North America Trials

[albatross]

Tiger pats Dancer on the back and says, "Well done." She smiles at Peacemaker. Rock looks away for a moment and then says, "I'll do better on the next one."

Marv looks at him and says, "Yeah."

All the other tests happened at exactly the same time, and now all the candidates, thirty-nine in all, and all their assorted support staff - most with many more training and support personnel than the Omega Shield team.

A UN staffer announces the results. "With 309 points, Egypt National Team. With 242 points, Omega Shield Tiger Team. With 236 points, the Gates Foundation Team. With 192 points, the United Nations Team. With 176 points, the Century Station Team...."

The UN man goes on, but none of the other teams scored more than a hundred points. Peacemaker and Dancer look at Tiger as if unsure whether they should celebrate second place or not. Tiger isn't sure herself, but she smiles. "Take a break and get ready for the next trial."

Rock finds a spot and goes back to stretching.

[shiivster]

Jeckle looks at her brother while they wait in teh ambulance and asks him now that they are relatively alone. 'so why the soft hits on me? nothing on you anywhere . . but several on me.'

*she waits, knowing that Dante will catch something from that, unless he's more concerned about his wife out there on guard.. 'it was a big shock for me to hear that. thanks'

[dakota]

Partly due to the crowds and partly from his senses being overwhelmed by the metas present, Khris remained quiet and withdrawn. He couldn't focus, and because he was so attuned to using his powers for that, it unnerved him somewhat. He did manage, " Not bad kids. I know I never would have done that well. By the end of the next round or two, you'll know who your main competition are."

[albatross]

Heckle looks like he wants to pretend he can't remember then says quietly, "It wasn't me. Some people I was working with, undercover, they wanted to find you." He looks away and says, "I don't know why." All this is true, though Heckle probably has some guesses. "I don't remember much else right now, but it will come back to me. I feel better today than yesterday."

Heckle gets up, "Physically, I feel in top shape. Let's go inside and see the show. You can tell me what you've been up to the past six months." Of course, Jeckle knows its been longer than six months since he's been gone. "Tell me about this new team," he looks at her sideways.

[albatross]

After a break, a beautiful UN soldier arrives to bring Peacemaker, Dancer and Rock to the next trial. This time their stretching comes in very handy as they face a battery of agility tests. Everything from catching thrown objects to obstacles to impromptu gymnastics challenges. Rock loves every minute of it, and Dancer follows him in technical perfection if not with the same level of grace. Peacemaker does well too, though it is apparent that Rock has practiced inventing phyisical challenges for years and Dancer is a perfect mimic while Peacemaker is facing all kinds of challenges she would have never encountered in India or Nepal. She is quick and agile and her senses are amazingly sensitive, yet everyone can tell the difference between the challenges Tiger trained her for and the ones she is seeing for the first time.

At the end, the results are announced and the Omega team is sixth after Gates, Century Station, Japan, Russia, and China. Rock sets his jaw, clearly upset to be bested at what is one of his favorite pastimes.

Marv says flatly, "All the teams are a hair apart. Don't sweat it kid. Those instruments and judges have a margin of error and the first five teams are all inside it."

Dancer asks him, "But we are the sixth team."

"Right..." Marv says, but Tiger cuts him off. "These teams are all amazing, just like you three. You won't dominate every challenge. A track team can win a meet by taking third in every event as long as the top two spots vary enough."

Peacemaker says, "That Gates team is ahead of us."

"Then we'll need to do better at the next trial;" Tiger smiles as if this is the easiest thing in the world.

[shiivster]

"no can do bro. you're here to keep you safe. can't have you snooping about out there just now"

*she thinks really hard toward Roan now ~Hey. something's wrong. he looks and sounds like my twin, but his timing's WAY off. he's hiding something big, and i mean BIG. warn Tiger he wants info about the team~

*she shifts and then yawns, fighting sleep once again. 'i'm just really glad you're safe. nothing really to tell. just people i work with. how did that last bow work for you?'

<he was testing stealth gear when he vanished, not weapons>

[albatross]

Roan's mind radiates peace, calm and patience. 'Yes, Roan sends, your brother has two problems, he is trying very hard to keep a secret and that is making his amnesia worse and his mental recovery slower.'

'I have told Tiger of your concerns and she has directed me to listen carefully to Heckle in order to assist his recovery and learn what there is too learn. Bring him inside, closer to me, as my range is limited. If he wants to talk about the team do so. Tell him things in chronological order to get him used to the idea of how much time has passed since you joined Tiger's team and he went missing. Tiger says not to worry, there are lots of good reasons for him to find out more about us, the first of which is how far he can trust us.'

