Helena's words, "I'll go on a date with you," echoed in Dirk's mind as he processed them.
Helena fidgeted slightly, then shyly said, "Ummm... Sorry, that's probably a bad thing to offer as motivation since we barely know each other."
Dirk was surprised by Helena's uncharacteristic nerves. He realized he'd never really gotten to know her, seeing her more as a big sister.
Dirk gripped Helena's shoulder, making Helena flinch like a startled kitten. He said confidently, "Let's go back for 220!" and turned toward the gym.
Helena grasped at Dirk's sleeve, "No! It just came out! I was carried away with the mood!"
Dirk looked back at her with a cheesy grin, "I'm feeling very motivated!"
Helena realized Dirk hadn't matured as much as she thought, but at least he was motivated. She followed him back to the gym.
A few minutes later, Dirk was surrounded by several other officers and soldiers on the bench press, each cheering him on. He had leaked the promise that Helena had made with him, and now he was on his third attempt to max bench 220 pounds.
Helena herself had left the gym and said to meet her by the running track in 30 minutes, since she was too embarrassed to use the gym now. As she walked out of the gym, she bumped into Elise.
Helena bowed apologetically, "Oh, excuse me, I was just leaving for a run."
Elise wrapped an arm around Helena's shoulders to pull her in close and whispered, "I heard about your promise."
Helena remembered that Elise seemed to have strong feelings for Dirk, or at least she had seen several instances of Elise hanging off Dirk, "I'm sorry, I-"
Elise cut off Helena's apology, "Girl, don't be sorry. I know exactly how you can make it so he can never bench press more than you."
Elise whispered even lower into Helena's ear, and Helena's face lit up with joy.
After an hour, Dirk had just started running around the track on his own. His chest was still burning, but he managed to use every ounce of his strength to bench press 220 pounds.
"It's not like her to abandon training like that. Maybe I shouldn't have pushed what she said that far," Dirk said to himself.
He sent Helena a message saying, "I managed to bench 220 thanks to you! You don't have to worry about the date. I realize I took it too far!"
After sending the message, he got a short reply saying she would honor it if he could bench more than she could.
Dirk was confused since he had already bench-pressed more than her. He started typing a reply to remind her that he had benched more than her, but then he received a short video message from Helena.
The video was of Elise and Helena Macronized bench-pressing at the Zentradi gym. The weight Dirk could see in the video read 8 tons. Helena slowly repped the bar twice, showing a max bench press of 16 tons. Helena and Elise then gave the camera a victory sign, and the video ended.
Dirk laughed and said, "Well played!" while still jogging.
Elise and Helena returned to the Micronization chambers. Elise was pure Zentradi, so she never worried about Macronization or Micronization, but Helena was only half-Zentradi. Fortunately, Helena seemed to be fairly compatible with Micronization and Macronization, but like most Zentradi and hybrids born after Space War I, she preferred to be Micronized unless necessary. Humans can theoretically Macronize as well, but only one has ever been known to do so.
"Thank you, Elise! That was a great idea! Now I don't have to break that promise with Dirk!"
Elise's eyebrow twitched slightly, "Oh? So you would've gone through with it?"
"... I don't know. He can be sweet, but he acts more like an annoying little brother most of the time. Maybe if we went on a date, he'd grow up a little?"
Elise gritted her teeth and hurriedly undressed, then tossed her clothes on the floor and opened the Micronization chamber door. "Girl, I'll go first. Can you get my clothes ready?"
Helena nodded, then picked up Elise's Macronized clothes. She removed her own set of Macronized clothes and placed both sets in the dirty clothes dumpster.
"Ah, that always reminds me of a warm shower." Elise sighed pleasently as she walked out of the Miclone chamber and then wrapped a towel around her body. "All you girl, I'll make sure your clothes are ready."
