Peter was currently seated in a rather snobby classroom, his enthusiasm slowly draining away from him as the topics were things he had already covered before. As it was the clock was the most entertaining element of this current class as the teacher, Cylops or whatever he was called, recited the book verbatim... Like a worn out recorder or cassette player.
It was English as well, an entirely dull topic for the spider-themed teenage heroine. Who cared about Shakespeare when you could be learning physics, biology and mathematics to crack secrets about reality? At the very least learning about past scientific figures would have been interesting, yet he and subsequently his entire class was stuck learning about some old poet that was accredited with the fame of making Romeo and Juliet with very little true proof that the person they claim him to be actually did it.
He flicked a pencil up into the air and caught it immediately, the little game entertaining his absurdly powerful reflexes as something within him almost shuddered in delight at catching his 'prey'. Speaking of 'prey', he hadn't seen Cindy anywhere today...
"For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo..." Psycho-pops or whatever he was called snapped the open book closed and smiled happily to the students, most of them from Peter's perspective looking dead already.
"That is the end of Romeo and Juliet. A truly legendary tale of star-crossed lovers. Now, before you leave for defence classes, I'd like to inform you all that you have the period of a week to hand in a 5000 word essay on Romeo and Juliet... The main goal is to explore the themes and the poetic schemes used within this masterpiece." Groans began to manifest from some of the students as others got even more excited, holding their study bags and leaning down as if readying for a sprint.
"I will see you all later this week." The entire classroom was empty in less than a minute, the superhero, X-man, teacher deflating and hunching in on himself as Jean Grey watched on with a mild chuckle.
...
Defence classes were where it was at. Peter loved this class for many reasons... The women of the class all wore spandex or other spicy equipment, he actually got to do something and train for something that he perceived as useful and ultimately he finally got to stick with Cindy for more than just ten to twenty minutes at lunch.
Said woman entered with a rather skin-tight outfit that made Peter audibly gulp before turning away, the hairs on his arms standing up straight. Thankfully only Cindy seemed to have noticed his state, she herself mimicking his response as he watched her senses spike whilst staring at him. Wonder filled him as he watched her from his peripheral. 'Does she feel the same way???'
The question and his will to move over to her was interceded by a certain woman who had made all of the current mind-blowing games. His senses were going through the roof in danger alertness as he watched the glowing woman stand up on the podium, rose-gold light and cobalt blue power coiling around her. It was a clap that had initially silenced everyone, a clap of lightning, as Professor Ororo slowly descended from the skies.
"Sup kids!" Freya's voice rippled out from her, the decibel being low but spreading far as it felt like she was speaking into all of their ears.
"Today we'll be doing some combat training. Now, i know what you are all thinking... 'Ugh, this is soooo boring, just get on with it already!'" She switched her tone as if to mimic the cliché teenage mood before continuing, "But, I want this to be perfectly clear. Anyone who has played Star Wars will be ahead of the curve. To show this I will request a single person in the class to step out and show off..."
Several teens puffed their chests forwards as Peter watched the genius game-maker scan the crowd eerily, stopping every now and then before her survey eventually paused on him and a grin spread across her face.
'No! Not me....!'
"Peter Parker, please step up." Every student turned to watch him, Cindy being the most intense of all his cohort. He audibly gulped again, this time in nervousness as he slowly walked forwards. Freya turned her attention to the rest of the class, Ororo at her side frowning whilst Peter twitched under the pressure of his senses.
"The lesson for today will be using your powers to dodge, evade, stealth or simply fight. Professor Ororo and myself will be overseeing individual bouts between each of you. You are free to choose whatever tactic you wish... We will then give you a score based off of the validity of the tactic chosen and the usage of your power, or powers." Many in the class raised their hands, the Spider Woman being the most timid of all.
"Yes Cindy?"
"Why, does the game give you an advantage...?" Freya smiled before jumping down from her current floating position, her eyes turning bright red-orange as some kind of energy wrapped itself around her.
