G: Capture the Flag

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DRYAD: Dryad looked around the library in excitement. There are so many books! The covers were so varied, from hardcover to paper back, to a couple leather-bound old ones that seemed promising to the pseudo leather bound ones. But where to start, she asked herself. Callie ran over to a section of the library where a bookshelf obscured herself from view. She wanted to talk with people, but her social skills were less than par when it came to making friends. Callie wasn’t rude or anything, she just didn’t view herself with much respect and thus her confidence was notably lacking when she tried to expand her circle of acquaintances.

While peering around the library, her attention was brought upon a certain email when she spotted a clock. “Oh gosh, the training scenario!” Callie began to run between shelves and out the door as she made her way to the subbasement. She had only been here three days, and she was actually going to be late to one of these things. She had been shown around the school by Jean, and Callie didn’t have any time to actually explore anything by herself. It was enough to have to remember how to get to her dorm, let alone this underground facility.

She knew very well why a physical and mental preparatory training room existed. But something unnerved her every time she overheard about it. Upon thinking of the term, physical and mental preparatory training room, Callie couldn’t get out of her head whether calling the danger room that would cause people to look at her like a know it all. Did it really matter, she asked herself. “With all my luck, people will at least be civil with me.“

Finally in the locker room, she slipped into her suit. Leather, oh gosh, great. Couldn’t they make the costumes out of something else? “Callie,” She quickly reprimanded herself. “you are very lucky. Don’t blow it.” Telling herself this forced herself to calm down and get back on track as she slipped on her running shoes and made her way to the danger room itself.

She quickly braided her hair into ponytails to keep her hair from flying about in what ever physical activity they needed to complete. But no matter how well she braided her hair, her physical capacity was going to be diminished. Callie curled into herself as she took a break to catch her breath. It was day three of not eating, but it was the last thing she wanted to think about. She broke her eating strike three days ago which was the day she first came to the mansion. But ever since then she had been right on track again. The funny this was that it didn’t hurt her as much as she thought it would by now. This was practically day six of not eating when Callie broke her strike, and she ate very little that day. But right now, there was nothing more than a little stomach cramp.

She knew if she waited too much longer, they would notice she was missing, so Callie went right back to running to the danger room. Her heart finally calmed down as she made her way through the actual door. Oh god, she thought to herself. ‘The pain is getting worse. I just got to suck it up.’

She looked around the room to observe her surroundings. It’s that blue man again. Something about the Beast terribly intrigued her whenever she set her eyes on him. Seeing an anthropomorphic being was something she never dreamed of seeing, but to her luck she went to a school of mutants. Her attention was cut away as she wiped some tears from her eyes as they began to water. There was a girl who looked like a normal girl but was really dead. Civitateo was the first term to come to mind once she heard of the girl. Maybe she was even be part Aztec? Callie was going to take advantage of her chance to speak with her once she and her were alone.

A very handsome blonde guy was standing three feet away from her, and Callie quickly diverted her gaze for fear of him noticing. A boyfriend was not on her list of things to accomplish at this school, as much as she always hoped for one. Another blond, only much prettier, was also standing close by her as well. He looked like he was gay, she assumed. He was way too pretty to be straight, and if he was then his girlfriend would be very envious.

Two girls who seemed to have East Asian heritage were present, but they could not look more the opposite. One gave off a look that seemed like it could cut right through you, and she had an air about her which practically shouted for you to back off. Maybe it was just Callie, but that was what she got from her. The other girl was very enthusiastic, she even had roller blades on. Oh my goodness! Where they going to roller blade?! She didn’t bring hers! She had not even tried to roller blade in years. ‘Wait a second, nobody else is wearing them…’ A quick sigh of relief escaped her as she continued to look at her group.

Callie began to zone out slightly, but snapped herself back into reality when she realized she had nearly drooled. The last person she had to look at was a guy who was shorter than her. He seemed cute as well, but not all that smart from what she could tell. She knew she shouldn’t judge. For all she knew he would be smarter than her, but even recognizing her bias she couldn’t help but wonder just how well he could keep up in a conversation.

Dryad crossed her arms as she moved away from the group. She had been looking forward to this, but it did not remove her inability to socialize without coming off as a bookworm. Callie didn’t want to say anything but knew that to make friends she would need to work with them as a team. She stared at Beast, knowing he was the senior in the group, and waited for him to acknowledge her.

Message 26 of 101. [#35563]

Summary: DRYAD runs from the library when she remembers she has danger room practice. She then looks around the room and observes her teammates.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: BEAST, CLOUD, DEAD GIRL, JUBILEE, MAREMOTO, TALON, VULCAN

TALON: Kirika watched as Dead Girl entered into the area along with Dryad finally. She stood there by the drainage grate as Dead Girl asked about some song she had been singing about something she would most definitely not do. Kirika just smirked a little. She watched as Paz and Beast moved the drums of water, then dumped them out onto the ground. She watched as the water splashed over her boots and went down the drain slightly. She just looked back up to Paz for a breif moment.

She smiled at Jubilee, "Not a problem at all Jubilee."

She shook her head at the girl's salute. "Good idea Jubilee, your powers will come in of great use. We also need to devise a diversion to Emma Frost. As she will likely try to pry into our minds, well, actually it is a given that she will." Kirika then looked to Cloud she sensed his great discomfort. She sighed softly and walked over to him.

"I think that is a very good idea for you Cloud."

Kirika placed a hand on his shoulder. "But please remember, whether the team as a whole completes this task, or it fails. Remember, we did our best as a team, and no matter what you do to help Cloud it is an asset. It is okay to be scared, to be so nervous your shaking, we have all been there at some point."

The Japanese woman spoke softly to him, letting him know his fears and concerns are understood. She then looked to Beast as he suggested the further placement of the team, she nodded in approval.

"I do think we need to seal off as many possible entry points as well. Along with Paz here in the warehouse we need another to handle other possible attacks that are not directly aimed at getting the flag, but instead are aimed as a diversionary tactic."

Kirika nodded to Dryad as she let go of Clouds shoulder and returned to the grate in the floor, she knelled down and started to inspect it. She sniffed the air, she brushed away some of the grime and dirt to uncover the screws, her mind deep in thought on alternate routes, both for defensive and offensive measures.

Message 27 of 101. [#35567]

Summary: TALON speaks to JUBILEE, CLOUD, DEAD GIRL, and the rest. While examining the perimeter for entry point faults.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: BEAST, MAREMOTO, JUBILEE, CLOUD, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, VULCAN

ROGUE: Alright. So, Rogue would be leading the charge for the other team's flag, along with Scamper and Lightning. Epiphany had suggested that Rogue copy Scamper's telekinetic powers, which were much easier to control than Epiphany's telepathy, that was for sure. However, TK was no walk in the park. It was a good thing that Rogue had a little practice. Very little, but a little bit nonetheless. It was mostly mind over matter. She would just have to focus.

"Good idea," Rogue replied to Epiphany as she let her eyes wander over her teammates, debating about her other possible options… "How much time is this supposed ta last?" Rogue would need to budget how much time she would need to retain any copied powers. "Is there a set time?"

EPIPHANY: Probably not… Telepathy was still a bit of a struggle for Rogue.

