"I feel pleased."

Neena allowed herself an amused snort. She'd gathered that much from the satisfied smile on Garrett's face.

"I really lost myself in the exquisite intricacies of it. I haven't actually slowed down enough to observe the process. It was beautiful."

<"Eloquent," she thought to herself. Now what did he mean by 'beautiful'?

"Physically, I feel invigorated. I believe the main thing on my mind at the moment is that in any type of combat situation, I am not going to have the luxury of lying down and meditating."

"Ow." She laughed, then winced, then smiled again. She closed on eye against the lingering, and pounding headache. "Okay, can't do that yet."

"I have alot of work to do, but I think I am headed in the right direction. What do you think?"

She shifted positions, and leaned against the wall. "I agree with ya. It's an excellent start. But yeah, you're probably right about the meditation. So that leaves us with few other options to consider. One?" She snorted. "Avoid combat whenever possible." She knew that was obvious, and stated it more in a teasing manner than anything.

"Two, that second, more hammer-like attack, would come in handy. If you can school yourself into reining in it's force and focusing it, that would be a great diversionary tactic, more effective than an energy blast actually. Possibly as deadly too, however."

"As for the meditation issue.... Hmm.... Well, I can think of two possible solutions."

She took another deep breath before continuing; there was a lingering ickiness in her stomach, no doubt due to the headache. To distract her mind, she began chewing on her pinkie nail while she mused.

"We can try to find another way for you achieve that peace of mind when, quote unquote, 'under fire'. Mmm.... maybe thinking of a certain place that you find calming? Or maybe a person?"

She paused as another thought popped into her head. "What about range? Any idea how far away you need to be to affect someone?"

Despite the general 'blahness' her body told her it felt, the eagerness in her voice try another test was apparent.

"Neena...."

"What? What's the fuss?" The teacher glared at the old doctor, and pouted like a child being told she couldn't have any more candy.

Garrett listened closely to the comments and ideas that Neena had given him. The second one, the hammer hit. He didn't really recall it now. It seemed like something that had happened to someone else or was a story. He would have to look into it at some point. He smiled and snickered with her when it was appropriate, but could tell she was still in pain. He didn't like the idea, so as she spoke about the possibilities of meditation on the fly, he nodded, his eyes blinking rapidly.

He thought of the warm winds of Maya. At once, he remembered when he had made her elbow right. "All parts equal.", he said, his hand waving over Neena's image. He focused on her legs, which were not hurting and rapidly duplicated the normal neural pattern throughout her body, leading and ending with her head. He hoped this would relieve her symptoms.

He looked over at the DocProf. Though he respected his opinions, he also knew that Neena was tough and could take it. " Doc, I just stabilized her neural activity. Let's give it a minute and see if she feels any better before calling everything off?" He looked back at Neena, waiting to see if his exercise in quick meditation as well as neural repair had been successful.

"All parts equal."

"Pardon?"

Because she was busy glaring at the Doc, Neena didn't see the focused expression Garrett's face. When she turned back, the oddest feeling swept over her. It was very hard to describe, but if she had to try, she'd say it felt of like jumping out of volcano into a frozen lake, without the mental shock. She lifted one arm in experiment. Lightheadedness momentarily overtook her and she toppled sideways, knocking into the DocProf rather gracelessly. She blinked several times.

"Huh. Well that was weird..." She righted herself, slower this time, and with more ease.

"Doc, I just stabilized her neural activity. Let's give it a minute and see if she feels any better before calling everything off?"

So that's what had happened. After being bombarded with pure pain, the total lack thereof had simply thrown off her internal balance. A pleased smile broke through her confusion.

"Okay, I know I'm supposed to be promoting peace with all mankind," she remarked, "but I think that little trick might be even more useful in combat, Garrett. Sudden, intense pain, from an unknown source, for a few seconds, followed by total numbess? It's.... well, kind of like smacking your funnybone, or your knee, ya know? And it doesn't really do any harm, either. Just kind of messes with your mind for a bit."

