The three students stand out in line with Roshi clearing his throat.
"Alright, it is time for your training to begin. Before we take the first step, I want to make one thing very clear! We do not learn martial arts to impress people or to get into big fights! We learn martial arts so we do not have to fight!"
Krillin and Bikini nod in affirmation as Roshi continues.
"Martial Arts are not just for ourselves, but it is a duty to ourselves as well, a path to self improvement! When we are faced with every day life we must act accordingly, but when faced with evil or opposing forces, it is then our duty to eliminate such threats! Do you understand?"
Bikini and Krillin shout eagerly.
"Yes sir!"
Goku however looks between them before staring at Roshi blankly.
"I don't really get it..."
Krillin and Roshi slump their shoulders at him, but Bikini speaks up.
"We don't start fights but finish them, Goku!"
The monkey boy beams nodding.
"Ooh!~ I get it now!"
Roshi strokes his beard relieved to have Bikini around now for more than eye candy.
"Now for the Early Morning Training! First thing we do to warm up is a mild run. Try to pace yourself and focus not on running fast, but running for as long as you can, got it?"
The three nod for an hour, Roshi leads the trio around the island, eventually scaling a small hill to a lone house with a helicopter sitting next to it. Bikini and Goku hardly break a sweat unlike the winded Krillin. He sees an oxman wearing a milkman's uniform step out the house with heavy crates of milk.
"Ahoy there!~ We'll deliver those for you, sonny!"
Roshi calls out with a grin. The milkman smiles back with a wave.
"Muten Roshi! I haven't seen you in a long time, sir! I see you got some new students with you too, huh?"
Roshi nods then addresses his students.
"Alright you three, Mr. Milk here usually delivers the islanders their milk around the island on his helicopter. We'll be using a different method, skipping!"
Krillin gasps at that with a pale face.
"S-Skipping ALL around the island...?!"
The Turtle Hermit nods.
"Since this is the first day we'll only go as far as three miles for now! Now, each of you take a crate, and get follow me!"
Goku and Krillin easily handle their crates but Bikini struggles with holding hers up. She looks to Roshi with a nervous smile.
"I-I could just use magic to carry these, can't I?"
However the old master frowns at her.
"Then it wouldn't be training! Don't worry, you've got a strong set of legs."
"But my arms are like toothpicks..."
"Wait until we start moving to complain then. C'mon everyone, repeat after me!~"
Step by step, the Turtle School marches on. Bikini couldn't believe just how long the winding road is. However, she kept her complaints to herself, although Krillin had no issue voicing his own.
"T-This never ends...! How long until we get to a house...?!"
Roshi merely hums as they stroll along.
"No bellyaching! This is all part of the training now! Look, the first town is just ahead."
A small village awaits the group with many inhabitants still asleep. House by house, the trio swapped out empty bottles for full ones. Goku finishes first, with Krillin coming just shy behind him, and Bikini being the last. Roshi nods checking their crates before gesturing to a path lined with tall trees.
"For our next delivery we'll be running in zigzags between each of these trees!"
Krillin groans with wide eyes while Goku looks to Bikini curious.
"Hey, what's a zigzags?"
Bikini huffs looking ahead already feeling quite tired.
"It's when you go forward then left and right in a pattern..."
"Oh! I can do that!"
"My arms are going to turn to soup by the end of today..."
She and Goku follow Roshi as they skip between every tree, but Krillin sneers as he waits for them to move ahead, lightly jogging as he shouts out each skip along with the rest. That is until he hears Roshi's voice next to him.
"If you think this is too hard you can always just quit. It makes no difference to me."
Krillin grows pale before running back to the start and running between the trees as well.
"W-Wah! I won't do it again, Master Roshi!"
Upon arriving to the second town, Goku once again met up with Roshi first, with Bikini making it second and Krillin finishing last this time. Roshi speaks up to both the Monk and Unicorn.
"You two will have to pick up the pace or else the milk will sour! Bikini, I can tell when magic has been used, so don't try to preserve the milk to give yourself time."
She mutters under her breath.
"I can do that...?"
Roshi gestures with his cane to a towering rocky spire.
"That's the last house of this town. We'll be taking these steps one at at time. Come now!"
Roshi has no issue going up step by step and neither does Goku, however Bikini and Krillin look at each other in mutual exhaustion.