DOMINO: A good, solid 'maybe'. Rogue didn't truly understand how the girl's powers worked - she was just… lucky. And super-agile. That could prove to be handy…

LIGHTNING: No, likely not a good idea. Miguel was 'living lightning'. So much could go wrong, and Rogue has absolutely no experience with his abilities.

PYRO: Well, as Rogue hadn't thought to bring her own lighter, Pyro's powers wouldn't really do her too much good.

SCAMPER: Definitely! Rogue had seen Jayne in action, and she had been itching to give her TK a whirl. It shouldn't give Rogue too much difficulty, although it might take a few moments to adjust to.

SPECTRE: The last time Rogue had been in a position to potentially copy Spectre's powers, he had vehemently opposed it, stating that it was simply too dangerous. Rogue assumed that this was still the case.

WOLFSBANE: Probably not. Rogue was not comfortable copying physical mutations.

~~~

Rogue tried to also remember who was on the other team… who might be able to provide a desirable power-set on the field… if she is able to get close enough to 'snipe' their powers, that is:

BEAST: Out of the question. (No offense, Hank)

TALON: Ooh, killer instincts and a healing factor… yes please!

CLOUD: There was too much about Cloud that Rogue didn't know.

DEAD GIRL: Probably not, although it had been fun to hang out at the bottom of the pool and not need to breathe - that was the last time Rogue had copied Tatyana's powers.

DRYAD: New girl. Controlled plants? Mmm… Probably not.

JUBILEE: Rogue has experience with Jubilee's powers. A definite 'maybe', should she get an opportunity.

MAREMOTO: New guy. Hydrokinesis. Probably wouldn't need to copy that…

VULCAN: His powers could be quite handy… Should she get close enough.

Message 28 of 101. [#35580]

Summary: ROGUE asks EPIPHANY how long this is supposed to last, as she needs to budget how much time she will need to use any copied powers. She also mentally runs through everyone involved in this training exercise to decide who else's powers she may wish to copy - either on her team, or on the other team.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

OOC: Tagged teams below are separated by a semicolon.

Tags: EPIPHANY DOMINO LIGHTNING PYRO SCAMPER SPECTRE WOLFSBANE; BEAST TALON CLOUD DEAD GIRL DRYAD JUBILEE MAREMOTO VULCAN

PYRO: He really didn't understand why Rahne kept crossing his path, seemingly of her own accord. Did she just not have the sense to pick up on what everyone else did, the invisible mark of Cain he seemed to wear like a stain on his soul, a warning to stay away, like tropical insects in their livid colours. She just didn't seem to grasp that he was dangerous and diseased and deadly, something to be avoided at all costs. Instead, she apparently insisted on seeking him out, and fixing him with that damnable green-eyed stare that made the Aussie wonder if she was actually looking through him, rather than at him. The feral types were meant to be scarily adept at reading people, weren't they? That whole 'enhanced senses' thing? He couldn't help but wonder just what information he might be giving away without even realizing it.

Wolfsbane continued to regard him with weighty expectation, and he didn't know what it was she wanted from him. “I'm bloody here, aren't I?” he challenged, trying to put forth his usual vitriol, yet there remained something pleading, almost desperate behind shadowed, bruised-looking grey eyes. 'Please don't ask me for answers I don't have.' The suicide attempt had been hushed up, at least – the rest of the students who'd actually noticed simply knew that he'd been absent for a stretch of a few weeks. The MGH though … that was public knowledge, and Rahne had been there to witness it firsthand. Being as he'd not actually talked about it with anyone, she probably had her own fair share of questions, but he honestly didn't know how to respond to them.

“I think they're getting started,” he sighed tiredly, looking towards the rest of Exaclibur, who seemed to be forming up in preparation for the exercise. He had personally remained unmoved by Miss Frost's speech; the fact that he was considered a problem and a liability was nothing new to the Aussie … he'd been hearing the same thing for as long as he could recall. He'd received his orders, and though he felt absolutely no connection to the task at hand, Pyro had seemingly already resigned himself to it.

Message 29 of 101. [#35583]

Summary: Pyro responds to Wolfsbane without actually offering much in terms of information or insight, while preparing to deal with the assigned task at hand.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: EPIPHANY, ROGUE, DOMINO, LIGHTNING, SCAMPER, SPECTRE, WOLFSBANE

DOMINO: [ROGUE] "Well, yeah… Good point. What d'ya think we could do about that?"

“Well, we’ve certainly got plenty work with,” Dom responded, sizing up the available assets that surrounded them. “Really, this is a matter of using what we know about our opposition to determine what we can expect them to come at us with.”

The conveying of her logic might have been a bit dizzying, but the gist was there. Sun Tzu put it best: ‘If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.’ Tam was supremely confident that with Kirika in command of the Maverick squad that she would leave the charge of her offensive squad to no one other than herself.

[EPIPHANY] "Excellent analysis, Domino. I will retain your services here to head the defense of our territory. At least until I change my mind."

Excellent! Domino would have insisted on it anyway. If Talon was coming, then holding the fort was exactly where she wanted to be. In a rather odd way, Emma Frost seemed to be right in her element, though she did seem to be lacking something… say aviator sunglasses, a brain bucket, and a riding crop?

“There are two schools of thought on holding our keep,” she started in with her brief. “And I suggest we employ both. As much as I’d like to adopt the missive from the Art of War and make our little fortress unassailable, I have to believe that at some point strategic minds like Henry and Kirika will figure out some way in.”

“I’m not proposing just rolling up the door and welcoming them in with open arms and afternoon tea. But if Plan A is to keep their offensive out, then should that plan fail, Plan B should be to keep that offensive in… specifically stuck and stranded in here. They might get in and get our flag, but they’ve got to get out and back in order to score.”

Truth be told, she was stealing this strategy from some obscure film she’d seen. Well, not so much obscure as just forgettable, so much so that she couldn’t name it offhand.

“I presume,” Dom said with a wry smile towards her pale commandant, “you would prefer to pitch for the shutout. All we need do is to throw something odd and unaccountable in their way.”

Tamara turned her attention towards their deputy leader with the edgy skunk stripe in her hair.

“You’re welcome to tap my abilities, I have to imagine they’d play well with Jayne’s,” so perhaps the last part wasn’t just directed at Rogue. “No idea how you work around turning them off and on, they’ve always just sort of been there for me. Best advice I can give is… balls to the wall. If you need to amp yourself up, Mig there is always good for a pick-me-up zap… provided you’ve got a decent threshold for pain.”

Slowly, Domino’s line of sight drifted towards the windows that lined the upper portion of the walls. It wasn’t so much that they were susceptible points of entry… or at least they shouldn’t be. Warehouses like this came standard-to-code with double-pane safety glass – usually with chicken wire between the panes. No, there was something else about them on her mind.

“First things first, we need to board those windows,” she asserted. “The vast majority of our defensive number maintain significant advantages in darker conditions… not the least of which is our Mister Gibson. And just as importantly, if we’re operating under cloud of darkness, any light we force them to produce does quite of bit to betray their individual locations leaving them vulnerable to entrapment.”

Message 30 of 101. [#35584]

Summary: DOMINO internally compares EPIPHANY to George Patton, then proposes a defense strategy or two.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, DOMINO

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

OOC: I paintball… oddly enough I've used this strategy to an extremely high level of efficiency in the past.

Tags: EPIPHANY, SCAMPER, ROGUE, PYRO, SPECTRE, WOLFSBANE, LIGHTNING

