NOVEL NEXT Chapter 10.4: The Command Center Part 1
She helped him up. "Alright, hero. Real lesson time."
For the next thirty minutes, Rosa put him through his paces. She was a surprisingly good teacher when she focused, breaking down complex movements into manageable steps. Of course, being Rosa, she couldn't resist making it interesting.
"Now, if someone grabs you from behind—" She wrapped her arms around him from behind, pulling him tight against her. "What do you do?"
"Um..." Jin's mind went blank as he felt every curve pressed against him.
"Focus, Jin," she purred in his ear. "In a real fight, distraction equals death."
He forced himself to remember his training. Drop his weight, twist, use the attacker's grip against them. He executed the movement—and accidentally sent them both tumbling onto the training mats again.
This time he ended up on top, his hands braced on either side of her head. Rosa's chest heaved from exertion, a light sheen of sweat making her skin glow.
"Not bad," she said breathlessly. "Though your technique could use work."
"Sorry, did I hurt you?"
She laughed. "Jin, you couldn't hurt me if you tried. You're too nice." Her expression turned mischievous. "Want to know a secret?"
"What?"
"I let you win that one."
Before he could respond, she used her legs to flip their positions, pinning him effectively. "Never let your guard down, even when the enemy looks helpless."
"You're not my enemy," Jin said softly.
Something flickered in Rosa's eyes. "No," she agreed quietly. "I'm not."
[Accidental Harem Magnet - ACTIVE]
They stayed frozen in that position for a moment too long. Then Rosa seemed to realize she was essentially straddling him and scrambled back, her usual confidence cracking.
"Right! Next move!" She said too brightly. "Let's work on your footwork. You move like you're walking through mud."
She demonstrated a series of quick steps. "Light on your feet, like dancing. Come on, I'll lead."
She grabbed his hands, positioning them properly—one on her waist, one holding hers. "Basic combat footwork is just like Latin dancing. Forward, back, side, together."
"I don't know how to dance," Jin admitted.
"Lucky for you, I'm an excellent teacher." She pulled him closer. "Just follow my lead."
What followed was possibly the strangest combat training session Jin had ever experienced. Rosa taught him footwork through dance, occasionally throwing in an attack to keep him on his toes. More than once, their movements brought them dangerously close together.
"See? You're getting it," Rosa said as they moved in sync. "Combat is just another kind of dance. You need to read your partner—I mean, opponent."
"You're a good teacher," Jin said, meaning it.
"Flattery will get you everywhere, hero." But her smile was genuine. "One more thing I want to show you."
She guided him through a complex defensive sequence, their bodies moving together in perfect harmony. It required trust—leaving himself open at certain points, knowing she'd cover him.
"In a real fight, you might need to trust your teammates completely," she explained. "Even when it feels wrong to leave yourself vulnerable."
"I trust you," Jin said simply.
Rosa stopped mid-movement, looking at him with an unreadable expression. "You really mean that, don't you?"
"Of course. You're... important to me. All of you are."
"Damn it, Jin," she muttered, looking away. "You can't just say things like that."
Before he could ask what she meant, she stepped back, clapping her hands. "Alright, hero. Training's over. You've officially graduated from Rosa's School of Not Dying."
Jin opened his mouth to respond—but a soft chime echoed in his neural HUD.
________
[PHOENIX CORE SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Skill Acquisition: Emergency Evasion
Source: Combat Training – Rosalie Thorne
Skill Type: Active Combat
Cooldown: 60 seconds
Stamina Cost: 30
Description:
A rapid dash in any direction with a brief afterimage. Grants 0.5 seconds of invincibility, allowing the user to avoid attacks or reposition. Usable in mid-air or while stunned.
Skill Effects:
• Dash Distance: 3 meters
• Invincibility Duration: 0.5s
• Afterimage Duration: 1s
• 15% chance to break enemy lock
• Can interrupt stagger state
Acquisition Note:
"When you're outnumbered 30-to-1, you don't fight—you dance." – Rosalie Thorne
Current Mastery: Level 1 (0%)
• Mastery improves with use
• Reduced cooldown and cost at higher levels
• Unlocks 'Shadow Step' at Level 5
Tactical Advisory – Asha:
"This technique could save your life. Rosa taught you well—now dodge like your life depends on it. Because it does."
