Training day

[Prince Cherico]

I don't know what year it is, I don't know where we are and
I have no idea what time it is. Life underground can mess with
perceptions that way. Its just me and the kid, today is yet another
day thats going to be wasted on trying to turn one of the lesser
into a man worth the title of Roughneck. House Alsabaities always
sends me their scum.

"Do you know why your here kid?"

"Because i'm not as fast as the other students?"

"Your not here because your out of shape kid, your not here
because your stupid though lord knows you are, your here cause
you need a attitude reajustment."

"Sir if I could bring my father here we can work this out my father is."

"Your daddy cant help you now! For the next four weeks you are my
personal property, you are going to eat sleep and breath training. You
will hate me more then any one else on the planet but when i'm done with
you what remains of you will be a man."

"Sir is it nessary to wax every thing below my neck it seems kind
of painful and unessary."

"Kid it increases your response time with your suit by 3 seconds so yes
your going to do it like every one else does."

"But sir"

My fist slammed into his face I could hear the satisfieing crack of his
nose. The sound of whimpering filled the dark room.

"What the heck was that for?"

"If you were three seconds faster you would have dodged that.
That is your first lesson I am too old to put up with your crap
I am 80 years old kid I have destroyed more of the enemys
attacks then any man in this house. You will learn from me or
you will suffer my wrath. Now were going to start some martial
arts training you ether learn or bleed ether way I win. You get
that kid?"

"yes sir."

"Good lets go."

[Prince Cherico]

The kid came at me with a vengeance. He had the the advantages
of strength, speed, and the vitality of youth. He didn't stand a chance.
His body was sprawled out on the ground. I could see him breathing
heavily. Slowly he rose from the ground his face was covered with blood
his nose leaked blood like a sieve.

"I give up sir, I give up."

It took 12 seconds.
It took exactly 12 seconds for me to run to him and kick him in the
groin. His body lifted 12 inches in the air. As he was embraced by gravity
he landed on his knees, and fell to his side. I placed my foot on his
neck.

"You give up? You give up? The machine doesn't care how important
your daddy is, the machine doesn't care how rich you are, the machine
doesn't care how popular you are with the ladys, and the machine
definitatly doesn't have mercy. This will end when I damn well feel
like ending it and not a moment before. I tolerate many things I can
tolerate bad food, I can tolerate ugly cloths, I can tolerate bad smells,
and I can even tolerate mind bending pain. But I will not tolerate weakness."

"Sir the pain is."

"Pain is weakness leaving the body kid. Get up get up
and prove that your still a man."

I could see his eyes well up in the dim light, but I could also see
white hot rage. He got up, his fist moved with semi trained grace
towards my face. Too bad you cant train joins. I easily caught his
arm and started bending it in unnatural ways.

"You tryed to sucker punch me kid, I don't like being sucker punched
and I'm going to make you pay for the attempt, but I do respect
a sucker puncher more than a mewling child. You are no longer a
kid you earned the right to be called a maggot."

"Damn you sir Damn you to hell."

I smiled in the darkness, there was hope for him yet.