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Stories from the Verse
A Dozen Verses
Chapter 53: Kondor 273
Table of Contents
Previous chapter: Slade 268
Over the next several months Kondor and Zeke spent most of their time in training, in gyms and on tracks and courses that were closed to the public. They rode a variety of motorcycles, large and small, both to get practice in the variety of vehicles they might encounter and to experiment with what worked best for them.
Similarly, their martial arts styles were customized to their particular strengths and what they had already learned. Zeke being small and wiry was trained in a fast fluid style that built on what he already knew. Some of this was Wing Chun Kung Fu as it focused on rapid punches. The relaxation techniques helped, and the odd movements made for unusual sore spots in his muscles. He was also taught to use a knife and, at his insistence, a sword which meant he had a HEMA, Historic European Martial Arts, trainer. After several months of training he was given one of each especially crafted for him. Kondor, larger and more muscular, was put into strength training and taught to use that in slower more solid strikes and kicks and throws. He was also taught to use a knife and ultimately provided with one customized for his use, but there was less emphasis on this for him. His trainers were a Krav Maga-using IDF (Israeli Defense Force) sergeant who told him straight out that it’s a developing art, and not so good against a trained expert, but it's meant for soldiers with weapons in actual battle, and a tiny little Thai man who spat nuts all the time, and shocked Kondor speechless one time by knocking out with one kick an American SEAL who was being mouthy about his training.
When their weapons were returned they were provided with more bullets for their guns. Kondor was brought in to spend a few hours explaining the operation of the kinetic blaster and its accompanying power packs to the technical staff. Although they had seen similar equipment in the past, they had never had a verser who actually understood how it worked.
A tailor came by and measured them for some new clothes, and so they were issued a couple of rather fine suits, but these hung in their closets as they were both more comfortable in their combat fatigues, and managed to get a few new sets for Zeke. Kondor also received, unexpectedly, a British army officer’s uniform marked as captain and doctor with a few added features which he decided he had better learn. One was a valiant service award, three were levels of marksmanship, and two were for duration of service. He also received a written commission and some paper certifications to accompany the awards. Zeke already had his dress uniform, and it made him a lieutenant in the army of the United States of America, which in his world called itself United (not America), but wasn’t particularly different otherwise, but that the flag had forty-nine stars on it.
They also spent time on the private firing range, where they rarely saw anyone else and those they did encounter were apparently top level British law enforcements and military intelligence who did not engage in small talk. With an inexhaustible supply of ammunition they both were able to improve their already notable abilities with their guns, including Kondor’s blaster. He usually started with the blaster and went through all three power packs, then worked with the rifle and the pistol while the power packs recharged, then ran through the powerpacks again before calling it a day. He could go through sixty shots rather quickly even with the power pack changes, but waiting for the packs to recharge was the time consuming end of the process. He set the targets at two hundred feet, which was an extremely long range for the weapon, but he was getting better at it from use and practice.
Seasons changed, although with the London weather Kondor was never entirely sure when they changed or what month it was. But he did learn to carry an umbrella. The training intensified. They were doing tight turns, obstacle courses, and stunt jumps on the motorcycles, and were both comfortable with them. Eventually they were issued custom bikes crafted to suit their individual styles and abilities and needs. Kondor’s included a detachable trailer that could be released by yanking a lever near the fuel tank, so that if necessary he could drop it while driving and not have to stop to remove it. Zeke’s just had large storage bins on the back which were sufficient for most of his gear.
Kondor was beginning to think that this world was ultimately just going to be about training for the unexpected which never came, but then something unexpected came.
As to the old stories that have long been here:
