Disclaimer: I do not own the X-men or any marvel related characters.
I would like to take a second to thank animal56 for your review. I appreciate you taking the time out to let me know what you think. Also guest I don't have a name for you but if you are reading this you know who you are thank you for reviewing as well. I appreciate the love I have been shown I was not planning on updating again so soon as I had come down with a case of writers block it seems all I needed was a long day at work and a 24oz Monster to break through it. Suga227 is brilliant and guessed one of the mutants David recruited to his team in the last chapter correctly. And has also been a rather large help when it comes to my story so thank you suga227 for all of your support. Now enough with my incessant rambling and on to the next chapter I hope you enjoy it.
"Sarah, Hi." David said as he approached the girl sitting in front of the computer screen unmoving.
"Professor Alexander. How are you?" She said without removing her eyes from the screen.
"Uh I'm doing great Sarah. Can I talk to you about something?" David then asked as he felt a little strange talking to someone who wouldn't look at him.
"Absolutely Professor." She replied still unmoving.
"Um I would like to offer you a spot on my team." David said to the back of the girl's head.
"That doesn't seem likely. I would have thought you would have wanted a powerful team and use force to carry out your missions." She stated still immersed in the text that played across the screen.
"What makes you think that?" David questioned as he didn't recall giving off the power-hungry destroy everything in sight type of personality at least not recently.
"Well for one this blog about you." She said as she clicked a button on the keyboard and another window popped up showing David bleeding from the nose and the two boys he fought when his powers emerged on the ground.
"There is a blog about me?" David asked as he looked over her shoulder.
"It says that you were drunk and angry and attacked two boys mercilessly for no reason. I don't always read much into people's blogs because they are based on opinion but I do find that there is usually a slight bit of truth to them." She then remarked.
"That's not really the case. I didn't know how to use my powers at the time. They had first emerged in front of a crowd and the kids attacked me. I was defending myself until I was rescued by one of the other students here who by fate or some lucky coincidence happened to be there." David explained slightly uneasily.
"You mean Jubilee?" She then added.
"Uh Yea how did you know that?" David asked curiously.
"She is in some of the pictures here with you. How is your relationship with her going by the way?" She asked still not turning to see a reaction.
"Its going great, but could you keep that down nobody is to know about that. I am not even going to ask how you know or why you are running searches on me." David said hoping that their relationship would be kept a secret.
"That's easy I run searches on everyone. In todays day and age everyone is on the internet somewhere, Would you like to know about Professor Xavier's past?" She asked calmly.
"You have info on Charles? Yea... Wait maybe later for now how about we get back to the topic at hand." David suggested as he was still waiting for an answer.
"No Thank you Professor. I am not a fighter I am just a tech nerd." She replied.
"Thank about it Sarah, We will be raiding top-secret Anti mutant compounds. Think of all the hidden black ops plans and missions they may have stored in their computers think of everything you could learn." David replied playing to her mutation.
"Wow I didn't think of all of that. But I could just hack the pentagon and get the same information." Sarah answered.
"You know that is not allowed by the pentagon or Professor Xavier. But this way we could sneak in let you do your thing get all the information you want and get out again. Its fun for you and informational for us. It is a win/win situation. If you can pull your eyes away from the computer screen for an hour everyday to train I would love to have you." David said hoping she would give in.
"Couldn't I get hurt?" She then asked now finally drawing her eyes from the screen.
David knew he had won when she looked at him. He hid a smirk that was trying to make an appearance as he answered. "Do you trust me Sarah?"
"I do Professor as a X-men member you have done exceptional at least from what I have seen regarding your missions." She answered obviously having seen some of their more public missions online and maybe even some security footage of their less public missions.
"Then I want you to trust me when I tell you I will not let you get hurt. We need you Sarah." David answered her previous question.
"Well then Professor. When do we start training?" She then asked curious and slightly nervously.
"The day is already growing late so not until tomorrow. I have not nailed down a time yet but just go back to what you are doing I will let you know soon." David explained as he began making his way from the room and her eyes turned back to the computer screen.
"Ok, bye Professor." She replied as she began typing away.
David left the library and headed toward the rec room to finally get a moment to relax. After everything that had gone on he was becoming mentally exhausted. He contemplated heading to his favorite spot at the lake but it seems with so many new mutants the lake had been more crowded so he only chose to go later in the evenings. As he rounded the corner toward the rec room he realized he would not get a chance to relax.
