Pathline (13 page)

Catha,
who was standing next to Malik,
gave a smug smile. 
Rune turned to glance at
Rook;
he had the slightest sm
ile on the corner of his mouth
as he
star
ed
straight at Serk. 

Malik, sensing the tension, added "
W
e've done what we can
,
given the
situation;
obviously we're aware that a machine is not a
n
equivalent for an actual
C
harger.
  We look forward
to
the ad
ditional help you can provide
Rook." 

Rook turned to Malik and smiled, nodding cordially
.
"
L
et's hope your faith in me is merited." 
 

Ash stepped forward.
"
M
aybe we should start by showing Rook and Rune what we've worked out so far, then they can join in, how's that sound?" 

Malik nodded.
"
T
hat sounds perfect Ash, would your team like to go first Serk?" 

Serk stepped back.
"
B
y all means Malik, you should go first since you've had a whole team to work with
.
" 

Malik nodded and signaled his team.  The rest moved to the back of the room, away from the generators range.  Catha started the energy stream in the machine and stepped back moving into formation.  At first small then larger streams of
energy shot out of the machine.
T
he team moved around, evading the streams, sometimes even managing to deflect the streams with makeshift shields. 
They did well, with the streams only coming close
to hitting members of the team
on a few occasions. 
Their military training clearly showed through. 
After about
fifteen
minutes Malik made his way safely to the machin
e and switched it
back to standby. 
The rest moved back into the center of the room to discuss the tactics, nodding in approval. 
Catha turned towards Rune, a self-satisfied expression on her face. 

Tactical T
eam
-
I steppe
d back and Serk stepped forward.
"
G
ood work Malik, that's in line with our own tactics, minus the missing members of course.  Rook, Rune, would you two care to step
in for our teams demonstration
, I'm sure supers of your caliber can catch on quick enough
.
" 

Malik frowned but Rook stepped forward
.
"
O
f course, let's not hold the team back any longer, where would you like me?" 

Rune stepped forward as well, her eyes cautiously on Rook. 

Serk placed Rook to the far right and Rune to the far left as the team took their positions around the generator. 
Ash stepped forward and re-activated the machine. 
The streams of energy began to shoot out again, close range at first, only affecting the front members of the team.  Rook stood back at his ease watching.  As the streams began to get bigger one shot out towards Rune's corner, she shifted her position, stepping to the side and wandering away before it hit her.  She glanced towards Rook, in her new position a few feet away, he gave her a crooked grin and winked. 
He still hadn't moved. 
About a minute later a large stream shot out of the generator and headed straight for Rook. 
He didn't
shift
his position. 
He calmly raised his right hand towards the stream, and caught it.  He held it calmly in his hand, a small pulsing ball of energy, as everyone else gasped.  He looked up towards the generator and put out his left hand turning his fingers towards the machine.  It sputtered and suddenly a huge stream shot out of it straight into Rooks hands.  The big stream joined the ball of energy in his hand, and he slowly rotated the now three foot wide
sphere
of throbbing energy between his hands.  The machine sputtered once more then died. 

Rook turned to face Serk.
"So, tell me, how would you handle this coming towards you?" he asked, then he shot the ball of energy to the padded wall behind Serk, just above his head. 

The whole room shook as it hit, leaving a round scorch mark on the wall. 
             
The
group
stood in silence. 
Rook put his hands down and looked around at the faces staring at him in shock. 

"A hostile
high level
C
harger will NOT be coming at you with single, random, streams of energy.  He can hit you
with a single direct strike
strong enough to
kill you, he can split his focus and send out shots at all of you at once
, he can take out the electronic equipment around you or make it backfire against you, and he can short out all the lights in a room leaving you in the dark
or
light them unexpectedly to blind anyone with night vision equipment. 
This is not a game, and this is not a mindless machine you will be going up against.  I respect that you are all the tops of your classes within the NSDA,
however
all but one of you
have no experience with anomalous supers and going in cocky will only get
people
hurt or killed. 
I can help prepare you for a fight with a hostile
C
harger, but only if you're willing to listen and take my lead.  I may not be an agency super, but don't take that to mean that I don't have plenty of experience in the field.  You brought me in for
a reas
on, I suggest you remember it.
" 

He walked over to the now
lifeless
electromagnetic machine and leaned against it with his arms crossed over his chest. 
The other
s
turned to each other and back to him, expressions uncertain. 

Rune stepped forward.
"
H
e's right.  It's the reason I spoke up at the briefing.  You all saw the damage this hostile was able to inflict single-handedly, lives have already been lost. 
It would be foolish to walk into a situation unprepared." 

