R.O.N.A.

Chapter 7 part A

Combat training turned out to be just as I thought it would. No one laughed at me, but I knew I was being cowardly; I just wasn’t good at attacking others. It wasn’t a part of me. I would rather talk things out and make peace than start a fight. It was like something inside me wouldn’t allow myself to hurt others. I did find learning about self-defense interesting though, because if I couldn’t fight, at least I could protect myself.

The rest of the week came and went, along with another combat training class. However, I found out that once a week the girls and boys were joined co-ed training class; I completely dreaded it, but it came anyhow.

“Alright girls, today is coed training,” Sarin addressed us, “Today you will be matched up with the boy’s ‘A’ team.”

“Man… can anyone say ‘hotties’?” Lexy said with a laugh.

“What are you talking about?” Aris turned around and said to her.

“Oh, Class A is all of the guys who are administrators. You know… Tyzon, Rexan, Talon and many other good lookin’ men!” She laughed.

“Oh, gotcha,” Aris smiled back.

Just then, the boy’s team walked in with all the pride and arrogance that was possible. I rolled my eyes just looking at their haughty attitude; they thought they had this duel in the bag.

“Hello girls, ready to get beaten?” Tyzon taunted. I just hated it when he liked to stir others up.

“Bring it on!” Lexy challenged back.

“Okay, first is… Sephora and Tyzon,” Sarin announced.

“What?” I said uneasily. I didn’t want to fight him. I turned to look at Aris, Lexy, and the other girls and realized they were all smirking. They set me up! I thought, slightly annoyed.

           We both walked to the middle of the gym where a thin pad was laying on the ground. I did as I was told, albeit not very willingly.

          “I’ll go easy on you, wouldn’t want a lady like yourself to get injured,” Tyzon harassed me.

“Go!” Sarin exclaimed.

“Jerk!” I shouted and with all my pent up anger I shoved him to the ground. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me, but I ignored them. My eyes still burned with fury as I focused my energy on Tyzon.

Suddenly, though, I realized what I had done and I felt horrible. Instantly I shrunk down; my anger dissipated and I took a shaky step back. “I… I’m sorry…” I barely managed to say above a whisper. I held out my hand, offering to help him up.

“Never trust your enemies,” he replied.

“Wha…?” Before I knew it, Tyzon grabbed my wrist and hurled me to the floor, before effortlessly rolling aside and pinning down both of my shoulders.

“They may not be trustworthy,” he finished, his face only inches from mine. He then released my shoulders and stood up, this time offering his hand to me.

Instantly, I sprung up, full of rage and seized his forearm. I yanked it behind his back. “You should learn to take your own advice,” I hissed in his ear. I then dropped his arm and, still filled with anger, I stormed out of the room before anyone could say a word.

*Rexan*

Everyone stood in silence, too stunned by what they had just seen.

“Well… uh…” Sarin started to say awkwardly, “Lexy, Talon, you go next.”

I watched my brother, who was showing no emotion, as he walked back over to where the other guys and I were standing.

“What was that?” I spat under my breath, “If you keep treating her like that she’s gonna hate you! Heck, she might even end up quitting!” My fist automatically balled up. My brother’s somewhat cocky attitude really got to me at times.

“Calm down Rexan, I just had to see her full potential. Anger can be a powerful stimulus. Besides, I won’t do it anymore,” he replied calmly and then left the room.

           Tyzon, you’re a fool! I thought, shaking my head angrily. But then I relaxed a bit when I realized: Even if his methods are somewhat inhumane, I have to admit they produce results.

*Aris*

I walked into our room, pumped up from the coed exercise. I wondered if Sephora would be okay. I hadn’t seen her that mad since… well I couldn’t even remember the last time she had been that mad. As soon as the door slid open, I started talking, thinking she would be there. “Man Sephora! That was totally…” I stopped talking mid-sentence when I realized Sephora actually wasn’t there. I looked around, but she wasn’t anywhere. “Sephora?”

Where could she have gone?!

***

I ran up to Lexy’s door and pounded on it frantically. Finally the door slid open.

“Aris? What’s wrong?” Lexy asked upon seeing my definitely distraught face.

“Sephora’s gone! I can’t find her anywhere!” I threw my hands up in frustration. I checked all the areas I knew that she usually went to, but she wasn’t at any of them.      

“Yikes! We’ll all help you look!”

Lexy, Tyria, and I ran down the hall to get Blythe and Sarin before racing to the officer rooming floor. Lexy pounded on the door to Rexan and Tyzon’s room.

“What’s up girls?” Rexan asked, answering the door.

“Sephora’s gone missing! She’s probably still in the building, but we have to find her!” I said hurriedly.

“Just a minute. Tyzon and I will help look. It’s partially his fault anyhow,” Rexan said, obviously refraining from rolling his eyes, “and this is a big building; you’re gonna need all the help you can get.”