"Professor I have looked for you everywhere." Alex said as he approached David.
"Alex How are you?" David asked the blonde teenager.
"I'm good I was actually wondering if we can start my training?" A very hopeful Alex asked hoping to get over his lack of control.
"Your awfully eager." David remarked mentally sighing as he just felt drained.
"You're the one that told me I need to commit 100% if I am going to be on your team." Alex replied.
"Yea I guess I did. Alright I am ready when you are." David said realizing he could ask Jubilee for a boost later.
The two began their trip to the danger room and David couldn't help but smirk at the visible excitement of Alex. "Scott says if you can teach me to control my powers as well as you learned your own I will be able to master it in no time at all."
"It's not easy Alex, I am actually surprised your brother is ok with you training with me. My first time trying to use my powers after getting here I nearly got killed because of my determination. And It was your brother that nearly killed me." David explained as he saw the excitement start to fade from Alex's face.
"You almost died? And It was Scott that almost killed you?" Alex asked nervously.
"Yea It was kinda my fault I said the wrong things to him when he was already in a bad mood. He lost his temper and blasted me. Thankfully my powers kicked in and I was able to stop his blast. It put me in a coma though. Don't worry I wont do anything so drastic with you. But don't for a second think I will take it easy on you either." David explained as they reached the elevator.
"I would hope not I don't want easy. I want you to push me." Alex said as they boarded the elevator.
The doors slid shut and the elevator began to descend. "Scott would push you I am quite surprised that you are not training with him especially given your powers are so similar." David then said as the doors opened once more.
"Yea he would push me but he would also hold back for my safety." Alex explained.
"Yea you are probably right." Said David.
"Besides I feel better training with you knowing you were able to stop his blast." Alex said thinking back to the last time he let a blast of his own loose.
"Alright are you ready?" David then asked as they approached the keypad to the danger room door.
"Ready as I will ever be." Alex stated taking a long deep breath and exhaling loudly.
They entered the room and made their way to the center. "Relax Alex you will be fine. I will not be placing you in any danger at least not until you get some semblance of control. Right now I just want to see what you are capable of so that I know what I am dealing with." David explained as his heightened senses picked up Alex's breathing get slightly heavier and his heart rate pick up. "Computer run simulation target range." David then said causing targets to pop up all around the room.
"Wow that is cool what else does this room do?" Alex asked having never seen anything of the danger room other than a large metal room at class that morning.
"It is able to be programmed to do pretty much anything. You will see more once we start team training. For now I need you to focus, don't let your mind wander. Pick out a target." David said waving around at the dozens of hologram targets.
"How about that one?" Alex asked pointing at a small target in the corner.
"I expected a larger one but I like your style. Focus on that target and let a blast loose." David said as he stepped back a few inches.
"Uh Professor, You may want to step back a little more than that." Alex said as he saw how close David still was.
"Its Karma when we are in here. Right now I am not your teacher but your trainer." David grinned at the teen. "Now don't focus on where I am at. We will worry about that in team training. The only thing you need to focus on is that target." David stated causing the boys nerves to grow.
"But what if I-" Alex began.
"You wont." David responded. "Now shut up and let loose." He then added agitation growing in his voice.
Alex then removed his shirt which confused David who had not seen his power. after his shirt fell to the danger room floor Alex took a deep breath and began to concentrate on the small target he picked out. His chest began to glow a shade of red and suddenly a large red blast shot forth and veered wide to the left destroying three targets but neither of them the one he was aiming for. Alex hung his head sadly at seeing how inaccurate he was.
"Wow! that's a lot of power there Alex. I see you have trouble aiming, do you have trouble controlling the strength of the blast as well?" David asked the slightly sulking teen.
"Yea I have virtually no control. Never have." Alex answered sadly.
"I see, well we should probably work on your level of power before accuracy first. But I believe that if you can learn to control that level of power the rest should come easy." David remarked taking a brief second to think about how to approach things. "Have you always fired your blasts from your chest?" David then asked him.
"Yea it is just what has always come natural." Alex responded.
"Ok well the hell with natural. If you ask most people Mutants are unnatural but you're a mutant. So lets throw natural right out of the window. I want you to try firing your blasts from other places. We will start with larger areas try your shoulders or stomach." David suggested.
