Still giving his mouth time to cool he waited patiently for Lenna to clean up the left overs. He had wanted to help but got the strong feeling she would have shoo’d him from the area. So he just smiled and waited till she was wrapped up.

”It’s with me. It’s going to be cool at least!” he said grinning and exiting the hallway. ”You need to have permission to get in because like the name it is dangerous.” Sam said as he walked to the stairs and headed down towards the basement where the long metallic hallways resided. One goes to the jet and a few other rooms and then the side he went down lead to the danger room. Most of the doors were locked for obvious reasons. Most kids didn’t need to see a war room.

The doors opened and closed with a ‘whoosh’ as they entered. The large empty room didn’t look too dangerous but that was part of the danger. Never knew what the room could throw at you. ”You mentioned blades.” Sam said looking up to the eye in the sky god room.

”Computer. Blade training 101 for Sam.” the room whirred to life lights dimmed then got brighter as things started to appear around them. Training dummies that were targets a small obstacle course and then of course a long wall of blades of all types. Small pocketknives to spears and swords what ever she could have wanted it would be on the wall. They were also standing now in the middle of a ring for sparring.

Sam didn’t bother grabbing any of them until Lenna decided what she wanted to do. If anything she’d be more amazed at the change of scenery unless she had seen something like this before.

>> “It’s with me. It’s going to be cool at least!” He grinned.

Lenna did not say anything. She did not roll her eyes. She merely let him pat his own back, and followed it, too. He was getting her into an exclusive training room. He could have his fun. It hurt no one... and she kind of admired his self confidence. Kind of.

They headed downstairs, and towards the basement levels of the mansion. The hallways grew long, and different. She eyed everything, and made a mental note to explore later.

He opened the doors, and Lenna followed after. The room was large, and seemingly empty. He spoke, and commanded the room to do something. Blade training 101.

She looked around as lighting altered and things changed. Training dummies appeared, as well as various weapons. Mainly blades. A wall full of them. And now, they were in the center of a sparring ring.

”Hmmm,” Lenna noted, as if unimpressed. ”It has tricks. That is nice.”

It actually was impressive, but Lenna would not tell him he had impressed her. Or rather, the room. Was not even his room.

She walked over to the wall, and ran her hand over the various weapons. They felt solid. ”I will not ask how they are solid,” She regarded him. Picked up two long, flat-bladed knives. ”I do not desire the headache. Do you wish me to throw at the targets... or to come at you with a blade? Please tell me you aren’t going to form one out of ice. She teased him. And smiled thinly, rolling the blades in her hands, over fingers.

Dexterity with knives did not equal skill, but it was a nice trick. Nice trick for nice trick room. She idly flipped and caught one blade.

Young Sam agreed, the danger room did have tricks and it was nice. It was ideal for any sort of practical training anything you wanted to think of and the room could create it. He didn’t know how it worked exactly either. Something about hard light constructs so you could feel everything. Other than that there were things that created electricity, fire and water and a few other things for training. What they were dealing with now was hard light constructs.

”Don’t.” Sam agreed, it would give someone a headache he didn’t understand it either other than it was great for training. He grabbed a blade a small hand and a half blade and gave it a quick brandish before switching it to cover his forearm so he had more weight behind it.

”I can do whatever you want. Ice blades are easier for me because I can reform it when it is damaged. However, when I was being trained I wasn’t allowed to use my mutation. Agents didn’t have access to their powers till they could protect themselves with other means.” Sam said as he reached up and grabbed another short blade this one he held normally.

”They are dull right now but with enough force they can draw some blood.” Sam said as he stepped further into the ring. ”First one to ten?” he asked curiously.

”When I was trained,” Lenna said soberly. ”I had no powers. I am just more used to fighting with no powers. But either way is fine .” She held a knife in each hand as she raised palms up in a shrug that said ‘what can you

Sam stepped into the ring. He gave her the general warming, blunted blades can still hurt. Dull blades can still draw blood. And do on. Dull blades honestly could be more dangerous, she knew.

He told her first to ten. First up ten strikes? First to ten drops of blood spilled? What? First to ten, counting between fingers and toes. It was most likely he meant first to ten strikes.

