of the crew’s footsteps ricocheted off the crooked walls.
‘Ooh, shadowy stranger. So this is where you keep John Doe?’ joked Cal. But he didn’t have much time to appreciate his wit before he was unexpectedly thrust against the wall by an invisible force.
No, not quite invisible, M realized. She had seen a slight rippling effect, as if the air itself had been disturbed. And the disturbance had originated from behind her.
She whirled to see Ben standing in the doorway. He held up an ungloved, clenched fist, showing off the same thin silver ring M had noticed him wearing in the Glass House. ‘The Magblast,’ he began, ‘is a simple mechanism that’s been amplified. Remember when your parents put your report cards on the refrigerator? What did they use? Anyone?’
The group was in shock at the swift and mysterious violence that had just sprung on one of their own. M tensed, preparing for an attack, and watched as Cal shook the cobwebs from his head.
‘I take it from your silence that you all meant to say magnets ,’ said Ben with a smile. ‘And you’d be right. Keyshawn, tell the ladies and gentlemen what they’ve won.’
Picking up the lesson in earnest, Keyshawn explained, ‘The ring Direct Downing is wearing is what we refer to as a Magblast. This is, as mentioned, a modified magnet. What that means is that the ring is designed to emit a wave of energy that pummels whatever is in its path. Case in point, Cadet Fence.
‘Now, these are powerful weapons. We do not allow most cadets to use these, as they are still, technically, in the experimental stage. The Magblast is difficult to aim and it carries a massive kick, so target practice is a must. We need you to hit the bad guys, after all, not each other.’
Hit the bad guys , M mused, nodding along with the others as Keyshawn approached Merlyn. When the time was right, that’s exactly what she intended to do.
‘Now, if I may,’ said Keyshawn as he lifted Merlyn’s left hand and tapped his gloved knuckles. ‘Your Magblast islocated here. Well, technically it’s in the right glove for the rest of you. I’ve integrated the device into your suits, as just one of many upgrades. Until now, authorized Fulbrights wore rings like Direct Downing’s. The difference might seem minimal, but it means that you won’t ever lose yours in the field.’
‘How does it work?’ asked Merlyn.
‘It’s a feat of concentration, aim, and muscle coordination,’ answered Keyshawn. ‘Just like everything else in your suit, the Magblast is an extension of you, your will, your strength, perhaps even your emotions, if that’s where you choose to draw your power.’
‘Enough of the Zen speak, Noles,’ interrupted Ben. ‘I think it’s time to line up the targets and give the cadets something to channel their emotions toward.’
Keyshawn walked toward the shadowy figure on the other side of the room. It was only a mannequin, which he dragged slowly toward them. The scrape of the wheels across the floor reminded M of the School of Seven Bells, the ratty old mannequin that Lawless students used to master the art of picking pockets. But this poor mannequin was worn down not by time, but by pure aggression.
‘Noles, isn’t this target a little below standard for our fine new recruits?’ asked Ben. ‘Given the limited training time we have together, why don’t we throw them into the deep end of the pool with a good old-fashioned duel?’
‘Duel with who?’ demanded M.
‘With each other, of course,’ answered Ben. ‘Eaves and Freeman, you’re up first.’
Merlyn and M instantly protested in unison. ‘No way!’
‘I can always bring well-trained Fulbrights in for the duel, then,’ Ben offered. ‘Would that address your rather delicate objection to sparring with an equally matched opponent?’
‘Yeah, right,’ said M. ‘This magnetic toy of yours obviously did a number on these walls. And now you want us to turn it on each other?’
‘If I may,’
‘Ooh, shadowy stranger. So this is where you keep John Doe?’ joked Cal. But he didn’t have much time to appreciate his wit before he was unexpectedly thrust against the wall by an invisible force.
No, not quite invisible, M realized. She had seen a slight rippling effect, as if the air itself had been disturbed. And the disturbance had originated from behind her.
She whirled to see Ben standing in the doorway. He held up an ungloved, clenched fist, showing off the same thin silver ring M had noticed him wearing in the Glass House. ‘The Magblast,’ he began, ‘is a simple mechanism that’s been amplified. Remember when your parents put your report cards on the refrigerator? What did they use? Anyone?’
The group was in shock at the swift and mysterious violence that had just sprung on one of their own. M tensed, preparing for an attack, and watched as Cal shook the cobwebs from his head.
‘I take it from your silence that you all meant to say magnets ,’ said Ben with a smile. ‘And you’d be right. Keyshawn, tell the ladies and gentlemen what they’ve won.’
Picking up the lesson in earnest, Keyshawn explained, ‘The ring Direct Downing is wearing is what we refer to as a Magblast. This is, as mentioned, a modified magnet. What that means is that the ring is designed to emit a wave of energy that pummels whatever is in its path. Case in point, Cadet Fence.
‘Now, these are powerful weapons. We do not allow most cadets to use these, as they are still, technically, in the experimental stage. The Magblast is difficult to aim and it carries a massive kick, so target practice is a must. We need you to hit the bad guys, after all, not each other.’
Hit the bad guys , M mused, nodding along with the others as Keyshawn approached Merlyn. When the time was right, that’s exactly what she intended to do.
‘Now, if I may,’ said Keyshawn as he lifted Merlyn’s left hand and tapped his gloved knuckles. ‘Your Magblast islocated here. Well, technically it’s in the right glove for the rest of you. I’ve integrated the device into your suits, as just one of many upgrades. Until now, authorized Fulbrights wore rings like Direct Downing’s. The difference might seem minimal, but it means that you won’t ever lose yours in the field.’
‘How does it work?’ asked Merlyn.
‘It’s a feat of concentration, aim, and muscle coordination,’ answered Keyshawn. ‘Just like everything else in your suit, the Magblast is an extension of you, your will, your strength, perhaps even your emotions, if that’s where you choose to draw your power.’
‘Enough of the Zen speak, Noles,’ interrupted Ben. ‘I think it’s time to line up the targets and give the cadets something to channel their emotions toward.’
Keyshawn walked toward the shadowy figure on the other side of the room. It was only a mannequin, which he dragged slowly toward them. The scrape of the wheels across the floor reminded M of the School of Seven Bells, the ratty old mannequin that Lawless students used to master the art of picking pockets. But this poor mannequin was worn down not by time, but by pure aggression.
‘Noles, isn’t this target a little below standard for our fine new recruits?’ asked Ben. ‘Given the limited training time we have together, why don’t we throw them into the deep end of the pool with a good old-fashioned duel?’
‘Duel with who?’ demanded M.
‘With each other, of course,’ answered Ben. ‘Eaves and Freeman, you’re up first.’
Merlyn and M instantly protested in unison. ‘No way!’
‘I can always bring well-trained Fulbrights in for the duel, then,’ Ben offered. ‘Would that address your rather delicate objection to sparring with an equally matched opponent?’
‘Yeah, right,’ said M. ‘This magnetic toy of yours obviously did a number on these walls. And now you want us to turn it on each other?’
‘If I may,’
Similar Books
