Cindy Psi: Spy In Training
Chapter 12: Orientation

“I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Dave was in the observation room with the three assessors. It was the older woman who was talking to him. “I know,” he said.

“I mean, not even close. Kinesis on a first assessment. Never mind that she didn’t just pass the lateral psi-location, she came back knowing the subject had observed her. And what was that thing with the exploding apple? I don’t even know if we’re equipped to deal with that kind of raw power.”

“I know, Louise, I know. I’m as shocked as you. Well, maybe a little less shocked as I’ve been doing her recruit and I’ve had a sense of it, but seeing it in full flow is mind-blowing.”

“We’re going to have to be careful with her.”

“Well there I can reassure you. She’s a very sensible, honourable girl. I’ve had enough dealings with her already to know that. And of course, she comes well referred.”

“Yes, yes, I know. But I still think caution is advisable. So what now?”

“Well, now we take her to orientation. We train her. And, just putting it out there, it might be a very fortuitous coincidence that we get a recruit like her now just as we replace out about this new threat.”

Louise and the other assessors looked shocked. “You can’t mean to put her on the Theta Sector case. Raw power or not, she’s a novice! It’s too big a risk,” said Louise.

“Well, I’m just sowing the seed. Let’s get her trained up and then we can make a call when the time comes. I just think it’s a bit of a strong coincidence that we know we have this threat rising, it’s near Cindy’s own planet, and we expect it to be coming to a head around about the same time our most powerful recruit ever is due to complete her training. It just all fits together a bit too well.”

Louise looked dubious. “So you’re saying it’s ‘meant to be’ or something? Let’s not get superstitious David. As you say, we’ll get her trained and then make the call. But I want it noted that I’m wary of the idea of a raw recruit on such a vital mission. A more established agent like Justin would be a better choice I think.”

“Fair enough. Let’s be honest, the final call will sit with the Controller. For obvious reasons.” Dave stood as the others were nodding agreement, and clapped his hands. “Right! Let’s go get these recruits together in the common room for an orientation.”

Cindy looked around the room at the other six children. There were four other girls and two boys. Two of the girls were clearly identical twins and sat next to each other. Cindy didn’t check, but she felt sure they were engaged in a silent discussion with each other about where they were and the other candidates. The others kept quiet, and most of them were looking around the room and stealing glances at each other, apart from the shorter of the two boys who was mainly looking at his shoes. Both boys had dark hair and were both taller than Cindy, although the shoe boy not by much. The taller boy had darker skin and short-cropped, curly hair. The other boy had slightly tousled, slightly longer dark hair and deep set eyes (as much as Cindy could tell). The twins were very pretty and both had long, blond hair and bright, blue eyes. One had a very slight dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose – Cindy filed this for later so she had a method of telling them apart, they were that similar. Of the other two girls, one was quite tall and skinny with short-cropped slightly reddish brown hair. She had an air of quiet confidence about her that for some reason made Cindy think of Ms Primp.

The final girl was about an inch shorter than Cindy, with a round face, pale brown hair and striking green eyes. She had a natural, happy glow about her and this was offset by a kind of childish, gleeful smile. She was kicking her legs and being a lot less guarded in her assessment of the others – openly staring and assessing each in turn.

Hi. I’m Jane, came a voice in Cindy’s head.

Hi Jane, I’m Cindy, she replied.

So you can mindspeak too! That’s brilliant! I don’t think the other girls can but I haven’t tried to talk to the boys. Have you tried?

Um, no, I’m not sure whether I should or whether it’s rude or what.

Oh, I think it’s fine. If you can, why not? I tried to speak to the twins. Aren’t they pretty by the way? But I couldn’t – they seem to be locked up in a private conversation with each other. It’s really weird. Jane motioned her head towards them as she mindspoke and one of the girls glanced across briefly, then resumed her private chat with her twin.

Maybe they can talk to each other but not other people yet? Cindy ventured.

Yes, I bet that’s it. You hear of twins being able to do that, don’t you? Where are you from? I’m from Earth.

Earth! Wow! That must be pretty cool, having a home planet with all that history and stuff.

Nah, it’s not so great. Overcrowded, and mainly full of people who can’t afford to go elsewhere, so you don’t get the best neighbours if you know what I mean. Where are you from then?