Lenna nodded, and stepped into the ring after him. ”Yes. First to ten hits on their opponent wins. Also. I am used to fighting mutants too... if you wish to utilize your mutation, do feel free. I will not judge.” Smiling through clenched teeth, Lenna added ”I apologize if I use mine. I have no control over it, and can not turn it off.”

Blades held point down in each fist, and at a diagonal angle to the ground, Lenna dropped into a wide defensive stance. She did not immediately rush at Sam. Clearly, she left it to him to make the first attack of their engagement.

The young icemancer shook his head, ”How about I’ll only use my powers to counter yours.” he said not sure what she was capable of. He was just glad he didn’t have to train with a collar on this time. Even if he didn’t always try to activate his mutation it kicked on when he was in danger, training while being continually shocked did not help for his concentration.

Sam stepped forward slowly at first, ”No worries.” he said as he charged at her as quickly as he could when he got to her he crouched low and flipped the blade in his hand and gave a low sweeping motion while bringing up his other blade to counter anything she had for him. She let him make the first move so it was clear that she knew what she was doing.

After the low sweep attacking her legs he changed the blade in his hand again and brought it up into an uppercut motion meaning if she didn’t move out of the way from the first attack she was going to have a hard time blocking the next one. He had more strength than her but he knew that every woman he ever had to challenge they had a tendency to be more nimble and quicker.

Hmph. Only use his powers to counter hers? Lenna said not a word. If he wanted to be stupid, let him be stupid. Had she not just stated she was unable to USE her powers reliably? And could not stop them from happening? How, then, would he even know?

Well, Lenna decided. If the effect were noticeable, he would likely know. For instance, if he kept missing her by the barest fraction of distance. Felt his blade shifted of a hair. Or, if by some miracle, something more notable happened. Unlikely, but who knows?

Anything is possible.

He approached.

Slowly, then not slowly. Lenna was prepared. Her stance was wide. He tried to go low. With one blade, she caught the sweeping strike.

A loud clang resounded off the walls. The sound of clashing steel. Was it cold, though? That was the question.

With her body at an angle to catch the low sweep, she didn’t counter it with a strike of her own just yet. So his guarding blade got to stay useless, for the moment.

Because she had not followed his initial strike with one of her own, she was able to perceive the follow up. Lenna knocked the lower blade away with a quick upward snap, and took a step back while guarding her front with her other weapon.

As the blade came down, her world shifted colors. Again. It happened again. With zero control. She had wanted it out of the equation, damned thing. To her vision, the orange surged into a single point as color flooded out at all angles. The single point? Sam’s blade.

Perhaps, Sam might have noticed it. Perhaps not. But as his blade came up, there was a slight... the only word for it would have been ‘resistance’... in the air. A low pressure that nudged the blade slightly off course, and robbed it of a tiny fraction of its force. Enough that, despite his strength and weight advantages, Lenna was able to block the upward blow with a horizontal parry.

The orange surged back out to encompass her world.

A split-second later, Lenna brought up the second blade. The one that had blocked before. And tried to move it so it was alongside her other blade, in a sort of blade trapping maneuver. Lenna attempted to twist the blades in order to disarm Sam. For good measure, she simultaneously threw a low kick at his right leg by way of distraction.

Flashing a grin at her movements it was clear to see she knew how to move in a fight, maybe he should stop telegraphing as much and take this a little more seriously? He didn’t want to injure her but it had been weird to push yourself as hard when you sparred. She was using her powers he knew when he should have adjusted his blade before he made contact he felt something. Like he was moving through an article of clothing when nothing was there.

Sam tried to see if there was any signs of her powers when she parried, nothing he could see. The icemancer flashed a little grin as she started to disarm him. Sam let go and tilted his weight towards the kick meaning less damage but still enough to hurt. Sam leaned into the kick and rammed his shoulder into her trying to force her back. Ice coated his torso under his shirt just in case now. Now Sam figured it was probably better to be safer than sorry, he wasn’t sure when she would use her power yet.

A shard of ice shot out from his hand using it to cause a momentary distraction. Lena was skilled from what he could tell and it wasn’t a sharp shard that and he felt he was countering her powers. Sam chuckled as he grabbed a short sword and spun into a small stance. Before rushing her again with a heavy slash. ”Skilled.” he commented.

