The four of them continued to practice different jujutsu and judo techniques over the next three hours. While difficult, the moves became easier with time. Valeria was amazed at how the techniques allowed a smaller person to use a bigger opponent's size against them.

Frank and Dontrell  breathed heavily as Jada showed Valeria another Judo technique. "Can we get a break for dinner?" Frank asked between labored breaths.

"Do you need a break?" Jada asked.

Valeria shook her head. "No. Let's keep going."

Dontrell looked over at  Frank and grinned. "She is a machine," he said, turning to Jada, "just like my sister – Jada Pinkett Smith over there."

Frank laughed as he checked his phone. "I was going to order Uber Eats delivery. I guess Japanese would be appropriate for today?"

Jada shook her head. "No, let's do Korean. The usual for me. Let Valeria try some Bibimbap."

"Alright, I'll order it." He looked over at Dontrell and asked, "Your usual too?"

As Frank and Dontrell  discussed food options, Valeria turned to Jada. "I've never really tried any Asian food. Is there really a difference?" Sighing, she added, "I feel like I don't know shit about anything."

"Yeah," Jada said, her lips pulling back into a grin. "Korean food is the best. And yes, you don't know shit. But I do, and I'm willing to teach you. So here's a lesson - the best ways to learn about different cultures is to try their food." Laughing, she added, "It's also the most fun. Anyway, let's continue."

She kept practicing with Jada until their food arrived forty-five minutes later. The four of them sat at the dinner table eating, with Frank, Jada, and Dontrell mostly involved in casual banter. Valeria remained quiet as she inspected her bowl of rice. The dish had vegetables, beef, and a fried egg on top. She was hesitant, but after giving it a try, she found the food delicious.

As she sat there eating, Valeria couldn't help but notice how the evening had turned out so much  differently than what she had anticipated. She expected Dontrell to act like some sort of coldblooded villain, but he seemed decent so far.

"So Valeria," Dontrell said. "How's school been going? Have you been able to fit in at all?"

"Yeah," she replied. "It wasn't as difficult as I thought."

"Valeria became friends with a nerd group and a popular group of kids," Frank said with  a wink. "She's a natural charmer."

"Well isn't that nice,"  Dontrell replied, his tone sarcastic. "I'm sure it was easy in a wealthy liberal suburb. I wonder how she'd do at a rural school in Mississippi."

Jada scowled as she addressed her brother. "Don't start trouble, D. Let's have a nice dinner."

"I'm not starting trouble," Dontrell said, leaning back in his chair. "I'm just getting to know your protégé. So tell me, Valeria, did you have a chance to read the news today?"

"Don't..." Jada hissed.

"She can read a newspaper," Dontrell quipped. "I would just like to know how a Latina immigrant, like Valeria here, feels when the President of the United States laughs about the idea of shooting unarmed immigrants traveling to our country."

Valeria gaped at him, unable to fathom a response. She wasn't surprised; she had heard anti-immigrant rhetoric before. Still, this example was above and beyond the usual intolerance, and it angered and frightened her.

"I'm warning you –" Jada  protested, but Dontrell cut her off.

"Or, how does she feel when she hears those stories about Latinos being ripped from their parents and being locked in cages? It can't be much better than how I feel, reading about unarmed black kids being killed by police."

"D – now is not the time or place," Frank said, his face paler than usual.

"For you two," Dontrell said with a bitter laugh, "it's never the time or place. But I want to know what Valeria thinks before you two brainwash her." He turned toward her, his deep brown eyes focused on her with a laser like focus. "So tell me, what do you think the Rogue faction should do about all this injustice?"

Jada threw up her hands. "That's it. Time for you to leave."

"I'm not leaving without her answer," Dontrell fired back.

"Don't answer that question –" Frank started, but was interrupted.

"I'll answer it," Valeria said as she leaned forward. "We let democracy do its job."

Leaning back in his chair, Dontrell laughed with both hands behind his head. "Oh boy, you've got to be kidding me. I hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but democracy is an illusion. It's a magic trick the wealthy dangle in front of the masses like a carrot on a stick."