Mission Tag: High Priority – Survival Synergy Confirmed
[UPDATE COMPLETE]
____________
"Thank you," Jin said sincerely. "For teaching me. And for... sharing. About your past."
Rosa waved him off, but he caught the pleased flush on her cheeks. "Yeah, well, someone needs to make sure you don't trip over your own feet out there."
As they cleaned up the training equipment, Rosa kept sneaking glances at him. Finally, she spoke up. "Jin? That promise you made... about coming back..."
"I meant it."
"I know. That's what scares me." She took a breath. "Just... be careful, okay? For me?"
"I will."
She nodded, then her usual grin returned. "Good. Because I was serious about that kiss. Can't collect if you're a crawler."
Jin blushed but smiled back. "I'll keep that in mind."
Jin made his way to the command center, still feeling the warmth of Rosa's hand in his and the promise in her parting words. The bruise on his forehead from their collision throbbed slightly, which he tried to hide by adjusting his hair.
Three hours until the mission. The weight of it pressed down on him as he walked through the quiet corridors. Soon, he'd be surrounded by nightmares with only a modified baton.
The command center door stood open, blue light spilling into the hallway. Sera's silhouette cut a sharp figure against the holographic displays, her silver hair catching the ambient glow. She hadn't noticed him yet, completely absorbed in the tactical readouts floating before her.
As he approached, he could hear her muttering.
"If they cluster here, we could... no, that leaves the eastern approach exposed." She traced a path with her finger, brow furrowed. "But if Jin moves through this section... The timing has to be perfect. Seven seconds between suppression and Clara's burst, or they'll adapt."
"Sera," Jin called softly.
She spun around, hand instinctively reaching for her weapon. When she saw him, her shoulders relaxed slightly before her expression hardened into irritation.
"What are you doing here?" She turned back to the displays. "You should be resting. Or did you forget you need full strength in—" she checked her chronometer, "—two hours and forty-three minutes?"
Jin noticed Sera in the armory, scrubbing the same spot on her plasma rifle like it was the hundredth time.
"Hey, Sera? That part looks pretty clean already," Jin said, scratching his head, puzzled.
"Not even close, you dummy," she shot back, ramping up her scrubbing. "I don't just settle for 'good enough,' like some people."
"I'm pretty sure the gun can't get any shinier."
"You clearly have no idea how to take care of weapons." She reached for another cloth.
Sera's cheeks turned red. "And stop standing there, looking like a lost puppy! Don't you have anything better to do?"
"Not really." Jin sat down on a nearby crate. "Asha told me to relax, but I'm just not tired."
She continued scrubbing away at an imaginary mark on the rifle. "Quit staring at me with those... those annoyingly sincere eyes!"
"My eyes are annoying?"
"Everything about you is annoying!" Sera's hands started to shake. "Your complete idiocy, your dumb promises, your face that makes me—"
Suddenly, the rifle slipped from her hands and hit the floor with a loud thud.
"Sera?" Jin hurried over. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine! Don't touch me!" But her legs buckled, and Jin grabbed her arm just before she fell.
"You're trembling."
"No, I'm not!"
"You totally are. When was the last time you ate?"
"That's none of your business!"
"Sera..."
"Yesterday! Happy now?" She struggled to free herself but lacked the energy. "Let go, you muscle-bound idiot!"
"Not until you sit down and eat something." Jin helped her lean against the wall and pulled out a snack bar from his pocket. "Here. Rosa gave me some extras."
"I don't want your charity!"
"It's not charity! It's... friend food?"
"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!" Still, she took the bar, picking at it with hesitation.
They sat in silence for a moment before Sera spoke softly.
"Yeah, that's the plan, right?"
"Plans can change!"
"But you put a ton of work into this one."
"I can come up with a different plan! One where you don't have to—" She caught herself, her cheeks flushed. "Not that I care about what happens to you!"
"You don't?"
"Of course not! It's just... it would be a hassle if you died. We'd have to find another idiot to play bait."
