Training Begins, Part I

Posted on Sat Sep 9th, 2023 @ 5:20pm by First Lieutenant Bethany Harrison & Private Mattias Tonelly & General Dyami Bentley (Tribal : Bent Leaf)

Mission: HYDRA: Another Head Rises
Location: Shaman's Cabin
Timeline: Present Day

After breakfast, Bethany set about showing Matty around the shaman’s encampment, detailing the chores that had to be seen to every day. She explained that most of the chores she would be able to handle for now, but that there were things that she expected him to do that didn’t require the use of his legs. By the end of the relatively short tour, they were at a training area set up near the lake.

“Most of what you’re going to be doing for now, is strength and stamina training. While we need you to get your legs underneath you, we can’t let other parts get weak in the process,” she explained, looking out over the water. “I don’t know where you’re at, so, once Dyami says we can start up, we will. He wants you to rest for a couple of days, though, get used to just being here. You’re lucky. I had to find my way into the cabin past all of his traps.”

Looking out at the lake, Mattias chuckled. "I feel rested enough. I could go for a swim right now."

Bethany chuckled and sat down, crossed her legs and said, “Swimming isn’t my strongest point. Where I grew up, water was for drinking, cooking, and keeping the animals alive. I didn’t learn to swim until,” she paused and took a bit of a deep breath, letting it out slowly before continuing, “Jon insisted that I learn how. We had missions where we needed to be dropped into deep water, so he made sure that I wasn’t going to drown, or anything.”

Mattias looked over at Bethany as she spoke to him about her love. While he recognized that he couldn't understand the pain of losing a partner, where he could empathize with her, was over the loss of a mother. In fact, he was reminded of something his mother had said to him early in his recovery. After a few beats, he figured out how to make it applicable to the current situation.

"Beth," he began quietly. "I know we have only known each other for a very short time. However, and please forgive me here, but I see two possible paths leading from where we are right now." He raised his right hand and indicated the number one with his index finger.

"One, while you are very powerful in your own right, and you could easily go after Hydra, all alone. For a short time, at least. Yes, you can certainly turn just about any installation into a glass bowl. However, you use an extra-large amount of energy doing it. Even the best rechargeable battery can only be used so many times. Then, one day, when you are going it solo, you won't be strong enough and you'll either be killed, or worse, captured and experimented on. Either way, Hydra wins."

He then raised two fingers. "Or two, we train together, grow strong together. We both use the pain of losing our mothers, a pain we both possess in spades, and channel that rage into a team so dangerous to our enemies, that the mere mention of our names causes them to scurry away in abject terror. We train together, so our gifts begin to compliment one another. That way, we always know that someone is there to watch our backs. Then, there will be a better chance of Hydra being defeated."

“My mama died a painful death that she didn’t deserve. When the Preacher gunned her down, I did the one thing that she begged me not to do. I ended him. I didn’t even blink. He didn’t think I’d do it, thought I was too soft. He didn’t know that she was the only thing keeping him alive.” Her emerald gaze stayed steadily on the water, and there was a momentary pause, as though she was thinking about what he said.

“I’m an infiltrator,” Bethany continued, her tone turning serious. “So far, you seem to be more suited to ground assault. I’m not even sure your other form could fit into some of the places that I have to get into. Plus, it’s more likely to draw attention rather than subvert it. You have a place on a team, I’m just not sure if you’d be suited for the kind of work that I do. And I’d rather go down alone, than drag anyone else down with me.”

"As I was in my altered state, sure, I do kinda stick out like a bull in a china shop. But as I am now?" He grinned. "My legs are getting stronger everyday, thanks to my other side. Add some nano armor to that, and I could go in as I am, then bring out the big guy, should the situation warrant it. And, as far as going down alone…" he shook his head slowly. "So long as I draw breath, you will not be alone again. You seem to misunderstand my level of stubbornness. Where you go, I WILL follow."

“When you learn how to move at light speed, you let me know,” Bethany said, half serious, half teasing. “I’m not trying to insult you, Matty. I just don’t think that you understand. I can’t keep watching people go down around me, because of me. I have a hefty price on my head, and everyone around me is a target. I’m worried about even training you because of that. Well, that and other reasons.”

“Well would you look at you two all bonding and stuff!” Daymi said joyfully from directly behind where the two sat beside the lake.

