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Corsair Training Seminar: Labryinth
Topic Started: Dec 27 2007, 05:43 AM (943 Views)
Cyclops
Member Avatar
Punches from the Punch Dimension
The maze grew darker as they ventured into it. The pathways were fairly narrow, able to allow two people to walk abreast of each other, but no more than that. As they moved in, there was signs of decay. The rivets that helld the walls together had long trails of rust streaking down them. Water dripped with a steady plip plip plip, and the clanking of the distant machines echoed and added to a ch-ch-ch of motors. They could almost smell exhaust, almost taste musty air. The lights overhead were flickering, and faint. Wherever this place was, it was not well maintained.

The floor beneath them was slick, and if they looked, they'd see puddles of stagnant water, slimy with green ooze in places. Some of the walls high above them have recesses in them, though examination would show nothing in them but debris, dust, and the occasional empty crate. They could touch all these things. The Danger Rooms combination of electronically generated holographic fields and practical adaptable props made this a very realistic and intriguing little scenario. Scott Summers hadn't designed the Danger Room, but his love for technology and combat (not to mention control) had caused him to learn as much about it as was able to be known. Though no one would guess him to be imaginative, he actually had quite a good grasp on innovative thought.

His fields of fantasy were just limited though to his specific interests-- Combat, Flight.... Jean... and like everything else in Scott's life, he did these things 100% to the best of his ability.

So, as they moved into this fully realized environment, they would hopefully be distracted enough by the sights, sounds, smells and sensations, too much to notice the hinged floor which suddenly dropped out from directly underneath those in the lead.
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Jayson
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Stone Touch / Super Strength
JP Jayson/Mittens


At least it ain't like the horror mazes on Halloween. You know the ones with the hay bails for walls where masked men jumped out at you. Yes, those mazes where the person next to you was making you laugh. They were spazing over something clearly so fake and so safe that it was so funny. Then, suddenly, you turn a corner and you are the one screaming.

This was how Jayson was beginning to feel. Maybe thinking of herself by her codename would lessen the fear building inside her or at least calm her nervous enough to focus. The thing was she wasn't the type to do so until something happened, something serious. Right now, though, she wouldn't have been able to focus. It was the maze itself that freaked her out.

Having the feeling people would start jumping out at the group Jayson put her guard way up. She was one of the two in the lead. This wasn't really by force or by choice it was something that normally happened. Without knowing she was a natural born leader but would always prefer to be second-in-command. For support and back up, mostly. Usually, though, in situations like these she stepped above it. The stone-turner had no idea how much battle experience the others had. To her guess she was one of the few who had been on an actual mission. No matter how bad it turned out.

Mittens walked a bit behind those in the lead. He knew enough from watching television and movies that the unbeliever and the shortest person of the group would always be the first and easy target. The catboy was definitely the shortest so he stayed in the middle of everyone. His position also was good because there would be other people around him. The small boy wasn't doing something smart. He was not paying attention to his immediate surroundings.

Since his arrival at the mansion many months ago Mittens had realized something. His senses were actually getting stronger. What seemed to be flukes in hearing his sister's silent whispers actually was his hearing increasing. The same went when his sister summoned food she wasn't supposed to by the scent of it. However, these two increased sense weren't fun anymore. Useful, they were but not fun. Whether the smell of the maze was real it didn't matter. The exhaust was so horrible it made him want to sneeze. Being able to take full use off the scent pads on his tongue wasn't really fun at the moment either. The cat ears perched on top of his head were tilting in the direction of every new sound. The mutterings of the maze caused him to wonder what could be waiting for them ahead.

Being able to see better in the dark, though, he was glad for. Mittens’ pupils had dilated completely. They became two eerie glowing orbs when light hit them the right way. It had been decided in the beginning to focus on the path itself instead of the walls. He knew the others, being taller, would be looking up a lot more. Maybe this was the reason he had seen it. The catboy's increased senses were distracting, yes, but the floor ahead looked interesting. Something odd was about it but what? "Miss Jayson," he addressed in a loud whisper. He, though, didn't continue speaking. He should have called her by her codename. This hesitation was all that was needed.

While the floor was the catboy's focus, the walls and her team mates were Jayson’s focus. Every now and then she would look back at them. One point or another at least once a momentarily presence of fear reflected in their eyes. To her this was ridiculous. Why couldn't they be in a maze that resembled the hedge mazes on sunny days that Violey had described to her once. At least her imagination wouldn't have been running rampant. Anytime now there would be blood steaming down the walls right next to the rust. Or at least she thought.

Thankfully the one leading right next to her brushed against her arm. The confines were too tight. It only increased the chance of fear. That simple accidental motion was a godsend. Jayson was snapped back to reality. A loaming seriousness filled her and she once more thought of herself by her chosen codename.

But Rock-solid had only that second to feel grateful of it. Mittens’ warning went unheard. Where her boot had just stepped the floor disappeared. The scene was like one of those movies where you think the hero was lost to the depths until, out of the blue, a single hand grabbed hold of the edge. This was what happened. The stone-turner held onto the edge of the hole with dear life. She was thankful for her grip on the floor but not for her gloves. Why did she have to switch them?

It wasn't the hand holding the floor that was her worry. Rock-solid had quick enough reflexes to grab the hand of her partner as the floor gave way. They were dangling out of reach of the edge. She could feel the glove slipping. The one that was holding onto her team mates hand. This was the first time the stone-turner was in this position. Though, she was stronger than most she couldn't pull the other up; at least not until she got a better grip on of the edge. More support was needed.

"Hang on," Rock-solid said still holding on tightly. Her glove slipped once more. She couldn't allow her team mate to fall. But there was nothing she could do. Why, oh why couldn't this be just a walk in a park?
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Megaton
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"Corsairs, your simulation begins... now."

So Scott wasn't there the entire time -- and as his hologram faded away and the maze began to adjust itself in accordance to the exercise, words couldn't express the amount of bilious disinterest in Duane's lifted-brow expression.

But, hell, since he wasn't here ... he wasn't going to snuff him out.

A large hand to the pocket of his pants, and out slid a spare smoke he had, holding it fast in tight, anger-fused lips, as a faint fizzling spark jumping at the end of it lit it -- before the large, muscle-bound mutant took a drag.

Hazel eyes looked to each of his teammates -- or more importantly, the three girls who seemed to be dictating all the action.

Who was he to argue? They had a mission to get through.

"Move out," he grunted out in his surly, deep tone, more to the others who hadn't contributed anything. "If any of you get lost, I ain't comin' back around to drag your ass through."

Whoa. Cheery.

And with a steady gait, the tall mutant followed just a few short paces behind the team leaders, eyes momentarily looking to either side of the maze, and its state of disrepair.

"For something pretty advanced, Scott doesn't take much care of it," he murmured, more to himself than anyone.

But a funny thing happened -- because, in that time, a large, rusted-hinge sound lifted through the air -- and both Jayson and the kid with kitten ears fell out of view.

A blink -- and he looked down, spotting the two of them facing a potentially endless chasm.

For all of Duane's problems, it didn't take him any longer to figure the right thing to do -- and without a second thought, he braced his stance from one of the slippery metal floor edges and the side of the pit, using both arms to nab both Jayson and Mittens by the collar, with his right and left respectively -- and tugged them back onto solid ground.

Or to however solid it was at the moment.

An idle glance down into that pit -- and he looked back at the pair.

"Y'alright?"

Maybe things were starting to turn around.

Just maybe.
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Husk
Unregistered

"Nice of you to join us, Husk. I will leave it up to your team mates to fill you in on the scenario you will be running today, and to make up for your tardiness, you'll be taking point. Corsairs, your simulation begins... now."

Paige stared at Cyclops. What the hell is 'point'? She had an inkling, but wasn't about to point out that she didn't know. The fact that she was late seemed enough already.

Cyclops faded, and Paige's eyebrows rose significantly in surprise. This place was amazing...A redhead - Firestar, Paige thought her name was - turned to Paige.

"It's a maze," she said to the slightly older woman, rather matter-of-factly. As if it wasn't obvious. "We're not allowed to fly over--can't, really; and we're not to blast our way through the walls. We've all got to make it to the end of the maze together, and there will be opponents and obstacles... if any one of us runs out of 'hit points' we all lose the scenario."

"Well...it sounds simple enough...I wish I knew what point meant," she added in a whisper, pulling a face.

Not caring that her power was slightly unsettling, she began the process of pulling away her skin to reveal a body of metal beneath. Given the present circumstances, she felt most comfortable in her metal form. Standing there gleaming in the darkness, she stared up at the ominous maze walls. Before, the room had been bright; sterile and open. Now it was dark, enclosed, and clanking machine noises were sounding in the distance. Husk's heart was beating faster as the noises got closer, and a sense of exhileration pounded through her limbs.

This should be easy. Just smash up a few machines...it's all a hologram anyway. She walked confidently forward and slipped on a puddle. Or maybe not...take it easy Paige...

She started walking again, more cautiously. "So, what do we do when we come across whatever it is out there? Do we-" She gasped as the floor fell away beneath the two leaders. "Oh my God!" she exclaimed involuntarily. As Megaton helped them up, she ran forward to help Jayson to her feet. "Are you okay?"

She looked up, and her breath caught. A dim light, accompanied by loud clanking, was coming round the corner of the passage. "Company!" She said loudly, if slightly unnecessarily. Adrenaline forced her to stand and clasp her fists tightly.
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Firestar
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In hindsight, Firestar would curse herself for not paying more attention to her surroundings with her eyes, rather then keeping them half shut. True, she was attempting to make the best use of her other senses as she could, in the hopes of perhaps hearing something when waiting to see it would mean waiting until it was too late. However, one cannot negate the usefulness of being able to see, particularly, when the maze was cloaked in semi-darkness that made sight hard to come by. Of course, being in the very front of the group, a few steps ahead of the others (a safe distance, she had thought at the time), and not looking around while you were walking was a dangerous gamble that Firestar had chosen to take. However, even ones gut instincts can prove utterly wrong in certain situations, and this was obviously one of them. Her eyes half-shut as they were, she would have seen something three-dimensional ahead in the darkness, provided it was big. Small hinges set into the floor underneath a pool of shadows given off by the looming maze walls, however, escaped notice. She head Mittens say Rock-Solid's name in what seemed to her to be a cautionary tone, but she didn't think much of it. Until, that is, she heard the groan of hinges underneath her feet and plummeted through the floor, in a place where there had been floor only seconds before; a trap door that, had she been thinking of the possibility at the time, would have been easy enough to spot.

Firestar reached up, attempting to grab the edge of the trap door, but instead found her hand grasped by Rock-Solid, who had apparently taken the plunge with her. Firestar shut her eyes tightly, willing her fast-beating heart to slow, the adrenaline pumping through her system not helping matters. She seemed fairly calm, though having no idea what lay beneath her in the pit, inwardly she was frightened that Rock-Solid would lose her grip on Firestar's hand. If that were to be the case, Firestar would soon be having a first had experience at whatever the pit had to offer. In such a state of fear and the attempt to keep up outward calm, it was several minuets before the young woman realized she was overlooking something very important. Oh my goodness, Firestar, you must be basic! she chastised herself, before glancing up at Rock-solid. She saw Megaton bending to help them out, but Firestar knew how to get out on the other side of the pit. Closing her eyes again, she concentrated on her legs only at first, not wanting to burn Rock-Solid's hand. "Let go," she said in a calm, firm voice, hoping the hitch that showed how scared she had been moments ago went unnoticed. She slowly concentrated the energy all around her body, thrusting it downward with her hands, as she slowly rose out of the pit on a thermal of superheated air. Landing gracefully on the other side, she sought out Rock-Solid to make sure she had gotten out safely.

