Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Psychic Nightmare the 5300-word chapter. I do not own X-Men, Disney, Marvel, and a few others do.
Zainn hummed, looking at his glowing hands as he paused before looking at Rachal, floating into the air before her hands glowed with power.
"So… How does this work?" Zainn questioned before he paused, looking downwards at the ground.
He paused, utterly silent after that remark, not wanting to do more than relax and not willing to be cut through like a knife into butter.
"Beast is going to crank a dial and bad guys will pop up… We fight bad guys, like superhero training." Rachal stated before pausing.
"So, it is like training," Zainn stated before he paused, thinking of what to try and do. "Uh, Rach?" Zainn asked, pausing for a few seconds.
"Yeah?" Rachal questioned before she paused to look over at Zainn.
"I uh… Don't think I know how my powers work." Zainn stated before he paused and looked downwards at the ground.
"Hmm," Zainn stated before he sighed and then looked downwards at the ground before she seemed to hum.
She had not yet seemed to try and figure out something before relaxing, she sighed to herself.
She did not know what would become of him before she seemed to relax, she watched pausing to try and think, something that made her pause.
"You, ok?" Zainn paused as more and more soldiers seemed to slowly get in.
The soldiers in the area, all dressed in black clothing and holding hi-tech rifles, all aiming at them as she paused to look downwards now.
"You, ok?" Rachal asked before Zainn hummed and nodded before she paused. "Ok… Hank? Do you think you can put in some light sources for Zainn? I do not think he can fight without some light." Rachal stated as Zainn hummed, yawning.
"All right, I will teleport in some simple soldiers… Mr. Zainn? I want you to know for a fact that there will be a lot more soldiers than you might be able to handle." Zainn heard before he crossed his arms and looked around the area.
She would not be able to do more than relax for now, pausing to let it sink in for now.
All of it made him want to laugh as he yawned and then looked to the ground.
"I'll follow as long as I can, but it won't be easy," Zainn stated as he paused to look at the dozens of glowing light sources. "Uh. Professor… Beast, or Hank?" Zainn asked to which there was a chuckle.
"Zainn? It is fine to address me as Beast or simply Mr. Mccoy." Zainn heard as he paused and looked downwards at the ground. "And yes? I am aware of what is going on, Mr. Zainn, I will be close by if you or Ms. Summers." Beast stated before he paused, thinking of what to try and figure out another measure of pause.
Zainn paused before she seemed to think of what to try and figure out… All of it seemed to be something too odd to understand, something that can be dealt with for now.
It would not mean much and perhaps more than could be dealt with at the end of the day… Something about it all would be undone for now… It could be dealt with for now, there was just too much to do now… To cut to the bone.
It was too much, an idea that cut into his brain and pain. He turned to look at Rachal who floated next to him as both mutants paused, utterly relaxed… Tired, far too much of an issue to deal with.
The idea that it would matter was something that he could not relax with as Zainn paused, floating in the air slightly.
"So… Am I trying to do a certain amount of damage or? I am sorry, Professor Hank, I am still new." Zainn said as Beast chuckled.
"Quite all right, Zainn… Ms. Grey? I would ask you please explain things, I would and can but it is not easy to do that and work the systems of the Danger Room." Beast stated to which Rachal paused.
"There is going to be waves of enemies… Hank will turn it off if it gets too much…" Rachal said as Zainn paused.
"Uh, let me see if I can get some juice," Zainn said, placing a hand on one of the lights.
Rachal watched as energy, small white wisps of light seemed to drain from the lightbulb and into Zainn's hand, causing it to flicker and die out as Zainn's hands.
"Fascinating, you seem to be either absorbing the mercury or photons within them," Beast stated before Zainn hummed.
"I would… Uh, be careful. I do not know if firing or trying is going to do something bad to me or Rachal." Zainn stated before he turned to her. "Before I start firing off, can you… Help?" Zainn stated before Rachal nodded.