"Is that even possible?" Alex asked him.
"I don't know." David shrugged his shoulders. "That's why I said try. I'm not Hank I don't know how powers work I just try new things and make them work to my advantage. Now enough questions, Go!"
Alex began focusing his power on the target again and trying this time to redirect the energy coming from himself. The blast still fired from his chest but this time it shot straight into the air hitting the ceiling of the room.
"Alright let's try a different approach." David said walking closer and placing his hand an inch from Alex's chest.
"Karma what-" Alex began.
"No questions, just do it." David said unsure if his plan would even work.
"But I could really-" Alex began again before being cut off once more, this time by a glare from David.
Another deep breath was taken by Alex and David could sense the fear radiating from him in waves. His chest began to glow again and this time David used his own power to force the blast lower in Alex's body, it reached his stomach and a second later another wild blast shot forth.
"Wow I am glad that worked. I don't know if my healing would have regrown a hand or not." David laughed a little easing Alex's nerves. "Your too nervous Alex I can sense it in you. Now you just saw that I am capable of controlling your power stop worrying about hurting me and destroy the damn target."
Class was over for the day and Jubilee decided she wanted to find David and sneak off somewhere so they could finally be alone again. She headed to his room and did not find him. She then headed outside thinking that maybe he needed some air. She searched the lawn the pool the basketball and tennis courts and then decided the pond deserved a look. Once she got to the pond she glanced around and saw a few other students but did not see any sign of David so she turned and headed back for the mansion. When suddenly her head began to hurt.
"Destroy the damn target!"
"David" Jubilee said to herself unsure whether she was imagining things. She stopped and thought hard but heard nothing else so she continued her journey but was more sure of her destination this time. She reached the mansion doors and headed inside. Once in the lobby she headed for the elevator and pressed the call button. She entered the elevator and pressed the button for her desired floor. She stepped off the elevator once it came to a stop and headed in the direction she was sure she would find David. She reached the Danger room door and entered her code.
"Simulation in progress. Access denied." The computerized voice spoke.
Jubilee headed to the observation room to see whether her suspicions were correct. She entered the door to the room and was quite surprised to see Logan there.
"Hiya Wolvie." Jubilee said cheerfully.
"What did I tell you about calling me that kid?" Wolverine growled in response.
"Not in front of anyone, No one else is around." Jubilee answered.
"That boyfriend of yours has enhanced hearing. I get enough of him calling me gramps. I don't need him hearing you." Logan responded as he looked down into he danger room. "Speaking of your boyfriend the kid is down there."
Jubilee looked down and saw David with his hand hovering over Alex's chest seconds before another blast fired and zipped right past the control room window.
"Wow his aim is terrible." Jubilee stated as she saw the lack of accuracy.
"Should have seen it about 10 minutes ago. David has made pretty big strides with him. I came to run a sim and the door was locked. Came up to see what was going on." Wolverine explained as he sat at the desk in the control room.
"Lets listen in shall we?" Jubilee more stated than asked as she pressed a button allowing the sounds from the room to filter into the control room.
"Alex you are defeating yourself this is more of a mental game than a physical one. Try channeling your power, picture a tunnel toward your destination and fire your blast through that tunnel." David suggested hoping it would at least help him improve slightly.
Alex closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath before exhaling slowly. He was tired and exhausted but he would not give up. Not that David would let him if he wanted to. He focused on the target once more and as he drew another breath and held it his chest began to glow again he forced the energy this time into his stomach on his own and fired another blast. The energy sailed right and missed the target once again.
"Damn it what am I doing wrong Karma?" Alex asked feeling extremely frustrated at his lack of progression.
"Absolutely nothing Alex. You are focused on the fact that you are still missing not the fact that you have gotten closer with each blast. Maybe we need a smaller point to fire the blast from to help channel it. Lets try your hands." David said hoping a smaller outlet would help to narrow in his accuracy.
"I don't know if I can force the energy that far." Alex explained.
"Do you know that you cant?" David asked.
"No."
"Well then quit making excuses and make it happen." David then said hoping to motivate him as he could sense the frustration growing. "I will help you with the first few then you are on your own." David added placing his hand over Alex's chest as the energy started to build within him.
