Finding their way

[Seer]

Illustra- War Room

<< Sometime later, Sharon, Richard, Ana-Leigh, Andrew and Mina were gathered with Delilah and Connor in the War Room.>>

<< Karen had left Illustra for the time being for personal business but would keep in touch with Delilah as needed.>>

<< The assembled team, with Delilah now comprised this world's SIX. Destiny always has a way of coming to pass, no matter what time or circumstance.>>

<< But as it is known in mainstream...no transition comes without its tests and trials...by fire.>>

<< the need was there. the motivation was truly pure. but even the road to HELL is paved with good intentions.>>

<< Before they would begin to ball their fist and strike a blow against Mystech, they first had to learn if what happened at the Parthenon was a fluke or if they could, in fact, trust each other w/ their backs in battle.>>

<< Easier said than done. Beside their vast differences as individuals, some rifts were already apparent...namely between Sharon, who's harsh life had mad her a harsh individual, and Andrew as well as Mina...who was not quite certain she wanted to remain here.>>

<< Delilah's plan had come together far better than she could have guessed but there was still more to do.>>

<< No time like the present...>>

 

[Silver Swan]

In the war room

[ A little bit of time had passed since her visits from Richard and Andrew. Andrew really pissed her off. It seemed almost hair trigger. But she'd had a similar reaction to Connor and Delilah as well. Connor and Delilah had a better understanding of her, who she was and what made her tick.]

[ Now, after a bit of time to herself, she appeared down on the War Room floor, manifesting the Silver Swan persona complete with armour and eye mask. She sat in a chair with her arms folded looking quite serious.]

[ the sounds of technology in the room were only matched by the "sounds" of those nearby. heart beats, breathing patterns, voices...no matter how hushed or whispered. her hearing gave a whole new layer of perception to the world around her. it was a tremendous advantage but sometimes it could be infuriating as well, overhearing certain things.]

 

[Mina Harker]

Illustra - 106th Floor to War Room

Mina was silent for a long moment.

It was clear to her that this boy was wearing a mask, just as sure as Silver Swan wore one. He pretended nothing bothered him to hide what he was really feeling. Something very painful had happened in his life, she was sure of it - and it had broken him.

“You had better get to training.”

He nodded and thanked her for the tea, then left as quickly as he had entered. It occurred to her that hadn’t asked her to “read” any objects for him, as people usually did.

There was no time to try and get any further sleep, so she changed her clothes and prepared herself to meet Delilah in the “War Room”. She may not be able to see, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t help research at least. After all, next to playing the piano, it was what she did best.

Once again she wondered what she was doing here, amongst this odd group of people. She even contemplated picking up and leaving. But no, there was important work to be done here and safeguarding this place was even more important. So she found her way to the secret floor and took an empty seat .

 

[MorningStar]

War Room

She knew Connor was in a foul mood but SHE wasn’t in the mood to deal with it, so she just let him bristle. He was being childish – and this new information from Karen was a godsend. Delilah and Karen said their goodbyes and then she waited for the others – The SIX – to arrive. She had wanted to address them before they went down to begin training.

“Welcome.”

She looked around at them all in turn.

“What we accomplished last night was more than I could have hoped for. You worked as a unit, together, and had each other’s backs. But we need to see if that was just a one-off, or if you’re truly ready for the task ahead. You may have seen some of our training facilities already, but Connor has just completed work on plans designed by Alison Marble for a state of the art simulator, and I’d like you all to test it out. Thanks to Karen-”

She paused and indicated Bishop.

“-and Connor”

She heard him “hrumph”.

“We have discovered the plans for NERVOUS and are formulating our plan of attack. We’re close, people. The big time is almost here, so let’s go get ready for it. Connor and I will observe you from here – and Mina will assist of, of course. The rest of you, head on in. Remember, the most important thing is to work together.”

 

[Ana-Leigh Moreau]

After departing the hospital, Delilah instructed Ana-Leigh to prepare for training. Great. The last time she trained she thought she had killed Rich. Despite knowing they needed to do this, she wasn't feeling much up to it. However she complied and headed up to her apartment to get changed before meeting everyone down in The War Room.

Walking in wearing a white long sleeved Under Armor shirt, dark gray yoga shorts, and some black Nike's, Ana's hair was pulled back into a high pony tail. As Delilah began to explain how Conner created new simulations using blue prints from Alison Marble, Ana-Leigh began to put on her black fingerless sparing gloves; mainly use for Tae Kwan Do or other martial arts activities. They were thin with just a little bit of extra padding around the knuckle area. The last thing Ana-Leigh wanted was to feel constricted in any way.

