Chapter 11
(Adam's point of view)
Kat's constant poking finally managed to wake me the next morning.
"Good morning sleepy head!" She said, "Time to train!" I rolled over and reluctantly sat up. I pulled my hood down and yawned. I turned and looked at Sauli, who was curled up in a ball, still asleep. I gently rubbed his shoulder in an attempt to wake him. It didn't work. Kat rolled her eyes and moved me out of the way. She reached behind Sauli and pinched his side. He awoke with a jolt.
"What was that?!" He shouted. "It hurt." He rubbed his side to ease the pain. Kat shrugged.
"Sorry," she said, "but I had to get you to wake up somehow. Anyway, it's time to train! Let's move!" She speeded to a closet on the other side of her room and pulled out three helmets and three weapons, each one different from the other.
"She's just full of energy isn't she?" said Sauli, yawning as he did so. I giggled.
"She's probably excited to train," I responded as I rubbed Sauli's shoulders. I kissed his cheek and then rose from my seat. "Come on. She's waiting." He stood up and stretched his arms. We followed Kat into a section of her room that was unfamiliar to us.
"Does every S.G.U.'s quarters have so many rooms?" Kat ignored Sauli's question and placed the equipment she was carrying on a table. She handed Sauli and I one weapon and one helmet.
"Put the helmets on," she said, "Then I'll show you how the weapons work." We did as we were told. Kat approached me and placed her hand on my hand that was holding the weapon. She rose my arm up and tilted my hand. "This is how you hold it," she said. "Keep your arm straight and hand slightly tilted. Now, take a deep breath and close your eyes." I did as I was told. I could feel Kat's hand slip down to my index finger. She moved it down to, what she called, the trigger. "Press it," she said. "Exhale and press down on the trigger." I opened my eyes, exhaled, and pulled the trigger. A large green blast emerged from the weapon and shot directly at the center of the target. I was taken aback at first. I was amazed that I actually fired a weapon. Kat smiled at me. "Exceptional job Adam," she said, "You're a natural! Are you sure you haven't done this before?" I blushed and smiled back at her.
"Thank you for your kind words Kat." I hugged her gently. She seemed tense at first, but loosened up and hugged me back.
"Eh hem?" Sauli coughed from behind us. He was tapping his foot and his arms were crossed. "Are you done?" He said. Kat chuckled.
"I've read about this emotion," she said, winking at me. "It's called Jealousy. The effects are as follows." Kat walked towards Sauli, who still looked aggravated. She paced around him. "Anger, impatience, aggravation, and longing for attention. Which is probably why you coughed." Sauli grunted in anger.
"Are you going to teach us about weaponry and fighting or are you going to continue to feel Adam and mock me?" Kat laughed.
"Ok Sauli," she said chuckling, "you win. I'll be serious now." Sauli put his arms to his side.
"Finally!" He said. I laughed at Sauli's obvious jealousy. It must've been a powerful emotion, because for the rest of the training Sauli was very irritable. He would scoff and scowl at Kat whenever she came over to assist me with my weaponry or whenever she complimented my fighting skills.
"Ok Adam!" Said Kat, "I want you to try this on your own. You see that dummy?" Kat pointed to a pillow with a helmet on. It had a large red circle painted on it's center. "I want you to shoot it. Just pretend it's a S.G.U. that's about to attack Sauli. You ready?" I sighed hesitantly and nodded yes. I gripped my weapon and put my index finger on the trigger like Kat had taught me. I focused on the pillow, tilted my hand, and closed my eyes to inhale. "No!" Kat shouted. "Never close your eyes! When you are about to shoot, you never close your eyes. If you can't see your enemy, they have an opportunity to strike and then you'll be the one who's been shot. Got that?" I gulped and nodded. She smiled and gestured her hand toward the dummy. This time, I did everything but close my eyes. I pressed down on the trigger and another blast flew out of my weapon. The pillow was blown back against the wall and feathers were everywhere. Kat and Sauli applauded my skill. I blushed in embarrassment.
"Thanks guys," I said timidly, "I can't believe I really did it! I fired a weapon!"
"And your enemy is neutralized." Kat was sweeping up the feathers that scattered shortly after I fired my weapon. She turned and smiled at Sauli. "Your turn now sweetie," she said, "You ready?" Sauli stood confidently and moved next to me. Kat placed a new pillow dummy where my victim had previously stood. Sauli raised his weapon.
"I'm ready," he said, his voice like liquid gold. I felt chills up my back when I heard him say it. He fired his weapon and a large yellow spark flew from it. Before an eye could blink, the dummy was vanquished. Kat and I were in awe, our mouths open wide. Sauli smirked at us and blew the leftover smoke away from the tip of his weapon. Kat stood and shook Sauli's free hand.
"Fantastic job!" She said, "How did you do that so quickly?" Sauli shrugged.
"I just imagined he was a viscous assailant trying to attack my Adam." He winked at me and blew me a kiss. I caught it in the air and placed it over my heart. I swooned with affection.
"My hero." I said fawning over my pretend rescuer. Sauli laughed and soon Kat and I joined him.
"Good job boys," Kat said. "Now, follow me and I'll make you some nice hot chocolate. Ana taught me how." Kat typed her passcode on the door from which we previously entered. The door flew open, but what was behind it caused Sauli and I to freeze up like statues.