Perfect School

Andrew:

I sloshed through the snow next to Jonah after we finished. It had been a poor training session. I was shivering near the end and even entirely missing targets. Jonah called it off early. the downstairs was empty when we got in. I waited to see where Jonah was going so I could go into the opposite room. He went to the kitchen so I plopped myself onto the couch and texted Zero in frustration:

Kira needs to come back so Jonah can focus on her and give the rest of us a break. I'm never going to be up to his standards.

Have you tried contacting Kira? She is at home right now, her home at least. In fact..... I responded back. Switching to my computer I rapidly began to type, searching through my channels till I found what I was looking for. Grabbing my phone again I began to message once again, Well, Kira looks like she is napping right now. But yeah she is just at home.

Andrew:

I considered calling her for a second but shook my head at the idea. She would think I was calling her because she was family not because I genuinely needed her back.

Can you tell her that I'm suffering because of her? I texted.

Smiling I sent along his message and eagerly watched the screen. The form curled in the bed slowly reached for the phone, read the message, then tossed the phone onto the floor and hurried their face into the pillow.

She didn't seem amused that i woke her up. Even threw her phone on the floor. I will try again once she wakes up. Anything else I should pass along?

Andrew:

Tell her Jonah is driving us all crazy I texted as my eyes followed the very guy as he went upstairs. "Don't open the window! It's cold enough in here as it is!" I heard Kyra yell from upstairs once he was out of my sight.

Is the cold that bad? Kyra is yelling about the window. I will tell Kira when she's awake.. Searching through the cameras and audio feeds i shook my head. It was much colder here, though I ignored the mismatched fuzzy toe socks on my feet.

Andrew:

Most of us were born a bit closer to the equator, you know. I smirked. And I think it annoys her that Jonah is happy about the cold.

It's always cold here....and I'm close enough to the equator! Im just up on a mountain. Besides the cold is good for computers. Do I can deal with it.. Smiling I kicked my feet slightly. Maybe someday you can come back and visit me and I can show you more of the mountain than you got to see.

Andrew:

Is there a time when there isn't any snow? I wouldn't mind it without the snow. I smiled lightly at the thought. I enjoyed her company even is we were awkward together. I would enjoy it even more without all her screens looming over us. Would you be okay leaving your room for a little while and actually going outside?

I paused at his question. Was there a time when we didn't have snow? It was rare I knew. Snow tended to linger. But his follow up question fully brought me up short. If you came with me...I could probably leave for a while. I hesitated on sending the message, chewing on my nails while my thumb hovered over the send button. After I did finally push the button I tossed the phone away from me like it was burning me. Shifting awkwardly I started to walk away from the phone, managing no more than a couple steps before I rushed over to scoop it up.

Jonah:

It had been two and a half weeks since Kira left when I got the orders from Marie. She wanted me to bring my team with me to her city. We would be collecting Kira, and depending on Marie's wishes, we might stay for some time. I was apprehensive about the matter, but I didn't allow that to show.

Only Kyra could stand up to Marie's standards, and if the woman decided she wanted her, she wouldn't be kind. I didn't want that for any of my team. But Marie demanded it, so it had to be done.

We flew in, and a car picked the four of us up. I had expected to go where I had come before but instead the car took us outside the city. We came to a stop in front of a boring looking building.

A thick steel door opened and a young boy stepped out. The kid had bags under his eyes, but there was no expression on his face as he peered at the car for a moment. "You came." The boy held the door open. "You are supposed to come inside."

Beckoning them inside as soon as they would get to the door the boy slipped inside moving through the small foyer to push aside the curtain that lay just beyond. The cube of a building was utterly open on the inside, a training playground with everything from a rockwall, targets, mats and training dummies. But in the center was a plush chair upon which was occupied by the very same man who had sat in their living room all those weeks ago. Still immpecably dressed, he lounged in the seat and flanked on one side was a tall muscled man. Stubble covered his jaw, and scars covered his arms.

On the other side was Kira. She gazed at the far wall, as still as a statue. She was dressed nicely, including a bow tying up her hair out of her face. She was the picture of a present ready to be unwrapped and gifted. The only mar to her form was a bandage wrapped around her right forearm.

