Chapter 4: Track Meet
*Jessica's POV*
The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon as I arrived at the track, the cool morning air invigorating my senses. I had invited Anya, Inana, and Liesl to join me for a running session, eager to see how they would fare against my enhanced physique.
As I stretched my legs, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in my body. My resting heart rate was a low 30 beats per minute, and my heart rate variability was over 100, indicators of my exceptional cardiovascular health. My flexibility was that of a prima ballerina, and my biomarkers showed the vitality of a teenager. Being a martial artist had its perks, and I was ready to show my friends what I could do.
Anya arrived first, her lean, muscular frame clad in sleek, futuristic running gear. She had a determined look in her eye as she approached me, her high ponytail swinging with each step.
"Morning, Jess," she called out, her breath forming small clouds in the cool air. "Ready to eat my dust?"
I grinned, appreciating her competitive spirit. "We'll see about that, Anya. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve."
Inana and Liesl arrived together, both looking like they had just rolled out of bed. Inana's lapis lazuli jewelry was notably absent, replaced by a simple t-shirt and shorts. Liesl's usually perfect Victorian curls were pulled back into a messy bun, and she yawned as she approached us.
"Remind me again why we're doing this at such an ungodly hour?" Inana grumbled, rubbing her eyes.
Liesl nodded in agreement, "Seriously, Jess. The sun isn't even fully up yet. Couldn't we have done this at a more reasonable time?"
I shook my head, amused by their complaints. "Early bird gets the worm, ladies. Now, let's get started. I want to see what you're all made of."
As we lined up on the track, I could feel my muscles thrumming with energy. The starter pistol went off, and we burst forward, our feet pounding against the rubberized surface.
To my surprise, Anya quickly took the lead, her long legs eating up the ground with each stride. I pushed myself to keep up, my enhanced cardiovascular system allowing me to maintain a steady pace.
Inana and Liesl, on the other hand, were quickly left behind. I glanced over my shoulder to see them struggling, their faces flushed and their breathing labored.
Anya and I continued to race neck and neck, neither of us willing to give an inch. As we rounded the final bend, I put on a burst of speed, my legs burning with the effort.
But Anya was right there with me, her determination evident in the set of her jaw. We crossed the finish line together, both gasping for air.
"Damn, Anya," I panted, putting my hands on my knees. "You're fast. I'm impressed."
Anya grinned, wiping the sweat from her brow. "Thanks, Jess. I've been working on my endurance. Guess those enhanced red blood cells are paying off."
We turned to see Inana and Liesl finally crossing the finish line, both looking thoroughly exhausted. Inana collapsed onto the ground, her chest heaving.
"That was horrible," she groaned, covering her face with her hands. "I haven't run like that in centuries."
Liesl nodded, her face flushed. "I think I'll stick to waltzing from now on. This modern exercise is not for me."
I couldn't help but laugh at their reactions. "Come on, you two. A little exercise never hurt anyone. And besides, Anya here just showed us all up. We've got some training to do if we want to keep up with her."
Anya beamed at the praise, her eyes sparkling with pride. "Yea, c'mon you old hags. Ge'rup, chop chop, we don't have all night for this humor and grace is no use at this place."
I nodded, appreciating Anya's perspective. "You're right, Anya. They do need some working up too. But that doesn't mean we can't push ourselves to be better."
*Liesl's POV*
As we gathered our breath after the first lap, I couldn't help but chuckle at Inana's dramatic display of exhaustion. She lay sprawled on the ground, her chest heaving and her face flushed. It was a far cry from the poised and elegant priestess I was used to seeing.
"Wait, where is Sophia?" Anya asked, looking around the track.
Jessica shrugged, "I think she said something about having to study for a test. You know how she is, always prioritizing her education."
I nodded, remembering Sophia's dedication to her studies. Even after centuries of life, she still found joy in learning new things.
Anya, on the other hand, looked like she was starting to regret her decision to join us. "So, what's next?" she asked, her voice hesitant.
Jessica grinned, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Oh, we're just getting started. That was just the warm-up lap. Now we're going to do a 16x400 interval training."
Anya's face paled, and I could see the dread in her eyes. "16 laps? Are you serious?"
I couldn't help but laugh at her reaction. "Don't worry, Anya. We'll take breaks in between. And besides, it's a great way to build endurance."
Inana, who had finally managed to sit up, groaned at the thought of more running. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think I'd rather be back in ancient Sumer, performing sacred rituals. At least then I didn't have to run laps."
Her complaint sent me into a fit of giggles, my Victorian sensibilities momentarily forgotten. "Oh, Inana. You've faced down armies and battled gods, but a little running has you defeated?"
