would have killed me.” Paul nodded in agreement as Rae just looked wide eyed at the scene before her. Sam nudged her with her elbow. “It looks like we get to be friends after all then.” Rae looked at Sam, her face lit up. She went from being “cute” to being beautiful.