"You came! Oh I'm so glad." The man smiled from his seat, standing his arms spread in a welcoming gesture. "Please come in, please."

Kyra:

Jonah's attitude had grown cold once we arrived at the airport, and he barely said a word in the car ride. I had worriedly chewed on the inside of my cheek in anticipation of seeing Kira again. She had gone back for training because we had pushed her. I didn't know what we were about to find.

When the boy let us into the building I looked around in wonderment. It was way more advanced than any training room I had ever been in. Then I saw Kira and my heart sank. She was back to her cold and unfeeling self, I was sure of it. I glanced to Jonah. He didn't even look at her, but he did smile at the man welcoming us in.

"Of course, thank you," He said respectfully as he walked in. The three of us followed behind him.

The man clapped his hands together. "Ah a reunion. How I love such tender moments. And you even have such respect, oh I am flattered. I know you didn't come to see me, but I'm touched." His smile encompassed the four of them before ending settled on the boy. His smile remained but a faint brow arched for a brief moment. "Ollie come here.."

"But you said to..." The boy began before cutting off sharply.

The mans smile faded away and he simply stared at the boy. The jovial atmosphere darkened instantly. Kira didn't shift but her muscles tightened at the new situation blooming. The scar covered guy however grimaced and looked away.

The man slowly smiled again, but it was only his lips that moved and there was no joy in the gesture. "I'm sorry my dear guests. It seems I have a bit of discipline that needs to be addressed first." Raising his hand he beckoned to the boy. "Oliver come here." Pale faced and trembling the boy obeyed.

Jonah:

I was unarmed but I had assessed the room for possible weapons should I need one. I doubted that they would try anything on me or my group, though. Kira caught my eye when she tensed subtly. I turned my eyes to the boy who was clearly frightened. He had not been treated well, and the sight of the scars on the scared child sickened me.

The man stared down at the boy and nearly as quick as Jonah himself could move his hand shot out in a stinging blow across the boys face. The boy gave a muffled cry as the blow knocked him to the ground. "Daniel, break his ankles for me." Stepping over the boy like he was nothing but trash he turned that fake smile to the group. "I do apologize again. This has been his last warning. If you'd prefer you can wait over there at that cot. Heavens knows why Kira wont just take one of the infirmary beds downstairs, much more comforting by far-" He broke off as the boy screamed in pain and two sickening cracks filled the air. "but I suppose one sleeps in what one is used too."

Turning the man surveyed what was being done, giving a few short orders here and there to either Daniel or Kira. Each request brought out more pain from the boy and every time the man cheerfully reminded the boy he was to be quiet. As Oliver began to cry anger crossed over the man in the suit and he knelt down driving his fist repeatedly into the boys body until he stood with a sniff. Drawing a gun from within his suit he held it to Kira with the order, "Kill him. He has no more use."

The boys sobs quieted as Kira took the gun and knelt down pressing the muzzle into his forehead. As her finger shifted to the trigger and her thumb disengaged the safety the boy only said two words up at her before she pulled the trigger. "Thank you." He'd said.

Standing slowly she redid the safety and held the gun towards the man in the suit who took it back into his suit and gestured for Daniel to take up the body. "Ah, Kira....some of my best work went into you...fiesty, happy, and full of the strong will of youth...." While Kira had performed the deed the man had cleaned his hands with a white cloth that he discarded off to the side as he gazed at her. Reaching out he trailed the back of his hand down her cheek the action making her visibly flinch. "Oh, I see I missed some things...but we've had such fun together these past few weeks. I understand and forgive you." Turning to the others he smiled warmly at them. "Your gift is returned to you. Marie might wish for you all to stay for a few days. Perhaps you can even meet the lovely lady herself, we will send a car for you once we know. Tata!" Waving he began to head out the door the group had come in. Pausing along the way he snapped his fingers, "Oh! Kira, be a dear and clean up the mess for me?" With another wave and another of those cheerful smiles the pair left with Oliver's body draped over Daniels shoulder.

Andrew:

Kyra had turned her face away at the slap to the boy's face. I had dropped my gaze when the order to break his ankle had come. Occasionally I had looked up to Kira, and was relieved to see that she did not appear to be enjoying it. Kyra had a horrible look of pain on her face all the while trying to control it. Torture, especially of children, was not something she could bare.


