"Welcome to the S.H.I.E.L.D. academy, Predator." Fury said as he and Predator walked down a series of hallways through the infamous complex. "This academy is where we separate the men from the boys. To see if they are ready to become full fledged S.H.I.E.L.D. agents."

"What should I expect, Director Fury?" Predator asked his superior. One thing he had learned already was to show Fury proper respect. He was Ava's superior, and now his as well.

"Working as a team will be a big focus. There are tons of agents stationed around the globe who fly solo, but we're at our strongest together. I'm sure you already know of the best team there is?" Fury tested him.

"If you're referring to the Avengers, then yes." Predator replied with slight annoyance. He knew all about the Avengers, and didn't want to be compared to them. One thing he hated was being held up to the example of others.

Fury turned and looked Predator in the eyes. "Keep in mind that Ava's not the only one who will be watching your every move. Be sure to listen to her."

"Won't have to tell me twice." Predator assured him. Fury nodded, a gesture that sent shivers down Predator's spine. Normally Fury didn't put Predator on edge that easily, but he had to admit, the man could be creepy when he wanted to be. They walked in silence for about two minutes before they reached their final destination, a set of double doors.

"Behind these doors are the training room; it's time for us to see exactly what your made of, Predator." Fury stated.

"Just tell me now," Predator said as he began stretching his right arm. "Am I fighting training dummies, or other team members?" Fury didn't reply, but instead walked in the opposite direction. Predator swore that he heard the man laughing under his breath.

"Great. Sent into the hornets nest with no information." Predator grumbled under his breath as the door in front of him opened with a mechanical hiss. He stepped into a circular, brightly lit room. The doors shut behind him with a hiss.

"All right, Predator, we are going to start by testing you with LMD's." an unknown voice announced over hidden speakers.

"Two questions," Predator began as he took in his surroundings. "Who are you, and what is an 'LMD?'"

"I'll only answer your second question, LMD stands for Life Model Decoy," the voice said. A dozen portals opened in the walls, releasing an army of humanoid robots.

"LMD's can take on the form of any hero of villain of your choosing. They're made to test your capabilities," said the voice. "Now let's see how you do, Predator."

The LMD's rushed forwards, circling Predator.

"Killer robots…" said Predator. "Cute…"


The group of young super heroes collectively known as the 'New Warriors' stood in the observation deck of the training room, watching Predator fight. In front of them, Coulson sat at the dashboard, controlling the LMD's.

"He's good, that's for sure," said Power Man.

Iron Fist frowned. "He uses a targeting system."

"Really?" asked Spider-Man. "How can you tell?"

"He's too precise. Notice how he's already found the LMD's weak spot?"

Spider-Man watched as Predator twisted an LMD's head off its shoulders like a grape. "Huh. Weak spot? I never heard about that."

Iron Fist smiled. "You never asked."

Coulson spoke up. "The new guy is doing well against basic LMD's... Let's try some higher levels."

A new set of LMD's rose from the floor, but they didn't march towards Predator. Instead, they circled him carefully, watching for openings. Predator looked up from the remains of the last few LMD's that he had just finished demolishing.

"Let's see how you do now, Mister 'I'll call the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy veteran bucket head,'" chortled Nova.

Predator proceeded to throw the defeated LMD's at his new opponents.

"Decent strength," observed Power Man.

But the new LMD's ducked under the projectiles and rushed forwards. In response, Predator shot one of his grappling hooks into the ceiling and vaulted out of the circle.

Spider-Man winced, recalling what else the grappling hooks did.

The LMD's gathered together into groups of three.

"Coulson, what are those LMD's doing?" asked White Tiger.

Coulson smiled. "Oh, just some new team-based attacks we added to the system recently."

In each of the groups, two LMD's acted as a springboard for the third, shooting it towards Predator. As they each neared Predator, however, they exploded.

"I see Predator has a projectile weapon." said Iron Fist.

Predator did indeed have a machine gun built into his left gauntlet.

"If that's all you got, then maybe I should have kept running solo." Predator taunted, much to everyone surprise. Was this rookie seriously insulting them?

"Alright wise guy," Coulson said in slight annoyance as he typed in a new command, "Let's see how you do against the real deal." Once the command had been entered all LMD's in the training room ceased all attempts of attacking their target.


'Huh' Predator thought as he observed their new lifeless state. Moments ago they had been about to launch another attack at him, now they just sat there like someone had pulled the plug.

"Well then," Predator said while looking around at the lifeless machines, "I think that means I won."

"Not yet..." spoke up the voice.

"What do you mean? Seems to me like your robots gave up." Predator said.

"Get down from the ceiling and prepare for the next round."

Predator's response was to release the grappling hook, and fall to the ground, where he landed with a solid crunch, his armor absorbing the impact of the fall.

"What's next?" Predator challenged while gathering his strength for the next round. His response came in the from of a door opening up, and two familiar people walking out.

"You're joking right?" Predator asked as Iron Fist and Nova took up fighting stances.

