12628/Capture the flag... Danger Room style.

Capture the flag... Danger Room style.
Date of Scene:	09 January 2021
Location:	Danger Room - X-Men Base
Synopsis:	The X-men take on the Avengers in Capture the flag.
Cast of Characters:	Gambit, Nightingale, Psylocke, Cyclops, Phoenix

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Gambit has posed:
Capture the flag. An epic game of endurance, stealth, observation and team work. Both loved and reviled by gradeschool through middle school students everywhere, depending on the individuals Sanity levels. Remy had programed the setting personally, though had incorporated enough Randomization that even he would not know what was going to happen precisely. "So jus' ta be clear, It'll be varied terrain agienst four randomly assigned AI opponents. If yah tagged in any way, yah 'ave ta get back ta de starting point and 'it dis big red button. Yah powers won' work till yah do. Comprendre?" He creaks his neck slightly, giving the signal to Betsy up in the control room. "Whenevah yah ready chere." He calls out to her. Then waits for the Urban Wasteland hologram to materialize around them.

Nightingale has posed:
     It was a little odd for Shannon, merely a student and a New Mutant, to be involved with mostly X-men, in the Danger Room. This was only the second time she could remember doing so. At least it wasn't an oversized, super-advanced Sentinel this time. It was just Capture The Flag.

     What could possibly go wrong?

     She's in black sneakers, black shorts, and a black tank top, all with yellow edging. Right now, she's just crossing her arms, listening to Remy describe the scenario. "As long as one of those opponents isn't Petunia... she was a pain in the...."

Psylocke has posed:
"Certainly." Betsy pushed the button and the room around them faded to be replaced with a new one.

The Pox-Eclipse had happened. The world had been destroyed by people who were in power, leading to a ravaged landscape that was once a city filled with thousands of people. Perhaps even million.

The only light was from the fires blazing here or there and the lessening daylight from the setting sun to the east. There was no electicity. Buildings had almost no windows and the few that remained were broken remnants. The buildings were dark, almost black as though darkened by an explosion of some sort. Some were nothing but piles of rubble. Old vehicles were scattered along the street, some still in the travel lanes, others overturned.

Cyclops has posed:
Dressed casually for a change is Scott, who is wearing a tight black athletic shirt and a pair of swishy black workout shorts with some running sneakers on. He has on a pair of wrap around ruby quartz goggles with a little button for zapping on the side. He lifts a hand up and rubs his nose as he listens to the instructions, then gives a firm nod of his head.

"Sounds good."

Once the world materializes around them, he starts to assess the environment with a critical look in his eyes. "Shannon, would you be able to get an overhead look and assess where the enemy is located?"

Phoenix has posed:
Similar to the others, Jean just has relaxed black jeans on and a fitted deep purple top. Casual but functional. She stands between Scott and Shannon and begins looking over the world as it begins to materialize.

"Prime vacation spot, this." She murmurs.

While Scott begins establishing the game plan, she reflexively taps into her powers. As she usually does in new places, she moves to scan their surroundings and search for the mental signs of notable life that may be hidden in places that they cannot see.

Gambit has posed:
Remy LeBeau pops his bo staff out and flourishes it once out of habit, nodding as Scott starts putting together a game plan. "Jus' so yah guys know. Ah programed in about twenty different opponent teams. Everyone from Doppleganger X-Men, de Brot'erhood, even got de Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles as an option so even Ah don' know who we fightin'..." Then just as he says this a man in a gold and Re armored suit raises up above the skyline on hand thrusters while in the distance a car is launched from street level into a nearby building with a resounding "HULK SMASH!" The Cajun shrugs his shoulders. "Ah c'n 'azard a guess 'owevevah..."

Nightingale has posed:
     "Oh, ballocks."

     It doesn't take Shannon but a split second after getting into the air to know that, with those two opponents, their team was going to be in for one wild ride. "We're going to have our hands full here, guys. Rusty coming up, one 'o clock high, and Jolly Green on our eleven. I'll be eyes in the sky in our own territory and call out to you as best I can from here?"

Psylocke has posed:
Jean will pick up on lots of lifeforms in the area. Some are people, hiding somewhere out there. Most are trying to keep from being seen, a sense of dread and forboding when they notice the people on the street below. Human shaped shadows slink back from dark windows, trying to disappear.

There are animals. Lots of them. Not simply the rats, cats and dogs that normally are found in the city but many wilder ones since nature is retaking this world inch by precious inch. Predators which explains the people preferring to hide than being out in the open.

She will be able to pick up the rage that is almost coming out in giant waves from the Hulk as he crashes his way up the street, apparently deciding that the straight forward approach was the best. Iron Man seemed to be the eye in the sky. But that meant there were quite a few unaccounted for. Nevermind that the roster had changed many times so there was no telling if this was a modern team or might have some old surprise members.

Cyclops has posed:
"Use their real names when we're in the field, Shannon. Some people won't get nicknames."

As he motions for them to move forward, he'll instruct the team to use cover when necessary, but for the most part move 'quickly' and quietly.

"Jean will link us up so that we can see through your eyes as well at times. Jean should be able to make us invisible as well for the most part to anyone trying to get a good look at us. Remy, you and I are obviously the offense of the team. Let's try not to engage the Avengers if we can. Our role is to keep Shannon free to fly and make callouts.'

Phoenix has posed:
"Well this should be more of a challenge than that basketball game you guys had." Jean says with a soft exhale. "I'm only picking up on Iron Man and Hulk right now. There are people around hiding, so be careful about collateral damage. I'm not finding any others of the Avengers yet, but keep an eye out. And down, in case Ant Man is out there." Because if there's one guy (or guys) who could thrive, it's a tiny man in a world of rubble and places to hide.

