Chapter 3: DireWulf

Hank took Holmes down to the locker room and got him a uniform to train in, as he was getting dressed Hank explained the danger room to him. Holmes seemed a bit preoccupied though. "A'ight Doc I get th idea...I'm gonna get torn apart by robots and then that walking supernova is gonna rip me an new one.. right?"

"No, Roberto is really quite friendly."

"That does wonders fer ma confidence...really..." he muttered. "Hey Doc, that Rahne girl, how old is she?"

"Sixteen...why?" asked Hank, his curiosity aroused.

"Just wonderin..."

"Where's she from?"

"Scotland...Holmes, don't you think you should be focusing on your training?" Hank asked. "This is serious."

"I am focused Doc." Holmes muttered.

"You don't waste any time, do you?" asked Hank.

"Can ya blame me?"

"Well as far as you; or any other male in this house with similar ideas is concerned, I'm her dad...so you better be on your best behavior." Hank said in a friendly, yet forceful manner.

"I'll bear that in mind." Holmes said dryly.

'You better,' thought Hank, he had always had a special affection for the little Scottish girl, Rahne had always been his best student out of all the New Mutants and she had always come to him for advice...so he was naturally protective. He was starting to like Holmes, he seemed like a nice enough fellow...but he definitely had issues, and Hank had to agree with Xavier when he told him he needed help dealing with them.

"Come on, I'll let you in the danger room." Hank said as he turned to leave the locker room.

"Please tell me I don't have to keep this uniform." Holmes groaned as he walked by the mirror. 'Navy blue uniforms with yellow boots and gloves? Whoever came up with these things ought to be shot.' he thought to himself.

"Oh come on Holmes, all the New Mutants wear these." Hank said.

"I'm not goin outside in this." Holmes said emphatically. Hank laughed at him as he opened the door to the Danger Room. A rough looking man who smelled like beer stood in the middle of the room, directly under the light.

"All right bub, we're gonna give ya the standard strength and agility test while yer in human form, then have ya transform for us. Ya got that?!"

"Yes sir.."

Don't sir me, damn it." Logan growled.

Holmes surprised everyone on the strength test, his max on the bench was 395lbs...fairly impressive since he only weighed 195lbs; overall he was in excellent physical shape. "All right, not bad...but before we go any further I'm gonna ask you one more time, are you sure this is what you want to do? ..This is no joke kid, you could get killed out there."

"Look, don't think I haven't thought this through...I'm sure." Holmes answered.

"Ok new guy, time to get your cherry popped." Logan said as several robot drones and energy cannons deployed around Holmes. Logan backed out of the way to enjoy watching the new guy get blasted.

"Shit!" Holmes yelled as they opened fire. Holmes ran and dodged out of the line of fire only to be attacked by a robot drone, he ducked and rolled out of the way as several more appeared. Holmes was incredibly alert and he was quick on his feet, his years of practice in the martial arts served him well as held off the drones, but eventually he got stunned by one of the cannons, Logan walked over to where he had collapsed in a heap.

"Not bad kid, you might have potential..."

Holmes got up, still a little dazed by the jolt "I been taking Karate fer ten years….I can fight."

"Hmpf" snorted Logan as he grabbed Holmes' arm and attempted to throw him. Holmes landed on his feet, caught Logan's hand and threw him instead. Logan whirled in the air, kicked off from the wall and kicked Holmes in the chest, sending him flying. Holmes hadn't expected that, but he leaped back to his feet and attacked, he managed to land a good blow before Logan nailed him in a pressure point.

"Awww...damn it to hell...mutha..." Holmes trailed off and didn't finish, he gritted his teeth and stood up.

"Don't feel bad, I might actually break a sweat fightin ya, bub." Logan said as he wiped the blood off his busted lip. Holmes wasn't much of a challenge for Logan now, but with more training he might eventually be very dangerous.

"Now let's see those powers of yours."

"GRAARRR!" Holmes snarled, as fur, fangs and claws began to grow, his body began to grow considerably and his face elongated into a wolf's snout. In a few moments he was a 6'6" slobbering werewolf, with a huge mane of grey fur that sprang up from the back of his neck and shoulders. His uniform was hanging in tatters although his pants were still more or less intact, 'thank heaven' thought Hank, 'the rest of him might intimidate all of us...' Hank knew he would have to call Forge to help him design another uniform that could accommodate metamorph abilities...he just hoped Forge was feeling up to it.

"Hey Chuck! When did they start puttin this new model of mutt out?" He asked referring to Holmes hulking appearance.

He was a lot bigger than Rahne when she transformed, well over 500lbs and incredibly muscular. He would prove to be a terrifying opponent, armed with vicious razor-edge claws and canines as well as a long snout and pointed ears; his senses were incredibly acute, making it almost impossible for anyone to gain a stealth advantage on him. While he was transformed, Holmes walked on his toes due to his elongated foot bones, just like a normal wolf, and while this gave him a somewhat clumsy appearance, he would prove to be quite agile.

