Accessing an override panel just above Terra's head, Slade forced the program to shut down while simultaneously accessing an emergency water system. Moments later, the flames ceased only to be replaced with a large flood of water that drenched he and Terra both. As the water drained off, Terra fell to her knees, coughing and shivering. Slade rose in a fury, irate that she had disobeyed him and stepped outside the circle he'd told her not to leave. But when she looked up at him seconds later and he saw the terror in her eyes, Slade paused.
"Y-you saved me," she whispered.
Her face was still wet despite the fact that the water was long gone. Slade looked back at where she'd previously stood, then turned to her. "Never disobey me again."
Terra nodded, still shaking. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry; I'm so stupid. I'll never do that again." She wrapped her arms around her knees. "That was so scary." She looked up at Slade, her eyes shining. "But you saved me. Thank you."
Slade said nothing, and when Terra struggled to her feet, he didn't assist her. "Are you injured?" he asked.
Terra tested out each one of her limbs, then looked at him and grinned. "No, I'm fine thanks to you."
Slade nodded. "My regimen is complete. If you require food, there is extra for you in the dining room." He began to leave, but felt Terra run up to him and grab him by the arm.
"What are you going to do?" Terra asked.
Slade pulled his arm free. "I am going to work."
"Oh," Terra said. "O-okay."
Slade didn't have to think very hard to know what was on her mind. He turned around and touched the side of her face. "On the contrary, child. You are a good apprentice. For now, you will rest; you've had a shock."
Terra blushed and nodded. Standing up, Slade left her and walked into his control room. Accessing the government security system he'd previously hacked, Slade began to pour over the files, noting every defense system's weakness and every security camera's blind spot. He was halfway through the file when he stood up. "Do you need something, child?"
Behind him, Terra squeaked and ran out of the room. Slade chuckled in his throat. No one could catch him off guard, especially a girl such as Terra.
As Slade turned back to the file, he was aware of Terra's return in the shadows by the door. Slade ignored her as he continued his work, though he did find it mildly amusing whenever she did this. She probably didn't even realize that these occurrences were becoming more and more common as the days went by.
Just as he finished looking through the government file, Slade put his arms above him and stretched. Terra's small reactive gasp behind him did not escape his deft hearing. He shook his head, and ,without a look back at where he knew Terra was hiding, Slade left the room. Small footfalls behind Slade told him that Terra was following him.
As he walked toward another room in the building, Slade considered. He could always give her a job to do or order her to lightly train while he worked. However, Slade had grown used to, even a bit fond of, this game. When he'd originally chosen Terra as an apprentice, it was because he knew he could exploit all of her weaknesses. He hadn't, however, counted upon her forming a weakness of her own. It was such a glaring weakness, and Slade himself was mildly surprised that she didn't see that. She was either too young or too foolish to understand the dangerous situation she was in.
And he could exploit them both.