The doors on the ‘subway’ as Emily called it as they rolled to their destination. The four of them stepped out, the vehicle lurching as Ash took a step onto the stone floor outside. It appeared nearly identical to the place they had left from. Emily didn’t hesitate and led the way through a door across the way. After a hundred feet or so there was a three way intersection and Emily confidently took the left fork. Then the right fork at the next intersection. Straight ahead, left, right…
“What is this place?” Roger asked with a little frustration in his voice from how far they had walked so far.
“Don’t worry,” Emily assured him, “This is the last obstacle. Asuta’s big maze with our home at the center. Make sure not to come in here without one of us, this whole place is bristling with all sorts of traps that Asuta will reactivate once we’re all the way through.”
“Asuta really doesn’t take any chances, huh,” Roger said, “Doesn’t this seem a little, you know, too much?”
Emily shrugged, “It makes her feel comfortable. And it’s fun for her, better to have her putting them here than selling them to someone out in the galaxy.”
“So, how does she get all the resources for this?” Sean asked curiously as they took another turn to the right, “Can’t be easy getting people in here for supplies.”
“Oh, did I forget to tell you? Asuta has a clear passage through the minefield to let in deliveries of materials in planetary orbit. And she can sell plenty of things to mortals that aren’t weapons if she ever ends up running low on cash. I’m sure you’ve done the same while you’re traveling.”
Sean nodded, they did use their engineering skills to barter for supplies whenever they were running low. Usually it worked out pretty well and both sides were more than happy about the deal. As long as the group disguised that they were Immortals of course.
“Hey, why didn’t we go that way?” Roger said, “That sounds way safer.”
“Safer?” Emily said, “But I always go through the minefield. Asuta would have just blown us up before talking if we tried the easy way. Deliveries are always sheduled way ahead of time for her.”
“Why couldn’t we?” Roger said, “We could have just parked out of the system and sent a message to her.”
“Well… That would be boring, wouldn’t it?” Emily said, “Asuta loves me testing her defenses to find the weaknesses. I would have done even more if you guys weren’t with me. Worst come to worst the ship blows up and Asuta picks us up a couple days later safe and sound.”
Roger’s face flashed with anger and he pointed behind him. “Aren’t you forgetting someone? What would happen to Ash in that case?”
Emily stared at the robot blankly for a moment before realization washed over her face.
“Oh… Well, he’s strong, he might have survived even then. But, sorry, I got caught up in the moment… I’m really sorry, Ash. I should have been more careful and realized I wasn’t just with Immortals.”
“Caught in the moment? Why I…” Roger began before Ash interrupted him.
“I accept your apology,” Ash said, “I will have to accept some risk if we are to save Lira. I do not want to be treated as something delicate to be prevented from being put at risk. What you did was not unacceptably risky and saved us much time in our goal to retrieve Lira.”
Roger and Sean shared a long glance, both unsure of what to say about that. Roger looked like he wanted to argue, having never truly been on board with Ash going with them to Immortus Station. Sean was more neutral but didn’t want Ash to be so casual about Emily’s risky mistake. But he just didn’t have the words to say. It was at the tip of his tongue, but everything sounded wrong and fake in his head as he went to say something.
Lira would know what to say to Ash.
“Thanks, Ash,” Emily said before turning her head to the two other men, “And sorry to you two as well. I’ve been rather thoughtless of how you would feel about it…”
Roger grunted and didn’t look impressed, but Sean felt his annoyance softening. She did seem genuinely guilty when she had apologized…
They took a left turn in the maze and walked onwards. Sean idly wondered how many times Emily had walked through this place to memorize so many of the turns without seeming to even be paying too much attention to where they were going…
----------------------------------------
They emerged from the maze into a sloping tunnel to the surface and Sean blinked hard at the sudden view of the midday sun. There was a large mansion and estate in the distance with a gravel road leading up to it. They walked forward, the stone crunching under their feet as they walked down the path. Several worker robots wandered the grounds trimming the plants and even spraying the sculptures with something to clean them as they moved.
Standing at the front porch of the house was a brown skinned woman wearing a billowing white sleeveless shirt and beige cargo shorts. Her black hair was cut short and stuck all over the place, askew as if she had just been hit with a large gust of wind.
“Emily!” She shouted as they drew closer, “These your new friends? What’s with the robot?”
“My name is Ash, and I am intelligent. Please refer to me by name.”
“Oh,” Asuta said and blinked while looking surprised at Ash. As they drew closer she ran her eyes up and down Ash’s form with a raised eyebrow, her eyes calculating as she saw the strange bulges in the torso from Ash’s six curled tentacles.
“Interesting,” She muttered as the group came to a stop in front of her.
Emily stepped forward and the two women hugged and shared a quick kiss before drawing back and staring at each other for a long moment.