Jonah:

I had watched the whole thing with a nasty taste in my mouth. The look of pleasure in the suit's eyes was truly revolting. But I stood there, impassive throughout the whole scene. By the time he touched Kira, I had never felt the urge to kill someone so strongly. Always before, I had killed simply because it needed to be done. In that moment, however, I wanted to destroy that guy.

After the thick steel door had shut behind them Kira finally began to move. She walked to a curtained off corner, eyes on the ceiling she worked the curtain away to expose the sunk in basin with shower head, faucet, and lots of shelves covered in an array of cleaning supplies and soaps. Picking up a bucket she knelt by a spout, adding in several drops of chemicals while the bucket filled with hot water. Snagging up a sponge and a scrub brush she returned to the blood covered mat and began to scrub, all the while not saying a word or even looking at the others. The only indication she felt anything for what had just happened with the white knuckled grip she held on the scrub brush as she spread the hot liquid over the blood and worked it out.

Jonah:

Kyra was the first to move. She crossed the room to where Kira had gotten her cleaning supplies and returned with another scrub brush. A few feet from Kira, she knelt after dipping her scrub brush in cleaner and began working at the mess on the floor.

I wandered around the room, inspecting the equipment. I was very aware of the cameras posted at the four corners of the building. I wouldn't only interact with Kira if I needed to.

Kira:

With Kyra's help we finished up in a few minutes. The mat was still wet, but it would dry after a time. Returning and cleaning up the bucket, brush, and sponge Kira finally turned to survey them all. "Shoes off, you'll ruin the mats." Her voice was flat, and she herself also began to undo the buckle holding her flats tightly to her feet. After both were off and deposited by the door she again focused on each person in turn. "Welcome to my home."

Kyra:

I kicked my shoes off and avoided the wet spot on the mat. "Cozy," Andrew commented. I frowned. "This isn;t your home, Kira. Your home is with us," I told her. I wanted to hug her, to tell her I was sorry for driving her away, but I refrained. Kira had never liked when I hugged her, and I doubted she would tolerate it now.

"I grew up here, and trained here. This is as much my home as anywhere. I'm the only one who uses this facility." I gaze about the building, "Everything I've ever been, anything I've ever done, what I am was all born here." I focused on the cameras above, "Every second recorded and saved."

Jonah:

"Neat," I said dismissively, looking down at my phone. I was intrigued by what she had said about the videos but now was not the time. Marie had sent a message for me to come to her and to bring Kira and Kyra with me.

"Paublo, Andrew, you two are going to stay here while the three of us go see Marie," I told them crossing the room to the two girls. I leaned into murmur quietly to Kyra, "do exactly what I say when we get there." She looked up at me with a small frown but nodded. I didn't want to take her with us. I didn't want Marie to have her way with her. I couldn't see this going very well at all.

I glanced over at Kira without quite meeting her eyes, seemingly uninterested. "Ready?" I asked.

Kira:

Sliding my fingers through my hair for a moment I glanced about my home. "Ready." Every part of me felt trapped, compressed. Like a spring someone was slowly pressing down on, ready to be released at a moments notice. Dealing with the Man in the Suit, and now Marie in one day was going to be trying at it's best. Still though as I smoothed a hand over my outfit, checking myself over to assure I was perfect before beginning to move to the door.

Jonah:

We didn’t talk in the car. When we arrived at Marie’s building, Kira lead the way to the gymnasium that Marie usually worked in.

“Ah, Kira. You are looking much better,” Marie commented when we walked in and stood before her line of chairs. Her eyes flicked to me. “Wouldn’t you agree? Jonah?”

I looked over at Kira for a split second. “She’s just as she should be,” I said without inflection.

“No, she is as I have made her. She is more than she would be.” She turned to acknowledge Kyra now for the first time. “Step up here in the front,” she commanded. A couple seconds passed with nothing.

Kyra’s breathing was quicker than it should have been considering the minimal exertion. I turned to
steal a glace. Her eyes were bright with emotion even when she was trying very hard to control herself. I reached out and nudged her forward as Marie was beginning to look annoyed.

“Marie, nice to finally match a face with that name,” Kyra hissed. Rather than being offended, Marie gave a soft, mirthless laugh.