"You read my mind, cadet," the commander remarked to Szedra, his voice carrying a sense of intrigue as he positioned himself a mere inch away from her. His previously stern countenance softened, his eyebrows returning to their natural position. "I was just about to request a volunteer," he continued, his gaze momentarily shifting to look above her head before exhaling. "But judging by your comment, I can only assume you already know everything."
With a smooth motion, he slid the glove off his hand and extended its skin-like form toward Szedra. "Therefore, you will have the honor of demonstrating to your teammates how to utilize this remarkable glove," he declared.
Szedra's gaze traveled from the commander's face to the outstretched glove, taking a moment to absorb its presence before realizing that he awaited her acceptance. She reached out and accepted the glove from him, prompting the others to step back and turn their attention toward her.
How do you demonstrate how to use a glove? Tess needed to see that spectacle.
Szedra carefully donned the glove, taking her time to ensure a proper fit. The room fell into an unexpected silence, but the commander swiftly intervened to dispel any discomfort. "Take all the time you need," he reassured, his voice cutting through the stillness. "We'll stand staring at you all day if we have to."
Tess's ears caught the unmistakable sass in the commander's voice, prompting her to double-take at his seemingly emotionless face to ensure she wasn't misinterpreting. His stoic expression remained unchanged, creating a stark contrast with his tone.
Meanwhile, Szedra closed her eyes and stood in stillness, elongating the silence that enveloped the room. The prolonged quietude and the intense scrutiny from the commander caused Tess, Zack, and Lanse to exchange puzzled glances multiple times, their gazes darting between one another.
The whole time the commander's eyes never left Szedra. It got Tess to fold her arms as she wondered what exactly he was looking at. She too began to stare at Szedra's round yellow face.
Just as the suspense reached its peak, Szedra's eyes popped open, causing Tess to almost drop her arms in surprise before quickly regaining her composure. Szedra held the gloved hand in front of her, forming a fist with her thumb extended, and a smile spread across the commander's face.
With a deliberate press of her thumb, luminous blue lines on the glove glowed vibrantly, and a giant sword appeared with its handle nested between her fingers. As she attempted to grip the handle with her other hand, her struggle to maintain the weight of the massive blade caused its lower edge to sink into the wooden floor, leaving a deep gash in its wake.
Tess stood frozen, her mouth agape at the astonishing sight that unfolded before her eyes. "Wicked!" exclaimed Zack, unable to contain his excitement as he leaned forward, momentarily breaking formation. Lanse, on the other hand, folded his arms, his widened eyes swiftly returning to their regular size.
The commander, moving to stand beside Szedra, placed a congratulatory pat on her shoulder. "Great job cadet. It's good you're getting that ability under control."
Szedra's eyes widened in shock, her brows furrowing with a disconcerting realization that the commander had prior knowledge of her unique power.
Eager to examine the remarkable sword, Tess, accompanied by Zack and Lanse, moved closer, drawn in by its captivating allure. The commander's comment lingered in her mind, igniting a curiosity that compelled her to stoop down and scrutinize the gleaming blade.
Tess found herself silently amused by the notion that this place gathered individuals with Shinralite abilities. The whole idea of being "guardians of the planet" seemed like nonsense to her. Nonetheless, it came as no surprise that Zino had made it here. While Zino might not excel in combat, Tess had a strong inkling that her hidden ability would undoubtedly be a jaw-dropper.
"Wow, it's so shiny and beautiful," Zino exclaimed, her fingers delicately adjusting her hair as she caught a glimpse of her reflection on the gleaming base of the sword. Tess glanced upward at Lanse, positioned directly in front of her but on the opposite side of the imposing weapon.
His eyes were concealed by his dark bangs, which brushed against his forehead as he leaned forward, engrossed in its intricate details. She knew he had an ability too. That's the reason he was so calm in that meeting.
As Zack straightened his posture, he posed a question to Szedra, his voice hopeful, "Can't you lift it?"
Szedra tightened her grip on the already weighty handle, her determination evident as she attempted to raise the entire sword from the ground. However, despite her effort, all that escaped her lips was a frustrated huff of air, signifying her inability to move the massive weapon.
Zack in disbelief went closer to her and said, "Hand it over." He held onto the sword in the space between her hands and the cross. "I'm pretty sure I can lift it," he added, stressing the word 'I.'