As she moved to strip him of his weapons, he let go... and moved with the kick, to lessen its impact. When he did that, he dropped his shoulder and bumped it into her. That knocked her back, slightly. Out of reaction, she sliced at him with a knife as she fell back.

It had not been intentional. She had not meant to try and cut Sam. All the same, old instincts die hard. Luckily, the blade clipped off something hard as it struck. Ice...?

She caught herself before she fell on her ass, or something that would have been equally embarrassing. As she moved forward, shifting her weight from back to front, something flew at her. She caught it out of the corner of her eye.

Color flooded the world for her. She dodged by instinct, rather than by conscious thought. The ice shard had served its purpose though, as it had distracted Lenna. Color receded, replaces by her usual orange vision.

Sam had regained a sword. As he slashed at her, he commented “Skilled.”

She was already moving as he struck down at her. Lenna dove to one side, in a dodge roll maneuver. The blade hit empty air. As heavy a slash as it was, he likely wouldn’t have been able to shift mid-swing to gain an attack of opportunity on her back.

”Talk,” She grunted. ”Too much.”

She was already on the ground. Lenna swept out with a knife at ankle level, in an attempt to “hamstring” him. Her other blade, she held above her body in case he struck down at her while she was grounded.

Sword fighting. Always, sword fighting. Her weakest skill.

The blade sang as it missed its target. She was quick, coupled with her knife skills it was clear she had been trained for combat. The small cut on his cheek was enough proof but she was continuing to surprise him.

The young icemancer laughed when she quipped back. His adrenaline was pumping now, instinctively his mutation kicked in and started to cool the air around him. His leg lifted as she swung to his ankle, was she trying to cripple him? Sam smirked more as he stepped back then changed his stance.

The sword was now pointed towards Lenna as he thrust forward. Knowing that she could dodge or block easily enough. It was his backhand that was following up that was the start of the true attack. Sam was trying to close the distance what better way than a grab.

He stepped back, altered his stance. A forward thrust.

Was the air cooler around them both now? She noted this as she moved to evade, in a sideways roll.

Slow telegraphed attack. That is what it was. She did not catch the follow up back hand in time.

Maybe usually, she would have. But her power was new. And everything was orange. Made noticing minor details in movement... a really bad excuse to cover up having just a hair slower reaction time in that minute when it counted most.

She did not get struck with the blade. She was quick enough to snap the blade she’d had ready for a deflection into place, and do just that. But he gained ground on her. Gained proximity. For his grab.

She blocked and his weight followed through with the blocked thrust, his hand grabbed onto her shirt and gave a slight drag as he pivoted his weight throwing his knife to the ground. Sam smirked as he slipped his arm under her bladed one and held her in a choke hold. His free hand slipped up and grabbed onto her bladed hand so she couldn’t drop it on him.

His mouth was still on fire but he smirked, ”Could always change to dancing if you’re not up for talking.” he said trying to hold back a little laugh, ”Better dancer than I am with a blade.”

Sam turned his feet and leaned using his hip to knock the weight out from her and into a throw. She was quick, he didn’t use enough force to spike her to the floor. It was interesting seeing how others his age were trained. Maybe she could stop the fall.

And grab, he did. Shifting his weight. Dropping his knife. He got her in a choke hold. And he smirked.

And he mocked.

No, she was not up for talking. Her teeth were gritted so close together, she had to exercise care she did not break a tooth.

He threw her, and hell yes. She was up to stop the fall. If she’d been able to control her fall, Lenna would have preferred a roll. Rolls require forward momentum, though, and her fall was more down. So, she did a slapping break fall instead.

As she came down, she put her forearms in front of her, with her palms facing away from her head. Made a sort of triangle with her body, with hands close together and elbows wider apart. She turned her head, to protect it, and when she struck the ground, Lenna only made contact with her forearms, hands, and her feet.

Of course, the result of the whole thing was that she’d had to drop both her weapons as she fell. Let go, let them drop. But then, that was better than an uncontrolled fall and the sudden impact directly following it...

Lenna shifted her weight and sort of rolled on her side and back, tucked in like a burrito in a quick move meant to put distance between her and the man. Should he attempt to strike while she was down, she had moved. Then, she caught her roll and pushed off, back to her feet.

