14260/Attack isn't always the best defence.

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Attack isn't always the best defence.
Date of Scene: 03 April 2022
Location: Weapons Testing, The Triskelion
Synopsis: Hawkeye trains Nick in basic bullet dodging, only to be shown how frustrating it can be for snipers.
Cast of Characters: Hawkeye (Barton), Phantasm (Drago)




Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
It's just after dinner time - or before, depending - that a SHIELD agent went to Nick Drago's guest suite at the Triskelion. The message he delivered in person was for Nick to drop everything and attend a special training session with Hawkeye. Was it an order or not, the agent also had for mission to escort Nick to the Weapons Testing bunker.

Meanwhile, Clint Barton was looking at the last preparations for the training session. This won't be about Easter egg hunting, for he's wearing his full tactical outfit. Talking of tactical outfits, there's also a full set waiting to be worn - although that one includes a helmet.

The archer's bow and quiver have been left by the wall, at the opposite wall of the large room. The previous day, Clint had requisitioned one of the large rooms of the Weapons Testing facility. The room floor has been covered with a thin padded cover, made to lessen the impact of falling or otherwise hitting the ground. Also on the room floor are scattered what looks like the remnants of a full-on war, with half-destroyed walls, burned cars and metal barrels. Some of the items are high enough to be climbed upon.

All around the large room, a balcony circles the scene at about 20 feet above the matted floor. Located at the four corners of the balcony are what looks like gun or sniper turrets.

"You guys ready, up there?" the archer asks, glancing around the balcony. As a mean of answer, four red laser pointers suddenly converge on his groin. "Very funny, guys. Just go easy, kay?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Don't you just hate last minute bookings?

Despite the amount of time Clint has apparently taken to planning whatever it is he's planning, Nick was not given much warning to this. He's known since... well, just about dinner time. Which meant the cooker got bumped back to the low setting, timer adjusted. And a breakfast bar got nabbed instead.

Nick is no agent and as such he's not really dressed like one. Nor was he given much notice to alter his outfit.But the keyword of training was sufficient enough to throw on some comfortable shoes to go with the well worn jeans and tee he's already wearing.

Before going through the doors, there's the thump as the now emptied wrapper of the breakfast bar is chucked in the trash and the musician's quicky pulling back his hair and securing it with a holder. The short sleeves and positioning of the arms as he does this betrays the existance of an old scar on the lower right forearm. "So what's this about?" the rocker asks, tucking his hair down the back of his shirt.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
As the doors open and Nick appears, Clint nods at him, motioning for him to step forward and join him in the center of the large room. If he knew the archer, the young man would be wary of the lopsided grin on the archer's face. He'll learn.

"Hi there, Nick. I hear you trained with Winty, that's good. But if attack is the best defence," Clint explains, "It doesn't always take care of your attackers - well, unless you're seventy years old and use DW-40 for skin care." Clint grins at that, "Learning to shot straight is fine, but you also need to learn to survive an assault." As he speaks, the archer grabs the tactical suit and hands it to Nick. It's a basic suit, that can be worn over clothes, offering protection to the chest, shoulders and elbows. It comes with the helmet, knee pads and gloves. "Put this on, you'll need it."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick won't need long to learn to be wary of the smile Clint is displaying. The room he's crossing through sets enough of the mood for him. The offered attire completes the message. "...In other words, I should prepare to get my ass handed to me?"

Such eloquence.

Giving a shrug, he sets the gear down, looking at it for a few moments to figure out how it goes on. Fortunately no disrobing needed.

Extra fortunate that Nick realized this.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint takes a moment to make sure that Nick's tactical suit is properly attached at all the places it should. After all, SHIELD is supposed to protect him, not maim him.

The archer then heads for the far end of the room, motioning for Nick to follow him. With their backs against the wall, the two men can see the faked destruction field extending about 100 feet in front of them. "You'll have to cross this room, reach the opposite wall, without being killed."

The archer then raises his hand, pointing at a spot on the floor about 10 feet ahead of them. No sooner does he point, a gun fires from one of the four corner turrets can be heard, hitting the ground, splashing red paint around the impact. "I know, I know. We could use electronic target detection, but this wouldn't be as fun, don't you think? And don't worry, they'll go easy on you, only one active shooter at the time. For now."

