“Fun?”
“Fun.”
Fletcher gave me a look that questioned my IQ level. “Sam, luv, a bloke like Jared doesn’t change his lifestyle for ‘fun’.”
I shrugged. “Maybe I’m a lot of fun.”
Perceiving Fletcher’s theory that maybe Jared saw things a little more serious as totally idiotic, I didn’t even consider it. Instead, I got out the recruits’ files and made notes on their progress chart. I was confident that they could handle what I had planned for tonight. I was glad that Jared was having a meeting during lunch hour with Sherman because I seriously doubted he’d have got through that hour in our office without kissing or touching me and then I would’ve been one very horny vampire coach at the arena.
When I arrived at the arena the entire squad was waiting and all were rearing to go. Apart from Max – he wouldn’t meet my eyes and couldn’t have looked less enthusiastic. I might have felt sorry for him if he didn’t look like a mutinous, sulky, pouty five year old. Instantly they formed a perfect line in front of me and concentrated on sucking in any excess energy.
“I’m impressed,” I said as I reached the end of the line. “There wasn’t even the slightest spark of energy leaking from any of you. I think that means you’re ready for what I’ve got in mind. Chico, I want you to stand with Damien. Stuart, you stand with Denny. Butch, you’re with David. Max, you stand with Harvey. And Salem, you’re with Reuben. Now, take a look at who’s beside you. This is who I’ll be pairing you up with not just for now, but during the attack. I’d prefer not to have to separate you during an attack, but if it comes to that then pair up as you are now.” Everyone nodded, except for one person.
“You expect me to pair up with Harvey?” griped Max. “You know me and him don’t get along.”
I stood directly in front of Slap-head. “I expect you to not be a wanker and to push aside any negative feelings you have for who you’re paired up with. Chico and Damien aren’t the best of friends either. Do you hear them complaining?”
He spoke through his teeth. “You’re doing this to piss me off because of what happened the other night, aren’t you? Just like you fucked Jared to piss me off.”
The cheeky little bugger! I ignored the gasps coming from the others; they seemed more shocked by Slap-head’s behaviour than what he’d divulged. “So you think my life revolves around you, do you? And here was me thinking it was Commander Michaels who had the ego problem.” I spoke in a grave, cautioning voice as I continued, “Now you listen to me: Personal business has no place in this arena. If you want to make pathetic, sly remarks then you do so out of training time. Not now, not here. You don’t waste my time or the time of the rest of the squad. You got that?”
Eventually Slap-head nodded.
Again I addressed the entire squad, who I noticed were looking at Slap-head with disgust. “As I was saying, I want you to pair up as you are now. Each of you have an excellent, powerful gift but some of those are more offensive than others. I’ve paired you up with people who’ll complement your own gift. Salem, your punch can be deadly when your power is amplified so I’ve placed you with Reuben who can amplify it for you. Chico, although your thorns are great, they can be easily dodged. However if Damien is using his ability to astral project he can have them looking one way while you come up from behind. Stuart and Denny – you can both travel together as mush and molecules, and hopefully get close enough for Stuart to distract the enemy so Denny can then use his ooze or other mimicry. David, once the enemy see how profound your gift is they will want to eliminate you fast. Butch, however, can shield you both and negate any attacks away from you while you do your thing. Also, if Max can steal the senses of any vamps surrounding us they won’t be prepared for Harvey’s telekinesis.” I looked at Max with the latter sentence, driving home the point of pairing him as I had.#p#分页标题#e#
I ushered them aside before strolling to the other end of the arena. “What I’d like you to do is revise in your mind the formations we practised. I’ll just be a sec.” Tapping into the energy of the element earth, I created several boulders and walls and a few ditches. “Now for the main part of today’s training…” I opened the door to the arena and in strode Evan and his own squad of ten. Instantly my squad turned into a crowd of giddy kids. I gave them a look that told them to take this seriously. They each then straightened their posture and met the gazes of Evan’s squad steadily.