Citadel (Book 1): Training in Necessity (8 page)

"Of course.  I welcome any advice you might choose to give me."

Private Residence

Jason checked his incubator.  There were six vials, three of which were ready.  First, he added a little water to all six.  Then, he prepared three new vials and made the transfer.  Nine.  His mother had said that the initial progress would be slow but, as the older vials matured, the rate of increase should be exponential.  Having completed the first of his daily tasks, Jason moved to the next.  Dressing, then breakfast.  This should be an interesting day.

Jason arrived at the table; Isaac and Hector were both present.  Isaac had coffee.  Hector was eating.  They were not speaking to each other.  Previously, they had stated that their rift was healed.  Did this silence mean that it had worsened, again?

"Good morning Hector, Isaac." he said.

"Morning."  Isaac did not look up from his coffee.

"Hey, Jason."  Hector stood, and moved towards the stove.  "Just a sec and I'll have your food ready."

"Thank you Hector.  As I have said in the past, it is not necessary to provide it."  This issue left Jason conflicted.  On the one hand, Hector had stated a reasonable motive for the act.  On the other, it left Jason feeling... indebted?

"It’s no problem man." the duplicator replied.  "Like I said, I'm cooking for nine already, what's three more?"

"Thank you."  Jason took a seat.  That was a good point, and one he had not considered, fully.  If Hector was already preparing food for a variable, but significant, number of bodies, then the addition of Jason's meal did not constitute a genuine burden.  He decided that the feeling of debt was justified, but its extent was exaggerated.  He would try to remember to behave accordingly.

"If neither of you minds telling me, what are your plans for the day?" he asked, then began to eat the food that Hector provided.

"You didn't check the schedule?  Mine showed up last night." Hector replied.  Isaac remained silent.  The older man had only spoken briefly.  He seemed to be paying attention to nothing but his morning drink.  Perhaps his dispute was with Jason, not Hector?

"I did, however I was not challenged by anyone."  Was that enough?  No, he should volunteer something.  It would make the others feel closer to him if he exposed a small vulnerability.  "I did not think it wise to challenge anyone else, either.  My current ranking is higher than I deserve.  If my first opponent, Anna Insight, had not yielded, I would probably have lost the match."

Hector snorted.  The food was spicier than Jason was used to.  Perhaps it was bothering his roommate, as well?

"I'm sure you're fine, kid." Isaac had looked up, rapidly, before answering.  He must have been startled by Hector's sudden, sharp noise.  "I don't know what you can do, but if the Citadel took you, then it must be impressive."  If he had trouble sleeping, this might account for the lack of attention.  Perhaps it was a chronic problem.  That would also explain the older man's high consumption of coffee, each morning.

"Well, yeah.  None of us have a fight scheduled this weekend, but that's not what I meant."  Hector stopped speaking for a moment, then continued.  "Most of the scheduled matches are people going after the high ranks.  The number one guy got at least half a dozen challenges."  Jason had not considered the schedule's value, beyond checking to see if he was listed.  "Oh, and that jackass Duncan's taking on the coach.  I hope he gets his ass kicked."

"Which do you mean?"

"Um, actually, either one.  I mean, Duncan's been going out of his way to offend half the class, and Coach Achala's the one who came up with that ridiculous training schedule we're on."  Hector smiled.  Jason was not sure which type of smile it was.  "It’s pretty much win-win.

I'm planning to spend a big part of my day at the Sparring Fields.  Should be a good show."  Hector shrugged.  "Other than that, I'm just going to do some training and play some video games.  You're welcome join me at any of them."

"Thank you.  I believe I will accompany you to the Sparring Fields."

"Anyone seen Kelly yet?  I've been meaning to talk to him."  Isaac asked.  Jason did not know the shapeshifter's location.  Kelly often came and went, without using the door.