Bethany automatically leapt up and spun, her hand reflexively reaching for a gun that wasn’t currently on her person.”Why do you do that?” she demanded, blinking a bit rapidly, trying to bring her suddenly bright purple skin back under control. “You just like scaring people, don’t you?”

Dyami smiled broadly, “Um, Yes. You should know this by now. Good to know I can still catch you unawares though. I have not grown rusty in my old age.”

Mattias started as well, not even hearing any difference in the air movement at Dyami’s approach. "That's a cool trick," he said with a grin. "You gotta teach me that!" He chuckled softly, then continued. "I was just trying to convince Bethany that, so long as I'm here, she won't be alone. And, though I can't move as fast as she can, I thought maybe you could teach me how to portal into places, if possible?"

“He moves like a cat when he wants to,” Bethany said, shaking her head. When Matty asked about learning the portals, she chuckled. “I asked him about that before I learned how to move like I do now, and he told me that when I became a shaman, he’d think about it.”

Mattias shrugged as he replied. "I don't mind being dropped in either. I'm sure my alter could withstand a free fall." He chuckled a bit darkly at that thought.

The sky that day was partly cloudy and the clouds passed by rapidly overhead. Sudden brief thunderstorms had been forecast for the afternoon but this was normal this time of year in Oklahoma.

Dyami chuckled. “We still do not know what triggers your change so it would be a gamble on dropping you from a great height.” Dyami walked to the water's edge. “And yes, Mattias I will teach you how to use shamanic magic if you wish to become a shaman. You are after all already one step down the path, as you are a shape changer.”

The Indian man casually picked up a stone and with seemingly very little effort threw it into the lake, causing an enormous splash to shoot up into the air, which quickly turned into a downfall of water drops upon the three of them. “Oops.” He said and began laughing.

“You can’t act like you didn’t do that on purpose,” Bethany said, chuckling a bit. “You can’t always act like you don’t know your own strength.” She simply warmed the air around them, drying them without actually causing burns. “So, what’s on the schedule today? Hunting deer with a knife and a prayer? Running with the wolves?”

“You forgot bear wrestling,” Dyami said with a slight grin. “No, today you and I will fight hand to hand with no powers. Then I will test Mattias and see if I can draw out this meta-form of his. I would like to see it for myself. Then I will introduce him to our horses and after that we will have a cookout by the bonfire tonight. Sounds like a good day?” He turned to Mattias to see his response.

The young meta shrugged slightly and grinned as he replied with a nod. "Sounds good to me! I like horses a lot and who doesn't like a cookout?" He grinned eagerly at them both.

“Sparring with no powers?” Bethany asked, her emerald gaze narrowing slightly at the old Indian. His idea of training the young light-bearer tended to be no-holds-barred. “That’s kind of rare. I mean, the rest sounds fine and all, but that part sounds a little suspicious.”

“Fair enough,” Dyami answered. “What kind of match would you prefer? I will allow you to make the call.”

The young brawler continued eyeing Dyami, then suddenly shook her head. “Nope. I know better. No matter what I choose, I’ll wind up getting beat over the head with something hard and unyielding. If you say no powers, fine.”

Mattias listened, a curious grin forming on his face as he watched Dyami and Bethany talk about how they were about to spar.

“Oh I know!” Dyami clapped his hands together, a devious smile forming on his face that was visible only to Beth, “Since this little exhibition is for Mattias’s sake why do not we allow him to decide?”

After releasing a bit of a worried sigh, she glanced over at Matty, then back to Dyami. “Well, I don’t think he actually wants to see you break me in half, so, sure,” she said, giving a bit of a shrug.

Suddenly feeling a bit worried, not wanting to make the wrong decision, Mattias finally replied. "Um...maybe starting out…no powers?"

“Dyami nodded in agreement, “Ok, no powers, Beth can use whatever strength and agility she has and I will match her. I will not go all out, it would not be fair.”

Bethany was no slouch when it came to hand-to-hand, but Dyami had been practicing a lot longer, so she knew this would be embarrassing. Without being able to enhance her speeds, or the force behind her blows, the shaman was going to laugh off a lot of her attacks. “I’m glad I don’t eat like you two,” she mentioned, laughing a bit. “I don’t really feel like projectile vomiting this morning.”

“One other thing, use your Nano, he will be getting one soon, he will need to see it in action,” Dyami added.

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TBC

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Bethany Harrison
Fractal
Mutant Underground

Dyami Bentley
Talon
Mutant Underground

Mattias Tonelly
(Recruit)
Mutant Underground