Coming into Their Own
Disclaimer: Just because I'm small doesn't mean I'll let you use me as a doormat.
A/N: Time for some fun with the rest of the team. Chaos, Golem, Thunderbird, and Lady Mastermind are on base alone, which means someone has to step up during training. Zartan decides to work on hand-to-hand… we'll see how that goes.
3. Initiations
Chaos, Golem, Thunderbird, and Lady M stared at the blue mat before them thinking their boss had lost his marbles.
"Why are we covering this now?" Lady M asked. "Shouldn't battle tactics be covered with the whole team present?"
"Not really." Zartan waved. "Actually, Atlantis' and Vampira's absences benefit you four."
"How can that be?" Thunderbird blinked.
"Their leaving gives you four a chance to catch up to them. Don't get me wrong, you are fine agents, but your aim and evasion skills need work." The man replied. "Today we are covering powerless self-defense. Any questions?"
Golem's hand shot up. "Wrestling or Firstblood?"
Zartan blinked. "Firstblood?" He repeated.
"It's how Andi and Kris fight." Mitch explained.
"No, we will not play firstblood." Zartan sighed. "Use all you know except your powers. The Dukes of Hazard are up first."
The two brothers walked to the mat and stared at each other.
"Don't think I'll go easy on ya 'cause ye'r my brother." Chaos warned.
"Wouldn't have it any other way." Golem replied. The younger boy sounded a war cry and the fight began. Fists and feet flew for over five minutes, and Zartan almost stepped in to call a time out, when Mitch pinned his older brother. Bryan may have been taller, but Golem certainly weighed more.
"Well done." Zartan grinned. "Both of you boys take a breather. Lady Mastermind, Thunderbird, you two hop to it." Both mutants gulped before walking to the mat. After standing still for nearly a minute, Bryan shouted "You can start any time now!"
For a few minutes, the pair exchanged half-hearted blows. That changed when Neal accidentally tapped his powers and burned part of Regan's' shirt.
"Hey!" She shouted. "No powers!"
"I didn't mean to!" Neal protested.
"Don't lie to me!" Regan screeched, charging her teammate headlong. Several screams and bruises later, Neal lay unconscious on the mat.
After a ten-minute break for water and food, Bryan and Neal fought for third and fourth place in the double-elimination tournament. Ry, being a yardstick taller, won the round easily. Mitch and Regan went head-to-head next, and the large boy easily pinned the young blond by tackling her. Chaos won the round against Lady M, and then the real fun began.
Chaos had one loss; his brother still reigned undefeated. Chaos needed to win twice to secure first place. Golem required but one.
Zartan allowed a five-minute water break for the competitors, then sent them back into battle.
Bryan won the first heat by closelining his brother from the ropes of the ring, but the next round would not come easy.
Halfway into the second heat, Mitch's chokehold began to turn Bryan's face purple. In an attempt to stop it, Zartan dove into the ring. Mitch blacked his eye, then released his brother in horror of whom he'd hit. Bryan seized his brother's weakness, and rammed the younger boy into the mat.
Chaos reined the ring.
"Sir?" Neal asked after the fight ended. "Why the tournament play against each other? Couldn't we just fight you instead?"
"Not and win, as Atlantis has no doubt told you." Zartan replied. "As to the first question, you need to understand the strengths and weaknesses of those you work with. Should your teammate become brainwashed, possessed, or just switch sides all together, you will have to subdue him or her. This test allowed you to put your knowledge of each other's fighting capabilities to the test."
"So Chaos is the smart one?" Regan asked. Bryan readied a fist to hit her with.
"Be nice, Regan." Zartan admonished. "Lunch should be ready now. Why don't you all go take a break and relax?"
The teens needed no encouragement. All four raced to the cafeteria.
Zartan, once the kids had left, swore and tore down the other corridor to the med lab.