Chapter 20: I Against I
Remy was in the Danger Room with his oh-so-favorite person, Logan. Logan was dressed in a traditional white gi, a black belt tied around his waist, and he had a wooden staff in his hands. Remy stood across from him and wore just the pants of the outfit, the white belt still on, but the jacket discarded.
He was sweating quite heavily from the exertion of the training so far, though Logan was perfectly calm. Remy had a similar staff and was in a ready fighting stance, though Logan didn't seem to need to get ready. The holographic surroundings were that of an old Japanese temple with mats laid out for them to spar on. Racks of other weapons and oriental paintings decorated the temple and its paper walls, and a few paper lanterns burned to illuminate the area.
"All right, Gumbo, one more time. You have to loosen up, just let your body move with each strike and feel for the right way to counter. Keep your eyes open. Ready?"
Remy nodded, his breath came in quick pants, so he didn't bother talking. With that Logan was on him. It was almost like a dance the way they moved back and forth, though it obviously wore more on the Cajun, his muscles slick and glistening, and they quivered when too much strain was put on them. They'd been training for several hours now all ready and this was the last stretch. Remy just hoped he could finish it off.
Rogue emerged from her room, wearing her usual X Men black and green body suit, having scheduled a training session today. Staying cooped up in her room only allowed her to think on subjects she'd rather be distracted from, and the Danger Room was the perfect place to work off nervous energy.
Entering the control room, she looked down through the glass to see Remy training with Logan. She glanced at the display panel - sure enough, it was the temple simulation. She was reminded vaguely of the scene from the Matrix, but quickly shook her head of the thought, staying instead to watch them.
After a little back and forth the dance became more one-sided as Logan began to fall back to Remy's attacks. Remy grinned as he realized this, but it was a little premature. Just as he thought he'd be able to land a blow his defense was left open. The butt of Logan's pole took him square in the chest and Remy stumbled back, only to be tripped by a quick swipe. He landed on his back and stared up at the wooden rafters of the temple before Logan gave him a hand up.
"That was better, but you have to be sure to always have some kind of defense ready, or at least get out of the way."
Remy sighed and nodded as Logan took both poles and put them on the proper rack. "That's all for today, swamp rat, you're startin' to smell like your homeland, and my nose doesn't take kindly to it. Go grab a shower." Logan walked out at that and the projected surroundings faded away, the weapon racks, actually metal rather than wood as they'd been shown with the image, retracted into the floor.
Remy sighed and grabbed the jacket of his outfit and walked out as well, snatching a towel from the hook as he hit the showers, only to emerge into the control room a few minutes later, still wet, but smelling more spring fresh.
Rogue turned and gave him a bemused look.
"Honestly, how much punishment can ya take?" She turned back to her random button pushing on the control panel, scrolling through the available training exercises. "Hmm.. Dinosaur Jungle? No thanks. Labyrinth? Had my fill of that. Hm. What do ya think?"
None of the exercises interested her much. It was about time Logan let her design her own.
If he didn't want to be around her anymore then he definitely didn't play the part. Once more clad in his usual t-shirt and blue jeans, the trench coat left in his room, he comes right up behind her and reaches out to the control panel as well.
"Hmm... how 'bout de Dahk Alley Muggin' trainin'? Dat's always useful stuff ta know." He grinned, ready to see the real Rogue in action.
Rogue made a vague expression of distaste.
"That's so.. women's self defense class. Ah'd like ta think Ah could handle a normal human mugger on the street." She tried not to think of his sudden proximity, it was distracting enough. She continued to scroll through the simulations, finally settling on one. "Wish me luck.. "
She left, disappearing down into the control room.
Rogue appeared below, walking to the center as the simulation loaded. Since she was the only one training, she'd removed the top of her bodysuit, wearing instead a form-fitting white tank top. To those looking on the only change was the addition of a human sized droid, nothing exceptional. To her, the room didn't change at all, and the droid was a mirror image of herself, with its own AI. It measured her abilities and applied them to itself - a perfect match.
Rogue watched the copy. The only way to differentiate between the two was that the copy wore a plain black catsuit. It stood perfectly still until Rogue initiated the duel.
Remy arched a brow as he looked on. He leaned forward and folded his arms on the sill of the window to look down into the Danger Room. This could definitely be interesting. Too bad no one else was there so he could take bets, he thought.
There were few actual hits exchanged between the two, and the duel consisted mainly of a constant dance of blocked strikes and narrow dodges. The challenge here was beating yourself before running out of energy, as the droid was inexhaustible.
A fine sheen of sweat made Rogue's skin glow in the bright lights, and her tank top clung to her back and stomach. Soon her mind began to wander. She remembered returning to consciousness briefly during the time Carol had control.. it was raining, and she was wearing a catsuit similar to the one the droid was wearing now, though hers had been ripped and scuffed in several places. She remembered the pain too, and Remy's words.
Was this what it was like for them to fight her, as Carol? Carol. The thought of that woman fueled Rogue's movement, allowing her a vicious heel strike to the droid's face. It was Carol's fault that she'd hurt her friends, that she'd been hurt, and the cause of so much strife to those around her. Rogue began to unleash the pent up rage she'd held for Carol ever since she'd first given her trouble. Sent backward by a forceful kick, the droid's circuits crackled faintly. Rogue imagined the copy as Carol, as herself.
The droid was on the receiving end of the self loathing and self pity Rogue held for herself as well. If she hadn't been so weak, so easily tempted, Carol would never have been able to hurt them. It was partially her own fault for having such tormenting powers, and being so useless to her teammates on the battle field.
Before long, Rogue's rate of attack had picked up a furious pace, and the simulation was more often struck then able to block.
Remy watched with interest, especially as she started to seriously go after the droid. She was good. He knew that Logan had been training her, and he was impressed with the results. The man knew how to teach combat, or maybe Rogue just had a talent for it. Either way, she was damn good.
Eventually her thoughts lapsed into even more obscure regrets in her life, the painful hand she'd been dealt. She thought of her home, David, her father. She leapt up towards the droid, twisting in mid air and swinging her leg around to deliver a solid kick to its face. The program ended abruptly and the droid's body sizzled and dropped, the head skidding along the floor. She stood looking at it, breath coming in a deep pant. Would Logan make her pay for that? Trying not to think about it, or anything else for that matter, Rogue disappeared back into the locker rooms.