She floated down to enwrap his arm with hers, lifting it as Zainn paused to think for even a second about what to see and do.
Rachal lifted his arm towards the group, pausing to think for quite a few seconds… She did not know what would become for it all the time. There was just too much to relax and figure out.
"Ok, here goes," Zainn stated before he lifted his arm and opened his palm.
Zainn focused, forcing all his power into his hand. He felt himself stumble over for a few seconds, his other arm clasping his chest.
Zainn felt like he was trying to force water through a straw the size of a penny. He felt tired, utterly exhausted before something occurred.
A giant light-like beam erupted from his palm, the size of a car which sent at least a half dozen soldiers sprawling, rolling across the ground, rifles clattering and armor smoking and torn down.
Zainn dropped to a knee, panting in exhaustion as he looked at Rachal for a few seconds.
"How… Would you grade that?" Zainn asked, smiling as he paused and looked downwards at the ground with exhaustion.
This would not be dealt with for now, this was not something for now as she paused to keep growing for now.
Rachal paused to look over at Zainn who had hands glowing more and more interested with for now, she watched for now as she paused and looked downwards at the ground.
Both seemed to keep looking downwards and into the sky, before she paused to relax and then seemed to look downwards at the ground.
"You utterly, ok?" Zainn heard before she seemed to keep growing for now.
She paused, watching as his energy seemed to sprout from his hands, watching as he dragged himself to another lightbulb, utterly unsure of what needed to be done and dusted.
More energy slowly seemed to flood into his body, he was not too interested at this moment.
"You have a lot of options to study," Zainn stated before he relaxed for now.
Such a thing that he could keep understanding for now. She smiled at Zainn before he paused and then floated downwards and forwards.
She seemed to watch as more and more soldiers appeared to attack and battle them, he was too interested in fighting in battle.
"We're going to be here a while, isn't it?" Zainn paused before he looked to the side, energy crackling for his fingers.
Zainn hummed before he slowly and surely seemed to keep growing more and more tired, too interested in what was in this room and what was to be done next. Zainn wanted to keep relaxing and keep fighting and he knew he would end it on a whim.
Zainn watched as Rachal paused to keep growing and throw more soldiers away, relaxed for now as she sent a half dozen flying with her power as she seemed to keep moving, twisting, and turning in the air.
Zainn was about to follow her before more soldiers opened fire, making him run for cover.
"Uh, I think I'm going to need your help to fight, Rachal," Zainn said before he sighed to himself before he looked downwards at the ground.
He paused to himself, relaxed for now, and then seemed to pause before he tried to compose himself, too tired for now.
He wanted to keep growing more and more, an ideal that he would need to be done and dusted… He wanted to pause, he wanted to relax… An uncertainty he realized to some degree and would continue to know. He relished the battle, the idea, and the moment.
There were a lot of battles to be had… And something that could be over within seconds. If there was even a second of something to deal with such things again and again… He wanted to pause and relax… And then he wanted to keep going further and further.
If there was even a second of pause? He would be over the moon again and again.
This could not end the way he wished. Zainn paused, too tired, too thrown off to allow it to end for now. Zainn paused, too interested in this.
"You, ok?" Zainn heard from Rachal and paused to keep looking to the side.
"Tired, I guess that my power takes a lot out of me," Zainn stated before he hummed. "Professor McCoy? Did you figure out anything yet?" Zainn asked before Beast hummed.
"I am still recording notes and data, Zainn… But I do know a little. Rachal? I suggest aiding Zainn, he does not seem to have as much control over his mutation." Zainn heard as he sighed.
"If I knew how to fire those blasts rapid fire, I think I might burn myself out, Professor," Zainn stated before he stood.
He paused for a second and focused his hand on the soldiers. He sighed and for a moment? He felt energy flood from his palm, blasting a laser that sent one of the soldiers flipping down the stairs, and tumbling to the ground.
"Professor, moment to ask a theory?" Zainn asked as he looked at the wounded man.
