A New Beginning

Chapter Three

The next morning, Elizabeth trotted through the fort, keeping one eye on her path and one eye on the clear skies above her. It was nice and cool outside, and she had had no luck finding Joann and Anastasia. Julia had slept in, garbling to Elizabeth when she attempted to wake her. She had said something about a day off and 'not all of us run on batteries.' Thus, Elizabeth was left to wander around the fort looking for the rest of her companions. It was a rest day- a scarce but heavenly day. The Agents had different ways of spending their day. There were those like Julia, who caught up on their sleep, and there were those like Joann and Anastasia that disappeared. With a sigh, Elizabeth pushed open the doors to the training pit, a large stretch of sand closed off by a fence. It was the last place they could be, and also the last place she had to check. If they weren't here, they were probably off visiting family. Somehow she doubted it, but as she lifted her gaze, she saw the two of them sparring. Sweat glistened on their foreheads, and Anastasia's hair was wilder than usual. They both looked exhausted, yet enjoying themselves. Joann was fighting with a wicked looking sword, long with jagged edges. Its hilt was gold. It reminded Elizabeth of lightning and thunder. Anastasia was using that odd one-handled curve blade (that she had heard the girl affectionately refer to as "Zweihander"). Joann had just swung at Anastasia's middle and Anastasia flung up her sword and the two blades collided with a screech. She slid back a little, but digging her heels into the sand, Anastasia stopped. She then pushed Joann off with Zweihander, then slashed at her neck. Joann parried and ducked under Anastasia's arm, jabbing her sword up. But Anastasia saw that coming. Once Joann had popped up, Anastasia was already behind her, the tip of her blade in the small of Joann's back.

"Checkmate," Panted Anastasia. Was that a smile tugging at the corners of her lips?

"Not today," Joann puffed, and whirled around, knocking Zweihander out of Anastasia's hands. With a smirk, Anastasia dropped to the floor and rolled away as Joann advanced. The Russian girl fluidly slid up with her blade firmly in her grip. Joann laughed and lowered her weapon.

"Truce?" She asked. Anastasia shrugged.

"Sounds good to me," She offered her hand, "Good fight. You're getting better, that's for sure." Joann snickered, shaking Anastasia's hand.

"Right back at you," She said, then noticed Elizabeth. "Oh! Good morning, rookie." She sauntered up to the girl. "Did you witness me beat the crap out of Anastasia?"

"Oh, please." Scoffed the latter, coming up behind Joann, "I wiped the floor with you."

"I just came in on the truce part," Elizabeth grinned.

"Oh," The other two harmonized.

"What are you planning to do on your off day?" Joann asked, pulling a towel off a hook on the wall and mopping her face with it.

"I don't know," shrugged Elizabeth, "I just kind of wanted to get a little more acquainted with the Fort... Besides, I don't know how to fight yet." With her last words, the faces of the two seniors lit up.

"You don't? Well, you may as well learn from the best," Joann said, buffering her nails on her shirt, "Come, and let me teach you."

"Ha!" Anastasia nudged Joann aside with her shoulder and turned to Elizabeth, "You want to learn how to fight, I'll show you. Do you have a weapon?"

"Negative, ma'am," Elizabeth replied and Anastasia sighed.

"Let's go, Joann, looks like we have to start from square one!" And she was off in the direction of the armory, leaving Joann and Elizabeth scrambling to catch up with her. As they entered, they were greeted with the already-familiar scent of the building, and headed straight down an isle.