LIGHTNING: Miguel was just getting to the Danger room, right before the game started. He was not really used to wearing the Uniform, he looked good in it that was a given, but he was going to end up out of it in seconds, which he didn't really mind either, after all his powers worked best when he was in his natural form. He tried to remember the last time, if ever he had ever played capture the flag. He was sure that technically the principles were the same as paint ball game he had played, but then again, this was actually different because now he had powers, the only problem was he was not really good at war games.

Team Excalibur, maybe he should have an electrified sword or something. "Say are there any metal bits in the flag for me to grab onto or will I have to turn back to flesh and blood to take the flag when I get there?' He asked the others as he shifted to his lightning form, his uniform dropping to the ground. This was going to be fun. He ignored Pyro griping, he wondered if he actually had fun. "If not I will run interference to get either you Rogue or Scamper closer."

Message 31 of 101. [#35585]

Summary: Miguel asks about the components of the flag.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

OOC: Pyro tagged for mention

Tags: ROGUE, SCAMPER, PYRO

WOLFSBANE: It was the most strange thing… Pyro was avoiding her in a way she'd never seen him act before…

[PYRO: I'm bloody here aren't I?]

"Maybe, but you're not here the way you are supposed to be… "

She stood her ground staring at Pyro not moving an inch.

She linked through to Emma:

◄ May Pyro and I be excused, He's not ready for this. He needs help, I can feel it!►

She hoped that whatever penalty this favor would unleash, it would be worth it. Pyro was not himself and obviously he didn't know who he was now. He always had his hard shell to hide behind prior, but now it seemed to be simply… missing.

[PYRO: “I think they're getting started,”]

"I know, but you're not ready. You need something else than training right now… " she said. It seemed that he was more a broken teen than anything else right now. Rahne wanted to help and knew that Pyro wouldn't accept anything offered to him. She would have to force this upon him.

It seemed that Pyro resisted and she raised her voice: "They will understand!" she pushed him away from the entrance. "You will endanger more lives than you can save if you don't have a change of heart in this game. Now go! she pointed to the stairs…

Pyro had no way of knowing that Rahne would be following him upon leaving. She just hoped she could help him. He needed a lot of things off his chest! It was obvious to anyone.

Message 32 of 101. [#35587]

Summary: WOLFSBANE takes a leap of faith, asks EPIPHANY for her and PYRO to be excused from the DR session and before getting a reply, she sends PYRO away to have a talk with him.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: EPIPHANY and PYRO

EPIPHANY: Emma considered Domino's idea with a sober expression. The more she mulled over Domino's suggestion, the more she liked it.

"So you think it a good stratagem to form a trap around our flag, yes? Make our little fort here as inviting as we can make it, then introduce the unexpected into the plan."

"I approve… " Emma drawled with a nod. "In fact, I will recall our assault force as they sally forth towards the opponent's flag, thus capturing them in a classic pincher movement."

Emma put a hand on Dom's shoulder.

"Just remember, our honored opponents have no doubt read Sun Tsu as well."

It seemed that Pyro resisted and she raised her voice: "They will understand!" she pushed him away from the entrance. "You will endanger more lives than you can save if you don't have a change of heart in this game. Now go! she pointed to the stairs…

Pyro had no way of knowing that Rahne would be following him upon leaving. She just hoped she could help him. He needed a lot of things off his chest! It was obvious to anyone.

Emma stepped up to the pair of young mutants.

"Wolfsbane, stand down." she said simply and coolly.

With that, she looked to Pyro directly.

"If Pyro wants to remove himself from today's exercise, I have no recourse but to approve of it. I will not have someone on my team that simply is not prepared to be a functional part of it."

Emma then looked back to the excitable Scots girl.

"But should Pyro choose to take part or not in this exercise, Miss Sinclair, it is entirely his choice. Not yours."

Epiphany took a quiet breath before continuing.

"I would rather you be here with us, St John. There's no better way to determine your strengths and weaknesses than under fire. If anyone should know that, it would be you."

With that, she gave him a momentary smile.

"But, it's your call. I won't order you to stay. That would only reinforce your recalcitrance. But if you stay, you will already have won in my eyes. The only way to lose in life is to never try at all. This is true in the Danger Room as well."

Message 33 of 101. [#35598]

Summary: Emma changes tactics based upon Domino's suggestions, then addresses Pyro and Wolfsbane for their current issues.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING

CLOUD: Danny was eternally grateful for Hank’s suggestion for places where he’d be able to shift back and forth between forms in privacy. While he understood that other students whose mutations had similar side-effects – Lightning, on the opposing Exaclibur squad, for example – had little to no qualms regarding public exposure, his own situation was slightly more … complicated. Whether or not his blue-furred squad leader knew just how complicated, the blond could only guess. He’d set off alarm bells in the past for a few of the Institute’s residents who were possessed of enhanced senses; the ferals, in particular, seemed to very quickly discern that something about his pheromones was decidedly ‘off’. Was Hank now among this number? Cloud daren’t ask, not wanting to bring any further attention to what was already an awkward and uncomfortable predicament. “I … thanks,” he replied sincerely, but couldn’t quite find the courage to look the older boy in the eye, “I really appreciate it … really.”

As Jubilee, and then Talon tried their best to offer him some small degree of comfort and reassurance before the test began, Danny wondered what was more humiliating: the fact that he had an anxiety problem to begin with, or the fact that it was so obvious to his teammates, who all felt compelled to comment on it. He tried to remind himself that at least Jubilee, and Tatyana too, knew he wasn’t always such a hopeless case. Both girls had come with him to volunteer at the shelter, and both had born witness to a far more composed, relaxed Cloud, who seemed calmer and happier and almost at-ease inside his own skin. Animals he could handle. Even a few people, provided they weren’t total strangers, he could handle. But big groups like this, combined with the added pressures and demands of training, left him feeling cripplingly overwhelmed and frustrated. The pity though … the pity just made it that much worse.

“I’m ok,” he promised, despite the fact that even despite the uniform, he was pretty sure the others could probably see his heart hammering away like an angry hummingbird in his chest. He’d been given instructions, at least, and something to focus on; the conscientious young man would try his hardest to do as he’d been told. “I can help hide it,” he agreed with Jubilee’s suggestion, “And if they get too close, I can … well, I can try to slow them down.” He couldn’t guarantee that the limited offensive capabilities of his powers would have much effect, but he was willing to make an attempt.

Message 34 of 101. [#35599]

Summary: Cloud thanks Beast for the suggestion of privacy, and struggles to get his anxiety under control, promising Jubilee and Talon that he will try his best to help defend their team's flag.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: BEAST, TALON, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, JUBILEE, MAREMOTO, VULCAN

SCAMPER: Scamper was away from the main group of her team, stretching out carefully on the floor of the warehouse. Being that this was the first time she had been with this team for training, she was watching carefully to figure out the dynamics of the squad.

The woman with the snow white hair, Miss Frost? She seemed to have things well in hand. Some of the team was acting a bit skittish, especially the young man everyone called Pyro. She thought he seemed so lost, clearly in pain. He probably has some kind of Obsessive Compulsion Disorder, she reasoned, from his constant handling of the zippo lighter in his hands.

There was also Domino, the queen of combat. She felt a bit of residual disappointment that they had never been able to address what had happened on the camping trip. But Jayne was patient. She hoped she could still be friends with the delightful yet monochromatic lady.

