Proudly bringing the next chapter of Robyn Hood! Oh and amberreed69 I thought your review was very cute, I was just trying to be humorous but maybe it didn't come across the way I intended? Don't worry either way, I thought it was very sweet of you regardless :)
P.S - Here's the real Chapter Eight, sorry guys, I accidentally transferred the same chapter twice. This is why you shouldn't be uploading stuff in the middle of the night! :)
By day three, I was exhausted mentally. By day four, I was beginning to feel physically drained though somehow I was still upbeat and continued to find energy from somewhere. By day six, I was completely washed out. The doctor's told me that although my body was completely healthy and genetically enhanced with strength and endurance, my mind was not yet linked to this new physique, therefore sending it the message that I was shattered. Stupid brain.
Roadblock and Duke's training was pretty similar. It was basically training me in field work both in teams and solo. I preferred being in teams as it was a great laugh afterwards and it helped me settle in a little quicker. Also I found I was very good at keeping the peace and keeping everyone focussed instead of arguing.
As well as this, I also found that I liked Roadblock. Once you got past his metal hard exterior, he was all mushy and soft inside. Did you know that he loved sitting in his pyjamas with bunny slippers on his feet, watching Disney movies with his two little girls? How adorable is that? Well he sort of looked out for me. I think he's adopted me as his little niece.
One afternoon at dinner time he had seen a group of guys checking me out, which made me uncomfortable. Block had thrown his bread roll at them then scowled. "If you're done staring, perhaps you'd like to move on. The sight of you is making me physically sick and I want to eat my meatballs." With that he placed a protective hand on my back, sending a clear message. Those guys ran like whimpering dogs with their tails between their legs. No one messes with Roadblock.
So I know loved him to bits and he didn't even intimidate me anymore. If he yelled at me on the training ground, I yelled back with a grin. However as I sat in my room alone, staring at my clock I willed it to go slower, to lengthen each second until time stopped. That way I wouldn't have to go to weapons training tomorrow.
There was a knock on my door so I looked up and saw a little bit of red hair at the small window that looked out. "Come in Scarlet." Apart from seeing her hair, I could also tell it was her by her smell. It was strange but my senses were getting increasingly better. Rather unpleasant to smell hundreds of sweaty guys all the time but I'd gotten used to it.
"Hey, you coming?" I blinked at her. "Dinner, its roast chicken tonight." She tempted and my stomach growled. I loved chicken.
"Yeah." I nodded my head then stood, glancing one last time to my clock before following Scarlet out.
"So are you excited for tomorrow?" She asked me with her usual bright smile, making me feel a little easier and more relaxed.
"Not really." I admitted. "I'm not sure what to expect."
"I'll give you a warning now, those two are the toughest trainers you'll ever meet. They never seem to be satisfied with what you're doing so just ignore that and keep trying. That's all you can do." Scarlet's advice was duly noted. "What else is bothering you?" She seemed so in tune with everyone's emotions, it was crazy. I considered lying and saying that nothing else was wrong but then I would feel guilty about the lie so I sighed.
"They scare me." She laughed. It wasn't malicious or insulting, so I just gave a small embarrassed smile and blushed deeply.
"That is adorable." Scarlet continued to laugh before it gently died down to a chuckle. "You don't have to worry, they wouldn't ever dream of hurting you."
"It's not that. They wear leather." I tried to explain but this only made Scarlet frown and look at me like I was crazy. Maybe I was. "I can smell the leather. Cobra Commander wore leather. I remember that distinctly, that and the mask. That's why I can't stand being around Snake Eyes for too long. The memory sort fades in around him, filling the blanks and…then it's just Commander standing there." I lowered my head. "I don't mean to be rude to him, it's just that a lot of pain goes with that memory." Scarlet stepped closer and placed an arm around me, leaning in slightly to comfort me.
"I'll explain to Snake. I can tell he's been worried about you. He thinks that you just simply fear him and he's tried to help you trust him." I nodded my head and smiled.
"I know. He's a nice guy and I do like him, he's looked out for me from time to time. It's just going to take some time to adjust."
"Would it help if they didn't wear their suits?" I gave a little shrug.
