Chapter 12
Varen laid back on the bench catching his breath. He placed a towel over his face to absorb the sweat beaded on his forehead. He had decided to visit the facilities training room before turning in for the night. The room itself housed a large number of gym equipment for everyone to use. The quality of the machines themselves were pristine.
There were only a handful of people using the facilities at this hour and he enjoyed the quiet. It was rare to have any time to himself these days and this opportunity he didn't want to pass by too quickly. After a few sets, however, he realized just how tired he was from the travel as well as the sparring match with Chiffon. The hot tub had helped, but it could only do so much to battle the physical exhaustion he not felt.
"Do you ever rest?" A female voice asked from right above him. He slowly pulled the towel down his face revealing a small blonde Pandora leaning on the bar suspended above his head. She was no longer in her Pandora uniform, and instead had changed into workout shorts and tank top.
"Ms. Bonaparte." Varen said respectfully sitting up from the bench and turning to regard her.
"Spot me." She said walking over to lay on the bench as Varen moved out of her way. She laid down where he was adjusting her body so she was under the bar. Varen noted that she had not changed the weight he had been using which was over 200 pounds. He moved behind her head as she reached up placing her hands on the bar.
"Ready?" He asked and she gave a quick nod pushing the bar off the metal bracket that held it in place. The first rep he kept his hands under the bar in case something went wrong, but after the first time she lowered the bar and pushed it back up he knew she didn't need his help. She breathed calmly repeating the movements a dozen times before her arms showed signs of shaking. He quickly reached under the bar again as she lowered it to her chest and began pushing it back up. With one last surge of strength she lifted it up onto the bracket before dropping her arms in exhaustion. Varen draped a towel over her head and she looked up at him questioningly.
"How old are you?" She asked still lying down on the bench.
"25." Varen answered as she continued to look up at him.
"I see…" She said deep in thought.
"You are a third year at De Orleana Genetics correct? That would make you 17 right?" Varen asked feeling nervous again. The Pandora laying below him was one of the strongest Pandora in the world. Regardless of his own strength and power being around people like her always made him uncomfortable.
"That's right." She answered quickly still staring into his eyes.
"I'm really uncomfortable right now." He said honestly and a small smile passed over her face.
"A lot of people are described one way, but when you meet them you find out the exact opposite. Or at least there are things that don't coincide with the descriptions. You, however, are basically the exact way everyone has described you." Charles said sitting up from the bench wiping her body with the towel.
"Um, and how exactly am I described?" He asked eyeing her suspiciously.
"Well, Chiffon said you were very honest and forthcoming. She said you were chivalrous and a true gentleman. Everyone from your group said that you are the type that would sacrifice your jacket so a girl didn't have to walk through a puddle." Charles answered.
"Really? They said all that?" Varen asked in surprise. It was nice to know his team thought so highly of him. It gave him a sense of pride that the little things he did were not in vain.
"They also said you undress Pandora with your eyes, and seduce them with your powers." She added making Varen's shoulders drop. All the pride and happiness he had felt was washed away as he stood staring at her blankly.
"That's…not true." He said trying to hide his depression. She laughed lightly and winked.
"They also said you were fun to pick on." She said. Varen shook his head angrily dropping his fist on the bar of the bench.
"Chiffon, I hate when she does that." He said irritated. Charles laughed again and he followed her towards a set of free weights where they both took a seat next to each other.
"It was pretty funny." She joked flashing a smile his way. The lifted the weights alternating arms for a few minutes before setting them down once more out of breath.
"You are a lot stronger than you look." Varen said seeing that she had been using the same weights he had.
"How so?" She asked narrowing her eyes.
"It's just that your body doesn't seem like it would have the strength you have." He answered truthfully.
"Because I'm so small?" Charles asked with a bit of venom in her voice. A tone that Varen failed to recognize.
"Exactly, not that there's anything wrong with that. I think it's amazing you are as strong as you are while being so petite." He answered once again truthfully.
"Well, excuse me for not being tall enough to fit the model standards of Pandora. I suppose the next thing on your mind is how amazing it is that I'm a Pandora without a huge rack like the others right?" She said angrily. Varen was taken aback and dumbfounded realizing that he had stepped on a landmine.
"No, wait, I didn't mean it like that at all! I was trying to compliment you that's all! I don't think being short has anything to do with being strong. The same goes for your…um…those." He answered trailing off at the end waving a hand towards her chest. Charles took a deep breath and waved a hand dismissively.
"Well, Chiffon also said that you tend to say stupid things, and then make it worse when you explain yourself. She said you mean well though." The small Pandora answered.
"Yeah, I don't handle these kinds of situations very well." He admitted scratching his head. She shook her head and stood walking towards the exit. She reminded him a lot of Attia. Her physical appearance must be something she was very self-conscious about just like Attia. She was a Pandora, however, which meant regardless of her height her physique was flawless.
"I get it now. Why I felt the way I did when I was watching you fight Chiffon." She said over her shoulder stopping a few feet away.
"Huh?" Varen asked.
"You have a certain…charm let's call it. Even when you talked about my body…I didn't exactly dislike it." She said walking quickly out of the gym. Varen thought he saw a hint of redness in her cheeks as she turned the corner and left.
