Trial of the MuTeens: Chapter 2:
Trial of the MuTeens:
Chapter 2: Physical Challenge:
Justice Tower Training Grounds: The JF had prepared an arena that resembled American Gladiators if the show had a massive Budget.
Chloe was a bit nervous, but had steeled herself. "This is nothing compared to a Cheerleading Tryout... I CAN DO THIS!!" Thought Chloe.
Syrus was Nervous, but He too stood tall. "I will prove to Cade, to my brother and most importantly to myself that I've grown and I'm NOT A WIMP!!"Thought Syrus.
"Finally, a chance to kick some ass, and hopefully have a cool story to tell Bianca." Thought Bertram.
Barbara was cool like ice. "I wonder WHY do the JF wants me so bad... could it be my Verdosian heritage? Or is it something else?"
Natsumi was muttering in Japanese. It's rhythmic loop made it seem like some sort of chant or mantra. "Junbi desu!"
"Ashley!" Whispered Nick. "Are you nervous? Don't be." Ashley looked at Nick with a confused expression. "Just do your best and have fun with this. Your results won't have an effect on whether I pass or not. Besides, you're my sister. I'm 100% certain you will pass this test! Go and kick this bitch exam's ass!" Whispered Nick.
"Are you nervous, Nick?" Asked Ashley.
"Me? Nervous? I'm shitting enough bricks to build the great wall of China TWICE!!" Responded Nick as he began whistling the American Gladiators theme.
Stainless Steel Steve used a megaphone to address the MuTeens:
"Welcome to the physical challenge. We have a wheel with various challenges. We have a wheel with your names. Seven tests, seven MuTeens... Chrysalis, take the Wheel!" Said Steve as Chrysalis spun the wheels.
"AI will face the Defusing the Explosive challenge!" Said Chrysalis. "This bomb will blow up the orphanage! You must make sure the orphanage survives!"
Ashley walked towards the center of the arena where an analog explosive device showed up revealing a 10 minute timer that was activated once Ashley was 5 feet from the explosive.
"The device is mechanical, fuck!" Thought Ashley as the time was ticking. Lacking Electronics meant that Ashley would have to defuse the bomb the old fashioned way.
"Oh come on!" Exclaimed Ashley "This bomb is older that Stainless Steel Steve and ZippyLad combined! I can't defuse this!" Ashley began pacing. "This is a homemade device so I can't find an instruction manual on the web... what can I do!?" Said Ashley in an exaggerated panic as she waited for the timer to almost run out. She digitized the bomb and sent it high in the sky.
*boom* a small explosion like a firework was barely visible in the noonish sky.
"Smart." Said Steve. "Sometimes all you have to do is get rid of the bomb." The JF members where whispering amongst themselves.
AI: A risky maneuver, a but reckless, but for the intents of this situation, you BARLEY passed." Said Doc Dome. Chrysalis spun the wheels.
"Kage in Assault"
Steve pointed towards the end of the field where Nobody was manning a twnnis ball cannon. The field had extremely bright lights that canceled shadows. There were various stations with different throwable items. Nick was cursing.
"Fuck! I wanted assault! It's like the one task I know by heart, I don't get it FUUUUCK!"
"Assault, based on the old for you, game show, American Gladiators. All Kage has to do is hit the target above Nobody's head... or reach the goal. The lights were added specifically to avoid any shadow walking. If you get hit, you're out. Now head to the starting line." Said Steve.
Natsumi walked to the starting line, she gave the MuTeens a thumbs up as she waited for the signal. Natsumi realized that her shadow weapons were useless as she tried throwing a kunai at the target. Nobody was relentless with his attacks forcing Natsumi to dive to the first Battle station. She noticed the foam projectile was rather large, so she shot it towards the goal, but hiegher in order to cast a large shadow that allowed her to reach the second station easily while Nobody lost sight of her. She shot the ball cannon, but missed. She dashed to the third station with the crossbow.
"They got the order wrong!" Said Nick. "It's Crossbow, Rocket Launcher, Ball cannon, rifle, grenade. I can't believe that they didn't pay attention to that detail!"