"Just stay close so I don't have to worry as much about distance." And then she's refocusing her scan to zero in on her teammates. Shielding brains isn't too difficult, a wall is a wall. Redirecting attention away is more challenging. Similar to how she cloaked herself, it's not a visual task but a mental. They're there, they're visible. But those who might look their way get the unconscious sense that there's nothing worth looking at. She doesn't hide them from sight, but instead erects a veil of emotion so apathetic that it hopefully means they'll just be overlooked like people don't really look at a rock on their daily jog.

Gambit has posed:
Remy LeBeau nods slightly, though gives Scott one of those, "I'm just going to be difficult just to mess with you smiles. "No problem dare Fearless, keep de Winged wonder safe while yah an' Ah try to avoid Big Green, de flying Tin can, an' also likely Sparky, Cupid, de Boyscout, an' de Dominatrix. Gotcha." he says tossing Shannon a wink as he heads foreword with the team leader. Though after a moment he turns serious. "De probably left 'Awkeye an' Widow ta guard dare flag. Or Cap. he got one of de 'ighest Defense ratings as Ah recall wit' dat shield." He says calmly. "Ironman de obvious choice foh Scout an' none of dem scream foreword position like Hulk.."

Nightingale has posed:
     "Big question. Which of them would be the best one to jambax the Big Red Button? Because if I was on the other team, and I could keep my opponents from using their powers, I'd do it."

     Shannon just manages to stifle a chuckle as she listens to Remy. "Sorry. Hulk's not too subtle but he's crazy fast. Could use his anger against him." There's a bit of a pause as she peers skywards, listening, watching the clouds above. "One thing worries me. If we're looking at an Avengers lineup, where's Thor?"

Psylocke has posed:
KABOOM!!!

There is a sudden flash of lightning and in the sky as the clouds begin to darken. Though there is yet to be a sign of the God of Thunder himself, there is no doubt he is on his way.

Hulk is heading straight up the street, aiming for the location of their flag. The sounds of shredded metal as he flings vehicles out of the way heralds his location easily enough. Their flag is on the street behind them, right on the sidewalk, easily in sight if the Avengers make it to that location. Their flag is red. The gold flag is about five blocks over, also on the street sitting in the open. It's a matter of if they can get to it without getting tagged.

The rain starts to fall slightly, darkening the street even more.

Jean's spell works to a point. Most of the Avengers are not schooled in avoiding telepathic powers of her level. However, a few are unlikely to be manipulated such as the Norse one somewhere out there. His mind is hidden to Jean if she were to seek him out.

FWISH!

There is the sound of an arrow that is flying toward their eye-in-the-sky Shannon. Only, thanks to Jean's ability, Hawkeye was aiming for a spot that Shannon had been a moment before so is likely to miss. Something that will surely upset the archer as he ducks back behind the HVAC unit on a rooftop.

Cyclops has posed:
"Hulk is easy to put down. Jean will make him go to sleep."

Jean can do this. Jean can do that. Having the Phoenix on your team is almost an unfair advantage. But when you go up against multiple hostiles in a warzone, you bring your tactical nuke to the field for a 'oh shit' moment.

As they continue to move forward, he tracks the arrow, ready to shoot it off the path from Shannon, but the mental tricks are spot on as usual. "Don't be so high up there to make it an easy target for them." He radios to Shannon through their comms, then taps his visor once to 'pew' off an attacker in the form of a red jump suit carrying what appears to be a spear of some sort. Begone, D-Lister.

As he tracks Iron Man, he gives a frown. "I'm going to pull him away. Remy, you're the thief. Steal us a flag."

With that, he cuts off away and releases a couple optic blasts through the sky towards the Golden boy, looking to bank a few off his domed head and distract him.

Phoenix has posed:
Tactical nuke indeed. Jean tries frequently not to dwell on that part. No one wants to find out that they could make a world like this into a very real thing.

"Got it. I'll see to Hulk." Jean says, sound oh so very unenthused. Her mind may arguably be one of the most powerful forces out there, but physically she's just a woman. The empathic veil is dropped as the call to action sounds and Scott begins firing. She's going to need all of her focus for this.

She puts herself behind the end of a cargo truck, something to cover her from most view but so that she can peek around. With hands to her temples, she brings her powers to focus on the Hulk and only him. He's always angry, right? So what if he wasn't? Weaving telepathic and empathic abilities, she works to start trying to dull his fury like putting his emotions under a heavy, wet blanket. Like when one is sick, the intent is to make it hard to focus, to numb his thoughts and emotions, and slow him down.

Gambit has posed:
Remy LeBeau sighs dramatically, though his grin never leaves his eyes or lips "Remy, go steal us a flag." he says in a not-to-bad imitation of Scott's own tone, "Really, who let Cyclops watch Leverage..." That said, considering he 100 percent agrees with that tactic Remy takes off.. making for the shadows and trying to find that perfect balance of stealth and speed to get past Earth's Mightiest Heros. When he hears Thor's arrival he shakes his head. "Shannon, love yah like a sister chere... but yah really gotta be careful what yah wish for..." As he moves deeper into the enemy territory, denoted by the street signs turning from Blue to red, another thought strikes him. "Jean, Shannon, Cap probibly got a simmilar idea to Scott. Keep yah eyes pealed for Black widow or one of dare infiltrators. Seem likely they might try ta make a big splash on de left and sneak in on de right..."