She liked Rahne immensely, but she thought she might be out of order trying to get poor Pyro out of the exercise. The only way he would be more comfortable would be to get experience. This Danger Room seemed to be ideal for that sort of thing.

At last, Scamper sauntered over to Rogue and grinned toothily. And for a Brit, her teeth were quite excellent.

"So we're to be the tip of the spear for our team, yes? I suggest we go as fast as we can, keeping out of their reach and driving them to distraction. Then, when the team leader calls us back, we can dash back for victory."

"Or something like that… " she said, batting her eyes playfully.

Message 35 of 101. [#35601]

Summary: Scamper watches her team, then goes to Rogue to work out specific tactics.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING, SCAMPER

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

OOC: ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, PYRO, DOMINO mentioned

Tags: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING

BEAST: Hank looked to Callie’s rather cautious approach with a settled calm. “Ah, welcome Dryad. I was just inquiring to your inclusion. Please…” he beckoned her closer to the group with an almost leisurely upraised, clawed hand, “… join the rest of us. We’re almost ready I believe. You might take a look to the intervening area between our homebase and the opposing squad’s. I noted some rather prodigiously expansive climbing ivy running up several of those buildings that you could utilize… if I gauge your… influence upon flora correctly?”

A rather distinct signal chime rose up, and a pleasant automated voice declared,

“Squads prepare… initiating Danger Room Session in 2 minutes… and counting…” A light chime followed in ten-second increments, counting down…

Hank winced slightly, and muttered “A bit louder than expected… but perhaps that’s just me still adjusting…”

He cast a look outward to the intervening terrain. “We need to make things very difficult for them to get across that expanse… I think perhaps a bit of the environment sent aerially ought to be a decent deterrent.. for starters.” He smirked, looking back with the feline irises. “Lets ge tour offensive line positions set and get ready. Those on Excalibur will be out of their respective ‘gate’ as soon as they hear the signal to ‘Go’… We should be equally ready to give them more than they expect as a distinct threat.”

Hank settled a confident look to the Mavericks, “I happen to believe we pose far more than a mere annoyance to them… and that we shall prevail. Cast your doubts to them if you have them… in their ability to stop us.”

True, he wasn’t exactly practiced at ‘rallying’ speeches, but Beast’s resolve carried in his voice, and sought to instill the same in his squad.

Message 36 of 101. [#35602]

Summary: Beast notes Dryad's entrance, makes a suggestion to her, an dtries to hasten the Mavericks' preparation.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING, SCAMPER

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

OOC: ST POST and Note: Re: Lightning’s question re: ‘metal’.. yes he can still retain his alternate for just fine while handling the Flag beacon; it’s like a staff, with the signal at the top, and insulated.. just fyi there…

Annnnnnnnnnnd. if everyone's ready, let's get this party started… ~MILLER~

Tags: TALON, VULCAN, DRYAD, DEAD GIRL, CLOUD, JUBILEE, MAREMOTO

ROGUE: SCAMPER: "So we're to be the tip of the spear for our team, yes? I suggest we go as fast as we can, keeping out of their reach and driving them to distraction. Then, when the team leader calls us back, we can dash back for victory… Or something like that…" Jayne asked Anna with a toothy grin. Rogue couldn't help but note how perfect the Brit's teeth looked… Not at all like the disgusting stereotype portrayed on TV or in the movies…

Rogue grinned. "Yeah, we are. We're ta be tha distraction, apparently. An', we'll be goin' fer tha otha' flag… Whoever comes ovah ta our warehouse from tha otha' team is gonna, hopefully, git trapped inside, thus increasin' our team's chances'a winnin'," she reported.

"An', if it's okay with ya, Ah'd like ta copy yer powers fer tha time bein'… "

Rogue asked as she pulled the glove off of her right hand and reached out for Jayne. "It won't hurt, Ah promise… Ah just need ta touch ya fer, literally, about a minute - then Ah'll be able ta do what you can do fer about an hour," she revealed.

DOMINO: “You’re welcome to tap my abilities, I have to imagine they’d play well with Jayne’s. No idea how you work around turning them off and on, they’ve always just sort of been there for me. Best advice I can give is… balls to the wall. If you need to amp yourself up, Mig there is always good for a pick-me-up zap… provided you’ve got a decent threshold for pain.”

The talk of pain didn't sound very… appealing. Maybe she'd be good with just an hour's worth of copied TK. That, and the fact that not even Domino herself was certain how to even turn her powers on or off… Rogue kinda knew the feeling, although it may already be fading from her memory, the time when she couldn't control her powers at all.

"Thanks, Dom - not too keen on that 'pain' thing… Ah might take a rain check, though," Rogue replied with a grateful smile. "Might be bettah ta practice with it first, in a smaller, more low-key type of trainin' session, Ah fear."

She didn't mention that she was unable to use more than on person's power-set at a time, not wanting to burst Dom's bubble. The girl was just trying to help, and correcting her error was just not worth it, or so Rogue thought. It would be best to just let it be and focus instead on their training session.

Lightning had offered to try to gather the opposing team's flag with the use of his electrical powers - that is, if the 'flag' had any bits of metal in it… If it didn't, Miguel had volunteered to 'run interference' for Rogue and Scamper, to better allow them to get closer to their target. If he was going to be in his electrical form for this whole training session, that would be an excellent idea.

"On yer mark, Epiphany… We go when you give the say-so," Rogue said to Emma before leading Scamper and Lightning out on their quest.

Message 37 of 101. [#35604]

Summary: ROGUE asks SCAMPER if she can copy her powers. She politely declines DOMINO's offer. She waits on EPIPHANY's mark before taking off into the scenario.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING, SCAMPER

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING, SCAMPER

DRYAD: Callie pulled her attention away from the group and onto the environment. Those vines would definitely help her when it came to this mission. But could she make them move? Dryad had only tried a few times to effect plants outside of the school since she had been here. And with that said, she had only managed to cause minor effects. Helping buds open into flowers and causing apples grow much larger than they were before was not going to be all that helpful in this particular scenario. Sure she could cause giant bursts of power, like a vine to grow three times it’s size. But in which direction and how quickly was not in her control. For all she would know, these vines would grow in the direction of another and hurt them.

“Beast?’ Callie’s voice held a informative tone, but it still sounded like she was singing her suggestion. “I fear my capabilities in this mission are rather limited. The control I have reached is at a rather unfavorable level. I’m fine with any position really, but I would prefer to avoid combat. Restraint is an option, but I think diversion would be best. I can‘t really control my powers all too well, but I know I can cause rather dramatic effects. If I were to go to an area and use my power on the vines, I could possibly cause enough of a diversion that they would go to inquire what it was I did exactly. I would need help getting out there, I‘m not all that fast…”

Dryad looked from her team flag to the environment around them, and an idea dawned upon her. “Are we allowed to move our own flag around? Suppose we hid it in an area that the other team wasn’t expecting? If we were in a real situation I don’t think we would always have to keep whatever we are hiding, be it a key or a person, in the spot the enemy expects it to be. But instead, we would still have the option to relocate said person or key to an area where it would be much harder to discern it‘s location.” Callie smiled at suggesting this, already feeling rather proud for thinking up the idea so quickly. “What do all of you like think, cool?”