Lenna dropped into a forward stance, with her arms held before her. Almost a wrestler’s stance. And she laughed.

”Ha! Not bad at all. I confess. You may have more experience with grappling than I do.” She said.

She would have to make certain that he got no more excuses to do things such as that again.

Her eyes darted to one of her knives, and colors shifted in her vision. The knife twitched the barest fraction of an inch, but... it did not move more than that. Orange flooded back into her world. The one only she saw.

Was she ashamed admitting a weak point in her training? No. Only fools made excuses for weak points. And only fools neglected to address their shortcomings. Maybe she was a little angry. He had thrown her. And that would not pass unremarked. But! Accounts could be balanced, debts paid.

Lenna ran at him. Arm raised to throw a punch at his jaw. At the last moment, she switched tactics, fist dropping and right light swinging out in a kick aimed at his side. As she did so, her mind unconsciously pushed upon her. The kick moved a hair faster than what Sam might have expected. A telekinesis-driven attack.

The icemancer didn’t attack he waited to see what she could do next. She landed got back into a stance and complimented his training. It was something he was quite proud of. While he hated his upbringing being forced to what he had done for years it kept him alive. His fight for survival made him the fighter he was today and for that he mocked bowed. ”Thanks, more than a decade of training! Up for talking again?” he asked grinning.

He was too proud though, he saw the attack for what he thought it was a rushed attack. She was thrown so he thought she was more frustrated than anything. His hands went up for a block ready to bring his forearm in the direction of the punch. Unfortunately for Sam it wasn’t the punch that was coming any longer it was a kick. He saw the movement, the change in weight and he started to react. She was smaller and more agile than him.

His eyes adjusted as the kick landed a loud thud echoed from his ribs as he did his best to soften the blow by turning slightly with it causing him to lose his balance as he turned. He swiveled bringing his hands to a guard to cover his face he emptied his lungs and coughed. ”Damn. That was a good one.” he felt his stomach rumble. Some heat was starting to fight back but he managed to hold it down. Wouldn’t be nice to spew the meal she just made for him.

Sam inhaled loudly, ”You’re a lot faster than I thought.” he said grinning. ”I’m so glad we live in the same building. Was worried I was gonna get lazy.” he changed his stance slightly the pain in his ribs dying down as the adrenaline started to numb it.

Up to talking? Lenna did not reply.

He had a Tough crowd.

Her kick hit well enough. He complimented it. Coughed. She had put him off balance, for a moment at the very least.

Sam again gave her credit where credit was due. Lenna did not smile, though she did twitch the corner of her mouth slightly as she skittered back and away from him and his guarding his face.

”A lucky hit. As I said, I cannot control my power... I think it boosted my speed slightly. So yes, I too am glad we live in the same building. You are a fine training partner... and I need all the training in mutations I can get.”

She racked her mind for ways she could further utilize this strange gift. If she could boost herself... if she could slow him... as she had with other people, before. What really would be nice would be to fling things, or else levitate... but no such luck.

Lenna dropped into a guarded stance, open enough to be ready for anything. Feet spread for excellent balance. One hand was extended towards him. She wagged the fingers of one hand, in a “come on” gesture.

If he came at she, she planned to try snd focus. Try snd use her power to focus... and shift whatever attack he threw off balance. So she could potentially slip in and take advantage of his bad luck.

The icemancer grinned when she returned the compliment and explained what had just happened, he feigned bashfulness and gave her a wave he knew what he was. Above all else someone who was skilled in fighting. The air got colder. ”Was that a request, one thing I’m better at than fighting is controlling my powers.” the former assassin bragged asking if they should change up the sparring.

”I mean,” he charged back in to the session with renewed gusto as her body under the effects of new powers lit up in his thermal vision. He didn’t close his eyes though. It would have been good practice because like in the past he found forcing himself to practice on an aspect of his mutation that was unfamiliar made it that much easier to deal with it when he actually needed it. However, he already lost once in a session to another woman in the mansion. He kept his eyes open and focused on her while adding the thermal information. Sam didn’t plan on loosing again.

”only if you want to. I recently acquired some new powers myself.” Sam’s foot planted in between hers while he started to fire some strikes starting with one two combo to the chest followed by an uppercut. ”Also… you said I was fine.” he said flashing a smirk.