Tension Rising - Main thread [Fight or Flight]

[Shura]

Sen Harper


Sen smirked slightly and nodded "It'll be a lot easier with out a bum leg." She chuckled softly as they made the trek over to where several simple obstacles awaited them, The track its self looked long and still in the process of setting up. "Not exactly the shortest track..." she muttered softly before looking over to Gray. "I don't know" She shrugged. "I mean... it's good if they're getting getting information about rogues and all. Not much is really know about them from what I can tell. They all seem a bit, well off... like killing was just some kind of game." She muttered shifting her gaze back to the course though not really looking at it. "Not exactly the game Intend to play over and over gain just because loon wants to have a bit of fun." She grumbled crossing her arms. "Sooner this whole rogue issue is taken care of the better. Bad enough we gotta watch out for normal people causing all kind of hell. Add in powers and it't just ten times worse..." She muttered softly

 

[Sir Raime]

Zebediah dragged himself to Gym to find the obstacle course, looking like an absolute mess. He had overslept a bit and had been having recurring nightmares about a city in California for the last few days. He spied two other students, one of them named....Sen, if he remembered correctly. He approached the two and stuffed his headphones and music player back into his pocket.


"Good morning you two..." He yawned. "How is everything going?"


@Shura


@Alex Phalin

 

[theunderwolf]

"Well that's what we're here for no?" Fox said with an easy smile as she jumped down from the tree, "I sure you'll get plenty of practice. And you're already taking what advice I would give you, and just using your power in small ways, I bet in the long run you'll be using your powers like breathing. Then she noticed the large mob of students moving towards the gym"We should probably follow those guys," She declared with no segue, "I think gym is starting soon!"


@Alex Phalin

 

[Shura]

Sen Harper


Sen blinked and looked over as another student came up to them. She vaguely remembered him from the day before as the kid who suffered a massive nose bleed and had to be rushed off to the infirmary. She smiled slightly, "Morning, doing all right all things considered." She replied softly "How are you? I saw you having to be rushed you of class yesterday..."





@The Out Of World

 

[Sir Raime]

Zebediah looked at Sen, his face looking every bit as ghastly as death itself. "That's good to hear. I've been feeling like shit for a while, power backlash and all that. Ever feel like multiple jackhammers formed a conga line inside your skull? Because that is how I felt. I got better, though. Here is a piece of advice for you: never move to Fresno. Ever."

 

[Shura]

Sen Harper


Sen tilted her head slightly to the question before nodded "Kind of. It's more like repeated stabbings with a knife." She said remembering back to the gym incident, she had pushed so hard her vision had started to blur. She shook off the memory as ghost feeling started to rise up. No need to give herself a headache this early on. "Hm Fresno? Never heard of it..." She muttered, then again she hadn't heard or been to many places.


@The Out Of World

 

[Kharmin]

<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2014_09/Kiara.jpg.0ddd3ba88b45c2bd62732b615a43d81d.jpg" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="29646" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2014_09/Kiara.jpg.0ddd3ba88b45c2bd62732b615a43d81d.jpg" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p> Kiara made her morning ablutions after a steaming hot shower to start the day. She then retired to her room and outfitted herself in her typical black, tight clothes and ever-present sunglasses. With a slight struggle, she managed to get her cigarettes and Zippo into one of the rear pants pockets. She ruffled through her damp hair one last time and exited to the hall where Teru waited.


Her ribs still ached but the throbbing was negligible. Kiara hoped that whatever lessons were on their schedule today would not involve anything strenuous as she wasn't certain how her injury would fair.


"So sweet to wait for me," Kiara teased with mirthful sea-green eyes that he could see that peaked over the top rims of her sunglasses.


She interlaced her fingers with Teru's as Kiara took his hand and led them toward the elevator. "I don't know about you, but all of this exertion has me famished!" she said as they waited for the doors to open.


