Chapter 39

The feeling of training together as a team, felt like no other and the first morning turned out to be a success. For those who had fought against the Syndicate before, they gelled easily together with the drills. This was easy enough for Adam, Sammy and Blaze who already had experience together as fighters. For the others, this was a new experience and one that they valued greatly.

The rest of the team looked up to Adam and Blaze as their leaders and anytime they needed guidance, these two fighters were always on hand to help. During their first morning, half of the group practised on the simulator, whilst the others physically trained together. In doing so, they quickly learned each other's strengths and how they could help one another in times of weakness.

Physical training for the first week was intense. The team fully understood that, even if they had good foundations to fight, much work needed to be done if they were to survive being out on the streets for long periods of time. Nobody really had an idea of how strong the Syndicate were and how far Mr and Ms Y were willing to go. Things had been pretty dangerous up until now with individuals targeted. But the fact that they now had bombs, weapons and the capability to wipe out Zan's whole lab complex in one go, only proved that anything was possible.

The sun was going down and Blaze, Shiva and Cherry had spent most of the day so far outdoors on the sparse green acres of land that belonged to the old Chief's residence that they were staying in. Over the past 3 days, it was common for the team to be separated into trios when training. They figured that sparring as 2 against 1 was better preparation than one on one. The three of them had done well together so far and were consistently learning from one another.

"Okay, your turn against us Cherry!" Blaze said as she wiped the sweat away from her forehead using her sleeve. The brunette had just defeated both of her opponents using agility against them. But this was a tough round and the trio were nowhere near finished for the day.

"Again?" Cherry sighed, feeling a little deflated.

"Yep!" Blaze nodded. "Just think, tomorrow is our first rest day!" She replied with more enthusiasm.

"Couldn't have come any sooner," Cherry muttered.

"After the next two rounds, we'll be done for the day. We all do two reps against each other, that's the plan," Shiva gave the teenager some direction and encouragement as she stepped into the middle.

"Ok, I'm ready!" Cherry nodded with determination.

"...one sec.." Blaze halted them.

"What are those?" Shiva raised one eyebrow, surprised to witness Blaze reaching for two wooden fencing swords from one of the boxes she bought outside this morning.

"This time round, we fight with these. If you get struck in the back, torso or head, you're dead in real terms that is!" Blaze instructed.

"Ok, I mean, I've never used one of those before, but…." Cherry reached one hand forward.

"Nope. Two against one, remember?"

"But if you two have those in your hands, how am I supposed to….?!"

Blaze crouched down in front of Cherry as she lowered the two wooden weapons onto the grass. She stared intently at her with the sun reflecting off her blue eyes. "Do you think that Ms Y gives a fuck if you have a weapon or not?"

Blaze's words were brief, but straight to the point.

Cherry looked her role model in the eye, taking a short sharp anxious gulp, feeling slightly unnerved by how harsh Blaze was being towards her. The teenager started to lightly shake her head whilst she looked down at the ground. At that moment, doubts started to creep into Cherry's mind. Blaze was right and their enemies out there were serious about killing them and going to any lengths for it.

Shiva's voice suddenly drew her away from her thoughts. "What do you expect me to do with this thing then?" He tilted his head towards Blaze with confusion.

"I've studied her moves and I have an idea how Ms Y will attack if given the chance. Just follow me and you'll see what I mean…"

"But I don't use weapons!" Shiva replied.

"This round ain't about learning to use a weapon. It's about her and us being prepared for whatever lies ahead. You might not like using a weapon, but it will be useful to understand how our enemy works…"

"...ok", Shiva folded his arms, giving Blaze a smile.

"What? Why are you suddenly smiling about using a weapon, it's not like you…" She shrugged confused.

Shiva walked forward, placing one hand on Blaze's shoulder.

"You. Finally, you're talking like a leader and not someone who is fighting for vengeance. I'm proud of you!"

Blaze took a little breath, smiling to herself. "Well, that sure is something. First you were once my enemy, then you became my mentor, and now it appears that I'm here leading you. How is that possible?"

"Because it's your strength. Being stubborn and doing everything you can to avoid losing means that you have and will overcome anything you set your mind to", he replied as he reached for the replica sword.

"Are we ready then?" Blaze asked.

Following their conversation, the rest of their training for the afternoon flew by very quickly. It wasn't about who could use a fencing sword or if one person could survive against two attacking enemies. It was just as much about defence and learning how to read an opponent's next move. Today was a success compared to the rest, and by the end of the session, all three of them had come up with their own new defence mechanisms against an enemy like Ms Y and the kinds of attacks that she was capable of.

