Fade finally made her way down to the danger room. She was furious, that stupid Deathstar girl was getting to her and she didn't know how much longer she could hold on before she just punched the girl in the face and shut her up for good. As she walked into the room, she realized that her fists were still clenched and she immediately relaxed them. Her facial expression changed as she saw Tricity, Raph, and Wire, however, the other she did not really recognize. Had she seen him around?

"Hey guys. Tricity, hope you don't mind that I'm just in sweats, I don't have a uniform or anything." She nodded down to her sweatpants and tee shirt, both of which were black. Black Puma's were on her feet and her claws stuck out of her shoes, without damaging them. Her red hair was pulled back into a pony and her expression was slightly nervous. She'd never been to a training session in the danger room, and even though she was looking forward to it, she felt that she wasn't nearly as strong as Wire and Raph. How could she use her invisibility and ability to climb walls in a training session? Then again, she was quite agile and could spring from wall to wall to ceiling, catching onto the material with her raptor-like claws. Through this, Fade was able to climb all over things and fight from walls and ceilings.

Then again, she learned how to do that for fun and for better technique on stealing things. After all, since she had come to the mansion, she hadn't really practiced and was a bit out-of-shape. So what better to do than to tune up in a training session? "Anyway, where do I get fitted, after all?" She asked, nodding back down to her wardrobe with a frown.

Tricity took Raphael's final measurements and nodded with the pen in her mouth to Zeke. "Yes, it's very impressive, indeed," she replied, slightly muttered by the obstruction. She pulled the pen from her mouth and jotted down the final information. "I'll definitely be looking you're way when new recruitments are required. Frankly, we need people to guard the mansion when the X-Men go out on missions. It's dangerous to leave here with all our strongest protection. So...I'll definitely need your services as an 'X-Men in training' we'll say for now." Tricity had spoken the last bit to just Zeke alone and then came back to Raphael.

"Ok, hun, you're all done." Just then, Fade entered the Danger Room. "Just in time. Don't worry about the sweats." Tricity waved the young woman over to her and stretched her arms out like she'd done with Raphael, taking the first bit of measurements and writing them down. "I saw your grimmace when you came in. Something wrong or are you a bit nervous?" She hadn't said this loud enough for the other men to hear; not only for privacy, but also because she didn't want to take the measurements in front of them, directly.

Ezekiel White chuckled a little, "X-Man in Training... I like it..." He smiled. "People are needed to guard this place. I'll be the first line of defense. Have you ever considered some sort of high tech security system around this place? I know we're mutants, but we still need standard protection like everyone else. If you want, I can see about rigging a security system around this place that only I and the key X-Men can access. I also would suggest starting some sort of team to defend the mansion specifically. Maybe a designated security force? Maybe it's not necessary, but I tend to think with all of the enemies of mutants out there, better safe than sorry..."

Zeke trailed off as he saw the girl he understood was Fade, enter the room. He smiled at her and said, "I would shake your hand and say 'hi', but it looks like you're being measured, and that would be hard when your extending your arms like that." Zeke chuckled, "My name is Ezekiel White. I saw you in the library. I'm fairly new here, but I'm a Professor of World Religions. I teach W-R-G-One-Zero-Zero-One down the hall on Mondays through Thursdays." He stopped himself, then continued, "Probably too much info... your name is Fade isn't it?"

Raphael held still for Tricity to take his measurements, only his eyes and the parts she needed to have moved moved.

“I’m well Zeke, fully rested, and even well on the way to recovering my strength.” He said with a smile as Zeke spoke to him. Although he fell silent as conversations went on without him. Not that he really minded. It allowed him time to just listen to the local gossip around the Mansion, something he had not done since getting nabbed by Fusionist and auctioned off. It also allowed him to reflect on the letter he had received the previous day; a letter with a demand. A letter he had not shared with anyone, though he probably should.

He zoned out for most of the rest of the conversation, his mind wandering through several subjects; the letter and Benny’s proposal-slash-demand, Jenny, training, Jenny, the adamantium that was installed in his body, and the group training session. He snapped his attention back to the present as Tricity dismissed him from measurement duty and Jenny walked in. He smiled at her and walked over. He threw his arms around her in a hug that was obviously more than friendly, and then released her towards Tricity’s care.

Being back in the here and now, mentally wise, he heard Zeke’s comment on a home-based security detail and chose then to pipe in his own two-cents. “That’s pretty much what the older mutants here, who aren’t on the X-Men and out an’ about, are… ‘Least those who rise to the occasion. The night Whitmore attacked was like that, all the children huddled down in the living room under Miss Tricity’s expert care while she deployed the rest of us, albeit there were more of us then, to the rest of the house to guard strategic positions…. Is tha’bout right Miss Tricity?” He asked at the end of his short speech. He did not know everything about how the mansion worked, but some things he had observed and felt he should comment about. Besides, it took his mind off other, less important, things… leaving only the important ones at the forefront. He cast a smile towards Jenny as Tricity began taking her measurements.

