I've gotten a lot of the information in this chapter from posts and surface research.

Year Three: Consequences of Getting Hit

Sci-Ops Lecture Hall - 14:32 PM

Daniel can't bring himself to listen to his professor drone on about the consequences of being hit. He doesn't know why he showed up. He read the textbook, looked over the slideshow, and bothered to come to class and it's not like attendance or participation count for anything.

If you get hit in the cheek, it'll throb since it's coming from a different direction. You'll feel it in your mouth.

For the first time since he entered the Academy, he realizes that he doesn't want to be here. He doesn't want to be in this class, learn these lessons, and go through a field-test at the end of the term. He's scared of what will happen to everyone else and to him. Agents will tell him that's the point of being an agent - the unexpected - but the Hulk inside of him is already unpredictable.

Getting hit in the temple causes your head to move and not turn. You will lose balance and become disoriented and/or concussed. Pressure will build up in your head, feeling like a sinus headache.

Daniel fiddles with his pencil. He finds it odd that they can name the consequences of getting hit in certain places since that's all one could predict in combat.

Eyes are difficult since fists won't make direct contact. They'll affect the area surrounding the eye.

Daniel silently grins to himself about that one. If he's thinking metaphors, he hopes he's the eye on the battlefield. Just leave him alone and go around him but only if his friends aren't there.

Most agents will tell you getting hit in the nose hurts the most because it can be heard. The moment the bone breaks, it feels like sharp static-like needles are poking the area as if the needles are being lifted and pressed down repeatedly. It's the most painful because you could stop breathing.

Contrary to his beliefs, he'd take any shot for his friends.

-o-

Operations Common Training Room - 14:36 PM

Again, Weight Classes A and B were combined because it was the introduction to the long-awaited sparring. Every cadet was excited because those were the lessons they were waiting to do for three years. All the laps, weights, obstacle courses will finally be worth it.

For now, they're paired off and are meant to mimic hitting their partner alternatively as the prof described a move. They already went over the steps to fighting: justification - why are you doing this move?; alternatives - do I have other options that may give me better results?; consequences - what happens after my chosen move?; ability - can I perform effectively and successfully?

"Agents will try to tell you who you are your whole time here at the Academy and even when you become an agent," their instructor, Agent Hayes starts. "You won't be able to punch back but it's for the best. Besides, your elbow is your strongest point."

Angela holds up her elbow in Xavier's face to mimic really elbowing him. Xavier is nearly tempted to grab her elbow and throw her over her head and onto the ground as they did as children. Angela narrows her eyes, grinning because she can read her brother's face. It's the expression he always had before he threw her onto the lawn.

"If you get punched in the nose, your eyes will water a lot, even if you didn't get hurt too badly."

Brody nearly decks Ashton right in the face. Ashton almost flinched but it still makes Brody laugh. Ashton's grateful Brody's in a different weight class so he won't have to deal with him when they start actual sparring (he'll only have to worry about Merida and Orchid, and maybe James). Unless their profs decide to merge the classes again. In that scenario, maybe he'd partner with James because he's staying the hell away from Xavier and Angela.

"Getting hit in the stomach can cause an urge to vomit and/or being winded."

Merida grins, holding up a foot in front of Orchid's stomach as if she's really about to hit her in the stomach. Orchid holds Merida's ankle just to test her balance for fun until the prof reprimands them for fooling around.

"Getting punched in the diaphragm is the worst. If you remember anything about anatomy, the diaphragm is between your stomach and chest. Getting hit there can cause your lungs to spasm and it'll be difficult to breathe."

Before anyone moves, their heads turn to a sudden scream. They see James on the ground, crouched in a fetal position while gasping for air. His partner stands above him, grinning proudly. Everyone in the class applauds and cheers, even James would if he wasn't withering on the floor. If only they were the ones to do that to him.

"Like that…" is all Agent Hayes says before yelling at James to get up. He doesn't but the prof leaves him alone since it's James. "When sighting someone larger, they'll have a better chance of holding you back."

"We're the same height!" James yells about his partner, still rolling around in misery.

"Well, Pym, if you paid attention last class, you would've picked up that to counteract a kick coming towards you, you have to get as close as you can to limit the effect it has."

"I was already right in front of her!"

Agent Hayes ignores him and they continue the drills until the end of class. Once they're dismissed, Ashton and Brody have to carry James out while Merida and Orchid follow. Angela and Xavier approach their prof who holds up a hand for a moment.

"Hold on," Agent Hayes tells them, "I got your email and we'll discuss this in my office. I have to drop by the head of the department for a second but meet me there."

Angela and Xavier nod as they gather their things and start walking through campus to the Operations Faculty Building. When they called their parents, after Ashton left the room out of sheer embarrassment and (a lack of) relationship counselling, Angela and Xavier asked their parents, namely their mom, on what to do about their sparring classes since they're physically advanced. Their mom wasn't sure and said to email their prof which Angela did and CC'd Xavier in it.

"You don't think we'll be transferred to a non-existent higher level or not allowed to participate, do you?" Angela asks.

"Then how will we get marked? It's not like we can write an essay and make up for it," Xavier responds. "Stop worrying and asking me about it. That's why you sent that email in the middle of the night."

"It's not like you showed any concern."

"I've been through this before."

Angela pauses as Xavier holds open the door for her and she walks through. "You're right, but you were dealing with Dad and he had a bias."

"You mean favouritism."

"Same thing."

"Is not."

"Is so." Angela pushes the elevator call button. "I only threw pom-poms, choreographed routines, did flips, danced, and made the other girls handle the fliers. You were bodychecking people."

Xavier couldn't argue that point which is why they had a silent elevator ride and wait outside of Agent Hayes office. They didn't start talking again until Agent Hayes showed up. He gave them the whole spiel about how their SOs will handle more tailored training sessions. Angela and Xavier aren't sure how Agents Moore and Vander will handle that but they'll think of something.

"Either way, in class, I want you to hold back and you know you have to," Agent Hayes says. "You know you can't risk your classmates and you two are each other's only real matches here at the Academy."

"So what do we do?" Angela asks.

"Learn the moves, strategies, techniques, and all that like everyone else. You're in school so you're only learning and the point of all this is for field application. Just know that when you're out there on a real mission, you'd better let your abilities go loose."