Eureka Seven: Blank Pages
Fan Fiction by Dan
All places, characters, references copyright 2005/2006 Bones Studios
Prologue
"So, what is it you want me to do again?"
"Train her in the fighting arts." The younger man asked.
"I see," The older man replied, all the while looking upon the girl who, to the older man's trained eye, seemed to be all of eleven or twelve years old.
Dressed in a black military skirt jacket, the type worn by the female S.O.F - complete with the thigh holster for small caliber pistols, teal green hair held back by three gold hairclips - and the most unemotional, unfeeling eyes… Like a blank sheet of paper…the older man thought…the girl stood, motionless outside the entrance of the S.O.F. Training hall.
"So, I guess it is true then, about the death of Adrock Thurston?" the older man quietly asked.
"Yes," the young man replied. "I was asked by my older brother to oversee her training."
The older man stated, already knowing what the younger man would say, "I understand, although I don't know why you have brought her here. I have sources that say she is quite the LFO pilot."
"Teacher, there is more to fighting with an LFO, than just being able to manipulate the controls."
"I see you have remembered something of my teachings…unlike most of my students," The older man remarked, smiling on the inside. "What is it I always say?"
The younger man smiled. "That within thirty days, we will have forgot everything that you taught us, except that you were loud, and made weird noises, and put us in a lot of pain."
Laughing out loud, the older man slapped the younger man on the back. "Well Holland, let's see what we can do about teaching this young girl the art of 'putting hands of healing' on people."
Looking outside the entrance, Master Instructor Marcus smiled motioning for the girl to enter the training hall.
A girl, whom Holland had told him, whose name was…
…Eureka.
Chapter One
Introductions
Eureka stood quietly outside the entrance of the building, watching as the person she recently learned whose name was Holland, talking to who she thought to be an older man.
A little taller in height and of the same build as Holland, wearing a black ball cap, black t-shirt, khaki colored pants, his feet clad in sturdy trail running shoes…a sharp contrast to the crisp uniform of the Federation's Special Operations Forces Holland was wearing…arms and face tanned from being out in the elements, the older man looked at her, a soft look in his eyes that belayed their intensity, as if trying to pierce through her.
He is different from the people at Tresor…Eureka thought. Although his eyes, they remind me of …
The older man began to laugh at something that Holland said and, slapping him on the back, formed what Adrock had called a "smile" and looking very intently at Eureka, nodded his head for her to come over to him and Holland.
Unsure of what the gesture meant, Eureka continued to stand still and, looking back at the two men, cocked her head to the side in a very inquisitive manner.
"Did I do something wrong?" Marcus asked looking over at Holland.
"Sorry Marcus. Eureka!" Holland yelled, his voice echoing through the large training hall. "Come here."
Eureka walked towards the two. Very unsure, the way she carries herself…and to pilot the archetype they way she does…Marcus observed as the girl made her way into the Training Hall.
"Major Marcus, this is Eureka." Holland said introducing her.
"Hello, Eureka (you-reek ah)!" Marcus said still smiling, purposely mispronouncing her name and extending his hand.
Holland was about to correct his former teacher, but Eureka surprised him by speaking first.
"It's Eureka (eh'reck ah)…" The girl said, staring blankly at the hand in front of her.
Taking note of Holland's stupefied expression, Marcus said, "I am sorry. Let me see." Marcus paused, contemplating for a bit.
"Ah, yes Nihon naming conventions. E's are A's, I's are E's, and so forth. Let me try this again. Hello! Eureka!" He repeated, correctly this time. "My name is Marcus, Master Instructor here at S.O.F. Pleased to meet you!"
Eureka stood there silently looking at the outstretched hand.
Holland spoke up, breaking the awkwardness of the moment. "It's ok Eureka; he is someone you can trust."
Looking up at Holland, she reluctantly took the offered hand.
Someone I can trust? Eureka thought.
