Back in the Game (open)

[drake]

Tim hid behind a large chunk of wall that use to be a house, breathing heavily as the sounds laser fire and gun blasts came from behind him. He looked around through the open window and saw an army of drones followed by three sentinels heading in his direction.

"Come out mutant." one of the drones called, "Come out or be terminated."

Right, that's a great option., he thought to himself as he looked back ahead from the window, seeing more destruction around him. Houses blown apart, some burning to the ground. It was a war zone in the middle of a desert, the sky so clouded that he couldn't see the sun.

He changed into his giant green form, jumping over the wall and bringing his hands together infront of him. His hands came together in a loud clap, sending the drones flying back with a massive force. The sentinels began firing at him, and he made a quick retreat behind another broken down house. He looked around for an item and saw a jeep laying upside down with the bottom on fire. The flames were close to the gas tank, and if he had enough time he could probably use it as an explosive projectile weapon. If only he had time...

[cole]

Cole was well like always looking for information and he can come across a bit he had to look more into. Over the last few weeks a lot of…odd things had been happening, people disappearing, some mutants acting odd, and even this Cain fellow seemed to be up to something well he was always up to something.
Cole was posing as a mutant who was looking for a job in maybe teaching and is still unsure about the idea of teaching an all mutant school it was easy for Cole to set up barriers in his mind to hid the real reason he was there.
The real reason a boy named Tim Drake, he had been one of the reported mutants to be seen trying to save the fort a wile back some reports believed he was dead but he had turned up at the school not to long ago. What was odd about this that stood out to Cole more then anything is almost every other mutant that had tried to help that based had disappeared Cole wanted to know how this kid survived and if he had an idea of where the others where information like that people would pay buckets for.
After asking around a bit Cole had got the information form a student that Tim was in the danger room and where the room was. Cole headed down there and watched form the control room Tim train with a board expression. With his arms crossed
Cole was taking in every movement form Tim as he, hid behind things and attacked the drones, the kid better of not get him self to hurt why “working out” you can’t ask questions to someone who is knocked out. Cole didn’t see how Tim could make it out and not of disappeared like the rest of them yet but maybe this kid could prove him wrong and prove him self and if not Cole was going to talk to him after anyway.

[drake]

The sentinels were coming in hard, and the drones were getting back up. He had very little time before the army swarmed around him. He decided that he would use a change of plans. Running out, he picked up the jeep and hurled it at the drones. As expected, the jeep exploded on impact, taking out most of the drones, and blowing the legs out from under a sentinel that was too close, which ended up falling and crushing the rest of them.

With the drones gone, there were only two sentinels left. Tim immediately charged and lept through the smoke that was billowing up from the wreckage, catching one of them off guard and plowing straight through the chest and out the back. He landed on the ground and grabbed a nearby busted wall, lifting it over his head as the last sentinel turned. He thew it with so much force it went clean through the sentinels neck joint, causing the head to fall and the body soon after. His adrenaline was so high, he almost forgot it was a simulation until he heard the computer.

Tim Drake, simulation level 5, complete. Congradulations Tim.

Everything around him began to turn into digital images before peice by peice disappearing, leaving the room an empty, metal area with Tim standing in the center. He changed back into his human form, paying no mind to who ever was in the control room as he sat down on the cold floor with a sigh.

"Man...that was rough."

[cole]

Cole walked up to Tim lighting clapping his hands. The show was quite impressive but still didn’t not answer how this kid could get away from the fort and the others had all gone missing, or where the others might of ended up.
“That was some amazing work, I take it your name is…..Tim…right that’s what the” Cole pointed around the room like he was trying to find a name for it “room, computer you know” there was a smile on his face, mostly just to be nice.
If the danger room was right then this was Tim Drake, Cole had a bottle of water that he had picked up earlier that day.
“You look like you need this” he handed him the bottle of water”
There was no need to be rude to Tim at this time, Cole was hear for a reason and Cole wouldn’t just start asking Tim a million questions to start with he had to get Tim to trust him that he really was just a guy who might apply for a job or is interested in the school.
“so level 5 really that looked like a hard level why are you training so hard?” Cole had a habit of asking questions, it was the best way to get information for him, the more you ask the more you know expuly for someone like Cole

[drake]

He stood up and turned when he heard clapping behind him. He didn't know who the guy was, but he must've been watching Tim during his training. He nodded his head when the man addressed him by his name. He gave me the man who approached him an odd look.

"Yeah that's me, but who are you?"