"That was... harrowing," Firestar murmured, loud enough for the words to carry over the ambient noise of the maze. "Are you all right, Rock-Solid?" she asked the girl, echoing Megaton's question. She glanced down at the yawning gap and took a few steps backward. "Can you guys jump that?" she queried, not sure how easy it would be to do so.
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Husk
Unregistered

Despite the curcumstances, Husk smiled as Firestar glided to the other side. She thought of her brothers, Sam and Jay: When Sam flew at superspeed, actual fire plumed out around him, and Jay's wings were clearly the source of his flight - but Paige thought Firestar's simple flight, with nothing obvious to give away its source, was more beautiful than her brothers'.

"Can you guys jump that?"
Husk snapped quickly out of her unwanted longing for home. She stared at the gap. She'd always been quite good at long-jump in school...maybe she still was.

"I'll try," she ventured. "I'll need a run up..."

Husk turned and walked back about ten paces. She pulled off her metal skin, revealing a black rubber one beneath, and concentrated on where she should take off from. Taking a deep breath, she ran slowly at first, then sped up, her speed increased by her rubber form. Reaching the gap, she kicked off the edge, and soared through the air. Yes! Exultation poured through her. It was like time had slowed.

The other side was coming closer...closer...too close. Too soon. Paige's shins smashed into the edge of the floor and she landed on all fours. She bit her lip furiously, trying to get over the jarring pain in her legs and arms. Incredible embarassment bringing bright redness to her cheeks and forehead, she struggled upwards.

"I am such a dink," she muttered. Thankfully the darkness covered her red face. "After actually thinking...maybe it would be best if the fliers took some people over." She tried to remember who that was. "Megaton...Malena...and you, Firestar?" She turned to Firestar and grinned. "Just an idea."
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Jayson
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Stone Touch / Super Strength
JP Jayson/Mittens


The only thing he meant to do was to warn the ones in the lead about the trap door ahead. Oh, but no he had to actually experience the fall with them as they failed to hear his tiny voice. Mittens hung onto the edge just as Rock-solid was. The only difference he was actually using his claws... nails to keep his grip until someone pulled him up.

Why did Megaton have to pull him up by the collar of his hoodie as if he were in cat form? He didn't like it when his sister picked him up that way and he still didn't like it as a catboy. Mittens crossed his arms in front of him. On his lightly tanned face a frown was written. No appreciation what-so-ever. The moment the catboy’s feet touched the metal floor a stiff nod in what could be thanks was given. Those around him had the chance to interpret it wrong do to the way his cat ears were drawn back in anger.

A simple glove decided whether the one she was holding onto would fall or remain hanging on for dear life, so to speak. Actually it was that simple glove and the stone-turner’s will to not let a team mate fall regardless of the situation. The moment Rock-solid realized who she had prevented from disappearing into the abyss a deep breath was exhaled through her nose. The back-n-forth motion of her shaking red head clearly stated her thoughts. So when Firestar just asked for her to let go she did so without hesitation. Having the floor come out from under you made you forget that you could fly.

Standing up on solid ground after Megaton pulled her up a feeling of relief overcame her. Rock-solid began to brush off the left shoulder of her uniform. When she fixed her gloves she looked away from her supposed rescuer and uttered ‘thanks.’ Not even a 10,000 dollar grand prize would bring her to admit the fact for the briefest of seconds, she was blushing.

“Yes, I’m alright,” Rock-solid said quickly staring at the chasm in the floor. “Husk’s right, I believe we can jump it if-” Tilting her head ever so slightly the stone-turner couldn’t believe what her eyes were seeing. Her team mate, Husk, was… was… “You’re shedding,” she said in a way that could be mistaking as rudeness. In front of her was a prime example of the unique powers the X-gene allowed people to posses. Not being able to look away she watched as Husk long jumped her way to the other side.

“You alright?” she called. That move hadn’t been all too smart. At least, though, the other had gotten to across the pit with only a minor hitch. Thinking over her team mate’s suggestion an idea popped into her head. “Little kitty,” she aimed at Mittens. “Have you heard of shot put before?”

Mittens forgot about looking irritated. What in the world was Husk doing? Her skin just pulled off. He stared as the shiny metal came off revealing the dull rubber. Wow, just plain old wow. Making sure she actually jumped to the other side OK he turned to look up at the stone-turner. “She’s right you know about having those who fly bring us over,” the catboy said before giving a smirk. “But you insist on tossing me over. I’m right, right?”

Forgetting every instance to hold most of her strength back Rock-solid readied herself. She was in a crouching position. Her right hand held onto one of the catboy’s right worn out black Converse shoe. Somehow he managed to balance at an angle almost matching the cheerleaders as they stood on one foot with only a hand preventing them from crashing to the ground. “Ready,” Rock-solid asked rapidly.

The moment Mittens nodded her left arm, which had been in front of her, pulled back. Her right arm shot forward in the same exact motion as the weight shifted in her right foot from the full of if to the toe. Through the air Mittens flew; his striped cat tail streaming behind him. The arc was flawless. Bracing for impact the small boy bent his elbows and grabbed hold of each with the opposite hand and held the over his head in front of him. He did a small front flip which allowed him to land in a flop but uninjured just behind Husk and Firestar. “Now that was fun,” he giggled as he scratched the tip of his nose.