Oliver County.

Don’t know it. Can you think about it for a sec?

Cindy obliged, wondering what Jane was going to do. Then she felt a slight tickle in her mind as she thought about home. It wasn’t invasive like when the Turg contacted her, it was more like being lightly dusted with a silk cloth.

Oh it looks LOVELY! Jane silently exclaimed. All green fields and picket fences. Was that your house you thought about last?

Cindy thought back. Um, yes, it was. That’s very clever what you did there.

Oh pshaw, I bet we can all do a lot more than that once we’ve done this training. How long have you known what you can do?

Only a week.

Ah, so when they contacted you then? That must have come as a shock. I’d kind of worked out I was different and could do some weird things by the time I was about eight. Since then it’s come in handy!

I daresay, Cindy said. She decided she already liked this very open and seemingly very happy and contented girl. So what sort of things have you … she began, and was then interrupted by a lady coming into the room. It was Rebecca. Cindy had a chance to take her in a bit better now she was out of her lab coat (and in front of her in person more to the point). She was beautiful in a business-like way, with tied-back, long brown hair, big brown eyes and a lovely figure. Cindy wondered if perhaps it was no coincidence that the male assessor had been thinking about her earlier.

“Good afternoon children, welcome to Adriá. For those who don’t already know” – the slightest glance at Cindy – “my name is Rebecca. As well as being one of your trainers I’m the student liaison for GCCSC, which means I get to help you guys all settle in, feel comfortable, and relax so you can concentrate on your training. And given we’re not allowed to put any decorations up, and Dave’s very – um – straight-laced approach to things, this is no easy task I can tell you!”

There was a bit of a nervous half-laugh around the circle.

“Right,” Rebecca continued, “I’m going to start by answering a few of the questions you’re all thinking.” She paused and looked pointedly around the room a moment. Then, with a laugh, “but not like that. We’ve been doing this a while, so we know what you’re probably wondering about, and also people in our line of work get pretty good with empathy as I’m sure you can imagine. So, first off, you’ve all been here roughly the same length of time, although we only have two primary assessors, so you’ve been cycled through the assessment in turn. You all have different skills, and there’s no point worrying about whether you can do more or less than each other – it’s a lot like the A&P exam; different strokes for different folks. Some of you have known you have special skills for a while,” – she glanced at Jane and the shorter boy at this point – “and some of you have only just found out,” – this time a quick glance at Cindy and the taller girl. “We have found,” Rebecca continued, “That this doesn’t have a lot of bearing on where you end up after training. We encourage those who’ve been using their talents already to share knowledge with their fellow students and speak openly about them – it’s a great way to learn and to optimise what you can do. However …”

And now Rebecca looked a lot more serious and a lot more intent. Cindy felt a kind of weight pressing down, radiating from her. Her face took on a sharpness and her voice an echoey quality as she barked: “Attend!” The weight grew very heavy – Cindy felt it pressing at the base of her neck. She was vaguely aware the other students felt something too by the general consternation in the room.

And then the weight lifted, and Rebecca continued: “This raises the most important thing. Speak freely here, and use your talents freely within reason, but always remember – what we do is a secret, and it must stay a secret. We’re training you to be spies. You have already been vetted in ways you can’t imagine, and although we know you’re very young, you are all very capable, and you have to learn fast just how serious this business is. The very fate of the galaxy sits upon each and every one of you. Let me give you an example. When I said the word ‘attend’ a moment ago, who felt something odd – show of hands! Quickly!”

Every hand shot up.

“Milton – what did you feel?”

“It was a kind of heavy feeling. Kind of in the back of my head,” the taller boy replied.

“Yes. Now here’s the thing – you could feel that, all of you felt that, because I wanted you to. But when you don’t have control, you don’t know who can sense what. The talent can be a bit like a PCD message – it gives off a signal. The more you are using, the stronger that signal is. And the Turgs are trying to see us – all the time. Be wary. The first lessons you all have will be about control, but until then, no showing off, no acting out – use the talent gently, speak to each other, learn from each other, but don’t do anything where you need to push. Do I make myself clear?”

A series of silent nods around the room.

“Good,” said Rebecca, cheery once more, “Right, well, let’s have some questions then. Who’s going to be first?”