The Deviant Underground (Time Bandit) by Elisabeth Roseland

attack when she felt a sharp pain at her ankles. The next thing she knew, she hit the ground hard, her head bouncing not very softly off the concrete. She lay in the dust gasping for air; her collision with the floor had knocked the wind out of her. “What. The. Fuck?” She half coughed, half gasped through each word. Susan's head blocked Kathryn's view of the ceiling. Her blue eyes looked concerned, but she was grinning. “I thought you said you were going to bring it.” Susan held out her hand to help Kathryn get up.
    Kathryn just glared at her. “Well, I didn't expect for you to roundhouse kick me.”
    Susan's hand remain extended, unwavering. The concern had left her eyes. “That's the point. You always have to be ready for the unexpected.” She wiggled her fingers as an invitation. Kathryn begrudgingly accepted it. Susan helped her to her feet. “Seriously, though. Are you okay?”
    Kathryn slowly brushed the dust off her. The sharp pain in her head had subsided. “Yeah,” she grumbled. “I'm okay. Hey. Where'd you learn how to do that anyway?”
    Susan grinned again. “Oh, I'm full of surprises.” She brushed her hands on her shorts and slowly clenched and unclenched her hands. “Now, are you ready to go again?”
    “I guess so.”
    “Just remember,” Susan warned, “don't ever let your guard down. I'm not pulling any punches.”
    Her hand instinctively went up to the place where her head had hit the concrete. “Yes, I'm painfully aware of that.”
    “Good,” Susan said. The next thing Kathryn saw was a size eight Nike coming straight toward her face. Kathryn froze her, sidestepped, unfroze her, and prepared for the next assault, which came in the form of fist. Susan's attacks were quick, fluid, and plentiful. Kathryn really had to concentrate just to stay out of the way of her skillful barrage. Kathryn’s heart thudded, and her heavy breathing resonated in her head. Fatigue was setting in, but still, Susan kept on. Kick after attempted kick, punch after attempted punch, Susan seemed unphased by the cycle of freezing and unfreezing Kathryn was putting her through. Finally, out of desperation to put an end to the attack, Kathryn froze Susan in mid strike and gave her a forceful, angry push. Susan fell over like a domino. She lay awkwardly on her back, her legs and arms stiffly extended into the air. Kathryn finally collapsed herself, sitting down on the concrete struggling to catch her breath.
    The sound of clapping slowly filled the room. Kathryn looked up to see Jonathan smiling at her as he gave her a round of applause. “Excellent job, my dear. You withstood far more than I expected.”
    Charge strode over to her and helped her to her feet. “Yeah. I would have shoved her ass long before you did.”
    Jonathan looked down with wonder at the awkwardly positioned Susan. His gaze danced over every inch of her—the way the loop of her shoe laces remained as perfect circles in the air, the few stray hairs on her head that jutted out in impossible directions—he mentally devoured all of it. “Well,” he finally spoke. “I guess you should relieve poor Susan of this uncomfortable situation.”
    “Oh, yeah.” Kathryn grinned as she wiped the sweat off of her forehead. Suddenly, Susan went limp, and her limbs came crashing down to the floor.
    “Hey! What happened?”
    Jonathan reached down to help her to her feet. “A freeze and a shove,” he explained.
    Susan glared at Kathryn good-naturedly. “What did you do?”
    Kathryn shrugged. “Sorry, but you wouldn't quit. Besides, expect the unexpected, right?”
    Susan scoffed and shook her head in disbelief but said nothing. Jonathan and Charge chuckled. “She’s right, my dear,” Jonathan said. He paused, looked around the cavernous room and took a deep breath. “Well, I think that's enough practice for one day, don't you think?”
    “Yeah.” Kathryn groaned. She realized that her head was still throbbing. “I'm most definitely