create

14. changing matters

They stepped out into a plain-looking room after a short drive, and Sylver thought nothing of it until the elevator doors closed and the hologram started. In an instance the empty room turned into a training hall, with a rack of weapons to her left and four figures that looked like humanlike robots standing at the back next to each other. It was amazing.
"Eyelash had the right idea, but I think she underestimated you and your physical abilities. She intended to give you a workout routine first and let you fight afterwards, but from what I see and from what Ass told me about your break-in, you are in prime condition and do not lack strength. I think you mainly need combat training and then you need to develop your elemental abilities as well of course, but when you can come in close at least half of the people in this compound can suddenly not rely on their elements anymore, and if you then have the stronger physique and technique you have won immediately. Furthermore, with your element you will be such a formidable opponent that you don't have to rely on it as heavily as many others do on theirs. So as soon as you can control one aspect you will be good for now!", Matt explained while activating one of the robots, which immediately walked into the middle of the room fluidly. While he went to pick up weapons Sylver asked him, "I still do not know which element I am supposed to be able to control, but right now I have a more important question: Will you train me now, all of a sudden? You specifically told Eyelash to do it, but now you are here. And you are a Squad Captain, meaning you being here is going to be really suspicious, making it even harder for you to add me to your collection of misfits. What made you take this risk?"
Matt chuckled, "Oh, I won't take over for Eyelash, I'm just tagging in now because we have to check whether you two told us the truth. If it was a lie then Ass will take over for her. But I will train you with your elemental abilities. I talked to the people up top and they concluded that nobody else would be safe with you being in the same room if you don't have your powers under control yet. My ability is the perfect way to keep others safe." He walked up to Sylver and pressed a sword into her right hand, which she inspected in awe. "Oh, and in case you are wondering... this hologram is real. A... let's say friend of mine can control reality in a remote area, creating illusions that really appear, and this room is his most prized possession. I have tried to get him into Squad 0 for ages but he has no interest in leaving his room much. So be careful. You can get hurt in here. You can die in here if you aren't careful enough.", he explained, answering Sylver's questions before she could ask them.
But one thing still lay heavily on her mind. "Where did Eyelash learn to fight like this? And what makes her fight the way she does?"
Matt didn't answer at first, instead he turned around and picked up an axe which he started swinging around a bit in fluid and deadly motions.
"I don't know what Ass told you already. I met her 10 years ago, when I myself was only 15 years old. I was, and still am I guess, the youngest person in The Cave to have ever been made a captain, just because of my powers. I knew I couldn't do it alone though, so I chose the most capable person to accompany me that I could find. Ass was a prime choice, she was 21 years old and the best fighter still available, and even though her powers were of no immediate use for me at my young age, she still was a fine addition. And Snuff I found in a small cabin on a search for one of the Count's sixtuplets. He had his own unique powers, and we never found out from where, but he was kind to us and afraid that he would kill even more people than just his entire family, including his three younger siblings. But I promised him I would train him, and to help him control his powers, and he hasn't had to use them in years. And then, on my 20th birthday, I found this girl in the ranks of new recruits. She was only 14. And everyone who was in a room with her ended up dead after a few days. Everyone who laughed at her eyes, or name, or powers, she put into a hospital or a grave. She was just misunderstood. But she wasn't strong. She killed them with anything sharp she could get her hands on, out of the dark, at night, never openly. Nobody could actually ever proof it was her. Until I was asked to go to her with Ass. She of course found out immediately, but I didn't tell on Eyelash. I talked to her. She was intruiged by me because of my ability. And I promised to train her. And so I did. My Squad 0 was lacking someone like her. Someone to scout for and kill everyone. Snuff was the best at killing. But he dislikes it. Ass was good in finding out more about new locations, and in incapacitating enemies. But they both were combined in Eyelash. And I made her the ultimate killing machine. Because that is what she loves the most. She loves fighting dirty. She loves pain. She loves death. And I made her like she is now.", Matt told her without turning around.
Oh wow. Oh fuck. Eyelash was dangerous. Really dangerous. She was unpredictable. But Matt was more dangerous. He seemed to be sane, and still he seemed to know the exact fighting stile Eyelash was using. Sylver was scared. Really scared. She was going to die. And it was going to be in a totally painful way.
"Step back!", he suddenly said, turning towards the robot, "Activate Eta One!"
The robot's face turned towards Matt. It was slightly bigger and way broader than him, and it didn't seem to be slowed down by these factors. The Eta One materialised two curved swords out of nowhere into its hands and lurched forward, towards Matt, who rolled forward, holding the axe above him while he did so, blocking a strike coming right for his neck. Wow.
He came to his feet easily behind the Eta One and stepped back instead of trying to get a hit in, which confused Sylver at first before she saw that the robot had turned a sword around in its hand and had stabbed it backwards, right where Matt would've been if he had tried to strike. That was some serious foresight.
But the Eta One was not satisfied with that result, as it spun around with blinding speed, the other sword swinging in a wide arc. But Matt caught the blade with the axe's handle, and with a sharp twist he ripped it from the Eta One's hand. Instead of clattering on the ground it just evaporated, while Matt stepped back to avoid the Mech's wild hacking swings. But he seemed calm, unlike Eyelash who had laughed out loud. Matt enjoyed it, she could see it in the ease of his every move as he stepped away, then back in, rolled, ducked, slashed, blocked. It was graceful and more controlled than Eyelash's.
"Why is that such a surprise for you, dumbass? Eyelash clearly isn't mentally stable!", her brain told her.
"She's very hot though!", Sylver thought back.
"That's the only reason why you won't admit that he looks far better while fighting than she does!", came the backlash, and then, "Aaaaand now you missed how he decapitated the big bad robot. Great job, dumbass!"
"You will learn how to fight like this when you get to join Squad 0. If you wanna get out now and die without resistance in a week, last chance!", Matt said, not breaking a single sweat, while walking up to her.
"Idk Matt, a sudden painless death sounds better than to be taken apart by someone fighting like you...", Sylver said in awe, and yet with fear in her heart. She was no fighter. She was a trickster, someone who could sneak in and out and away, not die, die and die.
"I can reassure you", he answered, getting up her hopes for a split second. "Nobody in here will grant you a painless or sudden death. Everyone that doesn't want in wants to see Squad 0 suffer one way or another, and you were brought here by me and quite a few people, well those that lived to see another day, saw you and Eyelash together. I'm sorry that we did this to you, but at the same time... after training with us, you'll have the best chances of survival in here that are possible.", he crushed her hopes, and then went on to crush her spirit as well, "Now, the Eta Four is our weakest mode we have. I won't give it a weapon right now, but even so it could kill you with its bare hands. I will step in if that seems to be happening, but until then I will just watch you, see how your reflexes work, look at your technique and what of it we will improve. Oh, and don't try to have fun. Try to live, you can have fun another time. Activate Eta Four!"