I do not own Lorien Legacies or any of the characters.
Babysitting
So, when I said early wake up call, I didn't think that meant in less than two hours. When the knock comes to my door, my eyes go to the clock and I groan, loudly. We had slept about an hour and fifty minutes. Marina grumbles something of a half-way coherent complaint and pushes herself up, allowing me to sit up, then collapses back into the bed. I smile, shaking my head, then stand and stumble to the door, cracking it open and looking out through the crack.
"Training time," Nine grins. "If you and soon-to-be Mrs. James aren't too busy doing fun things. Cause I can totally understand if I have to come back in a couple of hours."
"You know James is my first name right?" I ask.
"Well yeah but we never use your last name," Nine says. "How am I supposed to know it? Does she even know it?"
I blink, then stop to think. Had I actually ever told her my name? I know Nine's right about me almost never using it.
"Ireland," Marina's drowsy voice calls from the bed. "You told me when we met."
"Oh," I blink. "Is that the only time?"
"You're the only James we know," Marina responds.
"Ireland huh?" Nine grins. "Well alright then, Mr. Ireland, shall we?"
"Sure," I sigh. "She needs rest though."
"I heard," Nine mutters, voice serious but not carrying past me.
I step out of the room, closing the door behind myself and starting away from the room, Nine following.
"Lexa told me what happened," Nine says. "How's she doing?"
"She's better now," I say. "One of us, we're pretty sure me, got some kind of legacy that regrew her arm."
Nine stops, staring at me.
"What?" I ask.
"That's...great!" Nine grins. "Anyway, we're going to be late. It's in the garage. Let's go."
I nod and we head down to the garage where the rest of the LANEs are gathered, waiting for their teacher to arrive. Once I step into the room, the slightly more talkative of the twins, Caleb and Christian, relaxes slightly, not enough to show, but a little. I walk over to the others as Nine walks past a guard who's barely awake, easily taking his pistol without him noticing. Then, he walks over to us and I grin. Disarming practice.
"So, first lesson," Nine begins, twirling the gun around and around his finger, his display seeming to intimidate everyone but me and Daniela. "You've all got telekinesis right?"
We all nod and the gun stops twirling, waving around at us, only to find itself aimed at the inside of a circular force field around Nine.
"Very nice," Nine grins. "But this is telekinesis practice. We already know you're got with barriers."
"Force Fields," I say. "Ella says that barriers are a bit more physical and a little less telekinetic. She also says that if it was barriers, I wouldn't be able to combine my Telekinesis like I do."
"Whatever," Nine groans. "Just get rid of it."
I let it fade and Nine rolls his eyes.
"So, who wants to try stopping a bullet?" Nine asks, the gun on all of us again.
"Psh, I will turn your ass to stone if you point that thing at me," Daniela snorts, Nine instantly moving down the line away from her.
"I volunteer as tribute," I say, raising a hand, Fleur and Daniela both snorting in amusement.
"Of course you do," Nine sighs. "Well, I was going to teach them before focusing on you, but, what the hell?"
He swings the gun around, glancing to the right where John is watching.
"I'll aim for someplace non fatal," Nine says.
"That'd be nice," I grin.
The gun goes off before I even have time to prepare. Fortunately, my mind works on reflex, the bullet halting pressing against my stomach, my shirt pinned between it and the bullet. I swallow hard. I'm glad my mind was more ready than me. But that was still too close for comfort. I reach down, closing my hand around the bullet then exhale a breath I didn't realize I was holding. I toss the bullet into the air then catch it as it falls, grinning.
"Well that was almost messy," I grin. "No wonder you don't like gunfights."
Nine laughs as Nigel steps forward.
"All right, mate" Nigel says. "I'll give it a whirl."
"That's very brave of you John Lennon-" Nine begins.
"John Lennon was a wanker," Nigel says.
"Whatever that is," Nine snorts. "Anyway, stopping bullets is some high level shit. I'm actually surprised he was able to do it. He got his powers later than all of you, though his seem exceptionally well developed, and strong. Anyway, you'll be fighting against Mogadorians, and they use energy weapons. You can't stop energy with your Telekinesis. Yes, James, I know you can do it with your force fields. Anyway, there's an easier way to do it than just stopping a bullet. Anyone care to guess how?"
"Disarm them," Caleb says.
"Very good weirdo twin number one," Nine says pointing at him with his free hand, gun aimed at Nigel. "Give it a try. Take the gun out of my hand."