Only hesitating long enough to see if Mittens landed alright, the chasm earned one last glance from Rock-solid. “I might be able to jump that,” she began to say to Malena, Entropy, and Megaton. But something across the pit made her run her gloved hands across the sides of her head as it lowered. Some red haired stands fell out momentarily blocking her facial expression.

Turning to the only flier she had actually shared a personal conversation with before this little meet, she sighed. “Guess what they say is true about curiosity and cats,” Rock-solid said to Megaton. Across the way Mittens had noticed same dim light that Husk had. This was a training session… something had to be waiting to attack them around the corner. He should have waited but for some reason the catboy just had to find out what it was. Every few seconds a cautious step forward was taken.

The stone-turner stepped back until she was about twenty feet away from the pit. “If someone doesn’t stop the little kitty now I will,” she warned quickly right before her charge forward began.
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Mina
Unregistered

JP between Mina/Alejandro


He would feel the room shift and churn around him, metallic gears and futuristic pistons churning to accommodate for the new scenery. Which meant he finally became a part of it, the Danger Room no longer having to disguise his presence just as it had fabricated Cyclops's. A decrepit underground labyrinth. It was definitely better than getting thrown into the ground by a Sentinel, as was Alejandro's experience last week. He really wasn't fond of the DR, and as the walls rose and slimy gunk from the ceiling began pattering dangerously near his head, he had to wonder why in the world he'd volunteered for such an experience.

A glance to the side, his hazel eyes settled on his partner in arms, wondering how she got that leather number to hug in all the right places. And whether the suit-type was intentionally made like that. Not that he was complaining. And to prove it, he let out a low wolf-whistle, later grinning in that oh so charming and irreprehensible manner of his. It'd have shown up sooner, but with the whole 'they can't know you're here' bit One Eye had stressed so greatly, the poor Gitano had to restrain himself.

"Por Dios, just look at those curves. One man cannot handle that…" He finally tore that marauding gaze away to look down the silent and dim corridor. "Oh, and the maze isn't that bad either."

While Al wasn’t too fond of the Danger Room, to Mina it was like a second home. Whenever she was feeling angry or irritated, or just needed to burn some energy, she could normally be found there. The past month had been rough on her, though. Hank had absolutely refused to let her run any simulations after her attack, and this was her first time back. McCoy still had been reluctant to give her clearance, but when it was pointed out that she would be playing the ‘enemy’ to a group of Junior X-men and students, he had relented.

Mina rolled her shoulders and stretched her arms up over her head idly, limbering up for the scenario ahead. She had to hand it to Scott, he certainly had an eye for detail…maybe too good an eye, she thought to herself as her boot splashed down in something wet and slimy. Wrinkling her nose slightly she scuffed her boot on the floor just as Al let out a low whistle, and she turned her gaze towards him, arching a brow slightly.

At his words she let out a low, scoffing breath, rolling her eyes slightly. “You are incorrigible, Al,” she muttered with a small shake of her head, barely hiding a smirk. “Stay focused, alright?”

When Al was feeling stressed, he worked it out in the music room, venting through the four strings on his violin. Or making those idle little repairs around campus that were scarcely ever noticeable, but kept him busy. He was scarcely ever angry, never showed irritation, and if he did, getting put through the DR wringer was not his idea of an outlet.

Mina's warm-up, however, made it bearable. It was… all part of surveillance. Really. And Mason never saw anything wrong with just looking.

That faded as a drop of stagnated water pattered on his shoulder from the ceiling. He frowned slightly, giving a none-too thrilled wipe of his shoulder. Thank God these suits weren't permeable.

Of course, Mina wasn't going to react to his little cat-calls. Those were nothing. Her indignant little displays and rebuke only made him grin more broadly, taking a boyish pride in his shenanigans. "Oh, do not say that. I do not like being told that I am a bad little boy… actually, I do. Haven't heard it coming from you yet." His lips quirked into that mischievous smirk.

"Hey, I am focused. Just in case, maybe you should take the lead," he added seriously, his mindset shifting into the training session at hand. He felt the trap door release, the signal that the team was on the move. The open pit also made his medium more accessible, reducing the need to destroy these flimsy tunnels to summon stone. "They are on the move."

He motioned for Mina to lead the way rather gallantly, but that gesture sort of died when his eyes began studying the back side of her ensemble. "I will be sure to remain focused." He sure as hell wasn't looking at the zipper.

Mina rolled her eyes up to the ceiling, holding her hands up in a ’why me?’ sort of pose that was actually quite comical, which was what she had meant it to be. Al was a friend of hers, had been the one to find her after Bennett’s attack, and so he got a ‘get out of jail free’ card…for the moment. She simply shot him a warning glare before turning her attention back to the maze, brushing her bangs out of her eyes. The rest of her blond hair was secured back in a simple ponytail and she let out a bit of a sigh, though inwardly she was the tiniest bit flattered. What 30 year old woman didn’t like to get compliments – even suggestively spicy ones – from a younger man? Not that she’d ever admit it, though.

Al indicated that the team was on the move and she took point, moving into an open space where several tunnels branched off further into the maze. She let out a slow breath and reached out with her powers, taking stock of every single element present in the air, the ground, the tunnel walls…it was an overwhelming amount of information but somehow she was able to process it all almost instantly. Mina had never quite understood how that happened, but the Professor had speculated that it was probably just another aspect of her mutation.

“Al,” she said, her voice a bit softer now that she knew the Corsairs were approaching. “Make a trench, or a new tunnel or something. Funnel them down so they come out one by one. And I’ll take care of Megaton if he tries to go Hiroshima on us,” she added, knowing exactly how volatile Duane’s powers could be, but also knowing exactly how to nullify them. No nitrogen or hydrogen in the air meant he was a sitting duck. It would be good for him to learn not to rely on his abilities so much.