Grasping Eureka's hand above her wrist with his other hand, Marcus noted how warm her pale skin felt, in sharp contrast to her personality. Very unemotional, her response, to my mispronouncing her name…Marcus thought, and now, looking into Eureka's eyes, not noticeable outside of the training hall, but now, being able to look up close…
Controlling his emotions, so as to not let Holland notice his surprise…and lest there be other eyes watching…at first what he took for contact lenses, Marcus now noticed them for what they really were.
Intriguing, He thought. Lavender, with a red ring around the pupil…Almost exactly like…Marcus quickly quelled that thought, pushing it back behind the emotional barrier he had erected since 'that' day. He continued thinking…But still unemotional, a blank page….like you are waiting for something, or somebody.
Looking over at Holland, then back to the girl whose hand he still held, Marcus leaned in close to her ear and whispered to Eureka, just loud enough for Holland to hear, "You, my young lady, are not what you seem."
Eureka's eyes widened, glancing at Holland who became very irritated all of a sudden.
Ignoring Holland, still holding Eureka by the hand and looking straight into those big, unearthly eyes, Marcus, for a moment, was reminded of the eyes of another young girl, softened the intensity of his stare, and with a sullen softness in his tone that took Holland by surprise, Marcus said, "It's ok, Eureka."
Eureka stared right back into the Master Instructor's dark brown eyes, not able to look away…and for a moment recalled the eyes of another who had looked upon her with the same caring look.
Like how a father would look into his daughter's eyes.
…Caring… Compassionate.
Someone I can trust….
Then letting go of Eureka's hand and motioning to her and Holland, Marcus smiled again, and going back into "instructor mode" called out in that voice-that loud booming voice that Holland remembered so well…
"Holland! Eureka...Office!"
"They just went into his office, sir."
The "Observer" was watching from a safe distance, so as not to be noticed, he hoped.
Silence…The Observer listened through the concealed earpiece in his right ear.
"No sir" He replied, putting down the high powered view scope. "Holland did not say anything that would give away what she really is."
Speaking into an encrypted transmitter/receiver the Observer continued his report.
"Although, we might have a problem with the Master Instructor," he continued, choosing his words carefully. One did not last long around his superior by being "inept." "He leaned close next to her; his hat tilted such, so that I could not read his lips."
Silence….
"No sir. Even accounting for the trappar interference, whatever he said it was too low for the sonic receiver to pick up."
Silence…
"I am not sure, sir. Holland became rather irritated at some point, but the Master Instructor showed no sign if he noticed, which I am sure he must have."
Silence…
"Very well, Lieutenant Colonel. I will stay on station here until they leave…Out."
Interview
Holland sat down in the Master Instructor's office, upset for being "bothered" by the comment Marcus had so casually made to Eureka.
He wondered if this was the right thing to do. I mean, come on…He thought. Why would my older brother want this instructor? This instructor of all the other Master Instructors! The guy could see through almost anything.
Holland remembered a time not so long ago, standing outside this very office, hands at his sides along with another classmate, friend, Charles Beams, wondering silently how the Master had known about them breaking curfew to catch a few "waves".
They were sure that there was no way he could have known.
Holland smiled at the memory.
In a rather loud voice, the Master Instructor commented that if the two of them had remembered the Fifth S.O.F. rule, "To exit an area with out leaving a trace," the Command Master-at-Arms might not have noticed the ruts cut into the ground from repeated failed attempts at "new" tricks by their Ref boards.
I used up a lot of toothbrushes that weekend cleaning the male head…He recalled, remembering Marcus stopping by to check up on the two of them.
"Sorry for your bad luck," the Master Instructor had said on his way out, his own ref board in hand.
Eureka silently stood next to the seated Holland.
"Eureka. Please have a seat. You are making me nervous standing there."
Although Marcus said it in a serious tone, he smiled at her.
Sitting down next to Holland, Eureka noticed that he looked younger than he actually was; Well, until he took off his cap.
Laughing at her sudden wide-eyed expression, Marcus told her.
"You can blame Holland for this. Before I worked for the Military, I actually had as much hair as he does," he said, rubbing his bare scalp. "Dealing with all the problems that you young guys caused made me loose it!"
"Hey don't blame me." Holland said, chuckling as well.