Several moments later, the two of them had congregated with many of the academy's other students in the cafeteria. Kiara's breakfast, much like the previous day, was heaped on her plate to such extent that might lead one to wonder where it all went. She decided against the coffee and opted for a small carafe of orange juice to compliment her fare.


As they sat and ate, they listened to the general buzz in the atmosphere about the day.


@PicaPirate

 

[Wrath Of Athena]

Madison saw Mark get jumped on by those strange little men, which she thought were called Toxes, or something like that. She tried running towards him, but her legs felt like they were made of concrete. The Toxes began stabbing Mark, ripping into his flesh, slicing him up like some animal. Bits of flesh and organs went flying everywhere somehow, as he was stabbed and torn apart. "Madison!" Mark screamed in between howls of agony. "Help!" Madison kept trying to move, to get closer, to save him, but she couldn't. "MARK!" she screamed, but her voice wasn't working. Then Mark exploded in flames, burning her face and-


Madison sat bolt upright in her bed, screaming Mark's name. She was soaked in sweat, and tears were streaming down her face. She needed to make sure Mark was okay! She knew it was illogical, that it was just a dream, but she needed to make sure anyway. She jumped out of her bed, then ran to her door, opened it, and ran through the hall to Mark's room. She knocked on it and said "Mark!", then decided to just go in. She created a portal to the other side of Mark's door, and walked through, looking around his room.


@Alex Phalin

 

[Kharmin]

Brittany entered the administration building and headed toward the principal's office. The upper level offices, which had been mostly off-limits when she was a student, were situated in a uniform manner which appeared to better enhance the workflow of the workers there. Brittany followed along the carpeted hallway that lead deeper into the building until she arrived at Iren's office. She nodded to the secretary, who didn't appear to be surprised to see her, and pointed her three fingers to the woman.


{{Good morning,}} Brittany said in the secretary's mind once the woman had nodded her assent to the mental connection. {{Is Ms. Winford in? I'd like a moment of her time to discuss my role and how I might best help out.}}


Brittany waited patiently as she tried to pass off that she wasn't as jet-lagged as she clearly was.


@Shura

 

[Shura]

Iren Winford


Iren was in her office as usual reading over the reports on the repairs and progress with the rest of the modifications around the school. As soon as he was given the okay John had gone back to work making the school as secure as possible. Iren had gotten so use to the mans antics and episodes that it was almost unnerving to see him sane for once. She was tempted to talk to him about it but didn't want to set off the manic side again.


She looked away from the papers as the secretary paged her that Brittney arrived and wanted to see her. "You can send her in." She replied before putting some order to the papers scattered about her desk. The rest of her office held some organized chaos with various papers and files in different stacks. Some beginning of the year work had still be left over but pilled on with the incidents and modifications it would be a while before she managed to catch up.


@Kharmin

 

[Kharmin]

<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2014_09/Brittany_originalcrop.jpg.515e97ef17b1d59c124118a8bc48351e.jpg" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="29648" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2014_09/Brittany_originalcrop.jpg.515e97ef17b1d59c124118a8bc48351e.jpg" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p> Brittany thanked Iren's assistant and headed into the principal's office. The assortment of papers and reports that dominated the scene was of no surprise to her. Having been mentored by Iren, Brittany had spent many late night hours in the woman's office and the condition since that time hadn't seemed to have changed. Sure, the reports were more recent, but they remained ever-stacked against Iren's maddened attempts to clear them.


{{Good morning,}} Brittany engaged in her kind, warm voice without her typical hand-sign. Their relationship from years past flooded back to Brittany with such ease that she spoke into Iren's mind without waiting for her assent. {{I hope that this is a good time to discuss matters and how I might best help you and the academy?}}


Brittany crossed the office and found one of the guest chairs against the wall. She placed her hands on the back of the chair and made as if to move it closer to Iren's desk. {{May I?}} she asked.