"Yes, you're quite right, Raph. The students are collected in the living room and then moved underground in the Danger Room or War Room until the coast is clear. There's food and supplies in case...well...everything goes to hell. Also, we do have a security system set up around the mansion. It's run by a young mutant named Johnathon. He's usually sitting there watching over the cameras and such, radioing me when there is someone at the gate. At night, the security system is always turned on and Johnathon, with a few other of his male friends, take turns in watching. You needn't worry about all that...but," Tricity paused as she turned to face Zeke. "Ya know, maybe that's what your position could be when you join. Chief operator of the security system."

Zeke smiled. "Sounds good to me. I went to school for that kind of thing, and I know the work inside and out. When you need me, just let me know." Zeke walked over and sat down on his leather chair.

Then he turned to speak with Raphael, "Good to hear it. Glad to see you're making a full recovery, being able to go out there," he motioned to the mat where Deltoid had been practicing, "and get a little workout. Looked great... you're definitely in great shape. I wouldn't want to face you in a one-on-one battle." He chuckled.

"Oh, nothing, just one of the new girls here is really getting on my case. I can't imagine having to work with her, she's just so impossible! One minute she's cool and the rest she's completely stupid and insulting me. I don't get her. Oh, and she's so full of herself! But I should not be talking like that, it's gossip, but I don't think I'm the only one in thinking that Deathstar is quite an interesting case." She sighed after a smile as she returned Raph's hug. Tricity began taking her measurements and she turned her attention to Zeke.

"Yeah, the library, how to describe that, havoc." She added with a smile. "I'm Jenny McCullen, but most call me Fade. And if I was able to, I would accept your hand shake." She laughed. "But yeah, we have a pretty good team, I mean outside of the X-Men. Alot of the students are intent on protecting the school, so we have quite a few of those that do what is needed when it's asked of them. Kinda like a bond that anyone that can, helps out, but don't exactly go on missions and stuff. I dunno, kinda hard to explain."

Zeke laughed out loud when she talked about the library. He smiled and said, "Yeah, it was getting a little heated in there. Hope I didn't make a scene... just looking for a book in there, and figured it was my place to make sure you didn't kill each other." He chuckled again.

"It's nice to get to know people by name. The school is so busy sometimes that I don't get the chance to know people, just catch their codename every once in a while. Such was the case with you, but it's good to finally hear a real name." He shifted in his chair and glanced at the floor. Where are you Evie? I haven't seen you in the past few hours He thought about the girl he was falling for, then realized he was losing concentration at the matter on hand. Shaking himself out of it, he replied to Fade's statement. "Pretty interesting how the X-Men work. I think it's amazing for everything to work like it does, and how devoted everyone is to each other. I feel right at home here..."

Again his thoughts wandered. This time to Nightdream and her effects. His dreams had been soft lately... no big problems, but sooner or later he knew she would catch up with him. Nightdream said she would be with him, and she would. He knew she would. That's what dreams did, they always returned.

Turning back to Tricity, he wondered out loud, "What exactly does an X-Man in Training do?" He sat there waiting for a response and also waiting to see if the training would start soon.

Raphael nodded some to Zeke’s comment. “Thanks, and I doubt we ever would, given we’re both on the same team.”

He shifted his gaze between Zeke and Jenny. “What happened in the library? What’d Deathstar try to start this time?” He looked between the two, hoping to get a fuller story than that what had already been given. He did not like the new girl, and it seemed, at least to him, that she had it out for Jenny. He gave a small shake of his head while waiting mostly for Jenny to respond as Zeke had more questions for Tricity about being an ‘X-Man in training’.

"Oh, nothing, she just acted like she's had it rough and I have no idea what pain is like and how she suffered more in her past, basically dwelling on her past. Kinda annoying. I wish she'd just shut up and realize that it doesn't matter who had a bad life and who didn't, don't live in the past, remember it in the present." She sighed before she grabbed her hair in frustration and tugged just a little. However, the pain shot through her head and she immediately let go of her strand of hair and realized she needed to put her hair up again.

So she took her hair down and put it back up into a ponytail. "Tricity, can't we like screen for personalities too? I mean, I know, never turn anyone down, but she's just ridiculous and scaring everyone away."

"Believe me, I screen personalities by my own experiences with each and every person in this house. I wouldn't just randomly let anyone join. No worries..." Tricity grabbed onto Fade's shoulder, rather heavily in a joking matter, exaggerating as she stood up from the ground after finishing the measurements with a final sigh. "Another part of the job is carrying my heavy ass around when I get too tired," she laughed.