"If I die on the way up please put flowers on my grave..."
"If I die before you don't tell me Dad. He'll kill me..."
Roshi waits near the top just under a flight of stairs. He looks to the side to see Goku struggling with each step himself.
"Hm... Even Goku is looking tired from here."
He walks over to Roshi and pouts.
"Hey, Master Roshi! When are we going to learn martial arts?"
Roshi lightly knocks Goku's head with his cane.
"You don't just jump into running before learning to walk! You're just like Gohan."
Goku's eyes light up at remembering his old caretaker.
"Grandpa did this too?!"
"That's right. He and Ox King both delivered milk everyday like this. I'm sure you're familiar with how strong he was."
Goku nods repeatedly much to Roshi's delight. This kid is simple but his heart holds a good nature.
"Then you should know by the time you're done with my training you'll be as strong as him. Maybe, even stronger!"
"What!? Then what am I waiting for?!"
Goku leads going up step by step huffing and puffing away drenched in sweat. Krillin is a flight below him slowly closing the gap between them. Bikini however is a few flights below them. While she could run for miles and miles without end, the burden of carrying the milk crate however drains her stamina considerably.
Goku and Krillin manage to deliver their milk bottles, but Bikini falls to her knees on the last step, dropping the crate in the process. Roshi moves in a blink of an eye to catch it before all the empty glass bottles shattered.
"Hm, you certainly can run all around the island faster and longer than anyone here, even me. However, that upper arm strength of yours is pitiful."
"I-I'm sorry Master Roshi..."
Roshi shakes his head at her, neither disappointed nor frustrated, much to Bikini's relief.
"Mistakes and failure are integral to training. Don't be sorry but be better. Besides, you'll be doing this every morning for the next eight months!"
All three students shout in shock.
"E-Eight Months?!"
Roshi smiles nodding before holding up a finger.
"You may think this is hard, but that too is part of training, we have to push ourselves to our limit to grow! Not to mention, it gets easier the more you do it, but the hard part is the dedication to keep doing it. Do you understand?"
Begrudgingly, everyone agreed, even Goku understands Roshi's words.
"Now then, Bikini! I'll take some of the away, that way your load is lighter, but as punishment the others will have to carry your bottles."
Krillin lowers his head grumbling as he's essentially gets his crate re-filled, but Goku doesn't mind as he offers his crate up first.
"I'm her bodyguard. I'm supposed to do things like carry her stuff anyways."
Bikini mutters an apology smiling to the two. Roshi then leads the trio ahead to their next town, where on the way they travel between canyons using only thin logs, travel in dinosaur territory where they run in terror for their lives, and even through rushing rapids at the edge of waterfalls.
Eventually the group makes it back to the Kame House with the trio of students all on the floor completely out of breath. Roshi smiles with some pride at their results.
"You finished just in time for breakfast! Starswirl should have it ready for us by now."
Goku hops up with a big grin on his face.
"Breakfast! Finally! I'm so hungry I could eat a horse!"
Bikini lifts her head up giggling.
"I hope I'm not on the menu... But I could go for a big meal myself."
Krillin barely pushes himself up.
"Gimme a chicken and I'll eat it raw..."
Starswirl comes out looking quite pale, especially as all heads turned to him in an instant, he rubs
"Roshi, children! The food! Someone stole it all! I was caught off guard and she was just too fast!"
The students jump to their feet stupefied as well as frustration looking in the direction that Starswirl points in.
"She went off that way! You can follow the tire tracks! Quick, use the Nimbus!"
Goku hops into the air shouting loudly.
"Nimbus!"
Goku lands on the golden cloud with Bikini climbing on quickly. Krillin tries to jump on as well yet falls through.
"H-Huh?! Hey, what gives?!"
Krillin then lifts into the air flailing wrapped in a golden aura. Bikini's horn glows brightly as Goku flies them all away with the Nimbus.
"Sorry Krillin, I don't really know why we can get on, but no one else can! I'll carry you on the way there!"
She smiles apologetically at the monk who is too airsick to respond. Goku sniffs the air eagerly following a particular scent.
"I remember what was in the fridge, and all the food in there is out here going in the same direction, I can smell it! This way!"
The party soars ahead. Roshi looks to Starswirl with a critical gaze.
"You of all people being robbed? Successfully?"
The wizard scoffs stroking his beard.