Her reaction was a typical one, and Alejandro snickered at the show of apparent exasperation. His teasing was just that, not meant to be taken seriously, though it hadn't always been that way. He was still sincere, if not wolfishly so; women always complained about men and how fragile their egos were, how they constantly needed assuaging. Women were not so different, and he knew that the occasional cat-call and spicy remark pleased them, no matter how furiously they blushed or how hard they slapped him. When Mina gave him that glare, the Spaniard raised his hands in mock defense, winking in reply and unable to hide his sly grin.

But their (or his) playful banter would have to continue some other time. He could feel the slight tremors of their footsteps as they advanced cautiously, sort of milling around. Without Cyclops there to lead him, the rest of his team must have felt aimless, looking around to see who would take charge of the group. Tough for them. As Mina gauged the chemical composition of the labyrinth, Alejandro hung back, listening to the tunnels in his own way. At Mina's suggestion, he nodded and simply knelt down to the damp and scummy floor, paying no mind to the unsanitary qualities of their surroundings as he placed a bare palm on the ground.

The effect was immediate, and a small rumble echoed throughout the corridors as rocks churned behind the reinforced walls of the maze, Mason flipping through their compositions with only a brief thought, seeking the team. The walls groaned, and rivets popped out of place throughout the labyrinth as crystallized structures of quartz grew in the vacant sockets, jutting out like daggers as they inched closer. They traced a path towards their first set of opponents, growing over the mouths of alternate tunnels like bared teeth.

"Sabes, most girls ask me to make a lovely statue in their image. But if it's a trench you want…" he smirked, rising from his crouch as he stretched his arm forward. The tunnel floor before them gave a trembling lurch and dipped down into the desired shape, Alejandro adding a few boulders and bulky obstructions with a simple wave of his fingers. Hey, it wasn't every day he got to show off his powers.

The ground rumbled beneath her feet and she could feel what he was doing to the earth just by paying attention to the chemical structure of the surrounding tunnels. Quartz crystal jutted out from the walls, dangerously sharp and jagged. Mason conveniently blocked the entrances to the other tunnels, and once that trench rose up in the air, boulders and other such objects obstructing the way around, the team would have no other option except to come straight for them.

But that wasn’t enough, now was it? It was all well and good to pay attention to the obvious enemies, but the team needed to learn to be aware of all their surroundings, especially when dealing with mutants. Mina extended a hand, reaching for the atoms she needed in the air. Hydrogen was no trouble to find, and neither were the chloride ions she needed for her little concoction. In the dips in the trench, puddles of hydrochloric acid began to form, though Mina was sure to dilute them down to not-quite-so-dangerous levels with water. It’d sting if they got it on their skin but wouldn’t cause any permanent damage. This was, after all, just a training seminar…she didn’t want to disfigure the students for life.

It seemed the team was judging the book by its cover – namely, they were expecting a machine to come around the corner since the tunnel was obviously so mechanical. Here in the Danger Room they’d be able to get away with that without any hugely serious injury, but out in the real world? Well, they’d be caught up a creek without a paddle, so to speak. The fact that they were taking so long just to cross a simple gap in the floor was another concern…

“Let’s get this show on the road,” Flux said beneath her breath and reached out with her powers into the open air just behind the group. The team wouldn’t understand what was going on, but suddenly the tunnel behind them began to fill with the sound of small, concentrated explosions as Mina ripped the hydrogen atoms in the air apart, channeling the resulting inferno of the nuclear reaction straight for the group still standing behind the gap. A fire so hot it almost burned white rolled towards them, advancing closer without any hint of slowing down, and it brought with it one undeniable fact…

They had to get moving. They’d exit the tunnel into the trench, and from there? Well, that’s where the real fun begins. “Take cover, Mason,” Mina advised, her attention still mostly focused on what she was doing in the tunnel as she slipped behind one of the boulders he had pulled from the ground beneath their feet, moving out of sight. Al did the same, ducking behind a pile of rubble clustered at the very end of the trench.


((OOC: I know it’s long, guys, but you really need to read it carefully instead of just skimming so you can understand the set-up we have for the team. The details are important. If you have any questions, get in touch with me or Scott so we can help you get it sorted out.))
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Anna Cuff
Unregistered

Anna still had no real idea of what in the world she was doing there. She was never the violent type...in ANY sense. She didn't even like going into verbal confrontations, let alone fist-fights. She felt totally useless here.

However, that changed when they tried to cross the gap that almost swallowed Rock-Solid and Mittens. Anna couldn't really help the two up, not with her limited body strength, but she still tried, to get involved somehow. however, it seems that everyone else had things under control. Some people had asked for her advise and input, but they called her by her code-name: Entropy. She never even knew the full reason why she decided to call herself that...Again, questions of doubt swam in her mind, and all she wanted to do was get out.

"Again...look before you leap..." she muttered to herself as Mitten's and Rock-Solid made their way to the other side. Really, Anna wasn't contributing anything to this training. She shook off her discomfort and self doubt and began to look at the situation.

"It looks like it's about fourteen feet across..." She said, looking over at the gap, and mentally sizing it up with her unknown powers. "I know I can't jump that..." the feeling of dead wight-ness settled on her shoulders, being useless and not even truly a part of the group. "Should we-" she was about to offer a suggestion when the ground started to rumble. At first..it seemed a simple shifting of metal, but then it became more complicated, more intense. Anna only noticed it because of her sensitive cross country feet, always aware of the tiniest shift in her footing. Something was off.