Message 38 of 101. [#35609]

Summary: Callie suggests a tactic they can utilize for the game, and hopes it catches on.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING, SCAMPER

Where: Danger Room;

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: BEAST

VULCAN: Gabriel had been strategizing inside his head, most capture the flag games he had played usually disintegrated into running back and forth pretty quickly, but that did not mean that before it did that a few rounds of well thought out planning could not be put to good use. "Say Jubes, how about I use my power to make your bursts unexpectedly brighter, so as to confuse the other side more?" He suggested. Sense most of these people were his friends, he was trying to think of ways that would create difficulties for the other side without hurting them. Blasting was something he was good at, but not the best thing for an exercise.

He didn't know what he could do to make Dryad's powers work better for the team since he should not affect her powers, and him dragging vines around was hardly the best use of either of their abilities. He had a bad habit of knowing what to do with energy powers more so than and others, which he supposed was to be expected. He knew to avoid rogue at all costs, probably not for the first time, he wished that he had telekinesis as a subset of his powers, so that he could keep power stealers at more than arms length. He knew that if he were she, he'd go after someone with his powers, it just made good sense.

Message 39 of 101. [#35612]

Summary: Gabriel makes a suggestion to Jubilee while sizing up his biggest worry on the opposing team

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING, SCAMPER

Where: Danger Room;

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: JUBILEE, DRYAD, ROGUE

LIGHTNING: Why was St. John being such a putz? This was was just a game, and his power could have come in handy, since very few people would be willing to plunge through a wall of fire. He was going to say something, but figured that since the boy did not seem to like to feel cornered, he probably had enough people on his case. Besides, it was ultimately not up to him anyway.

Since the flag had conductive metal parts. if he could grab the flag, he would, but in the mean time he would still run interference for Rogue and Scamper. He privately laughed at her code name. Scamper. It was a cute name, but then she was cute, for a girl. "I am going to Arc lightning in front of you guys, so be prepared for it when you're moving, it won't hold Vulcan or Cloud off, but it will give other people pause, I hope, and at the very least it will delay on of them too as they try to deal with it."

He thought it was a good plan, he still thought a firewall around their own flag would have been a good deterrent, but what the heck. The game was practically underway.

Message 40 of 101. [#35613]

Summary: Miguel offers slightly clear descriptions of his intended strategy, and wished Pyro would stay.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING, SCAMPER

Where: Danger Room;

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: ROGUE, SCAMPER, PYRO,CLOUD, VULCAN

TALON: Talon continued to kneel at the floor, she listened to Henry as he spoke to Callie. Then the chime came in for the exercise to begin. Talon knew that Emma would know their every step already, as well as the woman knowing Kirika's own fascination for Sun Tzu's Art of War.

"Yes, Beast it takes time, imagine having all of your senses since birth, the heightened senses." She looked to the group. "They will know everything we are planning. We need to be prepared for everything."

Kirika glanced at the windows and the sky light, We need it all barricaded, no more time for talking. Get the offensive line moving, and always changing."

Kirika looked to Beast, "They know our strengths and our weaknesses just as we know theirs."

Kirika closed her eyes and sniffed the air, she knew where everyone was, on her team and theirs, she could pin point them all. She opened her eyes getting a clear picture of their layout.

"Do you want me to infiltrate from below Beast? They likely will be expecting it to some extent, but I could prove a distraction?"

Talon reached into one of her pouches and pulled out a mini screw driver, she started to unscrew the grate. She was thinking ahead and would have one of them secure the grate once she was through it. She listened to Gabriel as he made his suggestion to Jubilee, it might work she thought. She continued to unscrew the floor grate, after a few moments she pulled it off and stuck her head and upper body down into it inspecting the small straight shaft, she sniffed it.

Thankfully the Danger room did not replicate a sewer smell, she surveyed the diameter of it, big enough f one to crawl though that was about it, and on ones back as well to get to the next grate.

She pulled herself out of the hole. She looked to the Beast. "I can get through, and get into their home-base from underneath."

Message 41 of 101. [#35615]

Summary: TALON talks to the group and then suggests a plan of infiltration to BEAST for her.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING, SCAMPER

Where: Danger Room;

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING, SCAMPER

BEAST: “This is less about combat, Dryad… more about tactical placement, working together, and finding different aspects to your abilities you can use and gain proficiency with. As far as your respective control, I understand… and perhaps you can hang back closer to our own home-base. For instance, could you block our own windows with the brambles below the window ledges just outside? That would force anyone trying to find a fast path in here to reconsider their route… or else face a plentiful amount of thorns in their way… for starters… Improvisation sometimes strikes with little notice… listen to your intuition…”

“I can agree that the Flag Beacon’s base might be moved of we were observing more distinct ‘real-world’ conditions. However, in this case, no we aren’t allowed to move the location of it. We can make it very difficult to get to, and possibly obfuscate its exact placement, or rather, make it harder to see, which as yet is already unknown to the opposition…. Just as theirs is to us… We can still confuse them as to where ours is.”

Beast gave an approving nod to Vulcan’s suggestion, “If you can enhance each other’s effects, that presents a rather brilliant offense or defense… literally in that case.” An idea struck which Hank brought forward.

“They might have an awfully difficult time finding something… if they were blinded by Jubilee’s bursts… suitably augmented as well by Vulcan.. and finding a rather dense Cloud in their way to further darken the gloom in here… their eyes would need to adjust.. much like mine need to now as well to sudden light shifts. If the need arises, keep that as a group defensive tactic… a contingency if we need it.”

Talon’s query posed an interesting possibility, of a covert tactic.

“Indeed, use the sub-level approach, but you’ll need another to distraction once inside from your presence being so quickly detected by Epiphany. Emma may be facilitating as I am, but that hardly leaves her as a ‘static’ observer… I can try to provide some points to that… ” Beast’s eyes went to the forklifts and large, heavy objects outside, “…and making it difficult for her to concentrate. The resulting effect of repeatedly pummeling a corregated steel roof via aerial bombardment would be… rather unsettling for those inside, yes?” He smirked. “Just expect it when it comes… and get ready to head over as soon as that countdown signals us to began.”

The chiming, computerized voice counted down in the background…

10.. 9.. 8..7…6..5..4..3..2..1… Danger Room Session.. Engaged…

Message 42 of 101. [#35621]

Summary: Beast adds a few considerations as the group prepares… and the DR session engages.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING, SCAMPER

Where: Danger Room;

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

OOC: ST POST: Game on!…

Tags: TALON, VULCAN, DRYAD, DEAD GIRL, CLOUD, JUBILEE, MAREMOTO, EPIPHANY, SCAMPER, ROGUE, SPECTRE, WOLFSBANE, LIGHTNING, DOMINO, PYRO

PYRO: He didn't know what Rahne was trying to pull by demanding he sit out the exercise, but he found himself resenting the intrusion immensely. “Just leave it, Wolfsbane,” he warned her, hoping she'd take the hint and abandon the subject. No luck there, as she kept pushing her luck … and then physically pushed him. At that point, anyone else would have immediately found their eyebrows missing – at least, but over the last couple of months, it seemed that the Scottish lycanthrope had bought herself a small bit of ground with the firebug. Nonetheless, the look he gave her warned that if she did it again, he probably wouldn't feel so inclined to be lenient. “I can't endanger anyone in a bloody simulation,” he pointed out, “Not with all the safeties and shit wired-up in here.

