Ch. 12: Preview #1

The heavy thrum of synthesizers seeped into Jen’s ears, growing into a pulsating melody through the closed wall ahead.  A cool dampness cascaded from the ceiling above her – the dark chamber was filling with mist, pebbling her skin.  Yet she burned with anticipation, aching to test herself against whatever this Exhibition threw at her.

☄☄ “WONDER JEN!”☄☄  Sally’s voice rang out, over music and crowd.  ☄☄ “Does she even stand a chance?”☄☄

Bhumi: ☄☄ “It’s too tough a hill to climb!”☄☄

Jen recognized these instantly as audio clips from last week’s round.  Her fists clenched.

☄☄ “She’s undersized!  Underweight!”☄☄

☄☄ “Her team is MILES behind!”☄☄

☄☄ “Does she have the strength, the will, to shock the world??” ☄☄

BOOM!  A thunder of bass.  ☄☄ “She’s snagged the Mighty Power!”☄☄

BOOM!  ☄☄ “The Mighty Size!!”☄☄

BOOM!  ☄☄ “Another!”☄☄  BOOM!  ☄☄ “Another!!!  Look at her grow!  Look at her now!!I”☄☄

The wall hissed in front of her, slowly splitting apart.  Fog spilled forth onto a raised platform basked in shimmering light.  She strode out, unafraid, as thousands of voices across the dark arena went berserk.

☄☄ “How far she’s come, Bhumi!  My gosh, just watch!”☄☄

A dozen spotlights sprang to life, lighting up a rock wall straight ahead and obstacles above.  Jen barked with joy – these were exactly from the beginning of Round One; probably literally the same props, minus the Mouse hole below.  Speaking of which: her partner’s chamber remained shut beside her.  No matter; she was clearly meant to start solo.

And she did so, with ludicrous ease.

☄☄ “Incredible!”☄☄ cheered prerecorded Bhumi, as Jen launched herself over the wall in one move.

☄☄ “Flawless!”☄☄ praised Sally, as Jen glided through the next four obstacles without having to blink.

☄☄ “Flat-out unstoppable now!!”☄☄ echoed Bhumi, as Jen simply raised her forearm to stop a spinning bar in its tracks.  No need to duck and weave anymore.  This time she simply walked through.

And the crowd ate it right up.  Jen sauntered up to the familiar twelve-foot pillar, the one she’d had to throw herself at full speed last week over multiple attempts just to tip it over.  This time she pushed it over one-handed with a cocky grin.  Reveling in her own capabilities, she sprinted over the unsteady bridge with two loping strides and—

“Agghhh!!”  The Panthers jumped out while she was in midair.  The overgrown behemoths had her the instant she landed.  Burly arms encircled hers, lifted her off the ground, carried her off despite her hardest struggles.

☄☄ “Take her, my ladies” ☄☄ a smooth womanly voice purred through the arena.  ☄☄ “Yesss … she will do nicely.” ☄☄

Jen was carried offstage through a hidden exit and set down immediately.

“Hey, guys!” Jen said to the Panthers with a bright smile.

“Hi, Jen!” greeted Nora.

Amir was there too.  Getting to watch this all first-hand backstage?  No wonder he was jumping out of his shoes with excitement.  Jen had just enough time to give him a high five before Skylar grunted and held out … a pink, girly dress.  “Put that on.”

Jen coughed.  “You’re joking.”

“Nope!” said Nora with a wink.

Jen chuckled and slipped it on.  “Alright.  Where to now?  My Mouse needs me.”

“Actually,” hummed Skylar, “he’ll be on his own.”

Jen felt the words punch through her chest.  “What?”  All his training – the nonverbal cues, the focused awareness, the body contact – were geared toward close proximity.  So she was confident he would do well under her active guidance.  But not when flying solo!  “He’ll be like a lost puppy!” she blurted.

“Good thing you struck that new discipline in him,” Nora slyly reminded.  “That should help.”

Jen sure hoped so.