Whisper (part 13)
He awoke the next morning feeling refreshed and exuberant. A sharp rap at his door startled him. He opened the door and revealed a beaming Lexington. “Get dressed Mark, it’s time for your first day of training!” he said in excitement. Mark nodded and began preparing himself. He showered and dressed rapidly as he imagined what the day might bring. All of his actions were methodical and memorized long ago to maximize efficiency.
He had built up a strict and routine system of self automation so he could ponder the day as he prepared himself. He finished and Lexington escorted him throughout the mansion. They passed Markov on the way to the training facility. He appeared to be examining a rubber plant closely. He stood up as soon as he noticed Lexington and Mark, looking abashed. He recovered quickly and gave Lexington a high five and a bright smile before rushing out of the room. Mark knew he was hiding something.
They continued the long trip through the facility to the training section. It was much as Mark remembered from the tour. The day began with a fitness evaluation. Mark was in good shape and health. Lexington allowed him to use the equipment and they built a suitable fitness program on a computer nearby as Lexington explained its functions. Lexington introduced him to a series of rigorous stretching exercises designed to allow freedom of movement even during times of abrupt motion change or muscle stresses. Mark practiced the routine fiercely determined to improve each daily goal with the determination and recognition that momentum must be built daily.
Mark could feel the soreness creeping through his muscles. He had never done much stretching in his workouts. He realized he would have to apply more stretching in slightly increasing amounts to continue to reach the flexible state needed for some other routines. He was surprised to realize this concept as he had been unaware of other methods than traditional body building.
“The next step of your training will be a 30 minute swim. Do as many laps as you can with the goal of 30 in mind and try to pace yourself. The idea is to determine where your endurance is at this moment and what your capabilities are presently.” He chuckled then and said, “You can swim I assume?” Mark had been a good swimmer since his parents put him into a swimming training course as a child at a local recreation center.
Lexington showed him a locker room connected to the pool. The architecture of the room was arranged into modules with a changing area and locker as well as shower unit for each person. His name was engraved on a plaque at the top of one of the modules next to the golden eagle symbol he’s seen on the letter previously. He changed rapidly into a pair of Hawaiian style board shorts and swimming goggles. He grabbed a soft rust colored towel nearby and they began the routine.
The cool water was refreshing. Mark swam powerfully and let his mind wander as he repeated each stroke. Time passed quickly and, suddenly, a stopwatch alarm sounded. It signaled the end of their swim and reluctantly the pair headed back to the laundry room. Mark was following Lexington when his thoughts drifted to Raine. “She is such a perfect woman,” he thought. “She is intelligent, beautiful and truly unique. He wanted to ask her on a date but felt he’d made too many foolish comments to her the previous night.
His thoughts were interrupted by Lexington's voice bellowing melodically from the shower nearby. Mark tried to block the sounds and return to his fantasy. He was busy reasoning with himself about improving the development of his relations with the Raine. He entered the shower subconsciously, as he was lost in thought, and allowed the soothing water to blast chlorine molecules from his pores.
Mark was refocused as he stepped onto the hard wood flooring of the martial arts training room. He was regenerated and ready to begin. Incense wafted lazily about the room leaving a haze and a hint of spice. He welcomed the scent and enjoyed the atmosphere, though, he was surprised to find it this way in a room dedicated to action and practice of hand to hand combat.
“You will switch between martial arts training and squad based infiltration tactics every other day.” Lexington announced. “They are both disciplines which require intense focus and development requires dedicated time commitment.” The beautiful woman Mark had seen earlier bowed, with a slightly turned head, and a confident tempered expression.
“Hello, I am Calixta.
“Hi, how are you. I’m Mark.”
“Lexington believes you're ready to train. We will see.” she replied
“Well if he said that, it must be true!”
“Confidence is important in combat as water is to life. Uncertainty in one action creates weakness in others.”
“Yes sir” Mark said feeling stupid and exposed.
“Hit me” she said.
“Uhhhh, what? Why?” Mark replied.
“Wrong question. Hit me.”
“Ok, but I don’t want to hurt you.” Mark said softly
“And that is exactly why you must do it. Hit me now.” She stepped closer to Mark and entered his space. Mark smelled jasmine.
Mark approached her recognizing her smallness as if for the first time. He was at least a foot taller and twice as thick. Mark kept his body balanced and spread his weight evenly. He delivered a sudden and steady jab aimed at Calixta's shoulder. The blow was deflected without a flinch by an outward circular motion of her hand. Calixta tumbled onto the ground and grabbed Mark’s knee with intense swiftness. With a ferocious horizontal movement she kicked out Mark’s right leg and dropped him to the ground.