Even as she spoke, she'd begun blinking rapidly. She took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. Her visions were scrambling a bit; she guessed it was a side effect of all of the neural manipulation, since her eyes were super sensitive.

"All right, let's talk about range. What's the furthest away you can remember being from someone when your mutation activated?" She continued on their previous tack, despite the frown of disapproval on the DocProf's face.

She continued to speak of the various uses of his ability in a combat situation. He was very pleased with the idea of setting up someone for one of the resident powerhouses to knock down. Grinning a bit, he replied" I just can't get over your ability to improvise, Neena. Remind me never to fight you." He was glad he was gaining more control. It made him feel more like part of a team than the 'nerve guy'.

Neena then queried him over the range to his powers. "Well, I've never tried it out of sight of a person. I remember dropping someone at ten feet before, though he was no trained mutant. Of course, there are also the full on seizures. I had been watching what happened to you with interest because it was new to me. Generally, seizures come only with touch. I'd recommend not going for that today, only due to your having already been affected. "

He waited for a moment, wondering if the mention of concern would just make her more determined to try.

Garrett seemed please with her suggestion, which in turn pleased Neena.

"I just can't get over your ability to improvise, Neena. Remind me never to fight you."

"Meh, I just watched a lot of MacGyver growing up. Did'ja know some of those experiments actually work?" The tingling in her eyes started to fade, and her rapid blinking slowed.

"Well, I've never tried it out of sight of a person. I remember dropping someone at ten feet before, though he was no trained mutant. Of course, there are also the full on seizures. I had been watching what happened to you with interest because it was new to me. Generally, seizures come only with touch. I'd recommend not going for that today, only due to your having already been affected. "

"Indeed," the DocProf agreed. His tone held no hint of budging this time either.

"Fine." Neena crossed her arms irritably. "At least not for the seizures. We'll focus on range for now. Just a tiny shock," she added, raising her voice to drown out the medic's protests. "I can handle a few small shocks, okay? I just want to see how far away Garrett needs to be to influence someone. Isn't that a basic exercise? Honestly...."

She turned eagerly to the young man. "What'd'ya think? We can go out to the gardens to test it, and the hedges can substitute for 'walls' to block your sight. We'll use a small shock, so it'll be just like throwing a rock. Will that work?"

"Meh, I just watched a lot of MacGyver growing up. Did'ja know some of those experiments actually work?"

" That's pretty neat. I didn't know that. Though, to be honest, I am not much of a Richard Dean Anderson fan. Something about his face." He shrugged and chuckled.

When he had finished explaining the range question, the DocProf finally seemed to agree with him. The man was amazing but he was also incredibly cranky, it seemed. General concern is fine, but he was becoming more irritable by the moment. As Garrett listened to Neena's next idea for an exercise, he perked up at the idea. Though the Doc was still trying to argue, he and Neena were in agreement.

" That's a great idea, Neena. Sounds like some old school Marco Polo, mutant style." He then looked over at the DocProf and said, " Besides, DocProf here could certainly use a little fresh air and sunshine. I am no doctor, but I shall prescribe this for him anyway." He smiled and winked at the man, hoping he might lighten up a tad.

" That's pretty neat. I didn't know that. Though, to be honest, I am not much of a Richard Dean Anderson fan. Something about his face."

"Tsk, tsk." Neena shook her head. "Shame."

Garrett seemed to take to her plan eagerly. "That's a great idea, Neena. Sounds like some old school Marco Polo, mutant style."

She nodded, mentally adding that to her list of exercises for some of the other students. It could easily be adapted for each individual mutation.

"Besides, DocProf here could certainly use a little fresh air and sunshine. I am no doctor, but I shall prescribe this for him anyway."

The smart remark coupled with the older man's somewhat surprised expression hit Neena's funnybone. She laughed hard enough to nearly knock herself over. The DocProf snorted in exasperation. But seeing that he was outnumbered, and what they had proposed wasn't completely dangerous and foolhardy, he agreed, albeit silently. He stood up and waited by the door, his body language indicating that he wasn't letting the two of them out of his sight.

