C0NV3RG3 (Sequel to M3RG3)

Chapter 29

"I'll train with Magnus, and you can train with Karen," Oliver instructed.

"Cool," Karen nodded. "Come on, Arista." She smiled, tugging on my arm.

"But wait-" I glanced towards Kyle. He shook his head, sending me a small smile that said, 'I'll be fine'. "Nevermind" I sighed.

"We're going to the garage to test out a bunch of new equipment. Let's see which one fits you." She jammed her thumb into the finger-sized hole next to the door. "Then we can work on that weapon and try to wield it properly."

I bit my lip. "Are you sure Kyle's going to be fine? I mean... Oliver's not that nice to him. And he's nice to everyone."

She shrugged. "I don't know what's going on with those two, but it's their problem, not mine. Besides, we can't afford to be distracted right now, so you might as well let out all your emotional baggage before we go against the Republic."

"But Kyle's going to get slaughtered by Oliver! Literally!" I cried out. Karen ignored my pleas, meticulously studying the identical suitcases on display.

"Karen, what's Oliver's problem? Once you tell me, I'll shut up and we can start training." Instead of answering me, Karen lifted one of the suitcases and opened it.

"I told you, I don't know." She picked up a lumpy piece of plastic and placed it in my hand. "You never got to try the taser."

I stared at the black monstrosity in her outstretched hand, then stared at her incredulously. "Are you serious?"

"Yes."

The smooth handle slid between my sweaty hands. "Okay, so what does it do again?"

She took the taser from me and flicked on a switch. There was a buzzing sound as electricity crackled between the two metal tips. "It electrifies people. Hurts, but doesn't kill. Unless you turn it on to maximum power. Think modern age dagger, so it only works efficiently at a very short distance. It's an excellent weapon to use when you're cornered though."

I raised my eyebrows. "You know I only train with guns. The closest I've come to this was hurtling knives in a simulation."

She shrugged. "Close enough. Now, try not to hurt yourself while I set up the training grounds."

The taser was expectantly light and fit snugly in my hand. Even after turning it on for a full minute, the plastic was still cool to touch.

That looks like an absolute hazard! Natasha shrieked. Put that thing down this instant!

"It's not that bad," I snorted, waving the taser in the air just to prove it. The taser collided with a pillar, leaving two scorch marks. Whoops.

Told you, Natasha harrumphed.

Parts of the floor folded upon themselves, sections of the walls rotating to show a variety of knives and swords. Soon, the floor resurfaced, filled with dummies standing in random locations.

"These are all Republicans that are about to shoot you. You have 30 seconds to take them down with your taser. Here." She tossed me her wristwatch. "Do a countdown for me, will you? 30 seconds on the clock."

I rotated the hand to 30 seconds. "Oh, and I'll need your taser as well," Karen added. "Just for a demonstration."

"It's not mine anyway," I shrugged, dropping it into her palm.

"If you like the taser, it'll be yours." She switched the taser on to setting 2 then posed herself at the 'X', giving me a thumbs up.

I pressed on the 'start' button. Karen instantly launched into action, leaping on the nearest dummy and rocketing herself towards the next, stabbing them in the heart every time she passed them. When there were two dummies left, she kicked down the nearest one, then threw the taser towards the final dummy. It hit the dummy in the centre as it collapsed to the floor.