Eureka just sat there.
…Emotionless….
…Looking between the two men, taking it all in.
…An empty book.
Looking around the office, Eureka noticed how very tidy it was. Nothing out of its place, everything was clean and spotless. Glancing above Marcus's left shoulder, she spotted a picture of a familiar face.
The Picture showed Adrock and Marcus standing in front of one of the newer Terminus type LFO's that was being developed by the Engineers at the Tresor Research Facility for use by the S.O.F.
Seeing her eyes, Marcus turned in his chair. "Would you like to have a closer look, Eureka?"
Not waiting for her to respond, he stood, reached around and lifted the photo off the wall. Walking around the desk, he knelt down next to Eureka, placing the image on her lap.
"…Adrock…. Thurston…" Eureka quietly said almost to herself as she picked up the picture. After a pause, she looked at Holland. Then, looking down into Marcus's eyes, she asked. "You knew him?"
"Well…yes Eureka. I did." Marcus replied, glancing at Holland. "That picture was taken about a week before, what are they calling it…Oh yeah. The 'Summer of Love'. The Military were very interested in Adrock's theory of how the Compac Drive interacted as a 'mediator' between the pilot and the newly developed LFO's, like the one Holland pilots, and the one that you command, the TypeZERO."
Marcus paused for a moment. "All I can remember Adrock talking about then was that other part he developed; the add-on to the Compac Drive, he called it. The Amita Drive."
"I have no need for one, and that child's name is the Nirvash," Eureka dryly replied.
Did I detect a hint of emotion in her response? Marcus thought as he stood up.
Sitting on the edge of his desk, he looked at Eureka.
"Eureka, do you know why Holland brought you here?"
"Yes."
…Emotionless…
…Blank…
…Empty.
"Holland said that you could better my skills at piloting the Nirvash, that I would learn to, what is that word…?" The girl knitted her brows together, concentrating, as if searching for the correct word.
Like a child, Marcus thought ironically.
"…Fight."
Marcus stood there, leaning on his desk, hand on his chin, thinking; while Holland, he noticed, just sat there next to Eureka, uncharacteristically quiet the whole time.
After what to Holland seemed like an eternity, the Master Instructor spoke.
"Eureka, can you please step outside the office for a minute?"
"Holland?" Eureka asked, noting the sudden serious tone in the Master Instructor's voice.
"It's ok," Holland replied.
"Just stand by out there. I need to talk to Holland for just a little."
Eureka looked at Holland. "Stand….by?"
"It means wait a little bit," Holland told her.
Marcus watched as Eureka stood up and, handing the picture back to him, walked out of the office. Following her out, making sure that she had found one of the chairs near the entrance to where she and Holland came in from, Marcus closed the door as he came back into the office.
Holland mentally braced himself, already knowing that this was a bad sign, having been on the receiving end of many a lecture from the Master Instructor.
Marcus sat back on the edge of the desk, still holding the photograph, and taking a deep breath, began to talk.
"So, she is the girl…Right? The girl Adrock told me about once? The one the diggers found in that trappar mine? The girl dug out of the Scab Coral?"
Choices
Eureka sat in the chair, her hands folded neatly across her lap.
Stand…by… Marcus had told her, having her leave the office all of a sudden.
Did I do something to make Marcus…not…'Smile'? She wondered, somewhat confused.
…When I did something good, it always made Adrock 'smile'.
Somehow, the thought of making Adrock smile was comforting to her, although she did not comprehend the feeling that she received from those 'Smiles.'
…Maybe, if I make Marcus smile, or Holland…then…!?
Not really understanding the emotion she was experiencing, the girl made a choice…
Whatever the task may be, she would try and make Holland and Marcus…'smile'.
Eureka sat in the chair, her hands folded neatly across her lap.
Back straight, head held a little higher.
Standing by.
Looking through the high-powered view scope, the Observer saw the Master Instructor, along with the girl, appear briefly near the entrance of the training hall.
Having the girl sit down in one of the chairs used for guest, the Master Instructor returned to his office.
Listening to the door shut through the sonic amplifier, the Observer wondered how much more time he would have to stay concealed.
