Jay was awoken the next morning by the sound of knocking on his door, and before he could even sit up, Andrei's voice boomed from the other side. "Jay! Time for training! Get up!"
Jay groaned, pushing the covers off. Despite his exhaustion from the previous mission, there was no way he could ignore Andrei's enthusiasm. He dragged himself out of bed, rubbing his eyes. "Training, huh? You sure you want to put me through that?"
Andrei's response came as a loud, cheerful laugh. "Oh, trust me, you'll want this. Now get ready! It's gonna be a blast."
Jay reluctantly nodded, moving to get dressed. He had seen Andrei in action enough times to know that his training would be no walk in the park. The question was: what kind of challenge was Andrei going to throw at him today?
When Jay stepped out of his room, Andrei was already waiting outside, bouncing on the balls of his feet like a kid before a big game. "Come on! We're not getting any younger!"
Jay rolled his eyes but smiled despite himself. "Alright, let's go. What's on the agenda?"
Andrei's grin was wide, and his eyes sparkled with excitement. "You're going to learn a few things today. And maybe, just maybe, I'll show you a trick or two."
As they walked through the base and out into the open field, Jay couldn't help but notice how different Andrei was from the others. He was always full of energy, quick-witted, and always seemed to be a step ahead. But today, there was something more to his demeanor—something serious behind his usual playful grin.
Jay tried to shake the feeling, but as they reached the center of the training field, Andrei stopped and turned to face him. "Before we start, there's something I need to tell you."
Jay raised an eyebrow. "Something serious?"
Andrei hesitated for a moment before nodding, his playful expression fading slightly. "Yeah, I guess. You've seen what I can do. I can turn anything I touch into something else. But you don't know the full story behind it."
Jay crossed his arms, waiting for Andrei to explain further. He had always known Andrei was a bit of an enigma, but there was no denying the power he wielded. Andrei's ability to manipulate matter had been a huge asset in combat, but what was the true source of his power?
Andrei glanced down at his hands, his fingers curling slightly as if lost in thought. "I wasn't always like this. I wasn't always… me."
Jay listened closely, sensing that this was a side of Andrei he'd never seen before.
"I was orphaned when I was young," Andrei continued, his voice quieter now, tinged with something darker. "I didn't have anyone. No family, no home. I lived in an abandoned train, moving from place to place, scavenging for food. It was a hard life, but it was the only life I knew."
Jay's eyes widened. He hadn't expected this. He had always assumed Andrei came from a privileged background, someone who had been groomed for greatness. But this story? It was raw. It was real.
Andrei gave a hollow laugh. "The train wasn't just some place to sleep, though. It became my home, my only constant. But then, one day, something happened. I was cursed."
Jay blinked, trying to wrap his head around what Andrei was saying. "Cursed? What do you mean?"
Andrei's eyes grew distant as if he was remembering something long buried. "I don't really know the details. All I remember is a figure—a shadow in the night. They said that I would be marked, that I would carry the curse of the train with me forever. And the next thing I knew, I could change things. Turn them into something else, manipulate them with my touch."
Jay stood still, absorbing Andrei's words. He had always assumed Andrei's abilities were just some result of experimentation or training, but hearing this... hearing the curse of the abandoned train mixed with the strange, unexplainable power, it made sense in its own twisted way.
"I didn't want this power," Andrei admitted, his voice quieter now. "But it was thrust upon me. It's been a part of me ever since. I guess it's both a gift and a burden. Sometimes, it feels like it controls me rather than the other way around."
Jay nodded slowly. The weight of Andrei's words hung in the air. Andrei wasn't just a teammate. He was someone who had survived, who had been forced into a role that he never asked for. His powers were more than just a tool for combat—they were part of the person he had become.
"I get it," Jay said quietly, finally understanding the depth of Andrei's struggle. "But you've learned to control it, right? I mean, you use it pretty damn well."
Andrei's lips curled into a wry smile. "I've had a lot of practice. But it hasn't been easy."
The moment passed, and Andrei seemed to shake off the intensity of his past. He clapped his hands together, his old enthusiasm returning. "Alright, enough of the serious stuff. Time for you to train! You ready?"
Jay smirked, the gravity of the conversation still hanging in the back of his mind, but he didn't let it distract him. "Yeah, let's do this."
Andrei led Jay into the center of the field, where a series of obstacles had been set up. "Alright, we're going to start simple. I'm going to throw a few surprises your way, and you need to adapt to them. It's about being quick on your feet, using your mind, and staying focused."
Jay nodded. "Sounds like something I can handle."
The training began, and Andrei wasted no time in using his powers to change the environment around them. What was once a simple obstacle course turned into a chaotic, shifting maze of objects, each one shifting as Jay interacted with it. A set of barrels would turn into walls, trees would turn into boulders, and at one point, the ground itself seemed to shift beneath Jay's feet.
But through it all, Jay kept his focus. He knew that this was the kind of training that would push him beyond his limits. Andrei wasn't holding back—his powers warped the environment, forcing Jay to think on his feet and react to every change. The training was a test of both physical endurance and mental agility, and Andrei seemed to enjoy watching Jay struggle and adapt.
As the session continued, Jay's movements became smoother, more confident. Andrei was a demanding teacher, pushing Jay harder and harder, but Jay could feel himself improving with every moment.
After what felt like hours, Jay finally managed to complete the course without stumbling. He stood there, panting but triumphant, looking over at Andrei, who was leaning casually against a tree, arms crossed and smiling.
"Not bad," Andrei said, a hint of pride in his voice. "You're getting better."
Jay wiped the sweat from his brow and gave a tired smile. "Thanks to you."
Andrei chuckled. "I told you, you've got potential. Keep this up, and you'll be an even better asset to the team."
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the two of them stood in silence, letting the day's training sink in. Andrei had shown Jay not only the power of his abilities but also the heart of who he was—someone who had survived, who had learned to control the chaos of his life. Jay couldn't help but feel a sense of respect for his teammate.
Andrei turned to him with a grin. "Next time, we're stepping it up a notch."
Jay raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure I can take any more 'stepping up' for today."
Andrei laughed, clapping Jay on the back. "You'll be fine. Just wait until the next round."