Chapter 3:
Gaia realized that her jaw was hanging open as she stared at the girl in shock. What the hell was that? The girl turned and walked the other way, stretching her arms forward and backward. Without giving it a second thought, Gaia made her way quickly across the small distance that separated them.
The girl kept walking and glanced at her watch before pushing some extra strands of hair behind her ears. Gaia pushed her speed to a brisk walk to catch up to the girl. But as soon as she caught up to her and put her hand on the girl's shoulder with a quick, "Hey," the girl spun around and grabbed her wrist, using Gaia's weight against herself and flipped her over her shoulder. Gaia's back hit the pavement. Hard. Stupid. Should have seen that coming.
Gaia ignored the pain and rolled into a crouched position before standing up and taking a fighting stance. The girl took a step backwards, slightly startled at the fact that Gaia could fight, before she flew forward and struck. Gaia easily blocked the fist and kept up her defense as the girl threw punch after punch and swinging combination kicks one after another. Shins connected with forearms. Fists slid through the air.
Gaia was very impressed. This girl obviously knew what she was doing. But the fighting was pointless. As talented as this girl was, and even though she could definitely hold her own against a couple of skinheads, Gaia's training was better. And the irritating blackout was going to be coming more forcefully if she didn't end this. And she definitely didn't want to pass out right now. So Gaia swept the girl's feet out from under her, grabbing her arm and twisted it behind her, subdued the girl against the ground.
"Get off me bitch," she growled, flailing her legs and trying to scissor Gaia's. Gaia let go of the girl's arms, and she rolled to the side and into a standing position, shifting into a fighting stance.
"Give me a break." The girl lowered her arms and relaxed her muscles. "You fight pretty well." The girl snorted as she brushed herself off, eyeing Gaia. She folded her arms and let out a long breath.
"So who the hell are you?" Gaia blinked a couple times, quickly.
"I'm…ah…I…got to sit down…" Gaia stumbled to the right and landed on the grass.
"Are you ok?" the girl asked worriedly, dropping to her side. She barrages me with roundhouses and then she asks if I'm ok. Gaia nodded. "You sure?" She managed another nod. Gaia didn't fight the blackout. She knew she couldn't. It would come anyway. Fighting it would be useless. "You sure you're ok?" Gaia lay still for a couple more seconds before she felt the energy slowly flowing back into her limbs. She opened her eyes and sat up, taking in and letting out a deep breath.
"And who are you?" The girl looked at her oddly.
"So…you're sure you're ok?" she repeated. Gaia nodded.
"Just happens to me after combat," she told her, standing up. The girl nodded slowly.
"Yea…ok. So who are you? Where'd you learn to fight?"
"I could ask you the same questions. Never saw you around these parts before."
"Just moved from Queens."
"And where'd you learn to fight?" asked Gaia.
"What's it to you?" the girl retorted. Gaia looked the girl over and couldn't help but smile. She realized who the girl reminded her of. Angry. Strong. Self-sufficient.
Herself.
"What're you smiling at?" she spat.
"The name's Gaia." The girl hesitated.
"Chrissy."
"So. Where'd you learn to fight, Chrissy?" She bit her lip.
"Uncle. He taught me when I was younger so I could protect myself." Gaia's face went slack. Uncle. Taught her how to fight. Weird. Too weird. She looked around the park, as if Loki would be there. Coincidences rarely happened in her life. "What're you looking for?"
"Nothing. Um…any particular reason your dad taught you?" Chrissy shrugged.
"Just wanted me to be safe."
"How's he know so much about martial arts?"
"Grew up in Brooklyn. Learned street fighting. Soon as he got to eighteen he got the hell out of there and got himself some real training." Gaia nodded slowly and paused for a second, thinking.
"I was impressed with the way you handled the mugger."
"Thanks," she replied. Chrissy walked over to a bench under a lamp and Gaia followed, taking a seat beside her. "So where'd you learn?"
"Dad." The girl made an affirmative grunt.
"So what're you doing here in the park nearly at midnight?" Gaia shrugged in response.
"Same thing I do every night I do nearly at midnight. Kick some ass." Chrissy eyed her warily.
"So you just come out here to…fight?"
"Yea. Pretty much. How about you? Same?" Gaia saw the girl swallow and held back a smile.
This was so funny. It was like mini-Gaia. This girl, an expert in martial arts, came to the park to beat up the muggers, just like she did. She had finally found another freak like herself. Another freak similar myself. Wow, that's flattering. Gaia couldn't help but smile again.
"What's so funny?" Gaia shook her head.
"Nothing's funny. It's just…so you just come here to fight too?" The girl shrugged.
"Maybe."
"Maybe?"
"Well, that's what I did in Queens."
"How come?" The girl pondered the question for a moment.
"I'm good at it." Gaia stared into space, thinking.
"What school are you going to?"
"East Village."
"Same."
"Cool." Gaia decided to ask the magic question. The question that Jake had asked her. The question to which the only answer she could come up with was lame.
"So…what do you do for fun?" The girl stared at her.
"Fun? Um…I don't know. Chess?" Gaia pursed her lips and stood up.
"Ok. Who are you working for?" The girl furrowed her eyebrows.
"What?"
"Who are you working for?" Gaia asked, drawing out the words. The girl looked at her oddly and stood up also.
"What are you talking about?"
"You know how to fight. You come to the park to kick ass," Gaia told her, counting off the points on her fingers. "Your uncle taught you martial arts. You go to the same school as me. And you love chess. Coincidences very, very rarely happen to me. Who. Are. You. Working. For? Loki? Yuri? The Organization in general?" The girl shook her head and looked at Gaia as if she were an alien life form.
"Whatever. Psycho," she muttered under her breath, turning and walking away. Gaia thought about the expression on Chrissy's face. Was it really possible that this girl was just a good fighter? That she wasn't one of the many people out to kill her or steal and duplicate her fearless genes? That she wasn't out to make her life a living hell? Weirder things had happened to her.
"Wait," Gaia called out, walking over to her. Chrissy turned around, eyeing her. "Look, I'm sorry. I don't usually come upon…people that…let's just say I've had a lot of people in my life that have betrayed my trust." The girl's face seemed to soften a bit and she nodded.
"Yea. I can understand that." Gaia stared at the girl, studying her for a few seconds. D. was another thing, but this girl…this was something else. This was just really weird. Hadn't she just been wondering what someone like her would be doing at this time of night?