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First time I see someone try it after only two years. The master sure likes you a lot."
    “It’s just that I train hard." Zack thought of skipping the test to go repair his website. What did he care about a black belt?
    But this represented the perfect opportunity for Zack to test himself under pressure. Could he control his nerves and empty his mind to perform flawlessly, knowing his sister was in distress, the website crashed, and the Feds were after him again?
    “I’ll rush home right after the test, care to join me?" Zack chuckled. “We could be up all night debugging this thing, eating Chinese takeout.”
    “Sweet." Lobo smiled then sighed. “We really sound like geeks.”
    “Dude, we are geeks, the masters of virus attack recovery." Zack laughed nervously. “We don’t have girlfriends, and we have a website about alien abductions. How geeky is that?" Zack regretted the no girlfriend part, but although he had opportunities, his all consuming mission didn’t allow for leisure time.
    “What about your anthropology paper?" Planting his legs apart, Lobo crossed his arms on his chest like a chief of his tribe passing judgment. “Isn’t it due tomorrow?”
    Zack thought about that. “First things first. Not everything is about nice initials after your name.”
    Lobo shrugged. “You’re such an amazing student the teacher might give you the grade anyway." Throwing his arms up in the air, he turned away. “Whatever, dude, it’s your life.”
    Zack forced a smile. “Right." There didn’t seem to be a career out there for him, except finding his sister. He slapped Lobo’s back. “Let’s go kick some butt."
    The two friends entered the dojo and mixed with the other students in the center of the room. The chairs had filled up and it became difficult to ignore the audience. The master’s assistant walked to the front and began to conduct stretching exercises while the dojo master conferred with two other eminent Japanese teachers invited to judge the test. After the warm up, the old masters took their seats in the first row alongside the delineated area.
    The rest of the session passed in a blur. While waiting his turn, Zack emptied his mind of any thought. When the time came, he focused on the movements, the target, the action rather than the man.
    As if he watched his own performance from outside his body, Zack marveled at the strength manifested even before the plank snapped around his extended foot, before the bricks crumbled under the blade of his hand. Each time, the appropriate yell liberated his energy at the crucial moment, directing his will against the target. Amazing what the power of the mind could do on solid matter, how will and intention could intensify the force of a blow.
    At the end of the session, the judges deliberated, then the old teacher called the names of the three students who passed the test out of five. Zack was among them. He’d succeeded at his own test of concentration. The rank meant nothing to him, but it mattered to his teacher. When the old master called Zack’s name to receive his black belt and certificate, Zack saw the pride in the old man’s eyes. So, out of respect and gratitude for the knowledge imparted, Zack accepted his reward graciously.
    After the showers, most of the students planned to celebrate at their favorite pizza place. Zack slipped on his jeans and alien-head sweat-shirt in a hurry, then pulled on his helmet as he rushed outside. In the parking lot, he secured his gym bag on the back of the Kawasaki. Lobo hurried after him, still braiding his wet hair, and mounted the motorcycle behind Zack, who revved the engine. Night had fallen and the cool air smelled of spring rain. They stopped at Wei Pei for takeout on the way to Zack’s home.
    As Zack leaned into the bend, the motorcycle beam swept over a black van parked across from his house. The gold logo of a flower shop decorating the sides didn’t look familiar. Zack sighed. “It’s the Feds all