Everyone showed up at Imam's place, wanting to know when they started, desperate for a job.
"First, everyone will go through training, then…" Keira being interrupted,
"How many of you bare a mark on your left shoulder?" Lee questioned,
"What, you mean something like this?" a guy taking his nice tank top off, Keira noticed his bicepts and muscular abs.
"Ah, a wolverine, not bad, does anyone else have a mark?" Lee asked, they all showed Lee their marks, some Lee had trained himself when they were younger, some his brother had trained.
"Alright, everyone will fight me once, and we will review training, and we will keep your training and your weapon training up to date, you will each receive $30,000 just for signing on, there are two ships, we have one that is going to need some work, and one is all set and ready to go, we'll need more ammo, and more food but together we can get the ship up and running in less than six months," Lee explained.
"What exactly is the mission?" one asked,
"The mission will be explained later but I will tell you this after this mission, you will all have your own ship, and you will be paid, and after your mission is over you'll be able to get a better job than what you could have now, if anyone doesn't want to join now they may leave now," Keira strongly. Everyone there had been trained either by Lee or his younger brother so no one stepped out, especially since they were all for their own ship, the faster the better, they had a feeling that since Lee was leading this mission it wasn't going to be easy, but they were all up for it.
"Alright, everyone will put their name on this paper and they will also put their mark down beside their name and their GPA, after that is done feel free to grab a beer and some snacks," Keira turning the stereo sky high. Everyone came over to Lee and Keira and signed their name and information down on the paper, some even shook hands with Keira, telling them that they had appreciated the opportunity to work with her.
"You will receive half now and half when you finish the review training," Lee explained. Everyone was having a ball, mingling and some were picking out their girlfriends for the mission, and making out, some were dancing, and Lee was catching up on his old students and how life went for them. Keira was standing in the corner glancing unnoticeably at the guy who had taken his shirt off earlier, he was talking to Lee and glancing over at Keira every once in a while. Keira was munching a little on the snacks, she was drinking a beer still a bit upset that they pretty much had all been street rats or poor, she wondered if that's why they hadn't gotten a ship for graduation. Keira found Lee glancing in her direction while he was talking to the guy,
~Keep cool, its just a guy, don't freak out, be friendly, you need them to be able to trust you.~ her consciousness explained to her. The guy came over,
"Hey, you drinking too huh?" the guy leaning up beside her, Keira looked into her cup, she only had a little left,
"Still pissed that we didn't get a ship," Keira downing the rest of her beer,
"Yeah, considering we all are 4.0s or higher," the guy laughed a little,
"I think it had to do with the group we are labeled as more than the grades," Keira sitting her cup down,
"I never thought about that, though that I think about it it would make sense, that really sucks, I'm Byran by the way," Byran reaching out to shake hands,
"Keira," Keira shaking his hand warrior style,
"Damn girl, you got a grip there huh? I know who you are, you were valedictorian, great speech by the way," Byran smirked. Keira smirked,
"I'm not a speaker, but I do believe in the words I said, Lee was a great teacher, and makes a great father," Keira eying Lee,
"He is your father?" Byran confused,
"Oh no, my parents, well I have no idea where they are or if they are still alive, but I consider him my father, just as he considers me a daughter," Keira explained.
"I'm sorry, I guess most of our parents are out of the picture," Byran thought out loud,
"You're the same?" Keira asked,
"Well technically no, my mother died when I was born, my father, he was killed in war, I am an earth baby I guess you can say," Byran shrugged.
"So, who were you trained by?" Keira asked,
"Lee, he found me in Hatus, being sold as a slave, he snuck around and freed me, or so the story goes, I was just seven years old, I cant remember that far back, I owe him everything, I guess in one shape or another we are all his kids, he raised me," Byran explained. Keira and Byran were quiet for a few minutes,
"Hey, you wanna dance?" Byran asked,
"Sure why not it's a party right?" Keira shrugged, she took his offered hand,
"That's some heavy leather there," Byran feeling her wrist's cuff where she hid some of her razor blades,
"Yeah, its to keep my blades in, and to hid my past," Keira frowning, Byran put his fingers under her chin,
"The past is the past, tonight and tomorrow is the beginning of the rest of our bright futures," Byran pulling her onto the dance floor. She flinched a little,
"Are you alright?" Byran leaning into her so she could hear him,
"Yeah, I just, its been a while since I was close to someone," Keira screaming back over the music.
"I wont hurt you," Byran starting to dance all funny to cheer her up, Keira laughed,
"Come on, we have had beer, and everyone else is on their way of getting toasted, just blame it on the beer, let it all go," Byran screamed out. Keira thought he had a good point so she started dancing, letting everything that bothered her all go and drop from her shoulders. Soon the song ended and a slow song came on, Keira stopped dancing and started to walk away, but Byran grabbed her wrist,
"Dance with me, just this once," Byran letting her wrist go.
"I don't know," Keira staring into his sky blue eyes,
"Its just a dance Keira," Byran shrugged. Keira bit her lower lip,
"Alright," Keira putting her hand in his slowly, he gently moved his hand to her waist, she rested her hand on his bicep, but flinched a little.
"So, can I ask you what caused you to be so afraid of human touch?" Byran seeming concerned about her.
"Um, I was left in the street by my parents, and then someone who I care deeply about left me when I was 12 or 13 years old, he left me here in New Mecca, and I just have the overwhelming fear if I get close to anyone they will leave again, I kind of have that kind of a track record," Keira smirked a little.
"Yeah, I think that would do it," Byran thinking, Keira stared at him,
"So, no pity for me?" Keira puzzled,
"I'm not about giving someone pity, besides you have done extremely well of putting the pieces of your life together," Byran explained.
"Yeah, I just had to hit rock bottom first," Keira taking her leather wrist guards off, she showed him the scars,
"So why did you do it?" Byran asked, Keira sighed.
"Um, when my best friends, well he was more like a brother back then, but when he left me, I felt numb, I couldn't feel any pain and I desperately wanted to feel something, anything, to make sure I was still alive, anyway, Lee picked me up off the bathroom floor and he began saving my life and helped me get my bearings back, but I understand why he had to leave, I can't believe I'm telling you my life story," Keira laughed a little.
"People always come to me with their problems, I'm a good listener," Byran smiling,
"It's kind of hard to trust people," Keira explained.
"Yeah, I know what you mean and you've trusted those that you held close, believe me, I understand, and I know you've heard this line before but, I will never hurt you, I would like to be your friends and in time, have you able to trust me," Byran explained strongly.
"Can you excuse me for a few minutes?" Keira walking up the stairs, Byran headed after her,
"Byran, give her some time, it hurts for a heart to mend back together," Lee leaning against the wall. Byran pushed his hair back,
"She seems like a great girl, I just wanted to help her, to help her carry her load," Byran strongly.
"Listen, Keira is loosening up, she let you touch her and that's a big step for her, just look after her Byran," Lee grabbing his shoulder,
"Of course Lee, thanks," Byran going and walking around.