"His mutation is the same as Rahne's...it's just more advanced." Xavier answered.

"Just be careful...his hormones are out of control, so he's hyper-aggressive." Hank added.

The simulation began, and the werewolf leaped out of the way as several of the lasers opened fire on him. He ripped one of the drones apart and threw part of it at the guns as he continued to battle the drones and mechanical tentacles. He was very quick to be as big and heavy as he was, Logan had to admit he was impressed with the creature's performance. He was overly aggressive and very destructive but Holmes seemed to maintain control of the himself through the entire test.

"Logan, I'm going to send Roberto down to spar with him if you think its all right, we're still having trouble with the holographic equipment after that last session with you and Piotr." Hank said over the microphone.

"Yeah, I think this fur-ball can behave himself." Logan said as he gave a rude gesture to Hank. 'Should have built the damn thing better...' Logan thought.

About a minute later Roberto walked in and began to glow as he absorbed energy from the solar lamps while he sized up his opponent. He was the obvious choice to spar with Holmes, he was invulnerable to most physical attacks; he could fly and emit devastating energy blasts. Holmes possessed low-level superhuman strength and no ranged attacks; if he could survive against Roberto, he might have a chance in a real battle.

Xavier was concerned about the change in his demeanor now that Holmes had transformed into his werewolf form. When he was human he was in complete control of his physical and emotional state due to his years of training in the martial arts. However, his instincts were beginning to get the better of him now and he was eager to establish himself as the alpha male. Xavier knew from working with Rahne how hard it was for them to control such instincts and he began to question his choice of opponents for Holmes. Roberto was a nice guy and a loyal teammate, but like Holmes, he had a bit of an ego as well and he wouldn't always back down from a fight.

Roberto was proud that Xavier was trusting him with this responsibility and he wanted to do the best job he could to help train the new guy….even if he did seem way too eager to prove himself. What he didn't know is that Holmes idolized his father and was trying to live up to his legacy as a hero. He always felt he was never good enough and even though his father constantly told him he was proud of him, Holmes never quite believed it. He'd never give in to those feelings in human form, but in wolf form, he had to assert himself as the alpha dog.

"Hey Mike, this is just training, I'm not gonna go full power on you ok."Roberto said.

"I don't need you to go easy on me." Holmes said.

"Look…..I'm not trying to sound arrogant, but you're outta your league with me….I'm class 50 strength."

"I'm not afraid of you!" Holmes growled. Roberto rolled his eyes; Holmes seemed cocky and overconfident, just as he'd been when he'd arrived. He was going to have to learn his limits the hard way. 'Sorry, but this is for your own good.' He thought.

"You will be." Roberto said firmly.

'Don't antagonize him Roberto…..he's not himself when he's like that.' Xavier warned him telepathically.

'I'm not trying to sir, but this wolf needs to learn its limits.' Roberto replied.

"Be careful." Piotr said as he walked into the Danger Room and eyed Holmes warily. This one enjoyed fighting as much as he did, he could tell by the look in his eyes.

"I got this Piotr….I don't need a babysitter." Roberto said sarcastically.

"You gonna fight or talk?!" Holmes snarled.

"Get some…" Roberto said as he turned to face him.

"You two behave yourselves!" Hank snapped from his perch in the control room. "This is training, not a death match! No unnecessary roughness!" he warned. Holmes really was different when he was in wolf form and Hank began to worry about his attraction to Rahne. He knew she'd been abused by her father and he didn't want her to experience anymore pain. Obviously, Holmes would never lay a hand on her or any woman, but this wolf was an angry creature, far more dangerous than Rahne had been when she'd arrived.

"Go!" Logan yelled as he and Piotr stood and watched. The werewolf snarled and lunged at Roberto who jumped over him

"Too slow!" he yelled at the werewolf. Holmes was not amused; he whirled around and charged, leaping and catching Roberto before he could react. Roberto was shocked, he'd just seen him fight, but he seemed to be getting stronger and faster the angrier he got.

"Whats up now smart-ass?" Holmes growled as he landed and pinned him to the ground.

"You tell me flea-bag!" Roberto snapped as he heaved Holmes off of him and stood up. Holmes was stunned, he'd never been swatted away like a fly before and Roberto didn't have a mark on him. He unleashed an energy blast at him which Holmes only narrowly avoided. It wasn't powerful enough to seriously hurt him, but it singed his fur and made him think twice about coming in on Roberto again.

"What are you gonna do Holmes? Run away all day?" Piotr taunted as Roberto blasted away at him and he ducked and dodged. He looked like he was done for, but Logan could see what he was planning. He been moving closer to the downed drones and in an instant he'd snatched one up in his paws and hurled it into the solar lamps, plunging the room into almost total darkness. Logan couldn't help but smile as he watched Holmes plow into Roberto and knock him halfway across the room. He and the wolf were the only ones who could see in the dim light and Holmes was back on Roberto in an instant, pummeling him. Logan had trained Roberto well and he knew he'd figure a way out of this mess, so he didn't intervene.