Heckle seems confused by Jeckle's question, "Bow? What bow? I thought I remembered that part. Did I forget that too?" He scratches his head in frustration. "I don't remember that before I left."

[albatross]

The next trial takes a long time. It turns out to be the a session with the Tester device. There is only one tester machine on the base that belongs to the United Nations, so Rock, Dancer and Peacemaker have to wait for a few other teams to get through their own trials one person at a time.

The machine is in a room just like the one for the written test, where the trainers can watch and all kinds of sensors record every conceivable detail.

Rock walks up to the machine, closes his eyes and it lights up a little. Immediately, the United Nations observers perk up and begin watching all the readouts.

Peacemaker is next, and again there is a little light.

And finally Dancer.

After the three of them emerge, a few people are staring at them jealously. Apparently, they scored twice as high as the next closest team. Tiger grins, "Seems like the other teams had some trouble putting those testers together. I'll bet Jeckle and their mechanics could vent about how frustrating they are for hours."

She does glance at Rock. He grins, "Good right? I had this idea-" Tiger cuts him off, "Brilliant Rock, your best idea you've ever had. I'm proud of you. And... from now on, you keep your eyes open. This is going to be a fight, and you will need you eyes."

Rock isn't sure if he is being praised or scolded. Tiger softens, "It was the right move today for the test, just make sure you practice eyes open from here on." He nods.

This time, the Omega team comes in first.

[dakota]

"Mebbe we should rent Jeckle's services to the UN to show them how it's done?" Khris forced his first smart comment of the day, a sure sign of how much strain the close proximity to so many metas was putting on him. It was only his commitment to the kids and his team that kept him from trying to excuse himself for at least a break.

[albatross]

"Alright," Tiger says. "That was the last trial for today. Peacemaker, Dancer and Rock, come with me and Marv and we'll help you blow off stream with some training. Everyone else get something to eat and take a rest. Its been a long day. Lt. White, Dante and Roan will take shifts standing watch tonight." She looks meaningfully at Kris and Marv. "Everyone else make sure you rest well. Another big day tomorrow."

[dakota]

"I.. I need to get away for a bit before my brain melts or something." Khris said, looking at the others. " Jeck, you and your brother want a little more privacy, you can tag along? I turn on the tunes and you two can talk in private with me nearby in case anyone makes another attempt? I remember seeing a coffee place on the edge of the base that should be far enough away for me. " He offered

[shiivster]

*looks up, nods and then replies* 'yeah. Heck's needing to stretch and move a little. thanks, but maybe not that far for us yet. need to stay close to hte ride in case the legs give out. stay alert'

*she offers her brother a hand up. 'a test from me. i would have known if it wasn't you with that answer bro . . that bow was about 4 years ago'

*her sturdy body seems to be the perfect counterpoint for his athletic one. their heads are close as she provides the missing steadiness and stability until his balance is centered. then moves along slowly. he won't be able to see the Omega team in action, but he'll be able to view the others for a bit.

'not sure what to say . . . but this team? . . hmm it got together . . *pauses for a moment then she'll give a 'skim' download of this current team she's with. her mind is on a tight viewing of hte periodic table [so her thoughts can't be read as she informs her twin of how much time has passed. they move to observe teams going in as Roan does her thing. her brief comments are week by week, then pauses after finding out he was alive in the hospital. she waits now while he digests the info and the fact its been longer than 6 months since he went missing

[albatross]

At some point in Jeckle's storytelling, Heckle says, "Oh." He looks around. "Maybe I don't remember quite as much as I thought I did."

He looks over at Roan, who seems to have said something only Heckle could hear and Heckle nods. "I suppose finding the people who shot me will have to wait until I'm sure I knew who they were."

"Right now all I want to do is eat something and go to sleep. Where are we going?"

[dakota]

Khris nodded, understanding. "No problem, jecks, but stay close to the others then where ever you end up to grab a bite." He fought the urge to wince as he could feel others beginning to move around. " I.. Tigger, I need some space." Was all he managed before ducking out, and quickening his pace and rubbing his temples as he walked. " _{Oh god, be easier if my head would just explode}," he sputtered under his breath, trying to seek out some distance between himself and the gathered crowd of metas.

[sasqaricious]

Akane spotting the moment to enter into talking with the others again takes this moment to leave as well. Sneaking out the back and catching up to kris rather quickly. "Not a fun time in there I take it?"