Voodoo groaned as she was given a wake up call at dawn. She dressed in the light sweats she suspected had been selected for training in. She was groggy and the beers she had consumed the night before hadn't helped matters. She rested her face in her hands trying to will away the dull throbbing in her head. Once this proved unsuccessful she shuffled out the front door to meet Zealot out on the lawn. She glanced enviously at Grifter who was still passed out on the sofa. Zealot was already warmed up and ready to get started.
"Why does Cole get to sleep in?"
"He has learned how to fight. Once you can defend yourself you can sleep in when our obligations permit it. Right now we have to accomplish as much as possible with the limited time we have. I will go over hand to hand combat with you. Grifter will teach you firearms in the afternoons."
"I haven't touched a gun since I left Montana!"
"Thank Hecate you have any experience with them at all. We are going to start with form. It is an honor to be offered the chance to train under a Majestrix. Grifter was the only male capable of mastering the combat arts of the Coda. You have the advantage as it comes more naturally to females. You will still need to prove yourself worthy to receive the full training...if we survive long enough."
"Okay..I'll keep that in mind."
Voodoo was surprised at how naturally she was able to pick up the basics. Being a dancer definitely helped with her coordination and physical endurance. She followed Zealot's lead carefully. Thankfully Coda training did not require five inch high heels like dancing at the club did. She felt born for this. The more she thought about it the more this alien DNA thing made sense. Her cuts had always healed quickly. She carried no scars even after her 'enhancements' were done.
Grifter walked out onto the porch. He took a drag off his morning cigarette still in his rumpled clothes from the night before. Voodoo was catching on quickly. Zealot had not become frustrated with her new apprentice yet. Cole himself had take then brunt of her wrath on several occasions as a novice. Voodoo had the advantage of training without the sexual tension that had pervaded his sessions with the warrior woman. He was about to flick his cigarette butt off the porch when a flash of pink light appeared in front of the cabin. Suddenly four costumed types appeared in the field in front of him.
"Shit, those must be those freaks we dodged in D.C."
Zealot's lightning reflexes kicked in as she put herself between the girl and the mob. Grifter drew his gun, pulled his mask on and vaulted over the porch rail to join the fray.
"Give up the girl!" Spartan commanded.
"Not likely, asshole! She's staying with us," Grifter said as Zealot dragged Voodoo towards the house.
"I thought Coda don't retreat?" Voodoo asked.
"We aren't retreating. We are gaining a better strategic position. Take this." Once they were inside the doorway was handed a rather large and complex looking gun.
"How do I even use this?"
Zealot sighed in frustration as Grifter defended the porch. He shot at the intruders but Spartan's force field stopped every bullet in its path. Warblade was eager for confrontation and headed for the door. Chaos ensued as the other followed Warblade. Grifter couldn't hold all three of them off and had to fall back. Maul was slightly too large for the door frame and took off a large chunk of the front of the house. Warblade headed for Zealot, hands forming into long razor sharp claws. Zealot fended off his blows with her sword. Warblade was able to get a few lucky shots in but he was outmatched in speed and skill by the older Kherubim woman. Blood ran down her arm but she fought on.
Voodoo was frozen in fear in the corner. Spartan, seeing this, headed towards her as Warblade occupied Zealot. Grifter had charged into the house only to be met by Maul. He dodged each grab skillfully but was still unable to get to Voodoo or Zealot. Jacob Marlowe walked into the battle once he saw Spartan nearly had the girl. He stood back from the action shielded in a force field generated by Void. Zealot turned when she heard Voodoo let out a scream as Spartan attempted to grab her arm. She made a well placed kick knocking Warblade back and went at Spartan full force with her sword. She neatly sliced off the arm he was reaching out to Voodoo with. She put herself in front of the girl when she saw Jacob Marlowe.
"The Lord Emp!" Warblade was closing in "In the name of Khera stop this madness!" In an unpredicted move she threw down her sword. At Zealot's exclamation everyone momentarily stopped. "This conflict may be a mistake. Lord Emp, if I may speak with you a moment.."
"How do you know my name, lady?"
"We are both fighting the same war, as we have for centuries. Do you not remember? We came to this rock on the same ship thousands of years ago."
"I don't really remember much prior to two years ago."
"Then are we still on the same side?" Zealot asked reaching for another blade.
"Why don't we sit down, talk about it and figure that out?" Zealot sheathed her sword and nodded.
"I'd offer you a seat but your underlings seemed to have destroyed all of my furniture. Cole, stay with Voodoo while I speak to the Lord Emp."
Warblade still eyed Grifter but restrained himself. Maul just shook his head. Spartan made a move to follow Emp outside but was motioned to stay with the others in the remains of the cabin. Zealot and Emp stopped a short distance outside to speak.
"It's been a long time, Lord Emp. Tell me, what is your interest in the Gifted One?"
"You can call me, Jacob. Under Void's direction I have been gathering Gifted Ones to strengthen our position against the Daemonites. We intend on trying to defeat them for good. We just need the right team."
"Brother Grifter and I are on the same quest. We prefer to work alone but the Gifted One with The Sight would have proved the ultimate ally. The Cabal is growing in power and attempting reunification."
"Well we aim to put a stop to that. You and your partner are more than welcome to join us."
Inside the cabin Grifter kept himself between Priscilla and the invaders. "You all right, Pris?
"Yeah, just shaken up." She glanced suspiciously at Spartan, Warblade and Maul.
"We were here to save your ass from these crazies, lady!" Warblade interjected.
"Crazies? Look at your outfit, buddy!" Grifter retorted.
"What do you have to offer? Your team doesn't seem to be very well trained."Zealot folded her arms as she awaited Emp's response.
"They are coming along. We have vast financial resources, access to the latest in human technology as well as Kheran technology, medical insurance, dental, and the help of a seer. We could use someone with your experience to assist Spartan in whipping the team into shape. Our location in New York is more secure than yours to keep the girl safe."
"I have other places I could take her. However, I will accept your offer on the condition we can leave when I choose and if Priscilla wishes to leave with us you will not stand in her way. I am reluctant as you did destroy my house, but I will put that aside as I cannot let a personal quarrel stand in the way of defeating the Daemonites."
"Great! You can 'port back with us. Spartan is field leader so the two of you can go over strategy as soon as we get back to HALO." They shook on the agreement and started walking back towards the cabin.
"Grifter is it? So you always let that crazy bitch of a girlfriend tell you what to do?" Warblade asked.
"Says the guy who takes orders from a midget."
"Warblade, just shut up until Mr. Marlowe returns," Spartan ordered.
"I'm not fond of guys who always hide behind masks. I don't think they're real men. Y'know, Grifter, maybe that's the problem. Most of the time when a woman is wound up like that it's because she's not getting what she needs. Maybe she just needs a good-"
"That's it, motherfucker!" Grifter launched himself at Warblade. Spartan and Maul were able to grab the men before they got to each other.
"Let me go!" Warblade attempted to struggle away from Maul.
"Gimme two minutes with that guy." Grifter fought but even with only one arm Spartan's strength was too great for him.
Zealot and Jacob Marlowe walked back in during the shouting. "What the Hell is going on?" Marlowe asked glancing at the group.
"Warblade and Grifter had a disagreement, Sir." Spartan answered.
"Well they better put it aside. We're all going back to HALO together."
"You've got to be kidding me," Grifter said as Spartan released him. Warblade looked in disgust but stopped struggling.
"Grifter, Voodoo, pack up. We will be staying with Jacob and his team for the time being." Voodoo and Grifter exchanged a look but went to retrieve their belongings