Dangerous by Default

7. Mina training

"Mom! Are you ok?" Mina was panting, her hands on her knees. Sweat was pouring down her back, soaking her bright pink leggings. Caine surveyed the living room after rushing in. Pieces of plaster had fallen from the ceiling, leaving crumpled piles on the dark wood floors. The chandelier was swaying. Caine noticed the white earbuds behind a silky strand of hair and realized she must be on a phone call, but why was she asking if her mother was ok? Mina hadn't spoken to her mother in years. What the hell was going on?

A flash of steel glimmered in the corner of Caine's eyes. Instinctively his hands went up to get Mina's attention, but he was too slow.

Before he could emit a sound, Artemis crawled across the side of the bookcase and made a diving leap towards her jugular.

Caine was stunned. He thought that after years of living with Mina he would be used to this sort of thing by now. Yes, there had been a large number of at home tests and training sessions. Anything from robo led boxing class to entire block black outs had been casual occurrences under their roof. She was never not testing something. But this was different. Artemis was out for blood!

At the last moment, Mina ducked, holding the robot by it's biomorphic neck, dropping her body as she slammed it to the ground. Caine could barely keep up. Artemis used Mina's momentum against her in that same moment, pulling against a grappling hook that had been secured to one of the bookcases. It came toppling down on Mina's head, swiping the side of Caine's leg as it crashed to the floor in a cloud of dust. Artemis was up again, and Caine watched it scurry on all fours towards the opposite wall. Through a lens of pain and confusion, he splashed a glass of water at the robot angrily before rushing towards the bookcase.

Caine ignored the wet patch of blood that soaked his favorite trousers, unsure of Mina's state. He was cut short by the hee-haw of the mechatronic robot behind him, and cried out when it latched onto his leg. Before he could respond, Caine felt an acute pinch. You're coming for me now, too?, He lamented. But before he could take a swipe at Artemis, a tingling sensation made him yield mid motion. Within an instant, his wound had seemed to cauterize itself closed.

Before Artemis could unlatch, Caine saw a dark shape emerge from the floating cloud of dust above the bookshelf. With a hard smack to the robot's head, it emoted a loud shudder and curled itself up into a small squishy ball.

"Take that, bitch" Mina gloated.

The dust settled and Caine looked out at the wreckage that was formerly their living room. His eyes quickly darted back to Mina, but he could tell from her look of triumph that she was in good shape. Without saying a word, Mina stripped off her athletic gear and strode to the shower.

Caine had too many questions, and they all seemed to rush out of his mouth at once. He didn't care if they sounded stupid, he had to know.

"Mina, what the hell was that? Why was Artemis so vicious? ....You're mom, is she ok?"
"Oh Bubba! Join me in the shower and I'll explain everything, I promise. But only if you lather me up!"

Caine's curiosity mixed with his desire, and he followed her with a growing excitement. He could never resist when she used their pet name for one another, Bubba.

Soon the soiled clothes that smelled of sweat and copper were stripped off his muscular body, crumpled in a pile on the tiled floor. He had to ignore the rising feeling Mina's naked body gave him, focusing on her beaming face with anticipation as she stood under the streaming water.

Mina beckoned to him as he closed the glass door of the shower.

"Alright, where were we... My mom? You know I haven't talked to her since she kicked me out in high school."