Chapter 4 - Trust

Adair turned to Randy and Ace.

"How do you boys feel about this?"

"We've waited our whole lives, I guess a few more weeks won't matter." Answered Randy. Ace nodded his agreement.

"How do you feel about this, Sparx?" Adair turned to her. Sparx was glad someone had taken the time to ask.

"After six months with him" She nodded towards Salvatore, "Three weeks will be like a holiday!"

She was wrong. All three of the Lightning Knights came down on her like a ton of bricks. Randy felt kind of sorry for her, but he had enough on his plate without having to worry about Sparx. Anyway, judging by the determined look she got on her face sometimes, Randy thought she could handle it. Randy and Ace were actually kind of grateful for the extra few weeks they had been given to prepare.

Adair, Euphrates, Salvatore, Randy, Ace, and Sparx had all moved into the Thunder Tower to save running around, as they all spent every day there. It was a huge building, and was thought to have been a hideout of Zoar's, although not even the Lightning Knights were sure if this was true. They only knew that the third generation had commandeered it after Zoar's death.

While the three older men and Sparx spent most of their time in the gym or going over the code of the Lightning Knights, Randy and Ace spent theirs studying, planning, and talking. One subject they were frequently discussing was Sparx.

"Do you think she'll make it, Randy?" Ace had asked suddenly one day.

"Who, Sparx?" He shrugged. "It's starting to look promising, but she's got a lot to learn in a very short time. I only hope that if she does get through, all this hurried learning doesn't compromise her carer."

Ace nodded and was silent for a while. Then he asked,

"Do you like her? I mean, enough to work with her for the rest of your life?"

"She's been so busy training I barely know her. But I get the feeling that working with her will always be . . . interesting."

"So, where did you learn to fight, and how did you wind up working in that pub?" Randy had asked Sparx one evening.

"It's long and involved and you don't want to know!" Was her reply, but at least she'd smiled.

"Do you like her?" He asked Ace.

Ace smiled. "Yeah, I think I do."

Sparx pushed the door open and leaned against the frame. Her hair was tied back in a long plait, and she looked exhausted.

"You guys are wanted in the dungeon. Something about 'trust exercises'." She had started calling the gym the dungeon after she found out that that was what it used to be. It seemed to fit the endless hours she spent there.

Randy and Ace grinned at each other and followed her down to the gym. They knew what was coming. 'Trust exercises' were what Adair made Euphrates and Salvatore do whenever they had a massive argument. Apparently the older men had decided to build trust between the Sparx and 'the boys'.

When they had all assembled in the gym, Adair pointed to a platform raised about two meters off the ground and asked Sparx to climb up to it.

"Um, why?"

He sighed. "So that you can fall off it and the boys can catch you."

"And this will achieve . . ?"

"It's to build trust." Adair explained patiently.

"So by jumping off a platform and letting them catch me, I'll then be able to trust them with my life in dangerous situations?"

"Would you just do it?!" Euphrates and Salvatore practically yelled at the same time.

"O.K., O.K." Sparx climbed up the ladder and stood on the platform. Randy stood on the ground beside it. Sparx looked down.

"What if he doesn't catch me?"

"This is to prove that he will."

"Yeah, but--"

"Just jump!"

"Fine." Sparx turned around and crossed her arms over her chest. Closing her eyes, she let herself fall back.

Randy caught her easily and stood her on the floor.

"Thanks." She told him.

"You're welcome. Now it's Ace's turn. Get back up there."

After Ace had caught her and put her on the floor, Salvatore put his hand on her shoulder.

"Thanks, boys." He said before turning to Sparx, "Now, lets give that punching bag a workout!"

"Finally! Some real exercise!"

Randy and Ace decide to stay and watch. Salvatore had been right, she was good. Apparently Martial Arts were her forte.

"Nice job. Keep that up and we'll be needing a new bag!" Joked Adair. Even Euphrates nodded his approval.

Sparx started warming down.

"Not so fast, young lady. Ten laps around the gym and then bed."

"What?"

"You're going to need your energy for tomorrow, we've got a big day planned for you."

"I've just had a big day!"

"This wasn't big. It's tiny in comparison to what you'll be doing tomorrow!"

"You can't do this . . ."

Randy and Ace left before a major argument broke out.