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Obstacles of the Body and Mind

October 11th, 2001

Participants: Dick Grayson and Sasha Bordeaux

Scene: Despite busy days and even busier nights, Dick finally manages to catch up to Sasha one evening in the Bat Cave and spend a little time helping her with her training... something very important if she is to stay an employee of Bruce Wayne by day... and Batman by night...

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Sublevel 2 [Bat Cave]
The second most vital part of the Batcave, this level is primarily dedicated to training and the maintenance of equipment. To one side rests a large, open training area and gymnasium, as well as a shooting range, with a wide array of firearms on display. On the opposite side sits a machine/auto shop area (also where the lift from the level above leads to), and the continuation of the large library of books, files, and research materials from upstairs. Towards the rear of this chamber, rests the 'trophy area'. Many and varied momentoes of past cases are kept here in perfect condition, but none so precious as the Robin costume worn by the late Jason Todd, vacuum sealed in a plexiglass cylinder in the center of the trophy area. Batman's sole memorial to his lost partner. It seems that no matter how noisy or active the rest of this level becomes, there is always a somber mood about the trophy room.
People and Things:
Sasha

Other exits: [D] Stairs to Sublevel 3 [U] Stairs to Sublevel 1

She passed out shortly after she went running last night, exhaustion from the constant pushing of herself the last week. A good thing, because tonight she is fresh as she crouches down to relaxe a running shoe, inpreparation for running the gauntlet. She's only on the second level of it. She has to make up for lost ground the past week.

Sasha straightens, pulls her ponytail tight, and clears her throat to issue the voice command to start the program.

With the busy days -- and even busier nights as of late -- Dick Grayson has had little time to indulge in the simplest of workouts. Of course, he's been getting enough of the more practical variety that it hasn't been necessary, but still it is sometimes nice to actually get into the gym and go at one's own pace. So it is that he trots down the long steps leading ever deeper into the cave, pausing at the bottom of the steps when he catches sight of Sasha just about to begin her own workout.

"Computer, begin course Bordeaux-002." Her voice snaps out, crisp, professional, detached (perhaps a frightening little bit like Bruce? Only less growly). A buzzer goes off and the woman sprints into motion, heading down the initial straightaway to a series of obstacles to get over and around.

She has a rugged but fluid grace to her...beneath a somewhat unpracticed sense of motion. She was trained to dodge yes, but mostly relying on guns. Now she can only rely on her own body. Hand come up to an obstacle as she launches her lower body over it, landing in a continued run.

For a moment his own intentions here are forgotten as Dick folds his arms across his chest, lingering near the base of the stairway as he contents himself with watching Sasha's efforts on the gauntlet. Courses he's run more times then he would care to count. A faint smile slides across his features at that thought and he finally begins to cross the cavern floor towards the gymnasium proper, though his gaze remains on the running woman throughout, observing and storing away his own impressions.

She does well, but she hesitates too often, taking that moment or two to think over her actions rather than rely on instinct. Something that will slow her down. She has to learn how to trust her own abilities. She dodges the swining hazards, rolling under horizontal swipers, diving past shooting blunt darts. She crosses the finish line three seconds short of a passing time.

"DAMMIT!" she pants out as she plants her hands on her hips and scowls.

His pace is unhurried and his interest is clearly more with Sasha's progress around the course then it is with beginning his own workout. Hopping up on one of the pieces of athletic equipment that covers the matted cavern floor, Dick's gaze traces her progress -- unblinkingly observing though not otherwise not interrupting her progress. When she finally finishes, he hops back to the floor and begins to walk over -- listening to her own frustration that clearly expresses that her efforts -- though substantial -- are not quite up to par quite yet.
"Not bad," Dick says as he nears her, dipping his head in acknowledgement as he in essence announces his presence. "You're clearly in good shape to bring in that sort of time. In a couple of weeks you'll be even better. But then your problem isn't one of conditioning if I were to guess. It's more one of confidence," he says, tone quiet and intense.

A grimace paints the bodyguard's lips and she looks up at Dick. "I dont have that kind of time. He gave me 30 days. I have to get past this level and 5 more in the next three weeks or I'm fired." She sighs and reaches for a towel to mop the sweat on her face. "So what advice can you give me to get over whatever my problem is Mr. Grayson?"

His gaze turning away from her for a moment, Dick peers back down the track leading through the course, eyes narrowing slightly as he focuses on each individual obstacle. "So much of what Batman does is done strictly on instinct. Now, he has the luxury of experience admittedly -- and you don't have the time to get that experience obviously in the time you have left to prove yourself. But what you need to start to do is to trust your initial instincts Miss Bourdeaux. Where you lose time is when you hesitate, when you pause to think about what you're doing," he replies earnestly, his attention pulled back to her, his gaze open and appraising. "Thinking things through isn't bad in and of itself obviously. But you need to be doing that in advance. When you're running down the track be thicking about getting over that first barrier. While you're getting over the barrier, think about how you're getting past the next obstacle. Don't focus on what you're doing right at that moment, focus your mind what you will be doing five or ten seconds ahead. Trust in yourself to react as you plan without dwelling on it."

