Knight�s Pride
By T.F. Kit
Chapter 2: Training the Pain
Over the next two weeks they went through hard training. Eight to nine kilometer runs in the morning, hand combat workouts and a variety of flight simulation training in the afternoon. There was constant competition between the trainees for position and score. No one tried teamwork and the constant vying for potions was wearing them down.
How are we suppose to learn what Voltron is really about if we are constantly at each other�s throats? KaLee�s thoughts were exasperating.
Hunk stood off to the side of the mat watching Cole and Derk go at it. Cole had just managed to pin Derk in the last match that they had yesterday. Hunk wanted to see if he could do it again.
Cole was tiring. He had a lot of work to do, not only the training they were doing, but also the class work required to graduate from the academy. KaLee was betting he was not getting more than three hours of sleep a night. Derk moved in taking an obvious opening and pulled Cole�s feet out from under him, pinning him to the ground. Cole struggled but did not have enough leverage or strength to get up.
Hunk gave a grunt. "Ten minutes thirty two second. Not as good as last time and you got pinned Cole. You have to do better than that." They all could see the frustration on Cole�s face as Derk let him up. Hunk wrote something down, a small scribble in a book of some sort.
KaLee strolled up next to Hunk and leaned against the wall. His voice was emotionless as he called out. "Jumper. McClain. You two go at it next."
She noted how Spike looked, dark circles under his eyes, pasty and pale. He had caught something a few nights ago. It had progressively gotten worse. He had not eaten much at dinner yesterday and had heard him coughing late last night, but knew he had not gone to the infirmary. If only for the health of one recruit she needed to get them some recuperation time.
"Sir." She spoke in a lowered voice, as Ryan and Spike met at the middle of the mat. "May I speak to you a moment?"
"And, go." Hunk started Spike and Ryan. "What is it Commander?" His eyes never left the center of the mat.
"Spike is sick sir, very sick. I think he needs to go to the infirmary." She kept it a statement.
"He has made no complaints." His voice was stone cold.
"He doesn�t want to appear weak sir but he is very ill." She was trying to appeal to his competitive honor. �No person should be at a disadvantage in a true simulation.�
�No one else seems to be complaining Commander." Again flat and cold.
"I was noticing the others too. Droe has not been sleeping well and Lillian hurt her wrist in her fight with me. Not to mention Cole is near a mental break down he has been working so hard. You might not be able to tell it but Ryan is also nearing the point of exhaustion." She casually pointed out the others.
"Ryan looks fine." Hunk said.
"Look at him like you would look at Captain Kogane when he was commanding the Force." She said through slightly clenched teeth. "We have been working for three weeks straight on nothing but physical training and flight simulations. Not a day off. This group needs some R�n�R."
"Just like combat situations. You don�t get rest and relaxation there." His tone was smooth with a slight sneer.
"But in a combat situation sir, we would be working as a team to keep each other okay." KaLee almost sighed. "Derk and Deida are at each others throats and they are family. This isn�t right."
"Are you saying that how I am training is wrong?" His voice rose slightly.
There was a twitch of heads, but no overt staring. KaLee noted Lillian had been watching them the whole time.
"Sir we need rest and time to heal. Lillian has been wrapping her wrist since the third day and that fight with me." Her voice was straining now. She was tired, and she knew it, there was not anything that was going to help them anymore besides rest.
"I think you are questioning my command of this situation." Hunk stated.
Shit this is not what I need.
"That is not what I am saying sir." It was almost an automatic response.
"Then what are you saying Commander?" His eyes were still on the mat but he had stopped making notes.
"Just that we are all exhausted and need a break." She paused. That is not all of it but... "And we need to figure out how to work as a team." KaLee turned to face him; this needed all of her attention.
"Well," Hunk drawled. "The other recruits are not complaining so I think you are just making this up and that you are the only one nearing exhaustion." He paused a moment, closing and setting down his book. "Jumper, McClain that is enough." Looking at KaLee he spoke again. "I think you need to have a little hand to hand yourself to see what exhaustion is really about."