The trio were exhausted and ready for dinner as they strolled back towards the mansion where their friends had been for the day doing their own training.

"Good work," Blaze grinned.

"Likewise," Shiva nodded.

"You know, you ain't that bad…. I speak for both of you by the way!" Cherry teased, making the two adults laugh.

"You're not that bad either!" Shiva replied. "Look kid, I know you're young and this is your first major fight. It can be scary out there, but we all have your back, ok?" He reassured her.

"I know," Cherry nodded, "I got yours too!" She answered, making him smile.

"Hey, listen. We'l catch up with you in a bit. I gotta talk to Cherry first…" Blaze turned to Shiva. Both herself and him were thinking the same thing and they could both see the potential that the teenager had, but there were still obstacles for her to overcome.

"Sure, I'll see the two of you at dinner", he answered before pacing back to the residence alone.

The two female fighters slowly walked together side by side with the clear purple skies above them. It was just past sundown and the stars were starting to appear as Cherry glanced upwards in awe.

"You like the night sky?" Blaze asked.

"Yeah. It's so different out here compared to the city. Everything up there is clearer,"

"I know what you mean! There's no light pollution out this way,….. Look…" Blaze paused. "I know I can be a bitch sometimes and I'm probably harder on you than Axel or your dad…"

"I wouldn't say you're harder, just… you're so much pickier about everything! I mean, I executed a valid defence move earlier when we started sparring, but you still criticised it. I mean, I'm doing everything I can, but it's never enough! What else was I supposed to do?" Cherry's tone was one of frustration.

Blaze sighed as she paused once again in her tracks, suddenly feeling a sense of guilt.

"Look, I don't mean to be harsh on you. And you're an amazing fighter, you really are! Even better than I was at your age…."

"Then what is it?" Cherry prompted.

"You and me..." Blaze bit her tongue with annoyance, "things just aren't that plain sailing for us. Yeah, sure the guys are cool and we all got each other's backs, but against our enemies? We have to fight even harder than they do!"

"What do you mean?" Cherry frowned.

"When our enemies fight against us, even if they're making false assumptions, who are they going to think is the weakest amongst our group? And which one of us are they going to try to attack first, just to prove a point?"

Cherry stared down deep in thought, understanding what Blaze was saying.

"That's the reality kid! We have to fight much harder than your dad, your uncle or any of the males on our team. And you know what? Our enemies always underestimate us and we'l catch those fuckers by surprise every time. So you'll understand why I'm being harsh on you once we're out in the fight."

"I see,"

"I don't want you to grow up in this world disrespected by anybody, whether that's out there on the streets or anywhere else! You need to trust yourself and rely only on yourself Cherry, you hear me? Because out there, in the real world, we're all fighting alone…"

Blaze's words were a bitter pill to swallow and a culmination of tough love along with her own bitterness against the world. But Cherry understood that she cared and didn't want to see her get hurt out on the battlefield. For years, Cherry remembers looking up to Blaze. Some of her earliest memories were of her father returning home, beaten and bruised, but alive after almost three weeks of being held hostage by the Syndicate. The people that saved him were Cherry's heroes, especially Blaze who was always her fighting inspiration, aside from her uncle Sammy.

By the time they made it back to the residence, they could smell that dinner was almost ready. That familiar roasted chicken that all of them loved. It lifted the burden of everyday chores by having Blaze's sister and nephew around helping out when it came to the food and upkeeping the place whilst everyone else was so busy training.

"Hey sis, you good?" Blaze smiled at Amira as her and Cherry walked through the door.

"Yeah, great actually!" She held a warm smile back. It had been weeks, if not months that Amira felt this safe and happy. And despite what her and Kaiden had gone through the past week, this place was far away from so many of the dangers they previously faced. It felt like a breath of fresh air.

"Give dinner half an hour or so, the rest of the guys are still training!" Amira folded her arms.

"Really?" Blaze raised an eyebrow, disappointed because she felt famished. "I have to say, the three of us really worked hard today!"

"Don't worry, they probably took breaks knowing dad," Cherry replied, speculating about their teammates.

"Not just that. They probably spent most of the day on Zan's simulator anyway. They didn't really fight!" Blaze giggled.

"Oh, that thing is so difficult! You still need to try it!" Cherry insisted.

"We'll see about that tomorrow…"

As they approached the downstairs gymnasium, they could see Adam had worked up a sweat in the distance. He was standing with his gloved fists up in the ring. But instead of sparring against two others, he was being attacked from all three corners of the ring.

