Order 33: Strength and Confession
Maxwell's Office. 9:00 A.M. Monday
Maxwell wasn't in his best of moods. Of course, rarely was he in a good mood to begin with. Running this organization made him feel superior to many, but fried his nerves to shrivels. Everyday passed, turning to months then years, and all of it dealing with agents old and young, new and seasoned. Weather reports had said the storm that rolled in would be hanging over Italy for a week or so. That put a damper further more on Maxwell's attitude. He tugged on his dark blue vest, straightened his hair and clothes then walked out of the office. Since his mood was wrecked, someone else's had to be wrecked too.
Training Room. 9:30 A.M.
Yumie and Skey both decided to train together. Anderson was up and watching them, pointing out mistakes Skey made so she would note not to do it again. Both the girls were fearful of Anderson this morning, seeing his mood was definitely erratic and uncalled for. His strong arms stayed tightly crossed over his chest, the soft green eyes hardened into rocks. Skey knew better than to mouth off to him or question anything he said. So she continued training, continued to take Anderson's berating . Yumie was wondering why Skey was taking it. Even Yumie was ready to snap back at Anderson. Yumie didn't particularly take to people yelling at her as if she was a screw up. Both girls decided to talk as they trained.
" What crawled up his ass and died, Skey!"
Katana swords clashed.
" I don't know! All I know is I don't want him down my throat when I didn't do anything!"
His rumbling voice shook the training room.
" AH DINNA WANT TAE HEAR YE TALKING! KEEP TRAINING! CONCENTRATE SKEY! HAE MANY TIMES DAE AH HAE TAE TELL YE THON!"
Skey cringed from his shouts. Yumie stopped and dropped her sword. She growled like a wild cat and appoached Anderson. Once she stood toe to toe with him, she gave him a hard shove to the chest, pushing him down and over the wooden bench. The bench broke and Anderson's head had hit the rack holding up swords, bayonets guns and other weapons. The weapons clattered to the floor in a mess. Anderson laid sprawled across the cold stone ground, holding the back of his head. An angry glare captured Yumie.
" Jus whit the HELL dae ye think yer daun, Yumie!"
" Shutting your big yap up! Quit yelling at us like some kind of rabid dog! Or I'll show you a rabid dog!"
Skey stood in the middle of the training room watching this spectacle. A few laughs had been stifled so she didn't provoke Anderson. Yumie was pretty brave to challenge Anderson in the current mood he was in. Even Skey feared him in this mood. Who wouldn't? The heavy training door opened noisily. The three's attention turned to the door to see Maxwell standing there with that mischievious grin. Yumie stood down to return to Skey's side. Maxwell waltzed right in, staring the girls down. Anderson had sat up, rubbing the back of his head. To his surprise there was a small smear of blood on the white glove.
" Skey, did you attack Anderson? You know, defiance such as that is punishable."
Skey's left eye twitched. Being blamed for everything that happened weighed on her like another brick. Of all the shit she went through in her life, Maxwell's little annoyances and use of her as a scapegoat was getting rather tiresome. Her fingers stayed curled tightly around the sharkhide handles of the katana swords, trying her best to restrain from using them on Maxwell's neck. Anderson had stood up and brushed his coat of dust. The men walked to a different corner of the room to talk about something. Yumie could see in Skey's eyes the deep hatred surfacing to the top. So Yumie grabbed Skey's hand and led her out of the training room to get some fresh air and ease the tension. The girls traveled through the dark corridors and headed upstairs. All the while, Skey was grumbling incoherent curses on Maxwell. Yumie too felt Maxwell was being a prejudice and unfair prick, but one wouldn't admit it to his face. Except Skey of course. She had no problem telling her thoughts.
" What the hell! I mean I am always blamed for stupid shit that goes on around here! Could he ever think for once it was someone else? There is over thousands of people here everyday and out of all of them, I'M the one he chooses to blame!"
" (Sighs) Skey, Maxwell's trying to push you to be the best...in his own, cruel and unusual way. Just ignore him if you don't want to listen to him."
The girls stopped just outside of the door heading for the lower levels of the Vatican building. For a while an awkward silence remained between them. Yumie kept it this way, figuring it best to let Skey cool off. In no time she would be back to her old self. And hopefully this would be the same for Father Anderson. Blaming him for his actions did seem rather prejudice considering everyone was tightly wound up, but he still had no reason yelling at herself and Skey like simple children. And for Maxwell to single Skey out like that, blaming her when he knew very well she hadn't done anything was very degenerate. Yumie had always thought it was because of what Skey's past was like being a prostitute and all. But even in the bible, Jesus himself had forgiven a prostitute! If they were to follow in God's footsteps, wasn't forgiveness for past sins included? Speaking of which, Maxwell had exited the lower levels. He stood before the two girls, sneering at Skey for a passing second before going on his way down the spacious hall. Anderson was soon to appear as well. He stood halfway between the door and laid a hand on Skey's shoulder.
" Come, we got some training tae dae."
Training Room. 10:15 A.M.