"All right, Marco Polo it is."

Neena stood up, wobbling a bit at first. But the longer she was on her feet and moving, the better she felt. While they headed downstairs, then outside, she went over their progress so far, both aloud and in her mind.

"So we know that you can produce both intense and sudden pain, and a steady flow of increasing sensation. Physical contact isn't necessary, nor is sight. Wait, you did have your eyes closed too, right? Did you need to visualize anything to make all of this work, or just keep yourself focused with the meditation?"

Neena had let out a full gutbuster at Garrett's prescription for the DocProf. He added to the laughter, though the old man seemed a bit put off by it. The three of them made their way from the Infirmary through the halls and to the grounds outside. Garrett watched Neena closely, preparing to reach out should she lose her step. He had noticed her uneven gait since she had risen.

As they arrived near the hedges, Neena asked him some questions as she seemed to cover the bases for herself."So we know that you can produce both intense and sudden pain, and a steady flow of increasing sensation. Physical contact isn't necessary, nor is sight. Wait, you did have your eyes closed too, right? Did you need to visualize anything to make all of this work, or just keep yourself focused with the meditation?"

He hesitated, trying to decide for himself. Was it the visualization that caused the effect or vice versa? " Honestly, Neena, that was the first time I had ever used visualization in concert with my abilities. I meditate often, being a Taoist, but now knowing that I can combine the two leaves me open to many possibilities. I visualized a current of red pain energy moving from my nervous system to yours, linking with your nervous system. I think it becomes easier and more efficient if I try it on the same person. I suppose I am remembering the other's neural pathways. In a way. It's still a bit of a jumble."

"Honestly, Neena, that was the first time I had ever used visualization in concert with my abilities. I meditate often, being a Taoist, but now knowing that I can combine the two leaves me open to many possibilities. I visualized a current of red pain energy moving from my nervous system to yours, linking with your nervous system. I think it becomes easier and more efficient if I try it on the same person. I suppose I am remembering the other's neural pathways. In a way. It's still a bit of a jumble."

Neena put a comradely arm around his shoulders and smiled brightly at him. "No worries, m'friend. It's a lot of new things to take in all at once. After this experiment I'll curb my enthusiasm and give ya a chance to assimilate everything."

Turning to look over her shoulder, she stuck her tongue out at the Doc impishly.

By the time they reached the garden, Neena felt much steadier. She put on her glasses, then stretched, just to check her balance once more, and see where she needed to favor. Her left arm still tingled a bit; right about the spot she'd broken it several months earlier. Though Colyn had healed the wound, her nerves still appeared sensitive it seemed.

"Okay, let's see."

She looked around the area, chewing on her pinkie nail thoughtfully. The hedge garden occupied just shy of an acre on the property, so it would be a good starting place. It wasn't grown like a maze garden, but more like a botanical gardens, with clumps of similar plant species growing together to form barriers and hiding places. Some of the clumps were short enough for her to jump or flip over, with a good running start. Every here and there a tree broke the hedgeline and adding shade and shelter, and giving her further obstacles to use to her advantage.

"All right, Garrett, let's start you here." She motioned toward one of the shade trees. "For now, let's try this with your eyes open. Consider me a moving target. I'd like you to, sort of, 'throw' a shot of pain at me, about the same strength as the very first hit you tried in the infirmary. Every few hits, I'll increase the distance. I'll let you know when the intensity begins to fade on my end."

She glanced around, then placed herself about thirty feet away, and in plain sight.

"Let us know, too, if you start to feel drained," she added.

Gauging Garrett's endurance would be a side exercise, but she didn't want him overexerting himself either. She didn't actually say that aloud, as it would likely provoke a remark from the DocProf about 'practicing what you preach'.

The three of them had arrived at the hedge garden. It seemed like a suitable spot to train and anything beat being inside on a nice day. He watched as Neena surveyed the area, making impromptu plans for the training session. He also noticed that whenever she had something on her mind, she tended to chew on her nails, particularly her pinkie nail. He cataloged the nervous trait for later.