@Shura

 

[Shura]

Iren Winford


Iren smiled warmly as Brittney entered nodding as she asked to sit. "Of course." she replied Brit had always been one of the more responsible students. Most of the graduates who returned reported to Stephan more than they did to her but Brit had more of a history with the older woman. "Would you care for some tea?" Shed offered knowing what the answer would most likely be.


@Kharmin

 

[Kharmin]

<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2014_09/Brittany_originalcrop.jpg.f07bcf7af7428fcdf765e7a4bed98e8a.jpg" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="29649" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2014_09/Brittany_originalcrop.jpg.f07bcf7af7428fcdf765e7a4bed98e8a.jpg" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p> {{Yes, please,}} Brittany replied. She hoped that it was caffeinated as she could use the boost this morning. The shower had been helpful, but the benefits were already wearing thin. Breakfast would be next on her agenda, but she had felt that the meeting with Iren was more pressing.


{{First,}} Brittany started. Might as well get to the point, she thought. {{I was surprised that you put the students to the Grid so soon.}} Brittany accepted the tea and sipped at it. She allowed the hot liquid to ease down her throat before she continued. {{Several of them are quite injured, or at least the few I had time to meet yesterday. Was it so necessary to advance their trials?}}


Brittany figured that the attack on the school was the reason for the accelerated scheduling, but from what little she had seen yesterday with Alec, Sen and the others, she was worried for their ability to recover quickly enough before another attack came.


She wasn't ignorant to the fact that Iren was quite aware of the health (or lack thereof in some cases) of her students, at least on a broad scale, but Brittany had been up close and personal with a few and had a deeper sense of their individual situations.


{{Of course, I did what I could for them,}} Brittany said with a kind smile, {{but there's only one of me to go around.}}


@Shura

 

[GeneralZod]

Hayden


Hayden had finally gotten to the obstacle course for another round of stamina training. This would be yet another stamina training round that won't phase Hayden, even when he wasn't transformed he had enhanced stamina and agility to go along with it. The idea of not needing to transform for once was a relief to Hayden. Last year the obstacle course wasn't a big deal for him and he had done it easily, this year was going to be no different, after all he was in his last year at the school and he had improved dramatically from the first time he showed up on campus. For once he couldn't wait to do something in class.

 

[Shura]

***

​

Iren Winford


Iren sighed softly as she rose to pour two cups of hot water from the pot which sat off in a corner. "I'm aware that some weren't in the best health condition. Normally the clinic staff would have tried to heal them but were preoccupied with Davisson who was severely injured in the attack." She informed her tone more sullen than normal. Iren brought the cups back setting on in front of Britt and one for herself she pulled out a box from under her desk which held a number of different types of tea bags of varying flavors and set it on the desk.


"Unfortunately time is not on our side." Iren muttered softly. "Two students died in the small invasion of only five metas... and I would rather not see more find the same fate because of lack of preparation. The number of known rogues keeps increasing, and some have seemed to start gathering into groups. There is also a rogue who believes himself to be a god and has a cult following. All are serious threats who can at any time." She informed while selecting an envelope labeled Earl Gray and let it soak in the water turning it darker in color. "Stephan has been looking into these groups and interrogating one rogue who was captured but he the delusional state of the rogue makes him useless in terms of gathering any kind of information." She shook her head.


"As much as I would like to allow these student the time to recover and learn slowly there isn't much of an option. I've left the training to be a volunteer basis and many of the students have left and continue to leave when they see the training is more difficult." She paused to take a sip of her Tea. "It's not an easy situation... and i can feel it in my bones that something is going to happen... I don't know what but it wont be good."





@Kharmin

 

[SkyGinge]

7:00 in the dorm of Jon Byrd. A long arm slammed down on the bedside alarm clock, a pre-emptive smack anticipating the beeps that would follow. Now a familiar routine, he slumped himself out of bed and quickly showered and dressed. It was earlier than usual, but he had something a little special planned. His muscles, predictably, had calmed down a little, but still an inherent tiredness flowed through his body. But at least he felt strong enough to do something of use. He could have asked the meta's in the clinic to heal him completely, but he felt that was cheating the injury he rightfully earned. By exerting himself when he knew he was still weak, he'd get stronger much faster, and that was the priority right now.