When the man handed him the bottle of water, Tim gratefully took it and began to drink. He was more thirsty then he thought he was, managing to down the entire bottle within a minute. When the man asked why he was training so hard, he just shrugged. He didn't want to tell this stranger that he was training to get his friends back. He had to find Devika and the others no matter where they would.

"I'm just...done with level four that's all. Now I'm just working on ways to beat the fifth level."

He tossed the bottle into the air, and out from one of the walls came a small laser rifle. It fired at the bottle, vaporizing it instantly. Tim watched the bottle disappear and the gun retract into the wall before looking at Cole with a smile.

"No littering."

[cole]

“My name is Mr. Simons, I have been looking at maybe coming to this school for a wile to teach or something the program you have her is unlike any other as I am sure you are aware of that”
Cole smiled, as he said that he was just trying to pump up a level, it may of only been a small lie and partly true but no one can hid the truth from him and lieing was just as good as telling the hole story if not better. Tim would of not know that he just admitted a few things: he knew the others on a personal level, He was planning on helping them get out of where they where.
“Well you ask me that’s a lot of work to go into just wanting to pump up a level but that’s just me really u guess I never have been one to think combat much as sport?” he was being friendly, Cole liked being friendly to people it was easlyer then having to be mean and normally they trust you more.

Cole watched as Tim took the drink trusting him, that also proved that tim still trusted people he did not no or maybe he just felt that know one could hurt him in the school. As the bottle got zapped by the lazer Cole stepped back a little surprised yea he had just seen this room shot tons of lazer at Tim but he was sure the room was off.
“Wonderful way to keep a room clean isn’t it” he chuckled

[drake]

"Oh, well then welcome to the mansion. I'd introduce you to the professor but he's...not available at the moment."

Tim's heart sank as he spoke about that. Xavier hasn't been mobile for over two months now, and there was little sign of him recovering. He hoped that things would get better soon, this place needed some sort of good news out of all the bad that was happening. He shrugged when Simons commented on what he was doing being a lot of effort.

"Well, they wouldn't call this the danger room if you didn't push yourself in it. I just need to work on my skills, that's all."

His thoughts wandered to the fort again, the last thing he saw was Devika flying off before falling into the hole that was part of the base. He wasn't all sure how he was able to get out himself, but he knew he had to go back someday. His only hope was that small black dragon Alex saw a few days ago. He watched the reaction on Simons face as the bottle was vaporized, always enjoying catching the new people off guard.

"Yeah, imagine that thing keeping an eye on littering everywhere."

[cole]

Yes Cole knew that the professor was out for the count one reason he was hear instead of someone else, but the more information Cole could go home with the better so if Tim knew anything about how he was attacked, who attacked him the day, or anything. The more information the better.
He wasn’t lying anymore so Cole wasn’t getting, any information form him, yes Tim needed to work on his skills, and Yes one reason why they called this the danger room was because people pushed them self, also it was dangerous hence the name danger room. But that that’s all was the lie, again it wasn’t much but enough for Cole to know that for Tim this wasn’t all just to pump up a level or two this was a lot deeper for him.
He chucked again when he joked about the littering again, nodding think him self how nice and well funny that be if someone dropped a wrapper of a canny bar it would get vaporized before it even hit the ground.
“you know I think it would help the environment more then anything” Cole was known for joking around he wasn’t acting right now, yes he was working just he didn’t have to be to much of someone else for Tim.
“Tim you seem to have a lot on your mind do you mind if I ask what the matter is” Cole looked at him looking like he really did care, he did care but not in the way he was portraying at lest.

[drake]

"It would definitely take care of the pollution around the world that's for sure."

He had to admit he was a nature guy. He loved the thought of trees and planes without all the smog or trash that seemed to have made their way into the mix. He smiled a bit, but that smile faded to an uncomfortable sense of curiosity when Cole asked him if he wanted to talk about whatever was on his mind. He raised a brow to the older gentleman.

"Thanks, but I leave my thoughts to paper or the professor. Besides, I don't really know you at all."

Something about the way Simon's looked at him, put him on edge. Tim had trust issues and it was hard to get him to trust anybody. Sometimes it was hard to earn his trust, and sometimes it was really easy. The only people he really trusted were those who are part of the mansion's family, and Devika. He wouldn't have trusted her either had he not seen her help to defend his home. He walked towards a small compartment in the wall and pressed a few buttons, causing a drawer to come out that held his shirt.

[cole]

Man Cole hated it when people did this, they weren’t lying but they weren’t telling him what he wanted either so Cole was getting nothing at all. Cole was not going to go home empty handed but he also was not going to hurt Tim to get the information at less not hear where Cole knew if he hurt someone he’d be murdered on the spot.