"Max? Axel? …. What the….?" Blaze's jaw dropped.

"Hey! Looks like two of the members of your team have returned," Max grinned whilst swinging a right hook that Adam ducked.

"But you two are supposed to be…."

"Resting?" Axel smirked, completing her sentence. "Nah, I'm well and truly back in the fight now!" He optimistically replied, skipping around the ring as he and Sammy swapped fighting positions against Adam.

"But it was only 5 days ago when you were lying in a coma. What the hell are you thinking!?" Blaze scolded.

"I have to say, he's healed quick considering everything. It's definitely that meditation and natural herbal shit he takes," Adam replied, still focussed on the fight with his fists up.

"Right," Blaze nodded, astounded by their behaviour.

"Hey Blaze! Why don't you join us?! Just like old times!" Sammy shouted as he sprung himself from the sides into the centre to attack his brother.

"I'm good! And I'm done with training for the day. I'll see you boys later," she politely walked away.

Dinner that evening felt different compared to the previous nights when they were there. Even though Axel had suddenly bounced back sooner than expected, there was no denying that their team of fighters finally felt complete. With him back, there was a more optimistic and relaxed feeling in the air that Blaze couldn't help but slightly resent. Axel had always been the leader in previous fights and although she was now co-leading alongside Adam, Blaze had naturally taken the reins and everybody could see that. And although she was reluctant to lead at first, she now didn't want anybody else taking that away from her.

Tonight was just like all of the Christmasses they had previously enjoyed together, except right now, they had even more allies in the team, including Floyd and Shiva.

"This is good!" Sammy grinned with his mouth almost full of food.

Adam ignored his brother's table manners as he stood up and raised his glass. "I just wanna say, it feels good to finally have everyone here, together again at the table and fighting side by side. And it feels even better to have more great fighters amongst us. Cheers to the future…" His toast was short and sweet, but appreciative and to the point.

Whilst the rest of the team took a moment to celebrate being together and forgetting their struggles for one night, Blaze sat quietly thinking back to the conversation she had with Cherry earlier.

"So how come you've been avoiding me the last few days?" Axel took the empty seat next to her right.

"I haven't been avoiding you," Blaze shook her head, dismissing him as she sipped on her beer.

"I seem to remember we last had a conversation over 5 days ago right before we got here. You were pretty reluctant to join this fight, yet now you're leading the team!"

"...and your point is?" Blaze casually shrugged.

"Well, I think it's great. You're the right person for this and I'm happy you're here," he answered with sincerity.

"Mmmhmmm", Blaze nodded, still avoiding his eye contact.

"I just don't get it though. When I was really in a bad way and almost dead, you stayed by my side and didn't go anywhere. Now that I'm recovered, I ain't even heard a word from you since we got here!" Axel frowned.

"It's a busy job leading a team of fighters, you know how it is,"

"And before we had to flee, you said there was something you had to tell me. What was it?" He probed.

"I can't remember right now…" Blaze shrugged.

"I know you. Come on, tell me…" he raised an eyebrow, knowing that she was hiding something.

"Just leave it!" Blaze snapped at him.

"I don't understand you. One minute you're opening up to me and you're by my side, then the next, you don't wanna know me!"

"Sounds familiar, huh? Take a look at yourself in the mirror before you judge me!"

"That was 10 years ago! You knew why I had to leave!" Axel argued.

"Yeah well, things would have turned out very differently if you had stayed!" Suddenly, Blaze found herself slamming the bottom of her glass bottle hard into the table. Everyone else in the room immediately halted their conversations as they fell silent.

Without saying anymore, Blaze abruptly stood up from her seat. "Enjoy the rest of your dinner, I ain't hungry."

She briefly glanced down at Axel with disappointment on her face. Everyone could see it, but behind her disappointment, he was the only one who could see that there was sadness in her eyes, even though Blaze was good at hiding her feelings from everybody else.

"I'll see you in the morning," Blaze nodded to herself. Her tone this time was quieter and slightly deflated. Then she left the group as swiftly as possible without saying another word.

Author's Notes

Thank you for hanging in there and for reading this chapter! I know it has been a little while, but life had been very busy so I've been meaning to complete this chapter for a couple of weeks now.

Here, we can see the team reunited and preparing for the events of the 4th game. Please stay tuned, in the next chapter the plot will thicken in terms of training and Max's well-being. I can't wait to show you what is next and hope you enjoyed this one!