"Oh, yeah.  He's off with Kerry and Samantha.  Said something about getting in a flight, before the challenges start."  It made sense that Hector would be aware.  At any given time, at least one of his duplicates seemed to be in the house and active.

"I believe Kerry is Keridwyn Dragon.  Who is Samantha?"  The dragon shifter was both powerful and distinctive.  Kelly was making valuable allies.

"Samantha Soar.  The flying girl?"  He had noticed 'the flying girl', but not known her name.  "She usually spends lunch with Kelly and Jenny."    Initially, he had dismissed her as irrelevant.  Perhaps there was more to her abilities than he realized?  "Anyway, I don't know how many fliers we have, but those three really seem to get a kick out of it.  They've been meeting up to fly in together, every morning."

"I've got... an appointment at the Tower.  If either of you sees him, before I get back, you mind telling him I'd like to talk?"  Isaac asked.  Hector and Jason both indicated their agreement.  "Good.  I'm worried he's been cutting class.  I know this isn't quite the military, but that can't be something they'll overlook.  Not if he keeps it up."

The Sparring Field

Jason and the three Hectors found the area in use by their class with little difficulty.  Other domes were clearly active, but the ones they sought were the same ones they had used on Monday.  Several of their training mates had arrived before them, others shortly after.  The group was most heavily concentrated around three healers and Coach Achala, who was addressing the crowd.

"Yes, you may watch any match in progress.  Each dome will list the combats scheduled for the day, as well as their times, when it is not in use.  I'd suggest you take this opportunity to decide which ones you want to watch."  With that, the coach had apparently completed his speech.  He accompanied one of the healers to a dome.  The other each went to separate ones.

"Excuse me?"  A female trainee had approached him.  "Jason, I mean, Trainee Grim, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Hey, no problem guys."  The nearest Hector responded.  "I'll just meet you by the dome, okay Jason?"  The four separated.  Evidently, Hector had correctly anticipated the number of combat rooms that would be in use.  He made a note to ask about that.

"You are Anna Insight, yes?"  The one who had yielded rather than fight him.  "It is a pleasure to see you again."

"No.  No it isn't.  Please... don't be mad, but I know when you're lying.  You don't have to."  He looked around, alone for the moment.

"Very well.  It was an empty courtesy.  I had no strong preference between seeing you again or not."  He had been correct.  She was likely a telepath, or something similar.  "Why have you approached me?"

"I... because Director Shift told me to ask you..."

"Yes?"  She had initiated this discussion.  Why was she taking so long to get to the point?

"Monday.  When we...  when we fought, you killed someone.  Before, I mean."  What?  "Fourteen.  You killed fourteen people, just for your own comfort, and to help you in the fight."

"Explain.  How do you know that?"

"It’s my power.  I'm, Insight, right?"  She looked away, then back.  "I see things when I look at people."

"Their minds?  You saw my thoughts?"  It might be necessary to-

"No!"  Her voice was much louder, briefly.  "I can't read minds!  I just see things.  Like, I saw your power, what you can do.  And… and I saw a little bit of what you're like.  Your motivations and- and what you want."

"So you knew that I could have killed you."

"Yes."  Her voice was much quieter now.

"That does not explain your reaction, or Director Shift's involvement.  Many of the trainees can kill almost as easily as I."

"But you didn't care.  You killed those people just to fight more easily, and, I think, because one annoyed you?  I had to tell the Director."

"And she told you to ask me?"  Now he understood.  "I assume that if my answer is not satisfactory, she will carry out her threat?"

"Yes."  She was looking away again.

"How many lives did you say I had taken?"

"Fourteen."

He believed he had understood her behavior correctly.  She refused to look him in the eye, keeping her head down, speaking softly, it was behavior that his books characterized as 'submissive.'  She was afraid of him and did not wish to provoke him.  Jason felt satisfaction.  He rarely understood the emotional reasoning of others so well.

"I killed a fly.  It was buzzing around my face and using my power took less effort than swatting it.  The rest were plants."