She positioned him at a point near a shade tree and then began moving to a point some distance away. She was instructing him to 'throw' the energy at her with his eyes open. This presented a problem, as he only remembered one time that he had projected pain at someone. The bum who had tried to take his shoes. He recalled how he had done so, but he didn't know if he could control the power of the attack. Neena had wanted him to just throw something small for testing purposes. Could he do that? Only one way to find out.

He thought it best to warn Neena of the problem. " I'll do my best, Neena. The only time I ever projected pain at anyone, it wasn't a small attack. I think I can do this with my eyes open, but if it is too severe, let me know. I seem to be running into many "first times" today." He chuckled nervously, glancing at the DocProf, who was looking at him in a manner of concern.

He concentrated on his breathing and relaxed. He could feel his nerves shivering, as if they were wiring up for something. He looked at Neena and extended his arm out. Then he put it back at his side. He shook his head slightly. He only knew one way to do this. He bowed his head for a moment, recalling the impulse he had felt in the alley before. He recalled the 'living knife' of pain that he had felt so many times before as well.

The moment he envisioned the knife, he had a strange sensation of movement, rippling through his arm. It traveled slowly, yet purposefully, through his bicep, his elbow, his forearm, his wrist and then his hand. He had to look down at his hand, as the sensation of something solid was in it. The pain knife. The time for thinking was over. The time for action had arrived. His grip closed into a fist around the ephemeral blade.

Like the end of a whip at its point of creating its miniature sonic boom, his arm whipped forward and the knife flew free, flying at Neena. He dropped his arm and the sensation of movement began reflexively. Quicker this time and with more intent. As if it were reloading on its own.

She could see Garrett appeared uneasy with her request, and listened to his explanation why.

" I'll do my best, Neena. The only time I ever projected pain at anyone, it wasn't a small attack. I think I can do this with my eyes open, but if it is too severe, let me know. I seem to be running into many "first times" today."

She nodded. "Will do. Just do your best, don't worry about details. Consider this like the rough sketch of a portrait. We're working out the bones before filling the color."

While she waited for him to prepare, Neena bounced a bit on her feet to loosen up. Her people were famous for their jumping ability, and while her own ability paled compared to even her brothers, she had developed the same 'quick-twitch' muscles that aided in split-second reactions. It was a decent replacement for her lack of adrenaline boost.

Garrett extended one arm toward her, and she tensed to react to the coming attack.

He dropped his arm, apparently dissatisfied, but she remained coiled. When he snapped his hand out the second time, she felt the hit instantly. It connected with her midriff, and her body automatically twisted toward the searing tingle. She turned the twist into a sideways roll, then came out of it into a front handspring, propelling herself backwards about fifteen feet.

She rubbed her stomach, assessing the damage. The hit had been more intense than she expected, and she felt a bit nauseated. But it hadn't been strong enough to ground her. She nodded at Garrett.

"That was a hit," she called out. "Try and remember how that feels to you. See if you can ease up a bit on the intensity, and then duplicate it."

She bounced a bit again, then readied herself for the next blow. There was hedge of lilac bushes about twenty more feet behind and to her left; after the next attack that would be her goal.

She was quick and lithe, as Garrett had expected. The knife's ease and apparent automatic reaction pleased him. The next knife was already humming in his hand, so he let it fly. As she was a moving target, he decided to just let them fly in the general direction. She was really quite the gymnast, with flips and rolls. He didn't have that type of athleticism, but he enjoyed no longer being frail.

He saw her disappear behind a row of hedges and the energy just kept coming, in faster and faster intervals. He threw them ahead of where she thought she might be so they would lead her. He had no clue as to the efficiency but he wanted to hurt her. Did he? He stopped for a moment, pain building in his forearm and wrist.

He looked down at his hand. It felt like it was frying , simmering with energy. He attempted to numb it out but nothing happened. He raised his vision and thought he saw her for a moment. The pain was making him sweat, so he unleashed the energy in his hand. He felt as if the holding of it had caused it to charge because as he released it, a wave of nausea and searing pain racked his body.