"Get off!" Roberto yelled as he grabbed him and threw him into the wall. 'Damn that hurt!' he thought as he flew up and hid among the pipes and equipment near the ceiling. Hank got the emergency lights up and running and Roberto dived out after Holmes, who snatched a panel off the wall and smashed him with it.

"That's just dirty…" Roberto scoffed as he shook off the blow and he and Holmes tied up and tore the place apart in a super powered brawl for the ages. They were getting completely out of hand and destroying the equipment, much to Hank and Xavier's dismay.

"Stop that! We're here to learn!" Hank yelled. "Logan do something! What do we pay you for!?" He roared. Logan really didn't see what the problem was, Roberto was holding back and even though he was outclassed, Holmes wouldn't give up and kept trying to find a way to win. Still, there was only so much abuse Holmes could take and it was probably best this ended now before…..

"ARRRRRGGGHHHH!" Holmes roared as he tried to block a punch and ended up with a broken arm.

"Oh shit!" Roberto exclaimed. "Mike….I'm sorry…." He stammered. Holmes gave him a savage look and cut loose with a blood chilling howl as he started toward him again. There just wasn't any quit in him, but this wasn't the time or the place and Logan intervened.

"That's enough Mike! You proved how big yer balls are, now take a knee!" He ordered. He and Logan stared each other down for a moment before Holmes shifted to his transitional form, halfway between man and full-blown werewolf and dropped to one knee, holding his broken arm.

"You should both be ashamed of yourselves!" Hank fumed as he entered the Danger Room to treat Holmes' injury. "You're both on probation! You're lucky we don't expel students!" He ranted as Logan and Piotr both rolled their eyes.

"Henry, I seem to remember you and Shiro engaging in a similar shameful exhibition of testosterone some years earlier." Xavier said as he joined them.

"Yes…..well….that was different, there was a girl involved." Hank said, blushing under his blue fur.

"Give it a rest Beast." Logan said. "Boys will be boys."

"They're not just boys….they're super humans…" Hank said as he examined Holmes. He had to admit he was impressed that he didn't scream when he set the bones in his arm; he'd seen grown men cry like babies from the pain.

"You gonna make it rook?" Logan asked.

"I've had worse and I heal quick." he said as Hank strapped on a splint.

"Then I'll see ya tomorrow for training." Logan said, as he turned to leave. 'What th hell have I got maself into?!' Holmes thought as he watched him go. 'I been here two hours and I'm already takin it in th ass...'

"I think he likes you." said Piotr slapping Holmes on the back "I'm Piotr Rasputin, velcome to the X-men."

"Ya mind if I call ya Pete?"

"Niet." Piotr said as Holmes returned to human form and he helped him to his feet.

"Hey…..I really am sorry…." Roberto said sheepishly, trying to make amends.

"I asked fer it." Holmes told him. "That thing just goes crazy sometimes…."

"You weren't bad Mike….its been a while since somebody beat me up like that." Roberto admitted.

"Yeah, but you were right….I was way outta ma league…" he sighed, fearing he'd blown his chance.

"That's the point." Roberto told him. "It's supposed to be a "no win" situation to see if you'll quit…..you didn't and you passed." He said. "There is big difference in losing and being beaten." He added.

"You think I was only being polite when I say welcome to X-Men?" Piotr asked him. "Stop being so hard on yourself….everyone screw up first day in Danger Room…I smash whole place and Beast hate me for whole month."

"Roberto…I'm disappointed, you never should have let it go so far." Xavier said sternly.

"Sir, it's ma fault…." Holmes said, trying to take responsibility.

"No, he's right….we were having a pissing contest." Roberto admitted.

"Yes, well….I'm glad to see you two acting your age now, but you both have cleaning duty until further notice." He said. Holmes felt terrible that he'd gotten Roberto in trouble, but his new friend didn't care. He'd been on probation many times before and while he wasn't crazy about the wolf, he was starting to like Holmes and respect his determination.

"Come on, I'll help you move in." Roberto told him. He could already tell that Holmes wasn't one to ask for help, although he clearly needed it...he didn't heal nearly as fast as Logan and he was obviously still in pain despite the sedative and splint Hank had give him. Piotr joined them as they started to leave.

"Wait…." Hank said as he stopped them. "I admit, I was a little harsh with you, but it's because I care about all of you." He said. "I know you're eager to prove yourself Mike…..but you're time will come, be patient." He said. "Roberto….it takes a bigger man to end a fight than to continue one…..remember that." He said.

"We must name new guy." Piotr reminded them.

"Have you thought about a codename?" asked Hank. "It's become a tradition around here."

"Hadn't really thought about it...I've always been "freak" or "monster" up until now...ya have any suggestions?" Holmes said, with a touch of sarcasm.

"I think DireWulf suits you rather well" Hank replied