Shrugging, Valeria could see his point. She was already disenfranchised with this country's claim of being the land of opportunity. "What's your answer then?"

"I wouldn't expect someone like you to understand.".

"Someone like me?" Valeria asked, her tone defiant.

"Yeah," Dontrell said, a smirk across his face, "someone too afraid to avenge their parents' deaths."

Jada grabbed her brother and forced him out of his chair. "I warned you about this, D. You just couldn't control yourself. Now get out!"

Valeria watched Frank and Jada push him toward the kitchen exit and stood. "Let him go."

"Why?" Frank asked, struggling to restrain Dontrell. "He's just taunting you."

"I've been taunted my whole life," Valeria said calmly. "I'm used to it. And no, you can't  just push away people you disagree with. He's your brother, Jada."

Dontrell looked over at his sister with a smug grin. "See? The girl is fine. You two are overprotective."

Jada pointed a finger at him. "We're doing what's best for our protégé. If you can't behave, you will never mentor her again."

"Doing what's best for her?" Dontrell asked with a sarcastic laugh. "Babying and sheltering her  will just make her weak. You're not doing her any favors."

"I'm not weak," Valeria replied without thinking. She was so tired of being told she was weak and unimportant. Despite knowing she would most likely regret what she was about to say, the words  exited her mouth like an avalanche of word vomit. "I am strong and I'll prove it. Attack me on the mat."

"You don't want me coming after you," Dontrell said with another high pitched laugh.

She walked over to the mat in the living room, turned, and said, "Oh yeah? Let's find out."

Frank tried to protest, but Jada held him back. She looked over at her brother and nodded.

"So you're a coward, and you're crazy," Dontrell said, approaching the mat slowly.

"I am afraid," she said, standing her ground, "but that won't stop me." It was true - she was afraid. But Jada's mantra ignited a fire within her, and like the Hall of Shadows, she would face this challenge with reckless abandon.

"Ah," Dontrell said, pacing back and forth. "So you're not afraid – cause you think I'm some kind of psychopath. I'm afraid you're gravely mistaken."

He charged at Valeria with incredible speed, and while she tried to use the judo techniques she learned earlier, he was just too fast and strong. He picked her up, slammed her against the mat, and taunted her from above.

"I'm not a psychopath. I save lives," he whispered in her ear. He stood, turned, and walked to the edge of the mat.

"Yeah, right," Valeria sputtered, clutching her side as she stood. "You're full of shit."

Dontrell turned toward her and frowned. "Do not judge me, girl. Unlike anyone in this room, I  served my country with two tours of duty in the military, and I still protect innocents around the  world. Two months ago, I targeted an Islamic radical who planned to blow up a church in Ankara, Turkey. Instead of killing two hundred people, he died in a sudden car accident."

He lunged at her as he finished, sending her crashing to the mat. She heaved in deep, painful breaths while trying to stand.

"Just this week,"  Dontrell continued, "I targeted a white supremacist that planned to shoot up a synagogue right here in New York.  Instead of firing his assault rifle on innocents, he accidentally overdosed on his blood pressure medicine."

Once again, Dontrell lunged at her as he finished his story, sending her halfway across the room. Groaning, she covered her ribs and heard an audible wheeze as she breathed.

"Remember what I taught you about survival," Jada said from the back of the room.

Valeria blinked at Jada. Survival. Anger is like any tool, when used for survival, it can save you.

"Remember what I told you about narratives," Frank said in a similar tone.

She turned to him. Narratives. Tell people a story they want to hear, and you can both misdirect, and direct them in any way you see fit. While Jada's advice was straightforward, Frank's offered a hint. Dontrell was using his stories to distract her.

"Let's not forget my target two weeks ago..." Dontrell continued as he paced back and forth in front of her.

