Chapter Two- Teaching

Haxor worked with Shiro over the next several weeks which Shiro learned were called movements. He was impressed with how Shiro took to her learning and she admitted that she enjoyed learning new things even those that were forced on her.

"Of course," he had said after almost two weeks of learning. "Regardless, you are developing into a well-learned Galra. I am quite pleased with your progress thus far."

"Thank you, teacher."

Haxor did report to Zarkon whenever the emperor asked for one. He too was pleased to hear that Shiro was learning quickly and was getting used to her body. "Good," he said after those several weeks of teaching. "Proceed to the next level, Haxor. Keep teaching as you have, but add combat training to it."

"Yes, sire." Haxor bowed and then left. He began to run through the basic training program all Galra soldiers went through. He had never gone through it as he was recognized for his intellectual prowess but he had witnessed it. Shiro has shared with me that she is a skilled pilot and a hand-to-hand combatant. I will start her combat training by having her demonstrate what she can do.

Shiro was awake the following morning and when Haxor greeted her in Galra, she responded in Galra! Both Galra blinked at this before sharing broad grins.

"Oh, very good Shiro. You have fully absorbed the spoken language. You still to work on the written language and learning to read it."

"Yes, Haxor. Will we be practicing that today?"

"Eventually, but right now we will begin the phase of your training: Combat. I decided that I want to start by you showing me what you can do and then we'll go from there."

"Makes sense."

"Then, if you'll follow me to the Combat Room, we can get started." Haxor left the cell and Shiro followed with four guards flanking them. Clearly, Zarkon did not trust her to be out without guards. Haxor trusted her, even seemed to regard her as a friend as well as a student. Combat training, she thought as they walked. I'm now being trained for the plan Zarkon had told me about movements ago.

Shiro looked around as they moved through the corridors. The crew went about their duties with efficiency and purpose. They all wore uniforms which, thanks to her sleep-teaching, she was able to identify each rank she saw and recognized the uniforms as those of soldiers.

At last they reached their destination and Haxor and Shiro entered while the guards stood outside. They moved to the center and Haxor said, "Activate training dummy!" A solid hologram of a blank-faced Galra figure appeared as Haxor vacated the area. "All right, Shiro. Show me using this dummy."

Shiro stretched her limbs and rolled her head. She had exercised in her cell to keep herself fit. She enjoyed it more now that she had been cured and increased the number of push-ups, sit-ups, and squats she did each day. Now, she would be able to really use her combat skills. She struck a defensive pose and slowly slid to the dummy's right before she lashed out with a roundhouse kick that, to her shock, sent the dummy flying almost half of the way across the room which was big enough to hold hundreds of thousands of Galra soldiers. "Wha-?" she gasped.

Haxor gently laughed. "You are stronger as a Galra. Clearly, I will need to coach you to control your strength so that you don't accidentally kill someone when you go to, say hug and snuggle a pack member or mate."

"Yes, good idea." Shiro did not react when Haxor said 'pack member or mate.' Her sleep-teaching had taught her about Galra culture and knew that at some point in her now longer life, she would be welcomed into a group of Galras called a pack and would eventually take a mate and have children referred to as kits. Or I'll end up killed when I either lose a fight or can no longer fight. That is likely my fate.

"Shiro?"

The female Galra blinked to see a concerned Haxor and the dummy restored to its original position. "I'm sorry, what?" she said.

"You seemed lost in thought."

"Just thinking that I won't have a pack, a mate, or kits. My life is as a fighter and I'll likely die as one."

"Shiro, no. I would love to form a pack with you and some kits. One day, I will approach Zarkon and ask for you to be retired and become my mate."

"Haxor. I…don't know what to say."

"Say nothing for now. Let us return to your demonstration."

And several more weeks passed and Shiro mastered the Galra language, written and spoken, fully absorbed the fighting style of the Galra and Galra culture, and spent time familiarizing herself with the tech of her new race. She still spoke English and Japanese as well as reading and writing both. She didn't want to forget her human roots as she adapter to her new Galra heritage.

One evening as she engaged in some small exercises she had learned that day, Zarkon approached her cell. She ceased her movements and went to one knee, head bowed as she had learned. "Sire."

Zarkon stared down at her. "Very good. Haxor has just appraised me of your progress and I am pleased with what you have learned and how quickly you have learned it. Haxor's reputation as a miracle worker continues to be well-deserved."

"Yes, sire. He is excellent."

"Indeed and your training is now complete. Tomorrow, your life as a fighter will begin. I have a couple of condemned prisoners who have been sentenced to death. I have informed them that they have a chance to live if they can defeat my new fighter. Do not fail me, Shiro. If you lose, I will have you killed."

"Yes, sire. I will not fail you." For that is the way of the military Galra, she thought as Zarkon left. Victory or death.

The arena doors opened and the roar of the crowd was heard as she stepped into the arena. She was dressed in fighting leathers and armor but she was empty-handed. Her opponents wore no armor but carried swords and shields. I've faced a scenario like this in my training against combat robots. I know I need to do to win. I don't like what I have to do, but I must if I am to live.

"Begin," Zarkon announced and her opponents didn't hesitate as they charged her, one on her left and the other on her right. Both had their swords raised.

Shiro didn't think. Her honed skills took over as she lunged toward the one on her right. She avoided the sword's swing and got behind her opponent. Her hand locked onto his wrist holding the sword and twisted it around so that the blade was pointed at his belly. Her face a mask of dispassion, she jerked her hand and the sword buried itself in the stomach of her opponent.

She released her grip, seized the dying man, and whipped him in front of her as she turned to face the other man. She felt a thud and heard a gurgle and knew that her makeshift shield had just gotten killed. She shoved the corpse, causing it to fall onto her opponent. She moved to him quickly, seized his head, and twisted as hard as she could. A crack resounded and she released her victim and stepped back. She had broken the neck of one and almost disemboweled the other. It was quick and brutal just as she had been trained.

The Galra who lived and served on Zarkon's ship roared in approval at seeing one of their own execute condemned prisoners in such a manner.

"Guards," Zarkon called. "Escort our new champion back to her cell."

A pair of manacles were attached to her wrists before four guards flanked her and led her away amidst cheers from the spectators. She felt a jumble of emotions as she was led away. She was happy to still be alive, but she also felt guilty of killing innocent people. I'm likely to continue to feel happy but guilty as I continue to fight for my life, she mused as she was put in her cell to await for when she would have to fight again.