Well, it may not have been in the Marshal's security plans, but it was certainly part of one blonde's wellness itinerary.
GONNNNG!
The deep, reverberating tone rolled through the massive stadium, cutting cleanly through the roar of the crowd. It came from the speakers connected to the cadet's enclosed testing area rather than the gong itself, yet even as nothing more than a reproduced sound, it still sent an inexplicable shiver down everyone's spine.
Then it came again.
GONNNNG!
And once more.
GONNNNG!
The arena fell into stunned silence.
Across the stands, thousands of people froze. Jaws slowly dropped. Eyes widened. A wave of genuine bewilderment swept through the audience.
Several master mechanics instinctively adjusted their spectacles.
Student reporters stopped typing.
Even those tuned in through Star Net seemed to hesitate for a heartbeat before the comment sections erupted.
Everyone simply stared.
