12623/Obstacle Course From Hell

Obstacle Course From Hell
Date of Scene:	08 January 2021
Location:	Danger Room - X-Men Base
Synopsis:	Warpath put them through their paces in an obstacle course that would give ninja warriors trouble.
Cast of Characters:	Warpath, Nightingale, Faraday

---

Warpath has posed:
The Danger Room is already set up for tonight's particular torture. Jimmy is leaning against the wall and looking at the moster he created. The room is set up as an old warehouse converted into a physical fitness nightmare.

Longer than it is wide, the entire room is mostly taken up by an obstacle course that looks like something out of a Parkour practitioner's dreams. Nine obstacles total, starting at the floor level and ending up in the rafter area of the opposite end of the building stretch out in front of you. The length of the course is matched by a long splash down pool for those you fall from the course. Each section has a ladder to climb out of the pool and return to the start area. There isn't much for seating as most of the room is taken up by the course, but there are some folding chairs for someone to sit on if they want, otherwise you can wander down the sides of the course to get a better look at anyone in the course

The course is a gauntlet of challenges. A treadmill to climb at 45 degrees to start. Beyond that is the Big Red Balls obstacle. Next comes the dreaded Salmon ladder. Pipe Slider will challenge the participant next. Survive that, and the Jumping Spider awaits. The Warped Wall, even to the uninitiated this is a known "ninja killer" in other courses. The Cage Crawl challenges in ways most would not believe until inside. Finally, after all that, the Hell-avator stands ominously waiting to see if any survive to challenge it.

Nightingale has posed:
     "Is this penance for all those gray hairs I've been giving you this year, shik'isn?"

     Shannon's there at the beginning of the course, in her black sneakers, black gym shorts and tank top with yellow piping, and her hair pinned up in a bun to keep it out of her face. Her arms are crossed in front of her, and one finely arched golden brow flicks upwards. The corners of her mouth curl up in a wry smile as she glances over at Warpath. "How long did it take you to dream up this particular torment?"

Faraday has posed:
This is the kind of course Indira only dreamed of tackling and was forbidden from doing by her parents. Well suck it, Mom and Dad! You're not here!

She's in her favorite workout clothes, with loose olive cargo-like pants and a black tank top that give her a look fresh out of boot camp, though instead of boots she's got on a pair of black and copper sneakers that look like they may have cost a pretty penny. She's coming onto the floor with a palpable aura of excitement and adrenaline crackling out of her line the field of her powers.

"This is going to be so awesome." Says the electrokinetic as she's yanking a black hair tie off her wrist to pull back her hair.

Warpath has posed:
"It's only right to repay the favor." Jimmy replies to Shannon with an almost smirk and looks over those gathering,"I wish we could get more people on these little sessions. It might be too much to hope for." He does nod to Indira and Jeremy in turn as they come in.

The Conveyor Belt climb is the start of the course. It consists of a forty-five degree incline with a conveyor belt running backwards to keep the competitor from reaching the top. You are required to make your way up the conveyor belt, running up the side is not permitted.

"I'll give you as many tries as you want to get up the conveyor tonight, just so you can try the rest of course." he comments. That's encouraging isn't it?

Nightingale has posed:
     This was not the first time Shannon had run one of these courses. It was entirely likely that by the time it was all said and done, one or more of them would be nursing some bruises with an ice pack, or a bag of frozen vegetables. Still, she had to appreciate Indi's enthusiasm, unable and unwilling to hold back a smile. "You've never run one of these, have you? Mr. Proudstar here makes designing these courses an art form, I'm tellin' ya."

     Humming a 1980's classic that sounds suspiciously like something from 'Karate Kid', she seems to be gearing herself up for her first run at the treadmill. "Never doubt that you're the one, and you can have your dream...!" With that, she takes a running start at the treadmill, to the beat of the song in her head....

     ...and gets thrown off again just as quickly, rolling as she hits the ground, to the tune of some rather colorful metaphors.

Faraday has posed:
"I've done some parkour on my own." Indira says as she looks over the course. "Just my own kind of thing when I could get away, it was a bit of a secret hobby. Me, too much YouTube, and lying as to where I was. I always wanted to do Ninja Warrior, I watched all the reruns."

Of course, actually doing the thing is entirely different from having all of the timing and moves down in your head. She bounces on her feet, doing a few odd steps like she was running in place as she watches the conveyor and Shannon's attempt. When her turn comes, she seems to tackle it like one would on an escalator going the wrong way. Short but quick steps that she tries to pace just above the speed of the treads.

But that's going to take practice. She doesn't get it the first time, though she manages several steps before it sends her right back to the start and stumbling to readjust to the pace of standing still.

Warpath has posed:
His face doesn't betray amusement at least when Shannon gets a crash and burn or Indira not making it either. He considers and then comments,"Lean forward on the way up, use your hands if you need to for the first time. Timing is everything." His eyes go over the injuries Shannon puts on herself, but remains in his place just watching. He's sadistic that way.

Nightingale has posed:
     Even though she takes a tumble, Shannon is also quick to get back up on her feet. The worst she seems to have suffered this time is some ruffled feathers, and loss of pride. Glancing over at Warpath, she nods, and also takes note of Indi's attempt at the treadmill. But she pauses a moment, closing her eyes and tilting her head towards the sound of the treadmill humming away, just listening for several moments. Soon enough, her foot taps in time with the rhythm set by the diabolical device--and then just a tiny bit faster.

