interviewing, archiving, but not a single scout. If we’ve got a possible rebellion happening here and I can’t kill a Harpy who’d like nothing better than to tear me to bits, well, I don’t even want to think about what could happen.
I spend the rest of the meeting in silence, taking in only half of what’s being said. Finally the meet is adjourned and Myra and her assistant leave. I look around the room, unsure of what my next move should be when Grier approaches me. She gives Sandy a dirty look, then gestures toward the door.
“Come on now, Ace , we’ve got some VR training before duties tonight, and I don’t want to take all day kicking your ass.”
I open my eyes standing in a vast field of ice and snow. The chill permeates my skin even through my gear, raising the tiniest of goose bumps. I exhale and my breath forms grey wisps in the air. I flex my fingers, allowing the motion to come naturally, letting my mind forget that the crisp air and gentle touch of snowflakes aren’t, strictly speaking, real.
Grier stands across from me, eyes closed as she breathes slowly, deeply. Inhale, exhale. She stands for minutes, unmoving as I take in the thick green of the forest surrounding us. Finally she opens her eyes. The grin on her mouth is confident, prepared.
“You ready?” she mouths. I nod, clenching my fists. No weapons in this fight, we’d agreed. She rushes toward me and I follow suit, keeping my focus on the speed of her run, the bend in her knees. We reach one another and she ducks immediately, sweeping her leg beneath me. At the last moment I jump in the air, flipping upside down with arms ready to grasp her, but she deftly dodges me, barely allowing me to land before throwing an onslaught of quick punches.I block and deke, but every jab I throw her way is avoided like water parting, smooth and fluid. A grin sprouts on her face as we parry.
“You’re not going to hit me like that,” she says.
She’s right. My tactics are useless against her defence, but her hits are easy to see, easily block-able.
“I don’t see you doing any damage,” I retort, teeth clenched. I see her face tighten. “What, you angry?” I taunt. She pushes me away from her and starts combining her moves, punches and kicks with decided force but little accuracy. I laugh aloud as I block each punch, sidle from each kick. Her eyebrows furrow in concentration. She’s thinking too hard.
I block a kick with my hip and catch her foot with mine, twisting and knocking her off balance. Her eyes widen as I heave my shoulder into her. She tries to melt away using the same mechanism as before, but her mind is scattered. Quickly I lace my arms under hers and about her neck, holding her tight in a classic, but effective submission pose. For a moment she struggles and tries to kick at me, but when I tighten my grip, she goes limp.
Snow falls around us in a lazy, unhurried glide.
“Out!” Grier calls, and the grey sky and pine trees flicker away. I let go of her as soon as my vision returns. She doesn’t look at me, but starts peeling off her gear angrily, cheeks flushed.
“You’ll need to show me that defence stance. It’s effective,” I say.
She throws her head up and glares. “Why do you mock me?” she spits.
I look to Sandy, who’s running the mod, for help, but he just shrugs. Figures.
“I’m not mocking you. It’s a really good technique. You just need to be able to let it go. You don’t fight with your brain, you use instinct and feel,” I continue.
She laughs sardonically. “Please. I don’t need advice from you. Everyone here sings you praises like you’re some kind of prodigy. Ace Hunter Piper Madden . You don’t even have any loyalty to the Corporation that’s fed and clothed you for years. Why would I take advice from you, traitor?”
The word hangs in the air and anger flushes within me, maybe even hatred. There are a hundred things I could say right now, but I don’t. I count backwards slowly
I spend the rest of the meeting in silence, taking in only half of what’s being said. Finally the meet is adjourned and Myra and her assistant leave. I look around the room, unsure of what my next move should be when Grier approaches me. She gives Sandy a dirty look, then gestures toward the door.
“Come on now, Ace , we’ve got some VR training before duties tonight, and I don’t want to take all day kicking your ass.”
I open my eyes standing in a vast field of ice and snow. The chill permeates my skin even through my gear, raising the tiniest of goose bumps. I exhale and my breath forms grey wisps in the air. I flex my fingers, allowing the motion to come naturally, letting my mind forget that the crisp air and gentle touch of snowflakes aren’t, strictly speaking, real.
Grier stands across from me, eyes closed as she breathes slowly, deeply. Inhale, exhale. She stands for minutes, unmoving as I take in the thick green of the forest surrounding us. Finally she opens her eyes. The grin on her mouth is confident, prepared.
“You ready?” she mouths. I nod, clenching my fists. No weapons in this fight, we’d agreed. She rushes toward me and I follow suit, keeping my focus on the speed of her run, the bend in her knees. We reach one another and she ducks immediately, sweeping her leg beneath me. At the last moment I jump in the air, flipping upside down with arms ready to grasp her, but she deftly dodges me, barely allowing me to land before throwing an onslaught of quick punches.I block and deke, but every jab I throw her way is avoided like water parting, smooth and fluid. A grin sprouts on her face as we parry.
“You’re not going to hit me like that,” she says.
She’s right. My tactics are useless against her defence, but her hits are easy to see, easily block-able.
“I don’t see you doing any damage,” I retort, teeth clenched. I see her face tighten. “What, you angry?” I taunt. She pushes me away from her and starts combining her moves, punches and kicks with decided force but little accuracy. I laugh aloud as I block each punch, sidle from each kick. Her eyebrows furrow in concentration. She’s thinking too hard.
I block a kick with my hip and catch her foot with mine, twisting and knocking her off balance. Her eyes widen as I heave my shoulder into her. She tries to melt away using the same mechanism as before, but her mind is scattered. Quickly I lace my arms under hers and about her neck, holding her tight in a classic, but effective submission pose. For a moment she struggles and tries to kick at me, but when I tighten my grip, she goes limp.
Snow falls around us in a lazy, unhurried glide.
“Out!” Grier calls, and the grey sky and pine trees flicker away. I let go of her as soon as my vision returns. She doesn’t look at me, but starts peeling off her gear angrily, cheeks flushed.
“You’ll need to show me that defence stance. It’s effective,” I say.
She throws her head up and glares. “Why do you mock me?” she spits.
I look to Sandy, who’s running the mod, for help, but he just shrugs. Figures.
“I’m not mocking you. It’s a really good technique. You just need to be able to let it go. You don’t fight with your brain, you use instinct and feel,” I continue.
She laughs sardonically. “Please. I don’t need advice from you. Everyone here sings you praises like you’re some kind of prodigy. Ace Hunter Piper Madden . You don’t even have any loyalty to the Corporation that’s fed and clothed you for years. Why would I take advice from you, traitor?”
The word hangs in the air and anger flushes within me, maybe even hatred. There are a hundred things I could say right now, but I don’t. I count backwards slowly
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