Chapter Three

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Chapter Three

It's getting pretty late in the day. Standing at attention in the gymnasium, I'm waiting for our usual session to begin.  Master Hi is over by a fold out table, examining some papers in a folder, oblivious to my growing boredom.

Over the course of the last few weeks, we'd made some significant progress.  Not that it was at all easy, or fast, for that matter.  The 'fake attack Master Hi had set up had indeed been to prove a point.  After I'd stumbled back to my barracks, it had taken a while for my exhausted brain to realize what he'd done. Call it the proverbial kick in the pants, but apparently it was just what my dumb ass needed. 

No lie though, I really was shocked that I'd actually managed to defend myself without my abilities.  The whole bit about me losing my cool or whatever, I took that with a grain of salt. Not because I agreed or believed him, it was actually the opposite. I might have proud as hell that I'd fended off my attackers but make no mistake, it had taken everything I'd had to do it. Yes...I'd once been badass, but as far as I was concerned, those days were long gone as long.

My eyes inadvertently drift down to the cuff firmly embedded in the skin of my wrist. I find myself staring at it a lot these days.

Of course, after the bruises had faded and the attack was a distant memory, I was still bothered by the incident. It was apparent that not only was the topic of Vanessa still raw for me, but I was also fucking transparent. Master Hi had known to use my affection for her against me and it had been more than effective. Where Mitchell had been right about it being too dangerous for me to be around her, the distance didn't seem to be helping the wounds heal either. 

Master Hi seems engrossed in whatever he's reading which I greatly appreciate when I can't fight off jaw cracking yawn. I'm so damn tired from the days activities, Id rather just go take a nap.  Up at 4:30 every morning, we first had to complete the prerequisite morning jog and weight training, then a quick breakfast which was then followed by time in tactical and then it was to the pool for cold water training.  After lunch, it was another jog, then calisthenics before a two hour classroom review of naval policy and procedure.  Dinner had been barely edible, mainly because one of my shipmates thought it would be a great idea to dump and entire shaker of salt on my meatloaf. 

I was getting tired of being the butt of jokes amongst the crew, but at least they'd stopped calling me a cripple. I also hadnt been in a physical fight with them since that attack in the woods several weeks ago.  Word had gotten around quick about my handling of the two RDCs.  I'd passed one of them in the hall a few days after the incident, catching the appraising look from his swollen black eye, but hadnt said anything.  Nothing needed to be said.  The other guy, I never did see him afterwards, but with the cracked ribs and concussion, the infirmary decided to keep him for a while to be on the safe side. 

There'd been lots of other improvements, like that I could run the 1.5 miles every morning and afternoon now pretty easily without getting winded and was pressing some significant weight in the gym.  My frame was bulking up nicely too, which indeed helped in deterring any more sparring matches with my bunkmates. 

Master Hi had definitely made his point. I'd been behaving like a pussy.  More so, that my missing abilities were not everything there was to me, I could be more.

 So, Aiden.  Master Hi says finally, turning from the table he had been facing to look at me.  You and I only have two more weeks together here before you are transferred off base, so lets make every minute count, hum?

Wait, where am I going?  I ask, tilting my head in confusion. No one had mentioned anything to me about my being transferred. 

California.  Mitchell feels you are in need of a bit more in-depth training.  Hi approaches me, and then completes the customary bow.

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