CHAPTER 5: Shall we dance?
The next day begun as Kat might have expected - early. Too early. She clambered out of her very comfortable, warm and cozy bed and smartened herself up. She dressed up really fast, a thought of some toasts with Nutella made her go crazy. She almost run to the kitchen.
Unfortunately the room wasn't empty. By the table she saw Wanda and a man, she didn't see before. They stopped talking when she came in and looked curiously in her direction.
Oh, awkward again. How nice...
-Kat, you're awake! - Wanda greeted her with her warm and kind of caring voice - I don't suppose you guys met before?
-No, not personally - the dark skinned man got up and came towards her - The only time I saw you, you were lying unconscious in the quin jet. - he joked - I'm Sam Wilson. And Falcon, when the Avengers needs me.
-Falcon, the flying guy. Right, I've heard a lot about you- she smirked - I'm Kat Ravenwood, but I suppose you already know that.
-Obviously. Your reputation precedes you.
All three laughed while Sam invited Kat to sit with them to have a breakfast. The nice, and not awkward at all, atmosphere was disturbed by a ringtone. Katelin picked up her phone, it was Steve calling.
-Good morning, Raven. I hope you are ready for a combat test, because you're starting in a half an hour. There's a suit waiting for you in your room, if you'll need anything else, call me. I'll be waiting in the hall A3, don't be late. - he hung up instantly.
-Is he always like that, or... - Kat asked quizzically.
-He has a bunch of things to do, that's normal. - Wanda pointed out - You better finish this toast quickly. I'll give you one advice: if you're training with Rogers, never be late. He is very nice and forgiving but he hates laggards. And that's why Steve and my brother doesn't get along too well.
-Wait, what? Isn't your brother supposed to be super quick?
-Generally yes. But he doesn't give a shit. Pietro really hates morning training and... well he just skips them.
-That's freaking brilliant! I have to follow this idea - Kat laughed. But despite her joke, she finished quickly and left Sam and Wanda to get prepared. She had this unusual impression that Steve liked her, she didn't want to ruin that.
When Kat got back to her room she found a black suit hanged on her drawer. It looked quite similar to the one agent Forren was wearing. Raven jumped in the suit and took a look at the mirror. The suit was so tight that it was like a second skin. All her feminine shapes were so exposed that Kat couldn't help blushing. Though they were covered by the black, elastic material, she felt naked. Kat looked at her phone - 10 minutes left. She gathered her hair in the high pony tail, took three deep breaths and hurried for the hall A3. She got there before time so she had some time to take a glimpse of how this hall looks like. She remembered an advise given by HYDRA: always pay attention to your surrounding.
-Morning! Are we ready? - at this greeting Kat turned away from the glass door and saw three man entering the hall: Steve, director Fury and a third man, unknown to her.
-O, hello, hi. Emm... Ready...? No, I mean yes, yes! Always.
Shit, shit, shit, I told you, Kat, don't get nervous, DON'T GET NERVOUS!
- What am I supposed to do?
-Fight. - third man in a black suit stepped forward - Henry Lewis, director of enlistment recruits. You are Katriece Ravenwood, right?
-Katelin, actually. - Kat corrected him. For the first time there was somebody in here that didn't fully know her name.
-Yes, of course. Come here. - as she approached he take a good look at her. Seeing Lewis' eyes scanning her made her very uncomfortable - Before you start fighting I need to answer some things.
Lewis started asking Kat some basic questions, as did she fight a lot, what is her weapon of choice and stuff like that. In the meantime Fury and Rogers walked away and took a sit in the small lodge near the entrance. Questions ended and Lewis leaved to take place near Fury.
-The test begins now - she heard Lewis' voice coming from the speakers in the corners of the walls -We will start slowly. There will be holograms appearing in the field, your task is to defeat as many as you can. Can we start?
Kat's voice stuck in her throat, but she managed to say 'Yes' loudly enough for them to hear.
Two soldiers materialized in front of her. Kat balked, unable to move. She remembered those black suits and helmets. The way they moved... they looked just like the ones that dragged her out of her home and locked her in the cell. Suddenly all of her memories started flowing in front of her eyes. But this time she didn't break. She couldn't. Kat suppressed tears accumulating in her eyes and turned her sorrow into hatred. She felt stronger that ever before, she knew that she will win this time.
Enemies started running towards her, but she didn't move. She was standing still, waiting with a scary grin on her face. Her heart was beating so strong and so fast that she wasn't sure if she could focus on something else. Adrenaline was flowing in her veins. The attackers were closer and closer. No move, not until they were two steps from her. Finally, in a split second, she held out her hands in front her and hit the attackers with a powerful, violet-blue sound wave. They flew 10 meters across the hall and landed hard on the ground.
-Impressive - Katelin heard Lewis' voice - let's try harder.
This time it wasn't so easy. Soldiers appeared in a circle, one by one surrounding her. But Kat want't planning to loose this time, either. Nor ever again.
-Shall we dance? - this wasn't Kat's voice. It was Raven's. Powerful, fearless and ready to fight.
