Another rip split the air and Voltaire stepped back in line, sneering. I looked curiously at Voltaire’s midriff. It was barer than my own, as Hosea had taken ten inches of shirt. My eyes narrowed. Lean and muscular, Voltaire’s midsection tapered at the waist before flaring out again into round, unmistakably feminine hips. My breath caught.

I stared, open-mouthed, as my mind flew over the conversations I’d had with and about Voltaire. Surely someone had told me the notorious Rebel Voltaire was a man? Instead, I realized, I’d been told no such thing. Now revealed, the truth was obvious. My eyes flew over her. The thinness of her wrists and ankles. The soft curve of her firm jaw. Even the swagger with which she carried herself, chin tilted pugnaciously, was distinctly feminine.

I glanced around and saw that none of the other trainees were surprised. No one stared at her; or me. Hosea had demanded their attention. I struggled to focus on his words.

“The task you endured yesterday was not strictly a training exercise,” he said. “It was a test. I, myself, endured it before you at the hands of my own teacher—Director Kumar. The purpose of the test was to aid me in choosing which weapon will best complement your strengths while guarding against your individual weaknesses.”

Finally, I tore my eyes from Voltaire. Had we passed or failed? None of us knew.

Finch waved angrily at Hosea. You promised us swords, not tests!

“Finch is right,” Pidge said. “You said our swords would be like yours.”

Hosea placed a hand on Finch’s shoulder. “Trust me, brother, your weapon will be extremely powerful. The technology used to make it is identical to my own. But, as I’ve explained, the nature of the Double Helix is such that no two are exactly alike. Each one takes a unique form.” He removed his weapon and twirled it to life. “My sword takes the basic form of a bow. The daggers and spear are both secondary forms that I call up at will.” He switched forms back and forth with practiced ease.

“How many forms can it take?” Pidge asked.

“The range is limited only by the will of the wielder.”

“So, it can do everything we command it to,” Booster said, his eyes wide with greed.

Hosea shook his head. “Not everything you command it to,” he clarified. “Everything you will it to.”

Booster snorted, dismissively.

“You snort, but I think you’ll find that honing your will is no easy task. The Helix takes years of practice to master. It’s an extension of you and will bear with you your failings.”

Finch waved his hand. How does it work? he asked.