Jon made to leave for an early breakfast, but caught his reflection in the mirror and stopped. His thick, auburn eyebrows furrowed behind the rim of his mahogany glasses, the glare of the light behind masking his eyes. He adjusted them accordingly and frowned into the two sparkling sky-blue voids. I've never been one for vanity, he thought, adjusting his equally blue ski-jacket to fit around his jean-shorts. So why am I so bothered about it now? For perhaps the first time ever, he wished he were tall, dark, handsome. He stared past the calm blue eyes and deep into his soul, removing the masquerading smile and glaring to his thoughtful self. Then, with a resolute shrug, he left to eat.


Jon wasn't used to being an early bird, and found the near-empty mess hall strangely disconcerting. As he devoured his usual marmalade on toast, he found himself scanning around semi-nervously, half-wishing other students into existence. Yet, if they were to turn up, what would he say? Why would he want to speak to them? He was overwhelmingly tired, not just physically, but mentally, and the alien emotions that accompanied the tiredness evolved into feelings stranger still. A never-ending cycle of unfamiliarity pursued, and left him feeling cold. And above all that, there was something wrong. He could feel it in the air. And the mystery was killing him.


Shuddering, he brushed off the sticky crumbs from his lips, and headed off to the training rooms, map in hand to heal his poor directions. He decided to wait until later before approaching the robot man, as he would only waste time and energy trying to track him down now. Rounding a corner, he found Professor Timestorm stood in his awkwardly still fashion, as if he had expected Jon to appear. Before anything could be said, he handed over a slip of paper.


“The allocated times for your additional tutoring,” he explained concisely, and Jon nodded, examining the paper. The lessons were spread out at erratic different periods of time; Jon imagined it was due to the teacher's own busy schedule. He looked up to thank him, but the man was already gone. Jon chuckled to himself, then continued on his way. His tutor really was quite peculiar, but never in a frustrating manner. And unlike most, his statue-sculpted face never betrayed anything of his inner workings. Jon rather liked that; it kept him interesting, made working him out an elaborate game.


After a short walk (that did involve Jon getting lost), the youngster arrived in one of the training rooms. Having brought his weapon design, he sat down at the same table as last time, glancing through it to see how he would utilise its different components. Reluctantly turning to his phone, he began to scour the internet for tips, guides, anything that could help him learn how to fight the right way. All the while, he held a weight in his right arm, gently pumping the muscle as he read.


Whoever said boys couldn't multitask, hey? he wondered.

 

[Kharmin]

<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2014_09/Brittany_originalcrop.jpg.577e08f0bd9fe9efaaa1559d14ee215e.jpg" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="29651" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2014_09/Brittany_originalcrop.jpg.577e08f0bd9fe9efaaa1559d14ee215e.jpg" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p> Brittany listened to her mentor as Iren explained the more recent events that weren't covered in the news reports. She nodded her head in understanding as the principal continued and expressed her quite valid concerns.


{{I see,}} Brittany answered. {{I hadn't known all of that. Having been half-way around the globe, the international news only gives snippets especially when metas are involved. I think they keep it low key so as not to panic the 'normal' public.}}


The loss of students clearly affected Iren and Brittany sent a small wave of sympathy and compassion into her mind to help, just a little, ease away that burden. Caught by the gentle touch, Brittany only smiled over her cup of tea. {{Sorry, I couldn't help it. You know I had to try,}} she said.


When Iren had finished, Brittany sipped at her tea and digested all that she had been told. The increasing mobs of rogues was certainly troublesome and the one with the divine delusion was even more worrisome. That someone with such charisma could attract a following would make him more difficult to deal with whenever the time came to do so.