Three man sitting on the lodge heard a sound of drums. Drums and human voices. Fury saw it before, in his office. A violet flame kindled under Raven's feet, shooting up with thousands of threads, that were the source of the music - very beautiful and frightening music. Male choir was singing louder and louder. Raven materialized two, violet-blue daggers in her hands and once again, waited for the first attacker to approach. "Do not bother during the fight. If the enemy wants to attack you, he will. And you will be waiting. And you kill him." she remembered. Though they were just holograms, they were very well programmed. She saw fear and doubt in their eyes. Finally, the first enemy decided to attack and found himself in her reach. And that was when the dance begun.
-How do you think she's doing? I mean Kat, on the test - asked Wanda, sitting on her coach. Pietro looked at her over his phone with a very sarcastic look. They were chilling in her room, enjoying a break in the exercises.
-Do you think about anything else than her?
-I do, but clearly, you don't - Wanda almost burst out with laughter.
-Why the fuck do you keep doing this?! We had a deal! My thoughts stays mine!
-This time I kept the deal. I didn't get into your mind... - Pietro was looking daggers at her.
-So? Do you want to tell your little sister what is it all about, hmm?
-No. - Pietro got up and headed towards the door.
-Oh, come on. You know than sooner or later, I will find out.
-What do you want to hear?
-What do you think about Katelin?
-I think that everybody in here are exaggerating. She has a very mighty power, that is true, but so do you. When she appeared, everybody started jumping around her, wanting to see her, to touch her, like she was a little, beaten puppy! And believe me, she is not.
-Now you're exaggerating. They care about her, like they cared about me, when you... When you were thought to be dead. It is not her fault that they treat her like that. Maybe you should try to talk to her?
-What for? What could I talk about with a girl who only remembers being a prisoner and keeps complaining about her miserable fate?
-What are you talking about? Have you ever spoke to her? How can you judge her not even knowing her?
-Apparently I can. Actually I'm tired of this resting. I'm going for a run.
He moved so quickly, that Wanda barely noticed. She knew her brother, and generally she knew people. This relationship couldn't end in hatred, Wanda was sure about that. All they needed was a little spark, but that would be a piece of cake for her.
When the attacker through himself on Katelin, she made a quick dodge, took a swing and cut the man's throat from the half-pirouette. The rest, seeing that, decided that it was no point in lingering. They attacked her all together. She was surrounded from every side.
I can't make a semicircular wave, but it will blow me up as well' - she begun marking. She always minded to think over her every move - Or maybe high frequency sound? Or... - Kat made up her mind in a perfect time. One second more and she would loose. But not now, not here.
Man on the lodge saw as three of attackers had their heads blown up, probably because of the very powerful sound wave sent inside their heads. One of the man behind Katelin managed to cut her forearm. The wound wasn't real but it really pissed her. The solider ended up with a materialized dagger between his eyes. She was getting bored of this. They were going to die anyways. Katelin feinted, waiting for the good music moment and when the sound of drums pealed, she decided this was high time. She sang along to the drums and her voice was so powerful that the last standing soldiers flew few feet up and fell down on the ground. Music slowly faded and once it died out, no sound could be heard besides Katelin's heavy breathing. She was damn proud of herself.
-Fine. - Lewis' voice could he heard once again from the speakers - Test is over. - he got up, took all his papers and prepared to leave.
-And? - Kat inquired as she approached him. Lewis turned around and looked at her surprised.
-What do you mean?
-How was it?
-How was what? - Katelin was sure, that he's doing this on purpose just to piss her off. He was doing a great job.
-My fight... - she answered through gritted teeth.
-You have absolutely no technique, everything you do is a coincidence, you think too much and avoid the clash, in stead of taking it with honor. Typical HYDRA's puppet. We, well actually Captain Rogers, will have planty of work with you. - Lewis almost left the hall, but he turned around and smirked at her - Oh, 'Raven', one more thing. Don't show off. We have all seen miracles, your gift is nothing special.
Kat stood rooted to the spot. She was seething with anger, very confused at the same time.
-What a motherfucking, bloated dickhead! Did you hear him?! Did you?! He called me a fucking HYDRA's puppet!- Kat shouted to Rogers soon after Lewis and Fury left - Who the fuck does he think he is?! I swear, the next time I see him...
-Whoa, language. - Steve's voice was very soft, which made Kat even more angry. - That is just how he is. And that is why he doesn't spent more time in the facility, that is absolutely necessary. But he is second to no one when it comes to recruitment, so we just had to live with it. You will get used to this it. But you can't loose control like this, you're a solider now. But personally, I think that you made a great job here. I've never seen anything like this before. Lewis is exaggerating. The only case that we will have to work on is yours humility. - Rogers smiled towards Kat.
-I'm sorry, Cap. I loose my control way too often. I will try... But later. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go for a walk. - few moments more and she would have exploded.
-If this will help you - Steve said before she left.
Katelin left the hall as quickly as she could. On her way to the forest, she dropped in on her room to change her uncomfortable uniform on a plain, grey t-shirt and oversize blouse, she found in her closet. It was hard to find anything, because her eyes were filled with tears of anger.
The weather outside was just perfect - sky covered in dense, grey clouds; it was drizzling. Kat took a deep breath of the fresh air as she got out of the facility and delved into the forest.
Ok, I know, I went all the way with this chapter, hope that it went fine ;) And since the music is a big part of this story and as well as Kat's character, I've decided to add more music into it. I have took inspiration from Elder Scrolls V OST for this combat, so if you'd like to listen, here it is: watch?v=r3rmcSzb6XE