The ground began to roll underneath them, as the unknown explosion build underneath their feet. A wave of goosebumps washed over her, lighting adrenal fires along the way. Suddenly, something within Anna changed, she couldn't simple stand there, and let her teammate get hurt.

"MOVE!!" She yelled, bolting to the the pit at top speed. Of course...Anna being a cross country runner, she was build for endurance, not speed. Her muscles twitched, and tried to follow the lead of their master. Entropy bolted out, and for some ever so stupid reason, decided to grab Firestar around the waist, in an attempt the girl from the explosion. Anna leaped over the abyss just as the explosion ripped though the floor. She had no idea what she wanted to happen. All she knew is that she REALLY wanted to get away from that fire ball.

Soon, the explosion ripped though the steel plating of the Danger room, searing the X-kids in blistering heat. Anna Jumped the gap, feet pedaling though the air as one thought roared though her head louder then the explosion... HIT THE GROUND!!!

As if on command of her voice, the cosmic strings of the area began to sing her plead, dancing their way around the two girls and along the wall on the right. Faster and faster the shards of light spun around the two in a odd arc between the wall and where the floor wanted to be. The wall was picked apart, rivet by rivet, and relocated it underneath her flying feet.

Anna hit the deck and rolled off to the side, letting go of Firestar. A panic wave of relief washed over the Queen of Chaos, as she realized that the origin of the floor. It appeared that her powers somehow teleported the wall to the right underneath them. Just in time to save them. However that happened, Anna didn't really need to question.

But it was all to good to be true, as the Danger Room caught a hold of the flaw and began to fix the error state. AKA, The wall began to phase back...right underneath their feet. Holes faded into existence as the Danger Room counter acted her power and put the wall back in place.

"Hurry!" She hollered, scampering across the quickly dissappering floor. She grabbed Angel's Hand and helped her back to her feet.



OOC: Sorry about both the lateness, and possible the abserdness of this post. I'm having the Danger Room reset the wall back into place after Anna "Quantum-moved" it, as to keep her on a level playing feild, However, If this is too much...Cyke, Simple PM me, and I'll find another way across the pit.

Oh, and Firestar...enjoy the ride :hugs:
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Megaton
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After hauling Jayson and Mittens back onto terra firma -- or at least the Danger Room's excuse for it -- the large mutant hung back from the main crowd attempting to cross the chasm, taking a few short drags of his smoke, curiously witnessing each trial.

"After actually thinking...maybe it would be best if the fliers took some people over." [Paige] tried to remember who that was. "Megaton...Malena...and you, Firestar?" She turned to Firestar and grinned. "Just an idea."

The girl spoke some sense -- and Duane gave a short nod.

"Guess I can help haul a few of you over, if anyone needs a lift," he muttered out.

He was standing back not for the sake of being antisocial, but for the reason that if he was going to cross the chasm using his powers, he'd best go last -- else have his teammates incinerated in his wake.

But something happened -- just as Anna was starting to pick up that distant rumble that rocked through the ground, Duane's heavy brows furrowed, looking back over his shoulder.

Someone was playing with hydrogen, and it wasn't him.

It wasn't until that rolling explosion ripped through the tunnels behind them that Megaton completely clued into the magnitude of the situation -- and his eyes opened a bit in shock.

" ... Shit," he muttered, before turning in a run towards that open pit, just as Anna and Firestar quantam-hopped over to the other side.

Grit teeth, that cigarette clenched tightly -- he had to make it over, now that everyone else was across. That massive frame of his moved in full tilt, a heavy, mighty stampede of a run -- and, just before the chasm, he leaped forward, trusting himself to the force of his powers behind him.

Those hazel irises lit up with that volatile ember orange -- and with a yell of determination and a heavy series of powerful hydrogen blasts lighting up behind him, Duane roared across the pit, his wake leaving quite a battering and scarring against the confining steel walls of the Danger Room.

But even with all that force, he wasn't fast enough to escape the approaching onslaught of Mina's rivaling blast -- and his mighty frame seemed to disappear in the brilliant light of pure hydrogen fire.

To many, that would be a death sentence -- but a convenient side effect of Duane's powers was the fact that he was immolation resistant, else he cook his own hide every time he fired up his abilities.

So, like some rocketing beast, the hulking behemoth powered his way through the blast -- and, wisely coasting from his flight boosters as he neared his teammates across the way, he came to a slow stop with a thundering, running stride.

His frame seemed to smoke lightly, as Duane braced his stop in a momentary crouch -- and rising to his feet, he puffed at his smoke, before glancing back at his teammates -- who, all thanks to his rather overzealous rocketing past the pit, were a few feet behind his present location.

Hey, he was working on accuracy.

"Let's keep movin'," he grunted out, evidently taking a grudging leadership role -- but it would only be a few steps in before the lay of the land changed.

Lowered brows -- and his hazel eyes scanned the jutting crystals, boulders, and other sediments laid out through the Danger Room's labyrinth.

At first, he didn't know what to make of it, until he thought about it a little more -- the way the ground sank, and the way every other passage was blocked off.

Brows furrowed in concern, as he held up his hand, to halt his approaching teammates.

" ... It's an ambush."

For all his interpersonal constipation and mental baggage, Duane was far from a stupid individual. He wasn't a tactician by any measure, but he recognized the Corsair Team had just stepped into a situation that could turn into quite the hornet's nest.
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Cyclops
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Punches from the Punch Dimension
From his position, Cyclops watched the scenario play out, recognizing the good and the bad as it happened. Frankly, he was pleasantly surprised by the teamwork they were showing. He marked a few notes on their personal files as they fought their way across the first obstacle-- The Trap Door. There had, of course, been a drop of no more than four feet, but the Danger Room had hidden that fact. As contradictory as it seemed considering what was going on out there, the Danger Room was really a misnomer. It was the safest room in the building perhaps, the only one that could defend from without as well as without. There were emergency procedures in place, that should it ever come to the point that it was necessary to protect the staff and students from outside attack, that the Danger Room was to be used as a Panic Room of sorts.

