Lana and Blaine saw Sergeant Kodiak knock on her door. Just as Kattie got to the door, so did Lana.
"I'm looking for Cadet Plantwell, Lana," he stated in his strange voice.
Lana shrank into herself. Dobin heard the voice and knew who it was instantly. He quickly came to the door as well.
Sergeant Kodiak turned to Lana, "I am to bring you and an escort to Doctor Cotidie Cogito"
"I'm confused. We just came back from the doctor. Why do I need to see another one?"
"Sergeant Tanaka referred you based on today's Beast Weapons class."
Lana instantly looked terrified.
Dobin asked, "do you want me to escort you?"
"You need to study and Kattie will need to take Sven out soon and will also need an escort."
"I got you," Lana heard from behind.
Lana smiled softly without looking back. To Sergent Kodiak, "I guess… I guess I'm ready…" Her whole body was trembling at the thought of where they were going.
"Come with me," as he turned toward the fire doors to exit the building. Lana followed with legs of jelly and a boy her age who wore a concerned look on his face.
The doctor's office was on the second floor of the administrative building, just above Doctor Tall's infirmary. Sergeant Kodiak told Blaine to have a seat outside the door and gestured for Lana to enter. She gulped and with trembling hands she turned the knob. She held her breath as she opened the door.
Sitting opposite the door, behind an antique mahogany desk was a dark-haired, broad-chested man with stern eyes but a kind smile. Lana instantly didn't trust him.
She looked back at Blaine with tears in her eyes while Sergeant Kodiak glared at her. She took her hand off the door and somehow managed to make her way to the desk. She had no memory of how.
"Please have a seat, Cadet."
She fumbled getting into the chair but she finally succeeded somehow.
"Why are you so nervous, Cadet? Do you know why you're here?"
Trembling like a leaf, eyes wide, she opened her mouth to answer and nothing came out.
"You need to understand, Cadet, Beast Weapons is a requirement. It's important for you to be versatile on the battlefield. The class is only four weeks, not counting weekends. You've got this. Tomorrow, I want you to pick a weapon, a blunt one and give it a try."
Lana closed her eyes as panic started to set in. She couldn't stop it and her breath was taken away. All she could think to do was scream. A bloodcurdling sound escaped her throat hurting her ear drums as well as those nearby. Blaine came running in despite the Kodiak sentry. He found Lana in the corner again, with vines getting ready to run up her legs again. She was still screaming but Blaine rushed in anyway. He grabbed her up off the floor and pushed her against the wall, wrapping her legs around his waist. He held her tightly to her and whispered in her ear, "I'm here."
Lana broke down in tears, sobbing uncontrollably, "there was so much blood… So much blood…" He held her tightly and allowed her to cry.
He pulled her way from the wall after the sobbing slowed a bit and held her bridal style turning so his back was against the wall instead. He slid down and just held her until she was done crying.
The doctor never moved from his seat. He simply observed what was happening. When she finished her cry, the doctor pulled out his computer, did a bit of typing and her ID made a ding sound. Blaine looked at the ID and noticed she now had a medical exemption from using beast weapons.
Holding her tight, "Is she exempt from the class as well?"
"No. Beast weapons also teaches martial arts. Sergeant Tanaka stated she has an affinity for the arts and should learn. I'll discuss with him what happened here tonight and see what suggestions can be made."
"May I ask your name and how you're so close to her? Are you Dobin?"
"I'm Blaine Abel. I actually met her in Beast Weapons class today. I have a brother who has … issues. I'm often asked to help him calm down. I sang to her the way I do him and it helped her."
"Do you mind if I give you special permissions to accompany her? I'm thinking her brother should also have them." Blaine heard tapping on the computer and a ding on his ID. At the same time, Dobin heard the same sound and noticed a change on his ID. He was quite puzzled what his sister was going through to see such a change.
Blaine chuckled, "I didn't even say yes…"
The doctor smiled, "It didn't look like you would say no."
"Well, the problem with this annotation you put on here. For both of us, while it's doable for most of the day, she needs to be in Agricultural Club. It's paramount for her ability. Dobin and I are needed in Elemental Club. We need to grow our own abilities. I also think her roommate Kattie needs to be added. They live together."
Barely audible, "Kattie escorts me to the library and I help her take Sven out…"
"Did you hear that?" Blaine said to the doctor. He heard the doctor typing.
"Now, I need you to escort her back to her room. I'll talk to Sergeant Tanaka. You are to report to Best Weapons as normal tomorrow and Sergeant Tanaka will talk to you both there."
Blaine nodded, "are you okay now?"
Lana nodded, "I need to go do my meditation…"
Blaine nodded and helped her to her feet. After getting to his feet, he escorted her from the building and marched her back to her room. Everyone was still waiting there. They all looked at her face. Lana looked at all their faces.
"Blaine, could you tell them? I just want to stand under the hot shower. I need to." Lana's eyes pleaded with him.
He nodded. She grabbed her uniforms from the machine. She threw them on her bed, grabbing just what she needed and headed to the bathroom. When she came out, 30 minutes later, only Kattie, Dobin and Blaine remained.
Dobin was first to speak, "I had a feeling today wouldn't go well. That doctor sounded like a monster. Are you okay?"
Lana nodded. "I did some thinking while I was in there… My team, whoever is brave enough to enter battle at my side will be using beast weapons." She took a long, deep breath. "While the idea of me touching them is out of the question, I need to at least be okay with them being around me. I need to trust those around me with them."
They all nodded in agreement with her. "So, what do we say to Sergeant Tanaka tomorrow?"
"There're too many weapons in that room. Maybe see if we can spar in a corner or something?"
Blaine nodded. "You got it."
"Dobin, how are your studies of your ability going?"
"I'm more worried about you."
Lana chuckled, "I'm not."
"Kattie, is Sven good for the night?"
"No, we need one more outing soon." She looked at her watch, "should probably go now to make curfew."
Lana nodded. "Let's go now. I'll do what I need to once we get back."
Blaine piped in, "we'll all go. Just for tonight."
Lana wanted to fight but didn't have the strength. She simply nodded and grabbed her backpack after putting on her boots. They were back 30 minutes from curfew. The boys said goodnight and Lana went to the kitchen.