"Do you hear me laughing?" the unknown voice replied.

"I don't want to fight these guys. They're my new teammates after all." Predator protested. All he earned was a mocking laugh from Nova.

"What's the matter B-list hero—scared of an actual challenge?" Nova taunted him.

Predator snarled in annoyance and take up a fighting stance.

"Looks like he's not afraid. Good luck to you, Predator." Iron Fist said as he eyed his opponent.

"As to you, Iron Fist." Predator replied, a little more hotly than usual. It seemed as though Nova's insult had gotten under Predators' skin.

Nova made the first move by getting airborne and shooting his energy blasts at him. Predator easily sidestepped the incoming attack and fired the grappling hook in his left gauntlet. Nova laughed as he easily flew out of the way.

"Looks like somebody's a little to slow to keep up with a veteran." Nova said.

"Do you ever shut up?" Predator asked as he began calculating his next move.

"When I sleep." Nova replied as he continued to fly circles around Predator.

"I severely doubt... wait a second." Predator said suddenly as he noticed that Iron Fist has just disappeared from his line of sight.

It was his motion sensor that tipped him off. He turned around and noticed Iron Fist running at him, his right fist glowing with power. Predator back flipped just in time, narrowly avoiding what could have been a knockout blow.

"Ingenious strategy," Predator mused as he landed. "Using Bucket Head as a decoy. Good thinking."

"I didn't think of you to give out compliments so easily." Iron Fist said as he and Predator began walking in a circle, waiting to see which of them made the next move.

"I give credit where it's due." Predator simply answered as he suddenly rushed at Iron Fist.

Surprised only for a second, Iron Fist powered up his right fist and charged. Mid sprint, Predator deployed the claws in his right gauntlet.

The two attacks met, and the whole room shook as Iron Fist's attack released its full power. Despite being in mid-air Nova was hurled backwards into the window of the observation room. He quickly recovered to see who had won the battle of strength.

Iron Fist stood lone victor. Predator had been flung back against the wall, and collapsed into a heap.

"Nice move, Fist." Nova congratulated his friend.

"Congratulate me after we have won." Iron Fist said as he eyed Predator. He had felt just how tough that armor was when their two attacks had collided, and he doubted that Predator could be taken down so easily.

"Looks like we already won," Nova began as he came to a hover above the unmoving form of Predator, "I think your punch knocked hi-." Nova never got to finish his statement due to Predator rising with inhuman reflexes and firing both grappling hooks at him.

"Let's see if that bucket can take this," Predator taunted as both hooks snagged on to their target. However Nova was quicker to the draw. Before Predator could trigger the tasers, Nova shot a blast of white-hot energy at him. The energy sloughed off the armor, but the metal began to glow with heat.

"Not fireproof after all, huh?" said Nova.

Predator responded by triggering his tasers. Nova jerked and fell out of the sky, hitting the ground with a thud.

Iron Fist moved forwards to continue the fight, but Predator slipped under his powered up punch and hit him with a double-fisted punch to the chest.

Iron Fist recovered and fired up both of his fists. In response, Predator triggered his left arm blade and charged.

"Trying that again?" Iron Fist mused, "It didn't work well for you last time." But just the same, he held his fists close, ready for whatever tricks Predator might try.

But Iron Fist wasn't expecting Predator to drop to his knees and slide under his punch. Then Predator's right arm lit up blue and crackled with energy and caught Iron Fist under the chin, sending him airborne.

That's got to hurt." Power Man observed with a wince. Everyone else observing nodded in agreement.

However it seemed as though Predator was not done yet.

Predator smiled to himself and said, "Get over here!" He fired the hook from his right gauntlet and snagged Iron Fist from mid air and pulled him back down. As Iron Fist came down, Predator caught his face in his left gauntlet, turned him over, and slammed him into the floor.

Iron Fist was out.

"News flash," Predator said as he sat down next to Iron Fist in order to catch his breath, "I never make the same mistake twice."

Predator looked up. "Is that all?"

"Not yet!" Nova yelled, rising into the air. He had mimicked Predator's trick and played possum. Nova opened fire, catching Predator with a beam of energy and pressing him back. Predator crossed his arms in order to block the wave of white hot energy.

"Your armors' not fireproof as I noted earlier, let's see how it hold up at eight-thousand degrees." Nova snarled as he turned up the heat. The result came about a minute later as Predator's armor began to glow.

"Stop, I give!" Predator called as he tried to back away. Nova ceased his attack and floated over to his now defeated opponent.

"I'll admit Predator, you put up a good fight, newbie." Nova congratulated as he held out a hand to help up Predator. His gesture of condescension was met with an arm blade against his sternum.

"Never let your guard down, oldbie," said Predator. He got up and walked away. The mysterious voice running things was silent, and merely opened the door for him on his way out.

"What's his problem?" Nova asked while walking over to help out Iron Fist.

Up in the observation room, Ava decided that she would have to talk to Predator about his display.