The lessons with Brin were tedious. Patience was never Alex's strongest quality, but all she had in the bunker was time. And, thankfully, very willing training partners. The others had turned it into a game once they realized how much Alex was actually wanting to learn.

Years of sedentary living were being broken down day by day. Cicero would watch from the sidelines, though she had to bite her tongue to keep from making a snide remark about how she wouldn't be so sore if he had just let her train in the first place.

You would think it would have helped improve my chances of survival, Alex thought sourly.

"Keep focused," Ace said, voice muffled. He reached over and tapped a finger to Alex's elbow.

His movement was a reminder to tighten her form. Alex adjusted her stance and grip on the pistol. Trigger finger parallel to the weapon until she was ready to fire. She relaxed her shoulders and waited for the target to come into view.

The small booth they were in allowed them a view out over a range that mimicked the desert of the outside. It wasn't exactly like the sensory room with the beach, as it only tricked the senses of sight and sound, but it was a useful training aid nonetheless.

"Don't overthink it, you've been practicing this." Ace stepped behind her, the toe of his boot sliding her left foot slightly out.

She inhaled sharply. The targets drifted into view from behind a large boulder; shapes designed to look like indistinguishable people. Their paper white outlines were clear against the sandy colors of the background.

Alex pulled the trigger, lining up with each target as it crossed the horizon. They were positioned at different heights and spaced at uneven intervals. Each one required her to adjust her stance.

The targets disappeared from view, rolling off beyond into the false desert. Alex made sure the safety was on before she placed the pistol down on the table in front of her. She dropped her hearing protection around her neck.

"You make it look so easy," Alex said with a smile.

Ace shrugged, tugging down his own hearing protection. He leaned into a button on the wall beside him with his left hand. "It just takes practice."

They both turned back to the range and watched as a wire pulled all of the targets back into the room. Lined up for them to review, it was clear that Alex still needed the practice.

"Yikes." Alex sucked in air loudly through her teeth. She pointed to a target to the far left. "I'm not sure I would have even fought off that guy."

"You were too focused on the next one," Ace said. He folded his arms and looked over the targets like he was considering an animal for purchase. Every choice she'd made was under scrutiny. "It's not so much your form anymore. I think you have that down." Ace shook his head and pressed the button again.

The wire carried the targets off out of the range and returned the room back to its empty state.

"I'm a horrible student," Alex sighed out. She placed a hand on the table in front of her and eyed the pistol with disappointment. "This is what I get for letting everyone else protect me for so long."

"Oh, stop complaining," Ace said. He slapped a hand to her arm, and she winced from the hit.

Rubbing her bicep, Alex stood up straighter. "Now you're just kicking my ass like your Keeper. And Brin."

"And Cicero?"

Alex rolled her eyes, catching herself mid-action. She hadn't realized she'd done it until Ace gave her a smug look. "What? He would never kick my ass. Cicero wouldn't even let the ground kick my ass if I tripped over a rock."

"Maybe that's your problem," Ace said.

An eyebrow raised. "You want Cicero to kick my ass?"

Ace laughed and shook his head. "I'm saying that you ran away from him the first time you came into the training room with Brin. He seems like he genuinely wants to help now. Maybe you should let him. You've always gotten too much into your own head. It's clear that something's bothering you."

"What's bothering me is that I liked it better when you were annoying," Alex toyed. "I'm not sure I like this serious vibe the bunker's been giving you." She gestured over Ace with a casual wave of her hand.

He slapped her arm down and blew air through his nose. "Don't worry, you won't get this side of me very often. But, I think you could use a break before we try this again."

Alex plucked the pistol off the table and unloaded it. She checked the chamber for another round before loading the magazine and weapon into a small case they had set to the side.

"You sure you don't want to get any practice in?" Alex asked as she locked the case shut, careful to not pinch her fingers.

"Nah," Ace replied, turning to open the door for them. "At this point, there's no difficulty level left for me to even be challenged at."

"Alright, show-off," Alex said. 

She walked under Ace's arm and back into the training room, looking out over the mostly empty space with a generous sweep of her eyes.

The main sight that drew her attention was Cicero. He was sparring with Rollo; the two exchanging methodical hits with bo staffs. They spun around each other like they were in a dance. Each move was made with precision.

Alex and Ace crossed the room toward the mats. Their slow steps were almost in time with each snap of wood meeting wood.

There was a rack of weapons lined near the mats. Extra bo staffs, a rainbow of light and deep browns, gleamed against the lights overhead. Alex watched Rollo and Cicero continue their movements before unconsciously reaching out and grabbing one of the staffs.

She was twirling it at her side before she realized what she was even doing.

"You want to spar?" Ace asked, holding on to the pistol case with obvious consideration of where to put it.

Shaking her head, Alex glanced up and saw that Rollo and Cicero had stopped practicing. They were both looking at her, sweat dotting their foreheads and deep inhales and exhales steadying their breathing.

"I thought you were taking a break from any cardio work today," Rollo said. She looked between Alex and Ace, leaning on the staff for support.

"I have some extra energy to burn," Alex replied.

Rollo smiled. "Okay, I'm always game for a little more training."

"Actually," Alex started, "I was hoping that Cicero and I could do some training together." She looked over at Cicero with a hopeful look. It wasn't like she thought he was going to turn her down, but there was a hesitation to her suggesting that they spar.

Cicero's face lit up almost instantly. "Yeah, of course. I can't say I'll be a better teacher than Rollo, but I'll try my best."

The two Keepers turned to one another and bowed before Rollo left the mats.

"I think he's a fine teacher," Rollo said over her shoulder as she hopped down toward the weapon's rack. She replaced the bo staff to its proper location after wiping it down.

Alex sat down and took off her boots and socks. She wiggled her toes out before jumping back up to her feet. The mats were soft but firm under her feet as she walked over to face Cicero.