Hunk moved, taking a backhanded swing at her. KaLee had seen it coming but instead of ducking under it she grabbed his heavy hand with both of hers. At the same time she brought her feet up, in a maneuver to strike Hunk's other hand that he swung, aiming for her stomach. Using the wall she shoved both of them away.
Hunk used the moment to swing her up into the air, and then leveraged the momentum to slam the young commander into the floor. She let it happen. When KaLee hit the floor she was prepared. Moving her hands to grab Hunk's wrist and arm before he could stumble up, KaLee shifted her feet to his chest area pushing up and pulled him over her head.
Your own momentum Hunk, my best weapon.
Still using the momentum they built, KaLee rolled to her feet and was immediately in fighting stance. Hunk was only a second behind her. He stayed low to the ground, crouched ready to rush her with his brut strength.
They were in the middle of the mat. Spike and Ryan had managed to get out of the way. She could hear Spike panting behind her. Ryan was there too. He must have shoved him out of the way.
Good, some concern for the others is good. Shows some teamwork.
"Hmmm. Nice move, Commander." Hunk spoke, and KaLee fully focused on him. "Most wouldn�t have seen that coming."
She did not return his banter, it was not relevant to the fight, and he was trying to flatter her catch her off guard.
"Sir," her voice remained even. "You know I am right about this. You have to see what is happening here. How it was set up. To divide and conquer not built together."
"The cutting away of dead weight is the first step. You don�t have to like who you are working with just knowing that they are that good." Hunk shifted his feet. KaLee could not help it she tensed. As tired as she was she knew she could not bluff as well as she normally could. She saw a flit of a smile on Hunk�s face but he did not charge.
Shit he is toying with me. Taking a deep breath but never taking her eyes off of Hunk, KaLee focused and centered, trying to slow down her heart rate. Her muscled relaxed slightly but stayed at ready.
Hunk moved. No warning just charged her. She sidestepped as he took a swing, coming up at where her rib cage would have been.
She placed a precise blow to his shoulder closest to her then backed further away. Her hand had come in contact with muscle solid and strong. She knew that if he became really pissed off he could break her.
If he got a hold of me.
It was a dangerous game she was playing, she wondered if it was worth it, everything she was risking to do this.
Hunk had grunted at the contact, just a grunt, as though her hit was a minor inconvenience. As he turned around he rolled his shoulder.
That is better shows it hurt a little bit more.
KaLee�s mind was concentrating, analyzing the next move he would make as her mouth spoke. "This is ridiculous, sir. I don�t want to fight you. I don�t want to fight against this team. I want to fight with them. That is what a team does." Her voice remained even, not rising in volume, even as the urgency was building in her.
She felt the shift of bodies around her. Lillian was moving, but where and why. KaLee did not have time to fight two people, not like this. Droe then moved behind her, loping there on all four then standing up on his hind legs. There was a rolling grunt. She could only hope it was approval for what she was doing.
No time to check.
Hunk sneered then again moved on her, this time with more precise blows. She just managed to block them, but chose not to return the blows.
"I am not here to fight you sir. I am here to become part of the Voltron force." It came out clenched.
Finally she stepped hard on his foot and hit his knee. He went down to the floor. She managed to back away enough as his onslaught stopped.
Then there was movement up above on a platform that observed the mat. KaLee risked a glance. The King, Keith was there, arms folded across his chest watching. Then it hit her. This was another test, a way to see who would work towards teamwork.
Damit, I am going to have to take him down in order to get what we need. She sighed slightly.
Then Hunk was on her, tackling her, slamming against the mat. He had a hold of her jacket but she rolled him under her and pulled herself out of the jacket and his hold. KaLee then stood in a fighting stance pain emanating from her left side. He had defiantly bruised something with that hit.
He spoke, almost in a sneer. "I didn't know silver arm bands were regulation uniform now." He had seen the flash of the silver armband that fit snugly around her upper right arm.
