Zavier stared at the kids in turn, reviewing their data. "Sorry guys, you're too low level for me to see anything in particular that will help right now." He'd reviewed their current potential skills and there wasn't anything standing out.
"Cass, you've got some promising defensive seeds waiting to grow. And Luna," he glanced at her with a teasing smile, "well, you're a bit of a wild card right now," he chuckled. Luna's face fell slightly, but Zavier leaned forward, his tone earnest. "That doesn't mean you're not capable, it just means we've been holding you back. We've been too cautious with your training, and that ends today. You've got potential and it's time to unlock it."
He and Tess had talked about it before this and agreed that they'd been over-planning in an attempt to keep the kids safe. But it wasn't a safe world and all they were doing was holding them back at this point.
"So we're going into the woods?" Luna asked with excitement, her hand caressing the gauntlet.
"Ooooh, no," Zavier laughed, "you will soon enough, but we're going to stick to yard training for now. I'm just going to make sure it's as challenging as possible without you two getting killed straight off. I'm going to keep an eye on the skills you're practicing and becoming eligible for, and we will try to optimize your growth so that you get even stronger than us in the long run."
Tess had rejected all offers by Zavier to help review her potential paths and he would never violate her trust by looking without permission, but they'd agreed that when it came to the kids it was a sound strategy. Why have the advantage and not take it?
"So," Tess joined in, "you're going to suit up and we're going to the yard to train. The goal is for both of you to hit level five in the next couple days. If one of you hits it, don't accept until the other hits it too. The last thing we need is one of you blanking out for a second mid-fight."
"Can we go visit the Bouchards?" Luna asked.
"Maybe after," Tess said. "For now training is our top priority." She stood up and looked at them both. "Suit up. Let's go."
Ten minutes later the family was standing in the backyard, the party chat active and everyone in position. Cass and Luna were in the middle of the lawn, standing side-by-side, with Zavier about 10 feet away from them. Tess had her back to the house and was sweeping the woods, pistol in hand. Zavier glanced to the roof and saw Maisy looking down at them with interest in her eyes. She looked at him and flipped her tail dismissively before dropping her head on her paws. Zavier smiled and turned back to the kids.
"Here we go!" he said, then whistled. Rustling sounded and two Scamperers emerged from the woods, already charging the closest targets. Luna squeaked in surprise and started firing the gauntlet in a wide strafe just as Cass jumped in front of her to block their charge. One of her shots took him in the back and he went sprawling forwards just as the squirrel leapt to where he'd been, barrelling into Luna instead. Two quick gunshots rang out and both squirrels thumped to the ground before dissolving. They rushed to Cass just as Luna fell to her knees at his side, tears streaming down her face.
"I'm so sorry!" she sobbed. Zavier and Tess shouldered her aside and Tess tore his shirt open where the shot had gone through. There was an angry hole where the shot had hit but Zavier could see it had stopped when it hit his shoulder blade.
"Everyone inside!" Tess yelled but Zavier stopped her.
"No!" he said and flinched at the rage in Tess's face. "Tess, we can't heal this with anything in there. We need to get him leveled up. He has to fight through this."
Tess ignored him and pulled Cass to his feet but Zavier grabbed her wrist. The patience that was normally omnipresent in his voice was gone and his voice was harsh. "Stop! Look at his health in the interface!"
She looked confused for a second then understanding dawned.
Cassian Torres
Health: 76%
Impairments: Bleeding, right arm immobile
As they watched his health bar ticked down another percent.
"He is still mostly healthy, it just hurts like hell and is bleeding. We can't fix a hole that size, but leveling up will."
Her clenched jaw worked furiously and she was glaring at him.
"We have to make them stronger, Tess," the gentleness was back in his voice. "This won't be the last injury they get."
Her head jerked to the side as if she'd been struck and her eyes shone with unshed tears, but then she looked back at him. "Fine. But I need to get some gauze on this wound to stop the bleeding. After that we'll start again."
Zavier nodded then turned his head as he heard more rustling. "Okay, get him inside then back out here as quickly as possible. I'm going to work with Luna."
Tess slung Cass's uninjured arm over her shoulder and helped him around the house while Zavier ran to Luna. She was staring at Cass's back, eyes wide and tears streaming down her face. He gripped both of her upper arms tightly and stared into her eyes.
"Luna! Luna! I need you to pay attention!" Her eyes focused on him but still looked dazed. He looked over her shoulder and could see a patch of brown that didn't quite match the forest behind it. He focused on Luna again. "Cass will be okay. I need you to focus now."
He spun her around and she could see the Scamperer emerging from the woods. She whimpered but Zavier only lifted her arm and pointed the gauntlet at the creature. "Fire, Luna. Fire."
Nothing.
The Scamperer saw her and chittered, then it charged.
"FIRE, LUNA!" Zavier yelled.
Luna screamed and the gauntlet began to glow. The first shots went wide but she adjusted her aim and the next plowed straight into the squirrel's face. One shot followed another until they burrowed into its skull, the back of its head blowing out in a spray of blood and gore. Luna was making hiccuping sounds but Zavier didn't give her time to relax. He spun her towards him again, relieved that this time she was focusing on his gaze.
"Listen, Luna, there isn't time for this."
"I'm so sorry, dad!" Luna cried.
Zavier broke out the Dad Voice. He used it so rarely that it took immediate effect. "Luna Torres, stop panicking and focus!" Her eyes sharpened immediately and the hiccups stopped. Encouraged, he continued, "You fucked up. It happens but he's not going to die." Zavier checked the display and saw that Cass had leveled out at 71% health. "But you need to get it together. What did you learn from this?"
Both of their heads turned as they heard multiple sources of rustling. He pulled her head to face him again. "What did you learn?" His voice was heavy with desperation.
It only took her a split second to realize what he was asking. "Aim, don't fire all over the place."
"Good," he said, "and pay attention to your surroundings." He turned her around just as two more Scamperers emerged.