Nigel scowls at Nine, but moves his arm as though pulling at something. Nine stumbles forward but doesn't lose the gun.
"That's some decent power," Nine commends. "But you're pulling at my entire arm. focus on the weapon itself. Be precise."
He glances down the line at Ran and cocks his head.
"She understand anything I'm saying?" Nine asks.
"She doesn't speak much english but we think she understands," Nigel says.
"Huh," Nine says, swinging the gun her way.
Almost as if it's as much a reflex as me stopping the bullet, the moment the gun is aimed her way, she whips her arm up, the barrel of the gun crumpling like paper, the trigger mechanism pinching closed on Nine's finger. He drops the gun with a cry and I shout in laughter.
"Hell yeah!" Six cheers from the sideline.
Nine shoots each of us a dirty look and I laugh again.
"Well, she knows what she's doing," I grin. "She passes lesson one. Now for my training. I believe you and I have a score to settle, don't we Nine?"
"If I remember right, it's about seven to one," Nine snorts. "You sure you want to get schooled in front of everyone?"
"We are supposed to be training," I grin, taking a defensive stance, the others all instantly backing away as Nine cracks his neck, beginning to bounce on the balls of his feet, grinning from ear to ear.
"Alright tough guy," Nine grins. "Let's see if you got any physical skills."
He sprints forward, throwing a super-speed-enhanced haymaker at me. I drop, having been expecting it, and punch him in the side of the thigh. He kicks at me and I spin aside, narrowly avoiding it. He spins, throwing an elbow at my head as I stand but I lean back out of the way. He spins again, throwing a punch only for me to block it with y left arm, my right crashing into his jaw. He staggers back, grinning.
"Little bit more of a kick to your punches now," Nine grins. "Looks like you have the usual Garde physical enhancements too. Too bad mine are better."
I think back to punching Phiri Dun-Ra, then being surprised it didn't hurt. Maybe my Legacies were manifesting earlier than I thought. Nine's foot planting itself in between mine breaks me out of my thoughts. He was really not holding back if he was moving that fast. I instantly duck and step left, his fist passing over me before he spins, punching again. I duck under it again, planting two punches to his stomach quickly before ducking around behind him, under a punch. As he begins to turn, I put a leg between his, standing beside him facing the opposite direction then spin, my arm pushing the back of his head, throwing him to the ground. He rolls away, then to his feet and lunges at me. There's no time to react. But I somehow do. My body launches itself into the air over Nine, flipping. Just as he's passing over me, my feet hit him in the back, slamming him into the ground, hard.
"No fucking way," Nine growls. "You got reflexes didn't you?"
"Looks like it," I grin. "Hah. Now about that score."
Nine rolls, flipping me to the ground and we both push ourselves up, throwing a punch. Our fists meet and mine shatters. Right. Super strength. I stagger backward, hand hanging limply. Nine grins and we step forward again. This time, I coat my remaining hand with force field charged with repelling telekinetic force. When our fists meet, a shockwave shoots out. Excellent. I just used my Legacies to rip off Nine's super strength. Nine staggers back, shaking his hand and grinning.
"Nice," Nine grins.
"Time's up," John speaks up. "We'll be late if we wait any longer."
He walks over, healing my hand. Then, he turns as Marina walks into the room, looking to have just woken up, which she probably did.
"Where are all of you going?" John asks.
"We're going to make a covert assault on a Mogadorian warship," John says quietly so only we LANEs can hear. "You are all staying here. James and Daniela, you too."
"What, babysitting duty?" I ask. "Typical. I never get to do the fun stuff anymore. I wanna dust Mogadorians too."
"You'll get your chance," John promises. "In the mean time, train them."
"Fine," I sigh. "Have fun with your fighting and fun things. Don't get my girlfriend killed."
"We won't," John says, glancing at Marina, then freezing, mouth hanging open, the other Garde, except Nine, doing the same. "What...how...but I thought..."
"Oh, right," I say. "Well-"
"James gained a new Legacy that restored her arm but he doesn't know how to use it on command," Ella summarizes.
"Yeah that," I nod.
"Okay," Six shrugs. "I'm not looking this gift horse in the mouth."
"Right," John mutters. "Okay. So...time to go then."
"How come we can't go if you're taking a beagle and a wolf?" Nigel speaks up. "You promised us action."
"Both of the animals would have you pissing your pants," Nine grins.
