Death's Twilight Page 9

  ****

  In the final stage of her routine, Hotaru was suspended in the Iron Cross. In the years perfecting this move, she was now holding the position for sixty seconds, a feat she was sure no one else could do.

  Breathe in. Three.

  Breathe out. Two.

  Breathe in. One.

  She swung through her final movements, and dismounted, with only a single flip and a slightly sloppy landing due to a previous knee injury. She grabbed her towel and began to dry off. No applause this time as the College's gym was empty. It was always empty.

  Hotaru dropped her towel, and reached down to pick up her headband.

  "Lights off." She commanded the room's AI interface. The room became instantly dark

  Affixing the headband over her eyes, she stood in the center of the room, arms limply at her sides, breathing slowly.

  She brought her left leg slightly out, raising her hands in the Part The Wild Horse's Mane form. Flowing slowly, she passed through White Crane, Brush Knee, and Play The Lute in her progression through her twenty-four-form Tai Chi routine. Everything was completely still in the room except for Hotaru's graceful moves. Over the next four and a half minutes, Hotaru flowed through her routine, seeking center, and mastering her breathing.

  She finished the first set of forms, and accelerated into a faster, more aggressive set based on combat styles. She executed with flawless precision, sometimes coming within five centimeters of equipment as she moved through the forms. She ended with Cross Hands and Closing, and slowly removed her headband. It was soaking wet.

  "Lights on."

  The lights slowly came on, and Hotaru could see a flashing red light on her Tablet. She had work again. Walking back to her Dwelling, she accessed the Tablet's memory to find out her mission.