Arena was released and went back to her room to take a shower. She sat in her room awhile, exhausted by everything, but unable to truly relax. Finally, she wandered back out into the common room. Nate and Lorna were sitting there, just talking.


    “I’m really happy both of you are alright,” she said, sitting down next to Lorna. “We were really worried about you.”


    Lorna smiled. Nate said, “I never had any doubts I’d be rescued by a surfboard-wielding college student.” Then he pursed his lips and waggled a finger at her. “Though I’m not done with your training yet. We’ve got a few more holds to cover.”


    “Speaking of Arena’s training, I need to speak with her.” Arena turned around to see Yates. He was still blond, but showered and dressed in a sharp black suit. Sophia was standing behind him, looking much more like a professional agent than a lumberjack in a black skirt suit and blue silk blouse, her blond hair pulled back into a ponytail. Sterling stood silently in the hallway.


    He handed her a yellow manila envelope. “Those are the details and arrangements for your formal training. We thought we’d wait until the fall session, but according to Johnson, you should be ready to take the fit test, so if you pass that you will accelerate into paramilitary training, which starts in three weeks. We’ll streamline some of your covert ops training, since you’ve done all the simulations and some training already, and you should be done by September.” He paused and gave her a meaningful look. “And I would hope by then you will have learned to take orders when directed.” She gulped and nodded.


    “You might want to hurry and finish your thesis in the next few weeks.” She had totally forgotten about school and the thesis, but tried not to let that show on her face. “Luckily, you should be able to access any and all research you might need for that, and I’ve instructed Anita to help you in any way possible. When you return, you will be enrolled in part-time classes and independent studies, so you can continue to work with the Misfits, which is where you will be permanently assigned.” Arena felt her heart jump, which was echoed with a whoop from Lorna behind her. She tried not to giggle.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    “Furthermore,” he said, turning to everyone in the room, “Assistant Deputy Director Fieldhaven and I have upgraded the security clearance of STATUS to top secret, and you all will begin helping us find out who is behind this secret organization. You will work directly for me. Unfortunately, I must return to Washington D. C. and take the hoverboards with me, but I’ve assigned Agent Kershaw as my assistant and your permanent liaison. She will be traveling back and forth personally, and working for both myself and STATUS. We have to fly back out tonight, but I’m sure you will be seeing much more of her in the future.” Sophia smiled, almost shyly, and cast a look at Yates out of the corner of her eyes.


    He went around and shook all of their hands. He stopped at Arena, “I hope you’ll come see me during some of your covert operations training. And I’m sure Sophia would be happy to see you as well.” He cast a glance over his shoulder, and Sophia nodded energetically. Last of all, he stopped at Sterling and they shook hands, if not as friends, then at least as equal colleagues. He and Sophia left.


    They all looked awkwardly at each other for a moment before Lorna screamed, “PARTY! Anita, turn up the music!” and made them all laugh. They laughed even harder when ABBA suddenly came on over the loudspeakers, blaring the first notes of ‘Dancing Queen’.


    Lorna turned and pulled Nate up to dance, and Arena went over to Sterling. He gave her a mock stern look. “I hope you don’t intend to pull anything like that again, Agent Schmidt.”


    Arena shook her head, and said, “No, sir, I plan to behave.” He took her hand. They joined Nate and Lorna, who were doing a complicated version of the swing. Nate tossed Lorna up into the air and caught her. Anita appeared and began to dance like a ballerina on the side of the room. She was surprisingly good.


    “I hope you don’t expect me to do that,” said Sterling dryly, then casting a glance at Anita, “Or that…”


    “I would be happy if we just stayed on the ground,” said Arena. “No more flying for a while.”


    “I’ll dance to that.”