In disbelief, Zack closed the distance between himself and Szedra, insisting, "Hand it over." He reached out, clasping the sword in the small space between her hands and the crossguard. "I'm pretty sure I can lift it," he emphasized, placing emphasis on the word 'I.'
Feeling challenged, Szedra retorted, "Are you implying that I'm weak? If I can't lift it, neither can you."
"Just give me the damn handle," Zack responded, his tone emphasizing his desire to avoid escalating the situation into an argument.
"Fine," Szedra acquiesced, releasing her grip on the handle and allowing the sword to plummet towards Zack's foot, threatening to sever it.
"Taah!" Zack let out a startled cry, swiftly pulling his feet back to narrowly avoid the blade's edge. However, his sudden movement caused him to lose balance, landing on his backside with a painful thud.
A smirk formed on Lanse's face, briefly interrupting the serious atmosphere, while Zino gasped in shock. Tess, engrossed in studying the intricate details of the sword, only caught sight of it shifting before it descended to the ground, creating a deep and elongated slit, the blade now standing upright along the edge.
Stepping back and standing upright, Tess finally took notice of Zack sprawled on the ground. As he redirected his gaze away from the sword, his features twisted in frustration, and he swiftly rose to his feet.
"You did that on purpose!" he snapped at Szedra, his accusatory tone laced with indignation.
"Didn't you tell me to give you the handle?" Szedra retorted, her voice brimming with anger. "How is it my fault you didn't hold it in time?"
"Silence!" the commander's voice boomed, reverberating through the air and causing them all to flinch. Their attention turned to him, witnessing the deep furrows etched between his brows, a clear display of his displeasure.
"Responsible adults?" he rhetorically questioned himself, shaking his head in disappointment. He shook his head and stooped down to observe the long slit in the ground. "Immature teenagers are more correct," he added with a tinge of exasperation.
Using his gloved hand, he effortlessly lifted the sword with a single hand. Szedra's jaw dropped when she saw the commander wearing the glove she did not give to him. He ignored her as she looked around her waist frantically wondering when he took it from her hand.
Observing the commander's display of strength, two words popped into Tess's mind: 'Super-strength.' It was either that or Szedra was really weak.
The sight of the deep and narrow slit in the solid wood reaffirmed her belief that it took a significant force to create such a mark, regardless of how sharp the edges were. The commander had to be a Shinralite with an ability.
The commander had to be a Shinralite with an extraordinary ability. His age suggested that he had replenished his Shinra, the life force unique to Shinralites, allowing him to regain his abilities. Recalling the advanced technology they had encountered, such as the vortex teleporter and intricate door controls, Tess wouldn't be surprised if they possessed the means to replenish Shinra within their facility.
"Observe!" the commander commanded, holding onto the sword's handle. The sword, measuring the length of each of their bodies, lay before their eyes. As he pressed his thumb against the dented section on the crossguard, the entire sword vanished into thin air, leaving gasps to fill the ensuing silence.
Lanse's disbelief grew as he contemplated the existence of such a device, especially when there were Mid-Sentry officers roaming around with cumbersome metal swords strapped to their backs. Shaking his head in disapproval, he couldn't fathom why such archaic weaponry was still being used.
Meanwhile, Tess remained captivated by the commander's empty hand, raised and open for everyone to witness. She couldn't deny the sheer ingenuity behind the invention. After all, who would have expected a simple glove to possess the power to summon a colossal sword? Still, the question lingered in her mind: why a sword? Why not a blaster or a rifle? The curiosity gnawed at her, urging her to seek answers beyond the surface.
As her suspicions grew, Tess couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. After all, it wasn't the troopers' role to engage in combat with Sybervirians. The recall about being a guardian of the planet resurfaced. Her arms folded protectively across her chest as she voiced her doubts, her voice carrying a tinge of skepticism.
"If this isn't a Mid-Sentry and we won't be bumping into Sybervirians—why do we have to use the same old boring swords? Even if it is giant-sized."
The commander's unwavering gaze shifted towards Tess, meeting her intense stare. She locked eyes with him, determination etched into her features, and pressed on.
"What exactly will we be doing on those missions you mentioned?"
Zack, sharing Tess's skepticism, mirrored her actions and folded his arms as well. His voice joined in, reflecting his own concerns. "Yeah, it sounds more like physical combat rather than covert spy work."
Lanse, Zino, and Szedra fixed their attention on the commander, anticipation and curiosity painted across their faces, waiting eagerly for an explanation to shed light on their upcoming endeavors.