Ms. Frost saw fit to get involved, and put him in a tricky position. If he stayed, he certainly didn't want her thinking it was because of something she'd said or done; Pyro still believed that he didn't need anyone's help in fighting his battles. “Look, I'm fucking down here, alright. Can I just burn something now?” he challenged, clearly wanting to distance himself from this new, created drama. Maybe it would help, he wondered to himself. Torching the shit out of something, or a massive explosion, abandoning his control and letting the fire just rage and tell him whatever it wanted to do … these were tricks he'd used to make himself feel better in the past. Maybe they'd work again.

“Right … so we get 'em coming after the damn flag-thing, then I light up the building and trap 'em inside? That's how you want to play this?” he questioned Domino, who'd been the one to come up with this aspect of the plan. While not a particularly big fan of following people's orders … especially from a girl, considering the misogynistic environments he'd grown up in … he found he didn't care enough to start a fight. As long as he was given the go-ahead to cut loose with his powers, and use them as freely, openly, and spectacularly as he liked, he didn't plan on starting a row.

Message 43 of 101. [#35623]

Summary: Pyro just wants to burn something the hell down…

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING, SCAMPER

Where: Danger Room;

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: EPIPHANY, ROGUE, DOMINO, LIGHTNING, SCAMPER, SPECTRE, WOLFSBANE

DRYAD: Callie frowned as she realized her tactic was void for the mission, but thought of the aspect of diversion. Sure she could raise the vines to shield this current base, but the idea of finding another area and causing overgrowth around it would likely cause the opposing team to draw their attention their way.

Vulcan was going to be preoccupied enhancing Jubilee’s abilities, as far as Dryad could tell, so using him for flight to a new area was out of the plan. She needed to think quick, proving herself at Xavier‘s was important. As far as she could tell, Vulcan was the only one on their team with flight. That meant she would have to trek out on foot.

Callie looked moved over to a window, making sure to not stand in eyes view as she surveyed the windowsill. Small vines were overlapping the window’s opening, which made it much easier for what she planned to do. Callie reached out her hand and touched the vines, and she hoped that contact would help further her ability to control the plants.

“I think I’ll try and secure the flag with these vines. Maybe if I do that, I can then head to a different area and make my vine growth a little more obvious. That way, they may turn their attention towards the different area.”

Every time she gave it a shot in the past, the plant would grow too much or too quickly. Dryad needed to find a way to slow down the process. With a little effort, Callie imagined the vines on the windowsill reaching towards the flag and finding their was around the base to help secure it. The vines in reality shot out from the window sill and overgrew the entire opening. A crackling noise was heard as the plant grew, and finished within seconds. A large vine was blocking the path of the window now, and even if it didn’t come far enough into the room, this window was now useless to try and travel through. Dryad fell over from the force of the vine as it continued to grow along the wall, and reached it’s next target window. Flowers bloomed along the vines, and the once industrial section of the building began to seem a little more lively. Her power was actually working how she wanted it to, this was amazing! Dryad faltered a moment and nearly lost her balance as some of her energy was lost. Using her power had tired her out, and growing it along the wall with this much focus was draining her. Upon reaching halfway across the second window, the vines started to slow down and turn a lighter shade. Dryad's attention snapped from her own tired self to the vines as she felt the life in the plants flicker in her mind.

Callie ran to the next closest window and stumbled as she looked around the room. There were six windows total from what she could see that opened up the warehouse. She would have to use her powers this same exact way three more times to block off the windows. She already caused vines to overgrow on half of the side of the building, but they looked like they were wilting.

Dryad ran over to the plants and inspected the vines closely. It felt weaker than it had before. Did she push this plant too far?! She can make plants healthy again, she had done it before! But how would she do it now? Dryad reached out and touched the vines as she tried to think of a way to make them healthy again. How had she done it? Ideas flew around her head. Maybe she needed water to make the plants soak it up? Maybe she could give it some of her energy? Was there any soil in the area? She looked around the room till she spotted Maremoto.

“Excuse me. Um…” She smiled as pushed one of her braids behind her shoulder. “I really need some water for these vines. I can make them grow around the inside of this building to block off the windows, but they need water. I don’t know how to really keep them healthy right now, and I know the quickest way to do it is with some form of nourishment for them. Do you understand?” She didn’t mean to come off condescending with her finishing question, but Dryad was much too concerned about the plants at the moment to think of how he would interpret it. “I need you to take the water, and bring it as close to the vines as you can. I can get the vines to soak it up as long as the water is in contact with them."

"I can keep the process going if you supply the water. I would really appreciate this!" Her tone was filled with worry as she asked him to help. Callie wondered just how well she could continue to barricade the building, even with Maremoto's help. She could keep her power going, but one wrong move and the vine could crack a wall, or break through it entirely. And to add to it, she was already feeling the effects of her power use. Maybe she should have eating something today? Maybe the plants would have been fine then? Was it wrong to eat them if they were already dead? No Callie, she yelled in her head, no time to debate that. 'I need to help these plants right now.'

Dryad shifted her gaze to all the windows to see if they had their own vines for her to nurture. If Maremoto could spread water to each window, she could try and push herself to make the vines from several areas grow. That way, the vines would be able to stay healthy and not use up as much water as she was earlier predicting. She voiced this idea as she noted three other windows had vines in place. "I can't promise I'll be able to do much else. I actually don't know if I will be able to even do it discretely this next time. But if I do separate plants, you will have more water to play with and the plants will be healthier, thus stronger." Anyone could tell that she was concerned a little more for the plant than she was trying to let on, and the defense factor she mentioned was a cover story. But she still did recognize that would be a better form of defense then overextending one plant.

Message 44 of 101. [#35627]

Summary: DRYAD covers one of the six visible windows with some vines. She does so by causing the plant to grow in the necessary direction, even though she nows that tearing the plant away from the root would be not only faster but easier for her. She quickly realizes the vines will be in need of water when she uses this method, so she seeks MAREMOTO'S help to provide the vines with nourishment.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING, SCAMPER

Where: Danger Room;

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

OOC: I'm not sure how much is too much when ti comes to how she uses her power.

EDIT: Added a couple sentences to the end.

Tags: MAREMOTO

MAREMOTO: [TALON]: "I can get through, and get into their home-base from underneath."

Paz overheard Talon to Beast forming a strategy to use the sewer tunnel underground, and instantly a realization popped in his head.

Excitedly, he began in a rapid breathe, "Pero si podemos usar los túneles, ellos pueden usarlos también-"

Oh, shit. He'd just said that all in Spanish, didn't he?

