While Ka had agreed to train the Night Walkers, he made it clear that it was to be on his terms. Those terms were: First, he would know about each of them as individuals - not from them, but from 7. He wanted to know exactly the personalities he was dealing with; what had been done to them in the Reconfiguration Facility, and their special abilities. No magic was to be used at all in this until he said so. Second, he would watch each of them go through their particular exercises to see what their skill was with their weapons of choice. Third, he would do combat with each one - again to get an idea of their prowess and non-magical abilities. Fourth, he would split them into teams based upon how their abilities complimented each other, and do combat with each team. Fifth, they would go back to the one on one and he would work with each of them to refine their skills. This way, he would see if the plan as it stood would work or if their needed to be a Plan B. He was more inclined to Plan B, which had already formed in his mind, but he told himself that he would give their Plan A a fighting chance - since this was, after all, their battle. "First, I will send 13 to you," 7 said. "She looks rather sweet and harmless, but you put two swords or knives in her hands and she becomes deadly. She is the sister of 12. !2 was experimented on, like most of the rest of us but 13 was subjected to only a few modifications...and being sterilized, of course. 13 was taken and kept as a 'pleasure girl'. She was 14 years old at the time. Trust me when I say she hates Baaloch with an exceeding passion. She won't discuss all the things she suffered at his hands but you can well imagine. In my opinion, 13 is our best warrior as far as non-magical skills go." "A girl after my own heart," Ka smiled. "Blades," he added by way of explanation. "You said she'd been modified? How?" "Don't ask me why but it was someone's idea to graft goat horns onto her skull - buds that have since grown into full-fledged horns. According to her, it's because she's as stubborn and contrary as a goat - in their eyes. She is not so with us. We are all 'family' here, which I'm sure Phosfera has told you." Ka nodded as he took a wedge of cheese, some bread and a plum-like fruit from the platter between them. "Among other things." "I envy you," 7 said suddenly. "Not in a bad way - understand. I love her. Well, we all do but I was supposed to be her mate when the time came." He scrubbed at his dark furred jaw, staring off into another time and place - happier times and spaces. After a moment of silence 7 shrugged and looked back at Ka, half smiling. "But, as we both know, I can do nothing about that anymore, and I would not subject her to such an indignity as my cold metallic hands and tortured flesh. We are all here with her and for her, but...she's alone in many ways." "She told me...about...you." Ka's brow furled and he frowned to himself. "I don't know what to say. There's nothing I can say, except that one way or another you all will be avenged." His gaze turned inside and he sat silent for a long moment. "Where can I find 13?" "She's waiting for you in the training chamber." 7 wasn't exaggerating any about 13. It was a good thing he told Ka what he did because he probably would have laughed abruptly when first laying eyes on her. The curling horns rising from her head seemed incongruous with the sweet round face. There was a hard edge and a fire in her golden eyes though. Ka introduced himself and 13 bowed her head slightly in respect. "Show me what you can do with those things." He pointed to the two short curving swords on her hips, then walked over the the edge of the room and sat down. Ka smiled as he watched her go through her practice moves. This one had a lot of potential, but she needed to learn a little more finesse and subtlety. She was good though - like a blistering tornado with those blades. "Let me guess," he said when she came to the end of her routine, "you do fire, don't you?" "7 told you?" "Nah. I could tell." He HAD forgotten to ask 7 about her magical abilities. The first hint of a smile came to her lips. "I do. I can also move like the wind." "I knew that too." He held up the thick blunt-ended wooden staff he'd brought with him. "You ready to do battle with me?" "With a stick?!" she laughed and then shrugged. "Why not?" "I once killed a man with a teacup. Don't be arrogant girl. That's your first mistake." She allowed as to how that was probably true about the teacup and being arrogant, when she found herself sprawled in the middle of the floor. Both her swords were off in the corners of the room, and the end of the staff was planted firmly but gently on her ribs, just under her heart. "Alright, you have my undivided attention, master Ka." ***** Thanks so much for your visit, your faves and comments dear friends. They are always appreciated! Glad you liked the statue. Those are kind of fun to do :) 13's outfit is "Blade Angel" by Prae (YURDigital). It's been retextured here because I just got it...long story why...but I wanted to see how it did retexture. It comes with a *lot* of really nice textures. Kind of like a female version of Euros. The boots are also from Prae and are freebies at YURDigital. Background by me in PShop. Hope you're having a mahvelous weekend! Ray