Of course, time did not matter to the Lieutenant Colonel.
And to leave his post early…the Observer shuddered at the thought of what kind of punishment awaited the one foolish enough to choose to disobey 'Him'.
All of the sudden, the sonic amplifier started picking up a noise, barley audible at first, gradually increasing in volume.
Trappar interference…He thought. I am sure that I calibrated this, accounting for the amount of trappar in the area.
Checking the Compac Drive that powered it, the Observer noticed that it had started to "glow". But as soon as it appeared, the green glow faded.
Momentarily distracted by the glow of the Compac Drive, the Observer, quickly regaining his composure and looking back through the scope, noticed the girl shift, ever so slightly in her seat.
Taking a deep breath, and preparing for the possibility of a long wait, the Observer noticed a smell… a new aroma.
Sweet smelling, an exotic fragrance, almost like…
"Ahem…"
Surprised by the sound, the observer quickly turned, wondering who could have possibly snuck up on him so silently. Eyes widening, the Observer's mouth dropped as the beauty standing before him continued asking, her voice taking on an ominous tone.
"…Tell me…Who do you work for…And why are you spying on…Jonathan?"
"So, she is the girl...Right? The girl Adrock told me about once? The one the diggers found in that trappar mine? The girl dug out of the Scab Coral?"
His mind racing, Holland was unsure about how to answer the Master Instructors question.
"Do I need to repeat myself?" Marcus asked, still leaning on his desk, arms crossed, a stern expression beginning to form on his face.
Mustering up as much courage as he could, and with a serious expression on his face, the young, grey-haired S.O.F. Commander slowly stood, and looking directly at the Master Instructor, asked.
"How much did Adrock tell you?"
Marcus quickly replied, "Enough to know that, despite her appearance, she has the mind of a six year old."
Holland's eyes widened, clearly taken aback by the answer.
"A six year old with an LFO, granted… No wait, the LFO! The Nirvash! A six year old with a weapon that has enough destructive force to say…."
The Master Instructor paused, thinking.
"I don't know? Level, about…Oh, let's say for the sake of argument...five to ten square miles worth of real estate. Am I right!" Marcus said.
It wasn't a question.
"The Seventh Swell." Holland said quietly, almost reverently.
Noticing the far away look in Holland's eyes, The Master Instructor continued.
"The Seventh Swell…Summer of Love…Fancy terms! At the cost of a great man who some are calling a hero." Marcus said bitterly.
Leaning up, and picking the picture up off the desk where he had sat it…the photo of himself and Adrock Thurston…and placing it back on the wall, the Master Instructor walked over to the window of his office, looking out to were Eureka was seated, patiently waiting, her pale hands folded neatly across her lap.
"But to me he was just…" Marcus began.
In all the time knowing this man, his Instructor…Teacher…Mentor… Holland noticed a look in his eyes. A look he didn't think that this Man, the only Man the Academy students truly feared…
…No, not feared… respected…
…Capable of.
Loneliness…Sadness…Loss.
"To me he was simply…. just a friend."
As if on cue, Eureka shifted in her seat. Subtly throwing her shoulders back, putting her chin slightly forward.
…Standing by.
His eyes narrowing, the Instructor in him always watching, Marcus saw the small personal "epiphany" the girl had just experienced.
This should be "interesting"…Marcus thought.
Looking at Eureka as if finally seeing her for the first time, the Master Instructor turned and looking Holland eye to eye, repeated…
…Smiling.
"So, what is it you want me to do again?"
A long, hard road ahead
Stepping out of the car Holland had used to bring her to the training hall, Eureka heard a sound she had never heard before coming from the inside of the training facility.
Sounding like a cross between a pig rooting around and an angry dog growling, looking back at Holland, the girl asked.
"Holland, what is that….sound?"
Shutting the door of the vehicle, walking around to stand beside an obviously confused Eureka, Holland stopped for a second, listening, remembering the first time he had heard, "that sound."
"Oh, that… I believe Marcus must be instructing a class," Holland said, a smile forming on his lips as he wondered what kind of painful experience the S.O.F. Academy Students were going through.