"It happened! Of course, I let it happen, I just want to see how they'll handle this."
"It might end poorly... Ah well, they know their way back."
The students soon find a deep blue haired woman standing by a motorbike with a capsule in her hand. The trio lands near her, Goku leaping off the cloud holding the Power Pole out, drool leaking from his mouth.
"Y-You! That's our food you stole! I can smell it from inside the capsule!"
The woman jumps before looking between the capsule and Goku before holding her hand out.
"Is that so? I'm ever so sorry! Here, you can have it back."
The woman gives an honest smile as Goku takes the capsule back. He returns it with a chipper grin.
"That was nice of you! Thanks!"
Krillin however is skeptical of the woman.
"Hey, what kind of a thief gives back what they stole?"
She brushes her cheek with a hand frowning.
"I don't really remember much of anything aside from a gentleman offering me a ride on his bike. Now here I am with his bike, a capsule full of food, and this gun."
She holds up a dangerous firearm surprising the trio. She puts it on the bike shaking her head.
"I don't even like guns! Oh... If only there was a way to remember..."
Bikini brings Goku and Krillin together in a huddle whispering to them.
"Are we sure this is the lady that stole our breakfast? She looks completely harmless!"
Krillin grimaces.
"But it has to be her! She has a weapon, the food, and a getaway ride! She might be trying to pull a fast one on us!"
Goku perks up with an idea going off in his head!
"Why don't we use the Nimbus? Good people can get on it!"
Bikini beams at Goku.
"That's a wonderful idea! Excuse me, ma'am?"
The woman points at herself peculiarly.
"Yes? Did you need something else?"
"Could you please sit on this cloud for a moment? Its very soft!"
Goku happily exclaims right after her.
"And friendly!"
The woman smiles and hops on with no issue, surprising Krillin.
"Huh!? S-She's actually on it! M-Maybe she didn't steal the food... But, how'd she end up with it?"
The woman tilts her head at the group. As she watches them, unaware of a bee idly flying by her until it nears her nose, causing her to sneeze before she falls past the cloud. The trio all step back as the woman's blue hair changes into a bright blonde. Her mild mannered smile skews into a furious scowl as she stands up spitting on the Nimbus.
"Who th' Hell are you punks!? Tryin' ta make a fool outta Launch here, are ya?! I'll show you!"
From behind she pulls out a hidden fire arm and fires it upon the group. Goku and Krillin practically dance about as Bikini summons a shield around herself. Bikini then moves her own shield forward, shifting its shape to wrap around Launch.
"Wha-!? What kinda bullcrap is this?! H-Hey I can't move...!"
Bikini then looks to Goku and shouts.
"You're up next, bodyguard!"
"Gotcha!"
Goku lunges ahead and knocks Launch out with a strike of his Power Pole against her head in one fell swoop. Krillin blinks at the scene looking to his peers stunned.
"Y-You two really work well together...! I've never seen a technique like that before either!"
Bikini hops onto the Nimbus with Goku before using her magic to carry both Krillin and the unconscious criminal.
"Honestly... I've only ever done it once before on Goku. It feels so natural to me now though. I hope Mr. Starswirl can explain things."
With their return Starswirl already has food for the breakfast just waiting to be cooked. He laughs at their stunned faces.
"Surprised to see more food? Don't be! I merely handed over a capsule full of rocks. I even went as far as using a spell to make it smell like food!"
Goku drops his jaw looking at the capsule in his hand before opening it. Sure enough, succulent smelling pebbles and stones tumble out, all bound together by rope.
"I-I almost ate this... Wait! If the food was already here then why did you send us after her?!"
Starswirl snickers stroking his beard.
"Remember, you three, this is what Roshi means to use your skills only in aiding others. Not everyone is as prepared for trouble as I am. What if she truly had stolen all the food? Now we know you're able to get it back without unnecessary damage... This time."
He sends Goku a strict look which confused the young monkey, but Krillin rubs his head as one thing confuses him.
"That's nice and all but what do we do about this crazy lady?"
Roshi rubs his hands as he stands over Launch's unconscious body.
"Well it would seem that she's in great pain. Therefore, I must use my Healing Hands to-"
Roshi is blasted through the wall by a magical beam from Starswirl. The destruction wakes Launch up immediately as she jumps to her feet snarling.