"Think I could join?" Cassie asked. She was walking beside Elizabeth and Arnette as they walked through the hallways of the facility.
"Seriously?" Arnette asked surprised. The teal hair Pandora looked at her nodding.
"Absolutely, it would be such a great opportunity." Cassie said.
"You are the top student of East Genetics. There's no way they would just let you leave." Elizabeth said and Cassie snorted derisively.
"Joining the Nightingales might be the only way for me to push further." Cassie answered defiantly.
"Oh boy did another one catch the Justicar obsession bug?" Elizabeth sighed shaking her head. Cassie's mouth dropped and she shook her head quickly.
"Absolutely not! It's nothing like that! I admire what he can do as well everything all of you do as a team. Besides, now that Kyoichi and I are…just never mind." Cassie said turning red.
"Your Limiter? Everyone's hooking up these days." Arnette said sarcastically making Cassie blush more.
"Well, what about you? There has to be someone at West Genetics that you've noticed? You're real pretty Arnette so who is it?" Cassie asked trying to change the subject off of herself. Elizabeth glanced at Arnette out of the corner of her eye. She chose to remain silent fully aware of the inner struggle Arnette was having.
"Maybe there's someone, but I don't care about that kind of stuff right now. I just want to become a better Pandora. I don't want to be weak." Arnette answered dodging the question.
"Oh, so you want to impress this guy whoever he is?" Cassie asked and once more Elizabeth watched Arnette's reaction.
"I'm saying that I'm not interested in that sort of thing." Arnette snapped and Cassie backed off.
"Oh, I see. I'm sorry I didn't mean to pressure you." The teal haired Pandora apologized bowing.
"There's not a lot of time for things like that for us Cassie. We spend a lot of time training and learning." Elizabeth said looking to steer the conversation elsewhere.
"I understand, it must be hard for Varen and Chiffon. For you and Andre as well." Cassie said and now Arnette looked over at Elizabeth seeing the blonde Pandora's eyes widen.
"What do you mean Andre and I?" Elizabeth asked.
"I figured you two were together? Was I wrong?" Cassie asked and Arnette mouth twisted into an evil smile.
"We are not a couple Ms. Lockhart if that's what you're asking, but I don't believe that's any of your business." Elizabeth answered strictly, but Arnette caught the shade of red Elizabeth's cheeks turned.
"I am really causing you both a lot of trouble aren't I? I'm sorry." Cassie said clasping her hands and bowing again.
"It's fine, it's just been a very long day. Really Cassie, it's no trouble." Elizabeth smiled composing herself.
"I'm down here so tomorrow then yeah?" Cassie asked pointing down a hallway.
"Sure, see you tomorrow." Arnette said waving to the Pandora as she turned and walked down the hall.
"How long will you keep this act up?" Elizabeth asked after Cassie was gone from sight. Arnette continued to stare down the hallway blankly for a few moments.
"I could ask you the same question." She responded at last.
"Don't presume to understand everything about me. I am not as easy to read like you." Elizabeth answered back making Arnette's eye twitch in anger.
"It's none of your business Elizabeth." The red haired Pandora said with a hint of irritation.
"Your mental instability while on this team is my business Arnette."
"Then tell me Elizabeth, since you seem to have all the answers, what should I do? What does the all wise and knowing Elizabeth have to say on the matter huh?" Arnette asked her anger boiling over. Elizabeth looked over at her friend.
"Find a way to move on. Give up on whatever fantasies you still harbor. It will never happen." The blonde Pandora said flatly.
"You think I don't know that?" Arnette answered visibly shaking.
"Then do it, seeing you mope around is depressing. I'm going to bed; tomorrow will be a busy day." Elizabeth said waving a hand toward Arnette.
"I'm trying…" Arnette whispered to herself after Elizabeth had gone.
"This place is pretty amazing I have to admit." Attia said sitting on her bed tossing a card down on the blanket.
"The funding that Chevalier is pouring into this place must be enormous." Chiffon agreed also dropping a card on top of the one Attia placed.
"They wouldn't do that unless this project really was as promising as they made it seem right?" Ticy asked looking up from her cards she held. Chiffon nodded in answer to her question. All three were in their pajamas sitting in the room Ticy and Attia shared with Arnette.
"Let's hope so. Bringing all of us here alone must cost a fortune. I don't think they would do something like that lightly." Chiffon said.
"This is basically a vacation resort as far as I can tell. We've only been here a day and I feel more relaxed than I have in a long time." Attia said with a smile.
"We were sent here to help with this project. I assume they want to compare results of these E-Pandora to the real deal. It's odd that there are so many recreational activities around in a facility like this." Ticy said.
"To be honest I think that it is because they want us to enjoy being here. If our morale is high, then we will be more enthusiastic to partake in the project." Chiffon said.
"So they are buttering us up basically?" Attia asked and Chiffon shrugged.
"Pretty much." She answered.
"I guess tomorrow we will see what they can do. Then we will know what the E-Pandora are all about." Ticy said causing the other two to nod.
"Depending on how well the E-Pandora perform tomorrow, everything we know may be in for a change." Chiffon said dropping the last of her cards on the pile.