"In the long term I don't think so. I've got to face my fears sooner or later, right?" Scarlet sighed softly then squeezed my shoulder.
"You're so brave but you don't need to hide. You went through some unimaginable pain and experiences. No one expects you to just heal completely and be fine, there's bound to be scars hidden beneath the surface that will need a lot of time to recover from. Don't worry about anything, you're safe here and that's all that matters. Here we're all family. Family protect one another." With that said we entered the mess hall.
Scarlet and I queued up for our food, talking happily with one another and one by one, the others joined us. Roadblock and Duke had grabbed a table and were holding it for us until we got there. Scarlet slid Roadblock his tray she had got him and I gave Duke his.
"So, how's training?" He asked before shoving a large amount of chicken into his mouth.
"Fine I guess. I only wish my stupid brain would catch up with my body." I answered, to this all the boys frowned. Breaker looked up from the gadget he was tinkering with.
"The electrochemical impulses from her brain believe they are sending messages to the receptors of Robyn's old physique with her old strengths and weaknesses, so that means that her body believes that it is fatigued when in fact she is actually receiving the wrong impulses from her brain which causes the fake fatigue." With that he looked down again. Rip blinked and looked to Duke who looked just as lost as his friend did.
"I'm shattered." I translated for them.
"Why didn't you just say that, girl?" Rip grinned then punched me lightly in the arm before tucking into his meal enthusiastically. We talked for a while longer, Roadblock proudly showing me pictures of his girls at the beach.
"They love the beach, it's their favourite place in the world. You'd like them. Duke hates them." He was saying. "Can't control them."
"Hey, you can't either!" Duke shot back with an arched eyebrow. "I swear, you're raising harpies in that house."
"I think they're adorable." I cut in swiftly. "They have to get their looks from their mom though." Block grinned then shoved me gently before sliding to another photo of them on the swings with both him and his wife pushing them. I saw their faces, their bright smiles, all real and so alight with life. "They look so happy." I murmured softly then flinched, hissing as my head spun wildly with painful throbs.
"Robyn?" Block instantly dropped his phone and placed an arm around me. "Do you need a medic?" As the memory fought to come to the surface, I struggled to rise with it. "Robyn!"
"Robyn, what's wrong?" Breaker waved a scanner over my head then stared at the screen.
"That's a lot of activity up there. It seems her mind is trying to remember something buried deep at the back of her mind. The signals are going crazy!" By now the pain in my head felt like someone was drilling a hole into my skull. I cried out loud and suddenly there were huge crowds gathering around to see what was going on. Blurry white images shot before my eyes like hot flames, causing another cry of pain.
"What do we do?"
"Get her to a medic. Block." Scarlet nodded then stood, already pushing people aside as Roadblock lifted my up easily into his arms, Breaker jogging alongside with his scanner, taking readings from my brain.
"Don't fight it, let it come." He advised, excitedly drawing the information as Roadblock shouldered his way through.
"Out of the way!" Suddenly I could feel the chip burning into my arm and my mind melting away as it genetically altered all DNA in my body.
"Get it out! Get it out of me!" I was screaming, scratching at my arm until I drew blood. Block wrestled with me, trapping my arms down so that I couldn't inflict any more damage to myself by I struggled as much as I could. "Let me go! Don't hurt me! Please make it stop! MAKE IT STOP!"
"Sedate her!" Scarlet bellowed at the medics who instantly rushed to get the drugs ready. Block lowered me onto a bed but pinned down my arms whilst Heavy, who had just appeared, held down my legs as I fought them both, yelling and screaming as the horrid memory burned brazen hot in my mind. It was if my mind was as fragile as paper, being ripped apart strip by strip until nothing was left but unexplainable agony.
Something cold stuck into my arm and after a few moments, everything began to fade. I lost the will to fight, what was the point? Slowly my body began to go still and Block released me, moving to my head to brush back my sweaty hair as Heavy took a step back to speak with Breaker and Scarlet, whispering in soft tones.
"Robyn? Can you hear me?" Roadblock said and I could just about make him out as my eyelids drooped.
"Block? What…what happened?" I murmured before my head fell to the side and my entire body went still. At least there was no more pain.