"Where am I?! You-! You monkey bastard and horned bitch! I'll get ya for makin' a fool outta me you-!"
Starswirl rolls his wrist with an ethereal mist puffing out and flying right into Launch's face. The belligerent blonde sneezes and her hair returns to the humble blue once more.
"Oh dear! What has happened? Oh my, did I sneeze again? I must have caused so much trouble for all of you...!"
Everyone is speechless at the sudden change, save for the old Unicorn; he clears his throat to speak in a sympathetic tone.
"Oh think nothing of it, dear. If you'd like, you could repay us by helping make breakfast! What do you say to that?"
Launch nods smiling happily.
"Oh, please! It is the very least I could do for you after doing who knows what!"
As she hums to herself preparing breakfast, Starswirl whispers to the students.
"Ms. Launch here drove up to the house earlier asking for directions before she sneezed into her blonde state. I figured making her sneeze would work again."
Roshi comes back into the house through the door with a cough.
"Yes, yes well. After breakfast we'll start the Mid-Morning Training!"
Krillin leans back from Roshi brushing off what seems like a heavy attack.
"M-Master Roshi! You're alright even after a blast like that?! And there's more...?"
Roshi nods and adjusts his sunglasses.
"Starswirl may be powerful in magic but I'm no slouch myself. Now get ready everyone! We'll be learning about agriculture after breakfast!"
Goku and Krillin plow fields for one of the many farmers on the islands with their bare hands as Roshi instructed. For hours they would be at this, but Bikini is given another task by Starswirl, using her magic to plant and grow the crops.
While Goku and Krillin struggles with their task, they succeeded, whereas Bikini would find herself only able to plant seeds and grow them into stalks. The trio all finish within a short time of each other feeling the burn of their training. Bikini rubs her horn.
"That was exhausting... My horn has never been sore before... I didn't even think it had nerves!"
Krillin holds up his dirty swollen hands.
"At least it isn't smothered in grime and worms... I can't even feel my hands..."
Goku hands his peer a clean towel.
"Is this really training? We're just doing chores all around the island!"
Bikini huffs but keeps a stiff upper lip.
"Master Roshi and Mr. Starswirl are wise men so there has to be a deeper meaning to this... I hope."
Starswirl alone meets with the trio just outside of Kame House, a chalkboard and futons set in a mock classroom style, he strokes his beard chuckling.
"Roshi is out preparing you all for your Early-Afternoon Training, but it isn't the end of your Morning Training either, for a sharp mind is key to a master of martial arts. Given your young ages, and especially your background Goku, I imagine your education isn't quite high."
Bikini frowns raising her hand.
"But I already know Pythagoras Theorem!"
Goku and Krillin just look at her loss yet Starswirl only laughs.
"Is that so? Excuse me for my assumptions! However, your peers aren't as close to that skill level as you can see. Krillin, do you know Algebra?"
Krillin nods with a weak smile.
"I-I know of it...! But I only got as far as basic multiplication at the temple."
Goku only scratches his head.
"I know some Math stuff but what does it have to do with fighting?"
Starswirl takes off his hat and uses his magic to create a large boulder.
"Goku, you're easily the strongest student here, so strong I bet you could make a tunnel by punching through this rock. Mayhaps even break it into pieces, yes?"
Goku nods hopping to his feet ready to do just that.
"Yeah!"
"But how many punches would it take you to do that?"
"Huh? How many punches? Usually it only takes one..."
"Then try to do that in one punch."
Goku nods before he strikes the rock with all his might. He yelps holding his hand without leaving so much as a dent into the mystical stone.
"Ow ow ow! W-What gives!? How come it didn't break?"
Starswirl clears his throat, fighting back the urge to enter a long lecture about force and how it's implemented, but even he knows Goku would understand very little if told in such a manner.
"You hit it with just one punch. However it would take many more due to it's density. The denser an object is the harder it is to break it, to put it simply. We also now need to know how much stronger you'd need to be to break it, which would be called force, or in this case; kinetic energy. This and all we can determine through Math."
Goku hops back onto the futon with stars in his eyes.
"I think I get it now! C'mon! I need to know how to break that boulder!"
Starswirl lets out a sigh he brings his cane to the chalkboard.
"W-We'll start with the basics but don't forget this lesson. Bikini, you can help me with this."