Inana shot me a glare, but there was no real heat behind it. "Easy for you to say, Liesl. You're used to running around in those big, poofy dresses. I've spent the last few thousand years being waited on hand and foot."
Anya, who had been stretching her legs, looked at Inana with a mix of amusement and disbelief. "Wait, you're telling me that in all your thousands of years of life, you've never had to run?"
Inana shrugged, looking a bit sheepish. "Well, not really. I mean, I've had to run from a few angry mobs here and there, but nothing like this."
Jessica, who had been listening to the exchange with a grin, clapped her hands together. "Alright, ladies. Enough chit-chat. Let's get started. Inana, you can take the first break if you need it."
Inana looked relieved at the offer, but I could see a glimmer of determination in her eyes. "No, I'll do it. I may be out of practice, but I'm not going to let a little running defeat me."
As we lined up for the first interval, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in my friends. Sure, we may have been from different eras and had vastly different life experiences, but we were all here, pushing ourselves to be better.
And as we took off, our feet pounding against the track, I knew that no matter how many laps we had to run, we would do it together. Because that's what friends do. They support each other, even when things get tough.
Even if that means running 16 laps on a chilly morning, with an exhausted priestess and a dread-filled Anya by your side.
*Anya's POV*
I was halfway through the third lap when I saw Sophia jogging towards us from the sidelines. She was wearing an oversized, brandless t-shirt and shorts, looking like she had just rolled out of bed. But I knew better than to underestimate her. Sophia may have looked unassuming, but she had a mind like a steel trap.
"Hey, guys!" she called out, her voice chipper despite the early hour. "Sorry I'm late. I was just finishing up some programming."
I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Of course Sophia had been programming. She was always working on some new project, her mind constantly whirring with ideas and algorithms.
As Sophia joined us on the track, I glanced over at Inana, who was already laying on the grass, her limbs splayed out in a star shape. She had barely made it through the first lap before collapsing, her chest heaving with exhaustion.
"You okay there, Inana?" I called out, trying to keep the amusement out of my voice.
Inana lifted her head, her eyes narrowed. "Just peachy, Anya. I'm just taking a little break. You know, conserving my energy for the next lap."
I bit back a laugh, knowing that Inana was just trying to save face. For a priestess who had lived for thousands of years, she sure wasn't in the best shape.
I turned my attention back to the track, my legs burning with each step. I was determined to keep up with Jessica, who was setting a brutal pace. But as we rounded the bend, I saw Liesl jogging along, her form surprisingly elegant despite the fact that she was wearing a sports bra and leggings.
I had to admit, I was impressed. For someone who had spent most of her life in corsets and petticoats, Liesl was holding her own. But I could see the concentration on her face, her brow furrowed as she focused on maintaining her pace.
As I drew level with her, I tried to strike up a conversation. "Looking good, Liesl!" I panted, my breath coming in short gasps.
But Liesl just nodded, her eyes fixed on the track ahead. I could tell she was in the zone, her mind focused solely on the task at hand.
I shrugged and pushed on, my legs screaming with each step. I may have had enhanced red blood cells, but even I had my limits. And as we started the fourth lap, I could feel myself starting to flag.
But I refused to give up. I had something to prove, not just to my friends, but to myself. I wanted to show that I could keep up, that I was just as strong and capable as they were.
So I gritted my teeth and pushed through the pain, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Beside me, Sophia was keeping pace, her face a mask of concentration.
"You're doing great, Anya," she said, her voice steady despite the exertion. "Just keep pushing. You've got this."
I nodded, too winded to speak. But Sophia's words gave me a boost of energy, and I found myself picking up the pace, my legs pumping faster and faster.
As we rounded the final bend, I could see Jessica waiting at the finish line, her face split in a grin. And beside her, Inana was sitting up, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Damn, Anya!" she called out. "You're a machine!"
I couldn't help but laugh, my exhaustion momentarily forgotten. Because despite the pain and the sweat and the burning in my lungs, I felt alive. I felt like I belonged.
And as I crossed the finish line, my friends cheering me on, I knew that I had found something special. A group of people who accepted me for who I was, flaws and all.
And that was worth all the laps in the world.
*Inana's POV*
I lay sprawled on the grass, the cool morning dew seeping through my thin workout clothes. My chest still heaved from the pathetic attempt at running I had just made. Honestly, even a newborn gazelle could probably outrun me at this point.
As I watched the others continue their laps, my gaze fell on Sophia. Her small frame, barely reaching my shoulder, zipped around the track with surprising endurance. It puzzled me. This girl, with her oversized clothes and constant air of being lost in thought, had just lapped me, the goddess of love and war.
Sophia, in my experience, was a creature of the indoors. Her world revolved around glowing screens, ancient texts, and the musty smell of old libraries. How could she possibly have the stamina to run like this?
