North America Trials

[albatross]

The two months is up quickly. The three kids are in varying stages of readiness. Dancer and Peacemaker are smart, and all three are incredibly gifted. The two girls have made decent progress at using the tester devices, meditating, and all the book learning Tiger has asked them to complete.

As for martial arts, Rock is clearly the best - he is able to use some quick and dirty Aikido moves that were similar to his own invented form. His amazing strength and lightning reflexes make him a handful even at this level. Peacemaker is getting there, however she couldn't really fight in the Aikido style and lapses into ordinary brawling when pressed hard. She isn't as strong or quick as Rock, but it would be foolish to underestimate her. She hits like a truck and is quick. She can also absorb what seems to be an unlimited amount of ordinary punches and kicks without getting worn down.

Dancer knows every move she has seen the past two months, however she still hasn't quite got to the point where she is confident to use them when pressed. Marv says she will fight when she is ready. Tiger seems unconcerned at present. At least Dancer dodges well.

All three of them have done very well building teamwork and synchronization. They have a playbook and have rehearsed actions for many, many scenarios and challenges. They cover for each other's weaknesses and rely on each other's strengths.

Jeckle has finished all three testers and even had a little time for a couple other projects. Tiger took her aside last week and told her privately that she received a possible lead about her brother from someone attending the North America Trials. Its nothing solid, but Tiger has arranged a meeting.

A few days before the Trials, Tiger flies everyone to Alaska in the Catalina.

They land at Elmendorf Air Force Base and are transported to Fort Richardson. Security is heavy, with metas everywhere. UN Troops, other teams hoping to qualify and many military bigwigs are on hand. Most are here to see the Division One Trials. Tiger reminds the team that they might run into old friends, and she cautions them that might run into old enemies too. "Stick together. Rock - stay with Lt. White at all times. Jeckle, go with them if they wander around the base. Someone smart has to be along. Peacemaker - stick with me and Kris. Dancer - stay with Akane, Dante and Bell. There are people on this base who are at least as dangerous as we are and a few who are considerably more so."

"Division Two Trials start in three days, that should give everyone time to adjust the environment. Training will continue as normal. In your down time, you can watch Division One starting tomorrow. You can find the trial grounds out beyond Glenn Highway."

Tiger turns to Jeckle, "The meeting I mentioned will take place in a couple of days. My contact isn't here yet. You can take Rock and Lt. White and find a suitable meeting area - there should be restaurants or something set up for all these visitors somewhere on the base."

She looks to everyone, "Questions?"

[shiivster]

Jeckle seems to be quieter in a strange way. she's become much more alert to her surroundings. she's taken to wearing the sunglasses she's designed and seems to glance about while rubbing the head or scratching a shoulder or some other thing else.

*she simply nods her compiance to tagging along with Rock and Lt. White, then pauses and looks at Dancer. 'hey kid. before you go on stage how do you get the moves together in your mind? do you doubt yourself until you step on stage? trust me, this ain't no stage. anytime you work with these two, think of it as a stage and go . . . right, go break a leg' [dancer's form of 'good luck', as those 2 words are 'bad luck']

*that said she nods at Tiger again and 'find a suitable place to chat, got it'. for her time now, she simply hands the rifle case she'd carried into the meeting over to White. 'ammo's more high impact, but it should work out alright. give it a test sometime. its measured to your arm length and specs'

[sasqaricious]

Akane having not had much use during this time other then sitting and observing. She actually during this time becomes even more antisocial then normal keeping to mainly her martial arts and the rest of things. Especially when they get to Alaska. During those times she goes on many walkabouts and the likes just to enjoy nature and test herself against the things listed out there. Including looking for bears to wrestle, the mysterious fish monsters that exist there and the likes.

[albatross]

Lt. White white glances at his arm and arches an eyebrow as he takes the rifle case, "Thanks Jeckle, I'll do that. The base must have a range, we could take Rock and scout meeting locations on the way to the firing range. Bet Rock would appreciate squeezing off a few mags at the range." He too is quiet. He isn't exactly infamous, but there might be a few people he knows here.

[dakota]

Khris was having a hard time, but didn't want to admit it. His meta radar was being overloaded by the sheer numbers close by, and it was hard for him to focus on individuals like he was used to. He had been around groups before, but nothing like this. He looked at Tiger and Peacemaker," whenever you ladies are ready."

