The Hunt for the Ghostkeeper

Chapter 18: Exportation

"Ah, I'm glad you could make it," Hollingsworth said, standing up from one of the two mahogany chairs which were in front of Circire's desk. 707 entered the small, circular office, which was lined floor to ceiling with bookshelves packed with copious volumes.

"This is Official Xavier," Hollingsworth said, gesturing to the broad-shouldered woman in the second mahogany chair. "She is the Head of Weaponized Mechanics for the Council." Xavier nodded to 707.

"A bit small for training, isn't it?" Mason asked, barely able to move with seven other people standing around him.

Hollingsworth simply smiled and waved her hand across the empty air above Circire's desk. Immediately, the wall behind the desk split into two as the curved surfaces opened up from the sides. The window of the office depicting the city streets of Paris seemed to be but an illusion as the area behind the office revealed itself as an immense rectangular room with no doors or windows. Lined along each wall were sets of weapons of all sizes and powers, and at the end of the room were rounded blue targets.

"Welcome to our temporary training facility," Xavier said with a firm voice. "Today will serve as an introduction to physical combat weapons. Chief Hollingsworth will work with you later on using your mental intelligence to battle. Eventually, we will find which engagement method works best for yourselves."

"I feel like we're Zarrius initiates," Layla whispered to Mason, who laughed and nodded.

707 examined the weapons held in display against the wall. Rose approached a metal, cage-like structure which held thin, sharp-edged silver spears taller than herself. She took one off its holdings and held it horizontally, balancing it on two fingers.

"This is called the javelin," Xavier said, taking another one off of its shelf. "One of the most ancient weapons still in use today. Shall you try?"

Rose walked back to where she entered the room, carrying the javelin vertically, and faced the targets. Carefully, and without prior stepping, Rose launched the weapons across the room. It fell quite short of the target, clattering loudly as it landed on the metal floor. Layla let out a soft chuckle, and Rose shot her a disgusted look. Xavier walked over to where Rose stood.

"The javelin is not a weapon of target, it is a weapon of distance," she said. "They are not to be aimed at an individual, but instead a general population. Simply throw it once more, but concentrate on it landing on the floor instead of aiming for the wall. There is a magnet within the point of each one, so it will adhere to the floor if launched correctly."

By now, every member of 707 had taken up a javelin and was hurling them across the room, resulting in deafening clangs of metal on metal.

"Try stepping before you throw!" Xavier shouted over the noise. "If you are right-handed, place your left foot firmly on the ground and throw the weapon."

This tip seemed to be the key to success. The javelins no longer landed parallel to the ground but instead at an angle to the floor as the tip of each spear stuck to the smooth, silver terrain and held on firmly. Rose, however, could still not master the objective.

"Perhaps it is simply not your weapon of choice," Xavier said, as 707, excited with the feeling of accomplishment, hurried on to the other instruments of war. Rose, growing impatient with frustration, crossed her arms over her chest.

"Let me show you something else," Xavier said, beckoning Rose over to the opposite wall. She opened another similar cage-like structure and extracted a small, black throwing star.

"Very nimble and flexible, as you are," the woman said. "I am observing your fighting technique. You do not approach your enemy head on, but consult your surroundings and your ability to succeed beforehand. You think of the target before you throw the spear. A very wise tactic, but hesitation is not always welcome in war. These-" she held up the throwing star and handed it to Rose, "-are very similar. They are virtually invisible, but reach the target they seek very easily compared to a larger weapon."