"Oh."  She looked up, slowly, then rapidly looked away after she met his eyes.

She already respected his power, now that she knew he would not kill carelessly, perhaps he could recruit her as an asset?

"Would you like to watch the fight between Duncan Nightmare and Coach Achala?"  A friendly gesture should be sufficient to start the process.  "It should be very informative."

"No."  She shook her head.  "I- I don't want to be anywhere nearby if Duncan's going to be fighting.  I'll come back later, for my fight with Warp."  She smiled, then turned quickly and departed.

Jason was pleased.  Though she had declined the offer, it was clear that she was open to a friendship with him.

The match began, like the ones in which Jason had participated, with both fighters speaking to a healer.  Presumably, each was explaining their defensive abilities so that the grey clad healer could determine the correct threshold for lethal damage.  It was impressive that Coach Achala's role as a direct participant did not seem to be changing the Healer's behavior.  In his experience, such respect for procedure was found only when the rules genuinely fit the situation.

The dome's entire wall turned transparent, after the two had entered.  Jason did not know whether this was genuine transparency or simply a real-time image.  Given the quality of video technology that the Citadel had at its disposal, distinguishing would be next to impossible.  Even so, there was still no sound. 

Achala performed a polite bow then spoke to his opponent.  Duncan gave no evidence of replying to the combat instructor.  He simply stood, his customary expression on his face.  Jason had given that expression a great deal of thought.  His initial inclination had been to label it 'contempt.'  This seemed to fit Hector's remarks, however... something seemed wrong with that assessment. 

Jason was just self-aware enough to realize that one of his common emotional reactions to others could be given the same label.  It never evoked a need to act in him, not the way it seemed to do for Duncan.

"Jason.  Hey, Jason."

"Oh.  I apologize Hector.  I was lost in thought and did not realize you had approached." he answered his friend.

"It's cool.  Just wondered if you had any idea what Duncan can do?"  Hector was staring at the other.  His expression was a near perfect match for his mother's description of 'concentration.'

"His performance in Physical Conditioning leads me to believe that he is a Strong type.  However, you should know that as well as I."

"Yeah, but there's gotta be more to it than that.  He's ranked sixth in the class and Nightmare doesn't really fit a Strong type."

"Interesting.  I suppose we shall learn shortly."  Hector's point was valid.  Duncan had consistently performed at about the same level as Isaac.  Yet, Jason's older roommate was ranked much lower.

An audible tone came from the dome.  Jason did not know if that had been the case during previous matches but he was certain it was the signal to begin.  Nevertheless, neither combatant had changed their stance.  Coach Achala was crouched, slightly, his hands up and ready to react.  Duncan was just standing there, his hands on his hips.

Something was wrong though.  Jason could not recognize the cause but the crowd was reacting.  He heard noises coming from the others, and motion.  Most were pulling back from the combat room.

"Hector?"  His stomach was clenched.  "Hector, please."  His heart was beating rapidly and his breathing was labored.  "Hector, I don't know what I'm feeling!"  Jason gripped his friend's arm.

"It's fear, Jason.  Everyone's feeling it."

The combat room was changing.  Its light grew dimmer, the combatants’ shadows grew darker.  It made no sense.  Duncan seemed to be getting larger.  His expression changed.  It was cruel, threatening.  Jason didn't understand.  He was in no danger.  Why was he so affected?

"Jason, relax.  It's not that bad.  Duncan- he's projecting it."

Yes.  Yes, of course.  It was obvious.  How had he not been able to see that?  Jason concentrated on his breathing, his heart, felt himself relaxing.  It took some time.  He was not aware of anything else until he had finished.

Duncan was attempting to extricate himself from the wall, near Coach Achala's exit.  Apparently, while Jason was distracted, he had charged and the instructor had dodged.  Jason wondered why Achala was not taking advantage of his opponent's temporary disability.