"Nicely done," he told me with a smile. "Let's try that again. Show me something different."
We faced each other once more. Johnathan told Stryker to rush at me the same way. He shook his head, mumbling something about bruises, but did as he was told. I didn't want to get tackled this time, so I brought my left hand to his right shoulder,packing all the strength I could muster with my knife ready, and stabbed Stryker hard on the side of his neck, sending him off balance while I used the momentum to get out of his way when he fell, groaning, to the ground. He was up as quickly as he’d gone down, tackling me.
I gave Stryker a little surprise by making a short dash at him, grabbing him by his arm and launching myself around him. Once Stryker was on his stomach on the ground, I tapped him on the back of his neck, right below his skull, with the other knife.
"And that's what I'm talking about!" Johnathan cheered.
"We neutralise them quick and easy, then move on."
"Thanks for not breaking my neck," Stryker grinned, chuckling.
"You're welcome," I said, patting his shoulder before getting off him.
“Now, Stryker, why don’t you give him a little taste?”
I wasn’t sure I liked the sound of that, but Stryker sure did. He shot Johnathan a grin, then gave me a split second to prepare myself before launching himself at me like he'd done the first time, attempting to tackle me. Trying to think fast, I decided my best option was to stab him in the heart and lungs like I’d done before. It was not my best option. I wasn't sure if I'd evenhadan option.
Stryker made a sudden stop right when I was about to thrust my knives into him. He used one hand to block my attack and grab my left arm to pull me to his right, then he pressed his free hand on my back while I dropped down on one knee, pushing me hard against his raised leg, clearing all air from my lungs.
It took me a moment to even understand what had happened. I could only lay there on all fours, partly on top of Stryker’s leg with his knee in my guts, like I was about to get spanked. Then I coughed hard and rolled onto my back on the grass, gasping for air.
"You good, partner?" Stryker asked, grinning at me.Asshole.
I wheezed as a reply.
Screw me... I really had some serious training to do.
Johnathan stepped forward so that he was next to us, and he peered at me carefully. "Hanging in there?" he asked.
"Yeah... Yeah..." I muttered between coughs. "Just need... a moment..."
“Take all the moments you need.” Stryker laughed brightly.
“Should we wrap up here?” Johnathan asked with a smile.
I glanced up at him, smiling sheepishly and offering a hopeful “yeah?”
Stryker offered his hand and pulled me to my feet with surprising ease.
“We can go for a walk through the training grounds, if you want.” He offered.
“Yeah, that sounds alright.” I breathed.
I wasn’t expecting Zeltron soldiers to be training too when I got there, and I rapidly recognised Matthew in the mix. We stood there for a while; they were fun to watch, and I was sure I’d never seen anyone fight as well as the men training.
“You were good” Stryker said after a moment, leaning against the fence that separated us from the grounds “for a beginner.”
“You think I'll ever be as good as you?” I asked.
Stryker gave a small grin in response “well...I’ve never been beaten in a sparring match before.”
“What, in the month you’ve been here?” I shot back sarcastically.
“Since I was five.” Stryker snorted “so as good as me? Doubt it. As good as them?” He nodded towards the men on the field “sure.”
“Someone’s humble.”
“I’m just answering your question.” Stryker shrugged nonchalantly.