The archer reaches for his tactical belt, hitting some button which turns on the room's sound system. The Top Gun - Danger Zone soundtrack suddenly fills the large room, loudly echoing all around. "Next time, you get to choose the soundtrack," Clint says. Yes, cuz there /will/ be other training sessions. "Questions?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick tilts his head as he gets a blast of 80s playing over the speakers. Yes. So realistic. He looks over to Clint, "No powers, right?" He looks to the scenery, trying to figure out where the guy who just shot is located. "Do you guys switch out paint colors everytime a kill is made or do we just have to remember which kill is which?"

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Shaking his head, Clint replies, "Nope, no powers. At least for now. You got to get the basics first. Then, yeah, if you survive, we can try another round with powers on."

As a mean of answer to Nick's other question, four neatly shots hit a few feet in front of Nick, four small splashes of the same red paint.

"They don't care for kills," the archer explains, "The training is for you to learn to use the landscape to protect yourself while moving forward. The second you move, they'll start shooting. Basic hints here: hide, but don't be a sitting duck. You stay too long at the same location, they'll cage you in. I can go first if you want, or you just jump in."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
As Clint says no powers, Nick gives a nod. "Didn't think so. Just want to be clear on the rules." He admits, "Besides, I did the powers thing to get to you at the warehouse."

Nick looks to the scenery, trying to plot out some potential courses in his head. "Eh I'm getting shot either way so might as well dive in. And, please excuse me for any future things I might call you during the course of this."

He's quiet for a few moments, looking to the positioning of the walls, cars, and barrels. Thoughts drift back to a few dreams he's encountered of a similar nature.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint glances at Nick for a moment, a puzzled look on his face, "Ah yes, the warehouse," he says, nodding. "I wasn't quite in a position to follow everything. I didn't see how you reached me then." Indeed, it's still a bit fuzzy in his memories, although he recalls the dream part of it.

On that, Hawkeye jumps forward, headed for the left part of the debris field, diving behind a burnt car that is hit by a red splash.

"This session isn't recorded," Clint yells back as he moves forward toward a rusted barrel, kicking it on its side and using it as a rolling protection. "You can all me whatever you want, if it helps you survive." Another splash of red pain hits the barrel, which the archer has already left behind as he reaches a half-destroyed wall. From there, he observes how Nick will go at it.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Well, with Clint already running off, Nick ends up scrapping one of the paths in his head. Being there's supposedly one active shooter and they're shooting at Clint. It seemed like a good time to get moving. Just not on the same exact path as the guy currently drawing fire.

After all, he didn't say he couldn't use the Avenger as a willing decoy.

Although the paths are somewhat limited, moreso now that he had to eliminate Clint's path. Plus, there was the matter of the angle of the gunfire that Nick had to concern himself with. He ended up having to take the right path, mixed with a bit of the center. His first hideaway consisted of a broken down bit of wall. the corner making it to where he'd either have to climb over a smaller section or run around. The run around being a bit more open, he ends up leaping and lifting over, dropping behind the protecion of the larger section of it. Keeping low, he darts to the other end and manages to reach a car near the halfway point of the room.

But as he just about reached a set of barrels, luck ran out.

THWUMP.

"GODDAMMIT."

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
And it happens that Nick's tactic was the right one, using the fact that the shooter was busy shooting at Clint to move in. By the time he sees that Nick has been hit, the archer was already moving forward, grabbing the cover of a metal drum as a form of shield as he once again rolls behind a car. Hidden for a few seconds, he suddenly reappears at the other end, jumping from the car hood behind yet another remnant of a wall.

A few more runs, hides and jumps, and Hawkeye reaches the other wall, untouched. "OK guys, hold!" he calls the snipers above. Of course, he has years of practice and experience. "You've got the right idea there, Nick, using my moves to cover your own," Clint states, as he walks back to where Nick /died/, offering a hand to help him on his feet. "I don't know any recruit who survived at their first try," he says as a manner of comfort. "It takes a lot of practice. Right. Want to try again with powers on?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick takes a moment to let the aching effect from the strike go away before he starts to sit up. Blue eyes roll up to look to the approaching Avenger. He gives the slightest of nods as Clint mentions the usage of him as a decoy.