"Certainly, Zainn," Beast said as Zainn hummed.
"If this power works on the light? Does it matter how much light I absorb? If I was to technically absorb more light energy, would it mean more powerful blasts or just more energy?" Zainn questioned before the sound of a truck being thrown at the soldiers cut them off.
"Excellent question… I will ask Professor Xavier and Rouge… Professor Munroe, would you be willing to step in?" Zainn heard as Zainn exited the building.
Rachal flowed down next to him before another burst of light appeared and allowed them to notice there were FAR too many soldiers, dozens, and dozens which outmatched their entire group.
He sighed and crossed his fingers once again and then paused before he hummed, keep cracking once more as he paused for now and then wanted to keep growing for now and now.
"Zainn? My name is Ororo Munroe, I am also known as Storm." Zainn heard as he nodded.
"Like I said, awesome hero names…" Zainn stated before he paused. "Professor? Is the goal to defeat a certain number of enemies?" Zainn questioned as Ororo paused.
"This is a training exercise. There are at least 50 soldiers, I believe you and Ms. Summers can handle it but I will simply say if you can defeat more soldiers than that? I will consider it a lesson done." Zainn heard as he paused.
"Understood, professor," Zainn said before he smirked. "One question? Are we supposed to push ourselves? Because I will try… But as Ms. Summers probably can tell? It is not easy using that power I have for anything like this." Zainn stated before he sighed and then looked downwards.
All of it seemed to be done and dusted.
There was always going to be something as of the time that he purely and utterly wished to try and figure out at the time being. He was worn down and exhausted but not much less ready to fight and relax, for now, he paused.
Zainn hummed and looked at Rachal who floated down next to him, he paused before seeming to keep relaxing for now and then paused to keep cutting for now.
He sighed to keep growing for now, it was utterly maddening for now, she would not be done for now, she would not be content to try and figure something else to try and deal with it all for now and she paused.
She seemed to be utterly done with these soldiers as he was and he managed to keep growing… To be done with this, too much to try and figure out something to try and deal with.
She paused to keep relaxing for now and then looked to the side.
"Can you clear a path for me?" Rachal asked before Zainn hummed.
"I can try, I don't know if I can do as much as you think, there is a lot to do and I can't blast these sorts of hits off like a machine gun," Zainn stated before he sighed. "I'm going to recharge; you want me to give you some ranged support?" Zainn questioned before Rachal now seemed to be interested.
"Take the high ground, I'll draw their fire," Rachal stated before Zainn hummed. "We need to get through them, now," Rachal stated to which Zainn hummed and then sighed.
He paused to try and figure something out as he relaxed, too unsure of an idea like this, Zainn there was a lot more upon his mind that he must deal with for now.
It was to be something far funnier than he could envision and wish to deal with.
It felt like he was sinking through the floor like he was dancing on ice, it helped at the very least with trying to deal with something like this.
The ordeal made him want to scream and he relaxed for now. He paused, too tired for now, and looked downwards at the ground.
"There was a lot more to this, isn't there?" Zainn asked before he hummed.
"There might be if this is anything like the usual battles we go on, I don't know how this fight is going to go," Rachal stated as Zainn hummed to relax, too tired, unsure of what is going on.
He paused to keep going onwards, he was too tired for now, unwilling to do more than relax for now, it could be utterly dealt with for now, a decision to try and relax that could not be reversed.
"Ready?" Rachal asked as Zainn hummed. "I will take that as a yes unless we find something else to deal with… Is that silence, yes?" Rachal asked to which Zainn paused and hummed.
He relaxed, too interested in what was coming, too unsure of it for now, an idea that would not be utterly maddened for now, too unsure for now of what would become of it all.
This was just too much to try and do… It would not be easy and he knew that for a fact at the end of the day. He was too exhausted for now and wanted to fight, not wanting to keep growing.
She paused to keep going and then relaxed for now, too interested in what was to come down the line, too relaxed now… It made it easier to try and figure something out for now at the time being, too relaxed.
