"PROGRAM COMPLETE," the computer announced. "ALL TARGETS ELIMINATED. TIME: 3.47 SECONDS."
Aileen lowered her arm, that small smile never having left her face. She walked calmly back toward the spectator area as the fallen robots began to dissolve, their holographic forms disintegrating into motes of light that faded away.
Jayden, Jessica, and Tasha sat in stunned silence, trying to process what they'd just witnessed.
"Holy shit," Jessica finally managed. "That was..."
"Incredible," Tasha finished, her eyes wide. "Aileen, I knew how capable your ability was, but I didn't know you could use it like that. This was way beyond what I've seen you do in school."
Aileen reached them, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose in a gesture that was almost endearingly normal after the display of power they'd just witnessed. "I usually hold back during the combat classes. No point in drawing unnecessary attention."
"Hold back?" Jessica echoed. "That was you holding back?"
