Speed bag and dumbbell

Breyn's arms were tired, but she didn't want to stop. The exercise helped her focus, helped her vent. Helped her not think about that monster crawling around in her head. She couldn't even call upon the 'one-mind' for help. “How could I have been so stupid,” she chided herself.

She found a weight room, and had been working out for the last half hour. Working out felt good. “One-Two-Three,” she said, punching the bag in front of her. It rattled backward and forth to the rythem of her beating. She forced herself to pick up speed. She wanted to go faster and faster, letting loose upon the hanging bag. Da-da-da, da-da-da, it went, playing like music to drown out the voice in her head, her own.

Her mind went back to the incident. She wanted to observe the monster from a safe distance. That's all, but he detected her. He knew she was there. That monster knew she was hiding, but he found her and invaded her mind. He took her like she was a rag doll. Her rage picked up along with the speed at which she flung her fists, a blur if anyone could see them at all. She punch a heavy blow to the speed bag, and that knocked it off its mount. It went flying across the gym and behind other equipment.

She felt Dru's presence before he arrived. She did not wait patiently for them. She huffed and picked another speed bag hanging a few feet from the now missing one and began to rapidly toss punches.

“You could have been a Yogan,” Dru said.

“What do you want?” Still punched at the speed bag.

“You've been blocking me,” he accused.

“Yea, so?” She feigned ignorance.

“I think we should talk about this.”

“No,” she said in the most final voice she could muster.

“You did good out there,” he complimented.

She couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic, but assumed it was to just get her talking. It worked, “I screwed up. I should not have been anywhere near that place.”

“No, no. We didn't know what we were up against. The three that were sent after him...”

“You mean Jueqel and the Yogans,” she said smartly. She stopped punching, turned and faced Dru.

“Yes, those three,” Dru agreed. “They were in just as much danger as you. We don't know what would have happened if the whole thing had been allowed to played out. Unfortunately, Karden got away.”

“How can something like that exist?” she asked, expecting an answer.

Dru studdied her, “you know the answer to that question.”

She did know. This monster was as strong as Dr. Oragwain. “It can't be him.”

“No, I don't think it is him.”

“But he's like Oragwain,” she said.

“You never actually got to meet the doctor,” Dru said. “You only have what you know from the 'one-mind' memory, which is almost good enough. You know you're mothers would be proud of you.”

“Are you trying to change the subject?”

“Just a little, I guess,” Dru admitted.

“Doctor Oragwain? Was he as strong as Karden?” She asked.

“If you will let me in, I will try to find out.”

“No,” she said immediately. She didn't want anyone in her head right now. It was too sensitive and too early. She might end up hurting anyone inside.

“We've got to find this monster before he kills again. I'm afraid he may have already.” He picked up a five pound dumbbell and held it out in the palm of his hand. “Can you hold this with your mind?” He challenged her.

There was nothing to think about, she called her inner strength that allowed her to move objects with her mind. Invisible hands reached out to hold the dumbbell. Dru released and it went to the floor, but she was able to bring it back up with a quick telekinetic reaction. She couldn't help but smile at him. Dru wanted her to focus on her abilities, and not herself, she realized. “Yes, I will let you in.”

Dru nodded and shimmered out of the room.