     Timing was everything.

     Feel the rhythm.

     But would it be enough?

     Opening her eyes, the winged teen takes another run at the treadmill, making it about halfway up. Her smile begins to widen as she realizes she just might succeed this time.

     But pride goeth before a fall--and she fell. Again.

     "Ooof!"

Faraday has posed:
"Lean in, lean in." Mutters Indira as she watches the machine and continues to shift and shuffle to plot out her pace. She just about gets it this time. About three-quarters up, she tips a bit too far forward. The last quarter of the ramp is a messy, graceless shamble of four legged running but she does climb her way up with a bit of a brush burn to show for her efforts.

"One down!" She crows as if the worst is over.

It is not.

The rest of her venture on the course is a solid C+. When it comes to agility and speed, she's got it. She's got strength under her frame thanks to kickboxing and her prior practice, and she doesn't lack heart. She may fail the first time or fourth, but she's an adaptive learner. Funny enough, the invert wall is the least of her challenges. She scales the thing like an alley cat. The ladder? Not so much. Her arms aren't as strong. But she'll get through it, even if the entire thing leaves her a soggy, heart-a-mile-a-minute, and uncomfortably heaving in the end.

Warpath has posed:
     Watching Indira peripherally, Jimmy nods as she makes her way up to the top of the obstacle. He pushes away from the wall and walks over to help Shannon up again,"You're thinking too hard." he tells you softly,"Eyes on the prize. See where you're going, not where you are."

Nightingale has posed:
     'Eyes on the prize' gets one of -those- looks from Shannon, as if he's hit a nerve. But she nods, almost visibly biting her tongue. This would not stand. Starting off in a runner's crouch, she takes another crack at the treadmill, her jaw set with determination. It might take her a few tries to get where she's going, but once she's fixed her mind on getting there, very little will stop her.

     And this time, despite a somewhat less-than-graceful ascent, she makes it to the top, blinking in surprise. But a smile told the tale of rather pleasant surprise.

Warpath has posed:
"Good." he comments and moves to the side to walk with her along the way of the course to guide and coach her on the course,"The next one is more about balance than strength." he comments.

Once you make it to the top your eyes are greeted by a long pool of water. In the middle are three large, red balls. Each ball is secured to the bottom of the pool, but they do flex enough to make staying on them complicated as they have been rigged to a spring-loaded head that allows them to rock. If you manage to arrive at the next platform, then on to the next.

Nightingale has posed:
     Hesitation was not an option, it would seem. Not on the treadmill, and very likely not on the Big Red Balls, either. With the suggestion about balance being key ringing in her ears, Shannon takes a running leap at the first one....

     ...and is launched into the air. With both arms for balance, she aims for the second ball, and the third, bouncing in between each one. She's actually giggling, seeming to relish that part of the course. "Heh, that was a fun one."

Warpath has posed:
Watching her bounce through the red balls he nods approvingly. That one is hard on ankles and keeping dry. He walks towards the next obstacle,"This one is the upper body killer. Be patient and keep your legs swinging for moment."

The Salmon Ladder. It is a simple obstacle in design, but devastatingly difficult particularly to the unwary. There is a bar resting on two pegs. There is a sequence of four pairs of pegs. They are spaced evenly in pairs until the last pair. The last peg rest is double the distance from the third set than all the others. The object is to grasp the bar with both hands and "climb" the pegs with the bar by lunging upwards. You are required to hang on to the bar and you cannot use your legs to touch the wall at any point. If you fall, the water awaits.

Nightingale has posed:
     One shower a day was more than enough for Shannon. She had no intent of falling into the water today. Or at least, not on this particular obstacle.

     Eyes on the prize.

     It was all in the timing.

     Just like when she'd been flying in close quarters in an urban setting, in Bushwick. It had taken timing to swoop down and scoop up Jeremy to safety. One second off, and Magneto's acolytes would surely have caught up with them both.

     Too, the bar reminded her of her bo staff. Initially, her grip on the bar is about shoulder-width apart. But she thinks better of it, moving her hands a little wider apart, before pulling herself up and swinging her legs...

     CLICK.

     CLICK.

     Rung by rung, she ascends the ladder, though she does need to take an extra second to build the momentum for that last rung. "HA!"

Warpath has posed:
"Impressive." he mutters softly. There's not much inflection to the tone, but you know he means it,"You've overcome one that has stopped some of the best in the world cold." See he almost compliments things.

Once you are at the top of the ladder, you see to a piece of pipe in front of you resting on rails. On Pipe Slider, the pipe rides on a pair of rails and is barely wider than the rails. The object is to grasp the pipe any way you can and slide down towards the next obstacle. If you lose your grip or the bar loses the track, there is that cool water down there waiting to break your fall end the trip. Making you way to the end, you step away from the pipe slider onto a platform.

Nightingale has posed:
     For a very brief moment, Shannon almost allows herself a small smile of pride. It's a rare expression, but one that seems to light her features up for just a second. It's in that frame of mind that she turns to face the Pipe Slider. She neither leaps at it, nor swings her legs, keeping her body still and hanging as a deadweight as she glides on down towards the platform.

     So far, so good.

     However, as she nears the platform and swings her legs up to land....

     SPLASH!