Rachal paused to watch as Zainn made a scramble towards a light that was still burning as the soldiers opened fire. Rachal paused only to relax, too fascinated at this than before, wanting only to cut through it.
"Do you normally do hero work where people want to shoot you in the face?" Zainn asked, climbing the stairs to try and fight. "Because if so? I am going to need a bit to get used to it." Zainn stated.
"It's most of the work," Rachal stated as Zainn hummed.
"Sounds like fun," Zainn stated before Rachal paused to relax. "This is just too much to try and figure out, something about it all will be harder and harder to figure out," Rachal stated before she hummed.
Zainn for his part only seemed to keep being done with it… This would not be utterly relaxed for now, too interested in what the next move is.
Rachal grabbed a car before throwing it towards them, watching as metal crumpled to pieces and then exploded into scrap metal, watching it all explode and gun, too interested for now.
It would not be something that she relished but she could tell Zainn was interested in watching as he did so, something to try and figure out.
It had made her hum as Zainn seemed to relax for a moment but continued to allow another fight.
Another blast sent 2 soldiers flying before Zainn cursed and then drew more light from the lightbulbs within as he paused to keep going, he wanted nothing more than to keep getting better at his powers.
"This is going to be to be one for the history books, you know," Zainn stated as several soldiers charged at him. "Ok, I will get more juice… Hang on, Ray. I am still trying to get used to this." Zainn stated before he paused.
Zainn was silent for a moment, unsure of what was going to pass, he wanted to keep growing through it for now, but he paused to keep thinking at the end of the day.
Yep, he relaxed for now and then relied on something like this, too interested in what was coming to pass, too much to try and deal with commonly dealt with for now.
He sighed, too interested for now, he paused and relaxed, he had a lot of problems and all of it.
This would not be utterly relaxed for now and then paused to keep growing for now as he cracked his fingers before he seemed to be utterly done for now.
"You, ok?" Zainn asked before he paused and then looked downwards at the ground for the time being.
Zainn paused, too tired, too exhausted, too interested in what was coming down the line, and knew what needed to be done. Needed to be done… All of it made him want to scream but he had no ideally.
He looked over at Rachal who looked over at him with a raised eyebrow, too fascinated by her and by everything around him to do something, anything about it… He felt thrown for a loop, too interested in anything or anyone for now.
There was a LOT more to this, to be done and dusted, too relaxed, too unwilling to do something to fix it… There was more to it, more to which he could not allow… All of it seemed to be chaotic.
"Ray? I am ready… I think." Zainn stated, pausing out of sheer amusement for it all, too interested in what was to come next.
He wanted to keep growing more and more interested for now. He relaxed again and again, too interested in what was to come down to it. Zainn hummed and prepared a blast.
Rachal sent another car hurtling down the street, crushing several soldiers and allowing her to keep flying, dodging bullets as she twirled around for now as she paused to think as of now, there was a LOT more to try and deal with.
He raised his arm and focused the energy into his palm once more and then fired it, shooting it out and into the group of soldiers… While also tossing him clear off his feet and across the room with all the force of a small artillery canon.
He slammed into a wall, splintering the wood before he slowly climbed to his feet and slowly yet surely looked outside.
There was a crater the size of a smart car where he had fired, stone and concrete thrown about like they were small toys, cracked and burnt concrete along with at least ten unconscious soldiers, all laid about.
There was something else, something that she could deal with as Zainn leaned against the wall, burnt out and exhausted.
"Uh… How was that?" Zainn asked before he hummed and looked to the ground. "I don't feel as good as I think I feel…" Zainn stated before he leaned on the wall.
He was too worn down to do much more than relax. he chuckled, too tired, too exhausted, too worn down… He had been too interested in something like this, and Zainn had been too unwilling to do more than relax. He had been too relaxed for now.