Clashing of sharpened swords filled the training room. Just by closing your eyes and listening, you could hear the anger, the pent up energy and rage the two had. Their speed matched one another's, both eyes focused on nothing but the other. They circled, struck out with all the force they could muster behind the sword. Their eyes were far from soft and caring. They been given the shape of a wolf. Their 'fangs' bared in anger, every hit honestly meant to hit the other. The two, student and teacher, now dueled it out like the other was some kind of wicked vampire. The only way they could work off their steam was to face each other like this. And considering their regenerating abilities, neither was scared of really getting stabbed or hurt.
" SKEY! Remember ye got tae put yer WILL into it! SHOW ME YER STRENGTH, WOMAN!"
" YOU WANT STRENGTH!"
Skey blocked his bayonet and pushed with a wide step forward. He toppled over, bayonets clattering to the ground, she leapt and landed on his stomach, crossing the swords across his neck like a pair of scissors. But Anderson wasn't so helpless. Skey's eyes flew open in alarm as she found a bayonet in her side. She got up, stumbling back and was met with more bayonets thrown at her to her thighs and arms. He really injured her, blood seeping from the cuts. Skey fell to her knees, the sword clattering loudly to the stone.
" Ye jus gaun gie up noo arenae ye? (takes steps towards her) Everything Ah'm teaching ye isnae getting into tha' heid is it! Ah hae thought ye were ae strong yin...maybe ye still are in spirit...but ye cannae mak up for losing like this! Ye better shape yer act up for the battle , Skey. Ye won't hae vampires stopping jus tae let you catch ae breath."
Anderson turned and gathered his bayonets. And the worst mistake was made on his part. Skey got to her feet, growling. She ripped one of the bayonets from her stomach and threw it with all her might at him. The bayonet slashed through Anderson's side and before he had time to turn, he was being pummeled by his own bayonets! He fell to the ground, managing to turn his head slightly. Skey stood, blood oozing through tiny spots of her bared teeth, flame wild in her eyes, blood seeping through her wounds and straining her clothes.
" I! WILL! NEVER! GIVE! UP! Stop reprimanding me like some fucking PUNK! You push my limits anymore, I'll end up KILLING you!"
The only thing Anderson could do was lay back and start laughing. Indeed he had it proven to him that she was in fact worthy of being an Iscariot paladin. For her to use his own weapons against him, to stand up no matter the many wounds, and declare bluntly her will to keep on fighting.
" GUID! Excellent, Skey. (Stands up) "
Skey let herself calm down and retrieve her swords as he did his bayonets, but from his back. It sounded like it hurt to pull those large bayonets out of his flesh but he did not once wince in pain or cringe in discomfort. They cleaned up and from what it appeared like, Anderson had abandoned his black mood. A chipper smile graced him as they headed upstairs. Skey limped here and there, but tried her best to impress Anderson. Before he opened the door to allow them into the Sistine Chapel...he paused. There was so much he wished to confess but he couldn't find himself to do so. Pain still wrecked him endlessly. Admitting everything to Skey as she had done to him took bravery and courage to admit. That particular courage and bravery he still couldn't find yet in his heart.
" Skey...Ye've grown stronger. Ah hae tae admit it noo. Ye really know whit it takes tae be ae member O' Iscariot...jus keep it up. Aif ye dae, it'll keep Maxwell aff yer back. Jus remember tha'. (smiles) Should be enough for ye."
Though Skey nodded, he couldn't see it with the inky matter. Skey shifted her weight to one side, a bit uncomfortable of the silence and Anderson's pause to open the door. What had gotten into him? Through the darkness she found his loose hand and held it with both of hers. Through his hand she could feel the shivers of his body.
"Anderson, I can tell something's wrong...please, I may not be a priest you can confess sins to...but I am a friend who yo can confide in. Isn't it enough?"
He didn't say anything. Instead, Skey felt those strong arms wrap around her, her body pressed tightly against Anderson's. It took her by surprise. Since when did he hug anyone?
" (Whispers in her ear) Ah confess til ye...yin thing. Ah am so proud O' whit ye've been able tae accomplish. Ah may hae helped, but it took yer will tae push on like yer daun. Nae matter wha' Ah mae sae til ye...dinna stop believing in yersel'. Tae stop believing is tae gie up on life. Yer too guid tae hae tae gie up. Maxwell loves tae push yer buttons cause he thinks yer weak. Ye know...yer strong enough noo tae prove him wrong. Ah hae nae doubt ye will once this war breaks oot. And ye'll mak me proud tae know Ah hae raised ae guid hearted student. Ye've been ma only student ever, Skey. And noo Ah feel ye've completed yer training...yer through being ma student, but...Ah still hae yin last order tae gie ye. When this battle breaks oot, h order ye to survive it. Ah better see ye in the live count and nae the deid count. Skey, ye hae nae idea jus hae much Ah care for yer well being. Fae noo on, yer ae full fledged, complete paladin O' Iscariot. Honor tha'."
" Thank you, Father Anderson. It means a lot coming from you, honestly."
It was hard to believe. He wholeheartedly admitted his concern for her. Not that Skey didn't trust he cared but...it felt better to know he was willing to admit it and just not act on it. With a smile, she hugged him back and was content now with the Vatican life. As long as she had him and Yumie, nothing else mattered. She could live knowing they were there for her.
