As usual, I woke up at 0500; not being handcuffed to the bed, I was able to get up and clean myself in the sink before re-dressing again in the form-fitting combat suit. While I sat on my bed, awaiting the guards to come and escort us to the training area. I could hear Wanda and Pietro starting to wake up and get dressed. Pietro complained the whole time about how cold the water was. As they were just finishing, the guards arrived to escort us to the training area. As we walked through the twists and turns of the facility, I noted that, unlike the red room, fewer guards were stationed around the facility. They also appeared to be more relaxed in maintaining vigilance, seeing us as not a potential threat. That made me smirk; if only they knew, I could kill them all easily. But then, it would take longer to be reunited with Nat, so I continued to follow the guards. We come to a large double door you would typically see in a castle in the old days. We entered the room, and I immediately cased the room. I noticed a tall man with a metal arm, a red star on the shoulder, long black hair, and a half-face mask similar to mine. Next to him were two other men in training gear, and strolling forward was Strucker. Strucker motioned for us to form a line in front of him. The guards that escorted us took positions on either side of the door to observe. Looking over us, Strucker explained what would happen during today's training.
"Wanda, Pietro, you will work with a trainer to learn Hand-to-Hand combat, and then you will work on endurance". The two men in the training gear stepped off with the twins following; Strucker turned to me. "While that is happening, Pheonix, you will spar with the Winter Soldier". He pointed to the man with the metal arm. "First, I want to see where you are in your current skills and physical abilities. The spar will continue until a killing blow is withheld; then, you will go to the lab with the guards and Winter for further testing on your power."
I nodded. I began walking over to another sparring area, getting into my stance. A fisted hand next to my chin with the other resting loosely by my hip, left leg slightly forward and right heal somewhat raised. Waiting for Winter to get into position. Once he was ready, I took a moment to quickly analyse my opponent, noticing that he put more weight onto his left to compensate for the metal arm. Seeing my opening, I initiated the attack. Aiming a sidekick towards his right hip. He blocked using his metal arm and went on the offensive. Throwing a series of jabs followed by a solid hit with his metal arm, I managed to dodge and counter most and redirect his arm, gaining the upper hand. Sending Winter into defence. This pattern lasted for 20 minutes, gaining and losing the upper hand. We separated for a moment, giving me time to look Winter over. He started to tire and sweat while I was still okay and unscathed. Engaging once again, he managed to get a lucky hit in with his metal arm, cracking my face mask. Half the front fell to the ground, exposing a portion of my heavily scarred face. Scowling, no one but my bond-mate may see my face. This sent me into a rage.
Suddenly, my eyes burst into Black flame, and my hair started floating as though it was made of living flames. I moved faster than the eye could see, punching Winter in the stomach, causing him to double over, retching, springing up and landing a roundhouse on Winter's face. Sending him into the wall, cracking it. Before they could blink, I was suddenly in front of Winter, flaming wings spreading out behind me. I proceed to pound his face again and again before picking him up by his throat. As I was about to end him, a sudden pain shot through my body. I threw Winter to the ground, turning to see a guard with an electric baton, fear clearly written across his face. My rage increased. The guard's neck was snapped before he could react in a single swift kick; he fell to the ground dead. More guards began pouring into the room, training their rifles on me. I was waiting for the first move. We all froze when we heard clapping. Strucker was walking forward with a massive smile on his face. Wanda and Pietro were off to the side with looks of fear on their faces. I paid this little attention as I turned back to Stucker as he stopped before me.
"That was spectacular, Pheonix. When they told me of your abilities, I thought they were exaggerating. The flames and the speed are amazing." As I calmed down, my flames died out. I slowly reached down to the dead guard, ripping a strip off his shirt and tying it around my face, covering the broken mask. "Worry not; we will replace your mask with a stronger armoured one. Now, follow the guards to the lab. We don't want to have to sedate you again, now do we."
Twelve guards escorted me to the lab as Winter was still out of commission. Once we arrived, I was told to strip down and lay on the metal table. I had no choice but to comply with the twelve guards still training their rifles on me. After following the order, I was strapped down at the wrists, ankles and waist. There was a sharp prick in my neck, and everything went black.
