Time, and other inconsequential things

Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREE

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"Good Morning Dr. Takashiro!" enthused Hayley as she saw the older man enter her chamber. Six months ago she could barely do a pushup and now she was doing handstand pushups and had breath left to greet the Doctor. The gym walls set to depict a desert scene, dust devils crossing a nearly barren plain. M!Tekk's idea of home.

"Good Morning Miss Stewart. You seem in fine spirits today."

"Well, since you won't let me call or write home, I have had to make my three new close friends, my family." She said with a wry laugh. Tucking one arm up to her waist as she continued the pushups, ten on an arm before shifting to the other arm.

"About your 'friends'. The proof that they are real, not that some of us ever doubted, came in this morning. Tyra's stash was precisely where you said it would be. An archeological team is going insane over some of it. Artwork from a hundred cultures we didn't even have names for."

"That'll show them that these guys are all in my head." Hayley laughed. Swinging down to a perfect side split she started a floor routine of flips and spins, never more than one limb on the floor. "And her personal items?"

"Umm, about that. They want to study everything first."

Hayley froze, coming to her feet. Smaller and shorter than the Doctor, she suddenly seemed to tower over him. Her blue eyes now silvering, the pupils narrowed and triangular. In a voice with overtones of a deeper and harsher one, M!Tekk moving forward as Hayley yielded.

"Doctor! We had an agreement! A promise! Are your words, are their words, worth nothing? Is this how We are to be treated? Leave now and don't return without proof that you and they have honor."

Eyes still silver Hayley went into a shadow boxing routine blending moves familiar and unfamiliar into a martial arts routine that a hundred hidden eyes followed avidly. Angered eyes followed, as the Doctor fled.

< Sister, anger isn't always the way. Let us entice the watchers, get them to relax and trust. Some vault doors can never be forced, so you get the owner to open them for you. >

Laughing Tyra stepped in, pushing M!Tekk aside gently. The silver darkened to gold, as her pupils narrowed into thin vertical slits.

< Relax and let it flow through you. Don't fight to attack them, make them fight to come to you. >

Hayley's aggressive kata now became a dance to music unheard. Starting awkwardly and gradually becoming smoother. She danced to each of the cameras as if it were a lover's eyes. M!Tekk's routines taught her strength and to get the most from her muscles. This, now, was actually far harder. Precise movements and gestures. Flexibility and control left her dripping with sweat after an hour.

< Enough for now Sister. Relax and let Krrn guide you. We will continue later. >

Her eyes now the pure blue of her own again she showered. Hayley moved in to the Fresher and let the fine, but forceful mist clean her skin and hair. Letting the air jets dry her skin, as she fluffed her hair in the streamers of air.

Admiring in the mirror how the muscles that had come, added to aid her shape and not distorting it, no bulging muscles gathered in clumps, just a sleek thickening over her entire body. Even to herself, she looked more attractive now, her movements growing in confidence and grace, to match the strength.

< Come child. It is time we do to your mind and soul, what the others are doing to your body. What you have yet to learn is so much more than these Doctors and Watchers can guess. >

< Watchers? >

< The ones behind this, and every mirror here. The ones who have eyes in every corner. >

In a sudden panic Hayley grabbed a robe, pulling it tight around her.

< None of that now Child. Fear has its place and purpose, it warns us, keeps us aware. But never fear the unknown simply because it is unknown. What real harm can Watchers do to you? Yet here you are, heart pounding, muscles twitching, letting Fear rule you. You, must instead learn to rule it! >

Showing Hayley how to reach that inner calm, it took several sessions until she found her core, her Center.

Centering and meditating as Krrn kept attempting to distract and disturb her until the centering became second nature.

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