"Wake up, Ryoko." Kagato's mental and physical voice intrudes on her deep sleep. "It's time you learn to be useful."

Her eyes open then squeeze shut again as she sits up. She's still cold, but the ache is mostly gone. It's wonderful to be able to move at all, especially without pain. Standing on her own is so easy now, but the floor is cold and it's dark everywhere except the platform she slept on. Ryoko looks about for Kagato, wondering what he wants her to do.

His attack is literally from nowhere; a hard rib-cracking blow like a wrecking ball tosses her into the darkness and she lands with a crunch on the hard ground. Her shoulder and collarbone are broken on impact, and blood flows freely from her eyes and ears as her skull breaks.

Ryoko can't even scream at the pain; her splintered ribs punctured her lung before she'd even left the ground. The surprise of the hit is so great that she can only lay there and think I'm dying.

"Don't be absurd. A little thing like that won't kill you; I built you to withstand far more than that. Now get up." Kagato was in front of her somewhere in the dark.

"I can't, I…" Her own voice shocks her. She takes a deep breath and realizes it doesn't hurt. With wonder she stands and examines herself. Blood everywhere, but the wounds are healing; the broken bones already back in their proper places. For the first time she notices the gems in her wrists. "Do these make me better?"

"Those gems are the source of your power, of many things. You have three." The two on her arms begin to glow, and a similar light emanates from the upper part of her bare chest. If you lose them, you will die."

Ryoko thinks she knows what dying feels like now, and she doesn't want it to happen ever again.

"Good. I will make use of you as a fighter, if you can learn to defend yourself against such simple attacks as the one I just demonstrated." His voice moves behind her, sounding very close, though still invisible.

She whirls, trying to prepare for another attack; the darkness is too deep, and even the lighted platform appears miles away.

His next strike comes from directly above her, and again catches her unaware. Ryoko's only got time to raise her arms defensively over her head as a crushing weight descends swiftly. Her legs buckle under the weight, and she tries to push it back, but it's too much and she collapses again.

"No, no, NO!" Kagato's voice hisses from above her. "You aren't using any of the abilities the gems give you. Fly, shield, phase, move, anticipate! You are not a human. You are my creation, my machine, and you will act like it, or I will wipe you out!" Even his rage is cold, and she shivers as she stands, popping her arm back into place.

After a long time, it feels like she's been dodging attacks for days in the dark. Even without prior experience, Ryoko can feel that she's reaching the edge of her endurance. Healing near fatal injuries time after time is taking its toll on her energy reserves. Kagato seems not to tire, but he's not likely making the attacks personally. The blows seem to be from all angles, from objects too large to be one man.

His presence in her mind is constant, even when he isn't controlling her body. He doesn't explain, he doesn't teach; he expects her to react. Slowly she's learned how her body flies, but being in the air means that the blows can come from any direction, including below.

There! Another attack was coming from the left. Without thinking, Ryoko holds up her arm and an invisible shield deflects some of the force. The concussion transmits through it though, and sends her tumbling backwards to the ground. This time she's able to control her landing, skidding to a stop before dropping to her knees.

"So you finally managed it. You'll have to be faster than that if you're going to be useful at all. I have other work to attend to, and I've wasted enough time here with you." Kagato's voice still rings from the darkness; she hasn't seen him since her first awakening.

"I didn't know what you wanted." Ryoko's words echo, and there is no response for a long time.

"I do not appreciate you insolence, Ryoko. If it is repeated, you will regret it."

She looks down. "I understand."

"Sleep then, if you must. You will be summoned again when I'm ready."

Ryoko doesn't speak again. There's nothing to be said.