He began moving his hand up to Alex's Shoulder and then down his arm pushing the energy to its intended destination. Alex directed his hand toward the target and his hand began to glow a bright red. A stream of energy fired forth much straighter than the others and narrowly missed his target.
"Wow I cant believe how close that one was." Alex exclaimed his frustration beginning to ease.
"Don't get ahead of yourself Alex. You still missed." David then said slightly drawing him back down.
"Why would David build him up like that and then tear him back down?" Jubilee asked a little ashamed of her boyfriend.
"Because he knows what he is doing. It's a smart tactic. David wants him to feel good but when you start to do good you get over confident and then you get sloppy. As mean as it may seem its a proven method it will keep him trying hard." Wolverine stated in a rather impressed tone as he studied David's training methods.
"Is that why as far of strides as David made with his own power he never felt like it was good enough? Was he doing that to keep himself motivated?" Jubilee then asked.
"Seems that way. The kid is a born leader. I haven't seen anything quite like it." Wolverine then stated.
Jubilee took a second to think about what Logan had said before thinking back on her past with him and seeing that Logan was right he had a proven training method and now he was passing his knowledge on to others. She couldn't help but smile as she looked down on David in the room below. As she took a closer look she also began to worry.
"Does he look a little run down to you?" Jubilee then asked.
"He has had a long day he's exhausted. He will push through this training session and get some rest He will be fine. He has been through much worse." Wolverine explained to his ex sidekick.
"Yea I suppose your right." Jubilee relaxed a little before continuing to watch the events taking place beneath her.
Alex fired blast after blast and still could not seem to hit the designated target. He got closer and closer with each attack.
"Come on your a Summers you are better than this Alex!" David yelled hoping to get him angry enough to hit the target. "Your brother would have destroyed every target in here without missing one and he would have done it in a matter of minutes. We have been here for 45 minutes now and the only targets you have hit were collateral Damage." He then said in a stern voice hoping he could push the kid into accomplishing what he knew he was capable of accomplishing. "I thought you wanted to be on my team."
"I do!" Alex yelled firing quick rapid blasts through his hands without even taking the time to focus his energy into his hands.
David swelled with pride upon noticing this feat but couldn't let Alex know that yet. "Could have fooled me, it seems all I have been doing is wasting my time you started off good. Then we hit this road block."
Alex was sweating profusely. His concentration grew more and more focused. His knees became weak and with one final attempt he fired a large blast that carried true to its destination. the target he had been trying for nearly an hour to hit shattered just as he knees buckled and he fell to the floor.
"End simulation." David said causing the remaining targets to disappear and the room to return to normal.
"Why are we stopping Karma?" Alex asked weakly from the floor.
"Because you did it Alex." David smiled as he extended a hand to help the young man to his feet.
"You mean I hit it?" Alex asked in disbelief not having seen the end result as he collapsed.
"You hit it Alex. You did great." David said as Alex made his way to his feet.
"So does that mean we are done for the day?" A hopeful Alex then asked.
"Yes Alex get a shower and relax you deserve it." David replied giving Alex a push toward the door. "Get some rest, we have team training after classes are over tomorrow." David then added as Alex made his way to the exit.
Alex turned around once he reached the door to see David still in the middle of the room. "Karma, Thanks." He smiled before leaving.
The door closed behind him and David collapsed in a heap onto the floor.
"Oh my god David!" Jubilee shouted from the control room before leaping from her seat and running down the stairs to the danger room door. She punched in her code and the door slid open. She ran toward the pile on the floor and hit her knees at his side.
"David please tell me your ok. Please be breathing!" Jubilee panicked.
"If I wasn't breathing it would be a little hard to tell you I am ok." David joked although he felt extremely weak.
"What happened David? Tell me what is wrong." Jubilee said before looking over her shoulder at Logan who entered the room after her. "Don't just stand there, go find Hank."
"No I am fine I just need a boost. Jubilee if you don't mind?" David asked weakly.
"Just a small one." She stated as she placed her hand on his chest.
"That's all I need." David replied with a small smile.
Jubilee pushed a small paff into David's body in an attempt to revive him from the ball he became on the floor. David jerked violently and began to sake slightly as the energy began to course through his body. He immediately began to feel better and he quickly sat up.
"Thanks Jubes your the greatest."