When she finished her lap and jogged over to where I lay, I couldn't help but voice my confusion. "Sophia, how… how are you doing this?" I gestured weakly towards the track. "You're like a tiny, tireless wind-up toy."
Sophia chuckled, a soft sound that seemed to emanate from deep within her. "Oh, it's nothing special, Inana. I used to walk a lot."
"Walk? Like, to the library and back?" I scoffed.
"Well, sometimes the next library was a few hundred kilometers away," she admitted, a mischievous glint in her eye.
My jaw dropped. "A few hundred kilometers? Are you serious?"
Sophia nodded, her expression turning wistful. "I spent a few years traveling the Silk Road, from Baghdad to Magao. I loved visiting the libraries along the way, learning about different cultures and philosophies. Sometimes, the only way to get to the next one was to walk."
"But… why?" I asked, still struggling to comprehend the sheer audacity of her statement.
Sophia shrugged. "Curiosity, I suppose. It killed a few cats, but it also led me to some incredible discoveries."
Her words hung in the air, a testament to her insatiable thirst for knowledge. I, who had lived for millennia, suddenly felt like a sheltered child compared to this unassuming scholar.
Sophia's story sparked a flicker of admiration within me. Perhaps there was more to this quiet girl than met the eye. Perhaps her strength wasn't physical, but a deep-seated resilience of the mind and spirit.
As I watched her rejoin the others, her small figure a blur of determination against the backdrop of the rising sun, I felt a pang of something akin to envy. Maybe, just maybe, I could learn a thing or two from this bookish girl about endurance, not just on the track, but in life itself.
I pushed myself up from the grass, my muscles protesting with a groan. "Alright, Sophia," I muttered under my breath. "You've inspired me. I may not be able to run like a gazelle, but I can at least try to walk like a scholar."
And with a newfound resolve, I started my slow, painful journey around the track, determined to finish what I had started, even if it meant crawling across the finish line.
*Sophia's POV*
The fifteenth break arrived like a blessed reprieve. My lungs burned, my legs ached, and my vision swam with a dizzying mix of exertion and the rising sun. I hadn't joined the run from the very beginning, but even the laps I had completed under Jessica's relentless pace were pushing me to my limits.
Jessica, however, seemed to be thriving. Her running form was a marvel to behold as she effortlessly maintained a speed that left the rest of us gasping in her wake. Today, she was a force of nature, her energy boundless, her determination unwavering.
As we caught our breath, Jessica announced her intention to finish the final lap with a "heavy anchor drop" – a 60-second sprint to the finish line. Anya, despite her enhancements, paled at the prospect. She had been pushing herself hard to keep up with Jessica, and the strain was evident in her labored breathing and the slight tremor in her limbs.
Liesl, ever sensible, had long since settled into a comfortable jog, her elegant form a stark contrast to our ragged efforts. Inana, bless her soul, had given up on running altogether after the first lap and was now cheering us on from the sidelines, offering words of encouragement (and the occasional sarcastic quip) as we passed.
The final whistle blew, and Jessica shot off like a rocket. Anya, fueled by a mix of competitive spirit and sheer willpower, surged after her, her enhanced muscles working overtime. But even with her augmented abilities, she couldn't quite match Jessica's raw power and speed.
I watched them go, a mixture of awe and concern swirling within me. Jessica was a blur of motion, her every stride radiating confidence and dominance. Anya, though lagging behind, was a testament to human tenacity, her determination etched on her face as she fought to close the gap.
As Jessica crossed the finish line, a triumphant grin plastered across her face, she let out a whoop of victory. Her gloating was excessive, her cockiness undeniable, but it was hard to begrudge her the moment. She had earned it, fair and square.
Anya stumbled across the line seconds later, her legs giving out from under her as she collapsed onto the track, gasping for air. She had pushed herself to the brink, her body paying the price for her valiant effort.
I rushed to her side, along with Liesl and Inana, offering water and words of comfort. Anya, though exhausted, managed a weak smile. "She's… she's incredible," she wheezed, her voice barely above a whisper.
I nodded in agreement. Jessica's performance had been nothing short of extraordinary. She was a living testament to the potential of human biology, a glimpse into a future where physical limitations could be overcome with the aid of technology.
But as I looked at Anya, her face pale and her body trembling, I couldn't help but wonder about the cost of such power. Was it worth pushing oneself to the point of collapse, even with the aid of enhancements?
The question lingered in my mind as we helped Anya to her feet, her body still weak but her spirit unbroken. The morning's run had been a test of endurance, a display of both the incredible possibilities and the potential dangers of pushing the boundaries of human capability. And as we walked away from the track, the sun now fully risen and casting a warm glow over the scene, I knew that the lessons learned that day would stay with us long after the aches and pains had faded.
