Learning to Breathe

Disclaimer: There's a hole in the bottom of the sea. 1

A/N: I kinda got this and the coffee chapter out of order, so don't mind the number mix-up in front of the titles. I'm back on track now.

Dedication: To the three people who reviewed this time! I feel so loved.

Chapter Twenty-two: Night Moves

Sunday was supposed to be training with Vampira. However, Zartan decided that it would be best to wait until nightfall to start working with the girl. For this reason, both mutants were standing in the jet hanger as the moon rose over the base.

"Why are we out here?" Kris asked. "Won't we wake the others?"

"I don't intend to do anything quite so loud." Zartan answered. "On the contrary, we're going to work on your stealth tactics."

"Okay." The vampirette nodded. 2 "What do I do first?"

"Do you see the flag at the other end of the landing strip?"

"Yes."

"I want you to retrieve it without setting off the alarms."

"Alarms?" The girl blinked. Zartan pulled a remote out of his pocket and pressed one of the buttons, revealing a web of lasers. "Oh, those. No sweat."

"Trip the alarm, start over." He said. "Use your powers, start over. Any questions?"

"No sir." The red eyed girl shook her head.

"Then go ahead." Zartan smirked, stepping away from the maze.

Gulping, Kristen tiptoed her way to the maze.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was easy. Lift this leg, bend that arm like so—it was all child's play. Especially since I've been in gymnastics since I was three. However, as I approached the end of the maze, the lasers were closer together and it got harder to navigate. For once in my life, she was thankful that I am only four feet-ten inches tall.

I could see the end in sight. Just a few more feet…

"Halt, intruder!"

Some automated program on the turret the flag was on activated. Must be some sort of distance thing. I'll make a note of that later. Now, I had to worry about getting back to the start.

Did I mention how dazzling I must have looked? One leg in front of me, arms stretched on either side, butt up in the air—I bet the boys would be laughing their heads off if they were here.

"Vampira! Get back here and start over." Oh crap. I forgot he was out here.

"What?" I shouted back to him.

"Come back down here." Boss replied. "You tripped over the light. You must start over. You knew that when you started."

"I didn't know that the thing could talk!" I countered.

Zartan smirked. Uh oh. "You should be prepared for everything. That's rule number one, and you know it! Now get back here and try this again!"

I really should have seen that argument coming. We stared each other down, and I started the maze again. Let it be known that I did finish it the second time, and I got the flag, but getting back to where I came from… that's' al little different. That trip, the flag tripped the wire. It didn't happen again. The second time I dropped the flag and had to start over. On the third (and final) attempt, I did come back with the flag. Zartan looked a little worn, and he wasn't even the one running the stupid laser system. But I guess he did stay up all day getting the stupid course ready, so it makes sense in a way.

"Not exceptional, but it will have to do for now." He sighed. "Go back inside and wash up. We're done for today."

Such wonderful words have never been spoken.

1) My friend Emma started singing this three months ago and I still can't get it out of my head.

2) I read in a book somewhere that this was the correct term for a female vampire.

Next up, what does our favorite instructor have in store for Chaos? Or is that the other way around?