Helena nodded and waited for Elise to move away from the Miclone chamber. Once Elise was out of the way, Helena stepped into the chamber. She hated Micronization. Helena felt Macronization was comfortable, but Micronization felt like her insides were being shoved into a duffel bag.
After a few minutes, Helena opened her eyes after the Micronization process was completed. She remembered she should've probably told Dirk that she would be late.
Helena reached out of the chamber door for a towel to cover herself, but couldn't find one.
"Elise! Can you bring me a towel? I forgot to grab one!"
Silence.
"Elise?"
Helena popped her head out and didn't see anyone nearby. She quickly looked around the room and didn't see her clothes anywhere.
"Well, I'm the only one in here at least." Helena quickly moved to the locker where she had left her clothes and the ones she borrowed from Dirk.
"Empty."
Helena started to worry and frantically checked all of the lockers.
"Empty... Empty... Empty... Emp- a note?"
After reaching the last locker, she saw a note that read, "Your communicator and clothes are across the hall and don't ever think of dating Dirk!"
Helena angrily crumpled the note in her hand. She really wasn't interested in Dirk before, but Elise broke girl code by stealing her clothes in the Micronization chambers.
"No no... I must be patient, I'm two years older and more mature. I need to set a good example."
From outside the chamber, a voice boomed, "Captain Stark! Does the hallway look like a laundry room?"
Helena suddenly regretted putting her name on her personal clothes, "I think my patience has worn out."
Back on the running track, Dirk continued running laps slowly. He was wondering if Helena had actually ditched him at this point. Considering how out of character it would be for her to ditch him, he felt proud that she was ditching training for once. Dirk slowed down to a brisk walk while still wondering what Helena was doing.
"Keep it moving, Lieutenant Millo!" a familiar voice rang out from behind him.
Dirk turned around to see Elise, as expected, but she was carrying the clothes he had lent to Helena.
"Those are the clothes I lent to Helena. Did something happen to her?"
"No, but something is going to happen to you if you don't run faster!" Elise thrust the clothes into Dirk's hands and pushed him down the track, "Helena seemed to have trouble in the miclone chamber so I'm taking over your training for this afternoon!"
"Is she okay?!?"
Seeing Dirk worry about Helena made her a little jealous, but she needed alone time with Dirk. "Yes, she is fine, enough about her! Let's focus on you!"
Dirk frowned a little and said, "Listen, I-"
Elise interrupted Dirk, "I had a good talk with your friend, Oscar. Him and I seemed to hit it off well."
"Oh, that's good! If you came to seek my blessing, you don't have to! He's all yours."
Elise shook her head, "No, I mean... I opened up to him about that thing."
Dirk knew exactly what she was talking about and waited for her to continue.
"No amount of words or apologies can ever make it right for me, but I think talking to him helped. Can I talk to you too?"
Dirk nodded. His running pace subconsciously slowed down as he waited for Elise to talk.
"I like you a lot, but I am not sure if I like you because you saved me or if I like you as the man you are. I do know that I completely trust you, and I hope you know how important that is to me."
Dirk suddenly felt that Elise was vulnerable. He continued slowly running with Elise while staring straight ahead.
"Come on, say something, anything."
Dirk took a deep breath, "I like you too, but after that incident, you became extremely clingy and I let you stay that way because I pitied you."
Dirk heard a sniffle from Elise. His first thought was to ask her what was wrong, but he realized he was wrong for treating her like a child still.
"I treated you like a child that needed to be protected because I thought that was what you needed."
Elise smiled, "To be fair, I did need to be protected then, and you were my hero. I don't need a hero anymore, though."
Dirk frowned, "So you don't need me?"
Elise laughed, "No silly! I don't need Dirk the hero. I need Dirk the average man."
"Hey, I think I'm at least above average!"
"Ok fine! I need Dirk, the better-than-average man! I'd like to get to know him."
Dirk turned his head to look at Elise, and she gave him a genuine smile.
Dirk swallowed audibly then asked, "Are you free tonight?"