Delilah: The rest of you, head on in. Remember, the most important thing is to work together.

Walking into the room with the others without saying a word, as the doors shut, everything went pitch black.

"Well this is fun."

Ana deadpanned as she waited for whatever Conner [and Alison] had in store for them.

 

[Silver Swan]

Illustra- War Room

[ Listening to Delilah, Sharon sensed an urgency underlying her words to them. This was more than a little personal for Delilah and Sharon could empathize. She also noted Bishop's "audible" vitals. He was agitated.]

[ BOTH of them seemed to become "elevated" in ways only she could detect whenever they were near each other or related to one another. it was some tension indeed.]

[ As they were directed to the training gym down below, Silver Swan too the time to stretch.]

"Well this is fun."

Ana deadpanned as she waited for whatever Conner

[Sharon stretched a bit more and looked over her other teammates. Ana-Leigh and Richard. They could keep up for sure...finally her eyes settled on Andrew. She looked thoroughly unimpressed, rolling her eyes.]

Hmph. I thought this was a training session, not a ballet dancing lesson.

[ an obvious dig at Andrew, whom she clearly felt was not fit to be among them]

[the room is sealed and goes black. being in the dark was no problem for Sharon. A part of her power included sonar, which allowed her to see / sense what was around her. She was ready to do BATTLE.]

 

[Matrix]

Rich was on time, shirtless with athletic shorts on and wearing the newest Air Jordans. In the strictest sense he was nude, but THEY could not see that thanks to his power. Also, he had eaten all of his remaining food in preparation, so he was not hungry at ALL. He felt ready for anything and in a very good mood.

Walking into the room with the others without saying a word, as the doors shut, everything went pitch black.

"Well this is fun."

[Sharon stretched a bit more and looked over her other teammates. Ana-Leigh and Richard. They could keep up for sure...finally her eyes settled on Andrew. She looked thoroughly unimpressed, rolling her eyes.]

Hmph. I thought this was a training session, not a ballet dancing lesson.

[ an obvious dig at Andrew, whom she clearly felt was not fit to be among them]

Ana and Sharon, I'm scared. Please protect me. I don't KNOW how to ballet dance.

He said in an incredibly deep Southern drawl, his own little joke as he waited for whatever this was...

 

[Titan]

Danger Room

Everyone was stretching. Except Andrew. What the hell was going on?

"Well this is fun."

Andrew grinned.

“Hey – any time someone’s NOT actually trying to kill you is fun to me.”

Things looked to be starting out lighthearted, but then the old sourpuss was there to kill the entire mood.

Hmph. I thought this was a training session, not a ballet dancing lesson.

Ana and Sharon, I'm scared. Please protect me. I don't KNOW how to ballet dance.

Andrew burst out laughing.

“From what I saw earlier, I think Sharon would like to teach you.”

Andrew winked at Rich - that kid was alright.

“To be sure, I’d look GOOD in tights though.”

Andrew posed for the crowd.

Unfortunately for them, then everything went black.

 

[Seer]

The training room

<< One of the more extensive renovations to Illustra. Designed by the late Alison Marble and Haleigh Davidoff, it is a large room that houses hidden devices such as traps, projectile firing devices, flamethrowers, and mechanical dangers such as presses, collapsing walls. These are the more obvious measures designed to test trainees. The Room becomes more interesting and deadly in that it ALSO employs hard light holographic technology that will [among other things] defy trainees sense and perception of space. The FINAL component, created by Haleigh. A program that taps into primal fears of trainees. To test and confront them in order to better help them handle themselves in battle. THIS part was perhaps the most controversial. A piece that Alison and Haleigh had disagreed on but ultimately Alison relented. >>

<< the space had been created and the initial components of the room had been installed before Alison, Haleigh and the others died. BUT the rest had to be hanled by Clandestine Inc and Jennifer, Haleigh's right hand woman, faciliated that for Bishop and Delilah as a courtesy. Now everything was in place and it was time to use it. Time to test the new forming team.>>

<< The four stand, close together, forming an offensive line. As the lights black out, Silver Swan has no time to even use a wave of sonar as for blue flashes of light, evenly spaced out, indicate the manifestation of energy charged carbonium tentacles that lick and flow forward, charging for the four. the lighting in the room moves from black up to a dark blue.>>

<< each light represented a set of two tentacles charing forward for each person. the tentacles are powerful enough to constrict a battle tank and could easily knock a person down. the energy of the tentacles would discharge a painful jolt of energy designed to leave a person paralyzed and down for the count if it wraps around the target.>>


<< this was just the peliminary round.>>

 

[Silver Swan]

In the danger room

[ Standing in the middle of the line, Silver Swan found herself being confronted with the two large tentacles from the center.]