"LANEs aren't authorized to go on this op anyways," Caleb speaks up.
"Oh piss off, Captain America," Nigel snaps. "I'm ready to fight."
"Aw, kid," Nine snorts. "You're not."
"Enough," I say. "We're plan B. Call that good. We're going to keep training here. Then, when we take on the next warship, we can take it out for ourselves."
Nigel glares at me but doesn't argue anymore. The Loric all board the ship and it takes off, leaving the rest of us standing in the garage alone.
"You're awfully okay for your girlfriend going to raid a Mogadorian warship," Daniela says.
"Well for one, my girlfriend would probably kill me if we fought," I snort. "And two, John knows I would kill him if she actually fought. She'll be back up force with Lexa."
"Lexa's back up force?" Daniela asks.
"Someone has to fly the ship home," I shrug.
"They're not after cloaking devices are they?" Daniela asks.
"Have you even met John?" I snort. "What do you really think he's after?"
"He wants a ride," Daniela snorts. "Great. So, anyway. You're supposed to train us now, right?"
"Yep," I grin, picking up Nine's ruined pistol from the ground and straightening it out so it at least looked halfway normal, though it would probably explode if fired. "So, who's first?"
I drop the clip, aiming at Daniela who whips her hand up, the pistol shooting out of my hand and into hers. She grins turning it back toward me just in time for it to shoot sideways into Nigel's.
"Who's teaching who?" Nigel asks.
I raise a hand and the gun suddenly rises into the air, Nigel dangling from it and looking terrified.
"Not funny!" Nigel shouts. "Put me down!"
"Hey, I never thought of that," Daniela laughs as I set him down.
"Creativity is useful with telekinesis," I snort, taking the gun back. "Who's next?"
One by one, they all take it back until only Ran is left. I hesitate to aim at her, not sure what she'll do if I do. Nine didn't exactly get a good reaction. After a moment she nods and I shrug, aiming at her. Then, the gun launches out of my hand without her moving, shooting over and hovering in front of her.
"Nice," I grin. "She's good."
"She has the most promise out of all the others," Daniela nods. "Except me, of course."
"I don't know," I grin. "She can crumple pistols."
Daniela rolls her eyes as Ran sets the gun in her hand and holds it out. I float it over to myself and then look at the others.
"Alright," I nod. "Next lesson. If you're either too rushed or too preoccupied to disarm, what's the next best thing?"
The others all look over at each other and I laugh, tossing Nigel the gun. He instantly aims at me only for his feet to jerk forward, slamming his back into the floor. The others, Ran excluded, laugh and I notice Ran tensing, readying herself for someone to try.
"I suggest no one tries it on Ran," I say and the others all nod.
I walk toward her, raising my hands to show I won't attack her.
"Watashini shi te kudasai," I say, telling her to use me to practice, since I am the only one who speaks Japanese, though not much.
Ran cocks her head, smiling slightly, then nods. A moment later, my feet are in the air and my head is slamming into the ground. I blink the stars out of my eyes, groaning as I stand and then grin.
"Yoku deki mashi ta," I smile.
"What are you even saying?" Daniela asks. "Are you flirting?"
"No I'm not flirting," I say rolling my eyes. "I'm teaching in a language she understands. That way we don't die when we try to get her to train with us."
"Shame we don't have automatic translators," Daniela snorts. "Then you wouldn't need to flirt in a different language."
"Wanna spar Daniela?" I grin.
"Hell yeah," Daniela grins.
I turn toward her just as energy beams shoot out of her eyes. My hand snaps up, creating a force field between us, which instantly becomes stone. The moment it does, I blast it, sending chunks of stone hurtling at Daniela. She deflects them all easily and I grin.
"Alright," I grin. "I'll admit, you've got practice."
"What not skill?" Daniela grins.
"Nope," I grin. "Just practice."
She yanks on my feet and I use Telekinesis to push against the floor with my back. A moment later, I'm hovering. I blink in surprise and grin, rolling over and kicking off the ground, the telekinetic force now supporting the front of my torso. I race along the ground, cheering as I drift around corners. No wonder Five enjoys flying. Even the cheap two foot high rip off I just learned to do is fun. I turn, racing at Daniela and she fires her energy beams at me. I easily dodge around them only for her Telekinesis to suddenly slam me into the ground, my own Telekinetic energy then launching me into the air. I flip, catching myself on a barrier and lower myself to the ground.