He had been too worn down to relax, but he had been amused for now… Looking over at Rachal who slowly landed next to him, she paused to try and deal with it, for now, wanting to relax… There was a chaotic little slimmer of madness.
This would not be something Zainn could deal with for now, too interested in what was going on, not want to keep growing for now and it would not end anytime soon, not when such a thing was a result of what was coming next.
Zainn panted, clutching his stomach and side as Rachal landed on the windowsill. She looked at him as Zainn slowly leaned on the wall, too relaxed for now, wishing to end it… She would not allow it to end for now… There was more to their little ideal, too much to try and end it.
"Too much hero work for one day?" Rachal questioned, a teasing smile on her face as Zainn hummed.
"Very funny, Ms. Grey," Zainn stated, leaning on the paneling behind him. "I don't know if I'm handling this power any better than before," Zainn stated before he seemed to fall relaxed.
Zainn hummed, leaning on the wall next to him as he slowly straightened up, too tired, too thrown off for now, he wished to seem to relax.
He had a lot more to try and deal with it for now, too tired, too interested in what was coming.
"Storm? I think we are done for today." Rachal said, tapping her foot on the ground as she did so.
Zainn hummed, too interested in the next move that could be made as the holograms? Everything from before seemed to be spinning around him, making him far more exhausted than he had been before, he had wished to relax.
Zainn panted in exhaustion, wishing to keep from being thrown off, she wished to try and end it all, wished to see it all collapse.
"Thank you… Feel like I'm going to vomit if I stick around any longer." Zainn stated, tired for now. "Is hero training always this intense?" Zainn asked to which Rachal paused, raising an eyebrow.
"It is… Because we are going to be fighting for a while." Rachal stated as Zainn hummed.
He paused to let it all sink in; he wished it would… Because if not? He was not going to let it define him for now, there was a lot more to this problem.
Zainn was tired, he was too exhausted, too interested for now, wanting nothing more than to relax… All that came later was a scream and a cry of exhaustion upon his face.
Rachal slowly helped him off the battlefield as it slowly began to collapse, all falling apart, too exhausted now and not wanting to see it die out anytime soon. Zainn watched as the room faded out, replaced by less holographic flair.
Zainn would admit only one thing… This place was awesome and it would be more and more horrific for now, she wanted to think of what was going on next… She wished to keep thinking, to relax… To let it all, wash over him.
Zainn was amused, too tired, too exhausted, too thrown off, and unwilling to do more than relax… He wished to end it and it was clear he was going to go.
She would not let it all come to pass if it could deal with for now, too interested in the next move if anything. He was all too unwilling, unable to deal with such a thing, he had not a peep to try and deal with.
Zainn looked at Rachal who landed in front of him, he was exhausted, all too exhausted to do much, and far too exhausted to let it all seep out and over him… He had as little reason to deal with it as possible… As little reason as possible.
'You, ok?' Rachal asked mentally as Zainn chuckled and almost collapsed against the wall.
'Talking in my brain now? That is cool. Yeah, I think I am, do not know for sure…' Zainn thought in response, knowing what was going on and dreading it.
"Zainn, easy. You are still a bit hurt from all that." Rachal stated to which Zainn paused.
"I know, I'm trying to get up so I can do something," Zainn stated before he looked at Rachal. "But be honest, even if I looked like a dork. How well did I do? 1 out 20?" Zainn asked before he raised an eyebrow.
Zainn paused, still a bit tired and unwilling to bow down, he managed to flash a smile of pearly whites which made Rachal roll her eyes knowing that he had tried his best as a hero either way and even with the training coming? She was confident he would do what he had to do best.
"Let's call it a 7 and say you did a 15." Rachal joked before she turned to the wall. "Professor? We are done for now; I would like to show Zainn around the mansion for a bit before we do something else." Rachal stated to which the X-Men chuckled.
"Indeed… Zainn? I am glad you and Ms. Grey are getting along well, there is no better friend than her." Storm stated as Zainn hummed and looked at the red-haired woman.