[ as they rush madly toward her and the others scatter while tentacles come for them, Silver Swan doesnt move. They reach her and she GRABS them.]

[ Overpowering them, she begins to pull back, lifting off the ground and moving back further still before flying up in the air with unexpected speed and at an angle, applying her super strength, she manages to SNAP and YANK the tentacles out from the wall where they sprouted. the energy feed back is tremendous, but but this particular energy and at its current level is not enough to harm her invulnerable form.]

<< the danger room begins broadcasting vitals and power output levels from all the trainees. Silver Swans are definitey on the high end. But the computer systems are able to adjust to each target simultaneously. Panels in the walls high above open and laser projectors begin FIRING at Silver Swan in ever increasing patterns, challenging her speed and agility. The beams are pressor beams of photons, similar to MorningStar's photon blasts and packing considerable concussive power.This was still the first round.

[ Silver Swan wastes no time taking evasive maneuvers, flying through the air high. She had to deal with being in an enclosed space as well as a steady stream of photon blasts. She demonstrated remarkable speed and agility but soon, the waves of photon blasts were coming closer and varying angles]


ENOUGH!!!

[ She cries out with annoyance as she starts flying TOWARD some of the laser projectors before making an abrupt dive and then cutting LEFT, ZOOMING past Andrew and Richard. she climbs up and cuts right, flying along the wall where the projectors sit and as she closes in on them, she SMASHES through them. taking them out and knocking them down from the walls. She tears through them like a bowling ball through pins]

 

[Seer]

Tests and Trials

<< MorningStar and Bishop were watching the trainees as well as getting data feeds from the danger room. Silver Swan's patterns were described as aggressive and calculated. She WAS after all originally programmed to be a killing machine. Her fearlessness thus far made it seem that she would be able to handle whatever was thrown at her but the "game" was just beginning.>>

<< As Silver Swan took out the wall blasters, concussive energy blasts began to DETONATE on the ground around where Richard and Andrew were standing. In random, unpredictable patterns while another panel on a wall moved and several flying, spinning, spiked discs (similar to something Silver Swan would manifest) came zooming toward Ana-Leigh.>>

 

[Ana-Leigh Moreau]

The room was pitched black, but it didn't stay that way for long. Four lights began to surge towards them quickly, seemingly attached to tentacles of some sort. Crouching down, a golden aura began to form around Ana-Leigh's hand as a handle made of purse energy formed in her grip with a thick hammer-like head at the end of it. The golden weapon began to glow brighter and brighter, actually creating light throughout the dark space. As the tentacle approached her and from above, ready to strike like a viper, Ana-Leigh leaped into the air swinging the hammer with all her might until it connected with a giant BOOM. The light exploded around them as the energy from the hammer completely overtook the tentacle, sending an "internal" shockwave through the tentacle and making it explode, destroying it completely.

Landing on her feet, there wasn't much time to take a breath before the next attack. Hearing a "wooshing" sound fly by her, the light from her energized hammer illuminated the area enough to see a metal throwing star stuck to the side of the wall where she was standing near. Quickly dive rolling as more stars and spiked discs came flying her way, Ana's hammer elongated into a large staff. Using her Tae Kwan Doe skills, she began to elegantly and easily fight off the stars and discs using her energized staff to hit them [and ultimately destroy them upon impact] away from her. As she fought off the assault, she noticed that they were all coming from one particular panel. Charging her staff up, Ana hit three more spiked discs before quickly and with perfect accuracy, throwing the staff like a javaline directly into the panel, causing it to explode.

Knowing this was far from the end, Ana--or as Delilah liked to call her--Artemis, manifested her favorite and ultimately her most deadly weapon; her bow. Primed and ready, she waited for the next assault.

 

[Matrix]

As the lights charged and the tentacles came for them, Rich did not move. At the last second ad the threatened to encircle him, he turned to:

Plasma...the fourth form of matter, energized electrons. This plasma form is lightning.

Upon contact, the coils were destroyed by the intense heat and electricity feedback from contact with his body. He was unharmed by the energy due to the form he took.

NEXT!!

He spoke too soon as the ground erupted beneath him. He took...

Nitrogen-the most plentiful gas on the planet's atmosphere.

