Hidden

Turns out adaptive resistance is mission speak for the ability to read an opponent's moves and counter them at the same time. Being able to gauge someone's techniques like that is enough to make my head spin. No wonder Nuri is so good with combat. Though, I still believe that she'd be good at it without the serum. After inhaling the better part of a feast, I was able to get my legs under me again for the rest of the day.

I'm split between being glad that these special training sessions are only going to happen once a week and worrying about not progressing fast enough. The team won't exactly be able to take me out there with them if I can't control it. However, Ryan told me I was better at it then he was on his first day, and I don't think he'd lie to me no matter what we are to each other.

Regardless of our training time, he wasn't able to see me last night one on one because they put him right back on a night shift. I have so many questions about so many things that I want to ask him. Not to mention the fact that I'm slowly getting addicted to the feel of his arms around me. I'd gladly let him carry me around anywhere if we could have anything that resembled privacy in this place.

This morning I was surprised that I didn't have any residual effects from Ryan's training. Archer was at my door as usual, well, since Fin came back from detachment anyway, to walk me to breakfast. I doubled my normal selections trying to take Ryan's hurried advice that I needed to eat more whether we were training or not, so it wouldn't hit me as hard next week. I try to remember what he consumed at lunch last week and realize that I didn't really notice one way or the other. I was too wrapped up in myself at the time to see something like that.

Before Archer and I link up with my friends, I pull him into an alcove. There's at least one answer I can get today if I'm lucky. "What skill set do you have?"

His eyes dance, "You know we aren't supposed to talk about that Sammy. You can get in trouble for even asking." He wags his finger at me dramatically.

Slapping his hand away, I roll my eyes, "Guess that means you didn't get anything, huh? Ryan did say it only worked on certain people."

"That won't work." The red climbing up his neck tells me the opposite.

"I guess that's why Nuri could take you down even with the barrier in place. Makes sense if you think about it."

Archer's teeth grind together, "Clearly, you didn't get a thimble's worth of perception. Can't you put it together?"

I have no idea if they have a different term for it, but I look up at my brother and say the only word I've got for it, "Strength?"

"Among other things." With that cryptic answer, he tugs me out of the alcove and toward the tunnel.

Nuri keeps her eyes focused on me when she would usually be looking at Archer like he's her next meal. Playing this game with him seems ridiculous after what we learned yesterday, but I guess we're all going to deal with it in our own way.

"Spitfire." Archer's voice stretches out his name for her.

She tosses him a glance over her shoulder, "Archer."

"Take care of her today." He signals me with his chin like I'm some sort of invalid which is ridiculous because I haven't stumbled once on our way here.

Before I can speak up for myself, Nuri narrows her eyes at him, "Did I miss something? Because the last time I checked, I don't take orders from you. More importantly, she's strong enough to take care of herself." Linking my arm with hers, she takes long strides to get us away from him. "What an ass." She says loudly enough to ensure he hears her say it.

"Tell me what you see in him again?" Nuri arches an eyebrow at me and has enough mischief in her smirk to make me backpedal. "On second thought, I don't want to know."

Laughing wildly, she wiggles her eyebrows at me as if to confirm that her comment about Archer was both an insult and a compliment. Michael is waiting for us outside the door when we get there. The revelation about his skill set seemed to rattle him the least out of all of us. If anything, he seems pleased about it. Our new schedule doesn't have a lot of down time on it, but I wish we had the time to talk to each other on our own somewhere that wasn't tracked by the Elders. I'd like to know how they really felt about all of this.

Tension is running high when we walk in together. Oliver is standing toe to toe with Marcus and even though Marcus is usually the one with a short fuse, he looks almost calm. Like Oliver isn't any more intimidating than an insect. At our entrance, Oliver draws himself up to his full height, "Approve the switch, or I'll find a new mission team."

Nuri stills beside me. My hand twitches, but I don't reach for her. Not now. Not here.

Marcus responds so pleasantly I wonder if someone has switched him out like a changeling. "Rick assigns the pairings based on skill sets. You know that. You also know that any other team wouldn't get you what you want."

Color drains from Oliver's face. Marcus clasps his shoulder, "Look man, we are all dealing with this shit. We lost her too. If you would just-"

Oliver rips his shoulder away so that Marcus' hand is holding nothing but air, "You didn't lose what I lost." His words are more like a harsh growl. Marcus hangs his head as Oliver begrudgingly crosses the room to stand in front of Nuri. Instead of talking to her, he merely grunts and motions her over to the side of the room they use to warm up together.

As Michael and I start stretching, Marcus' words replay in my head: Any other team wouldn't get you what you want. I could get a migraine just from trying to put all of the pieces together. Maybe if I had all the pieces to begin with I could have more answers than questions.

                                                                                             ***

"Who was Oliver's partner when you were on my team?" Archer looks less than pleased with this question.

He takes his time chewing his food and begins pushing the rest of it around his tray before he answers me, "That's not information you need."

Fin looks at him gobsmacked. Since when does Archer truly care about the rules? I take a deep breath and try again, "He tried to switch partners on Nuri today, and we don't know why. Marcus said something about them losing her too. Who was she?"

At Nuri's name, Archer's head lifts up, and I can tell he spots her at her normal table across the hall. Something flits across his face. Fin speaks for him, "He isn't allowed to discuss this with you, Sam. You'll know when you need to know."

Linc chooses this moment to drop into the seat next to mine, obstructing Archer's view of Nuri. "Why so glum, Hargroves?" No one answers him, and he resorts to rubbing the back of his neck in the wake of the uncomfortable silence.

I take pity on my brothers and Linc who might as well be family. He has always had unofficial access to our family dinners, but he rarely joins us these days. Elder life has its own set of obstacles it seems. He might never join us again if this is his welcome. I sigh dramatically and bump my shoulder with Linc's, "Archer's pouting because Nuri told him she'd gotten bored. She also called him by his real name today. No more Mr. Mountain."

Linc slaps the table and howls while Archer's shoulders go so rigid I think they might actually tear through his shirt. Meanwhile Fin buries his face in his hands to either hide his own laughter or contemplate disowning all of us. Maybe a little of both.