"Well," wincing as the pain sharpened when she spoke. "Unless you want a consel inquiry to have it removed I suggest you let rule 478-Z stand."
Hunk's eyes narrowed. Very few people are allowed to wear personal effects when on duty or at the academy. Either one you had a very good reason for it, religious or cultural class. Or two you had pull, money or influential parents in the higher ranks. Normally it was the second. She had taken a lot of flak the first year at the academy for the armband. Most of the cadets thought she had family in a high-ranking position. It was not until the first break they realized how alone she was. Hunk knew she would not have used leverage or money, he wondered why she was allowed wear the armband.
What other price did you pay for that? But he kept that thought to himself.
He was in almost a casual stance holding the jacket in his right hand in front of him. She watched him; she was not going to make the first move. That is your job Hunk not mine.
"We need rest Hunk." KaLee said it again. "There is no way around it. If we don�t stop this break neck speed we will burn out and there will be no Voltron force." Hunk charged at her again, but this time she was ready. Grabbing his arm she twisted under him pulling his arm back, hearing it pop. He gave a grunt.
This is going to hurt.
Kicking into the back of his knee she forced him to the ground. Still holding his arm she shoved it straight to the ground.
"Aaaggh." Hunk cried out.
"I am not asking for me," KaLee spoke softly into his ear. "This is a good group. I want to see it work. I want to see Voltron flying again."
�With you in the black lion and leading them." It came out growled.
She popped his arm back into place and released him. As he was standing she spoke with a dead serious face. "No. No I don�t sir.� She took two steps back allowing him room to evaluate whether or not he would continue this fight or that it was done. �Only if he choses me.�
Hunk watched her. She couldn�t be serious about that could she? He was not sure what to think. Finally he spoke, relaxing his muscles. "The recruits will have four days of R�n�R before returning to training at 0700. Dismissed." He turned on his heel and back to his book.
KaLee took a deep breath and looked up to where Keith was. His eyes were blank and nothing showed on his face. She took another breath then walked to her jacket. Picking it up she turned and looked at the other recruits.
Ryan was next to Spike, talking in hushed tones with him.
Hopefully he will get him to go to the infirmary. We do not all need to be sick.
Lillian, Cole and the twins were gathering their stuff up with a bit of exhaustion. Droe was watching her. She was unable to determine what he was thinking. Kavens were good at hiding their emotions. She gave a small smile hoping he took it complimentary, then walked out of the room.
* * * * * * * * * *
KaLee sat in the tub in their bathroom the bruise on her side was extremely evident. It was dark purple almost black with molten spots of lighter shades of purple and blue. The yellow and green were actually beginning to appear too.
They were on the third day of rest and things were getting edgy in the barracks. It was being determined that the rest was unnecessary by the other recruits.
Cole had taken it as a personal insult. He felt she would not have requested the time if he had not been doing academy work. Unfortunately KaLee could not seem to convince him otherwise. The more she tried the more pissed off he became at her. Spike was a little more gracious and did not take it so personally but he did feel they would have been fine without the time. Deida stayed distant from her. Between her and her brother, she was the analyzer the one to figure out stuff in her head more. She worked more with the concepts and paper trail. Derk remained distant with his sister but seemed to be connecting with Spike. His profile gave her the impression that he was the guts and wires person, hard, physical, and real. He would most likely not be able to determine her without talking to her. Ryan had kept his distance and that was the hardest for her. They had been so close at the academy and before. Now they were in direct, dangerous competition for a spot that both of them would be good at.
There was a knock at the door.
"I am in here." She called out, pulling herself out of her thoughts.
"May I talk to you commander?" It was Droe�s voice.
Wonder what he wants.
"Just a moment, let me finish up here." She pulled the plug on the tub and climbed out.
With a quick dry and dress, KaLee stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her head and a brush in her hand.
Droe was sitting by a chair looking out the bank of windows. He looked peaceful enough as she walked up and sat in the chair next to him. He had started this she would let him talk first.
As she slipped the towel off her head he spoke. "Why did you get the days off for the group?" It was a straightforward question, no accusation behind it.
