Chapter 4 - Second Test
Ryan was exhausted after the days training, he made a quick stop at the infirmary on his way to the car, and was issued some morphine in an identical glass tablet that prozium was issued in.
The Doctor on staff warned the Cleric not to inject the morphine in till he was at home, as it would have affected his driving ability.
The Clerics drive home was painful, and longer then usual.
At home, he quickly injected his morphine and immediately felt much better. He could feel all of his muscles relax and his body felt a numbness that was a perfect ending to a days training. He went straight to bed and was able to fall asleep easily. The last thought in his mind was of his sensei and the training he was enduring. "Will I become a first class Cleric?"
Ryan was then sound asleep.
That night Ryan was awaken suddenly to the sound of his front door slamming shut. He arose quickly but stumbled as he went to reach for his weapons. NOTHING. His guns and sword were gone. Had he put them down in the right place before sleeping, he could not remember. He then attempted to turn on the lights, but when he flipped the light switch nothing happened. As he adjusted his eyes to the luminance in his apartment he was swiftly taken of his feet.
"Get up Cleric"
"Who is there?" asked Ryan, with no response. The voice was not familiar to him at all.
Again Ryan was struck but this time he did not even feel where the blow had come from or landed. The morphine must still be working. He took a defensive fight stance and attempted to sense where his opponent was. Again he felt the powerful force of a quick blow to the back of his ribs. He felt no pain and even the sensation seemed late. Abruptly Ryan attempted a move that covered most of his parameter but he felt no contact with anything more then his bedpost. Again he was struck, but he could not sense the attack itself let alone the attacker. He was hit a number of times before he yelled out in frustration.
"Well Cleric, it seems you have failed this lesson" It was his sensei speaking now, that voice was unmistakable.
"No Sensei, I still may be able to ."
With one final strike the assailant that had intruded Ryan's home brought down the Cleric with a very simple move that had been taught to Ryan when he began his martial training over 16 years ago.
Ryan fell to his knees and dropped his head in disappointment.
The lights then came on. Ryan looked around to see that his sensei and assistant sensei were both standing in the room.
"Well young Cleric, not only have you failed this test, but you dishonor yourself with this look of sorrow. A warrior has no time for sorrow. Cleric, I expect to see you in one hour at the Dojo. We will continue this lesson. The next time I see you I want to know why you failed this lesson tonight."
Without waiting for a response the sensei and assistant left the cleric's apartment the cleric's apartment
Ryan was exhausted after the days training, he made a quick stop at the infirmary on his way to the car, and was issued some morphine in an identical glass tablet that prozium was issued in.
The Doctor on staff warned the Cleric not to inject the morphine in till he was at home, as it would have affected his driving ability.
The Clerics drive home was painful, and longer then usual.
At home, he quickly injected his morphine and immediately felt much better. He could feel all of his muscles relax and his body felt a numbness that was a perfect ending to a days training. He went straight to bed and was able to fall asleep easily. The last thought in his mind was of his sensei and the training he was enduring. "Will I become a first class Cleric?"
Ryan was then sound asleep.
That night Ryan was awaken suddenly to the sound of his front door slamming shut. He arose quickly but stumbled as he went to reach for his weapons. NOTHING. His guns and sword were gone. Had he put them down in the right place before sleeping, he could not remember. He then attempted to turn on the lights, but when he flipped the light switch nothing happened. As he adjusted his eyes to the luminance in his apartment he was swiftly taken of his feet.
"Get up Cleric"
"Who is there?" asked Ryan, with no response. The voice was not familiar to him at all.
Again Ryan was struck but this time he did not even feel where the blow had come from or landed. The morphine must still be working. He took a defensive fight stance and attempted to sense where his opponent was. Again he felt the powerful force of a quick blow to the back of his ribs. He felt no pain and even the sensation seemed late. Abruptly Ryan attempted a move that covered most of his parameter but he felt no contact with anything more then his bedpost. Again he was struck, but he could not sense the attack itself let alone the attacker. He was hit a number of times before he yelled out in frustration.
"Well Cleric, it seems you have failed this lesson" It was his sensei speaking now, that voice was unmistakable.
"No Sensei, I still may be able to ."
With one final strike the assailant that had intruded Ryan's home brought down the Cleric with a very simple move that had been taught to Ryan when he began his martial training over 16 years ago.
Ryan fell to his knees and dropped his head in disappointment.
The lights then came on. Ryan looked around to see that his sensei and assistant sensei were both standing in the room.
"Well young Cleric, not only have you failed this test, but you dishonor yourself with this look of sorrow. A warrior has no time for sorrow. Cleric, I expect to see you in one hour at the Dojo. We will continue this lesson. The next time I see you I want to know why you failed this lesson tonight."
Without waiting for a response the sensei and assistant left the cleric's apartment the cleric's apartment