Time skip: lunchtime the following day.
As I returned to consciousness, there was a throbbing pain in my abdominal area. My face felt like it was on fire, and there was some weird screen in front of my eyes with words scrolling past that I couldn't read. I shifted slightly, feeling the stiffness in my body telling me I had been here a while. Then, finally, the doctor noticed I was awake and made his way towards me. "Ahh, I see you're awake. We have replaced your mask with a more advanced armoured version. This mask has a filtration system for air and water."
"Additionally, the vizor can retract into the mask and display information on current missions and environmental details. There is also a feeding tube where we will give you specially formulated shakes to augment your body's natural abilities. Lastly, it has a communication system. Any questions?" Reaching a hand up to feel my face and new mask, I could not find the straps holding it on. "Where are the straps that hold the mask on?". with a triumphant smile on the doctor's face. "The mask has been surgically grafted to your facial bones and skull. It can be detached, but the locking plates will remain permanently. This is so it cannot accidentally come off or be taken off without knowing how. It has also been constructed with the same metal as Winters's arm, known as Vibranium, currently the strongest metal we have." Nodding, "How do I retract the vizor? The words are difficult to read and are giving me a headache." he reached up, pointing to just below his left ear. "There is a button on the left side. As to the words, I will flash through different languages. Tell me which one you can read comfortably."
As languages started to flash across the screen, I was Starting to wonder if I'd ever find one, and then suddenly, it popped up. "Stop. That one." He looked at the screen, confused. "Greek? Interesting, the display will translate any written language to your preferred language, which has now been set." He reached up, unplugging a cable from my mask. "The guards will return you to the training room now." I get up, change into the combat suit, and follow the guards. I noticed Wanda and Pietro off to the side when we entered the training room, training Hand-To-Hand again. While I was directed to a chair and told to sit. Once I had complied, I was strapped down, and a man in a lab coat stood in front of me with a tablet in his hand. "We have determined that your emotions control your powers. So, we need to train you to control your emotions and use them at your will. To do this, we will use techniques to desensitise you." What followed was hours of pain from electricity and sound waves.
The pain from the shocks running through my body and the sound rattling my bones. I just gritted my teeth as it kept going. Eventually, I lost control, and flames sprung from my body. I was out, feeling a sharp pain in the back of my neck. When I came to, the guards started beating me again. I concentrated on not getting angry. It lasted longer before I lost control and was out again. This continued for the remainder of the day.
Finally, after waking up, the pain had stopped. A man in a lab coat approached two large syringes with no needles in hand. Remembering what the doctor said about feeding tubes, I guess this is my dinner. Yep, I was right; one was water and the other a disgusting syrup. As the lab coat man left, all lights were shut off, and the socks and sound started again. Soon after, I couldn't take it anymore. I screamed, losing control, welcoming the unconsciousness. This continued until the doctors came back in the morning to feed me. This routine continued for what felt like months. I was released twice a week, stripped and scrubbed down by the guards, then put straight back in the chair.
Finally, I was able to last without losing control. I could no longer feel the pain. I was taken from the chair and returned to my cell, where I collapsed, falling asleep before even hitting the cot.
The following morning, I woke up, washed and sat on my bed, waiting for the guards. I heard Wanda approach the bars. "Are you okay, Perci?" Nodding yes but not answering yet. "They kept beating you. I thought you were gonna die." sitting up and facing Wanda. "I'm used to being beaten constantly by my stepfather. I'm quite hard to kill, so don't worry." She looked sad but could tell it would be better to drop it. "We didn't see you get to feed when we were in the training room. Did they starve you?" Shaking my head slightly, I explained about the feeding tubes and the syringes I received daily. Wanda was giving off an air of curiosity. "Why do you wear a mask?" looking at her in a dead stare. "You've seen the scars on my body?" nodding, I continued. "My face is just as bad." shocked Wanda gasped out. "Oh, how did that happen?" shrugging. "My stepfather didn't want to see my face, so he changed it." Wanda looked at me with pity. "I'm so sorry. You didn't deserve that; no one does." Lying back down, looking at the ceiling. "It's in the past, and I'm stronger for it. So don't pity me." Wanda just stared at me. As I looked at Wanda, you could see tears forming in her eyes, but she still held a determined look, nodded and returned to her cot.