{{Well, then,}} Brittany said after a few moment's reflection. {{I'm here now, Ms. Winford. Tell me how I can help.}} Then, with a quick thought she added, {{Would you like me to take a crack at your captured rogue? I might make a bit more sense of whatever is scrambled in his mind.}}


Truthfully, Brittany was quite happy and willing to help in whatever capacity. She had enjoyed her time at the academy and excelled at her studies under the kind, helpful eye of it principal. Touching the mind of a rogue, though, was something Brittany had never attempted before and the challenge of doing so was tempting. Even if she was unable to pry any answers from their reluctant guest, Brittany thought she might calm him and help peel away the delusions and perhaps reveal the true person within.


If Iren thought that the rogue was useless, then there was no reason not to try, was there? The excitement of the idea was reflected in the sparkle that flared in Brittany's green eyes.


@Shura

 

[Shura]

Iren Winford


A small smile replaced the frown Iren had been wearing as she felt the comforting mental gesture. The graduate student had always been very empathetic and helpful. She nodded slightly "I'm not really surprised by the cover up. We have enough issues with the public as it is. Part of my worry honestly comes from a paranoid mob arriving to lump us in with the Rogues." She sighed then frowned slightly once more at Britts offer. "I don't think that's a very good idea. The meta can multiply himself so it wouldn't be just one mind but rather multiple delusional minds to try and sort through."





@Kharmin

 

[SkyGinge]

Arriving on time to the gym entrance, a sweaty Jon emerged from the corridor gently masaging his bicep. He hadn't gotten too far with the research, and had only managed to do a little swordsmanship practice, but he was still effectively an amateur and had only succeeded in familiarising himself with the standard hold, something that would be fairly useless if his weapon were successfully created. He felt his muscle throbbing and winced slightly. With all his jogging and cycling before, Jon had always had much stronger legs than arms: aside from the fatigue caused by his ability, his overall stamina was actually fairly strong. So it was a matter of ronding himself out and allowing his right arm to take the weight he anticipated his weapon woudl weigh.


Holding his jacket under his arm, he slowed to a halt in the crowd of other students that hadstarted to built up. Most notably he saw Sen with Grey again, and also Zeb. He felt his heartbeat rise. He could feel that something had changed, somewhere among them. Something below the surface. He shook his head, feeling the same new reluctance as he had felt earlier. Yet he couldn't not approach them; they were his friends after all!


"Morning folks!" he smiled smilpy at them, although something in the lack of energy in his manner betrayed his lack of joy.


@The Out Of World


@Alex Phalin

 

[Shura]

Sen Harper


Sen heard a familiar voice greet them and turned to see Jon approaching the group. She smile seeing him up and about still tired but in less pain from what it seemed. She had been slightly worry after he limped off after the Grid. "Morning Jon." She replied "I'm starting to wonder if you'll ever not look tired. Though after the grid I'm kind of not surprise." Sen chuckled before noting a light sheen of sweat and smirked slightly. "Got in some training before class?"





@SkyGinge

 

[SkyGinge]

Jon smiled back at Sen's smile, some peculiar comfort flowing through him. Then he nearly took a double take as she spoke with more enthusiasm than he'd ever heard her use before. Somebody or something had cracked her shyness, although she still held the same precious softness as before. That was one mystery solved, he thought, but he was slightly jealous that he hadn't been the one to solve it. He turned, still grinning, from her to Gray, and then back to her, blinking twice. The same reluctance as before remained, but was now buried under a rekindled joy.


"Hey, well, what can I say?" he chuckled, eyes still darting curiously between the pair of them. "I can't say you'd say the same thing if you saw me first thing in the morning, but a guy's gotta try his best, hey?" He looked down at his arm in acknowledgement of her statement, slinging his jumper over his shoulder and continuing to massage his arm. "Well, seeing as the rest of you already seemed pretty battle-hardy I figured I had some catching up to do. And besides, nothing beats waking up to some exercise. Well, except maybe waking up to marmalade on toast. But nothing beats marmalade on toast."