Tricity walked over to the computer and typed in a few things. "Activate Level 3, simulated danger please. Wait for confirmation to activate program." She turned to talk to all the X-Men in the room. "Well, we're missing a few people, but we can start. If you all would please make your way to the middle of the room, I'll give a little speech before we start training."

She carefully dropped down into a leather chair next to Zeke for a quick chat, privately. "X-Man in training is more of an observing position than active. Though, sometimes we've had to use mutants in the house to help defend the mansion when all goes to hell. For now, I just want you to hang back and learn more about the residents here and how things are run around the house. Also the duties of the X-Men," she started. "We haven't known each other long, but you give me good vibes." Tricity winked at him and tapped his thigh. "I just want you to get to know everyone a little better before signing you, officially, up for anything. I gotta get down there and start this training. You're invited to hang around for observation up here."

Zeke chuckled. "Good vibes eh? Fair enough... I'll stick around and watch the training session. Should be informative as well and fun."

He watched as the computer began to crank up and begin the session. He sat in his leather chair and his hand reached into his pocket. He felt around and touched the key, the phone, and another little gadget. He kept important things in his pocket. All other items were safe in his room.

The most safe place is you. He remembered his ancient teacher always used to say to him. When your butt is on the line, and you're afraid of losing something vital, the only vital something is your own tail. Therefore, the most valuable assets will be found on your person. Make sense Ezekiel? And it had always made sense. Thus, his compliance with the teacher almost fifteen years later.

He sat back in his chair and waited for the training to start... chuckling all the time to himself about the teacher's remarks.

Raphael watced the conversation between the others in the room, and nodded when Tricity said to head on into the other room. He left and made his way into the simulation room, waiting expectantly for the group training to begin.

Tricity 'waddled' her way down the stairs and into the training room. She took an exhausted sigh just from her little trip to them, but gave a smile before beginning. "So, welcome everyone. A few of you know how this is going to work and a few others are completely new to the game. First, I'm sure all of you know one another, but our newest recurits are Raphael, Fade, and Emerald who isn't here at the moment. Each of you has a unique ability and character to bring to this team, which makes us even stronger."

Tricity pulled over a chair and sat down in the middle of the circle they had all formed in the room. "Sorry, I'm super tired today. Anyway... the first battle will start with a simple exercise. An infinite amount of simulated robots will come out to attack. They have a lazer that charges up before attack. If it hits you, you will be out of the exercise for 30 seconds. They have weak points in their heads, necks, hips, and lower backs, but can be attacked anywhere. This is a team effort, so teamwork is the key because the robots will get harder to destoy. After some several minutes, I'll end the simulation and we'll see how many are destroyed. They will each simply vanish when done so. It's just a simulation right now... K? Good..."

She pushed the chair back, while still sitting in it, and it rolled toward the stairs. After making her way upstairs, Tricity sat next to Zeke, preparing her notes for the battle. "To my lovely newbies, don't worry if you don't get a rhythm right away. You guys have to get used to one another and learn how to work together. Alright, here we go." She pushed a button near the main screen. "Computer, begin set simulation for X-Men training."

The room upstairs and down grew dark, except for the few lamps lighting the notes and screens near Tricity and Zeke. A moment later a light in the training room downstairs beamed down on the X-Men, casting their silouhettes on the ground. "Beginning X-Men training level 3," the female voice of the computer announced. "Prepare for simulated battle in 3...2...1..."

The light above them went away as others around the room activated. They weren't terribly glaring, so the simulation was more visible to them all. Tricity grabbed the God mic to speak to them from the observation room. "Ok, spread out, X-Men. OH! And if anyone is seriously hurt and the simulation needs to end, just say ABORT three times." The simulated robots suddenly appeared in the room and began their approach.

Wire nodded and gave a smirk as Tricity introduced Fade and Raphael to the X-Men, though he knew both of them already. When their leader went back upstairs, Dominic touched his fingertips and then released them once more, producing the silvery threads. 'We haven't had a training session in a long time', he thought, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath just as the lights cut off.

He stepped back and away from everyone else so they would have enough space between them all for battle. Wire wasn't sure how Raphael and Fade fought, so he would need to observe their techniques before trying to figure out teamwork effort. But, he could always just help each of them out just as they would do for him too.

The first of the simulated robots appeared behind him and he quickly ducked the machine's attack. In the process, Dominic wrapped the wires attached to his fingers around the robots neck and yanked. Its head toppled sideways, causing simulated sparks, and then dropping to the floor. A moment later, it vanished. He looked up and saw 6 more appear.