Letting the towel fall to the floor, she started to brush as she spoke. "We were all exhausted. Cole was stressed. Spike was sick. Lillian was injured. It wasn�t going to be long before all of us were just not going to be able to continue that pace any more." She looked at him a moment continuing to run the brush through her hair.
"And you just determined this for us?"
That was a question; he is trying to figure out if I had any motivations behind what I did.
Taking a breath KaLee began to braid her hair. "If you are asking about my motivations, from what I can tell of the last three days of thinking about this, I was just concerned about the group, that we were not learning how to work together but instead against each other. What made the last Voltron force so good was that they were a team. Each of them had a job and they did it and they were friends. They never really competed for their lions." She sighed. She did not like how this was happening. This competition was dangerous, not only for the recruits but also for the people whom the new force was going to protect.
"So you want us to be able to work as a team." As Droe spoke he made it a statement not a question. "That will come in time. Right now it is necessary to�"
"I know. To determine who is best suited to which lion." She interrupted. "I know the statement, but if we don�t start getting teamwork now, there will always be an edge of competition, even years down the line. The 'what-if-I-had-done' syndrome." She shook her head and let go of the finished braid.
"So how would you set up the force?" He asked her.
She looked at him. He was looking at her. His head was even with hers as she sat in the chair and him on the floor.
"I would put you in the blue lion, definitely. You have the intuition that goes along with it. Cole would go in the green lion. He has the necessary skill to fly it. He is really good at not only flying but also analyzing flight damage as he goes. The yellow lion would either be Spike or Lillian. Both have good training with ground as well as flight machines."
"Spike has worked on the ground? I thought he was a pirate?" Droe interrupted.
"He was." KaLee said. "That means he has more field experience in covert operations than most of us. He has had to do ground work. Besides I have looked at his file, he is a good mechanic not as good as Derk and Deida but good on the go." She shrugged; it seemed logical to her at least. Droe nodded, seeming to understand, so she continued. "Derk and Deida I would put together in the command center and the back up pilots. They are good but I have seen their flight records. They are not as good as the rest of us. Red lion would be Spike or Ryan. The Black lion pilot who would be either Ryan or myself would command the force. We are the only ones with any command experience." She felt him shift.
Here it comes, the question.
"Is that the price you paid to get here?"
Her heart jumped. That was not the question she was expecting.
"In order to try for the force you must acquire the black lion or you get nothing?" Droe continued as he observed her.
She managed to slow her heart rate, as she spoke. "Yes." She did not lie, she could not she owed her friend that much. "It is an all or nothing for me."
"What else did you pay?" He posed another question.
He gave a slight rumble in his throat. "I can not return to my home even after death if I do not make the force."
We are both being honest, interesting.
She nodded. "Well then I guess we have to make sure you become a part of the force than don�t we." She smiled at him.
He simply shook his head. "I understand why you did what you did with Hunk even before your explanation, but the rest of the recruits have a problem with it." He changed the subject again.
The smile faded from her face. "I know." She responded. "The one who seems to be taking it the hardest is Cole. It is almost as if it is a personal insult to him."
"Yes, he feels�" Droe started, just as the main door opened and the rest of the recruits filed in.
There was almost an audible stiffening of bodies when they saw her.
KaLee waited. They had yet to make a worded statement about their unhappiness.
"Commander." It was Cole�s voice the word forced out in acknowledgement of her. He had yet to say her name since the fight with Hunk.
She looked at him, observing how he stood. Damnit I am not going to do this again.
"Hello Cole, how are you doing?"
He grunted non-committal.
She glanced at Spike. The color had returned to him, he was no longer a pasty gray of illness. He was on antibiotics and was still going to be taking it easy tomorrow, Doctors orders. The others had taken the time to rest well enough, doing minor things and checking out the castle. Cole even had joined them last night for a wander around.
The light was beginning to fade in the room as her gaze landed on Ryan.
Impassive. Your expression is impassive.
She wondered if they would ever really talk again. She missed him, missed her best friend.