"I did not know that a human could make such a horrible sound." Eureka commented dryly.
…The way she always seemed to comment.
Smiling, Holland replied, "Well, you will find out for yourself soon enough, Eureka."
Glancing down at the girl, thinking about the long hard road ahead of her and suppressing a laugh, Holland thought of the line the Master Instructor used on many an unfortunate Academy Student, as he put them "on the deck."
…Sorry for your bad luck.
As the two of them climbed the steps, they were met by Marcus's Assistant Instructor.
With the exception of a blue t-shirt with a yellow version of the S.O.F. insignia on the left side of his chest, the words "S.O.F. Instructor" printed in big bold letters in the same color on the back, Eureka recognized the clothes as being of the same type as the Master Instructor had worn the day before.
Although built the same physically, she noted that there was also something different about this man, although she could not understand what.
"Good afternoon, Sir," the Man said, snapping to and giving Holland a sharp salute.
Returning the salute, Holland replied extending his hand out, "How are you doing, Edward?"
"Fine, Holland!" Edward said, grasping Holland's hand in the same manner Eureka recognized as how the Master Instructor had held hers the previous day. Looking down at the girl, quickly taking note of her unearthly eyes, Edward continued.
"You must be…Hold on… Marcus had me repeat it a few times…Eureka," He said, pronouncing it correctly. "I am the Assistant Instructor here, but you can just call me Edward."
Staring at Edward with the same blank expression, really her only expression, Eureka looked at Holland, and asked, the way only an innocent child might ask:
"Holland, is there something wrong with him?"
Holland and Edward traded puzzled looks.
"No, Eureka. Why do you ask?"
In that same innocent manner, the girl asked:
"Why is Edward the color of my uniform?"
It suddenly dawned on Holland.
The Uniform Skirt Jacket Eureka wore the day before….
…The one Eureka had on now.
…The Black one.
Edward burst out laughing.
Turning about five shades of red and wishing that he was anywhere else except where he was right now, Holland replied. "Uh…Eureka, he was born that way," He said, rolling his eyes, putting his hand up to his forehead.
Standing there with a puzzled look on her face, mouth turned down in a frown, Eureka asked again, "Born? What is…Born…?"
Trying unsuccessfully to regain his composure, Holland looked over at the Assistant Instructor, his sky blue eyes pleading with Edward a 'help me out here' look written all over his face.
Tears streaming down his dark face from laughing so hard, Edward stopped laughing and catching his breath told him, "It's alright! Marcus told me she might react this way."
Then, looking down at Eureka, he said, "I came out of my mother's womb this color, Eureka."
"Mother's…womb..?" Same puzzled look.
"Don't you have a mother?" Edward curiously asked.
Hearing the Assistant Instructor laughing, some of the Academy Students had gathered at the entrance to see what all the commotion was about.
Holland looked up at the crowd of on-lookers, suddenly feeling very protective of Eureka.
"Edward! Are you trying to pick a date with her or something?"
Eureka, Holland and Edward looked up to see the Master Instructor heading out the entrance and, glancing around at the group of Students, speaking in a voice so loud it hurt Eureka's ears, Marcus roared out:
"Stop gawking! You all look like you have never seen a girl before!"
Turning his head toward Edward and, smiling at Holland and Eureka so that the Students couldn't see, Marcus said, "Edward, hit it!"
Not missing a beat, Edward began counting backwards from ten.
"10…9…8… You all had better get motivated!"
The result was instantaneous: the Academy Students, a sudden look of dread coming over them, quickly returned inside.
Smiling at Eureka and Holland, Marcus stepped next to Edward and, talking directly into his ear as the Assistant Instructor continued the count down, said. "I'll take care of this, just make sure you drop'em for about twenty or thirty of you know, the world's easiest push-ups!"
Nodding his head in agreement, Edward continued counting. "5…4…Too Slow, everyone drop, on your faces. We are about to do the world's easiest push-ups…Everyone…Up position!" Looking back at the girl with a maniacal smile, he disappeared into the hall.