"Aaaagh! I have to stop!" He dropped to his knees, tunnel vision creeping into his eyes.

Neena realized within the first few hits that each of Garrett's attacks differed in intensity. She couldn't say why. Perhaps her moving so much threw off his aim, or possibly his concentration. Visual obstacles seemed to decrease the intensity of the blows, but she still felt them. Idly she wondered if, had his eyes been closed, his accuracy and efficiency would have been more consistent?

Another thing she quickly noted had to do with diffusion; the pain did not dissipate normally. Had someone hit her with a rock or stick, there would have been an initial, searing pain, slowly fading to a steady ache or throb. Similar to a match being lit; sudden, intense heat fading to a steady light.

But which each attack that made contact, only a small portion of pain faded away. Thus, each consecutive burst of pain added to the previous, and pain continued to build and build and build. Her slowed and labored movements gave outward testament to her growing discomfort. Stubborn as she was, Neena realized she was nearing her limit.

She'd paused behind a stand of forsythe bushes to catch her breath, which came in short gulps, when Garrett cried out. As her ears were ringing rather loudly, she couldn't make out his words. But his tone of voice spoke volumes. They were done for the day. She just hoped she hadn't pushed him too far.

Slowly she got to her feet and limped toward the two men. That tiny voice in the back of her head reminded her that, somewhere along the way, she had twisted her ankle.


The DocProf knelt by Garrett's side immediately and placed both hands on the base of his neck. He grimaced and clenched his teeth as the young man's pain began flowing into him, and both arms began to glow as his mutation fought to relieve them both.

Neena plopped onto the ground beside them, frowning deeply.

"Will he be all right?" she asked quietly.

The tunnel vision crept around his eyes, the grass in front of him fading and disappearing. Darkness. Darkness of a palpable sort. the kind that doesn't reside in the absence of light, but the absence of life. Time was no longer part of his realm. Every second could have easily lasted an hour or longer. Whatever sounds of nature there were in the garden was replaced with the screams of mutants. The darkness became separated by two circles of horror. The eyes of the hoods the torturers wore.

Red flashes moved through his eyes, the subjects recoiling under invisible duress. " All you have to do is tell the Doctor where your brothers and sisters are hiding and it will end. Tell us![/i]" The look on the subjects' faces blurred at once and then seemed to disappear, being replaced with the warm and soothing light of the DocProf's healing ability. Light returned to his eyes and sound to his ears.

He was covered in sweat and was lying in the grass. He felt the mild nausea he had had after a seizure. He found that he couldn't speak. He looked from the corners of his eyes to see Neena and the Doc looking at him, shivering there in the grass. Time seemed to continue to dull and blur. It must have been a bad one. Only a few times had he lost the ability to speak after an attack. His memory was foggy as if he was unsure of his location.

When the DocProf didn't answer her question, Neena's frown deepened. She moved over and leaned in to look at Garrett's eyes; they were glazed over and dilated. He wasn't convulsing like the first time she'd met him, but Neena guessed this was still some sort of seizure. She did not touch him, but watched both men carefully.

Eventually, some of the intensity faded from the DocProf's face, as well as the glow in his hands and arms. Finally he released his grip on the youth's neck, and let out a slow, shuddering breath, closing his eyes. Neena glanced down at Garrett again. This time his eyes were a bit clearer, the he still appeared unconscious.

"Will he be okay?" she repeated. This time the Doc nodded. His face appeared nearly as pale as Garrett's.

"He should come around in a moment." He took another breath, then reached for her. She held up one hand, and shook her head.

"Uh uh. Don't forget, you have your limits, too. I'll be fine for a day, while you recharge." She smiled gently. This time her tone indicated concern for the old medic, rather than simple stubbornness. He nodded and smiled back, knowing she was right for once.

But he had to add, "I warned that you were pushing too hard." Neena wrinkled her nose and stuck out her tongue, but she agreed.

Garrett shivered, and blinked. Neena leaned over again so he could see her without moving.

"Garrett? Can you hear me?" She smiled. "That was one hell of a training session, ya know?"