Everyone seemed to be waiting for something. Cole moved first. "I am going to get out of here. This room is stuffy and uncomfortable."
As he started to leave she spoke, "The training room is open. If you want to work you can, but I would recommend taking a spotter."
Cole stopped and said. "Are you saying I need practice? That I am not good enough to be on the team?"
The tension tightened around the room, even Droe stiffened next to her. "Working out helps me and you have seemed to want to keep training, so I made a suggestion. I am s.." She started to apologize.
"You want me off the team don't you?" He interrupted and continued before she had a chance to respond he yelled at her. "How dare you." She heard him charge her.
Instinct took over and KaLee reacted. The next thing everyone saw was Cole grabbed by the throat and held facing away from KaLee with only one hand. His eyes bulged out in shock as he gasped in just enough air.
"Never attack me unprovoked again." KaLee's voice growled through the air. She turned him with her hand and let go. He staggered backward to where everyone stood shocked.
"I know you don't like me," KaLee stated. "And some of you don't respect me but somehow we are going to have to work together. Six of us will become a team and we will need to work as one. But from where I stand right now,"
"Fuck off." Cole spate out, finding his voice.
Everyone looked at him and noticed he was shaking. His anger was clear and apparent on his face; it vibrated off of him. But something else too, KaLee could not place it.
"Just fuck off." He turned and left the room.
Derk and Deida looked at her then after Cole and went after him. They had a look of almost fear of her.
"Cole wait up." Deida called out as they left the room.
"Doin� a great job darlin�." Spikes voice drawled. Her gaze moved to him. "Ever think of not being the commander for once." He made it a statement not a question. He sauntered over to the hall to his room and began up it. "By the way nice maneuver. You will definitely have to tell me where you learned it."
A muscle in her back twigged. Like hell I will.
But he was already in his room doing who knew what.
Lillian watched her, a look of almost confusion on her face, as though she had not expected what had happened. When she moved she did not speak just walked out of the room.
Ryan stood, face still impassive, before moving to the bookshelves, his hands and eyes scanning the covers.
"I think I will go and find something to eat." Droe�s voice rumbled. "The main kitchen is open to us, correct?"
KaLee gave a slight nod and watched as he lopped off on all fours out the door. Thank you Droe.
The tension was still in the room. She was not sure how to release it.
This is Ryan. Your best friend, the guy who was there when your father� she stopped her thoughts.
"So," she found her voice. "What is wrong Ryan?" She moved to the kitchen area.
"You need to stop taking charge." His voice was tense.
"Not that simple."
"Right, so you just decided, that your course of action was the only course of action." Ryan turned to look at her.
Washing her hands she spoke. "No Ryan, I did not." She sighed. "What I saw was the team sick and weakened, at each others throats not only on the mats but in the bedrooms. I saw Voltron falling apart at the seams before it was even put together." Grabbing a towel she turned around drying her hands. Looking down first she spoke. "Something needed to be done and no one else was doing it."
"How did you know that I wasn�t going to step up?" His voice almost wrenched from his body.
"I didn�t." She looked straight at him. "That is my point. We as a team, as a group are not communicating." Shaking her head she tried to continue but stopped. "I am just rehashing the same things over and over."
Ryan watched her one more moment then said. "Maybe that is what you need to do. Maybe that will help you figure out why you are really here." He started towards the door.
"What about you Ryan?" She asked. "Why are you here?"
He paused and looked at her. "I am still trying to figure that one out myself." Then left.
He paid a price too; I know he did but what? She went to the refrigerator and pulled out a drink. Walking across the room and out the door to the balcony there.
"Why am I here? Why are any of us here?" She spoke her thoughts out loud to the wind.
Spike stood at his doorway and listened to the conversation between Ryan and KaLee.
You are the best officer Commander Akira. I remember you in a very different combat. You are not afraid to make sacrifices, but not needless ones. Ryan might be the better pilot, but you are the best hope for Voltron. I just hope everyone else realizes how good you really are.
With that thought he went back into his room