2 Brooklyn James by James Brooklyn

Author:James, Brooklyn [James, Brooklyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arena Books
Published: 2012-04-28T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

Back at the compound, night has long since fallen along with the first significant amount of fresh white powder in the rugged mountainous terrain. Gina, Aubrey and Officer Sam Marks sit in front of a looking-glass encasement staring out at the moon cascading off the snow. Their object of investigation, Tony Gronkowski, completes the last of his Vigilare testing. Still suited in his black martial arts gi, his bare hands and feet now blood-tinged take turns sinking in and out of the frigid snow striking at the upright wooden makiwara wrapped in thick, dense rope. His hazel eyes coming in and out of Vigilare-mode, a part of his control training, at times they are dull, at others they reflect colors around them, most notably white, creating a spotlight of sorts darting on and off the snow.

“Hasn’t he had enough?” Gina asks.

“His body will tell him, and us, when he’s had enough,” Dr. Godfrey points out, running a consoling hand across her shoulder. He stands behind the trio, faithfully documenting Tony’s performance.

“This is what Vigilares do?” Marks asks, his intonation reverberating slight contempt.

“It’s our responsibility to know what we’re capable of,” Aubrey explains. “From the most mundane to the most extreme.”

“How’s he doing?” Marks continues.

“He’s charting new territory.” Dr. Godfrey smiles, pleased, glancing at his wristwatch.

“His stamina and tolerance are unmatched,” Gina marvels, a more profound respect surfacing.

“Does he operate independently?” Aubrey inquires.

“Ah, somewhat. Show them Gina,” Dr. Godfrey urges.

Gina stands, walking away from the window. Aubrey and Marks keep their eyes on Tony whose endurance begins to falter, his strikes and kicks now sluggish and ill-timed. Gina proceeds, moving further away from them, from Tony, barricading herself on the other side of the double-paned glass laboratory. With each measurable distance from her, Tony loses strength and focus, stumbling to his knees intermittently, clouds of condensation from his labored breathing spouting from his mouth.

Dr. Godfrey scrunches up his nose hoisting his glasses up on his cheekbones. Squinting through them, he motions Gina to return. With each approaching step, Tony grows stronger, more agile and aggressive, fully recuperating, his contact with the makiwara precise and lethal.

“You should see him when Gina engages him in Vigilare-mode,” Dr. Godfrey pipes.

“How’s it feel to know you have that much control over someone? All of us?” Aubrey asks.

“Burdensome.” Gina stands at the window willing Tony’s body warm.

“Can I try?” Marks asks, standing from his comfortably seated position beside Aubrey, aware his humanness must make him appear inept, the last image he wants Aubrey to have of him.

“It’s not recommended,” Dr. Godfrey gently lets him down.

“You shouldn’t be here,” Gina scolds softly, her conscience already troubled enough with the current events, let alone having to worry with Marks’ safety.

“He has just as much right to be here as him,” Aubrey argues defiantly, motioning out the window in Tony’s direction as she rises protectively beside Marks. “You’re already the fastest, the strongest...the center,” she hovers over the word, her discontent with her beta position festering. “Hell, now you even have a mate.

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