The next day I discharged myself. I didn't want to sit through all those tests again when they'd come back with the same result. The problem was me. My mind. I'd created this void to bury all those memories away so that I didn't have to feel anything anymore. I thought I had lost them but it appears not. They were coming back with a biting vengeance.
The better way of remembering things was during sleep, when I would brave that blackness to grab my memories back. The only thing was, I knew the price. I had to take them all or live with the pain forever. For now, I was going to put off the decision until I could summon the courage.
I went to the private training gym where I had been told by Scarlet to meet Storm and Snake. She'd forewarned me that I would have to fight against Snake whilst Storm instructed, since it was the better method of getting things across. I was mentally prepared for this. She also told me that she had told them what I had told her.
At first I had been mortified but then she explained that they understood and they didn't blame me. That made it a little easier to come today. Besides if I worked with them then I'd get used to their company. Then I wouldn't be scared of them.
See? I have this all figured out.
Then they walked into the room. My heart dropped to the floor and my stomach did about seven summersaults as I saw them. Neither of them wore leather. Instead Snake had his full mission suit on, which instantly made me feel bad. If I damaged that suit by accident, because I was clumsy at times, then there would be hell to pay.
For a while none of us spoke. Finally Storm and Snake looked to one another before separating. Snake came to approach me and I watched him carefully, tilting my head ever so slightly. When he got to close however I instinctively shrank back then flinched, which made me curse myself again. I was a terrible person. Why couldn't I just trust this man? He'd been the one to carry me from that hell hole.
"We begin with basic hand to hand combat. Though I'm sure you'll probably memorise it all before the day is out." Storm said dryly, taking off his katana and twirling them around, not even bothering to pay attention to us as Snake waved a hand, gesturing for me to copy him. He took up a stance and I mimicked it, keeping my weight centred and my hands up.
He took a few shadow swings, showing me what to do before nodding. I repeated what he had done but something in my body wouldn't tolerate it. The moment Snake went to fake punch me, my hand whipped out and grabbed his wrist, twisting it as I delivered a kick at his exposed front but his expert knowledge and reactions blocked it.
I yelped and backed away in shock, lifting my shaking hands. "I'm sorry, I don't know why this happens. I keep on blacking out." I explained, hiding my hands behind my back quickly.
"It's because your body has been hardwired for swift reactions. Your training has already been planted into your body as muscle memory, now we must unlock it." Storm said to me, turning his head slightly in our direction. "Don't be afraid to react, trust Snake Eyes to be good enough to be able to defend himself. Focus." And so the torture-ahem-I mean tuition began. I was drilled and taught until I thought my mind would vomit all the information back up for me to see.
It turns out Storm Shadow was right. As well as enhancements, my body has been implanted with knowledge of several arts of fighting, all the way up to the master ranks. It was terrifying at first. I refused to hit hard, unsure of what my true strength was.
Storm argued that I couldn't afford not to strike at an enemy but Snake lifted a hand then made a few signals to Storm, who sighed after Snake had finished. "He says that you are right. That you are still unsure of your new physique's strength. Fine." Storm turned around then waved a hand. "From the beginning, only this time, fight like you want to live!" I seriously wanted to throw that guy into the ocean. Think I could get away with it?
Turning to face Snake Eyes again he gave a slight inclination of his head and I gave a small, uneasy smile as I lifted my hands to protect my face. He struck first with a kick so I drew back, avoiding him altogether with a nervous swallow of the lump in my throat. All at once he sprung at me. My eyes widened but he didn't pull back from the fast blows he now landed on me. I ducked and blocked, moving faster than my mind could register and before I knew what I was doing I had flipped back over my head, aiming a kick at Snake who leaped back to avoid my attack. Surprising myself with my quick move, my mouth dropped open. Storm Shadow rolled his eyes.
"Do not look so impressed. It was a basic move."
"But I've never done it before." I answered, turning to glare at Storm who arched an eyebrow at me. "So I'm pretty proud of myself, thank you very much." Spinning around I only saw a flash of black before I was flat on my back with my arm gripped firmly by Snake's hands. "Ouch." I winced, feeling my head sting from the blow. "Okay, now my pride's dented." Snake's shoulders shook slightly as if in laughter then changed grips, stepping around to pull me up.