“Asuta…” Emily said in a warning tone, “Don’t you dare…”
Asuta smirked and then took a step back and raised her hands into a fighting stance, “Best to three!”
Emily hesitated before groaning and turning to the group and made a shooing gesture at them.
“Back up all of you. I’ll make it quick.”
“Ha! Quick? You’ll never defeat my ultimate technique!”
Asuta said before performing a forward flip in place with a single leg held out for a massive heel kick, slamming her heel into the gravel with a crunch and landing perfectly on her other leg.
“Bam!”
Everyone but Emily blinked at the casual display of acrobatics. Sean thought he even saw Ash’s glowing eyes flicker a bit as he inspected Asuta closely.
“Such a drama queen,” Emily said while rolling her eyes, “Can we at least go into the grass first this time? Or is that too long for you?”
Asuta hesitated for a moment before lowering her arms, “Okay,” She said reluctantly, “I can wait five minutes.”
Asuta practically ran off and the rest of them jobbed to follow until they reached a large open lawn of grass. They went to the center, Ash, Roger, and Sean standing a dozen feet back while Emily Asuta started squaring up and clearly preparing to fight.
“What is happening right now?” Roger asked as Asuta struck a pose and started flexing, revealing some rather developed muscles on her arms.
“Asuta, C’mon,” Emily said, sounding exasperated, “We have company in case you haven’t noticed.”
“They should see these muscles too, I’ve worked hard for them!” Asuta shouted and flexed harder. Emily giggled but quickly composed herself, “Stop, stop,” She laughed, “Let’s just fight already.”
“Alright, Robot, Ash?” Asuta said, “Yeah, Ash. Count us down from six.”
“Six?”
“Alright, down from eight,” Asuta corrected.
Sean and Roger shared a confused glance as Ash started counting.
“Eight,”
“Seven,”
“Six,”
Both Emily and Asuta seemed to more fully focus on each other and Asuta took a real fighting stance instead of the ridiculous thing she was using before. Something changed in the air as both of the women seemed to stiffen, still smiling but their gazes sharpened as they stared at each other.
“Serious battle for the first round?” Emily asked, “Show them what it’s like with no frills and showboating?”
“Four,”
Asuta hesitated and then groaned loudly, “Ugh. Lame. But I get one extra silly round in exchange.”
“Deal,” Emily agreed.
“Two,”
“One,”
Both women tensed and stopped circling each other and the tension in the air grew.
“Go.”
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Asuta darted forward with a straight punch. Emily knocked her arm to the side with a small brush of her hand and went for a gut punch. Asuta twisted to the side so the punch just barely missed her before hopping backwards out of reach before Emily could do anything more.
Emily darted forward to close the distance to chase as Asuta began to reset her stance. Before Sean could register what was happening, both women seemed to bring it up a notch and suddenly were locked together in a flurry of punches, blocks, and grabs. It was all so fast that Sean could barely understand what was happening, only the meaty thwacks of flesh on flesh telling him when a blow had been blocked or swatted off course.
This went on for ten seconds more, both women laser focused on their close quarters battle before Emily got the upper hand and managed a full leg sweep, knocking Asuta to the ground.
Emily landed a quick punch on Asuta’s face before the other woman could recover, making them both suddenly relax.
“Oh, man,” Asuta groaned as she accepted Emily’s hand to help her to her feet, “I was doing so well too.”
“No, that was really good,” Emily encouraged Asuta, “You almost got me with that dual arm bar and punch. I only just barely dodged it.”
“Gah, you’re so unfair Emily,” Asuta said, “How are you so good at fighting when you don’t even enjoy it? Bllleeeeeggggghhhhh.”
“Silly round?” Emily said, “What are the rules?”
Asuta perked up, “Oh. I’ve been training for this one. Hand stand battle! First one to fall loses!”
Emily laughed, “Handstands? We’ll look so ridiculous…”
She glanced over at them and suddenly her face tightened a little as she seemed to remember that they were there watching.
“So?” Asuta countered, “I’d like to see them fight like that.”
Emily looked back to Asuta and smiled wider after a moment, “Yeah. Let’s do it, then.”
The battle that followed was a much less serious affair than before. Both women were balanced on their hands and kicking out with their legs, occasionally even going on a single hand to shove the other with their hands as a risky play. But it was more like a game and both appeared to be having a good time as they worked to unbalance each other, hopping around like a pair of acrobats while kicking their legs wildly.
Eventually Asuta managed to land a firm shove with her hand on Emily’s core and unbalanced her, sending Emily tumbling to the grass.
Asuta flipped back to her feet as Emily lay limp in the grass.
“Haha! One to one,” Asuta said, “I liked that one, we should do that more.”
