10/08/16
Given that this story is ultimately not that long compared to my other 100,000 word monoliths (heh monoliths I see what I did there) I've effectively read "Stay Sharp" in it's entirety like...50 times at this point. Whether it be late at night bored or while I'm editing. It is honestly quite ridiculous.
Also may as well say it now in case it wasn't obvious none of the chapters take place right after the other, there are days or weeks in between each one. Just wanted to say that...anything else? Nope not that I can think of, onward!
Progressing
"…and then you put this here, link it this and ta-da!"
Alexa tapped the top of her model car, closing it. Sure enough, just as she said, the light on top began flashing red and blue. Stretching her arms she called out "Police car!"
Following that she leaned back on the couch with a proud smile on her face. Kruse then leaned in and took a closer look at the model car she constructed "Impressive!"
Alexa brushed off the compliment "Of course it is, it's me! In fact! I'm working on a bigger version. A Skell version!"
Kruse chuckled "A police Skell? Of course you are."
"Yeah and it is going to be super AWESOME! Trust me! Oh and you totally have to join me on test drives of it, I won't accept no for an answer."
Kruse nodded as Lin joined them "I've helped her a bit on it, it really is coming out pretty great, you should drop by and give it a look."
"I should." Kruse looked from Alexa's model car to his own which he was still in the process of assembling. He recounted some of lessons learned from Alexa and Lin, going over a few steps in his head before leaning in and starting with his work.
However, just as he did he heard the telltale sign of Alexa's small panic. She always made a little noise like a yelp as he was about to do something…well, not correctly. Alexa's panicked yelp is always followed up by her pouting and no doubt crossing her arms as a result of Lin giving her a stern 'don't help him' type of look.
Shaking his head he looked over to the pair, the second they noticed they both looked away in opposite directions as they always do.
He couldn't help but laugh "I love you two, you know that right?"
Alexa rolled her eyes "Well of course!"
As the trio shared a laugh the barracks door opened and Elma walked in, she spotted the group around the table with various pieces of small machines lying about.
"Ah, mechanical training today? How's it going?"
Kruse looked to Alexa and Lin "Well? My infallible teachers, care to tell Elma how am I doing?"
Lin gave a big smile and a thumbs up to Elma while Alexa brought up her hand up, held it flat and waved it around while going "Eh."
"Alexa!"
"What! If he did what he was about to do he'd short circuit the lights and then what?"
Kruse shook his head as Elma sat next to him, her arm brushing his as she took a closer look at all the devices on the table "Well this certainly looks complicated. You know what all of these are, Kruse?"
Kruse cleared his throat and nodded "Yeah. Yes. I do."
He looked to Elma who gestured for him to continue "Right. Um."
"Elma. Don't do that."
She looked over to Lin "What?"
"Don't do what you're doing. It's cruel and unusual punishment."
Elma raised an eyebrow as Kruse spoke "Don't worry about it Lin! Nothing's wrong here!"
Alexa gave Lin an odd look "What's going on?"
Lin shook her head as she stood and walked off "Nothing. Nothing at all."
"H-hey! Tell me!" With that Alexa took off after the younger girl.
Elma watched them leave before looking at Kruse "What was that all about?"
Kruse shook his head. "As Lin said it was nothing."
He gave Elma an awkward smile before the pair fell into a silence that was far too quiet for Kruse's liking.
"So…Elma, how has your day been?"
She shrugged "Oh you know, uneventful. Though honestly I greatly prefer it that way. The Pathfinders needed help checking on some of the older data probes and the Harriers needed a weapon delivery for their next round of Tyrant missions. Pretty standard stuff. You?"
He gestured to the mess before them "Well as I'm sure you know Lin and Alexa believe that I could be a very valuable engineer based off the knowledge I seem to have so they're helping me out. Though it looks like I'm incapable of building a model car. In fact I think Alexa is convinced I'll screw this up so bad I'll set the entire district on fire."
Elma laughed at that, reminding Kruse again why it was he always strove to make her do so. It was one of the most beautiful sounds he could think of.
"Have anything else scheduled for today Elma?"
She shook her head "Not really, why?"
"Well it just so happens my teachers left so I guess I'm free. Down for a match?"
Elma tilted her head "How odd, you don't normally ask me."
He stood up "Well, ever since I started improving in my sessions against Ga Buidhe I've just had a desire to go up against you again and see how I do, see how far it is I've really come."
Standing up as well Elma nodded "Well then, let's go so you can show me."
Out in Primordia with the burning midday sun above Kruse and Elma faced each other. The former took a deep breath and nodded to himself. Drawing his weapon he took a stance before looking at Elma.
She had a hand on her chin and was watching him "What?"
"Nothing…"
She narrowed her eyes, this session was going to be far different than any before, she could tell. Drawing her blades she gave them a quick spin before getting into her own stance.