When I was standing I realised how close we suddenly became and I stepped backwards quickly, turning my head away as an unwelcome image of Commander flashed through my mind. I trembled, taking a deep breath before slowly turning back to face Snake Eyes who waited patiently. This was ridiculous, why was I relating this guy who had literally carried me away from that unholy place with the maniac who had turned me into something not entirely human. It was unfair to Snake and made me look like an idiot.
In the time it had taken me to scold myself, Storm Shadow had nodded to his brother in arms and switched places. Seeing as he wore a suit, I couldn't smell any leather on him which instantly made me relax, my tense shoulders sagging.
Storm gave me no warning at all, he just leaped at me. I dropped my weight and got underneath him but before I could rise with him, he had feinted to the left and dived forwards into a roll, escaping me but was already swinging a leg to catch mine and I fell once more flat on my face. "Ow." I grunted but quickly rose to my feet, glowering at Storm Shadow as we began to circle. He was seriously beginning to hack me off, all he seemed concerned with was using me as a punch bag.
We fought against each other, me mostly ending up with either a bruise, split lip or my rear tossed onto the floor but every time I just bounced back up again, refusing to let him get the better of me. Storm seemed to just get frustrated every time I got back up despite he was putting all of his power into the strikes he delivered.
Losing patience, I slowly allowed my mind to stop controlling what my body was doing and let my actual body take over. When I sensed Storm Shadow move forwards, I struck with the speed of a coiled viper. I twirled underneath his arm and kneed him in the gut, sliding my arm between our bodies with my other gripping his tux at the shoulder then flipped him completely over his head then let him land heavily on his back. "Payback." I growled at him as he glared up at me before rushing to his feet. I jumped back swiftly at the sudden movement, my eyes narrowing as Storm faced me, seething with silent rage as he slowly looked to the tear I had made in his jacket.
Crap. Now I'm busted.
A slow smirk rose to Storm's face, one that gleamed darkly and petrified me to the core. I was in big trouble. Very big trouble. My face drained of all colour as I inched backwards, wondering if I bolted now I could escape. Only thing was, the door was past Storm. Slowly he began to stalk towards me, his figure daunting even though I knew I was far stronger than he was. He had experience, a vast expanse more knowledge and skill to draw upon. I was just a dumb grunt too deep in water they couldn't swim through. Could I call a truce?
As an elbow flew my face I ducked but Storm delivered several blows to various parts of my torso, back and arms, making me cry out as pain shot through me before I collapsed to the ground. I couldn't move, not even a muscle. I lay there like a useless rock on my side, one arm trapped beneath me. I whimpered, straining in my panic. What had that jackass done to me? Why couldn't I move? What the hell had just happened? I'm freaking out here!
"Calm down, you'll gain back your movement." Storm Shadow paused, straightening his jacket as he then smirked down at me. "Eventually." I made a furious sound at him and tried to kick but all I got was a pathetic twitch. Snake Eyes was suddenly at my side and I tensed, staring at him as he rolled me onto my back. "You ripped my suit." I did my best to glare at him.
Snake Eyes looked at Storm pointedly for a few moments before sighing. Without warning he stabbed me with his fist repeatedly in similar places to Storm Shadow, who rolled his eyes then walked away. Suddenly I could move. Letting out a gasp I sat up quickly, scrambling backwards as I gripped my arm, flinching as a dull pain throbbed through my body. Shooting a dark look at Storm I sighed, letting my head roll back to the floor as I just gave up for the moment. Storm seemed to have other ideas, however.
"Get up."
"No." I bit back at him, surprising him. He whirled around and looked like he was about to murder me when I rolled onto my front and pushed myself up onto my knees, my muscles aching from being so rudely paralysed then unfrozen in the space of a minute. "You can stand there and be patient." Storm blinked then frowned, glancing to Snake who shrugged then crossed his arms over his chest, watching me as I slowly climbed to my feet. Rubbing the back of my head I rolled my shoulders then nodded, signalling I was ready.
This was going to be a long day.