For the next few hours, the two Unicorns educate Krillin and Goku, but Goku would constantly glance towards the boulder. Eyeing it like an enemy.
The group all has lunch before Roshi splits up the students again. Goku and Krillin would go on to work at a construction site whereas Bikini would remain at Kame House.
"Bikini. Goku said you used a more powerful Kamehameha. I believe him but I still need to see this for myself. Can you remember how you did it?"
Bikini nods and enters the stance she's seen on occasion, only to be stopped at once by Roshi.
"Ack! Wait girl! Don't fire right at me! You gather energy so quickly too...!"
She tilts her head until she finally notices the glaring light besides her. A ball of energy had formed in her hands already, vanishing just as quick as it arrived, she looks to the sea and aims there.
"Kamehameha!"
Roshi is blown back from the results as this novice girl fires a powerful beam. However, while he is figuratively blown away, Bikini literally blows herself away, crashing into Kame House through the same wall Roshi had been blasted through not but a few hours ago. The Turtle Hermit rubs his neck watching the crashing waves before going to help Bikini to her feet.
"Hard to believe it even with my own eyes... You certainly hold more power than Goku, but you lack the physicality and muscle memory to use the technique properly, or any martial arts techniques."
Bikini stands with a stumble disoriented from the crash.
"S-So... What should I do?"
"Obviously my training will get you where you need to be! Not only that but with your case, you'll have to make your body limber to allow your energy to flow better! In my experience, an aerobic dance should-"
From within the house, Starswirl launches Roshi away with a magical blast. Starswirl comes out the hole grumbling.
"Old pervert... He wasn't lying about everything before the stupid dance. However, you aren't built similarly to your fellow students, so you must play to your strengths. Magic."
Starswirl brings up a hand before a book appears in his grasp.
"I have a plethora of spells to teach you before Mid-Morning Training. You already know how to use your horn to levitate yourself and others, summon shields to protect or entrap your targets, but there is so much more..."
For the next few hours, the two Unicorns explored the Mystical Arts. She learned the history of magic on Earth, how beings known as Kami are said to have the greatest of magic, even the title of Kami itself became a high honor in other fields; Roshi being christened as the Kami of Martial Arts. This history lesson and more would soon be cut short as Roshi would return with Goku and Krillin.
"It's time to start the Mid-Afternoon Training! Are you all ready?"
Bikini nods with a reluctant Krillin leaning back in exhausted shock.
"T-There's still more...?"
Roshi nods.
"Of course! The sun is still up isn't it?"
Goku pouts at the Turtle Hermit almost glaring at the elder.
"Hey, old man. When are you going to teach us some real martial arts?"
Roshi scowls before spitting on the ground and shouting indignantly.
"You lot are nowhere near strong enough for real martial arts! You think you can handle some fancy looking moves already, when the techniques of the Turtle School are far beyond your current understanding, even the Kamehameha you use isn't the complete one!"
Goku blinks tilting his head.
"So we're doing this stuff to get stronger? But I'm already plenty strong!"
Roshi scoffs before turning to a large boulder roughly the size of Kame House.
"As if! When you can move a boulder of this size then I'll start to teach you some of my techniques!"
Krillin's jaw drops agape at the giant rock with even Bikini shrinking back from feeling intimidated by such standards.
"N-No one could move that boulder on their own...!"
"I couldn't lift it even with my magic... That's way too heavy...!"
The Turtle Hermit grins and places his hands on it.
"You think so? Hee Hee!~ Watch this!"
With his back turned to his students, Roshi pushes the entire boulder a few meters away with his bare hands. He pants quietly before turning around with a bright smile, fooling his students into thinking he hasn't broken a sweat.
"When you can move heavy objects like these? That's when I'll teach you some techniques."
Bikini and Krillin look at each other unnerved yet determined. However, Goku runs up to the boulder, and then pushes it even farther than Roshi.
"Hey, hey, Master Roshi! I pushed the boulder! You can teach me now, right?"
Bikini cheers for Goku seeing this feat.
"You never cease to amaze, Goku!"
Krillin glances to an equally stupefied Roshi.
"H-He even pushed it farther than you did..."
"So I see... Hmph!"
Roshi chuckles before pointing to a boulder even larger. Far, far larger than the previous one, and gestures for Goku to push it.
"You've been trained by Gohan so that doesn't count, a beginner trainee can do that much, but this rock is the real deal!"