Several students choked for a second or two as they retreated backwards. Peter narrowed his eyes and flared his own force connection, the rest of the class relaxing somewhat as he stepped forwards. Everyone was shocked by his actions, Cindy included... He was completely ignoring their reactions however as he slowly prowled up opposite Freya, who was watching on with utter disdain, player her role quite well.
"This is the advantage. Instead of fleeing from my power, they can stand against it. Know what to do against it, and can react to force power..." Freya's voice strained as she shot forwards a hand, lightning blasting forth in vibrant purple-blue arcs only to be met by Peter's raised right hand... Tutaminis shone powerfully as all of that power was consumed.
"Force powers thought impossible are quite possible given enough practice and time within the game. Peter just used Tutaminis, a Jedi ability to absorb energies and disperse them or shoot them back." Several male teens watched with glee and excitement whilst some of the women in the class blushed as they watched Peter stand off against one of the teacher's attacks.
"Of course, the game also teaches tactics, strategy and political savvy. The game mimics real life in a way that was impossible until I came along. Every action has a consequence and the game world allows for everyone to come to terms with that sooner... I would heavily suggest you play this game." Ororo rolled her eyes in the background as Freya finished her little sales pitch.
"Now, Peter, I will use all of my force powers to try and impede you. You are to take this as attempts to kill you. Are you ready?" The boy nodded and immediately jumped off to the side as several rocks around the forested training grounds lifted and were flung at his pervious position.
Snapping sounded above him and he somersaulted towards his current opponent. His senses screamed at him to evade once more as that very same branch that had almost dropped on his head pummelled through the air. The wind cracked as the leaves whistled, tree branch met nothing and was dropped as lightning crackled with the smell of ozone.
Peter used Tutaminis to absorb the energy whilst flipping over several fallen tree branches. He went to grab for his lightsaber on pure instinct, finding his hip scarce. Frustration at his own stupidity rose to the surface of his mind whilst he force pushed Freya back a single step, the teacher being ridiculously strong in the force. Another flip occurred before he felt a wall of Natural force energy slam into him in mid-air.
End over end he was thrust into the distance, stopping just slightly before a tree trunk. Freya was grinning as every other student was gasping in awe. The teen boys were obviously all smitten with their hot teacher, their powerful teacher... Meanwhile many of the women were conversing at a low volume about how Peter had done.
"Peter," He was dragged through the air and placed down in front of Freya once more, "try not to use the same tactics over and over. There are plenty of Force powers other than Tutaminis and Celerity. Try fixing up that issue at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant." The teen nodded in frustration. Freya wasn't even breathing hard. Her entire output was simply that she had dealt with a child trying to play at being a force user. Peter acknowledged he still had much, much more, to learn.
Cindy rushed over and checked over him, his face dusting in red flecks as he tried not to focus on her body or the way that her clothing clung to the supple edges of her smoking hot body... 'God hormones are painful!' The thought was choked when she leaned in and hugged him. A glorious hug it was at that, he could feel everything touch his body through the thin exercise uniforms they both wore, though that was perhaps the last things he noticed as he could feel her worry, her embarrassment in doing this so abruptly and the comfort she felt as she clutched him.
All of it was too much for Peter as he looked over to Freya, the woman waggling her eyebrows with a massive grin spreading across her face... He blushed heavily now and just dropped his head into the nape of Cindy, who let him.
"Right! Now... All force sensitives will be supervised by me. Ororo will take all of the pure mutants. We will verse in our own groups and then have a combined competition between the groups. 1st, 2nd and 3rd places get free copies of Star Wars.