"While you were whining, Natsumi reached the grenades and hit Nobody." Said Ashley.
"Kage, you have passed with flying colors." Said Nobody. The MuTeens cheered as Natsumi celebrated her victory. Chrysalis spun the wheels.
"Private Payne in Wrath of the Minotaur."
The arena began to transform thanks to Nano and it became the mythical Labyrinth with Tsunami acting as the Minotaur.
"Like Theseus, you must brave the Labyrinth, defeat the Minotaur and exit within 60 minutes. Good luck!" Said Stainless Steel Steve as Bertram entered the Labyrinth and the door sealed behind him.
"So, what will we do while the Labyrinth test is going on? We can't see what's going on." Said Barbara.
Nick climbed to the platform where Chrysalis and the wheels were and spun them.
The wheels landed in HellRayzor and Lemming Rescue respectively. ZippyLad rolled into a platform and it raised about 5 storeys up and a bunch of domeoids climbed to the top.
"Catch the domeoids before they hit the ground. If 3 hit the floor before beong caught, you lose. Anything under 70 is a fail." Said Steve as the Domeoids began jumping. Syrus quickly created a funnel and let gravity do its thing as each domeoud landed safely. Zippy flung a few off course, but Syrus was ready and intercepted them all.
"Nice usage of your transmuting abilities." Said Doc Dome. "I was expecting to be forced to repair some, but luckily, they're all intact!"
***
Inside the Labyrinth: Bertram transmuted his suit into something more silent and water ready as he thought Tsunami would flood the Labyrinth to make traversing it harder. "The floor is dry now, but the moment it begons to get wet I'll either be closer to Tsunami or the exit." Thought Bertram. "I could transmute the walls, but I know this is Nano and i don't want to risk hurting him."
Bertam moved silently using stalking techniques that he learned from Natsumi and clan Hamato. After a few minutes Bertram stopped and turned into a snake, since slithering would be more silent and could blend with the area better, as Tsunami was looking for a 6'3" Muscular man. Moving through the dark Labyrinth, Bertram began to feel a lot of moisture. "He's nearby..." turning into an amorphous entity, Bertram laid in wait as he became submerged by Tsunami's water.
"Where is this guy!?" Muttered Tsunami as he was looking for Bertram. Unbeknownst to Tsunami, his target was straight below him and sprung towards the JF Hydromancer.
"Booyah! Suck it, Ray Fisher!" Yelled Bertram as he knocked Tsunami of his riding water. The JF master of water recovered and tried to drown Bertram with a water blast. "I can breathe underwater, sucker!" Gurgled Bertram as he tackled Tsunami once more. "It's Payne time!" Said Betram as he began punching Tsunami. The latter was using watery shields to dampen the attacks. He managed to get free of Bertram by using a spring kick on the Transmuting MuTeen.
"You shall not pass." Said Tsunami with a calm voice. As he rode his water wave once more and fired various jet streams of water at Bertram. Dodging the streams, Bertram made distance and began fighting Tsunami in an unnatural boxing match with both heroes hitting each other non stop as they stumbled across the Labyrinth. The fight ended with another spring kick that knocked Bertram outside the Labyrinth. Once outside, Bertram transmuted the ground and sealed the Labyrinth's exit.
"I win." Said Bertram. "With 20 minutes to spare."
The JF was deliberating as the MuTeens ran towards Bertram.
"Private Payne, you did not pass" said Stainless Steel Steve.
"That's bullshit!" Screamed Nick as he went to the JF. "He beat the Labyrinth with plenty of time to spare!"
"But did he defeat the Minotaur, or in this case, Tsunami?" Doc Dome interjected.
"What was Tsunami's function as Minotaur?" Asked Nick.
Doc Dome stood silent. "You have the potential to be a lawyer, young one." He whispered something to Steve.
"Due to a technicality, Private Payne, you passed." Said Steve.
Bertram laughed. "I can't believe you bullshitted my way to victory."
"It's not bullshit if it's true. Tsunami failed his task of stopping you from exiting the Labyrinth." Said Nick. "He did not, therefore, you won fair and square."