Goku puffs himself up and pushes with all his might yet can't even shake the mountainous boulder. Goku huffs out a tired breath.
"I... I can't do it! It's just too heavy..."
Roshi nods at this result.
"And that is why I cannot teach you my techniques. Even the Kamehameha, or rather especially the Kamehameha, can do equal harm to the user as it may do to their target. Bikini showed me her skill with it and nearly hurt herself."
Forcing herself to endure the shameful fact, Bikini smiles through a blush.
"I-I may have some issue with managing my power..."
Roshi then points his staff at Goku.
"And you don't have enough power to begin with! What if you used the Kamehameha in a fight and you missed? You would lose considerable amount of stamina and energy."
Goku looks down at his hand and remembered when he lost to the red haired giant. His hand closes into a fist thinking about the pain of that loss.
"You're the strongest man in the whole world right? Have you ever met anyone that could survive taking a Kamehameha?"
Roshi raises a brow before stroking his beard.
"Hm? Weird question to ask but... No. Not mine at least. Anyone who has is because I held back. I'm not exactly a murderer nor do I pick too many fights so I rarely ever have to use it. Why? Did you meet someone that survived yours?"
The monkey boy nods as his face grows serious.
"He was huge and very strong! He beat me and took Bikini away with the rest of our friends! I don't know where he is now... But I have to beat him back one day!"
Roshi could see that Goku didn't hold malicious intent towards this figure, but the fact anyone could beat him and take a Kamehameha worries him, and he makes a mental note to speak with Starswirl about this.
But for now, training.
"If that's how you feel then I can guarantee your victory if you follow my training to the letter. Whenever you feel doubtful, tired, or even thinking of giving up? Remember your goal... To find defeat that man!"
Goku nods, now refilled with vigor and determination.
"Yes, Master Roshi! What are we doing next?"
Goku would regret this as he, Krillin and Bikini would find themselves swimming in a large lake, a shark-infested lake. Goku and Krillin hang onto Bikini as she transforms into a horse, swiftly swimming out onto land, only to be sent flying into the air by a dinosaur's tail swing. Roshi cheers for them loudly.
"Hey! Hey!~ Don't stick together, split up, and watch out for those dinosaurs coming to drink! Remember, ten laps around! Ten!"
The group meets in the forest near Kame House as the sky has become orange. Roshi clears his throat as Starswirl stands by him reading from a tome. The both of them quite far away from the students who stand in a clearing.
"Alright, this is the end, Evening Training will test and enhance your dodging capabilities. Thankfully none of you are allergic so we can work with our partners in full!"
Krillin looks around with a gulp.
"But there are dinosaurs and monsters in this forest, isn't there?"
Starswirl answers without looking up from his book.
"Not at these hours. They meet up at the lake you swam in earlier. Bikini, you must use your magic to stop the incoming targets one by one. I'll even be using my own magic to make sure you don't cheat. Moving while spellcasting can be difficult but very helpful. Are you all ready?"
Bikini looks around confused yet eager to finally finish this arduous day.
"What are we even dodging if all the animals are gone?"
Starswirl fires a small bolt in the treetops above. His target is a large hive of now very angry bees fly down in a furious swarm towards the students. Krillin and Goku immediately start running around with Bikini trying to stop the bees with her magic. However, she finds herself unable to focus as clearly, until she reminds herself of their terrifying training regimen.
Bee by bee, she stops them in their tracks with her magic, even as she runs around as frantically as her peers. The two elders shout advice from a safe distance and within a dome of magic.
"Dodge! Don't just run, dodge! Watch them try to land and move or else you'll get stung!"
"Don't focus too hard Bikini, grab and hold, then move on! Be sure ro move or else-! No don't release them like that! You'll get stung! Ooh..."
The students of the Turtle School all lay on the ground staring at the sky out of breath, littered in bee stings, and hungrier than ever before. Roshi stands by scratching his cheek.
"We'll have to work on your dodging and upper arm strength... However, you lot have either excelled or met the standard in other regards. Now, we'll be doing this training for the next eight months!"
Starswirl heals away the bumps, and the students are all on their feet with this new prospect ahead of them. Bikini, Krillin, and Goku all look at each other worried... Then nod. Krillin, despite everything, smiles and answers
"We can handle that..."