Cyclops ticked off points and demerits as they moved forward.

Point to Mittens for being the first to pay attention enough to their surroundings to notice the floor, but minus a point for not speaking up quicker. One couldn't hesitate when in battle.

Point to Rock-Solid for her catch of the little catboy. Good reflexes.

Point to Megaton for each rescue of his teammates from the trapdoor. One for Rock-Solid, one for Mittens.

Point for Firestar for utilizing her powers in a controlled and non-destructive fashion to prevent her fall, but minus a point for not using them to aid her falling companions.

Point to Husk for her control over her abilities to produce the proper form to aid in helping her out of her predicament, but minus a point for the clumsy execution. She had improperly judged her surroundings.

Points to Rock-Solid and Mittens for the 'fastball special' toss. Teamwork in a distinctively mutant fashion. He'd smirked a little at the catboy's playful flip in the air. Cute.

But then they faced the first of their opponents, Flux and Mason, attacking in tandem, changing the nature of the battle as well as manipulating the battle arena. Now things were going to get interesting. Cyclops watched with interest, wondering how they were going to fight their way out of this. He would immediately call off the scenario if it became overwhelming, but he prided himself on his belief that he could judge a scenario that could be won by the particular students he was training. He would never put a water manipulator into an desert, at least not on their first mission.

Scott watched pleased as Anna began her work, amazed that she ripped a wall down to do it, considering there was to be no collotaral damage, but she was inventive with it so he gave her half a point.

They were going to lose a teammate or two if they didn't work together even faster, even more determined. But they had to stick together. This was a team exercise, not a solo attack.
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Firestar
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Firestar turned to face her team mates, most of whom were still on the other side of the trap-door. Husk, however, made the jump--Firestar winced in sympathy as Husk hit the edge with her legs, just short of a clean landing.

"After actually thinking...maybe it would be best if the fliers took some people over. Megaton...Malena...and you, Firestar?"

The young microwave emitter glanced at Husk and gave a rueful shake of her head, cheeks coloring slightly. "Ah, I don't think that would be the best idea. I don't fancy roasting the others," she muttered, running a hand through her red hair, shoving her bangs out of her eyes. She watched with an air of distinct interest as Rock-Solid prepared throw Mittens over the gap--that seemed like a rather interesting way to travel, not that she'd particularly enjoy it herself. She preferred to have control over her flight, thank you very much.

Firestar glanced back at the young catboy as he landed, well, cat-like behind her and Husk. "Enjoy the ride?" she inquired, arching an eyebrow and stifling a grin. She had always loved cats; her home had been central station for stray cats she found walking home from school. That was one thing she missed about home... Shaking her head to clear it of unwanted memories, Firestar glanced back at Rock-solid, who was preparing to make the jump.

"“If someone doesn’t stop the little kitty now I will."

Firestar turned around to look at Mittens... only he wasn't there. Looking up, she saw that he was wandering off down the hall, obviously intent on something that had captured his attention. She caught up with him a few steps later, grabbing the back of his collar gently to stop his forward movement, chuckling slightly to herself. "Where're you going, Mittens? You know curiosity killed the cat." Firestar's mild laughter at her own awful joke came to a stop a moment later as something very, very odd reached her ears.

"What the--" she muttered, as what sounded like the very air ripping and shredding came closer and closer, roaring like thunder. "Oh my..." she murmured, seeing the raging inferno filling the other end of the tunnel. She and Mittens were farthest from the blast, but it would still overtake them if they just stood still. Looking around with something akin to mild desperation, she saw a tunnel that branched off from where they were; it opened into a trench filled with puddles of water and boulders. "Head in there, Mittens, quickly!"

Firestar herself ran back to the edge of the trench, watching as Entropy grabbed another of their teammates and made her way across the pit. Megaton, too, crossed, everyone apparently out of danger now. Doing a quick head count, Firestar saw they were all there. She nodded to Megaton, who suggested they keep moving, and headed back to where she'd seen the only possible means of continuing--the trench-like tunnel.

" ... It's an ambush."

Firestar gave Megaton a curious glance, but then everything seemed to fall in place. "Of course, it's so simple!" she exclaimed under her breath. What to do, what to do, what to do... No one else seemed to be offering advice as to how to get through this without funneling out one by one to become sitting ducks, and while Firestar always seemed to have ideas on how to get out of trouble, half the time they resulted in an out of the fryingpan, into the fire scenario. Still, it was either think of something or get picked off one by one as they left the trench.

"All right... obviously it would be nearly impossible to get through this tunnel unless we go one by one, which is exactly what they had in mind, I think, so it's not something we should do. Um... ow!" Firestar jerked back suddenly; the tip of her foot had been resting in a puddle of water, though she hadn't really noticed it, and looking down now she saw part of the sole of her foot was showing through her uniform, and burning something fierce. "Ok... don't step in the water," she said, taking a couple steps back and wincing. "What was I saying..." she muttered to herself, frustration in her deep green eyes, and not a little irritation with herself for not having paid attention. "There're boulders all over this thing, probably to make us go single file... the fliers should fly over them and, if you can, carry some of the others. Though if we could get some of these boulders out of the way..." A grin lit her features. "This is what I'm actually good at," she said, taking a few steps forward, careful to avoid more puddles of water. Holding her hands before her, palms facing the nearest boulder, they began to glow a deep golden color, before a beam of light shot from them--the air around her hands shimmered with the extreme heat they were giving off, looking like flames as the beam of super-heated air and microwave radiation shot straight for the middle of the boulder, aiming to cause it to break apart, both with the force of the blast and the sudden, extreme heat.
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Jayson
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Stone Touch / Super Strength
Rock-solid knew she could make the jump but she didn't have much confidence. Yes if she could learn to pick up the momentum her type of powers should have then, without a doubt, she could make the jump. Now it would be too much to ask for. The only skills being relied upon were the ones already known.