His face flushing pink once more, Paz translated himself, "I..I said, if we can use the tunnels, they can too… " he wasn't sounding as excited about this anymore as he was 10 seconds ago; "so what if I flood them?"

His thought was that if he filled all the sewers with water, they'd be unusable to anyone who couldn't breathe underwater. Of course, if he did that, it would cancel Talon's offensive strategy… unless there was a away to make it work. But now it just felt like a stupid idea, now that he'd ruined the epiphanic moment by announcing it in the wrong language.

[DRYAD]: … Do you understand?”

Paz's head turned as he heard someone ask for his pardon. Dryad. She was the other new kid here, arriving several day after himself. He hadn't bothered to get to know her, (hell, he hadn't bothered to get to know anyone yet), but he probably would have in those few days had she not been so preoccupied with the library.

Paz listened to her request, which seemed simple enough, but then frowned at her closing question.

"Yes, I understand," he replied, looking not too pleased that she had to ask. Why wouldn't he understand? Get the plants wet so they could take the water in. He'd taken biology. Hell, his mom taught it back at his school.

With a scooping motion of his hand, Paz lifted a stream of water from off the floor, the nerves in his arm pulsing their blueish glow as his muscles contracted. With the spread of his fingers, he sent the stream of water at the first vine-covered window, and doused it leaving a nice puddle at the bottom of each. He repeated the process with the others.

"Good?" he asked her, as the glow in his eyes faded away.

Message 45 of 101. [#35631]

Summary: Maremoto has an idea about the sewers, and helps Dryad out with the plants.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING, SCAMPER, ROCKSLIDE

Where: Danger Room;

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: TALON, BEAST, DRYAD

JUBILEE: "Coolio, dude" Jubilee said to Danny as he took up both her, Talon and Beasts suggestion. The firecracker stood to the side with her iPod and did a little stretching. If she was to preform at her best, she would need every muscle in her body loose and relaxed. She was going to blow the minds off some of these people with her stunts, and what she hoped would help easily score her team a point.

She listened to what everyone was saying, as she sat on the floor with her legs wide open, and her upper-torso stretching forward. She could go all the way down to the ground; able to rest her body in that position for god knows how long. Sometimes, she fell a sleep in that position because it was so comfortable! Then, Gabe came up to her with a very cool idea. The firecracker looked up at him and smiled brightly, "Yeah… that would be awesome. I'm already starting to get control on how much light my fireworks make. With what I can come up with and your power mixed with him, like, enhancing it, my power could totally be more better!" Jubilee admitted.

Then, when the danger room session had commenced Jubilee's face lit up with happiness. "YES!!!" she whispered to herself as she began to head off in the direction in which Beast had told her to go. She looked over her shoulder and said to Vulcan, "You commin'?" It wasn't necessarily a question, but more so hoping that he would be by her side through all this so they could make spectacular effects with her power.

With her hands to her side they soon began to shoot of sparks of lightning, with colorful plasma beginning to dance around her hands and finger tips. In Jubilee's mind, the other team had no chance against her and Vulcan. In her mind, she would have been good enough to get the flag from the other team, all she had to do was blind them. How hard could that be? The firecracker thought, as she cautiously made her way through the Warehouse; her eyes wide open, ready to respond to the most miniscule of movements around her. Now was the time for her skill in stealth came into play, the skill that helped her steal oh so many stuff from the Mall she once lived at.

Message 46 of 101. [#35635]

Summary: Jubilee prepares her body for the Danger Room session, and talks to Vulcan until the session starts. Once it begins Jubilee heads off in the direction Beat had suggested to her, ready to blind any one that comes into sight.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING, SCAMPER, ROCKSLIDE

Where: Danger Room;

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: BEAST, CLOUD, VULCAN, EVERYONE

CLOUD: As the exercise began, and the students began making their way into the Danger Room, Danny looked up at one of the buildings Hank had suggested to him as an appropriate and safe place to swap forms. He shied away from the places where Dryad and Maremoto were encouraging the vines to grow, and chose instead what looked like the remains of a crumbling, abandoned high-rise across the street. “I’ll be right back,” he promised, and the lithe little blond scurried into the structure as quickly as he could, stumbling slightly over some of the debris in the road. Once inside, found a secluded, shadowed corner on the third floor, out of sight of any of the building’s grimy and broken windows. As he shifted, his uniform crumpled to the ground, and a few moments later, a patch of grey mist rejoined his classmates.

An idea had come to him mid-transformation, and, as was often the case when he was insubstantial, he felt slightly braver, and tried to voice it. +I’ve tried … I’ve been practicing with the lightning thing,+ he ventured telepathically; even his psionic voice always seemed a little soft-spoken and hesitant +I might be able to hit a target. If there was like … a transformer or something? Would shutting all the power down help anything?+ he questioned. The scenario was still set in daylight, so it wasn’t as if they’d be able to plunge any area into total darkness, but the shadows might help them disorient the others, and better conceal their own flag. Of course, the other team had Miguel on their side, who was loads more skilled with his electrical abilities, and might just as easily reverse any damage Cloud could inflict, then return it ten-fold. +Maybe it's… maybe we shouldn't give Lightning any ideas though? Sorry… it was kind of dumb,+ he apologized, swiftly shooting his own idea down.

Message 47 of 101. [#35636]

Summary: Danny swaps forms, and offers a small suggestion, before having second thoughts.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING, SCAMPER, ROCKSLIDE

Where: Danger Room;

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: BEAST, TALON, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, JUBILEE, MAREMOTO, VULCAN

WOLFSBANE: Rahne gave up the moment Emma decided to come out to tell her in person how she disagreed with her approach. Couldn't Emma see that Pyro needed to shout at real people instead of letting his fix in form of burning and blowing up stuff? It would just get him further out of reach. Especially now that he was so fragile. He had always drawn strength from the fact that he was in fact one of Magneto's disciples, but now it just seemed to have evaporated as dew exposed to the summer sun. Had he finally realized?

For a second, Rahne wanted to shout at Emma how stupid a cow she was being right now - humiliating her like that in front of everyone who just turned their head. And for another second she wished that she would read her mind - to see what her intentions really was. They were correct, she was positive. Rahne was one of the few who actually felt like she knew Pyro. Pyro needed more than the chance to 'fix' things with his drug called fire.

"Ok, ms. Frost, I'll follow orders and stand down, you deal with it, I don't care anymore!" Rahne felt like spitting icy at Emma, but it came out more tamed and hurt.

Rahne turned around almost mechanically, transformed herself into her feral form and entered the Danger Room - More hurt than angry. That Emma couldn't see something as simple as that was beyond her comprehension. She felt like crying right now, for not being allowed to help a friend in need.

She readied herself to attempt to capture another flag not within reach.

Message 48 of 101. [#35638]

Summary: WOLFSBANE doesn't agree with EPIPHANY. She tries to say something icy but fails bitterly - then leaves PYRO and EPIPHANY to them selves feeling hurt.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING, SCAMPER, ROCKSLIDE

Where: Danger Room;

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

OOC: Experience with mani-depressives is the background for this post!

No offense intended… :)

Tags: PYRO and EPIPHANY