…"Down."…Edward commanded.
Remembering the Assistant Instructor's "World's Easiest Push-ups", Holland's shoulders and chest began to hurt.
…Pause…
…"Up" ….
The sound of the Students voices counting in unison, echoed outside the training hall.
"One...!"
"Sorry about that Holland," Marcus said.
"Two..!"
"Not a problem." Holland replied.
"Three…!
"And how are you doing today, Eureka?"
"Four..!"
"What is a ….Womb?"
"Five…!"
Sorry for your bad luck…Thought Holland, gently petting Eureka on the head.
Starting to Learn
Entering the training hall, Eureka noticed-no. She actually felt the energy in the air. Glancing around, she observed the current Academy class: about twenty Students; all in what Edward had called the "Up" position.
"You had better stay up!" Edward was yelling, in a voice although loud, did not come close to the intensity of the Master Instructor's.
"Go ahead and quit, I don't give a care!" Edward said himself in the up position.
What number were they on…Holland thought, remembering many a time holding the world's easiest push-ups in the …"Up"…position.
However, there was a method to all the madness.
Leaving Eureka and Holland standing by the entrance to his office, Marcus walked among the Students, encouraging some, berating others.
"This is easy," he began. "Imagine yourself strapped into an LFO, pulling a few 'G's,' coming 'off a Lip,' or a high speed 'Cutback,' even before engaging your target!"
Marcus glanced at Edward and, nodding his head in an approving manner, gave the sign for the "Object lesson" to be over.
Not the first. Certainly…Not the last.
"Everyone…Feet…!" Edward shouted.
As one body, the Students got to their feet.
"Now, what were we doing before being interrupted?" Marcus said sarcastically, looking Holland and Eureka's way.
Holland smiled, grinning ear to ear, knowing that the Master Instructor was about to give a "Demonstration."
Eureka, as usual, just stared.
Tough crowd… Marcus thought looking at her.
Looking around at the class, eyes searching, Marcus suddenly pointed at one of the students.
"You! Yeah you! Don't try acting like there is someone hiding behind you."
Everyone laughed, relieved to not be the one picked.
"Alright, now as I was saying before our guest arrived, we have gotten past the basics of escaping a grab." The Master Instructor began as he directed the student to grab his left wrist. As soon as the student gripped, Marcus slightly pivoted off the foot closest to the student…his left foot…and opening his hand, extending his fingers, took the thumb of the gripped hand to the opposite…right…shoulder easily breaking the student's grip.
"Swatting the Fly" Holland quietly recalled.
"But of course no one attacks that way…" Marcus said to the class with a big smile. "It is a basic technique. But it teaches you to move off your center line."
Looking around the room, checking to see if the students were getting it, he continued.
"Ok, let's move on!"
Again directing the student to grasp his left wrist, Marcus did the same move, only this time, with his other free hand…his right…breaking the grip just as his left hand was coming up next to his right ear. Then chambering his left arm he brought his right hand alongside his head, next to his right ear.
The Students laughed, as Marcus pretended to smooth his nonexistent hair.
"Fix the Hair…." Holland said out loud to himself.
Not taking her eyes off the Master Instructor, the girl asked, "What Holland?"
"Just watch, Eureka."
"Again…a basic move." The Master Instructor paused, letting his words sink in. "Any questions before we move on?"
Having always been on the receiving end of one of the Master Instructors techniques, never observing, Holland finally understood why Marcus had the respect of everyone in the S.O.F.
The Master Instructor taught from his…Heart.
One of the students spoke up. "I have a question."
"Yes!" Marcus roared, his voice reverberating through the hall. "I'll answer it if I can!"
"Well…" The student began. "If no one attacks this way, then why do we have to learn it?"
Holland and Edward, both with devilish grins on their faces, traded knowing looks.
Looking hard at the student who had asked the question, Marcus bellowed out:
"Well you asked it, so come here!"
The student who asked the question's face dropped. Everyone knew that if you asked a question, the Master Instructor would use you to answer it.
"Now get in a good fighting stance."