The woman hrms and she rubs her chin. "I guess that sounds like it has merit. I'll give it a shot...." She tosses the towel to you as she moves back to the starting point of the course. "Computer, restart Course Bordeaux-002" It begins again, and this time, though the first obstacle still sees her hesitate, the hesitation is less as she catches herself. By the third obstacle she's projecting her thinking towards two obstacles ahead, and reaction to the present one on reflex. Seems she is a fast learner.

By the time she reaches the end of the course, it shows a passing score, with 3 seconds to spare. She is huffing now after running it twice, but she looks elated. "YES! Thank you!"

Catching the towel with one hand, a grin spreads over Dick's features and he dips his head in acknowledgement, turning away as she has the system reset itself. Wandering back over to the athletic mat, he perches himself up on one of the pieces of gymnastic equipment, nodding to himself as he watches. When Sasha completes the course, he claps quietly, hopping back down and wandering back over towards her. "There, much better. With what we do, hesitation can be deadly. Even on the more advanced courses learning to react without any fears or hesitations will be your best ally in getting through them," he says with a smile, tossing the towel back to her before continuing. "Occasionally your instincts will guide you wrong, but that's what these courses are for. If you make a mistake in here the worst that might happen are a few bruises and maybe wounding your pride," he says, clear satisfaction etched on his features.

A brow arches slightly, and Sasha proves there is more to her than an athletic bod and a stubborn spirit. "What _WE_ do? I thought you said you werent one of those folks in their PJs running around Gotham beating up bad guys?" Hrm...no wonder she found out about the bat. She's *GASP!* smart.

A small shrug and faint smile greet her inquiry, a quiet laugh escaping Dick as he turns away and begins to pad back across the mat beneath his feet. "They're not PJs, so it was technically true," he answers back with wry humour, his steps pausing near the heavy bag as he abruptly lashes out with a hard quick towards it, following it up with a trio of swift blows before coming to a stop. Grabbing the bag to still it's movements, he turns back towards her once more. "Besides, I'm not really limited to Gotham either, when you get right down to it."

Sasha shrugs as she follows him, then steps behind the bag to hold it for him. "It's not like I have any idea who you are. I have heard names, but you guys are mostly urban legends, tabloid stories...you dont exactly pose for pictures...but...from your height, the hair, the build...I'd guess you were that guy from the Titans..."

Nodding his thanks to her as she takes the burden of the heavy bag from him, Dick takes a few steps back before lashing out with another pair of blows to it. A smile creeps over his face once more, briefly at least, and he lets his hands fall back to his side for a moment. "Well, that speaks fairly well for you. Though you should have the information at your disposal now to figure that out," he says quietly, nodding once more as he bounces lightly from foot to foot before lashing out with another series of punches at the bag. "You'd be right of course. You're getting a glimpse of why we all have to guard our identities so closely. Knowing who Bruce is immediately gives one several pieces of additional information to guess who I am, or who Robin is... and vice versa. Sometimes I think it's amazing that more people haven't found out over the years."

Sasha nods a bit, though she has no clue who or what a Robin is, cept she recalls something about a Batman sidekick somewhere or other, maybe thats him. "So you're Nightbird or Duskwing or something right? Haunt that city down the river? Bludhaven right?"

Hrmph. Nightbird? Still, being unknown beats being known and hounded by the media as has happened a time or two in the past. "Nightwing," Dick corrects with good humour, smile still firmly fixed in place as he lashes out one last time at the bag before stepping forward once more to rest his hands on either side. "And yes, I spend a fair bit of time down there. Gotham has it's fair share of costumed types around. Certainly the city needs it. Unfortunately Bludhaven's just as bad if not worst," he says, the smile disappearing as he shrugs. "So I split my time between there, here and New York when I'm working with the Titans."

A nod of Sasha's head as she tries to take it all in. "Nightwing, right, got it. Sorry for the mix up...I'm just really trying to stop the world from spinning so fast. A week ago I was just doing my job, putting up with an impossible client who was making my job as difficult as humanly possible...now I have a month to prove I can hang with the Batman or be tossed out on my keister."

Waving a hand dismissingly, Dick shakes his head and smiles once more. "Don't worry about it. We don't want attention really. Well... most of us at least," he replies easily. Of course, there are always a few attention seekers, but certainly Batman would put up with none of that within his inner circle. "It's a big adjustment, I'm sure. I guess I never realized how big since I was still a boy when I found out," he muses thoughtfully, glancing down absently at his watch and blinking in surprise. "Speaking of which, I think I should be heading out for the evening. Sorry to cut things short Miss Bourdeaux. I'm certain that we'll have more time of the next few days to continue. If you're interested in an occasional training partner at least," he adds, nodding towards her once more before turning away, trotting towards the stairs -- and the main level of the cavern complex no doubt.