"You only go to the park in the evening?"
"Well, breakfast is really tight up against a class so he kinda goes… on the school grounds. Lunch we go together just us. The guys eat in the dining facility. There has been a time or two when the meal was taken to go and we just ate there. I can grow my lunch."
Chekof nodded, "We'll do that. Hit the line, get it to go, and go to the park. A beast needs proper outside time."
Lana smiled, "thank you."
"Now, your beast weapons class. What's going to happen there? Should I hang out after my class and wait for you?"
Lana glanced at Blaine, "maybe. Are you a good fighter? I was thinking of seeing if Dobin could switch to my class, he's in the other one at the same time. But in my class, Blaine has been my personal instructor to keep the beast weapons away from me, try to keep me calm. I really need the help in there."
Chekof nodded, "I'll stay behind and help you so Blaine won't get in trouble."
Blaine chimed in, "here's the thing that doesn't make sense. Yes, my grandmother would go on a literal killing spree if she knew about this but the school has no contact information for her. So, if she expressed her… distaste for this, how did that happen? Also, Dobin was attacked this morning while we were at a special PT session that Lana devised. Is this somehow actually aimed at her?"
Chekof looked at Blaine, "what do you mean special PT session?"
"Lana and I worked in the infirmary yesterday. It's her official club class on Fridays. When she saw all the injured, she sent for me to copy the doctor's ability and have all three of us healing. The school has a hazing policy where if they think you're weak, they bully you until you get strong. The first week was to determine who falls in that category. Lana literally has a medical exemption. They may view that as weak. This morning could have been a test."
Chekof looked at Lana's watch. "Are you weak?"
She looked nervous as she looked at Blaine then back to Chekof. "In some ways, I can see how some would think that." She looked up as if in thought, "understand there is no ability book or teacher for me to learn from. I literally need to study books that are often not even in print anymore. It's a hard ability to master but it's quite versatile."
"Give me a small taste?"
Lana nodded, "but a small taste is all since we are inside and I don't want to tear the room up."
Lana pointed to her feet as Chekof watched green shoots rising from the ground. They wrapped around Lana's feet, then her legs, latticing themselves, weaving in a criss-cross pattern over her body. The vines from her legs overlapped at her torso then separated off once again to cover her arms. She suddenly looked like a walking plant. She then flipped her hand out like Spider-man would and a vine shot out of her wrist. She grabbed it and demonstrated how she used it as a whip.
"Are you any good with that thing?" Chekof smirked.
She shrugged then flashed her own grin, "bullies at our school feared it."
Chekof's smile brightened his face, "hit me. If you can."
For the next 10 minutes, she tried to hit Chekof. She even brought out a second whip with her other hand and still failed. She was used to being considered fast. Now she felt slow.
Chekof stopped and grabbed both whips out of the air. "I'm impressed. You almost got me a few times. Your speed is nice and your aim with these is even better. I know they don't want abilities in the class right now but I'll talk to the teacher. There is no combat class you fit in if this is how you fight."
"Um… I can do more. Blaine has been teaching me martial arts."
Chekof smirked again.
Lana then tipped back and perfectly balanced herself with one foot flat on the floor and the other straight up in the air. Her torso a perfect 90-degree angle to her legs and parallel to the floor. She held it for about 30 seconds then stood straight up.
Both boys just stared at her. "I self-taught gymnastics and acrobatics using videos online. My brother helped me with form by watching with me and comparing it to see if I was doing it right. I have broken bones before with my kicks so I'd rather not demonstrate here."
Still looking at Lana, "Blaine, why didn't you tell me we had such a gem in our midst?"
Blaine was suddenly feeling sick to his stomach but couldn't voice what he was feeling. He wasn't allowed after all.
Paul watched the entire display until Lana left to return to her room. She'd be cooking lunch soon. Blaine told her he was right behind her. Chekof said he'd get food to go and eat in her room.
Paul was just getting ready to switch the feed to monitor for content mode when Chekof, in an extremely serious tone, "Blaine, do you know your family owns the orphanage she was brought up in?"
Blaine was suddenly alarmed. He knew what kind of woman led their family. His face went white thinking about the possibilities of what could have happened.
Chekof noticed his reaction, "do you know what your family is doing to those kids?"
Blaine gulped, "no but my grandmother is a monster who enjoys inflicting pain…"
Chekof's jaw popped as he gritted his teeth.
"How do you know that?" Blaine asked.
"I'm looking into accusations that other kids have made after getting out of there," he lied. Though they did make accusations, Chekof only looked there because the main organization he's after owns it.
Blaine looked confused. Chekof put his hand on Blaine's shoulder, "I've seen articles about it over the years. It's just a curiosity for me, really. Let's go eat."
The boys left the room and Paul was now really confused.
He looked up the orphanage name again then did a search. Nothing came up. He searched deeper in the archives section and found a whole bunch of articles starting 10 years ago.
[Orphans Experimented On]
[Orphans Tormented to Death]
[Orphans Assaulted Monthly]
Paul was able to find 13 articles. All were removed from public record. When Paul searched for it, he found the entity responsible was a lawyer for Abel Genetics. He never mentioned he was acting on behalf of the company but on behalf of all the innocent children who would hear such slander.
Paul read all the articles and backed them all up on a nanostick. A concerted effort was made to bury this. After he did this, he realized how dirty he felt reading how those children were treated and took a shower then immersed himself in his work even more. The only reason he knew Lana brough dinner was an oomlaut jumped on his head, not wanting to be ignored.
-------------------------------------------
Chekof did as he said he would and went to Lana's room with a huge box of barely cooked meat. He poked his head in to check on her then stood in the hallway outside her door and ate his food. He was done before Lana and her friends.
Chekof watched as the boys left. He could hear dishes clanking and water running. He noticed all through the meal, talking was at a minimum. He assumed Lana and Blaine explained everything before his arrival. Dobin certainly didn't appear happy when he left.
Soon, Lana and Kattie emerged from the room and closed the door. Lana had her backpack on and Kattie had her bird on her shoulder.
"Lead the way once we get outside. I'm taller than you two but you'll need to guide me."
Lana nodded. "Thank you again."
Chekof looked at her, "if you say that one more time, I'm going to tickle you until you scream."
She pinched her lips together and didn't say another word. The trio marched to the park and he was able to survey the area they now frequented.
Chekof chuckled, "I just realized I get to sit between two beautiful women!"
Lana laughed, "you get to sit next to Kattie. I spend my time growing food until my bag is full."
He nodded and took a seat after smelling the air in several directions to make sure it was safe.
"Lana, what do you think of Blaine?" Chekof was curious.
She smiled, "He's beautiful. He stepped up to help me. He didn't need to do that. No matter how anxious I have been, in his presence it seems to melt away. I feel safe with him. Why?"
He shook his head, "I'm trying to assess the motive behind this action against you."
Lana nodded, "Can you take me to the library when we are done here? I'd like to buy a few things."
Chekof nodded. "Those plants look amazing!"
Lana smiled, "thanks."
"In my room, you said there were things you couldn't show me. Can you show me here?"
"After I get done. I'd like to have a surplus of food in our room so we have food if I don't have time to grow it."
**********************************
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