"Alright, fine," I smirk. "Maybe a little skill. But you're not as creative as me. And my Legacies revolve around my creativity."
My force field flips so that I'm at an angle, looking up to see Daniela. I raise my hands, forming force field bullets on my fingers. I make sure they're only strong enough to sting and begin to fire. She rolls out of the way instantly, avoiding my shots before hurling chunks of my previously petrified force field at me. I flip the one I'm standing on, blocking them, then jump off, the force field flying at Daniela, slamming into her legs and flipping her. She catches herself with Telekinesis, setting herself on her feet again and I clap.
"Alright," I grin. "You're not half bad. Tell you what, you can help me teach. You get John Lennon and Bertrand."
"You would stick me with the wanna be rocker," Daniela says, dramatically rolling her eyes.
"Gee thanks," Nigel laughs. "So glad I'm your favorite."
"If you would prefer, you can go to the armory and get hit on by Hawkeye," I grin."
"Hey thanks," she grins, turning and walking toward the elevator.
I laugh, creating a force field in the doorway and she sighs dramatically.
"Oh you're no fun at all," Daniela complains.
"Anata ha watashito supa ga?" Ran speaks up suddenly and I stiffen.
"What's she want?" Daniela asks.
"To spar," I say, swallowing hard.
Daniela laughs, hard. She doubles over, clutching her stomach and the others all inch away from Ran.
"If she stars grenading things, I don't think that's a good idea," Daniela laughs.
"You can use your stone vision to fix any damage she does to the floor," I point out. "Practice for everyone."
"Except us," Bertrand says.
"You get to keep any projectiles from getting too close to you," I say. "And Daniela's going to train with you after. I have a feeling either me or Ran is going to need a medic after this."
I turn to Ran and nod. She nods as well and that's the only warning I get. A moment later, my feet are in the air once again. This time, there are glowing red chunks of stone falling toward me. I catch them in a force field and they explode, shattering it but not doing damage to anything else. I flip to my feet as Ran sprints at me, grabbing a large chunk of stone from the ground. I gulp. That's a big grenade. She hurls it and I catch it in several layers of force fields. Good thing. The explosion blasts through all five layers and throws everyone, cracking the ground instantly. I flip, landing on my feet and then jump, landing on a force field and flying into the air, forming weak force field bullets on my hands and beginning to fire at Ran. She's faster to react than Daniela. Rather than dodge them, she blocks them with chunks of stone, which she then collects.
"Of for crying out loud!" I complain.
She hurls them, the stones scattering into a massive wall that I can't simply dodge. I swat the entire wall into a pile on the ground and begin to generate force fields while everyone else runs for cover. The blast craters the ground, large chunks of stone flying across the room. Great. More grenades.
Ran reaches for one but I encase both of her hands in force fields, lifting her into the air with them. She glares at me and suddenly my feet are in the air for the third time in ten minutes. I fall past my force field but flip, the force field shooting down to catch me.
"Would you cut that out!" I snap holding out my hand.
Just as I do, Ran spits a chunk of stone out of her mouth, using Telekinesis to launch it at me.
"When?" I demand.
I dive off my platform, allowing the grenade to blast it, then land on the ground, encasing Ran in a forcefield completely. Then, I form a spear from my force fields and hurl it. It shatters against the force field bubble Ran is in but gets the point across. I win. Fight over. I hope. I release the force field and Ran drops to the ground and cocks her head. I turn, looking back to see a glowing stone hovering behind me.
"Oh," I sigh. "She learned to charge them from a distance."
I surround the grenade with a force field, using the force field to launch myself away just before the grenade explodes, shattering the force field. I land on my back at Daniela's feet and she grins down at me.
"Shut up," I grumble. "She's got a difficult power to work around as training."
Daniela nods and I stand as Ran bows. I return the gesture, grateful that she's decided to stop trying to blow me up. I stand up again as the others walk over.
"So," Daniela says. "Now that you've fought the two of us, what's next?"
"Hand to hand combat," I say. "Telekinesis is great, but you won't always have it."
"So what do we do?" Daniela asks.
"First, breakfast," I say. "I'm starving. We'll continue after we eat something."
The others all nod and we head into the Elevator, heading up to the kitchen floor then stepping out, the elevator instantly closing and leaving, having been summoned by someone else. We walk down the hallway, passing the armory as we do, but suddenly there's a thunderous crash from the elevator.
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