The bell rang dragging the four back to their classes. They were dreading the remaining academic classes. However the combat class time approached faster than anyone could have expected.

“Today I will stay the entire class period even if I get beaten to pulp!” Art was determined to be more careful and learn as much as he could possibly learn in this one class hour.

“Just don’t go trying any of the kung-failer like last time.” Asher laughed at his own joke bust was only greeted by Art hitting his shoulder.

The two changed as fast as they could so that they wouldn’t anger their tormenting coach. She was already awaiting everyone in the gym unlike last class where she had made a dramatic entrance by slamming the door open.

Jane met them in the gym and joined the line of students waiting to hear what was planned for the day.

“Listen up. Today we are going over the basics of footwork.” Coach Winters looked about unhappy that she had yet to scare off any students. She had a personal goal top get one or two to drop every semester. ” If your opponent throws you off your rhythm you are done. Controlling the flow of a battle is dependent on how you move. Watch.”

Coach Winters got on to the balls of her feet and started a soft bounce from side to side. However as she increased her pace she was tapping her feet down three, then four, then five times between each side to side bounce. She had masterful control over her body and how it moved. “Now that control will allow me to push off and change my moves appropriately. To a martial artist with a physical enhancement like mine I need to train very carefully. For any of you who lack physical enhancement, you will need to train much more often to gain the same benefits I have.”

Coach Winters had been training for years, her muscles and ligaments had all been strengthened by her evo shot. This made it necessary for her to be careful in how she trained or else her other body parts could suffer from stress. This lesson she always made sure to pass down to students who she thought may push themselves too far.

“We have squats on the mats to start. You will all follow me through copying my steps. These are exercises to train your footing and how fast you react.” She stepped to the front of the line and started her side steps. It looked like a professional moving through a choreographed step. Not a single student was confident that they would keep up.

Art attempted a slightly faster pace in front of Asher who was followed by Jane. The three were sidestepping slowly but without error. The other students were tripping up or moving very very slow. The three of them ended up in tandem which was fairly impressive for first timers.

“Pick up your pace! If you are too slow you have already lost the battle. Your opponent would never wait for you to get used to something before attacking.” Coach Winters was watching the three in tandem wondering if they were planning this or if the three had just been working with each other for so long that it came naturally.

Art slipped slightly causing him to stop for a moment. Asher’s face pushed in to the back of his shoulder. “Ugh, man gotta keep moving.” Art shook his head apologetically but Jane had already bumped in to Asher.

The pressure of two soft mounds behind him caused Asher to instantly turn red and want to jump away. But with Art in front of him there was nowhere to go until Jane backed off on her own. “Ah, Asher why did you stop, we are only half way across the gym.” She didn’t see any problem with the situation and used him to straighten herself looking curiously at him and Art.

“Don’t tell me you are too sore from your work out this morning to keep it up, you need to make sure you are stretching well.” Jane thought that he had been the one to stop instead of Art. However before Asher could respond in any way Art already heard that Asher had been working out early.

“What do you mean started working out in the morning? You have done more training?” His voice was a bit off set. ‘I need to push harder or else I will be last.’ Art made a resolution to start his own morning training to combat Asher.

“Well, since you three have so much time to relax and chat here why don’t you all give me three laps then start over.” Coach Winters had zeroed in on their pause and decided to bring the hammer down.

The rest of the combat class went much like this. Jane and Art wondered why Asher was so silent the whole time but neither of them could figure it out no matter how much they asked or pried.

“Now the last ten minutes you will demonstrate the foot work you have been practicing. The goal will be to get past your opponent in a battle of speed. Your goal is to block your opponent from getting past you but also getting past them. The winner will be the one to tag their opponents back.” Coach Winters had adequately tired each of the students out by giving them laps as penalties when she saw mistakes. ‘This is where I break them’ Her devilish thoughts brought a wicked grin to her face.

“Look how happy Coach Winters is at how hard we are training. Let’s give this sour all.” Jane partnered up with Asher and was ready to push herself to the limit.

‘She is definitely trying to crush us.’ Asher already was dripping with sweat but now knew that Jane was again not understanding the true intentions of this evil coach. “Hisss, well let’s go. Ten minutes and i will beat you.” Asher decided there was no way to change her mind and decided to put himself in to a focused mode. He needed to win.

Jane lunged at him and made a graceful twist trying to get around him without actually touching him. He did not expect her speed even though she had seen a demonstration in their gym class earlier. Her long slender legs were very strong and added to her speed by changing the momentum to the side.

Asher used his newly learned sidestep to try to get in front of her but Jane had already gotten to his side and reached out for his back. He had already been tapped once in just a few seconds. He wildly underestimated Jane and her speed. “Asher come on, get serious. You aren’t allowed to go easy on me no matter what.” ‘He must be afraid he’ll make me feel bad.’ Jane had this thought and her heart started to grow faster. Asher was so kind.

‘I can’t keep up with her so I need to try and predict her movements’ Asher himself was thinking no such thing. Instead his mind raced while he watched Jane move in a slow circle looking for an angle to move in to. She angled her toe to his left so Asher sidestepped before she bursted with speed. He ended up directly in her line of sprint.

“Ahgggg.” Asher was tackled by Jane who could not slow her momentum. She had not expected him to throw his whole body in to line to block her. The two fell unceremoniously on to the floor. With nothing to grasp on to Jane reached her arms around the only other thing around; Asher.

Asher felt the impact of the mat behind his head but also realized he could not breath. He struggled to move only to find that his head was being forced forward towards the soft mounds in front of him. ‘What is on top of me?’ He thought this only momentarily as realization came to him. ‘Jane!’

He was still struggling to breathe but Jane also realized the situation she was in and rolled off him releasing Asher from her grasp. “That was a good catch.” She had thought he was trying to block her then caught her as they fell. Asher on the other hand knew that he had no such intention and was burning up in to a red faced mess. Asher?” Jane witnessed his growing red face thinking about the position they had just been in. She was happy to have her mask hiding her face at the moment. If Asher had seen it he would know that she was terribly embarrassed.

“You two think that you can slack here because it’s the last ten minutes!? Get your butts up and start running laps until the bell or I will make you both stay for another hour!’ Coach Winters was not having any slackers in her combat class.