She charged forward. Her run started slow until her speed picked up enough to hopefully make it over the chasm. A second off in the timing would mean disaster. Rock-solid jumped. With a single motion the sole of her boot pushed of the edge of the trap door. Strangely enough it felt as if she could fly for the briefest of seconds. Yet, just like Husk the distance had been misjudged. However, knowing full well the pull of gravity on her body would be different she was prepared.

A gloved had grabbed on the edge. Being the only one holding on with dare life this time the stone-turner was able to swing herself up. It was a fluid motion as if this wasn't the first time Jayson had been dangling off the edge of a cliff. After hoisting herself up she turned and looked at the rest of her teammates on the opposite side of the pit. They would make it over. She couldn't help. The catboy needed to be reminded that they had to stay together.

"Where're you going, Mittens? You know curiosity killed the cat."

~Great, another awful cat idiom,~ Mittens thought rolling his eyes. He looked up at Firestar with a face that clearly stated he wasn't amused. Even so he said nothing. There was truth in what she had said. Just then, a few more steps forward he could be risking life and limb just to find out what that mysterious light and sound were...

"What's that rumbling?" the catboy asked right before the fiery red head uttered her 'what the--.' To him the blast was much worse. Having heightened senses wasn't fun in this matter. The sound especially was worse. His tiny hands were clamping his cat ears onto his head in hopes to lessen the sounding. Not moving Mittens stared blankly at the glowing cloud like thing roaring towards him and his teammates. What in the world was going on?

Seeing Firestar grab a hold of the small catboy by the collar could have been funny. It was but not now. This was serious. Knowing full well he wouldn't run off again Rock-solid turned around and began to survey the surroundings more thoroughly. A plan had to be made because it was taking too long to find their way through the maze. By default it had to become more difficult and surprising.

Surprising now that was the correct term. Multiple events took place in quick succession. From the catboy's realization of the rumbling just before Firestar's to Entropy's ripping down a wall (that was interesting) to Megaton being engulfed in flame only to come out actually smoking, and finally, to the abrupt change of metal to Quartz... nothing could really been thought upon. Action was the only option.

In the process of running away from the roaring inferno of unknown origins Rock-solid helped Husk up and pushed her forward. This was a 'leave no man behind' type training session. Now out of danger, though not in reality, she tried to gather her bearings. The stone-turner found it impossible. This situation was becoming way too unpredictable to her liking. Well, almost would be the key word.

"An ambush?" Rock-solid said in a tone that sounded surprised. Too bad a crazy grin appeared on her face. She had been waiting for an ambush to happen. In any movie one would happen in times like the one they were in now. However, they had figured it out before the unknown step into danger happened. A new question formed: who would be behind the ambush?

The catboy’s ears twitched trying to pick out the distant noise of their attackers. If this was an actual ambush, having any sort of advantage would be great. A sour expression took over his features. “My ears are ringing,” Mittens scowled. In a quick second it evaporated. “A little too late for the warning Miss Firestar,” he muttered. Of course the puddles at their feet had to be acid. He had been in a crouch and his tail had to be touching a seemingly normal puddle of water. How smart was that? Now the tip of his tail hurt. This wasn’t really fun anymore.

Seemingly as though the group had decided before the training session began the stone-turner stepped forward. "Just as soon as Firestar clears the boulders," she said in an air as though no one had a hope of changing her mind. "I'm going first." And with that she shot a look at Megaton stating she wasn't kidding. "You come when you choose just make sure the little kitty is with someone when he comes through, OK?”

Silently Rock-solid continued her trek through the tunnel. Firestar had done a good job melting through the boulders. Suddenly her foot caught onto something just inside the exit and she tripped only to land gracefully on her bum. What a great way to enter into an ambush?
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Primarch
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Adorned in a long black outfit, which had made his current hiding all the easier, Liam Linton-Davis was making his maiden training session so to speak, he was rather proud of himself, he had single handedly made his way beyond the boulders one of his teammates was currently turning into a melted slob.

It had to be very quick, his feet had darted from a hiding spot and brought him before the boulders, It had taken great time and effort to place himself where he was, but the great effort had made the hidden pride all the sweeter, regardless he was in between several rocks and a hard place. He could hear the voices of his team mates on the opposite side of the boulders, not quite well enough to make out what they were saying but enough to now it was them, he hadn't met them yet but this would be a fine first meeting.

With quick, practiced movements his hand drew his sword, a fine thin katana like weapon that went through the boulders that had yet to be melted by Firestar's abilities. The boulder fragments fell away, a small cloud of dusty debris clouded the area for just a moment, he placed his katana to rest on his shoulder and span around so he could face those that had been waiting to ambush his corsair team mates, he had already been vulnerable enough when he left his back showing to them as he cut through the boulders to give his partners quicker access.

When he had the ambush duo in his sites and had heard the debris settle he let his head turn so he was facing slightly towards his team mates for that first meeting, trying to avoid taking his sites off the other two.

"Hey guys, you can call me Primarch, forgive me for not making a more detailed introduction but I don't think these two will wait for us." He explained before lifting the sword off his shoulder and dropping into a defensive stance. His eyes fixed on the two before him, one a blonde woman the other a somewhat long black haired man. If he was right they were both staff at the school, one its headmistress. Here's hoping he didn't do something to piss her off.
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