1 year later
OutsideLas Vegas
Kathryn looked at the target for what seemed to be the billionth time and focused on it. The box was solid iron and was the size of her head.
Things were getting easier since that first time. Easier to push, lift, destroy and protect – with sound. Daikar was showing her everything she needed, or so he said she needed, to reach her full potential.
"But only through practice can you master your powers. But true mastery will only happen when you choose who to help for their weakness and who to punish for their abuse."
That was the key: who. For months she has been using her powers against “things” like cans, pots, pans, furniture and cars. There were a few months when the target was organic; such as apples, bushes, trees … dead animals. The effect of the powers on creatures amazed and frightened her. It was gross and disgusting what could be done. She remembered how Mark Vargis looked when he was alive and the police made sure to show her the crime scene photos of his death. She did something horrible to Mark that was beyond killing him. Nothing like what she has done to the animals though. Daikar consoled Kathryn that her power manifested through her wails of pain and suffering in its most powerful form. To reach that level of destruction used against Mark again would require skill, patience and practice.
"… when you choose who to help … who to punish …"
She has seen how her powers could bore a hole into a bank vault. Or blow apart a car from the inside out. She can make a cut a brick like a hot knife through butter or bend a knife like taffy against skin. So who would benefit from such abilities? Herself? The grocer down the street? A prostitute or her pimp? The drug dealer or the person about to get killed for not paying the dealer back? A gang? A government?
Kathryn had not decided because she was still angry and vengeful. She was also proud and excited. She was powerful and such power was intoxicating and should not go to waste.
"Know that you have a responsibility to do something with the powers that you have. You can choose never to use them. But do you want to risk an accident like before? Or you can choose to use them. But how? For good or evil?"
Even as she looked at the target she smirked at the memory of Daikar’s teachings. He always put things in black or white. Good or evil. Those concepts do exist. Her powers have forced her to accept that. But she still had not decided.
She had to do something. Words are not enough.
She raised her hands and hummed a low note. The sound waves emanating from her throat became amplified by her ability and a sonic “bubble” extended away from her, engulfing the target and half the wrecked car at her side.
Kathryn lowered her arms and stretched them in front of her toward the target. It started to vibrate then quickly stood still.
Kathryn gave the thumbs up and said, “ready.”
A bullet was fed into the chamber somewhere to her right And Daikar’s deep voice warned, “you always need to be.”
Within the next second a storm of bullets littered the area Kathryn was standing in. As the tracer rounds washed over the unprotected part of the car, sparks and shrapnel exploded away. The steel car was violently peeling away as Daikar slowly traversed the chain cannon’s metal fury across the car.
Then the bullets started to reach the sonic barrier and slowed then stopped penetrating the car yet leaving large dents. Then smaller dents until the bullets feather-tapped the wreckage. Then they reached Kathryn.
She was sweating as she concentrated. The energy needed to maintain her barrier was slowly draining from her. She was getting tired. Hurry it up Daikar or your going to kill me. The bullets tickled her as they bounced off her clothing.
The deadly ammunition passed in front of her and the air was filled with bullets as they slowly traveled inside her dispersion field. As bullets reached the iron box, they slowly chipped away at the edges then started to blast shallow craters until each bullet started to rip pieces away from it. Even within her area of protection the box was taking damage.
The shower of bullets ended and the whir of multiple barrels spinning faded.
Kathryn collapsed with exhaustion and the field dissipated. Sweat was glistening from every visible part of her skin and dripped from her nose and chin.
She looked up at Daikar who was walking toward her.
The Grand Battler lifted Kathryn to her feet and held her at the shoulders. He looked at her for a long time before saying:
“You are ready.”
Outside
Kathryn looked at the target for what seemed to be the billionth time and focused on it. The box was solid iron and was the size of her head.
Things were getting easier since that first time. Easier to push, lift, destroy and protect – with sound. Daikar was showing her everything she needed, or so he said she needed, to reach her full potential.
"But only through practice can you master your powers. But true mastery will only happen when you choose who to help for their weakness and who to punish for their abuse."
That was the key: who. For months she has been using her powers against “things” like cans, pots, pans, furniture and cars. There were a few months when the target was organic; such as apples, bushes, trees … dead animals. The effect of the powers on creatures amazed and frightened her. It was gross and disgusting what could be done. She remembered how Mark Vargis looked when he was alive and the police made sure to show her the crime scene photos of his death. She did something horrible to Mark that was beyond killing him. Nothing like what she has done to the animals though. Daikar consoled Kathryn that her power manifested through her wails of pain and suffering in its most powerful form. To reach that level of destruction used against Mark again would require skill, patience and practice.
"… when you choose who to help … who to punish …"
She has seen how her powers could bore a hole into a bank vault. Or blow apart a car from the inside out. She can make a cut a brick like a hot knife through butter or bend a knife like taffy against skin. So who would benefit from such abilities? Herself? The grocer down the street? A prostitute or her pimp? The drug dealer or the person about to get killed for not paying the dealer back? A gang? A government?
Kathryn had not decided because she was still angry and vengeful. She was also proud and excited. She was powerful and such power was intoxicating and should not go to waste.
"Know that you have a responsibility to do something with the powers that you have. You can choose never to use them. But do you want to risk an accident like before? Or you can choose to use them. But how? For good or evil?"
Even as she looked at the target she smirked at the memory of Daikar’s teachings. He always put things in black or white. Good or evil. Those concepts do exist. Her powers have forced her to accept that. But she still had not decided.
She had to do something. Words are not enough.
She raised her hands and hummed a low note. The sound waves emanating from her throat became amplified by her ability and a sonic “bubble” extended away from her, engulfing the target and half the wrecked car at her side.
Kathryn lowered her arms and stretched them in front of her toward the target. It started to vibrate then quickly stood still.
Kathryn gave the thumbs up and said, “ready.”
A bullet was fed into the chamber somewhere to her right And Daikar’s deep voice warned, “you always need to be.”
Within the next second a storm of bullets littered the area Kathryn was standing in. As the tracer rounds washed over the unprotected part of the car, sparks and shrapnel exploded away. The steel car was violently peeling away as Daikar slowly traversed the chain cannon’s metal fury across the car.
Then the bullets started to reach the sonic barrier and slowed then stopped penetrating the car yet leaving large dents. Then smaller dents until the bullets feather-tapped the wreckage. Then they reached Kathryn.
She was sweating as she concentrated. The energy needed to maintain her barrier was slowly draining from her. She was getting tired. Hurry it up Daikar or your going to kill me. The bullets tickled her as they bounced off her clothing.
The deadly ammunition passed in front of her and the air was filled with bullets as they slowly traveled inside her dispersion field. As bullets reached the iron box, they slowly chipped away at the edges then started to blast shallow craters until each bullet started to rip pieces away from it. Even within her area of protection the box was taking damage.
The shower of bullets ended and the whir of multiple barrels spinning faded.
Kathryn collapsed with exhaustion and the field dissipated. Sweat was glistening from every visible part of her skin and dripped from her nose and chin.
She looked up at Daikar who was walking toward her.
The Grand Battler lifted Kathryn to her feet and held her at the shoulders. He looked at her for a long time before saying:
“You are ready.”
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