Gorgon

Chapter 9- Aquarius

Two years later she still hadn't mastered it. In fact she was falling behind everyone else. Gorgon had felt herself slipping behind a little bit every day. For everyone else their abilities were like breathing. They didn't even have to think about it. As the days went by she sunk into herself more and more. She watched the others becoming stronger while she argued with herself. Each part of her wanted something different from the others at any given moment. She felt like she was tearing herself apart, and still she couldn't split.

Now she sat in Ajna's office trying to explain all of this to him. "It's perfectly normal" he was saying. "You're 16 Gorgon; everyone gets a little bit confused. Everything feels like the end of the world. Unfortunately it will be worse for you. All three of you are going through this at once." Gorgon groaned. "I'm not here for the hormones talk Ajna. I know all this, and it doesn't explain why I'm so far behind everyone else."

She slumped back in her chair. "You're not as far behind as you think. Yes everyone else knew what they could do before they came here and you're only just finding that out. But you have been improving." Gorgon starting playing with the smaller items on Ajna's desk. A pen stood up on it's end. "See" Ajna said triumphantly. "Medusa's been practising at least." Gorgon groaned again. "Yes, and floating pens is incredibly useful." Ajna snatched the pen. "Maybe not, but it is an improvement. And Doppelganger tells me Euryale is beating everyone in the martial arts classes. Tan thinks Stheno's force fields are coming along fantastically. For someone who only discovered your abilities a few years ago you are improving very fast. Now I know what this is really about. You're upset you can't split yet." Gorgon nodded. "Well, I've been thinking about that" he continued. "I've asked for an old colleague of mine to be transferred here. We could do with another active member here and her son I think will be able to help you." Gorgon looked up cautiously. "What do you mean?" she said. Ajna grinned. "Aquarius is a meditation instructor. He too had trouble controlling his abilities at first and meditation really helped him. I think you and the rest of the recruits could do with learning a new skill."

A couple of days later the recruits were on their way to the gym hall. "Why do we have to do this?" Pasht asked as they walked. "What good is meditation any way?" she asked. "Well maybe it will teach you to sit still for more than a couple of seconds" Shuck supplied helpfully earning him a hit. "Shut up Shuck, you're just as bad as me" Shuck grinned. "No, I'm not!" he said "Dog's are much better than cats." Gorgon rolled her eyes. "Get a room you two" she said making the others laugh.

The laughter stopped however when they entered the gym. Sitting cross legged in front of the exercise mats was a slim man with dark hair pulled back into a ponytail. He had his eyes closed. That wasn't what had stopped the students in their tracks however. In front of him were three identical copies of the man made entirely out of water faultlessly performing a Tai Chi form. Suddenly the man opened his eyes and the water figures poured themselves into a large bowl in front of him. "Good afternoon" he said. "I'm here to teach you how to meditate."

An hour later the five recruits were sitting cross-legged in front of Aquarius. For once all of the Gorgon sisters were listening at the same time. This was something each of them could see the benefit in this. Pasht however was not enjoying this at all. Gorgon could hear her fidgeting next to her. "Pasht stop it!" she hissed opening one eye. But Pasht continued to fidget. "Pasht, stop it" Still no effect.

Aquarius watched the interaction between the girls trying not to laugh. Finally four extra arms emerged from Gorgon and one hit her roommate over the head. With that he couldn't stop and burst out laughing. "Gor that hurt!" Pasht exclaimed rubbing her head. The others however were staring in amazement at Gorgon, who after noticing her extra limbs pulled back into one body again. "Right, let's get back to it" Aquarius said finally and they started the exercise again.