The student, looking down at his feet…
"You remember how to. Right? Good grief!" Marcus bellowed out.
…got himself into somewhat of a good stance. Left foot forward, right leg back, hands up, fist balled.
"It's about time!"
Beads of sweat forming on his forehead, the student stood there, waiting.
Quickly glancing over towards the girl and noticing the intenseness of her look, the Master Instructor smiled on the inside.
Eureka, her eyes wide, silently watched.
…Taking it all in…
…So many blank pages to fill.
Focusing his attention back on the student, Marcus thought to himself.
Good girl, she is already…Learning.
The Lt. Colonel came into the room.
"Attention on deck!"
Everyone, with the exception of one of the assembled men, snapped to.
Ignoring the others, the Lt. Colonel strode up to the "one exception."
His face calm, icy blue eyes full of wrath, Lt. Colonel Dewey Novak spoke.
"So, this is how he was found."
"Yes sir!" One of the men quickly replied.
Mouth gagged, hands and feet expertly tied behind his back, wearing nothing but a white t-shirt and boxers, eyes pleading for mercy, the Observer laid there helpless before the Lt. Colonel.
"His…Equipment?"
"Gone sir! Except for this."
One of the men in the room stepped forward, handing Dewey the Compac Drive used to power the Observer's sonic receiver.
Turning the device over in his hand, Dewey narrowed his eyes. "What is this, smell?"
Slowly bringing the open end of the drive up to his nose, he took a cautious sniff.
"Perfume?!"
…Silence.
Tossing the Compac drive on top of the bound Observer, muscles in his jaw tensing, Dewey turned and, motioning for his adjutant, strode out of the room.
"It is painfully obvious that someone else has an interest in 'It.'"
"You mean the girl?" The Adjutant cautiously asked.
Dewey stopped in his tracks.
Looking at the Adjutant, his eyes narrowing, Dewey said venomously, "She is an Abomination to this world! Now bring me the one responsible for this, and do not let me down!"
Marcus pointed to his own chin; slowly let his hands fall to his sides dropping his gaze down looking at an imaginary point just below the student's clavicle notch.
…His amber colored eyes empty, void of all emotion, unfeeling…
Like Eureka's…
The girl noticed how the Master Instructor just stood there, totally open…
…Vulnerable.
Like Me…She thought.
Blinking his eyes a couple of times, not sure what to do, the hapless student nervously looked around the room.
"Hit him!" Holland yelled at the top of his lungs.
It was over before it even started.
The student, startled by Holland's shout, moved to punch Marcus in the face with his right hand.
Eureka inhaled…
…And in her mind started…
…Writing…
The Master Instructor moved slightly off the line to his left and towards the student, redirecting the punch at his face to his right with his left hand.
…Unseen Hands moving across the pages of her mind….
Swatting the fly…
…trying hard to copy down all that she saw...
Then bringing his right hand up alongside the student's arm, now parallel to the deck, knuckles facing out, fingers extended.
Fixing the Hair…
…scribbling as fast as she could…
Turning his right hand over, Marcus captured the wrist of the student…bringing his left hand over the top of the student's outstretched arm…and smashing lightly against the chin of the student…turning his head…his right hand with the captured wrist meeting his left, forming a "Figure Four" with the captured wrist, and his left arm…
…putting down every last detail…
Along with the student's arm and with his left hand grasping his own wrist, Marcus pirouetted right in front of the student, captured arm going back behind the student's head and down.
…as accurate as possible…
The student flipped head over heels and after the student had hit the ground, the Master Instructor turned him over on his stomach capturing the students arm between his legs, pinning him to the ground.
…so Marcus…would, 'smile'.
Looking directly into the girl's eyes, pleased with her attentiveness, Marcus made 'That sound' Eureka first heard from outside the hall.
The Academy Students, laughing at the sound the Master Instructor made and amazed at the quickness of the technique, applauded.
Looking at each other, Holland and Edward both said in unison:
"Sorry for your bad luck!"
It was over in the blink of an eye.
The Master Instructor Smiled.
…Eureka exhaled.
To be continued…