"You fought well." Said Tsunami. "Why didn't you transmute the walls and leave immediately?"
"Wait, that was an option?" Said Nick flabbergasted. "You made us wait forty minutes when you could've easily beaten the challenge?"
"Really? You of all people complaining about not skipping a Superhero crossover fight? Now, I had my reasons... mainly that the Labyrinth was Nano. I wouldn't hurt an innocent bystander on puropose." Said Bertram.
"Now that we solved that, let's figure out, who's next!" Said Chrysalis as she spun the wheel. It landed on Barbara and the Free Pass space.
"Now that's a load of crap!" Said Barbara. "Someone has been rigging these tests and I KNOW that the JF is doing it on purpose to recruit me. The deal was fair examining and I'm getting an unfair preferential treatment! We're here to prove ourselves worthy in your eyes. But if you're keeping up this bullshit, maybe we don't NEED the JF's approval. MuTeens, we're leaving."
"Wait!" Said Silver Sentry. "Yes, it's true that you're already a shoo-in for the JF and the tryout is nothing more than a formality, you're right. So, how about this:" said Silver Sentry as he spun the wheels. "You will be the tag partner of the next MuTeen in the next challenge." 5 minutes later the wheels landed on Chloe and Silver Push.
"Silver Push" said Stainless Steel Steve. The test is simple: Silver Sentry will plant his feet firmly on the ground and all you got to do is push him at least one inch. Do so and you both win. Fail and Mass Mistress will be rejected."
As Silver Sentry stood his ground, Barbara and Chloe whispered to themselves and a pink construct appeared. It was a cannon aimed at Silver Sentry. Both Barbara and Chloe got inside the cannon before it fired them both at Silver Sentry inside a giant shell that split off revealing the girls making a Fastball Special aimed at Silver Sentry. Enveloping Chloe in a ball shaped Construct Barbara threw Chloe who used her mass shifting abilities to send herself in supersonic speeds towards Silver Sentry while Barbara slightly raised Sentry off the ground to reduce friction shortly before impact. Unfortunately, Barbara raised Silver Sentry a bit too high and Chloe ended up kicking him in the dick. This sent Silver Sentry Flying a bit farther than expected.
Unfazed, Silver Sentry returned. "Worst test for my invulnerability." He said, while he coughed once. "Miss Mass Mistress, and Miss Mary Sue, you both passed the teamwork test."
Nick was trembling with anticipation. Chrysalis looked at the wheel and said:
"By default, this leaves GameDude for the event-"
"BOSS BATTLE!"
Yelled Ananda with her voice amplified by a giant Domebot.
"Now, face me, pervert!!"
Yelled Ananda as her giant Domebot stood 40ft tall. Nick removed his hat and glasses. "Ash! Yell Dead Cell!" Said Nick.
"Dead Cell!" Yelled Ashley. Barbara facepalmed before explaining to Ashley what Nick meant. She began playing boss music as Nick began doing cartwheels.
"Shi... he's going MGS2 Raiden on Ananda" said Bertram as the JF and MuTeens retreated to a safe spot.
"Hey Nandi!" Nick said, but she couldn't hear him. So Nick used VG Logic and the ascend ability from Tears of the Kingdom as he popped up from beneath her seat very close to her crotch. "Nandi... yourspeaker volume's too loud and your Dad's been trying to tell you something... BTdubs, your pussy smells nice." Said Nick before canceling the ascend and landed inder the Giant Domebot. This enraged Ananda as she tried to step over Nick who was doing cartwheels to dodge her steps.
Doc Dome was terrified. "That Domebot isn't fully ready for combat. It barely can stand!" He said. "We have to stop this fight!"
Ananda fired Domeoids at Nick to slow him down. "Stand still, damn you!" She yelled.
"Don't rush me! I'm trying to figure out a way to beat you without wrecking the bot as much as I'll wreck your butt!" Replied Nick as he dodged and stunned Domeoids with the HF Blade. Everyone groaned. "Keep going Nandi... The harder you make me work, the harder my payback will be once I win!" Said Nick as he pulled a Chaff Grenade.