Valeria took slow, deep breaths and zoned him out. Focusing on her anger, she visualized all the hardships she had endured. Her fatigue and pain lessened as her mind and body tensed with a laser-like focus. She watched his eyes and body movements, and waited.

Dontrell finally made his move - but she was prepared. She grappled him and leaned back, using the momentum to trip him and send him crashing to the mat. She tightened an arm around his neck with a headlock and applied pressure until he tapped out. She released him and stood, her mind barely comprehending what just happened. She offered a helping hand as she stood over him.

But Dontrell refused it. Glaring at Valeria, he stood and said, "you got me that time, but don't get used to it." He bowed to her before turning to Frank and Jada and  repeating the gesture. "Same goes for you two."

Jada smirked at him. "Love you too, D. Don't lose sleep over it."

Sighing, Dontrell headed for the door. "I won't lose sleep about wounded pride. I'm too busy worrying about injustice. You know me better than anyone, Peaches, so you know where I stand. Love you too."

As Jada closed the door behind him, Frank turned to her with a wide grin across his face. "You took down the deadliest man in the world, kiddo."

Valeria paused, letting that statement sink in. Unlike any of her other Rogue training so far, she had succeeded for once. Could it be possible? Could she be as strong as they claimed? "I'm sure he was just going easy on me."

"I know my brother,"  Jada said, shaking her head. "He wasn't holding back. He's still mad that you turned him down. I'll admit – I'm impressed. But don't get too cocky. While you bested him once at unarmed combat –  Dontrell is still the deadliest man in the world for a reason."

"Is it true?" Valeria asked, her head cocked to the side. "Does he save lives with his assassinations?"

"Yes," Jada replied. "The Assassins guild has come a long way under his and my leadership. Once mercenaries for hire, Assassins are now only reimbursed by governments around the world for the terrorists and mass-murderers they execute. As Sovereign, I forbade them from targeting innocents or politicians around the world."

"And Dontrell obeys you?"

"He does," Jada replied without hesitation. "We want the same thing, but in different ways. I want to find justice within the system, he wants to create justice by upending the system. But while he may disagree with me in private, he always follows my commands."

"And you're not worried he might assassinate you and take your throne?"

Frank shook his head. "I've been a part of their family a long time. Dontrell can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but he's maybe the only person in the world who loves Jada more than me."

Smiling, Jada walked toward him, her gait slow and seductive. "That was sweet."

"It's just the truth," he said, grabbing her waist and enveloping her with a kiss.

Valeria pretended to look away with distaste. "Let me know when you're done."

"And that," Jada said, detaching herself from him, "is one way to maintain power as Sovereign. Maybe I've been able to keep Carnwennan for so long because the world's greatest thief and assassin both love me."

Frank laughed. "Don't let her fool you. She's the world's greatest thief and the cleverest of us. Everyone knows it...including me."

"Oh my," Jada said, pulling him close. "Someone is being generous with their compliments today. Maybe we should compliment each other later tonight."

Valeria covered her ears and groaned. "I don't need to hear this. I'm a child."

"You're sixteen, not nine," Jada quipped. "Go do your homework and go to bed."

Sighing, Valeria looked over at Frank - who shrugged.

"It's a school night. You should work on your homework."

She was about to head upstairs, but remembered her friends' proposition about tomorrow. "One more thing,"  she said, stopping by the banister. "I know I'm supposed to be grounded,  but my friends wanted to come over tomorrow night and play their game."

"Well," Frank said, looking over at Jada, "she did better with training today. What do you think?"

"She still has a long way to go," Jada said, a frown across her face. "But you took down my brother - something few people can do." Her frown eased as she exhaled and placed both hands on her hips. "It's just your four friends?"

"Yeah. Plus one more."

Jada pointed at her. "Okay, but you will be responsible for cleaning up messes and dinner arrangements. I have Sovereign business tomorrow, but Frank will be here to chaperone. Understood?"

"Okay."

"Alright, girl. Go to bed."

Valeria ran upstairs and started her homework. She finished most of her work before exhaustion overwhelmed her and she collapsed on the bed.