...as a form as a reflexive defense. To this point he had focused on reacting; but now he tried to incorporate the others and, he saw Ana kicking some serious ass, managing to disable the panel that controlled the spikes flying at her randomly.

DAMN!

 

[Titan]

Danger Room

Andrew didn’t really know what to expect, though the others seemed to know more than he did. Maybe it was some Hunger Games style fight off? But not in a million years was he prepared for what came at him after the lights went. Two tentacles, whipping and weaving, electrified or something, and coming for him.

As they reached where he was standing, he leapt into the air as one tentacle passed beneath his feet and pivoted his body to avoid the other as it came crashing down. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Silver Swan destroy her tentacles, just taking the electric shock from them as they broke to pieces. It was an impressive show of resilience. He noticed Ana-Leigh, too, had smashed her tentacles.

In addition to Sharon’s prowess, Andrew also noticed something about the tentacles’ construction, identifying a switch plate at the base where the tentacles joined. He continued dodging the tentacles with his super agility, making his way to where a small shard of one of Artemis’ tentacles had fallen. Picking it up, he aimed and threw it precisely at the switchplate, causing it to pry open and reveal the tentacles’ circuits and wiring inside.

As the tentacles came for him once more, he jumped, allowing the tentacles themselves to propel him as he bounded from one to the other and then launched himself towards the switchplate. He went into a forward roll as he landed, still clutching the handful of wiring he had pulled out from the unit on his way past. He looked back to see the tentacles flailing in all directions for a moment before stopping dead.

He turned his head to see Rich standing near him and grinned, dropping the tentacles’ innards to the ground.

“Piece of cake.”

But even as he said it, explosions started going off at his feet, and Rich seemed to disappear. Andrew dodged, barely allowing his feet to touch the ground.

“Just like home.”

 

[Seer]

Tests and Trials - phase II

<< The danger room programming progresses.>>

auto toned version of Alison Marble's voice: initial combat data on all subjects present has been recorded and analyzed. now shifting to phase two.


<< The danger room begins to shift. walls move, platforms shift. soon, the sound of energy and technology swirls around them as hard light manifests. Silver Swan, Artemis, Matrix and Titan find themselves in Central Park. A clear starry night with a super moon in effect.The hard light and holographic technology gives the feel and perception that where they are is much larger than it seems.>>

<< ZOMBIES, All over the place, are lumbering about and soon notice the four. They begin to close in.>>

<< Matrix and Artemis are faced oncoming zombies 10 of them. Silver Swan, who was still airborn and hovering when the shift occurred, is now in an advantageous position. ONE test objective is to see if she will continue to think of the others as teammates and help them accordingly. >>

<< Titan is is faced with close and deadly odds as 5 zombies are converging upon him at all sides.>>

 

[Silver Swan]

to save or not to save

[ the sounds and sudden change of scenery didnt sit well with Silver Swan]

It's like....the CITADLE!

[She says with visible agitation.]


[ Hovering above the others, she sees the zombies...]

MORE Bio hazards!

[ She was NOT pleased with this. She'd seen these creatures during her time in the citadle. she knew where they came from. some of them were people who had been TARGETED for the virus that turned them into these things!]


[ but this was a test. this wasnt what it FELT like.]

[ the zombies were coming after all of them on the ground. Andrew was in the most danger. But so what!? This should give him a much needed lesson in humility right?]

[ Sharon's first impulse was to turn her back and Bishop could see that. He saw her in action before. She NEVER wavered but she was NOW considering leaving Andrew to his fate]

[ but just as it seemed she would do that, she immediately dives down, toward Andrew, unflinchingly barreling THROUGH the zombies and snatching up Andrew, carrying him UP and away from the creatures.]

You're going to have to be BETTER than this if you expect to survive what Mystech has to throw at you, skinny man.

[ She saved him from from the zombies, looping around in the air and landing back down to the ground, dropping him.]

[ as the zombies began to come after them again, Silver Swan extends her arms, spinning "wonder woman" style. Faster and faster until she becomes a funnel of silver "wind" and now spins TOWARD the zombies, unleashing a volley of high speed spinning stars that SLASH and slice up the five zombies]

 

[Titan]

Danger Room

Suddenly everything changed. The walls, floors were moving. It was as if they had been teleported but it didn’t feel like when Karen had done that to get them inside Illustra. But here they were, in what could only have been Central Park, at night. And oh yes, there were zombies.

This was one of those times that, like in a night terror, you keep telling yourself it’s not real but can’t quite convince yourself of it. Because there they were, closing in on him, reaching out for him from all sides. But he was ready to fight it out. And hey, it was all just a dream, right? He raised his hands in an offensive stance…

…only to be plucked from the center of the (what felt like a) horde by Silver Swan.