Serk and Malik made their way
to
the center of the room towards Rook. 

"
You're right.  I accept that
.
I
f there's a way for us to better prepare then I'm all ears" Malik offered up. 

Serk c
rossed his own arms.
"
W
e have
two
distinct tactical teams here, how do you suggest we cross train both?" 

Rook looked towards Serk.
"
W
ell, considering you've only got one team with a
C
harger, I suggest you designate your team as the
primary
and Malik's team as the
secondary
unit.  I can work with Malik to offer
basic
advice, and then focus on the
specifics
with you." 

Ma
lik looked towards Serk as well.
"
I
t sounds like a reasonable plan Serk, I'm willing to take the
backseat here
;
what do you think?” 

Serk kept his arms crossed, considering
.
"It would help to simplify the operation if only one of us is on the front
line;
I'm definitely
prepared
to take the lead with the
attack
details
.  I'm willing to try this out, but
you
Rook need to also remember that Malik and I are in charge for a reason.  We know these people, these teams, and we know how to best utilize them." 

Rook nodded
.
"
O
f course, I wouldn't presume otherwise, which is why it's you two that I think I should work with the closest during the training side of this job.  I'll give you the guidance, and you each decide how to best utilize it." 

This seemed to satisfy Serk who nodded and walked back towards his team. 
Malik paused a moment, surveying Rook, before he too walked back towards his team. 

The
group
split up again with Serk's team moving over to
the
training room with a still operational electromagnetic machine.  Rook worked with Serk for half the day, then after lunch he spent his time with Malik in the first training room. 
When faced with an actual
C
harger, even one using mind force for the
occasion
, most of the supers found that their previous confidence took a hit (along with their bodies).  The only one who managed to successfully evade every one of Rook's training strikes was Rune. 
She'd had plenty of
experience
training
with him in her past, so she knew most of his moves and
attack
style, but she was kept on her toes from years out of practice and his evolved technique. 
He too seemed to be trying harder to catch her off
guard;
her years on the agency having apparently influenced her own style enough to make her unpredictable to him. 

Serk seemed hesitant to take advice from Rook at first, but after being hit with a few charges, he found himself taking on some of the suggestions and was able to evade a couple of Rook's hits by the end of the day. 
Rune couldn't know how the other team was doing
with
their revised training, but on team-II it seemed to be Nave who had the most difficulty adjusti
ng to Rook's methods
. 
He continually fell back on his own tactical
technique
instead of following Rook's suggestions and never once managed to evade being hit by a charge. 
Nonetheless Rook hit enough of them enough times that although most of them ended the day frustrated with their progress they had begun to adjust their methods and showed some mild improvement. 

Agent Donovan
made an appearance at the end of the day to check on their progress.  "So, how are we all getting along here?" she asked as a form of greeting
,
while the two teams stood in the main training room talking before being dismissed. 

Ser
k just grunted in her direction
and Malik crossed his arms replying
,
"
W
e're coming along." 

The agent raised her eyebrows and glanced around at Rook and Rune. 

Rook met her gaze.
"
Y
ou know, it would help in tactical planning if we had some idea of where this little showdown is likely to take place, how about you tell
us
how
your
work is going?" 

Serk looked up at this
.
"Yes,
Supervisory Agent Donovan
, why don't you fill us in on the progress API division has made in tracking down this hostile APS, since that is suppose
d
to be your specialty and the reason you were put in charge of this.” 

The agent put her hands on her hips, disapproval on her face
.
"
O
ur
progress is coming along just fine.  We've got several leads that we believe will
guide
us to the hostile APS, and expect to have something concrete by the end of the week.  Let's hope your teams are ready when we get a location for you."  She frowned at Rook then turned and walked out the room. 

Rook shook his head, mumbling "A
lways a ray of sunshine" under his breath. 

Serk gave a half-smile at
this
then turned to dismiss his team for the night. 

Catha attempted to coerce Malik into joining her for drinks, but when he turned her down she instead walked over to Serk, giving Rook and Rune a cold shoulder as she passed them.  She seemed to be in a distinctly disgruntled mood.  Rune noticed that Rook smirked when she passed. 

Suri came o
ver to where they were standing and said,
"
H
ow about a sequel to last night?" 

Rune noticed Blythe rolling his eyes behind her and smiled. 

Rook shook his head.
"
A
ctually I have a few calls I'd like to make before it gets too late, maybe tomorrow."  He
patted
Rune's shoulder then headed out.