"I believe that considering how you are," Zainn stated to which he paused. "Rachal? Can you give me a few minutes when we get out of here? I think I have a lung or two I want to spit out before I do anything." Rachal stated.
Zainn sighed, thinking only of the next move and not at all willing to relax… To pause, to find some small measure of solace.
Zainn could not have allowed it to have ended, allowed it to have amused him to no end. Zainn would find no peace and he would have no rest for now… Not now, not ever.
He could do nothing more than laugh, he had wished to try and deal with for now, but he had a lot more to try and deal with for now. He had paused to let it all end for now, he paused to let it all end for now.
He had a lot more, pausing only to think of what was going on, for now, he had a lot more on his mind he could not have done with such an ideal for now and for good reason as of this very moment.
He had a lot more on his mind… Something about it all melted in his head, even then? He would pause, letting it all come crashing down onto his mind. He had no such ideals about what the future would hold for him.
Zainn paused to look at Rachal as he sighed, tired for but a moment, he had not the ability to have ended it for now. No, he had to keep cutting and cutting for now.
"You, ok?" Zainn asked as he sighed, pausing to think. "We are soldiers, we are warriors and I am still getting used to these heroics. This was something else, that was crazy… And you do that for a day job?" Zainn questioned before he paused and looked downwards at the ground.
He had been silent, unable to do more than relax, then let it all end for now and for good reason. He hummed and then looked over toward her as both paused to let it all come to a head.
The logic in it all would need to end, to let it all come tumbling down as she and he slowly floated out of the danger room. He was still surprised watching dozens of buildings and cars and terrain shatter and then deform, falling and crashing into the ground like garbage.
"So… Is the danger room usually like that?" Zainn asked, leaning on Rachel as the two slowly left the room.
"A lot like that, but yes," Rachal stated before she paused to let it all sink in.
"Cool, any chance we can train in there again? Because I am looking forward to learning how these powers work." Rachal heard.
"I question if you are good at this or stupid." Zainn heard before he rolled his eyes, mirth within them as he paused, letting it all come to the forefront.
He knew what was going on and knew what he was getting into. He knew at that moment that whatever he tried next? It would be only a temporary conclusion.
Even then? Even when it came down to it? He could not falter; he could not maintain the idea of such a thing as this… He had something else on his mind, he had a LOT less to try and deal with, something that was eating him up inside. He did not at all know what the next move would be and he did not wish to relax, to let it all spin down.
No, if he was to end it? He would end it now, he had a lot more on the moment to consider, his power, what he could do… There was chaos to be had and he had nothing but amusement written across his mind… He had something else to deal with.
Yes, something else was coming to his mind as he seemed to think of what he would do when it came to it for now… He would not allow it to all end now which it would not end.
He no wishes to be superior, to act like this, to have done something to have ended in fire… To have been beyond the pale… Beyond the chaos… Even then? Even he would not be so easily disturbed.
He had no choice, no desire to mess with it and to see it come crashing down upon me… Too much was left to chance, to the chaotic maelstrom in his face.
"So, what is the highest you've gotten in the danger room? Is that really what it is called?" Zainn questioned, pondering if he was a comic book character.
"Often, yes… And yes, I do." Rachal added before he seemed to be able to deal with it better and better…
"I want to go back in." Zainn joked to which Rachal rolled her eyes.
"You ok enough to walk?" Zainn heard from Rachal.
"Maybe, I am still exhausted enough that I can't just stand up. Those blasts took a lot out of me, I am going to have to get more and more." Zainn paused to state before he sighed to himself.
"We are going to need to work on that… You got to learn how to train for now… There are a lot of things I can deal with it for the moment." Zainn stated before he sighed, pausing only to think, and to act.
Zainn was amused, and not in the way he could deal with it… He had been meaning to end it for now, too relaxed for the moment.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be 900-6500 words and will end up showing more and more of both Zainn and Rachal. Until then, Lighting Wolf is out!