Sidekick by Carl Stubblefield (10 best novels of all time .txt) 📗

“Knowing how to do something is not the same as being experienced with the same skill. You will need time to make these abilities your own and learn the nuances of how they work. Don’t let their easy acquisition make you get lazy with the work it will take to master them.”

“Hey, lazy bones, you’re finally up! Ready to train a bit?” Aurora’s voice sounded in Gus’ head. Looking over he saw he had left his mic channel activated last night.

“Yes, let me get ready though. Meet you at the arena,” he said and clicked off the mic. He’d have to be careful not to leave that on, wondering what he had been inadvertently broadcasting to her unawares. Looking in the mirror, he saw that he was looking a bit rough around the edges. His hair was a mess and his facial hair made him look like he was a contestant on Survivor. He took a quick shower and dressed equally quickly.

He ran into the arena and skidded to a stop. Aurora was already there, highlighted by the bright light shining down on the arena. She was practicing against some of the pillowbots there. Form-fitting spandex left little to the imagination as she flitted around, fighting multiple attackers. Her hair whipped to the side as she jumped and planted a foot on the chest of one attacker, springing off and simultaneously kicking the face of this pillowbot. Using the face for support, she launched into an aerial roundoff and landed on the shoulders of another. She trapped its head between her thighs and spun, flinging the figure to the ground as she punched the back of its head all the while.

As another pillowbot reached for her from behind, she rolled forward, timing a donkey kick perfectly into the crouching figure with a loud crack. In short order, she had taken down the three attackers, and she stood and waited for the scenario to reset. Brushing her hands off, she assumed a sparring stance and saw Gus for the first time.

Closing his mouth just in time, he stood there and gave her a slow clap. A chime sounded while Gus slowly approached the arena. “Aurora… You… I mean, that was amazing! You’ve got to show me how to do that!”

She moved to the side of the arena, rearranging her hair back into a ponytail. “I’ve seen you practice, now let me see what you can do against something that fights back. Then I can figure out what to show you first.”

Gus got ready and the attackers rushed him. Without thinking, he tried to do the same attack he had just seen Aurora do. Surprising them both, Gus managed to mimic the kicks on the first pillowbot. His roundoff was less stylish and ended with him crashing into the other attacker, but still knocking it to the ground. He felt a TimeSight warning but was already rolling forward and his donkey kick connected with a satisfying crunch. He stomped the last pillowbot he had crashed into in the head and it stopped trying to get to its feet. Looking to the side of the arena, it was Aurora’s turn to have her mouth hang open.

“Where did you learn those attacks? I thought you just got your powers!”

“Just now, I guess. I realize it wasn’t as graceful as yours, but I’m surprised it worked at all.”

“You got that all from just watching one time? No way. Here, watch this and try to copy what I’m doing.” Aurora went over to the console and entered some parameters. The pillowbots changed formation and froze until Aurora started her attack.

With inhuman speed, she sped toward one of the attackers. Getting close, she swayed to one side then abruptly spun in the opposite direction, rotating around behind the pillowbot as it attempted to punch where it thought she would be. She clasped her arms and braced them around the head of the pillowbot in a choke hold. Gus wondered if this would have any effect on the construct, but it must have been programmed to respond the same way as a normal combatant because it flailed about, trying to get her off its back. She was able to pull the pillowbot backward while maintaining the hold, keeping the pillowbot bending backward like it was in a perpetual limbo contest. With a heave, she moved the body of the pillowbot between her and the other attackers. At last, the pillowbot stopped struggling and Aurora picked her next target.

Instead of letting the pillowbot drop to the ground, she lifted it up then kicked it in the back towards one of the other pillowbots. It flailed limply toward the attacker, causing it to jump backward. The distraction was all she needed to slink toward the other pillowbot and she unleashed a flurry of punches. It reminded Gus of someone using a speed bag with how quickly her arms were pistoning into the face of the pillowbot.

The hapless bot raised its arms like a boxer to shield itself from the onslaught and she sidestepped, ducking slightly behind and planting her forward foot along the instep of the dazed pillowbot. She then braced her back foot in the same fashion on the other leg and sunk into the splits with a sudden crash. She caught herself before touching the ground but the pillowbot was not so fortunate. The shift in its center of gravity caused it to topple to the ground and she rolled over and ax kicked the prone form right in the neck, and it rose no more.

The last pillowbot was wary and kept its distance, waiting for her to make the first move. She changed stances again and charged the last pillowbot. It fled, and Gus laughed a bit as she chased the cowardly pillowbot. It had to slow around the fallen forms of its comrades, and Aurora was able to grab one arm. Jumping up, she straddled it sideways, carrying it to the ground. Rotating in mid-air, she