Chapter 80 - Control - What is 1 + 1?

"Precision?" Chris said.

"I think the time when I swiped his button is still on his mind." I said to myself.

"Haha, are you answering or asking?" I said.

"Umm, ah, precision..." he still said half-reluctantly.

"That's right, in my own words, it's what you need to have over these weapons, control. You could be the strongest one or the fastest one but if you don't know how to control your own body to perform the commands from your brain that you want to achieve, it's all useless." I said.

They all give pensive looks as I continued, "For example, let's say you could throw a basketball from end to end easily, how are you confident in controlling it in a way that it always lands on the hoop? How many shots from a gun could you fire continuously and have a grouping that is only a few centimeters apart? Look, we could go on and on about the examples. What I'm trying to say is control trumps everything else. I'm not downplaying your strength or how fast you are since those are important too. There are many more variables to consider here aside from speed, power and control... but- Mark? I'm seeing you scrunching your eyebrows, have a question then?" I said.

"My head is a little woozy from the explanation, can you explain it in a simpler term?" he said.

The rest are also somewhat giving the same look.

"Okay, what is 1 + 1?" I said.

"..." everyone else.

"I'm not mocking your intelligence guys, answer properly, what is 1 + 1?" I asked again.

"2..." they all said with furrowed brows.

"That's right the answer is 2, why didn't we answer with 3 or 1 though?" I said.

"Because it's just the right..." Mark was about to say something more but he stopped. A look of realization is on his face same with everybody else while a few in the back nodded in the simple revelation.

"I think we've covered this topic now, it's very similar with math problems, right? Let's have a more physical demonstration." I said as I brought out a pineapple and knife.

"..." everyone else.

"What?" I said to them.

"Nothing..." everyone else.

"Weird huh?" I said back.

Everyone has just a look that are saying that I've read their minds.

"Let's start with a kitchen knife first. Watch me remove the skin from this one." I said.

I meticulously removed some of the leaves on top first and I held it diagonally and then I started on removing the skin. I'm making the slices as precise as possible and I finally made diagonal grooves across the pineapple to remove the eyes and I placed it on top of the chopping board.

"Tada~!" I said.

"..." everyone else.

"Umm, Sky, are you teaching us on how to prepare a pineapple?" Tatiana from the audience said.

"Well, sure, you could call it that. This is just more of a demonstration in knife control. Watch this though." I said as I swiped the knife horizontally without bracing the pineapple.

*slice*

They are looking attentively then I raised a very thin slice on top of it and ate it.

"What the..." Russel trailed.

"Cool, huh?" I said. I then flicked my hand several times as they watched in wonder.

*slice*

*slice*

*slice*

*slice*

*slice*

*slice*

*slice*

*slice*

*slice*

*slice*

I made 10 more quick slices and the pineapple didn't even topple over and the slices are still on top of it and all are even in thickness. When I picked it up and I laid it on the table like poker cards, they are all staring in shock.

"Have a bite, it's sweet." I said.

They then approached the table and carefully examined the slices.

"Holy shit!"

"Damn."

"..."

"How did you do that?!"

"...How?"

A few of them tried to do the same but they failed miserably. Tatiana also tried but she failed to do so as well. The pineapple even toppled though I managed to catch it since it would be a waste of a good pineapple.

"It's better to make a show of strength first to get their bloods pumping yeah?" I said to myself.

They all ate their slices and I said, "The sharp and thin knife also helped but this is an example of perfect control. In the future, I hope that you would be able to reach this standard or something close to it. Though from our theory earlier, being able to do this is like answering 100 on a 1 + 1 question." I explained.

"More like 1 million." Russel said.

I chuckled and said, "All right, my goal here in teaching you guys is not how to prepare pineapples but to protect yourselves from those things outside. I'd like you to learn how to use melee weapons properly just enough to reach the answer of 2 in the 1 + 1 question. Any questions before we start with the exercises?" I said.

"Earlier in the gas station, why did you just chop the arm off the zombie instead of going straight for the head?" Russel asked as Tatiana's head also perks up.

"Oh, that time. I saw Tatiana just standing on a stance from my peripheral vision and I figured that she didn't use her knife at first because of its short reach which will only give an answer of 1 to the 1 + 1 question; the hands of the zombie would claw us first if we do that since it's also charging towards us. So, I made her sweep much easier to accomplish by removing one obstacle, making a 1 + 1 question into a 1 + 0 so that her answer of one would be correct." I explained.

"Oh, uh... I think I'm kind of getting your explanation." he said.

"Now, grab a bokken that you're comfortable with or similar to the weapon you have and we'll practice with the basic movements first, can you help me with this Tatiana?" I said.

She obliged and we taught them the proper way in holding them and made a few drills like swinging it in a cross pattern first and then switching to an 'X' pattern next. Tatiana also gave some of her insights and then the class concluded. I looked at my watch and it reads 7:32 PM.

"I have a lot more that I wanted to do but I have so little time. I'll just do my daily routine later after the meeting. It's irritating to not be on schedule." I said to myself while scratching my hair.

"Something wrong?" Kaley said.

"Oh, I'm just irritated that my schedule is a bit off, I'd like to do more things but time is not enough." I said.

"Huh? We got all the time in the world now, don't we?" she said as she bumps me with her shoulder.

I smiled and looked at her, "Shit, you're absolutely right. How's the class though? Did I manage to teach you something?" I said.

"Well of course! I didn't even manage to utter a word since I'm listening so intently." she said while we headed to our room.

"Right, I remember you when you focus. You don't even make so much as a squeak when you're taking things in." I said.

"Well, there's one thing, that makes me not as quiet when I... take it in." she said as she begins to grab that 'thing'.

She's looking at me seductively and I just let her do what she wants with me. Her hands are now inside my pants and I'm starting to feel it rise.

*knock* *knock* *knock*

"Bro? A moment please?" we heard from behind the closed door.

We quickly made it look like nothing has happened as I opened the door and I saw Lois.

"Yeah?" I said.

"Jay and his group said that they would like to move into the house at the other end of the road at the canal system. They told me to ask you." he said.

"Tell them it's okay, I'll let them borrow a car to move their stuff but tell them to stay for dinner first and the meeting after yeah?" I said.

"Sure, bye." he said as he walks down the stairs.

I locked the door once again and she looks at me while she's laying on the bed.

"Where were we?" she said as she removed her bra while still wearing her shirt. She's starting to massage her b.r.e.a.s.t while two tips are starting to protrude from the shirt that she's wearing.

I was about to turn the lights off then I heard the door again.

*knock* *knock* *knock*

She covered herself with the blanket and I could see the irritation in her face.

I opened the door once again and I saw Russel.

"Yeah?" I said.

"Can I have the pineapple?" he said.

"Sure..." I said.

"..." Kaley was speechless.

"Thanks!" he said as he went down.

I locked the door once more and she removed the blanket. She looks a bit irritated from the disturbances but she's now removed her pants and she's just wearing her underwear and her shirt. I took my shoes off and when I was about to remove my shirt...

*knock* *knock* *knock*

"Damn it!" I whispered as I hung my head low. I looked at her and she's now looking very frustrated as she covers herself with the blanket once more.