"What's he doing!?" Yelled Doc Dome. "Is that a Chaff Grenade!? That'll interfere with the electronics! Including the Domebot controls!"
"That's the idea..." said Barbara as the grenade exploded and the Domebot went unresponsive.
"What is it Nick?" Said Barbara Telepathically. "Got it, babe. I'll speak to the Doc." Barbara went towards Doc Dome.
"Doctor, I need to speak to you, privately."
Said Barbara as she and Doc Dome went to a dofferent room. A minute later they return. Nick is dodging the attacks from a highly enraged Ananda.
"I explained your endgame to the Doc and he told me that you can cut the hydraulics on the arms and legs of the Domebot, which would put her on the defensive." Said Barbara telepathically.
"Have Ashley play Rules of Nature, please?" Said Nick. "Yo, Nandi! I know you're desperate for me to ravage your holes, but please put some effort on the fight!" Yelled Nick as Ashley switched songs. Dodging an attack from the Domebot's left arm, Nick located the arm hydraulics and with various slices, the hydraulic fluid spulled everywhere.
"No! You asshole!" Yelled Ananda. "I'm going to kill you!" She yelled as trying to swat Nick off the Domebot's left arm. Nick dove to the right leg and sliced off the Hydraulics and went straight to the left leg. This caused the domebot to Topple. Ananda ejected as the Domebot fell. Once she landed she stood in a fighting stance.
"Good, now we can fight as warriors! Hand to hand is the basis of all combat. Only a fool trusts his life to a weapon!" Said Nick as the blade vanished.
The JF began cheering on Ananda as she ran towards Nick and hit him square in the chest with a dropkick. "Not so cocky now, pervert?" Said Ananda.
"Sorry, I was mesmerized by your boobs bouncing." Said Nick. "I can't wait to suck on them!" Ananda got angry and tried to hit Nick with a hook punch that Nick dodged easily. Ananda tried an axe kick, but Nick pushed forwards and locked the back of her leg with his shoulder. She tried to punch him, but Nick grabbed her hands. "Mm! Feisty and flexible, a great combo that is making me HARD!" Nick Taunted. He pushed his crotch closer to hers and began clenching his butt rhythmically. A moan escaped Ananda's mouth. "Soon, be-beh!" Said Nick as Ananda gave him a headbutt.
"For that I'm going to kick your ass and ensure you NEVER TOUCH EARTH EVER AGAIN!" Yelled Ananda as Nick noticed how forced was her breathing and how flushed her cheeks were.
"Admit it... you crave my dick!" Said Nick as Ananda punched him hard.
"Hurt me more!" Ananda punched him again."More! More!" Ananda unleashed a flurry off attacks on Nick "Like old times, Ive been waiting for this pain!" Ananda kept getting angrier and punching Nick as he kept taunting her. She was getting slower, more tired, angrier and she kept pounding Nick. She began to cry on Nick's shoulder. Ananda was babbling a mostly incomprehensible gibberish.
"You win..." muttered Ananda as she dropped to the floor with her head down in shame.
Silver Sentry interrupted Ananda as he exclaimed disappointed: "GameDude wins."
Nick stood silent and knelt before Ananda.
"Why aren't you gloating? You won. You get to use me as a sex toy." Said Ananda broken. Her eyes looked dull and lifeless.
"No." Said Nick. "You were never going to be my cocksleeve." Ananda was confused for a second before becoming angry once more.
"What? Am I not good enough for you!?" Said Ananda angry.
"I let you feel the boner you gave me..." said Nick "But I don't want to fuck you. I want to make love to you." Ananda slapped Nick.
"What the fuck is wrong with you!? You spent days threatening to rape me and now you say you want to make love to me!? You're sick!" Said Ananda.
"Whoa, hold it right there miss hypocrite!" Said Nick. "You had Sarah try to get close to me as you tried to investigate me for some reason. Then tou tried to get her against my by lying and telling half-truths. Not only that you pretended to be her and were luring me to a trap before I figured it out!" Nick sighed. "Had the Justice Force come directly and asked me what you wanted to know, I would've been honest and forthcoming. But you lied, cheated, And manipulated Sarah. You then tried to put a wedge between me and my friends, specifically my girls."