Mark was locked down almost the moment he hit the mat. His face was pressed against the wood floor and his knee stretched painfully behind him. He could feel a small bony knee embedded against his spine. He heard Calixta giggling softly and felt a sting of embarrassment. She returned her composure and position to a stance. Mark massaged his now aching back muscles and picked himself up.
“Your stance is good and you have balance and confidence.” She said.
“Apparently it wasn’t enough,” Mark replied. “You destroyed me so easily.”
“You punch slow and forcefully. You leave yourself open to counter-attack and your hits are too predictable.”
“Hey I did my best, Mark replied excusing himself. “I wasn’t expecting you to hit back.”
“Whenever you strike expect retaliation.”
“Whatever, I bet you couldn’t do that again if I attacked at random.”
“Are you certain Mark?”she said.
“Positive. Let’s try that again!”
Mark was unsure of himself now and his confidence wavered as he approached. “I’m such an idiot sometimes,” he thought. Calixta was poised yet serene. Mark wished he hadn’t let his anger be revealed. He knew it was a weakness and he tried to dispel the anger he felt at himself for acting like such a fool. He prided himself in his physical abilities and getting beat so easily wasn't a great feeling at all. Calixta seemed to taunt Mark as she waited patiently for the attack. Mark lunged with a half snap kick from his left foot in attempt to break her balance. She didn’t flinch. Mark planted his left leg perpendicular to the floor between him and Calixta.
He sprang forward jabbing his right palm at her chin. She danced to the left avoiding Mark’s blow and catching him off balance. She delivered a devastating sidekick to the back of Mark’s leg before he was able to move. He buckled and fell backward, contacting the floor without mat, his vision swam before him winking. He almost lost consciousness as piercing pains engulfed him. He waited a moment and isolated the pain trying to focus as he lay on the ground. Carefully, he picked himself up and his vision centered, though the sharp pains plundered his mind. He ignored them and realized it was his ego that was damaged the most. He resolved to change his mind.
“You must learn to channel your anger not dispel it.” Calixta stated.
"I know, I never lose fights, certainly not as badly as this!”
“Dedicate yourself to training, both your body and your mind. You will become an effective fighter in time.”
Lexington had been watching the situation and was quite amused. Calixta was an expert. Lexington lined up next to Mark and waited for Calixta to begin the daily training exercises. She began by describing a rigorous combination of punches and kicks. She showed Mark and Lexington the form a couple times before motioning for them to begin. Mark wondered if he would be skilled enough to perform the complex forms in a real combat situation.
Calixta seemed to read his mind, “Memorize these patterns so that they become instinct. These movements are not your only combat they are a way to train your subconscious mind with effective strikes and agile positioning. You condition yourself with pattern so in combat you can break the pattern with skill.”
Calixta and others passed around padded head gear and thin maneuverable gloves. She instructed Lexington and Mark to face one another. “Use the forms you practiced, as a dance. You are lovers who have fallen into misanthrope.” Calixta pointed with a sparring staff, “Do not use any other combat than the forms you have just practiced and do not stop until I say.” Mark looked toward Lexington as he was thinking how ridiculous it was to spar on his first day of training. The man looked like a giant gorilla ready to smash in his skull between his thumb and pointer finger. Mark was unnerved and balanced himself for the fight. “Begin.” Calixta said.
Lexington sprang forward with surprising agility. He kicked out towards Mark’s leg. Mark recognized the kick and bounced back lightly. He swept his right leg deftly in a quick horizontal motion and intercepted Lexington’s incoming blow. Lexington staggered and almost toppled. Mark leaped forward swiping with elasticity at Lexington’s face with his right palm. The blow hit Lexington solidly across the cheekbone and left him disoriented. Mark pounced upward, before he could recover, and slammed his knee squarely between Lexington’s chest muscles.
He staggered again and fell backwards holding his chest in pain. Mark bent over to help him up and asked him if he was ok. “You’re learning faster than I expected” Lexington said, and flashed him a brilliant white grin. Mark realized it had felt instinctual. Perhaps he was internalizing the forms already or perhaps his ego had taken too much of a beating and needed to maintain equilibrium. Whatever it was, he was satisfied with the days training. He bowed humbly and exited the room with a cold shower on his mind.