On the fifth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me
Five scary rounds,
Four students playing hooky,
Three musicians out of tune,
Two dancing lovebirds
And a Wolverine in a pear tree.
Nobody was pleased that Piotr, Kitty, Bobby and Rogue had decided to skip their classes. As a reprimand, Jean had the four do extra work and endure five rounds in the simulation room. While the latter was scary enough for most students, this particular imitation she chose would keep them on their toes. Not only was it educational for these future team members, but it was also punishment enough to tire them out enough to not think of hooky again.
To make it more interesting, Jean assigned Logan responsibility over them. He was not pleased and petitioned to the Professor to skip this assignment since he was not a teacher. Of course, Xavier thought Jean's plan genius and denied Logan the pleasure of smoking outside all day. He too believed that his skills as a fighter would benefit the students.
"Besides, they can learn to work as a team," the Professor told Logan with a wink.
"I am not much of a team player," Logan protested. It wasn't much of an excuse, but it would have to do (other than not being a teacher, that is). "They can't benefit from me."
"Oh, but you'll learn more from them than they will of you, Logan." Xavier was close to laughing, but kept as stoic as he could. His smile betrayed everything. "Class starts in twenty minutes. I suggest you hurry."
Logan was pretty pissed. He knew that he couldn't argue with the Professor. There was so much he could manipulate in Logan that he chose to go along with the charade. After being threatened one too many times and all of it aimed at him pretending he was a little girl, Logan had enough. He had to concede.
And damn, did those kids flinch to see him! The four teenagers looked about as irritated to see him as Logan was to deal with them. Kitty even shot him the most venomous glance she could muster. Instead of biting back some retort, she mentioned that Scott will begin soon.
"Well, I guess I'm in charge of all of you today," Logan began unceremoniously. He almost spat out an obscenity or two, but managed to bite his tongue. "Remember, this ain't real. It's just practice."
"What are we facing today?" Bobby asked.
"We'll know in a minute here." Logan scanned the dark walls for a moment before turning back to Bobby. "I'm sure Scott will make it easy."
Logan doubted his words. He felt it wasn't like him to coddle people with reassuring lies. But then again, he did not think Cyclops cruel enough to make the kids run for their lives. All of them were just under eighteen. He figured that Scott would be nice the first time and maybe let them off the hook.
But there was no such thing. Logan soon felt the atmosphere change. Seconds later, the room transformed to a regular city block. Sunshine filtered through like it was a normal day. Logan even heard the bustle around them, like there were people around them. Then, it suddenly went dark and the noises ceased.
Light leaked into darkness. Search shafts from above swayed left and right. When Logan found its source, he noticed that they were up for some pretty mean machines. What he recalled as Sentinels were nothing more than antique robots that pretended to be more powerful. They were going to be effortless to defeat.
He unsheathed his claws. Rogue, Kitty, Bobby and Piotr crowded behind him in a sort of cower, unsure of what to do. But Logan was prepared. He motioned for all of them to pan out. He hoped that they took the hint and listened to reason. It was best to split up. They had more than one opponent and getting their enemy separated was their best strategy.
But it was murder on the floor! Those robots showed the five no mercy. Constantly, they blasted beams from their hands or took the chance to destroy every item in the way to gain control over them. Eventually, Logan had to keep the kids back until there was a chance for one of them to take a direct hit. Even so, the robots always turned at the last minute.
Logan had to tell himself that they were inexperienced and did not have live the life he did. Regardless, he had to do the best he could to demonstrate his abilities and hope to hell that they copied him. Sure, Piotr had budding skills and was able to toss Logan a few times. But Bobby and Kitty played with their powers to avoid the obstacles. Rogue used Bobby to turn a car to ice so that Piotr could toss it as a distraction. That was about it.
"Dammit," he muttered to himself. Disappearing so that the four could work things out, he hid behind what appeared to be a burning building.
Rogue soon joined him. She was out of breath. "Logan, what do we do? How do we get rid of these…these…things?!"
"I don't know. You tell me." Logan was in no mood for teaching anymore. He had done what he could. All he wanted now was a cigar.
"Logan!" Rogue was frantic. "You've got to help us!"
Logan pictured Scott's smug smile. Surely, Cyclops was laughing about the whining. It was pathetic for Logan to fulfill a role he hardly had experience in himself. And Scott was right. Logan never liked demonstrating shit anyway. He was about action and being left alone to smoke.
Screaming, Logan reached for what was the nearest wall. Using his claws, he slashed in a wild manner until the images shimmered and changed. Suddenly, the nighttime city was now the padded simulation room. The Sentinels were now nothing more than dust and shadow. The battle was over.
"Fuck it!" Logan yelled. He was finished with the games, throwing the pieces of his destruction to one side. "Class dismissed!"