This did put him in a pickle, he couldn’t stay hear long with out making the staff wonder what he was doing, thought it was not evil and he had not sold the information yet people did not like the idea of people selling information about them to others. The X-men where free to buy information form them when ever they wanted infact they had files on Cain. And Cain was free to buy what ever he wanted form HTF, they where just a business that is all nothing more.

“Tim, that little Alexandra girl she’s your friend right?”

Cole wasn’t going to hurt the child but it was no secret how close those two had come in that last little wile and Tim cared about her and if Cole was wright he would do most anything for her.

“I herd she lost her brother, she couldn’t find a body at all pity one should be able to burry a love one don’t you think?”

Cole looked at Tim pausing for a moment to let him answer and you also let him think about it for a moment , Cole knew that her brother was not dead in fact her brother was an idiot teen as far as he could tell but it was a way to make Tim think about something else yes he was blowing the idea of him trying to be a teacher out of the water hear but, If he could get Tim to talk to him then that was all he needed.

“ What if I told you I knew where his body was?”

Cole leaned against the wall and paused again watching Tim reaction prepared if he freaked out about and turned all big bad green and ugly on him Cole could defend him self for a short time. But Cole was sure he had the upper hand with this situation at the moment.

“Look, Tim I’m not a teacher, nor will I ever be I’m just trying to figure out how you are one of the only mutants that did not disappear who help defend the fort. Devika, David, Alice no one has seen them, I want to know where they are and what happed there. I understand if you don’t trust me like you said you don’t know me but, think as this as help you want to help your friends out what happened to them and once you tell me what you know I can help and in return I will tell you where you can find Samuels body but then I can understand if you don’t want to help your friends or help Alex get a hold of her brothers body because you don’t want to talk about how tramic it was back at the fort if that is so, then I have no business hear”.

Cole was getting this information form him one way or another and this was an even trade information for information a common trade and the information he was giving was far more valuable then the where about of one kid. Cole looked at Tim, he was going to give him the information that Cole wanted no matter what. Even if he couldn’t get it now there was hundreds of way of gaining information and this was just one, and simply if this did not work then he try something else, everyone one has there price.


(hehehehehe I believe that you told me Tom you wanted Sam and Alex to meet sometime)

[drake]

Tim was about to grab his shirt when the man mentioned Alex. It was as if he completely froze. This man not only knew about Alex, but knew about her brother. He turned slowly and looked to the man, a none too happy look in his eyes.

"What do you know of Alex and her brother?"

He turend and walked over the man, almost storming across the room to him. Now he was talking about the fort and mentioning all the friends that was there with him. Who was this guy? His hands balled into fists as his anger began to grow. Very few things set his anger off like this, the mention of his friends and those he cared about was one of them. His voice was becoming more angry as he tried to fight back what was obviously happening to him.

"How did you know I was at the fort? How do you know my friends? Who are you?"

His voice rose in anger with each question as his eyes began to shift to a lighter color, and his skin began to have a hint of green to them. The tint to his skin and the color in his eyes would shift as he fought back what was going on. He didn't like to become angry, but when soemone he didn't know questioned him about his friends as if he knew them longer than he did, he couldn't help it.

[cole]

He had gotten him mad, Cole sighed a little board by the fact that he could get so mad so easily. But it was to be expected most people didn’t like the fact that others new things that they thought they didn’t need to know.

“I believed I asked you a question first.”

“To state it simply its my job to know as much as possible abut everyone, everything you heard the idea information is power and can tell you its true people win wars by gaining information , knowing things that are secrets, think about it Cain is the big bad mutant right now how did he get there from stilling information form other groups”

Tim was no use to him when he was out of control Cole had to calm him down and fast. In a physical fight Cole would have the disadvantage yes Cole could fight if he had to and would but Cole only had a few weapons on him at the moment nothing to fancy. Cole placed his hand in his pocket and wraped it around a small metal object. Cole hoped he wouldn’t have to use it.

“Look, Tim in not hear to fight you, I just want a little more information about your trip to the fort, I wish to find out what happened to the other mutants and how come you haven’t disappeared and in return I will ask you any question about Alex or her brother unless there is something else you would like to know”

If Tim did give Cole the information he needed then, Cole would like promised give him what he wanted. Cole wasn’t one to Lie or to back out on a deal….well he’d lie now and then but not when it came to this.

[drake]

"Sorry, but I'm in no mood to play twenty questions."

He turned back towards the compartment that his shirt was hidden in. He did his best to fight down his anger and keep from changing, and as he slipped on his shirt he could tell he almost had changed. The shirt was a little tight on him, and he normally wore a large. When Cole spoke of his time at the fort, he turned and looked at the man.

