Storage room of the gym, it was filled with collapsible cabinets containing containers, for stuffs. Among one of those cabinets, one was filled with many kinds of self defence tools, such as blunt weapons and stun guns.
"Well, if you want guns, ask Steven, but bring an earpiece with you. So, I recommend you to take one of these." Mr. Heller said as he pointed at a rack storing blunt weapons.
"Most of these seems, inelegant. Look, this one makes me looks like an old school cops." Yeri said as she tried a pair of tonfas.
"Hmm, maybe you're better suited to longer ones. Pick something, that can help you maintain distance from your opponent."
"What about this? It's long, but the collapsible feature made it easily fit in your pocket." Mr. Heller said as he handed a telescopic walking stick.
At a glance, it looked like a flashlight with a pommel. It has a guard right under the ball tip and the telescopic part.
"But, wouldn't it take time to expand?"
"Hmph, look closely." He pressed a button near the guard.
Just like a flashlight, with a press of a button, it activated.
*Schlock!* With a snap, it expanded to a length of half a meter.
"It's, quite floppy." Yeri uttered a protest.
"It's to add more kinetic energy, try swinging it at the dummy, time it with your command." Mr. Heller pointed out at the dummy with realistic body parts.
"Aim at the chin, do it like a hook. But, maintain your distance."
As Yeri took a swing, she yelled a command. "Down!"
*thwack**!* She struck the dummy right on the chin.
"Wrong, say it at the same time it hits. Wrong, do it again. Better, but still wrong. Again!"
"Down!" As the tip struck at the same time the command was uttered, it created a reverberation that resonated with the dummies around.
"Well done, now you get the hang of it. Now, do it again, but say the command quietly." Mr. Heller said to Yeri.
Yeri noticed that Mr. Heller's right cheek were a bit red, but she refrained herself from asking.
"Mr. Heller, you.. Seemed to get how my power works. Do you, know someone like me?" She finally asked a question.
"Not quite, but I saw your footage of the last fight."
Seeing that Yeri showed a confused expression, "it's from BackDrop's camera, you know he wore goggles. Right, wanna see? It's quite fun to watch."
As Yeri watched herself taking off her jacket, then approaching the trio punks, she felt a cringe. Maybe that's how an actor felt watching their own act on screen.
As the footage proceeded, it shows that BackDrop was looking around, found a storage full of illegal weapons. It showed in first person perspective how BackDrop took down a couple of guards keeping an eye on the storage. After he's done, he locked the doors and kept the locks.
"So that's why no one used any guns or sharp weapons, I should thank him, if not for him I wouldn't be alive now." As the footage showed the scene of her trying to escape the punks, Yeri felt kind of dejected, thinking that she could do this and that better.
As the footage showed the melee, Mr. Heller paused at the moment Yeri took out a punk in one punch.
"There, see how you took him out instantly? Your form wasn't that perfect, and your weight, strength, and speed alone wouldn't allow you to do such a thing instantly. So, what were you thinking at the time?"
Yeri was recalling the moment as she watched the scene that was on pause. She remembered, how much she wanted to live, how much she wanted them to just go and get knocked out.
"See what I mean? It's good that you didn't rely solely on your voice, that you still have your own body to keep you safe. But, isn't it better to have a mind, body, and soul that was as one?"
"And your command, that kind of power wasn't that rare, even though yours seemed to carry much more impact."
"It's called an impose, a seasoned martial artist can even win just by uttering a single word. Imposing his will to a fist, sword, or anything he's one with, he can even affect the world."
Mr. Heller took the stick, and after he swung at the dummy, it's split in half.
"And you, my dear, have a voice that can make the world tremble." He said after doing so.
After being explained about the concept, Yeri immediately understood. That she can still improve herself. That there's a better way to fight, without endangering herself. That there's an equipment need repairing.
As the footage was continued, it showed the grotesque scene of people's necks being twisted. It showed how some punks noticed BackDrop's presence and hit him haphazardly. It finally showed, how he got his chest crushed by the owner.
The footage ended when BackDrop was being mauled by the owner, the camera seemed to have been crushed together with the wearer.
"I guess I should check up on him now. I'll, can I continue the training later?"
"You can, buy some fruits on the way there." Mr. Heller said as he took out duct tape from the storage.
---
Second layer of the flyover, a bus stopped at the 2 D drop point. The terminal was connected to a bridge heading towards the higher building levels.
On the bridge, one can stare down at the city below, at the small alleys that was barely getting any sunlight. And seeing above, one can see the city of glass, being bathed by light.
"Welcome to the east mid hospital, how may I help you?" The reception lady asked to a guest.
A young lady draped in black rasfur covering her shoulder, with a black dress underneath covering all the way to her knee. Her short black hair barely covering her neck was further accentuated by the black face mask she wore.
"So you're here to visit Mr. Yan, may I have your name?" The receptionist asked.
"Yeri, Yeri Schmidt." The lady said as she took out a card from her bag with contrasting colour from her black get up.
"Alright, you're now on the list of the limited guest to patient Yan." Said the reception as she gestured the lady to follow.
"Thank you." Said the lady in black as she entered the patient room furthest east of the building.
Inside the room with windows having direct views to the river of gold, the light reflected into the room was, dazzling.
"Those waters contain no gold you know? It's mostly pollutants mixed with dirt, with mutated fish that needed irradiation to be cooked. Fascinating." Yan said to the lady staring out the window.
"Hello there.." She said to the patient sitting on the bed.
"General.. Hah hah, ouch, it hurts when I laugh." Yan laid back down.
"How are you faring, basic defence officer Hao Yan?" The lady said approaching the bed.
"Hah, quit it, I know I'm the only one getting promoted, it still pissed me off. You deserved it better than me." Yan said.
Upon closer look, the patient seemed to wear chest brace, and his left eye were still covered thick with bandage.
"I thought, you broke your right hand, back there. But look at you, walking here casually just like a fancy crow." Yan said again.
"Yeah, it's still numb. But nothing's broken. And no, you do deserve the raise, your operations was done splendidly. Maybe you'll get to join the cleaner squad later, knowing your talents." Yeri said comforting the patient.
"Yeah, about that.. I think." Yan was looking down at his feet.
As he was looking down, Yeri handed something and put it on Yan's lap.
A small casket with Bohr's atomic model drawn simply.
"Isn't it your bonus? I can't take it, you take that, maybe you'll be promoted when they know you got powered up." Yan said, forcing a smile.
"Can't have you make me noodles, if you're bed ridden. Come on, take it. You dare think I, need a power up?" Yeri said leaning closer. Her black almond shaped eyes, narrowing to a slit was staring closely at Yan.
Compelled to take the over, Yan pressed the button to call the nurse.
"Then I better proceed sooner, right? I only have a couple days till weekend." Yan said finally smiling.
"Yeah, you do that. I'll be expecting a homemade artisan noodles, free of charge." Yeri said, winking while signing a zero with her thumb and index finger.
The nurses came rushing in. After being briefed by Yan, they called the doctor responsible to see through the treatment. Forms were ready to be filled, equipment were ready to be loaded, and Yan, was ready to be cured.
Yeri decided to take her leave, after giving her friend a fist bump. Her friend, waved her goodbye with smile drowned in tears.
"I'll be back." Yan said to Yeri as she left the room.
Walking in the corridor with light steps, Yeri suddenly stopped.
"Ah, I forgot to give the fruits." Yeri said as she had walked far from the patient room.