“That was fun,” Emily said as she shifted looking rather comfortable as she remained in place, “It’s been so long since I’ve even done a handstand.”
The two women seemed to have forgotten about their audience again, too focused on their fights. Or not really fights, games more like.
“What about the last one?” Emily asked sitting up, “Have anything planned?”
Asuta looked around, “Oh, plenty. But nothing we can do here. We could do a straight fight again, I guess…”
“No arms fight?” Emily said, “Only kicks?”
“Oh, that’s much better,” Asuta agreed, “Let’s go.”
Emily stood up and both women put their arms behind their backs and had Ash count them down again. On the count of seventeen for some reason.
This one was more serious than the handstand battle, but still much more relaxed than before. Emily ended up winning again, but Asuta almost clipped her near the end, so Asuta seemed happy that the fight was so close.
Fight over, and after a little teasing by Emily over Asuta’s loss, the two women refocused on the guests.
“Emily, I had no idea you were so good at fighting,” Sean said.
Emily shrugged uncomfortably, looking embarrassed as she seemed to fully register their presence for real this time.
Asuta glanced at Emily and raised an eyebrow.
“I know,” Asuta complained, “She’s such a cheat. Naturally fighting genius, but wouldn’t do any fighting at all if no one prodded her into it. Tech genius too. And way too kind. It gets my competitive spirit pumping whenever she’s around.”
“Hey, I don’t hate it or anything when it's just a game,” Emily countered, “But I’m not a battle maniac like you, Asuta. You didn’t even learn how to make a containment field until I told you they help make bigger bombs…”
Asuta blushed and scratched her head awkwardly, “I would have learned it eventually even without that… Not my fault blowing stuff up is so exciting…”
Asuta raised her voice, “Anyway, you lot. You’re welcome for the show.”
Roger started clapping and they all stared at him. He stopped and shrugged.
“What? It was a good performance,” he said, “You know how shit I am at fighting Sean, and even I could tell that they’re skilled.”
“Same here,” Sean agreed, “That was really something else. Especially when you fought while doing handstands…”
Asuta put her hand over her mouth and gave the largest fake gasp Sean had ever heard, “Do my ears decieve me? Emily, did you not pass your wisdom down to the young sprouts? Can I be their combat sensei? Can I? I said the word right, didn’t I? Sensei, that’s what you called it?”
Emily looked between the two of them that looked unsure at the offer, “Sensei, that’s right. As long as you’re not too harsh on them, I guess it would be fine. If they agree.” Emily said not looking at all sure about her decision.
“Sure, I could do with some combat training,” Roger easily agreed not seeming to pick up Emily’s hesitation.
Everyone looked at Sean and he quickly nodded, “Sure,” He said, “Sounds useful,”
He was not at all reassured when Asuta got a glint in her eye and started rubbing her hands together while looking like her birthday had come early.
Not comforting at all…
“Hey, babe,” Asuta said, “I pulled up the bath. Nice and warm with bubbles and everything. Why don’t you go and relax. I’ll join you after I’m done giving the boys my sensei lesson.”
Emily turned to leave but stopped before looking back again, “Don’t be too long. And try to go easy on them. Sean isn’t even a thousand yet…”
Asuta thought about it for a second, cocking her head to the side thoughtfully and looking at the sky for a moment.
“Sure!” She said after looking back at Emily, “I won’t use any flamethrowers, I promise.”
“Well, there’s that at least,” Emily muttered before she met the shocked gaze of Roger and Sean.
She shrugged, “Hey, it’ll be good training,” Emily said, “Just tell Asuta if it’s too much. Despite how silly she acts she’ll stop if you tell her too.”
Asuta stuck her tongue out at Emily but didn’t counter the statement.
“Okay, bye boys, Ash,” Emily said, “I’m going to go enjoy my peaceful bath now.”
And with that Emily walked off back towards the front doors of the manor, leaving Ash and the two boys with the grinning Asuta.
“Alright boys,” Asuta said, “Follow me. I know just the thing to teach you for my first sensei lesson…”
----------------------------------------
“HAHAHAHAHA BAM BAM BAM!”
“Dodge Left!” Sean called as he dived down to the right, letting the grenade sail over his head and explode behind him. Roger didn’t react in time and got hit directly in the face with the metal ball that exploded a second later, sending the remaining lower half of his body slumping to the ground, his top half incinerated in an instant.
Asuta threw another three grenades in front of Sean’s path, forcing him to quickly come to a stop if he didn’t want to get hit by one of Asuta’s grenades again. She was in the center of the special field outside and a metal tube sticking out of the ground was feeding her an endless supply of the explosives. Explosives that she was gleefully throwing at them while shouting some advice between barrages and her maniacle laughter.