[albatross]

Tiger nods to Kris. Peacemaker puts on a pair of noise cancelling headphones to help shield her hearing from the bustling camp. She hasn't gotten used to being around this many people yet. Tiger tells Kris and Peacemaker that she has to take care of some registration details. The three of them make their way to the base commander's office. Once there they are greeted by a couple of U.N. functionaries. The U.N. people confirm a couple details with Tiger and issue her permanent security badges for her candidates and trainers. Then they invite Tiger into a private room for a meeting with the North American Trials Committee, leaving Kris and Peacemaker to sit around for a few minutes.

"I'll get used to it," Peacemaker says, "But I haven't been around this many people since before my powers manifested. I knew it would be alot to hear and smell, experience is always tougher though."

[dakota]

"Huh?" Khris' attention returned from focusing on shutting out all the others. " Yeah, I know what you mean. I'm having the same problem staying focused. One of my abilities lets me sense other metas in range. And there's alot of metas on this base." He smirked," At least you can wear headphones to block out the noise."

[albatross]

"It helps," Peacemaker agrees with Kris

"Do you know anyone who will be coming to the trials? The division one trials I mean."

[Dome]

Dante walks around with his arm around Bel's waist making sure Dancer stays in front of them as they walk around the camp. Although he was over whelmed back in CS, he didn't feel the same weight even with so many people surrounding him.

He asks Bel, "so refresh my memory love, whats the point of all these trials?"

[sasqaricious]

Akane continues to wander and meditate.

[shiivster]

'yeah . . i'm sure he will. i'll stand watch while you two shoot them off' *she gives a half smile to White then to Rock . . before following quietly without saying much. her eyes take in people and who they're talking too. her mind recording as they walk. bits and pieces of converstation are heard along with the visuals.

*her eyes search out places to meet for the meeting. 'should the spot be secluded and isolated? . . or just one of those 'pass by' types? i'm thinking isolated and half hidden away'

*so far, she hasn't interacted with the kids. but that doesn't mean that she's a useless person to have in a fight. she's on high alert and will react before any threat actually gets near Rock

[albatross]

"Tiger says the division one trials are public relations, a useless gesture. It will be a good show I bet. Let's go take a look husband."

The area beyond Glenn Highway includes three staging areas. Two look like switch yards, both with several stretches of straight train tracks and trains pulling cargo cars filled with dirt. The first area includes only flat tracks, but the second set of lines ends in a man made cliff more than 200 feet high and a large quarried area. The third staging area is large and empty, with fencing surrounding an empty field. Thousands of people have come to check out the site including carefully screened reporters, hundreds of UN personnel, and myriad trainers and trainees for division one and two.

"According to Tiger, they will start here tomorrow with three trials. Then a couple days later the division two trials will start," she says as they pause to watch and her hand wanders down Dante's side. "The division two trials will consist of more trials, six or ten... Tiger wasn't sure which trials they would use. The will be testing for quickness and intelligence and a few other things to try to gauge aptitude for the tester and piloting ability."

"Once the trials are done, they will choose pilots and start training to fight the demons."

Marv stands next to Dancer as she peers at the division one trials. "If you weren't training us would you try for division one Marv?" Dancer asks.

"No kid. People much stronger than me were helpless. I'd run and hide. But you will someday."

Dancer stiffles a laugh, "I'll never be as strong as you are Marv."

"Heh. You'll be the most powerful martial artist in the world when were done training you. I'll need Tiger and Lt. White to team up with me to challenge you." Marv's gravelly voice is casual, as if he is talking about the fact that fall will follow summer.

[albatross]

Lt. White nods to a few likely spots as they walk through the camp, but mostly he just let's Jeckle look for herself. He also keeps one eye on Rock. Rock may be a kid from the country, but both his parents were military and he keeps pointing out things about the base as if he were a tour guide. He is smiling and exhuberant. Clearly he is thrilled to be on a military base crowded with heroes and he is looking forward to to competition.

When they reach the range White asks Jeckle for a demo of the gun and tells Rock to listen carefully.

[dakota]

"Maybe, but I won't know until I see or feel them nearby." Khris admitted. " And that's only if their close. Now relax, you and the others are naturals. You can do this for the fun of it. Just remember everything we taught you."

[sasqaricious]

Akane having no one looking for her and nothing to do, meditates some more.