Everyone was now super pumped as they all rushed into their own evenly split groups. The class continued for two hours, Kitty Pryde, Peter and Cindy gaining the free copies of the game... Which Peter quickly gave his to a friend in the class, Ruth Aldine. The training was awesome to use simple words... Freya was constantly helping the mutants train their powers in new directions. Peter had found that he could add his force powers into his Spidey-senses and almost achieve split-second precognition of attacks. Cindy didn't have the force but she was guided nonetheless. Ruth Aldine had even gotten to the base power of her mutation, Freya apparently having something very similar to the blind girl's abilities.
...
The Continental, New York...
Ned walked into the rather opulent entry hall of the hotel, his attire not entirely matching the suave white marble columns or gold-enamelled sconces. At the end of this entry way was a desk, a man of dark ebony skin but refined taste was conversing with a gorgeous woman in ball-gown clothes. This little chat ended with the dispensing of gold coins on the desk's ledge.
His boots tapped the floor loudly, his echoing footsteps resounding off of French architectural beauty whilst the man at the desk regarded him neutrally. The elevator stopped behind him before heading down another floor, the silence was killing him.
Soon he reached the desk, the mildly intimidating man staring down at him with a genial expression. Bile filled his throat for a few seconds before he steadied himself, his heart beating out of his chest as memories of being in the 'Coop' before his rescue fluttered in his mind.
"Greetings sir, what may I be able to do for you today?"
Ned swallowed some spittle that had collected in his mouth from nervousness. He knew he was spec ops in Star Wars, but this was real life... Would he be able to join these people, these hit men? Would it even help his friend become a better super hero? Every hero needed a sidekick, Batman's action and companions taught him that much, but would he be a good hit man...?
"I wish to join the continental." The receptionist's face hardened and his eyes narrowed onto him slightly. Ned clenched his fists, hard, as the knuckles in his hands whitened. He had gotten fitter, trained for several weeks now to be better physically... Last time he had been fat and couldn't escape the FBI without help, he wouldn't let that happen anymore.
"Very well. I will make a phone call." He disappeared into a hidden door behind the desk, silence conquering the space once more as he looked around and noted the checker patterns of polished marble on the floor. It looked like you could play chess on these floors and it boggled him why someone would wish to have this pattern for an entry way.
The man returned a few moments later with a stoic façade and rather casual gait. "Mr?" Ned blinked and jumped to answer the man, "Ned." The man smiled slightly before continuing with his words, " Mr. Ned if you would please follow me into the atrium beyond?" He nodded and followed after the tall man.
Watching him exit the receptionist section he noted that the man was wearing two 9mm pistols. His boot held a knife that he thought was longer than a normal thief's... Perhaps a kukri knife? Beyond that the man's suit was rather prim and proper, the movements of his upper torso straining just that tiny bit under the pace he had begun.
In the Republic Commandos this was a tell-tale sign that someone was wearing Cortosis-weave-armour or at the very least light armour of some definition. His eyes scoped the surrounding environment, exits, entrances, side accesses, storage cupboards. Within a few moments he had scope the majority of the room.
Whilst not as proficient as most Spec Ops in the Republic, he could still do the basics and this was the first thing he had been taught after qualifying for Spec Ops training in his classes' field.
A secret door opened and warmth met frigid seriousness. All pretence was cast off past this point it seemed and that was witnessed first hand by Ned as the 'receptionist' soon lost his genial walk, instead slipping into a predatory and confident strut forwards.
"Mr. Ned, you are stepping into a world of bloodshed and violence. Skill will take you only so far... Training will only grant so many boons... Dedication will take you everywhere but also to nowhere. There is only the life and death of targets here. Please keep this in mind as you speak with 'him'." The receptionist stopped in front of a brick wall, tapping several bricks before stepping aside, his eyes locked like a hawk onto Ned's barely pudgy face.
"Have a good day, Mr Ned."
With an exhale of his anxiety and nerves he stepped over the entrance.
A whole new world opened to him right after he did so...
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Hope this helps show how the game experiences are effecting Peter and Ned! I want to show more but I need to set up some instances for these to be showcased.
Anyway, I'll be hopefully writing another chapter today, so please stay tuned.
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