The offered hand from the taller man is taken. Making it a bit easier to get up. Another nod is given at the mention of recruits not surviving the first try. "...hence the practice yeah." He allows, agreeing with the practice.

Hearing Clint's offer to let him try again with powers. The musician pauses, turning to look to Clint with a brow raised, "Really?"

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
"Yeah, why not?" Clint asks, as he heads for the opposite wall, the starting point. "Like I said, you need to practice the basics, even if you have some awesome powers."

Actually, the archer is quite curious about Nick's powers. Yeah, he has some idea of what they might be, but no clear idea. And there's nothing like watching the action with your feet on the ground, compared to hanging head down at the end of a chain.

As he reaches the wall, Clint turns around, looking back at Nick. "Should I be concerned if you do?" he wonders.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
As Clint confirms that powers were to be allowed this time around. Nick purses his lips in thought, following after Clint to get back to the starting point.

The question does give Nick pause as he considers what is being asked. "At the moment, no." He admits, "I wouldn't be wanting to do this 24-7 but this seems short enough." He looks back to the field and then to the Avenger. "Same goal as before or different one?"

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Same goal? The archer seems a bit puzzled at the question, considering that Nick didn't reach the goal with the first try. This should be interesting.

"Well," Clint says, thinking, "We can't really push the wall away. But if you feel like it, you can tell the guys to give everything they've got."

With the four snipers ready, giving them the green light to fire at will could end up with the whole room being splattered in red paint! Nick must be quite certain about his powers.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"Well, I wasn't sure if you wanted a repeat of the warehouse or not." Nick points out, looking to the field. "But sure. Go ahead. You coming through on this go around or just me?"

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Not seemingly interested in dream-traveling for now, the archer shakes his head, "You go ahead," he says, "I'll watch." And takes notes, maybe?

Clint leans back against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest, ready to watch the show. "Ok guys, get him!" he shouts, half chuckling. "Get him!" He then glances over at Nick, "You wanted another goal, here you have it."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
With Clint deferring from running through with all the gunmen at the ready. Nick nods. Ok this time around with powers.

And he's still got the food cooking back in his room.

"Alright then." Nick responds. He tilts his head forward, taking a breath. As he does that, the red paint splotch on his back shifts, seemingly shifting to the opposite side of the back. His head lifts up, looking to the field before he steps out.

Fading from sight.

"OH COME ON!" A voice from above shouts.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
"Oh. Come on," Clint echoes under his breath. Where did Nick go? Leaving his observation spot by the wall, the archer steps forward, looking around the room.

"Guys? Any heath signature?

It would be interesting to know if while Nick became invisible, he could still be traced by some heath signature detection. To the archer's mind, as far as he's concerned, there is also another possibility. While he didn't see the first phase of the rescue, the rest of the journey remains clear in his mind. He just witnessed the first phase.

"Say hello to Diablo," he says, assuming that Nick is just gone dream surfing. If it is the case, there's no guessing where the musician will end up reappearing.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"Oh I'm still here." Nick's voice speaks up from the right side of the field.

There's a spray of paint errupting over in the direction of the voice, hitting the random items in the area.

It gets a bit quiet for a few seconds before a barrel tips over on the left side of the field, triggering another display of firepower.

He ends up reappearing on the other side of the field, glancing up to the guy who protested earlier, "SEE? YOU STILL GOT TO SHOOT AT SOMETHING."

There's a splatter of red paint appearing on the wall behind him. Nick sighs, shaking his head.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
"Hold!" Clint shouts, as he jogs around the debris to rejoin Nick at the other end of the room.

"Wow," the archer starts, a bit of envy in his voice, "No wonder lots of people are interested in you."

On that, his turns around, motioning for Nick to follow him, "Ditch the tact suit," he says, which he's already doing. "I'm still thinking you need some basic training, but, well, for now I'd say you passed with flying non-colors."

He then walks to the door, "Thanks, guys!" he waves at the frustrated snipers, "And Nick, whatabout lunch?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick's features flip back around as he un phantasms, somewhat glad he didn't do that before calling out to the snipers. "Well, I'm still ok with the idea of figuring this out without the powers thing. I won't be able to rely on powers all the time..."

He glances up to make sure he's not going to get a pot shot if he starts to take off the gear.

"Well, funny you should mention lunch..."