“JESUS!”

She was carrying him through the air. Somewhere in the recesses of his subconscious he knew that he was in more danger right now than he had been with the zombies. Silver Swan was apt to drop him to his death at any moment.

You're going to have to be BETTER than this if you expect to survive what Mystech has to throw at you, skinny man.

Andrew stared down at the ground far below and gulped.

“Well you didn’t give me much of a chance now, did you?”

She didn’t drop him, though, rather she set him down and landed next to him.

“But thanks.”

Zombies were still coming for them, and Silver Swan unleashed a fierce attack, slicing them with silver blades that somehow came from her spinning body.

“Now THAT, that there is pretty cool, bird lady.”

He couldn’t let Sharon go it alone, though, so he picked up a fallen tree branch laying on the ground and wielded it like a hurley stick, making his way through the crowd of zombies bashing each in the skull.

 

[Matrix]

There was a moment of almost a vertigo as the environment changed. The there were zombies. Lots of them. Just like at the homeless shelter. He inhaled, and his heartbeat accelerated wildly, as he staggered back a bit. But he did not freeze like before, instead he UNLEASHED.

He stepped forward as he turned to metal and his arms transformed...

...into a pair of .30-06 rifles.

Crack! Crack!

Two dead by head shots.

But he was not stopping there. He began unloading gunfire into the other zombies as he angrily mumbled something that Delilah and Sharon would hear...

FuckyousonsofbitchesfortakingmyfriendsI'llkillyouall.

One was left and as it shambled forward Rich turned his arms into HUGE hammers and began bludgeoning the beast,over and over, now oblivious to his surroundings as his heart rate accelerated and he grunted with each swing.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

 

[MorningStar]

War Room

Bishop was making a good show of ignoring her and pretending to be focused completely on the rundowns of NERVOUS he was working on. But Delilah saw his eyes being pulled to the live feed from the Danger Room below. Eventually he gave up the pretense and joined her watching what was going on with her team. Delilah, on the other hand, was made uneasy by watching the young people below. This room was designed for Morgan and HER team, including Delilah. In another life it would be them down there, and Delilah would be with them with legs that worked.

Bishop, meanwhile, enjoyed seeing Andrew put through his paces. He scoffed.

Connor: “Andrew is clearly the weakest link. Time to send him back to paddy-land.”

Delilah gave him a hard look.

“I think he’s doing surprisingly well. The others all have built-in weapons - we sent Andrew in there with nothing.”

Connor: “Doesn’t make him any less weak.”

As the second phase began, Delilah’s brow furrowed.

“They’re still not working as a unit. They should be moving together more…”

Bishop kept his focus on Silver Swan. He believed her to be the lynchpin of this group: brutal and fearless, completely focused on defeating MysTech. He watched her visibly see Andrew surrounded then turn away from him. He swore under his breath. He knew that Delilah would balk on Silver Swan if she couldn’t work with the others…

…but then she turned back and plucked Andrew from the clutches of the zombies.

Connor: “Yes.”

Delilah still looked worried.

Connor: “Just relax – they’re getting it. Watch.”

 

[Ana-Leigh Moreau]

This was a little too easy. However Ana-Leigh knew these simulations only tested out their abilities first before really pulling out the tricks. So right now, as she stood waiting for the next obstacle, she was pretty relaxed and ready. Then suddenly everything went black again. The room began to change around them, slowly lighting back up to reveal that they were now standing in central park with zombies surrounding them. A smirk appeared on her lips.

"Target practice."

With her golden bow [manifested with her own energy] at the ready, she pulled back as an arrow immediately materialized. Letting go, the arrow zoomed across the grassy knoll hitting one zombie right between the eyes with perfect accuracy. The zombie's head exploded on impact. Pulling her bow back again, two arrows materialized as she released them; the arrows simultaneously hitting two different zombies both in the hallow of their neck, blowing their heads clear off their bodies. Again, she pulled the bow back with an arrow materializing, this time she aimed for the ground in front of three zombies lumbering toward her. Releasing the arrow, as it hit the ground it created an explosion under their feet like an IED, blowing all three to kingdom come.

"Now THIS is fun."

She said with a grin, aiming the bow in the completely opposite direction as where she was looking [think Hawkeye in The Avengers], and releasing a materialized arrow at a zombie that was "sneaking" up behind her. The arrow literally entering his agape mouth with perfect accuracy, exploding upon impact.