BEAST: As the Mavericks finished the initial preparations, Beast noted a few points.

“Excellent work, both of you…” He commented to Dryad’s work with the vines, as well as Maremoto’s assistance, “Less open entries into here can only help us funnel them, if they even get this far in the first place. We’re in a strong defensible position.”

“Talon.. per Maremoto’s ‘flooding’ option… he’ll need a signal to let him know you’re out of the sub-tunnel, once you arrive. Else-wise you run the same drenched risk. I’ll leave that to you to agree upon what signal that would be.”

“The combination of you two, Vulcan and Jubilee, regarding the bolstering of effects…” Hank turned to them, “…is exactly the kind of thing they might not presume.. a collective effort rather than an individual one. I approve of the teamwork… it’s one of the primary reasons for our training together.”

To Cloud, Beast gave a slight bit of advise, “Lightning may be fast.. but he cannot be in more than one place at once, now can he? I don’t recall teleportation among his abilities… last I checked anyway…” Hank smiled, but kept his lips closed to keep his fangs from protruding too much. “I can suggest that if he is so preoccupied blocking your attacks upon his own team, and he can hardly affect you , yourself being in that un-solid state, that renders Lightning far less effective against you than he may intend. ‘It goes both ways,’ as they say… and what’s true of your limit on him also APPLIES to his upon your structure… I’d suggest you focus the electrical offense, should you use it, against others than him… at the very least, it keeps his focus off the rest of us if he chooses to defend his squad… at best, it reduces their numbers from attrition… Either way, Cloud, you stand as a very effective contributor. He might be able to redirect the electricity.. but he has to keep focusing upon you the entire time…”

“Those on the offensive… let’s get moving.. we have a flag to capture…”

Beast noted the session beginning and moved to a position just outside of the Mavericks’ home-base warehouse. A low growl carried in his voice as he began to pad forward, increasing his rate of step and bounding up forward. He landed near a tall stack of wooden palettes, looping one wide arm downward through the open spaces, then stepped into the ‘central row’ area between buildings.

His wide, clawed grip settled on the edge of one palette from the supply he now had hooked on his arm… drew the arm back across his chest… and with a heavy grunt, flung the palette up the length of the space of the ‘central row’ like a make-shift ‘frisbee’, aiming to have the trajectory carry the wooden projectile up and over to bombard the area just outside of the Excalibur’s homebase… his intent was to make it difficult for the opposition to come through the ‘shortest path,’ that being a straight line, and so equating to the center… Anyone taking that route might do well to reconsider.

Message 49 of 101. [#35640]

Summary: Beast notes the teamwork so far, plus advises on others' plans in the Mavericks, then goes to cover the middle to get those on offensive in position and heading over.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING, SCAMPER, ROCKSLIDE

Where: Danger Room;

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

OOC: ST Note: Per her post… Good accounting for control level on Dryad, so no, not overstepping there. All in Excalibur tagged for awareness of Hank literally 'going ballistic' with the palettes to land outside their Home-base… have fun dodging outside their front door… lol ~MILLER~

Self-edit for typo correction.. doh!

Tags: TALON, VULCAN, DRYAD, DEAD GIRL, CLOUD, JUBILEE, MAREMOTO, EPIPHANY, GAMBIT, ROGUE, SPECTRE, WOLFSBANE, LIGHTNING, DOMINO, PYRO

DRYAD: Callie ignored Maremoto‘s gesture of aid, and started to focus on the currently withered plant. “Oh gosh. Okay, I can do this.” She chanted to herself several times, hoping that some verbalized positive encouragement would help her focus. She would later be able to reflect on how she failed to show Paz the thanks he deserved, but in her mind these plants needed her. Would you leave your own child unfed if they were calling for something to eat? Because Dryad felt their need for this water. If plants could weep, this would be the closest thing she had ever felt like that before.

Callie knew she should stay further away from the vines. The last time she tried to encourage the vines to grow rapidly, they knocked her to the ground with quite a bit of force. That was the second time today she had a collision with the ground. Hopefully she had not started bruising. As she held the flower that grew off of the vine in the cup of her left hand, she laid her right upon the root it grew from. She remembered reading in a book once that plants liked it when you spoke to them. They may not have actually understood or responded to the words you spoke, but it was proven from rigorous studies that a level amount of music greatly helped plants grow. Within a two week time span, Dorothy Retallack conducted a test where she had three different rooms.

The same amount of light was shed on all three of them. They received the same amount of water. They even had the exact same measure of soil. The only different was that one room was to be left silent, with no music. One room had music play for three hours, and had the greatest success. The plants were twice as healthy in almost all ways you could find. There was then a room where the music was played eight hours a day. These plants died within two weeks at average. Relaxing music also had a higher effect on plants. Callie knew this. Rock music wasn’t so good for them, but relaxing music seemed to entice the plants. They would grow towards the radio, as though they were seeking out what sang them to maturity. This reminded Callie of how her mom used to sing her to sleep when she was a child.

Callie was perched on her knees as she held this plant in her hands. Right now it was just her, and her vines. She cleared her throat, they she had no need to, and took several deep breaths to catch her breath.

Then, she began to sing to the plant. Her voice flowed from her mouth like water from a stream. Her voice called to the plant, asking it to let her help. Her voice was sweet like honey, smooth like cream. Dryad was not a singer really. She sang to herself in the shower, and on the highway when she thought no one could hear her. But her voice, when she let her passion take hold, came from her soul in such a way Chronos himself would stop time to hold never lose this moment.

The plant was growing much slower this time around. But at the same time managed to feed itself and return to it’s leafy green state. The third window to her right began to disappear as the foliage from it’s sill enveloped the opening till not one sliver of light made it’s way through.

Callie lowered her self to sitting on her ankles, and released a yawn in mid song. It didn’t cause her to stop, but her voice grew softer and softer.

The vines of the other three windows had covered a fair amount of terrain, but did not reach their targeted spot as Callie released the vine she held and laid down to rest. Using her power with so much focus took a lot of energy out of the girl. She laid down, nearly sleeping, her uncomfortable leather uniform not doing much to keep her awake as she closed her eyes. The left side of the building was safely reinforced with the vines, but had only managed to cover one window fully on the right. Two other windows lay partially open, and though they were obscured, anyone could tear them away and climb inside. Unfortunately, Callie had already fallen asleep and if she was wakened she could not use her powers just yet. Though Dryad would certainly gain some energy before the battle was over, fatigue, overexertion and her social anxiety made sure she wouldn’t be ready for a little while.

Message 50 of 101. [#35642]

Summary: DRYAD uses the music theory she read about to help herself control the vines' growth. DRYAD manages to cover the entire left wall of the room, and a majority of the right wall. But TWO windows out of the SIX are left partially covered, and DRYAD is asleep from overextending her abilities.

With: EPIPHANY, BEAST, MAREMOTO, TALON, JUBILEE, CLOUD, PYRO, VULCAN, ROGUE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, DRYAD, LIGHTNING, SCAMPER, ROCKSLIDE

Where: Danger Room;

When: Midday, Jul 24, 2010;

OOC: If you were to shake her, she would wake up groggy. But her power would not be accessible for a little while unless someone harmed a plant or something. She might push herself then.

Tags: MAREMOTO

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