"What happened at the fort is my own business. I don't know what happened to everybody else, but I intend to find out."

Whoever this guy was he was really beginning to annoy Tim to the extent of changing just to see how far he could throw him off the property. Tim turned and glared at him once more, turning and heading in his direction only to move past him and turn down the hall. He wanted to get away from the room and Simons and go back to his own room. Though he was curious to know about her brother, he knew Alex wouldn't want to know anything. Her brother was dead, and the last thing she needed was a reminder.

[cole]

Cole shock his head as he left well one thing he was honest and told him was that he didn’t know what happened to everyone else well that was no use to him but Cole still needed to know what happened there and he was going to find out even if Tim was willing going to give him the information.

Cole lessoned to Tim walk down the hall and then turned to leave but first he had to make a small stop. He headed up stairs to the where the girls rooms where found witch one was Alex’s and knocked on the door.

Alex had opened the door bright eyed as ever she had just changed into her normal clouse and was about to go do to say hi to Tim when Cole came she had told him that she’d meet him in the danger room after her class.

“Hey Alex, I’m Mr. Simon I’ve been looking at becoming a teacher hear id be working close with the students with mental ability I believe you have the power of allusion right” Knowing this much about her without her would throw off most people but cole wanted to get the interdutsion part done with quick.

Alex blinked a few time, “Yea but how did you know”

Cole gave a friendly smile yea it threw her off but Cole was in know need to go into to much detell at the moment on why he knew about her. “I just know a lot of things my power has helped with that”

“O cool” Alex opened the door a little more smiling at Mr. Simons

“Alex I’d like to get to know you a little bit more, I’ve hurd that you been at this school for a long time maybe you can tell me what you think about it as a student, what do you say” Alex was known for being a trusting person even after what had happened to her with Cain so Cole was going to get her to trust him witch shouldn’t be to hard who would ever think that someone would try to use the students in the school its self

Alex beemed up at him “Yea I’ve been hear for like 5 years, this is my home I love it what do you want to know”

Cole smiled at her poor kid needed to lurend that not everyone was a friend who entered the school. “I want to know a lot how about I take you out for Ice-cream you can tell me all about what you think”

“OK let me grab my jacket” Alex rushed in her room and grabbed a small jacket.

“Hey Alex do you have a pen and paper I can barrow I’m going to leave a note incase we are late to let your friends know your ok you know with the war and all going ok”

“Ya”

Cole smiled as she handed him the paper and pen and started wrighting making sure Alex did not see what he was wrighting

Tim

I tried being nice, I even offered you a chance to know what ever you want and to help ease little Alex’s pains but you refused, there is something you will have to lured about me I will not give up trying to find out what you are hiding.

You hiding this information has gotten me even more interested in what happened, well to put it simple hear I think you will want to tell me what happened if not well lets just say Alex says Hi.

If you wish to see Alex again meet me at Luquita inn in queens New York me and her will be weighting for you there. Also I don’t feel the school needs to get involved hear like I told you I’m just hear for a little information all you have to do is tell me what happened I’m willing to work with you if you work with me.

Your good friend:

Mr. Simons


Once the letter was wrighten cole smiled down at Alex folded the paper placed it on Alexs bed and handed her the pen back
Cole smiled at her “Now that that’s all token care up lets be off I don’t know about you but I’m craving something sweet” Alex took his hand was they walked off the school property if Tim wasn’t going to play nice neither was Cole, he wasn’t going to hurt the child it wasn’t in his nature to hurt someone if other means could be used he wasn’t going to tell Tim that either if everything work out as he hoped Alex would be back in the school in an hour or two but if not then he’d have to find something to do with the little girl.



(Evil Laugher Now lets see if Cole can get Tim to talk to him….that or beat him to a bloody pulp )

[drake]

Tim made his way up to his room and closed the door, still a little angry that Simons would try to use Alex to get information from him. He growled and turned towards his bed and sat down, hearing a crunch of paper as he did. Not really remembering when he left paper on his bed, he reached under himself and picked it up. He looked over, noticing the writing and reading it over.

The anger that he tried to fight back suddenly broke free and took over. He could feel himself changing and quickly made his way to the window. Simons had taken Alex, and he would've left the man alone if he had done otherwise. Tim lept from the window, which happened to be on the second floor of the school. When he landed, however, he wasn't Tim anymore. He had completely changed.

The beast had completely taken control and was once again on the rampage. He let out a massive roar that rattled the windows of the school, causing some of the students and teachers to look out in time to see him launch himself into the air and towards New York. He was going to meet Simons at the inn as requested, but he wasn't going to talk.