The following day, the guards entered and led us to the training room, where two chairs were set up. Wanda and Pietro were led to the chairs and strapped down. In came Strucker, two lab men with trollies, a dozen guards with rifles, and Winter. Strucker stood in front of us and said.
"Today will be a bit different; our scientist believes they have figured out how to give someone your powers, so today we will try it out on the twins. So now, Phoenix, you will stand there and watch if you lose control. These guards will shoot you full of tranquilisers. Understand?" In response, I nodded and Put my visor up. "Good beginning."
Over the next hour, all I could hear was the screams of Wanda and Pietro. They were injected in multiple locations, and their bodies began to change slightly and glow faintly. Wanda's hair gained red streaks, and her skin paled. But the most noticeable was her eyes; they became a scarlet red. Pietro's hair also began changing to white. He became thinner, like a runner, and his eyes turned silver.
Suddenly, Wanda's Eyes began glowing red. One of the guards became surrounded in shimmering red light and was lifted off the ground. When Wanda stopped screaming, the guard fell to the ground. Pietro began shaking; his shaking continued in intensity until his hands and head blurred. Then, he suddenly stopped screaming and moving, looking forward, out of breath. Both were breathing heavily, and sweat poured down their faces. Strucker moved forward with a significant smile on his face. "Excellent, Doctor; now they will work with Pheonix and Winter to control their powers. Once they have mastered them, Pheonix will return to Red Room." Clapping his hands together. "How soon can we test more?" The scientist shuffled nervously from foot to foot.
"Unfortunately, sir, that was all the serum we had as it is made from harvested mature eggs, but we only managed to secure two at this time due to her age. If we were to harvest her before the graduation ceremony sterilises her, we should make more. Additionally, we may be able to grow a couple embryos, allowing us to harvest more in the future. We are working on replicating it, but until then, these two are the only powered people we have." During the explanation, Perci had to bite her lip to avoid losing control. What's this about getting sterilised at the graduation ceremony and harvesting my eggs. I won't allow them.
Strucker had a faraway look on his face. "Fine, start their training and get me results soon, doctor."
Wanda and Pietro were released from the chairs. After they recovered enough, we began working on controlling our powers and drawing them out at will. Wanda got the power of telekinesis and telepathy. When she uses her energy, her eyes will glow red, and the items will have a red aura around them. This gained her the name Scarlet Witch.
Pietro got the powers to move fast, which included a speed-up metabolism and healing. We found that out when he ran into the wall and broke his nose. 20 minutes later, it was all healed.
I managed to manifest my flaming wings, light my eyes on fire on command, create fireballs and light my weapons on fire. While my wings are out, I can move faster than Pietro, and when my eyes are alight, I appear to be stronger than average. Once we had our control down, we shifted to incorporating them into our fighting styles.
I would regularly spar with Winter and occasionally Wanda and Pietro, too. This continued for months. During that time, my combat ability skyrocketed to where no one on the base could stand against me. Although I preferred Knives, I was a master marksman with any firearm. As training progressed, I began to form a sibling-like relationship with Wanda. Even though I was younger, she came to see me as the older sister who would protect and comfort her, but still, I was not too fond of males. However, I would tolerate Pietro; he knew not to push it. Also, even though we never spoke, Winter and I held mutual respect for each other. I Don't like males; everyone else can die for all I care, especially the guards.
Training continued for the next twelve months. Wanda and Pietro improving by leaps and bounds. It was finally time for me to return to the Red Room. I said goodbye to Wanda, nodded to Pietro and followed Winter and a group of guards escorting me back. I had a slight smile on my face. It was time to see Nat again. I knew she was still alive as the bond was still faint but there. It'll be interesting to see how much has changed in the last eighteen months I've been gone.