Education: part 1
Prelude…After helping with the rescue of Temper Dis Tain from the control of the evil Robert Blaze, the Reaver Nomad decides to relax by working out in the Fringe’s Dungeon. Hiding out in the Dungeon’s control booth is a fellow Fringer, Gizmo. The story picks up as Nomad enters the workout room…
Nomad smiled slightly at Gizmo. "That's a shame. Nothing sharpens the reflexes and purifies the soul like fighting for you life," he said with a slight smirk and entered the Dungeon and looked around. "Hmm...Just what is all this?" he asked, taking in the features of the room for the first time, not sure what he was seeing. "Can I operate this thing on my own or do I need someone watching?" Nomad inquired as he stripped off his shirt and took off his sword belt and drew the Blade, looked back up at Gizmo, waiting for an answer...
"If you knew what you were doing, you could probably operate it on your own; Stout does all the time. I can stay and watch if you like." He ran his hands across a control board. "What kind of scenario are you looking for? Or should I surprise you?"
Nomad didn't answer for a moment, his head bowed in silent thought. "Actually Gizmo I would prefer to do this alone. If you could give me the commands to operate this contraption I would be thankful." the Reaver turned back to the room, preparing himself. "What combat options are available to me? Is it possible to program my own scenario? What is the basis of this technology? How realistic is it?" the Reaver stopped short and chuckled slightly. He had never been this curious before. In that half-remember time, he had simply excepted any given situation as it was presented. He shrugged slightly, he may have emotions but he was still incredibly pragmatic, what ever happened, happened. As he considered these thoughts he eyes were drawn to the palm of his left hand. Under the heavy fingerless glove he could feel the Mark throb and tingle slightly, as if it looked forward to the up coming work out. He shook his head slightly, barely conscious of Gizmo, as the man started rattling off the many details and features of the Dungeon. As long as Nomad was unable to understand or control the powers the Chaos Brand gave him, he was a danger to those around him. The episode with Ben and Fever had proven that. Nomad tore off the glove suddenly. He would control this power, and the learning would start now...
Gizmo broke off his explanation when Nomad tore off his glove. "Are you okay?" He got no answer. Nomad appeared to be deep in thought and Gizmo was sure he hadn't been paying much attention to the instructions on operating the Dungeon. Finishing up, he pointed out a panel to Nomad. "If you want to create your own scenario, you can program it in there. You can make it as realistic as you want. That should be all you need to know for now." Gizmo stepped away from the controls to let Nomad set up his session. Turning to another panel, he made an adjustment to the controls behind Nomad's back, bumping up the safety precautions to the maximum level. "And make sure you finish before the AM training sessions." He added as he left the room. Outside, he shook his head. The man was just asking for trouble using the Dungeon without an observer, especially since he seemed preoccupied with something. At least with the safeties on, he wouldn't end up killing himself.
Gizmo was standing in the Control room looking out, seeing what Nomad was up to, when he sensed another presence. Suddenly behind him the air rippled then tore open, bright multi-colored lights flashing out. Gizmo shaded his eyes trying to peer in. He thought that he could see a form moving within. Deciding to alert Nomad and the rest of the B&G, Gizmo moved back toward the control panel when a long slender arm shot out of the portal. "Naughty, naughty," a soft feminine voice called out, "Can't have you ruining my fun before its started." With that the owner of the arm stepped out. Despite himself Gizmo's jaw dropped open slightly. A very attractive women stood before him. He couldn't quite tell what she looked like, for each time he looked at her, the woman’s hair and eyes seemed to change. She was dressed in a wild punk style with torn up clothing and combat boots with a black military style beret on her head. Once the women dropped her gaze from, Gizmo became very aware of his situation. He was being held tightly by the Shirt collar, raised up so only his toes where brushing the floor. The women was glancing around studying the Control Booth. She glanced out the observation window and spotted the Reaver going through some sword basic exercises. "Ahhh! There’s my 'bro'," she said softly, a smile spreading over her face, one which Gizmo could easily tell held no affection. It was at that moment Gizmo noticed the tattoos on the woman’s hands...ones that matched that on Nomads hand. The one he called the Mark of Chaos. The women turned her gaze back to Gizmo. She took a moment to look him over the turned away again. "Your not needed here" she said off handily, dropping Gizmo and walking over to the control panel and began fiddling with dials and switches. She turned back, and her eyes opened slightly, seeming to be surprised that Gizmo was still there. "I said GO!" she snarled and flicked her wrist, a TK field reaching out and shoving Gizmo out the door, which slammed shut as soon as the man passed. Gizmo leaped up and reached for the alarm when he thought he heard something. It was Nomad...he was screaming...
Fever's communicator went off as she and Stout sat on the beach of Paradise Island. She tapped it once. " Oui? " she asked with an edge of irritation. The times that her and Stout could spend uninterrupted were few and far between and she had left word that they were not to be disturbed. Gizmo's voice was shaky as he reported the situation. " Fever, Nomad.... he's in trouble.... he was in the Dungeon and then this lady... now he's trapped.... and he's screaming bloody murder... you better come.... " the young Fringite stuttered out, his words running into one another, the concern in his voice apparent. Fever and Stout looked at one another with set looks on their face. With a sigh, Fever tapped the communicator again and with the signal centered on Gizmo she and Stout walked through the portal to arrive outside the control room with Gizmo. Gizmo quickly gave them a run down of the last few minutes and Stout headed for the control room door, pulling something from a storage compartment in the wall. The control room door bent once and then fell inwards, Stout's small but wide frame followed quickly. " Computer! Security shutdown now! Warder Stout, Alpha Zed Niner! " the Irishman bellowed as he closed the distance between him and the female intruder. One arm shot out and a ham sized fist gripped the girl by the back of her shirt collar. The young woman found herself in very much the same position as she had put Gizmo in as she felt a detainment collar being placed on her neck. Inside the Dungeon the session stopped leaving Nomad sinking to his knees amid the cold steel walls. " Sure and we need t' be thinkin' aboot increasin' our security measures Bright Eyes, they're comin' out o' the woodwork lately! " Stout growled, he was as unhappy as Fever about the sudden interruption to their afternoon. Letting that irritation show in his eyes, Stout scowled at his unwilling captive as she fought ineffectually to break the Irishman's hold on her. " Now lass, why dinnae ye explain t' this Irishman who ye are and what yiur doin' on Fringe property? " he demanded. Gizmo stood in the doorway of the control room with a smug look on his face at the young woman's predicament.
The women stopped struggling and rolled her eyes. "I do so hate interruptions," she sighed as she looked Stout over slowly, clinging to he's arms, holding herself up. "My you ARE a big one aren't you?" she said slyly, her eyes glancing down. Stout merely glared and shook her again, violently. "Answers, now." the big man asked in a low dangerous voice. The women tossed her blond bangs back (or were they red?) and gave Stout an annoyed look. "This is truly starting to bore me," she said, her eyebrows lowering slightly. Suddenly her eyes flashed and she faded, the detainment collar dropping to the floor as Stouts eyes widened with surprise. The Woman reappeared, standing next to Nomad, who was still kneeling on the floor, bent double, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "I'm truly sorry to have disturbed your time my lord and lady," the girl said with a bow and mocking smile, "But Father has sent me to bring messages to my dear lost sibling. So if you will excuse me..." The woman bowed again then reached down and grabbed Nomad by the hair and pulled his head up, not gently. "Now dear brother, its time for you to begin your education," She said this just loud enough to be heard. With that another portal opened and engulfed both the woman and Nomad. It closed with a snap. The onlookers stood stunned...Nomad was gone.