Chapter 11: Now In Session, Part 1

"Hostile on your right! Use your fireworks!" Rogue shouted.

Jubilee turned and fired off her powers, sending a man in a flak jacket down to the ground.

"Got him!"

Rogue looked around and felt a series of small objects slam into her back, sending her sprawling to the ground.

"Hasta la vista, mutie."

She looked up and saw a man in a flak jacket standing above her, his rifle pointed at her forehead.

"Good job everyone, that's a wrap. Shutting down the simulation…now."

The simulated urban warzone and the armed men vanished into thin air, revealing cold steel walls and robotic training dummies in their place.

"Congratulations, Jubilee. You did a decent job for your first session in the Danger Room."

"Thanks, Mister Turner."

"Now get out of there. The older members of the New Mutants are going in for their session soon."

"Got it."

"So, what's this 'Danger Room' you people keep going on about?"

Elizabeth Braddock sighed as she turned to the newest member of the New Mutants.

"Miss Montgomery-"

"Call me Clash, or Connie if you're feeling formal."

"Fine…Clash. The Danger Room is a simulated training environment-"

Just then, four or five figures emerged from the Danger Room and entered the small prep area.

"How'd it go?" Braddock asked as Rogue passed by.

"Could've gone better. Took a couple gel rounds to the back. Probably going to get some fresh bruises, but nothing major."

Clash gulped as the last group of trainees exited the prep area.

"They shoot at us?" she asked.

"Relax, Connie. They're less than lethal gel rounds. If they hit you, they'll sting like hell and give you bruises, but you'll still be drawing breath."

"Yippie skippy."

The doors to the Danger Room opened.

"Psylocke, Cannonball, Pixie, Wolfsbane, and Clash- step forward. For those about to rock, I salute you."

Braddock pressed down on the intercom.

"Don't be so dramatic, Mr. Turner."

"I used to be a rock star! Sue me, Betsy!"

From an elevated gallery, a small group of individuals watched the Danger Room session.

"I swear, Turner, you're getting worse." Logan muttered.

"I'm a showman, compadre. Been doing it since the '80s."

"Uh huh. Were you this bad back when you were with MASK?"

McLean snorted.

"He was."

"Thanks for throwing me under the bus, Hondo! Some friend you are!"

Logan gave a faint smile.

"Anyways, how're they doing?"

"Hey! How come she gets the energy katana? I want an energy katana!"

Cannonball darted across the room and pushed Clash to the ground just before another salvo of gel rounds filled the air.

"Don't just stand there! Get to cover!" he ordered.

"Everybody but the new lady's doing fine. Hey, Psylocke! You got a hostile- oh, you've already got a handle on it. Never mind."

Just then, there was a buzz on the intercom.

"Now who could that b-"

PUSH THE BUTTON, TURNER.

Brad did so.

"I see you got my message."

"Professor, are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

"No. As a tenured member of our staff, I can't afford to lose you."

"Right. Anyways, what's the big deal?"

"Brotherhood's been sighted near San Francisco, along with some bikers called the…Dreadnoks?"

"Which members of the Brotherhood?"

"The ones from around here. Avalanche's group."

"Why're you telling me? Shouldn't you be giving Jean or Scott this sort of info?"

"I have a feeling you and Hondo are going to be needed, along with your old team."

Brad's jaw dropped.

"You want MASK? Professor, there is no way we can call up all those guys-"

"You're forgetting something, Brad. We can with some help."

"Cerebro? I thought that thing only worked for picking up mutant signatures-"

"You thought wrong, ye of little faith. With some minor adjustments, I can find MASK's agents-"

"Then let me use it."

TEN MINUTES LATER:

"Wish me luck."

Xavier watched as Brad put Cerebro's headpiece on and closed his eyes.

Personnel selected: Matt Trakker, leader and jet pilot. Vehicle codename: Thunderhawk.

TRAKKER MANSION- LOS ANGELES:

"Nice to meet you, Miss Leith. Scott's told me so much about you. Pity that David's reviews weren't so glowing."

Aja smiled as she took another drink of coffee.

"Thanks, Mr. Trakker. I'm especially glad to hear that'll you be donating to the Starlight-"

Just then, Matt Trakker put his fingers to his temples as he felt a buzzing in his head.

"Miss Leith, I've got to run."

Bruce Sato: mechanical engineer and specialist. Vehicle codename: Rhino.

SATO TOYS- OAKLAND:

"Mister Sato, you've got a meeting with the board in thirty minutes-"

Bruce looked up from his desk.

"Do you mind, Amberley? I'm working on another new design-"

"Sir, you run the company. Why are you still designing toys?"

"Because I want to. Now tell th-"

Bruce pressed down on his temples as he felt a buzzing in his head.

"Tell the board that they'll have to wait. Duty calls."

Alex Sector: computer and communications specialist. Rhino systems commander.

SAN FRANCISCO ZOO:

"Alex, you've got 250 vacation days. I suggest you use them."

"But the animals would-"

Alex nodded as he felt a buzzing in his head.

"I think I'll take one of my personal days now."

Gloria Baker: martial arts expert and racecar driver. Vehicle codename: Shark.

BAKER'S DOJO- SAN FRANCISCO:

"OOF!" a hapless student exclaimed as he hit the mat.

Gloria Baker smiled as she flexed her muscles.

"And that's how you execute a judo th-"

Gloria pressed down on her temples.

"Sorry, class. I've got to run."

Buddie Hawks: master of disguise and intelligence expert. Vehicle codename: Firecracker.

HAWKS' GARAGE- OAKLAND:

"And there's the problem right there. You've got a broken transaxle-"

Buddie nearly slammed his head against the car's underside as he heard a buzzing in his head. He rolled out on his creeper and addressed the customer.

"Sorry, sir. I've got to run. I'll finish up when I get back."

Brad removed the Cerebro helmet.

"You sure you got everyone?" Hondo asked.

"Everyone who we needed."

Professor Xavier cleared his throat.

"Do you want me to have your personal vehicles loaded onto the Blackbird?"

Both men nodded.