A few moments later she was in front of Kruse, swinging her weapons she missed him as he jumped back. Quickly he charged back in and struck her weapons, pushing her back then diving aside from her retaliatory strikes. Elma looked behind her just as Kruse struck her and jumped away again.
Pursuing him quickly, Elma struck one of his arms before he ducked under her following strike. Surging forward Kruse swung his weapon wide, catching Elma even as she tried to jump out of range. Landing, she stumbled slightly and looked to see Kruse in front of her again. Their weapons bounced off each other, pushing the pair away from one another. Kruse took the time to circle Elma again who held one of her blades behind her, blocking his attack.
Spinning around she caught him with her other blade, then followed up with several more attacks, pushing Kruse to the ground. Rolling back to his feet he watched her spin her blades before charging at him and beginning another assault. In the midst of her attacks she saw him make a ghost of a move. Immediately breaking off her assault she left him to swing his weapon through the air at nothing. Off guard and off balance it allowed her to move back in, both weapons making contact, throwing Kruse across the ground once again.
Standing he shook his head before falling back into defensive position. Seeing that Elma shot towards him, at the last second she dashed around him just as he did earlier. Turning he swung and caught her on the shoulder just as she struck his side. The pair staggered away from each other before lunging again and clashing weapons.
Kruse has always known that just because they haven't been training together didn't mean she wasn't improving her skills on her own time. He never dared underestimate her and right now she was making it clear as to why. Breaking off the two jumped away from each other.
Catching his breath Kruse spoke "If you don't mind me asking Elma, who have you been beating down since I've been learning with Ga Buidhe?"
She smiled and shrugged her shoulders "Oh you know, whoever has the time."
"Complaints?"
At that Elma laughed "Plenty."
Kruse couldn't help but smile as Elma continued to laugh. He then shook his head thinking of all their mutual friends that she must've been beating down "I almost feel sorry for them."
"They're fine, just don't go patting Doug too hard on the back anytime soon."
"Noted."
Giving each other a small smile they returned to their stances. Each of them took a deep breath before charging at one another.
Some time later, the pair was exhausted. Kruse looked over to Elma who gave him a thumbs up "You've gotten better."
"So have you."
Kruse looked up at the sun "Hey…sun…chill…"
He gestured to himself and the sweat on his face "I feel disgusting."
Elma laughed "Same here."
"I'm gonna hit those showers so-"
He trailed off, forgetting how to speak and well…just about anything that wasn't breathing. Wait no, he forgot how to breathe too.
Elma had taken her vest off and was tossing her head back, wiping the sweat off her forehead. Now in her tank top she let out a comfortable sigh "Better."
Smile on her face she stretched and let out a long breath before looking at Kruse. "Hey? You alright? Kruse?"
He shook his head "Yeah. Of course. Of course. Me? Yeah. Why would you ask? I'm fine, totally fine."
Quickly he put his head down and walked past her, she followed close behind "You sure?"
"Absolutely."
"Alright then."
Shaking his head he took a deep breath before turning to face her "So…how did I do?"
Elma looked at him and began to speak only for him to notice "You're bleeding!"
She raised an eyebrow before bringing a hand to her face, wiping a blood trail from her lip "Well. What do you know?"
"Elma, I am so sorry. I-"
She shrugged "We were sparring, comes with the territory."
Kruse looked away "Right. Of course. Right. I just…right…"
"It's not like we do this specifically to hurt each other. Our sessions make us better fighters and in turn we become better at our jobs and that is a good thing for everyone, right?"
Kruse gave Elma another look and was now very aware of the bruises on her arms. "…and here I thought I was the only one who went back to the barracks sore."
Elma laughed "I guess I'm just better at hiding it than you. I mean, I don't complain for starters."
"Fair enough."
Elma came to a stop "Honestly though. Kruse. The level of improvement in your combat abilities…the growth is immense."
He smiled "That means a lot coming from you."
"Believe it or not there were a lot of times in our session where I wasn't sure how to respond or even how to begin."
"Really? Well, same here. I may be more aware but you're…you."
She laughed at that "Indeed. I suppose we both need even more work."
"You can never be too skilled."
The pair smiled at each other as a powerful breeze came through. In silence they turned towards it, both sighing in relief as it cooled their bodies. Kruse gave a brief look to Elma, eyes closed letting the breeze pass over her.
He whispered "Is there ever a moment when you don't look beautiful?"
After the breeze passed she opened her eyes and looked at him "Hm? Did you say something?"
"Me? No. Nothing at all…I…just…can't wait to get this stink off."
"Right! Well whoever gets back first gets use of the shower!"
With that she took off laughing. After what she said sank in, he groaned "Come on! You're not gonna make me stand around in my own stink for-"
She was already well on her way back to New LA. Rolling his eyes he sighed before smiling and giving chase.
