Through the Ghost
Chapter 19

The next day Tal found himself standing in a large room with a few overhead lights arranged down the center. Tal stood in the center of a large blue mat, trying his best to appear as imposing as possible. His hands were clasped behind his back while he kept his steely gaze on the most cocksure of the recruits before him.

“Alright rookies, I’ve a special assignment for you this fine evening,” Griff announced to the eight trainees assembled before him. “I’m sure a few of you are anxious about your final trial later this week, so I offer you a way out.” He let the concept sink in before continuing.

“Whoever can take down Operative Revin here, will get a free pass,” he added.

The recruits exchanged nervous glances at one another then hesitantly climbed to their feet and approached the ring. Tal closed his eyes, a cocky smirk lifted the left corner of his lips. He remained perfectly still, waiting for them to make the first move.

Three o’clock Allie announced, he swiftly stepped back. A whoosh of air passed in front of him as the recruit stumbled forward. Eight o’clock Allie informed him. Tal dropped low, delivering a sweeping kick that elicited a sharp squeal as she thudded against the mat.

Two more, ten o’clock Allie alerted him. He stepped back gracefully, then smiled at the sound of the collision he’d created.

Multiple attackers from all sides, she announced. Tal opened his eyes to see all eight recruits charging him from the front. His smile shifted wickedly as they approached, a look of fear began to warp their faces but they couldn’t stop in time. His palms lashed out, striking three of them in the throat before catching the arm of another. The recruit cursed loudly as Tal twisted his appendage.

Three on your six, Allie alerts him.

Tal spun him around, released his arm, and kicked him into the group. One rolled out of the way, landing a glancing blow across Tal’s chin.

“I hit him!” the recruit cheered. She smiled excitedly and looked at her peers who were collapsed and moaning on the floor. Next thing she knew a pair of muscled forearms were wrapped around her throat. Tal felt her throat tighten as she realized her mistake. She quickly tapped out joined her fellow trainees on the floor.

A series of groans echoed through the room as they all climbed back to their feet. They heard the audible crack of his knuckles and reactively winced.

“I’m not going to lie, I’m a little disappointed,” Griffon told his recruits.

“He’s augmented, how in the nine hells are we supposed to beat that?” responded the blue haired recruit that had struck his jaw. Her left hand massaged the back of her neck.

Griffon laughed heartily. “You should all know by now that there’s no such thing as a fair fight. You think a pirate is going to fight fair? You think an alien warlord is going to let you catch your breath during a firefight?”

“Why don’t you try then?”

He laughed again. “I already passed my test.”

Tal grinned. “Come on, let’s give the kids a show.”

Griff looked at him, clearly contemplating the challenge.

“I’ll do it,” announced a feminine voice from across the room.

Murmurs of inquiry sprung up from amongst the sore recruits. Anna approached them; a dark silhouette against the bright sunlight entering the doorway.

“It seems The Avenger has seen fit to spoil us with her presence,” Griff replied sarcastically.

Everyone craned their necks to catch a glimpse of the legend. Where moments ago, they were writhing in agony, suddenly everyone was laser focused on the new arrival. She strutted confidently towards Tal, stopping a few inches away from him. Tal raised in eyebrows in surprise.

“I see you’ve started without me,” Anna taunted him.

“Just a warm up.”

“Anna, nice of you to join us,” Griff interrupted.

She turned to look at him, an equally forced smile on her face.

“Jaya told me about your little test thought I’d come down and see how well you’ve passed your knowledge onto the new recruits.”

“In that case, please, show us how The Avenger of Azariah strikes down her foes.”

She turned her attention back to Tal. “You ready?”

“Just waiting on you,” he replied.

In a flash, pain was registered on his face causing him to stumble back a few steps. He managed to recover just enough to catch her leg in midair. He smirked victoriously only to take her other leg to the side of his head. The blow caused them both to fall to the floor. His head smacked into the mat, his breath became trapped in his chest.

Anna landed more gracefully, bracing her fall with her right hand. Tal rapidly scrambled to his feet, just in time to avoid another strike.

What she lacked in physiological enhancement she made up for in technique, even going so far as to use some of Tal’s own moves to her advantage.

He rolled again just as Anna’s fist passed an inch from his face. Backpedaling, he dodged a furious assault by Anna’s fists. He dipped to his right, deflected a follow up strike with his arm, then drove a knee upwards to throw her off balance. She stepped back, striking again with a one-two punch.

“You don’t have to go easy on me,” she commented, throwing a blow to his stomach that doubled him over. His hands frantically grabbed her follow up attack, pulling her knee upwards removing her center of gravity. She dropped backwards, slamming into the mat.

“Now what would give you that idea,” he taunted her

He pressed his advantage, pinning her to the mat. “Had enough?” he inquired mockingly.

“Not yet,” she replied rolling him off of her.

He unsteadily climbed to his feet and readied for the next attack. Instead of pressing her advantage she hung back however, taunting him to make the first move. With a roll of his eyes he lunged forward with his right arm. Just as she pulled away from it, he switched to his left leg and nailed her in the side. She dropped to a knee, grabbed his follow up shot, and elbowed him in the face. He fell to the mat, she pounced on him. Her knee pressed into his groin causing him to tense up. Both her hands held his wrists to the ground.

“Had enough?” she asked into his ear. Warm breath caressed his cheek.

He flashed a cheeky smile, and planted his lips on hers. She hungrily kissed him back, her hands released his arms and cradled his head. Suddenly their positions switched as he rolled her onto her back. Her arms were instantly pinned to the ground.

She looked at him with a teasing grin. “Cheater.”

“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” he answered smugly.

An uncomfortable cough, reminded them of their audience. They instantly sprang back, hearts pounding from the brutal workout, as well as the intimacy of the moment.

Griff cleared his throat again. “Good job you two, that was, quite a show. The rest of you are dismissed. I’ll see you all at the beginning of the trial.”

“Sorry about that, got a little caught up in the moment,” Anna apologized.

“Yeah, well, the last thing I want is you two giving the rookies a bad idea.”

“No promises,” Tal taunted him.

Griff rolled his eyes and walks away, leaving the two operatives alone with the white light cascading down on them.

A green glow intruded on their moment, Allie floated between them.

“Rahn would like to see you.”

The two operatives exchanged worried glances as they left the room together.

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