Chuckling to himself, he sighed deeply. "Anyhow, what's more important is you guys. How are you all doing?" He couldn't help but notice something about Grey's manner; the way he stood, where his eyes fell when he wasn't paying attention. It was like his behaviour the previous day, and something about it riled him up even further. He tried to supress his boiling blood and hid it well underneath his also genuine smile.


@The Out Of World

 

[Kharmin]

<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2014_09/Brittany_originalcrop.jpg.d19de29f6fc58ede3d0b55fc50d35079.jpg" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="29654" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2014_09/Brittany_originalcrop.jpg.d19de29f6fc58ede3d0b55fc50d35079.jpg" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p> Brittany was disappointed in her offer being declined. Multiple minds! What an incredible challenge and opportunity. But, Brittany knew that the reason she had returned, unexpectedly too, was to help Iren and the academy, not for her own quest for knowledge.


{{I understand,}} Brittany said and even though her voice meant it, she was not very happy for losing the chance.


Brittany changed the subject as she drank more of the tea. The caffeine had started to infuse her with a bit more energy. {{So, what's on the agenda today?}} she asked Iren. {{Where can I be the most useful for you?}}


@Shura

 

[PicaPirate]

(Sorry been busy)


Teru walked happily with Kiara to the dinner hall. With everyone busy in their own conversations, he sat with Kiara on their own table and ate.


There was some small talk, but nothing of great interest. Mostly about the evening before and such.


"I guess on your behalf though we can hope for nothing too strenuous. Don't want you still injured after all."


Teru thought about the combat exercises. There would be sparring unquestionably. However he couldn't see how he would be able to participate. One doesn't simply 'hold back' a bullet. Unless you want to shred your hands that is.


He supposed he would have to stick with partners who can repel shots like Kiara, or Sen who could learn to manipulate it. They had planned learning that, but that never came to fruition. It made him wonder, next door seemed awfully quiet. Did she move out?


Having finished eating, he discarded the leftover packaging.


"Shall head to class then?" Teru spoke as he smiled.


@Kharmin


Sent from my stone tablet using Tapatalk because I used a Tardis.

 

[Shura]

Sen Harper


Sen noticed a slight shift in Jons mannerisms. Hesitance? She wasn't really sure, the boy was good at seeming bright and cheery even if there was something bothering him. Her conversations with him the days before had proven that much. The boy had been was worn out and sore from the fighting but still surprisingly up beat and fun. "I don't know about being battle-hardy, I can run but that's about it." She admitted with a shy smile. "If anything I have a fair bit of training to do my self. Might have to join you one of these days." She added.


All his talk of marmalade made her want to try it one day, she just wasn't sure if she would like it or not. Her mentality was always go with what you know. However with so much changing thanks to the usual atmosphere of the school it might not hurt to try some new things. "I'm doing alright. Got my leg healed by one of the nurses in a clinic so no more limping, probably should have done that before trying the grid though." She muttered the second part while scratching the back of her head. Sen looked over to the course which was almost complete. "Should make taking on this much easier. Looks a lot easier than the Grid... do you think there's some kind of surprise to it?" She shifted her inquisitive gray gaze back to Jon.


@The Out Of World

 

[GeneralZod]

Nikolas


Nikolas had actually gotten to the course after a few students, which was a first but he did end up having to remake hot tea again. "Greetings students!" He said before taking a sip of his tea. "We will be doing an obstacle course today to improve your stamina. The more of your stamina that you build up the more you can use your power without exhaustion." Then in an effort to show the students the pay off of stamina training Nikolas teleported around the room several times before reappearing in his former position. "Everyone's power is different, so your levels of exhaustion will vary. While you can train by how long you can keep your power going it isn't an optimal way to train, physical training is the best way to train for stamina, hence the obstacle course, though we won't be starting just yet."