Ananda stood up and punched Nick. He simply stood there and took the blows. "Are you done? I figured out that pride was your weakness, so I challenged you. Had I lost, I kept my girls safe. Now I won and I'm granting you freedom from the monster you thought I was. Yes I'm a pervert. Yes, I'd love to make love to you in all conceivable ways, but I want it to be consensual. I want you to enjoy it at least as much as I will."
"You're a fucking asshole, you know that?" Said Ananda. She kept Punching Nick "What pisses me off the most was that you were holding back and you still are!" She kept punching Nick and slowed down once again until she could barely stand. "Why aren't you fighting back!?"
Nick just stood there. "I don't need to fight you. You need to fight me. Here I am, keep hitting me until you feel better." Nick used VG Logic and cast curaga on Ananda. Feeling re-energized she kept on hitting Nick. Now the blows were starting to hurt. Nick cast regen on himself.
Ananda kept hitting Nick hard. "I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!" She kept saying as she hit Nick with everything she had. "You're taking Sarah away from me! She used to be excited whenever I showed up! Now all she thinks about is you!" She kicked Nick's balls. He barely stood there in pain. He wasn't going to give Ananda the pleasure of rolling on the floor with pain. "Give me back my best friend!!" Yelled Ananda as she kept striking Nick.
"Make it make sense, Nandi!! I Don't have a Cybernetic Brain to understand your plan. Sarah FELL FOR ME BECAUSE YOU PUT HER ON MY PATH!! Why did you target me in the first place!?" Asked Nick as Ananda kept hitting him.
"Because you're a killer!" Said Ananda. "We found out about your little murder spree on Mexico. Sure, the victims were human/mutant traffickers, drug runners and general scum, but you're not Judge, jury, and executioner... then you try to pretend you're a superhero... "You're a disgrace!" She spat.
"Yeah, Mexico was something when I was an EPF Agent. That's part of the reason I left the EPF. I wanted to do better." Replied Nick. "I can't go deep on details because that was a classified EPF operation, but I am willing to cooperate with the JF. I even warned Stainless Steel Steve about some info I got from the EPF about Dregg making a possible return." Nick slapped his chest before making a come at me bro gesture. "Anything else you wanna blame me for? I know! Zack Snyder not returning to WB was my fault too!" Said Nick Mockingly. "I'm growing tired of your bullshit Nandi. You think you're the smartest person in the room because of your sexy Cybernetic Brain... I get it, I too believe my own hype. That's why my girls, my friend, my family, my teammates keep me grounded. Your pride was your undoing."
Ananda sighed and stretched her hand. "Blank slate?"
Nick shook her hand. "Blank slate, but my making love offer still stands." Said Nick before ananda playfully punched him in the shoulder.
"You asshole!" She said.
"Nick... you can call me Nick, especially before calling me an asshole." Nick replied.
"Well, now that we finally clear the air and let all of our grievances out, What will it be, MuTeens?" Said Stainless Steel Steve.
Barbara had the MuTeens huddle and she spoke to them telepathically. Once they ended the huddle Barbara walked towards Stainless Steel Steve and Silver Sentry. "For the moment, you can consider the MuTeens as reserve members, as we still need to grow up and mature into our powers before graduating to the Justice Force. If you need us, give us a call."
Silver Sentry shook Barbara's hand. "Alright, Godspeed MuTeens. But first, I believe we should commemorate this event with a group Photo." Everyone posed for the picture before saying their goodbyes. Before Nick left, Ananda grabbed his hand.
"Be careful out there. There have been rumors of a Man with abilities just like yours attacking Mutants." Said Ananda. "After fighting you, I've noticed you favor blades, that other man favors guns. I already have your email and you should seriously consider changing the password. I<3880085 is not exactly a hard password to guess. I'll speak to Sarah about our fight... I hope to see you again, GameDude."
Nick waved Goodbye as he ran towards the MuTeens... as he whistled an off-key version of It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.