create

18. assAssination protocol

How often in a single night could one be awakened rudely? Very often it seemed, as when Sylver opened her eyes again she heard people fighting, and Matt standing over her this time.
"This is getting kind of old... can't anyone stand anywhere else?", Sylver asked while sitting up, seeing Ass pressing Eyelash to the ground in the middle of the room, "And leave Eyelash alone for once! She saved me again, and she only did good things for me personally so far, even though she killed a bunch of other guys I guess... anyways, I would have been stabbed tonight if she had not come to my rescue!"
Ass looked up at her, surprised, just like Matt looked at her with an unreadable expression, and Eyelash laughed, "This has been fun! I'm taking care of dear Sylver, I hope you will realise that already! Now, dear Ass, could you get off my arm? Don't get me wrong, I love the throbbing intense pain in my wounded hand, but I should probably get that looked at if I want to get my second surgery soon..."
Ass got off Eyelash and also helped her up, and after lifting up her healthy hand the left eye winked at her before she turned around and left the room.
"Are you sure you are alright?", Matt asked her, and as Sylver nodded he said, "Alright, I will leave you with Ass today, she will make sure yesterday was not just luck on your side, and she will also ask you about last night, but I have to be on my way, for one part to make sure Eyelash can still have the mentioned surgery, and for another to find out who sent out assassins after you both. Well, after you, Eyelash only has enemies outside of Snuff and me, and now it seems also you... anyways, try not to get killed by Ass today, I will see you in three days when I tell you about your element and train you!"
And with those discouraging words he also left, leaving Ass standing in the room and staring at Sylver.
"So... I heard you are afraid of me...?", Sylver asked, and Ass actually smiled at these words and said, "Later, now you should get dressed, it's time I taught you how to fight!"

During the session Sylver lost every sense of time, her body enjoyed all the working out, she basically sparked with energy, and Ass looked satisfied with her overall condition, even though she absolutely got beaten up by her.
"I see you definitely have street fighter qualities and skills in you, and you also are in prime physical condition! And I see your replaced knee and hand work perfectly!", Ass told her after having thrown her over her hip for the third time as in many minutes, "We are done for today, with the physical evaluation and workout!"
Beautiful words to Sylver's ears, as she really did not want to be hurt more, despite her body neither feeling exhausted nor hungry nor sore at all for whatever reason.
"From what I can tell you are a really good teacher! You rather show than tell, and you make me realise how to improve on my own!", Sylver told her, and Ass smiled at her before answering, "Thank you. I see potential in you you know, I think you could outdo us all, even Matt! The thing about us Outcasts is that the core group, not counting Wildcards, he is a whole other topic, has no long-range abilities, unlike most elementals who can shoot their fire or acid or whatever wherever they want, killing hundreds in a single attack. Us, we have only our wits and limbs to defeat opponents, and we are powerless against firearms and long-range opponents. And yet we have the highest kill-count and the biggest success-rate in the entire Cave, without counting Snuff's kills even! And he, oh that man... he is the most dangerous being in the world, the deadliest, a unique god among men and women... sorry, excuse my little crush, I'm daydreaming again... anyways, we are this deadly because Matt focuses on close combat, something everyone in the Cave is good at but nobody exceeds Matt and Eyelash and obviously me! We learned from him how to get around our weakness from afar by getting in close, something basically no Elemental can defend against except for with their own arms and legs. And we also learned to study our enemies, figure out how they fight and what ways they use their elements, and then counter them effectively. We are unbeatable and dangerous because we do not rely on our elements to fight, and that is why you won't either, even though you could do things nobody else could... so anyways, I should explain now why I am afraid of you! My art is quite exquisite, it cannot be fought except by a very special individual, namely Matt. Of course I do not enjoy looking into Eyelash's memories, as she is just straight-up nuts, and I never looked into Snuff's head out of respect to him and his abilities, and Wildcards... well his thoughts do not make any sense and his psyche is a bit unstable... but all of them I could trap in their own minds, no problem, just not Matt. And that makes me very afraid of him, because everybody else I can see through. He is a hard case to crack and we actually are working on ways to get through to him, but nothing works. And then suddenly you came along. I can trap you in your own mind, I can see what I need to find out, but you can fight back. Not consciously, but suddenly and out of nowhere, through that strange... thing you can do... and nobody could ever fight back, nobody could oppose me. And losing the status of being an undefeatable goddess is scary, I got cocky and you taught me not to be. So I do fear you, especially as you seem to have activated this strange thing yesterday while fighting the Eta Four from what Matt told me, even though he has no idea that you did and I also did not tell him about it in case you are wondering. Oh, regarding that, you should probably tell Matt about that, before he sends you into a fight you can't win without that ability, because fainting afterwards will get you straight-up killed! You know, nobody ever defeated the Eta Four in their first battle, and now he wants you to best the Eta Two without weapons, a task even I and Eyelash struggle with... so be careful, it would be a shame to lose such a talented interesting individual! Now, I was tasked with looking into last night's memories. Before I do, did your... ability activate?"
Wow, Ass could talk, and talk, and talk. Sylver had wanted to chime in a few times, but once Ass was in a roll she seemed difficult to stop.
"It did not, and I really don't know what happened last night other than that Eyelash saved me and that it felt like I was stabbed in the side, but I did not it seems as there is no wound... oh and Ass? Could you not go back too far? I do not really want you to know how confused I am about Eyelash...", Sylver answered, aware of how hot-red her face was turning.
"Oh my, poor Sylver has a crush on the maniac... you are not the first and you won't be the last, but that may be your last mistake... but okay, I will start straight at the attack, I promise!", Ass answered, and then added, "You are very nice and I think we can become good friends! But if you activated that thing yesterday and you lied to me you will feel worse pain than when your family died!"
And with those cheerful words Ass lay her hand on Sylver's scalp and they were thrown back into last night.