“PAY ATTENTION!” She yelled after Roger regenerated and sat up, blinking and confused, “SEE HOW IMPORTANT TEAMWORK IS? SHOULDA’ DODGED LEFT, ROGER! LET’S TRY THAT AGAIN! DODGE, ROGER!”
Asuta started heavily targeting Roger, sending him rolling on his belly to the side as the place he was standing before exploded in a giant clump of grass and dirt that was carved out by the explosions of the volley of Asuta’s grenades.
Seeing that Asuta appeared too distracted punishing Roger for his mistake, Sean saw an opportunity and circled around until he was standing opposite of Roger. When he was in position, Sean sprinted forward towards Asuta in the center, who had her back turned to him.
He saw her turn her head slightly as he moved.
“GOOD!” She shouted, “GOOD THINKING! ASUTA SENSEI IS TEACHING YOU WELL. BUT SEE IF YOU CAN GET THROUGH THIS, SEAN!”
She hit a button on the dispenser next to her and the grenades she was using changed from red to green.
She hefted it and threw a green one at Sean, keeping a red one hefted in her other hand at the ready. Sean ducked and the device exploded behind him not into shrapnel but a spray of sticky viscous slime. Sean knew by experience that if he was caught by one of those then he would be stuck like a fly on a web for Asuta’s follow up red grenade to finish him off.
Another green grenade came towards him, Asuta less than twenty feet away now. Sean hopped up as it came at his legs, but was a little too late. It smacked his foot and sprayed him with gunk. As soon as Sean hit the ground, his foot stuck to it and he faceplanted directly into the dirt.
“Haha!” Asuta laughed and tossed the red grenade up before catching it again and lobbing it at full speed towards where Sean lay. He only had a second to tense before there was sudden burst of pain and then the world had stuttered forward in time.
Sean still felt deep wounds in his back regenerating as he rolled over and looked to where Asuta stood. Roger was close, barely a dozen feet away from her as she prepared to hit him with a red grenade at point blank to knock him back.
Sean groaned before quickly silencing himself and scrambling so Asuta was standing directly between him and Roger.
She threw the red grenade and it exploded right in the center of Roger’s core, sending red chunks of the man spraying backwards far across the field. But Asuta was also too close and blew herself back with the explosion, sending her flying towards Sean. She twisted in mid-air, but wasn’t able to stop Sean from leaping forward to jump in her way before she hit the ground.
Her body impacted him full force and sent him slamming onto the dirt with her laying above him. She tried to quickly roll off of him, but Sean recovered from being stunned by the impact quickly and reached out. Just before she finished rolling away, Sean landed a firm slap on her upper arm.
Before he could get up, a green grenade hit his legs and stuck him to the ground.
“Ahhhhh. Roger, come on over!” Asuta said as she stood looming over Sean, “Sean got me.”
Roger trudged from the other side of the field, looking rather down. Sean started shifting around and using his arms to try to pull himself out of the sticky goop covering his lower body.
“Don’t worry about it, Roger,” Asuta said sounding upbeat as the man approached, “You two really have improved as a team over these three rounds. Great setup to force me to focus on one so the other could make up some ground while I was distracted.”
Sean finally freed himself with a loud ripping noise and got to his feet, wiping off his legs as best as he could. Obviously with all the explosions and grenades, they were all left wearing clothing bands by now. Asuta had been kind enough to tell them to take off their normal clothes first, even if she hadn’t told them what the training was until the first grenade smacked Sean in the face.
Roger came to a stop next to Sean and Asuta beamed at them.
“Aren’t I a great Sensei?” She said, looking at the two of them proudly, “I’ve got to think of something else fun for our next lesson.”
“Maybe we could toss grenades at you for a change,” Roger grumbled.
“Sure!” Asuta easily agreed, “That’s only fair. Look forward to it. Well, I have a girlfriend to get to. I’ve taken too long as it is, she’ll probably already be annoyed with me… If she hasn’t melted into the bath by now. That robot Ash should have a map of this whole place by now. Just don’t go in any locked doors, but other than that you have the run of the whole place. And that’s the end of your first lesson by Sensei Asuta. See ya next time!”
With that, Asuta turned around and almost skipped away, humming a little tune to herself.
They watched as she receded into the distance towards the estate.
“I think I see what Emily meant by… ‘quirks’” Roger said as Asuta faded into the distance, “Can’t believe Emily just let us walk into that without a better warning.”
“But it worked,” Sean said.
“That’s the worst part,” Roger grumbled, “Now I can’t even complain properly since we actually improved so much. Now she’s our ‘Sensei’ whatever that means. Who knows what she’ll cook up next…”
There was a pause as they both silently thought of the possibilities.
“Enough of that,” Sean eventually said, “Let’s go find Ash and see if we can find some guest bedrooms to sleep in. I could really do with some sleep.”
“Alright,” Roger said, “I think I last saw him over that way…”