"Oh." Jin's expression fell a bit. "That makes sense."
"Stop looking so disappointed!" Sera snapped. "It's not like I lose sleep worrying about you or anything!"
"You worry about me?"
"No! I just said I don't!" Her face was completely flushed now. "Are you even paying attention?"
"But you just said—"
"Forget what I said!" She took a big bite of the ration bar. "Ugh, you're so dense! How can anyone be this clueless?"
Jin tilted his head, genuinely puzzled. "Clueless about what?"
"About everything!" Sera waved her arms around. "About the fact that I... that you... that we..."
"That we what?"
"Nothing! Absolutely nothing!" She turned away from him. "Just forget it. Forget this whole conversation."
"But I don't want to forget it."
"I'm telling you to forget it!"
"You can't just order someone to forget something. That's not how it works."
"Your brain barely works as it is!"
"Asha says my brain works just fine, just differently."
"Don't bring your AI girlfriend into this!"
"Asha's not my girlfriend. She's in my head."
"I know that, idiot!" Sera's voice cracked a bit. "Just... just be quiet for five seconds!"
Jin zipped his lips and started counting. When he hit five, he opened his mouth again. "Sera, are you crying?"
"No!" But her eyes were definitely glistening. "It's... it's just dust! From cleaning!"
"Should I get Clara? She might have eye drops or—"
"I don't need eye drops!" Sera grabbed his uniform. "I need you to stop being so... so..."
"So what?"
"So you!" The words rushed out of her. "So annoyingly kind and brave and making me feel things I don't want to feel!"
Jin blinked in surprise. "Wait, I make you feel stuff?"
"The worst stuff!" Sera's fists were clutching his shirt. "Worrying stuff! Scary stuff! Those warm, fuzzy feelings that twist my chest in knots!"
"Maybe you're coming down with something?"
"I'm not sick, you absolute fool!" She looked like she wanted to shake him. "I'm—I'm—"
"You're what?"
"I'm worried you might die tomorrow because I might actually—" She stopped herself, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Actually what?" Jin asked, pretending to be clueless.
"Nothing! Let go of me right now!"
"But you're holding onto my shirt!"
Sera glanced down, embarrassed, but instead of letting go, she just gripped tighter.
"This is all your fault," she muttered.
"What did I do?"
"You exist! In my space! With your annoying face and that smile and all the rest!"
"Sorry?"
"Don't say sorry! That just makes it worse!" She shot him a glare, tears finally falling. "I hate how safe you make me feel. I hate that you trust me even when I screw up. I hate that you matter!"
"Is it a bad thing to be important?"
"Yes! Because important people—" Her voice wavered. "Important people leave. They die. They trust you, then they vanish, and it's your fault."
"Oh." Jin's expression softened. "Is this about your school?"
"Don't try to psychoanalyze me! You're not smart enough for that!"
"I'm not trying! I just think you're scared."
"I already said I'm scared! Were you even listening?!"
"No, I mean... scared that you care about us. About me."
Sera froze for a second. "That's... that's the dumbest..."
"Is it, though?"
"Yes! Totally dumb! Almost as dumb as you!"
"Okay."
"Stop agreeing with me when I insult you!"
"Sorry."
"And quit apologizing!" She was so frustrated. "Why can't you just... be normal? Get mad! Fight back!"
"But I'm not mad?"
"Why not?!"
"Because..." Jin paused to think. "Because I believe you're just worried. And when you're worried, you get a little mean. But that's cool. I don't mind."
"You should mind! You should—" Sera made an annoyed noise. "Ugh, you're impossible!"
"Asha says that a lot, too."
"Don't compare me to your computer girlfriend!"
"I told you, she's not—"
"I don't care what she is!" Sera was inches from his face now. "I just... I can't... Why do you have to be so..."
"So what?"
"So perfectly, infuriatingly you!"
Before Jin could respond, Sera pulled him down and kissed him fiercely, desperate for connection.
______
Authors thoughts:
What do you think of the Romance progression? Comment your thoughts.
Would really appreciate giving support to the novel.. like really giving it some powerstones?